Flexible Schedule and Starting Over

So here's to keeping up with my blog (again)!  Next year, I'll be leaving our resource rotation and going to a flexible schedule.  I'm excited, but a little nervous about it.  I had to wait to announce it, so I haven't had too much time to work on teacher buy-in before the end of our school year.  So, I'm compiling a list of questions and ideas on a Google Doc to talk to my administrator as well as keeping all my ideas in one place (and not on various sticky notes that can get lost!).  I have the wonderful help of a Facebook Group - Learning Librarians - which is super helpful!  Out of our four elementary schools in our district, only two of us are going to the flex schedule, so we'll also be planning together.

That leads me to looking through lessons that I've done this past year and either tweaking them to include in my "presentations" to grade levels or in the case of Kindergarten and First, I'll be doing a weekly 30 minute read aloud/activity/check out with them.  We also have a preschool and autism self-contained classes in our building, so I'll be looking at those as well (although not "fixed" they've indicated to me they will want a weekly time slot!).

So, I decided why not review by blogging about it?  This way, I can share my ideas with you as well as "talk aloud" about it because who doesn't talk through their thoughts, right?

So, first up is my first "unit" with Kindergarten:  Introduction to the Library (which includes book care).  Most of these little rascals have never been in a public school setting before and not used to sitting for long periods of time at the beginning of the year (when I say long periods, I'm talking maybe 5 minutes).  We have steps we sit on in a "story room" in my library and yes, they have actually tried to roll down them before!  Yes, the beginning of the year with them (and strangely, also the end of the year), is truly like "herding cats."

So, to keep them engaged, I stick to a pattern I keep up all year.  We have a welcome song we sing when they enter, I introduce what we're doing to them (for the first days of course I introduce myself), we talk about what the library is, read a story, and then go to the tables to do an activity while I call individuals to check out.  My first year in the library, I learned VERY quickly to create name cards because they hardly know their last name, let alone their first!  However, if you call it, they will come!  We check out by "lunch number" (which is their student number) so I have that on their card as well.  This coming year, I will be doing self-checkout and in an attempt to get ahead, created cards during Spring Break which, unfortunately, came late and it was my last week of checkout so we didn't get the practice in I wanted!  But, they're all created and ready for next year (except for new students and incoming Kindergarteners), so it wasn't too much time wasted.  I'm still not sure if this is what I want to introduce to my Kinders, but I might use them so they can at least see them so hopefully by the second semester of first grade, they'll be able to come and check out books on their own!

So, back to the schedule.  We sing our song (I can't remember where I got it from but if you Google library songs, it'll come up I'm sure) which they love (and I do the same song for first grade) that I call "Clap and Sing Hello" (to the tune of "Farmer in the Dell").  It's a good way to settle them down.
I also have a "get ready to read" song but somehow made it too wild over the years so by the last month of school, I "forget" to sing it with them, but it's "If You're Ready for a Story".  Again, Google it but I don't think those are the names, just the first lines.  They love it, though!

So, my first unit:  Introduction to the Library
Week One:  What Is a Library?
Featuring:  Mr. Wiggles Book (sometimes I "edit" as I read depending on their reactions or attention span); and The Library by Julie Murray; Book Care Boo Boos (mentioned below)
*Note:  I sometimes change these books up over the years, depending on what I get in my collection but these are the two I used this past year*
We read the book The Library and discuss what we do at a library, if you've ever been to a public library, how we choose one book at our school library (because we have to share), how we bring books back, etc.
We then read a somewhat shortened version of Mr. Wiggles' Book (because they're starting to get squirmy) and I usually use a stuffed caterpillar (TY has one off of Amazon) to "tell" the story to keep their attention.  I shorten it because (of course) attention span and honestly, sometimes the book is downright depressing! 
We go over our "Book Boo Boos" poster and I talk to them about what will happen next (activity; check out).  They then work together on a sort about treating books "happy" or "sad" (based on the poster), and then color bookmarks to take home.  If we have time, they also cut them.  I created the Book Care Packet several years ago and put it up on TPT if you're interested.

