Makeover Madness: Week 1

For this week's Makeover Madness, I had to pick a product from my TPT Store and redo something about it.  This has been on my to-do list FOR-EVER, but I have absolutely zero motivation to do it.  I'm so happy this got me pumped up for it!

So here's one of my first products from last year, My Word Wall Book.  There wasn't too much content-wise I wanted to change, but the cover, clip art, and borders definitely needed some updating. 

So now it's a whole lot prettier!  My kids loved this last year and I know my kids this year will love it even more.  And because I want you to experience the prettiness and wonderfulness of it, it's on sale for $2 (regularly $3) through Friday. Just click here to go visit my shop.

Where, oh where is my hair?

Hooray for finally posting something on here!  You know it's summertime when I have time to blog!

So this week I FINALLY got to do something I've been working on for months, but first you have to read my story.

One day, a precious student of mine came in with the most adorable haircut.  She came to the back and handed me a Ziplock bag filled with all the hair she had cut off.  As a teacher, kids bring you all sorts of homemade trinkets and treats as presents, but I have never been given a bag of hair.  I know my facial expression wasn't exactly what she was hoping for, but really - who gives you a bag of hair?!?!  Then she explained to me that her mom wanted me to get a wig made of it for a child who didn't have any hair...and that made a lot more sense.  So I sent it off and got it done!

Right around this time it was about time for my usual haircut and I decided to do what my sweet little girl did.  I grew out my hair for another 2-3 months and finally ended with enough to donate!

Here's what I looked like a few days ago:

I must admit, somedays I got attached to my long hair. I almost chickened out and got a trim instead.  Luckily on the day of my haircut, it was super annoying so AWAY IT WENT!

And this is me, right now writing this blog post.

I LOVE how this little girl in my class inspired me to do something way out of my comfort zone.  Her cute haircut and sweet heart just did me in!  That's one of the best parts of teaching - learning from your students.

FYI: If you're thinking of donating your hair, I'm donating mine to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.  My childhood neighbor and second mother was diagnosed with cancer around Thanksgiving last year.  When she started chemo and lost her hair, Pantene gave her a wig for free.  She's an amazing high school English teacher who kept teaching through her treatment, and I was so impressed with a company that would provide her with a wig free of charge!

May Pinterest Linky

Can you believe it's May already?  The countdown has begun!  And here's some pins to help you make it though the next few days!  The end of the year is my favorite time of year because all of the stress of testing is gone and we get to have fun while learning!  The worst part is coming up with engaging activities so your students don't go absolutely bonkers.  Here are three ideas to keep your end of the year somewhat sane. :)

I love this first idea!  It's the CUTEST craft, a great bulletin board, and a good self-reflection activity.  I'm loving the idea of a graduation cap, too!  I'll be making this next week with my littles to keep their antsy hands busy. :)

Peanut Butter Bird Feeders are a mess, but the kids will absolutely love them!  Last year I did these at the end of the year.  I made a few to hang outside our windows at school and the kids made some to take home. We really spent way too long watching out our windows.  I'm not joking...I turned out the lights and we got quiet and we counted how many different birds came to our bird feeder...for a lonnnng time.  We honestly might have counted more squirrels than birds, but the kids were still totally engaged!

You just HAVE to click the Pinterest link for this one.  This blogger did her child's birthday party with snacks from various books.  At our school, we are only allowed to watch one movie between now and the end of school...which leaves a lot of activities to be planned between now and then.  This made me think, why not have a book themed snack party?  I am super psyched!  If your students are allowed to bring homemade snacks, you could have them bring in their favorite book with a matching snack.  If they're not allowed to bring homemade snacks, make your own snacks!  Now I am no Betty Crocker, but I can do break and bake cookies and goldfish.  I'd LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to have my kids read the books to their class while they eat their snacks!  Oh, what a nerdy teacher's dream party!

Hoping you have a magical end of the year filled with fun!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Teacher Anchor

I am all about organization and planning.  I may not always be organized or planned, but believe me - I'm all about it.  This year I decided to invest in a Teacher Anchor.  It was definitely one of the best choices I've made all year!  Here is the (beautiful) new and improved Teacher Anchor!

What do I love about this year's Teacher Anchor?  EVERYTHING.  But here's the three things I love the most.

