You Oughta Know About...

I'm super dooper excited to be linking up for my first blog hop with Jasmine from Buzzing with Mrs. McClain!

You Oughta Know About Think Sheets!  This isn't a new idea by any means, but I can honestly say I have never been in a classroom and seen these used once.  They sounded a little ridiculous to me when I first thought about using them.  I was quite certain no six year old child would sit and fill these out responsibly.  Plus, every Think Sheet I found was full of large words and extensive writing lines.  When I'm mad or sad, I don't feel like writing an essay, so I'm pretty sure six year olds don't either.

But, I was out of options.  I was at my wit's end.  I had tried every single behavior management idea from the clip chart to a time out chair to a Kindness Cat that brought around suckers.  I've tried behavior meters, individual behavior plans, and a stinking awesome treasure box that I sometimes steal chocolate out of.  Yeah.  I've been through all of the options.  So I tried the Think Sheets.  And believe it or not, they actually worked!

So here's the process in my classroom:

1.  A child may or may not be given a warning (depending on the action).  Once they've passed "the point of no return," I send them to the "thinking" chair with a lovely paper in hand.

2. They fill it out.  Most kids can read the words themselves, some need help with just a couple words.  By about Number 3, the child's behavior has already turned calmer and more reflective.

3.  They hit the dreaded "Do I need to apologize?" question and realize the choices they made might have hurt someone.  They sign the paper, apologize to the other student(s), and return the paper to me...completely transformed.

4.  If it needs to be sent home, I add teacher notes for parents to see.  If not, I just keep the paper for myself.

It's not foolproof by any means, but so far it has revolutionized the behavior in my classroom.  I deal with less conflicts and the students actively make better choices.  Magnifico!

Want one for yourself?  Click the picture below to get the freebie on TPT.  If your kiddos are further along, I encourage you to find or make your own Think Sheet!  You Oughta Know that if you implement them right, they can really be a lifesaver!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fast Track to Fast Facts

So I'm not really sure how to say this, but my kids love math.  Really.  They love it.

Want to know a secret?  Before Christmas break, they didn't.  I didn't hear one kid talk about how they loved math or how it was fun.  Nope, not even one.

We started this:

My kids are super pumped, super motivated, and they're even STUDYING ON THEIR OWN TIME!  Crazy, I know.

Here's how it all works:

1. I printed out all the pieces included and laminated flags, banners, and racecars.  Instead of laminating the track included, my first grade partner and I used construction paper for a bigger track so both classes could fit.

2. I stuck it all up on a wall so it looked like this:

3. I printed off multiple copies of the facts timed tests and organized them as shown:

Copying the tests on colored paper helps me keep them separate...and it looks like a rainbow.

4. Daily, I grab the tests needed for each student.  They all start at Test 1 and when they answer 10 questions correctly in one minute, they move on to the following test.  I use the handy table included in the file to help me remember how many kids need Test 1 and Test 2 and so on.  I give them one minute, and they put their math facts to the test!

5. If students meet their goal, I move them up!  If not, I keep them in the same place and let them know their progress (and how close they were).

It seems simple, but my students have completely turned around.  When their mental math skills increase, their overall math skills increase.  My high kids are obviously loving to be in front, but my low kids are SO happy when they get to move past another flag.  It's awesome to see each kid progressing at their own rate and being proud of themselves.

If you want to try this in your own room, you can get the Addition Facts listed above, or grab the Addition & Subtraction Bundle here for just $1.50 more!

One Word Resolution

I'm big on New Year's Resolutions.  Super big.  I start thinking about my resolutions before Christmas even starts.  So I'm linking up with Primary Powers to give you my one word resolution!

I seriously have like 15 resolutions, but they all revolve around time.  I think time is my most important resource, and many days I spend that time reading about other people's lives on facebook or looking at their lives on instagram.  Don't get me wrong, both of these can be awesome ways to connect with others, but is that really the best way I can use my time?  Shoot no.

So I'm spending my time doing more this year for me...to improve my life and stop reading about the lives of other people.

More time with the people that matter

More time reading my Bible

More time forming relationships with my kids

More time blogging

More time exercising

More time doing things I love

What's your one word resolution?  Feel free to link up or comment below!  Have a magical start to 2015!

Halloween: How to Trick your Tattletales for a Treat

Happy Halloween...or the craziest day of the school year.  Either one.

I was Max today from Where the Wild Things Are.  Most kids thought I was a "Bunny King."  But it's amazing how much better students listen when you act like a bossy 6 year old in a funny outfit.  Maybe I'll wear fuzzy slippers and a tall crown everyday.

Besides dressing up like a Bunny King, the best thing I've done in the past month was come up with a Tattle Meter.  It's like the famed Tattle Monster, but just a little more advanced.

I've never used a Tattle Monster before, mainly because I'm too lazy to decorate a Kleenex box, but I imagine my kids would think it was silly and make fun of the idea of talking to a Kleenex box.