Week Two:  A Perfectly Messed Up Story
Featuring:  A Perfectly Messed Up Story by Patrick McDonnell, vocabulary cards you can find free on TPT
I LOVE this book!  Even at this age, the kids get the humor in it although many want to touch the pages to make sure it's not real.  I always have a few who think I messed up the book as a lesson, but I tell them the author/illustrator made it that way to teach about how the characters feel about their stories being messed up.
As an activity for this one, students play a matching game with the vocabulary cards.  They have pictures on them of different parts of a book and library terms.  I like to use them because even though they're matching the pictures, at least they're being exposed to the words, right?  After, they are able to choose activities off a cart I have that I change over every once in a while that include things like puzzles, Hi Ho Cherry O (they love that), playdoh, Legos, other building blocks, Viewmasters, etc.

Week Three:  The Library Doors
Featuring:  The Library Doors by Toni Buzzeo
By now, it's a review for students and they're guessing the routine - welcome song, introduction, story, activity/check out.
For this lesson, we sing the "Wheels on the Bus" song together.  I then tell them I have a "musical" story for them and it uses the same tune but different words, all about the library!  I read it to them first, then we go back through and sing it together doing kind of an echo reading/singing.  If my voice is up for it, I'll sing it the first time (I do not have the greatest voice, but the kids don't complain!).
After, we head to our seats for our activity and checkout.  I also use the cart again this week, but I do explain to students that sometimes, we'll be doing other activities as well. 

Well, I hope you liked the first three weeks (our first unit) in Kindergarten.  I hope there's something you can use!  I'm off to pick up my son from graduation practice (ugh, how is he a senior and 18???) so next time, hopefully soon, I'll post our friendship unit - the second unit I did with K this past year - which honestly was sorely needed!  My plan is to share by grade levels what we did all year so hopefully by the end of the summer, if not before, I'll have K-5 done with maybe some PreK and Autism thrown in!

The Gingerbread Man Loose in the Library!

Every year in the second semester, I start teaching the parts, or different sections, of the library to my first graders.  I wanted a fun way to review these different parts, but not be too overwhelming, while my older students reviewed Dewey. 

I love funny books, and so do the kids!  I thought of the story, The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School, and had a fun idea where students could use clues to find different areas of the library.  Once they found that area, they would then find a missing piece of the Gingerbread Man.  Once all 6 clues were solved, they would then put together their gingerbread to form a whole "man"!

So, then I had to think - what areas did I really want them to recognize, but not repeat the activity from the week before, our Library Survivor.  There, I emphasized books like graphic novels, that the students started getting into at the end of last year.  I decided with the Gingerbread Man to stick with more general areas - nonfiction, fairy tales, fiction, circulation desk, fiction ("chapter books"), and computers where we look up books (although they won't be learning about Destiny, our online catalog, until the following week!).

So, I'm excited about what I came up with AND the fact that I was thinking ahead and decided to color-coordinate!  Each group will have a color to look for (to avoid chaos) that matches their clue cards.  So red clue cards = red team = red gingerbread parts!  You know sometimes those thoughts don't come until after the activity! :)

Here's what I came up with!  If you're interested in seeing more, I listed it on TPT and Teacher's Notebook.  I also included blank cards since every library is different, so you could program your own!

That First Week Back....

Oh man, we start back (teachers) on Monday.  I am NOT looking forward to getting up at 6am!  Other than that, I'm excited!  I've already been at work in the library (did I ever really leave this summer?  Not sure) with lesson plans for each grade.  I am that weird individual that I don't like to repeat lessons (unless they're really good ones!) if I can make them better.  Besides, I'm always adding new books to share!

So, last year, I introduced a QR Code Hunt for my 4th and 5th graders to re-orient themselves with the library.  They watched videos from Animoto and Powtoons (there's also a YouTube version as well) and answered questions.  It was such a big hit, it's going to be repeated this year!

For my 2nd and 3rd graders, I decided to do a Survivor type activity that I saw suggested in a book, but after looking through my picture books for a great "survivor" type story, I realized I didn't have any!  So, using Old Crump by Laurie Lawlor, which tells the true story of a trip out west in the covered wagon days (Old Crump being an ox), my "survivor" turned into a western/desert theme!

Now, knowing that everyone's library is different, I decided to upload it to Teachers Notebook and Teachers Pay Teachers as a Powerpoint so buyers could edit.  It's the first time I've done this for a paid product, and I'm a bit leery only because I used clipart I purchased on there.  I'm hoping it will be okay!  I'm excited for my "veteran" 2nd and 3rd graders to explore the library and answer questions like the older ones, but at a more basic level!  My now 2nd graders were just introduced to the different parts of the library in the spring, so I'm hoping this will also help them find the graphic novels and craft books they are always searching for!  So, if you're interested in seeing more, please click {Teachers Pay Teachers} or {Teacher's Notebook}.

You can also check out my updated QR Code Hunt (alternate version without YouTube) where I fixed a few flaws in the videos and added some hints as well to some of the harder questions!

3 Days Down....

For some reason, several years ago, our calendar changed so that we'd start on Wednesdays.  It has since stuck.  I've never quite decided if I like it or not.  I know it's great for the little ones, who are exhausted by the 3rd day. The bad thing is, they come back forgetting all those procedures from the first 3 days!!!

This year, my back to school was soooo much smoother than last year.  I have decided that last year, I was still in my "teacher/classroom" brain, so the centers and activities I did with the kids that first week (which did NOT include checkout due to a flub in the system) was not going to work this year.  Sure, I had a few who enjoyed the usual back to school/get to know you activities but let's be honest here.  Most did not, because it was something they had already done in the classroom and were not expecting out of a resource!

So, this year, after year one under my belt, I felt more confident coming in.  I took those back to school copies I had leftover from last year and handed them out to classroom teachers.  I was determined students would check out the first day, despite the fact that after the "Destiny Rebuild" our central tech person did, I could not look up names, only student numbers (and that included teachers too, yikes!).  It took a call to Follett to get that straight and guess what?  It wasn't on my end!  However, it's fixed, so that makes me happy!

To tell the truth, it almost felt like we had been on a short break and picked up where we had left off - just in different classes and grades.  I was really touched when students came up to me and told me they missed coming to library, or were happy it was "library day."  I made it through the now-not-shocked Kindergarten behavior (or lack of it).  THAT was an eye-opener last year!  Gentle voice and many times repeated directions! :)

So, what did I do this year?  Well, I did the usual "back to school/library/book themed" read alouds.  Then, to go over book care and library procedures, I thought it would be more fun for kids to see a funny video than just listen to me.  It went over really well with the K-3 kiddos that I did it with!  You can see them at our "Primary Foxes" wiki page.  For Kindergarten, I found this cute cookie monster video visiting a library for the first time that inspired giggles, as well as a video some genius made that starred "Emily" and what to do and not to do with your library book at home!  That's on the "What's a Library?" page {here}.  For grades 1-3, I used the "Taking Care of Our Books" page and the firsties watched Skippy Jon Jones, second watched the Pigeon and third watched Al and Scaredy Squirrel {here}.

After, students checked out and were able to choose centers once they found their book (the Kinders didn't do that since by the time you explained everything, there was maybe 10 minutes left to choose a book!  I just had them sit down and look at their book after checking out).

For 4th and 5th, I got inspired and created a QR Code Scavenger Hunt.  I figured it was a fun way to review library procedures, book checkout, sections of the library, etc.  I only did 6 questions, but it did take them some time.  We're going to go over answers for the next rotation because some of them were bound and determined to find out the answers to all!  I called a pause to the hunt to check out books, then they could resume if they wanted to.  This was the first time I'd used QR codes in the library, so scanning with the iPads was a definite highlight!  I had to remind some of them to stop and WATCH the video/powerpoint to find their clue/answer to the question!  They just wanted to keep scanning. :)

I have to admit - I'm now an addict to Powtoons, SafeShare, and QR codes!!!!!