Tattle Meters are serious business.  Here's the deal:

1. I explained Tattle vs. Telling in my classroom.
tattle (v) [tat-tle] : 
1. When someone is not getting hurt. 
2. If someone steps on your foot, bumps into you, says something rude, etc. let them know the problem: i.e. "You stepped on my foot," "That hurt my feelings." If the other person apologizes, there is usually no need to tattle.  If the other person refuses to apologize see telling.

telling (v) [tel-ing] :
1. When someone is hurt, getting hurt, or could get hurt. 
2. When someone does not apologize for their actions after you let them know it hurt you or your feelings.

There are always gray areas in every tattling vs. telling speech like when someone says a bad word or when two children are constantly having the "That Hurt My Feelings" Talk.  My students have picked up on it pretty quickly, though, and it seems to be going well.

2. I set a goal.
Right now our goal is Less than 10 Tattles in a Week = Cookies for the Class!

3. I implement it.
Every time I hear a tattle, I go to the board and fill in up to the next number.  I use a dry erase marker on my laminated meter so we can restart each week. 

Last week: We hit ten tattles on Wednesday. :(

This week: I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off this morning because I forgot to bake my AWESOME class cookies!  Eight tattles ALL week, ladies and gents!  8!

I hear so many problems getting resolved from one student to another.  Students will come up to me often and start to tell me a tattle but then they'll quickly remember, cover their mouth, and walk away.

We aren't absolutely great at conflict resolution in class, but we're getting there.  Once we get the tattles down consistently, we'll work on making better apologies instead of, "Sorry."  Baby steps.

Anyhow, that's enough talk for a Friday night.  Here's some Tattle Meters for you to have for free!  Happy Halloween!

Reading Center Groups

Oh, hello there!  It's been what...a month since I blogged last?  Gee willies.  I'm terrible.

In other news - Reading Centers.  Reading centers are AWESOME!!  But they're a whole ton of work.  Really.  You can find me just about every Sunday night slaving away over laminating and cutting up cutesy little activities for the following week.  But that's not what I'm posting about today.  I'm writing about this:

How I organize my groups for centers.

I learned this from an awesome teacher I student taught with (thanks, Mrs. Lee! :)).  I've seen lots of teachers do this different ways, but this way works BEST for me.  I usually have one student of each reading ability level at each group (green, yellow, and blue).  This way, I call back one color (green for example), and the yellows and blues are working together at centers.

First, this cuts down on chit chat.  Every teacher knows the more students you have in a center, the more talking and misbehaving is going to happen.  Second, this makes sure I (generally) don't have two kids who have no clue what they're doing at a center.  If my low students need help reading directions or completing an activity, they always have a middle or high student there to help them.

It's not always fool proof, but it works for me!

Now, we are doing some AWESOME things in Science this week, so hopefully I'll have something much more interesting to blog about soon!  Thanks for hanging with me!

My Simply Magical Classroom

Oh my goodness!  I forgot how hectic the beginning of the school year was!  We started school...oh about...a month ago?  And I'm FINALLY getting this posted!  Whew.  I'm still not done with my room - it's a work in progress. :)  But here's what the Simply Magical Classroom looks like for now!

Here's my Pinterest inspired UP bulletin board.  I couldn't find one exactly like what I had imagined, so I improvised. 

Here's my door!  I love Krista Wallden's work at Creative Clips Graphics.  Almost everything I make has something in it from her - like these chevron papers.  Hopefully I'll have these pennant banners on TPT soon for you!

Here's my behavior chart in action!  I give tickets according to what color the students are on at the end of the day.  One for yellow, two for orange, and three for red.  The kids LOVE it!  You can snatch up my Behavior Chart here.

Here's our daily schedule - again with Krista's papers!

ALL year long last year I tried to think of a way to hide our closet.  I tried everything imaginable to get these curtains to stay up.  My mom walked in this summer and within 5 minutes, she came up with this marvelous solution - bike hangers and a PVC pipe.  She's a genius.

Remember when I made those bookshelves this summer?  Here they are in action!  With an amazing library organizing system from Maria Monore at Kinder-Craze!

Here's the only Reading Centers organization chart that I think will ever work for me.  I'll post more on this later. :)

My Birthday Chart with adorable cupcakes by...guess who!  Krista again! And my Teacher's Pet puppy - the best (and simplest) Classroom Jobs Chart imaginable created by A Teeny Tiny Teacher.

And last, but not least, my hanging lanterns.  It's hard to describe how much this adds to my classroom.  I can't even take a good picture to describe it.  If you are allowed to hang things in your classroom, DO!  It makes life so much happier!

I still have A LOT more work to do to get my classroom where I want it.  But just like learning, it's a work in progress the whole year through. :)

Back to School Sale

If you buy many things on TPT, I'd say you've heard about the Back to School Sale by now.  For the sellers who participate, many of their products will be the lowest they will ever be on sale.  And I really, really like sales.  So I'm giving you a warning here of insider info...you ready?  I'm participating in the sale.  Woohoo!  Exciting, right? Get those products wishlisted and ready because the sale is Aug 4-5!

Here's a cute little graphic to get you excited.  If you're having your own sale, feel free to borrow for your own site!

And I created a banner just the right size for your TPT store.

Have fun shopping!