So, I'll finish out this rotation on Tuesday, and our next theme will be reviewing our online catalog (Destiny) for grades 2-5, and meeting Pete the Cat for my Kinders and playing with 5 little monkeys with my firsties (we learned the songs last year, so they'll enjoy the revisit!).

Oh, and before I forget - a freebie!  Working on my emergency sub plans, I had whipped this up last year (warning - on teacher/classroom brain), but after looking at it today, I realized that for a sub that doesn't know how to use the computer to check out, it would work out well.  It's making its way into my emergency sub folder.  Feel free to check it out {here}.

And, just because I realized that this post looks kinda boring with no pictures - here's Cookie Monster being THAT STUDENT.  hee hee :)

It's Back to School Time!

Oh my  - day 3 of back to school and this is the first time we've been able to work in our rooms!  Of course, being in the library, that included cleaning up after the Monday meeting that was held in here - stray cups, pencils, highlighters, a bag of tomatoes (???)....you get the idea.

So, after laminating for teachers, I'm able to finally do some things for me as I look over last year's plans and revamp because I am the type of person who can never teach things the same way twice! LOL  Of course, last year, I was a naive classroom teacher coming into the library, so my idea of centers and activities for the kids was a bit, well, naive.  So, not doing the "get to know you" activities this year that I still have a ton of copies from last year (maybe there's some teachers I can donate those to!).  I had also naively thought I could create a book for each class (so I could learn names I didn't know) by using a cute photo booth.  Yeah.  744 kids.  It didn't happen and fortunately none of the kids thought any more of it!!!

So, I found two things I wanted to share for the beginning of the year!  One is a book care packet that I used with all my classes to talk about how to take care of books.  With fourth and fifth, I just used the poster as a review, but I used the activities for my PreK-3 classes.  They seemed to enjoy it.  I made enough of each sorting activity so that each table could work on it, then check out books. After, they colored bookmarks that stated they would take care of their books.  That was the start of the demand for bookmarks with cute clipart to color.  So I went ahead and posted what I created last year and saved in a "bookmark" file (I'm sure there are some in other files, but I haven't pulled those out yet!) as a bookmark bundle.  I will definitely add to it, and there's everything from Avengers to Minecraft to Monster Trucks to biography/famous people to....well, you get the idea!

So, if you're interested, head over to my TpT store to check these things out by clicking on the pictures below!  I hope to be sharing my behavior plan that I did last year soon as well!

Back to School Sales!

Gosh, I feel like all I blog about are sales lately :)

Were you like me and stocked up at Teachers Pay Teachers?  I went heavily on clip art!  I know at some point I'll be using it :)  Hopefully soon, I'll be posting some new library products!

However, if you didn't get a chance to stock up, or didn't find what you were looking for, here's your next chance!

Teacher's Notebook is having a huge sale and, like TPT, are offering an extra 10% off shop sales.  My entire shop will be discounted 25%, and then you get an extra 10%....plus there are drawings and prizes!


 

So the sale runs August 9-12.  Our first day with kids is the 13th, so I might be purchasing some last minute items myself!  Happy shopping! 

Am I A Teacher Hoarder?

Went into school - first time since our last teacher day - and started sorting through my things.  Bad news is - 95% of it is MINE!  Some of it, I can leave for the next teacher.  Other things, I'm trying to scrutinize and leave for my team members to use.  Most of it, though, I'm looking at and either can't part with it or have that "I MAY be able to use this next year."  My goal though is if I DON'T use it next year, then I'll "donate" to my fellow teachers!

Just to give you an idea of what I'm working with:

So far, one metal cabinet, my desk, and the shelf above the coat closet are clear.  I'm HOPING to be done by this Friday, since I know whoever is coming into my former room will be anxious to move in!  Well, I can't move my things just yet, but can at least have them in a pile by the door!

The other news is that I have finally set up a twitter and facebook page!  Woo woo!  While I may not be celebrating in Vegas this week - so jealous of those that get to go (my husband said NO WAY was I going near slot machines!) - I'm trying to feel productive!

My facebook page is www.facebook.com/ReadingFox (because "Whatdoesthefoxread" was taken!).  As for twitter, I am @doesthefoxread (because I ran out of room!).  I'm hoping to get these up and running soon.  I "tweeted" for my first time tonight!  Not sure if I'm going to use it solely for school at this point, or connect it to my teacher blog. 

The other thing I've managed to accomplish (while biting my nails waiting to hear about this "new position") was a "Sunny Days" Math and Literacy Centers!  Right now, I have it on sale for $3.50 on TPT, so you might want to check it out!  It's 5 math and 5 literacy centers with a summery sunny theme.  I created it for end of year Kindergarten/beginning of year first and lower second grade students.  I hope you'll check it out!  Click on the link or title picture below to see more.

First Week, Classroom Reveal, and a SALE!

Okay, first and foremost -

I don't know how I almost missed the boat on this!  Oh yes, I know how - even though we had a short week with a Wednesday start, it was BACK TO SCHOOL with KIDS!

From Open House on Monday to Friday, I swear I did nothing but prepare!!!  Why is there NEVER enough time???  

The first week went well.  This year, I am completely sold on Whole Brain Teaching!  I have several "doozies" in my classroom (you know, the ones that the year before teachers see you, wince, and mouth "sorry" as your class walks down the hallway).  Well, from Day 1 we have practiced the rules, they LOVE the "class/yes" response, and they are AWESOME at "hands and eyes."  A few other things we need to practice/improve upon, but I am soooo excited!  The Scoreboard Game is a HIT!  If you have no idea what I'm talking about, make sure to check out www.wholebrainteaching.com and get the book from Amazon. (I thought it was very silly in the book when they said you would "weep tears of joy" on certain sections, but I can certainly see it now!).

My only problem with it - I am a long winded talker.  I'm having trouble with the "teach okay" bit - you teach in small chunks and they teach a buddy.  I keep forgetting to do it, and go back to my old way of repeating the directions, having a student clarify and going from there.  I have GOT to get better about that.  Of course, we haven't done anything other than "back to school" activities, so it hasn't been too bad (yet).  

Sooo...on to my "classroom reveal."  I am SO excited about my classroom this year.  It is definitely one of my favorites and looks great, if I do say so myself!  I did get a little insulted when a fellow teacher stuck her head in my room and said, "Someone's been on Pinterest!"

Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE Pinterest.  It's an addiction.  Really.  But, I came up with the idea to do a "safari" room because I wanted to do a meerkat job chart (seriously - came up with that at the end of last year!).  Other than the Whole Brain Teaching posters, the black paper above the board, and the dry erase circles, everything else was "original."  It's okay, though, and I guess I should take it as a compliment! :)

 My Whole Brain Teaching Rules, noise level, and "reminder" poster of WBT's strategies (class/yes, teach/okay, mirror, etc).  I used that to introduce it to my students the first day and it stays up there as a reminder.

 Daily Schedule, Scoreboard (when they won their first "prize"!  It took us 3 days, but we did it!), and clip chart.  We were told last minute that we were doing clip charts, so they laminated construction paper for us.  I decided to one up it a bit and had it match my theme! :)

 I used these cute pawprints to have students and parents follow to each of the different "stations" for Open House.  The students got a BIG kick out of it (even students who weren't mine!), so I decided to use it for lining up.  With the boy-heavy class I have this year, it was worked GREAT!  They know exactly where to stand and save the first two paws for the line leader and door holder.  It was one of those "duh" moments as in, "Why have I never done this before???"

My meerkat job board (that started it all)

My "Genius Ladder" from Whole Brain Teaching (so excited to use this!)

Like my view of the playground?  Yeah, sometimes it causes problems but I tell the kids if we look out there instead of paying attention, our blinds go down.  Let me tell you, it's gloomy with no sunlight, so it only happens once or twice before they learn!  My palm tree I'm using to count "100 days" with ten frames that fit on each "rung" of the tree.

Open House Pictures  

 I was really excited to use the idea of the signs/stops this year!  However, most of my parents didn't make it past stop #2 with the supplies (which I just realized I didn't take a picture of.  Whoops!).  The kids enjoyed following the pawprints, though!).  I found the palm trees at Goodwill (lucky find!).  I'm pretty sure you can find them at party stores.

 "Station 2" in the distance....I labelled baskets/bins for supplies I collect and added a note that everything else went into the student desks.  It saved me a LOT of time from sorting/putting things away.  Most of our parents bring supplies to Open House.

Wish List - thought it would turn out better....too many monkeys (they were too large, I think) that covered up the vines.  I asked for cardstock (any color), playing cards (could be used), band-aids, stamps (for pen pals), envelopes, and spiral notebooks (our supply lists designate composition, but I like using spiral for our interactive social studies/science notebooks).

 Another view of stop #3 with part of my reading center in there.  I was so proud of how it turned out, I kept this photo in here...hee hee (you can see an earlier post about it with my classroom "peeks").

 

 Most of the items in the gift bag were from Oriental Trading (including the bags).  I made the signs.  The other side said "Come Join Our Learning Safari!"

 My "revamped" magnets I give out every year.  This time, I added cute graphics from Melonheadz to go with my theme.  I include my email, school number with my extension, our class blog, wiki pages, website, and Donors Choose page.

 Not sure if I've ever shared this last pic (maybe for a "Monday Made It" on Instagram).  The treasure chest was a clearance item  at Walmart ($4!) that was red.  The chair was a Goodwill find that I painted (the wheels were broken, so I took them off and added the tennis balls since I could see kids dragging it around and scratching up the floor).  I use it for my "read aloud" chair and for kids to "read aloud."  

So, that's my classroom/Open House for the year.  You can check out more on my Instagram account - I have a tendency to post on there more than any other place since I can snap pics with my phone, upload and boom!  It's there.  You can click on the button above to see my profile/pics, or just look me up at "adventuresinsecondgrade."

Whew!  Now to catch up on the laundry! :)

 

On the Hunt: Classroom Theme!

Is it just me, or is it fun to have an idea in your head and go "on the hunt" for items to match your theme? Whether it's a theme, favorite author, or whatever - I love searching through stores like Goodwill, Michael's, Walmart, etc. to find that "certain something."

I'm now currently working on ideas inspired by others and their themes/ideas for the classroom.  You can look at my Pinterest pages on Back to School, Classroom Themes, and Classroom Ideas for more!

Here's a peek at my "finds" this past week:

Walmart 

dry erase dots from A.C. Moore:  I plan to put my objectives on it (I won't have to take up precious board space and I think it'll really add to the room!)

 This was a GREAT find from Walmart:  red plastic toy chest $4!  I plan on putting my "treasures" of books in there for our monthly book exchange!

 Goodwill:  TON of books plus cute pillow to use in the room (obviously a teacher had retired and donated her books...my daughter even claimed a few before I use them in my classroom!).

 Big Lots:  $5 in stationery section

 Staples:  Those wonderful peacock folders were 50 cents each; other folders (grabbed for my older son) 99 cents each.  Staples is also having a great deal for $10 you get a 15% card on your whole purchase 1x/day until almost the end of September!

 Local teacher store, which unfortunately is closing in October. :(

 Another Goodwill day - see the Star Wars and monster trucks???  Anytime I find those I grab them for my boys!

Another GREAT find:  Michael's....the lamp was less than $12 and the clipboard was less than $3 on sale!  Also safari ribbon, clothespins, safari stickers, and glue dots.

 

Future purchase:  Saw this on my way out of Office Depot - plan to use my Staples card on it! :)  Soooo cute!

Sneak Peek of some of the items I'm working on:

Safari-themed rules

 Homework Punch Card (students turn in homework each week of the nine weeks, they get a trip to the prize box)

Voice-Control poster

 

So, that's what I have so far...hopefully be able to put it in a bundle for the items more "original"...the ones where I am basically borrowing the idea and making it 2nd grade friendly, I'll post as a freebie :)