1. The Forms:  I've used these nonstop all year long.  I bought the Complete Teacher Anchor last year (and you should get one this year...).  My favorite part has been the sheets that came with it.  They are so useful and practical.  I use a sheet for each week's small group reading time.  I can easily plan, track, and modify three different reading groups with these amazing sheets!  Now I am able to look back at records through August to see what I have taught each child in my room, what they have mastered, and what I still need to teach them before second grade.

2. The Flexibility:  About halfway through the year, I was asked by my school to use an online planbook through which I was required to submit my plans weekly.  I firmly believe a planbook is like a teacher's diary - you just don't mess with it. :)  But I also try to be flexible.  Even while using the online system to submit my plans, I can easily change the headings of my Teacher Anchor.  Instead of using Math, Reading, Writing, etc., I've been using headings of "To Do at School" and "Activities to Create."  I LOVE that although my situation changed during the year, I can still use my Teacher Anchor for planning what I need to plan - even if it isn't subject areas!

3.  The Little Things: I love the little extras in the Teacher Anchor that you won't always find in other planbooks.  I am crazy about the little stickers that say "Grades Due" and "Early Dismissal."  I love the useful Substitute Sheets that are added in the planner.  The Birthday Calendar has kept me on top of my kids' birthdays throughout the year (because I am really bad about remembering birthdays).  This year...are you ready?...this year you can also get your Teacher Anchor Binder PERSONALIZED!  Is that not the best thing ever?  You can choose between 12 different colors and get your fabulous name printed on the front.  It's these little things that has me DYING for a Teacher Anchor this year!

So please, go quickly to C. Jayne Teach's Shop to view more about this fabulous product for the upcoming school year!

EDIT: So I wrote this blog post, and then I watched this video.  Everything I loved about last year is here AND EVEN MORE!  My absolute favorite thing from last year, the forms, are now in the Teacher Anchor!  I can't hold in my excitement!  Please, please, please watch this video!  It's the best thing you'll do all day!


2015-16 Teacher Anchor™ from Chandra Verbic on Vimeo.

April Pinterest Linky

I can't tell you how much I love this linky.  Really.

So here's my 3 Pinterest Picks for April!

Isn't this just adorable?  I mean, I'm all about teaching - really.  But if there's anything I love more in life, I promise it's food.  With our Scholastic Bonus Points, I bought this see-through veggie grower.

  When we get to studying plants this month, it would be awesome to incorporate the vegetables we're growing in class with this activity!

I might be obsessed with rainbows.  Roy G. Biv is my BFF - for realz.  So do you think I will be decorating my room with these?  YES, MA'AM.

You could use this for everything!  Cloud as main idea, rainbow as details.  Cloud as sum, rainbow as different ways to make that sum.  Personally, I think I'll use the cloud as a topic sentence and the rainbow as details in a paragraph.  I love this pin because it's just so flexible!

Back to the planting, aren't these cute?  They look like regular ole classroom plants...but they aren't entirely!  See those cute white cups?  I use one just about every morning.  They're K-Cups! What a genius idea!  The worst thing about plants in the classroom is that they're a mess.  But with this, you can put a K-Cup in a pan and viola!  No mess - and hopefully not as many tip-overs.  Plus, you're recycling which equal bonus points for Earth Day.  Go you, Teach, go you!

Have a Happy April, everyone!  

P.S. I know you love your job so much you would never count down to summer...but in case you wanted to know, we have 34 days left.  Hoping you are almost ready for vacation, warm days, and having time for yourself!

An InLinkz Link-up

March's Pinterest Picks

 I am so excited to be linking up with Pawsitively Teaching and Inspired Owl's Corner for my top 3 Pinterest Picks!

 

I'm all about Pinterest.  It's by far my favorite teaching and decorating resource, so let's get started!

 

 

I know Read Across America Day was yesterday, but for me March is Read Across America Month.  We just don't stop.  This is a super cute and EASY way to get your kids motivated about reading!

You must also know that I'm a strong advocate of door decorations.  It's tough work and my doors are always full of mistakes, but the kids get SO excited when there is anything on their door.  So this pin, although simple, is everything I'm about.  And you should try it too!

Here's my finished product!  Definitely not as cute as the Pinterest one, but hey, it's there.

 

 

To go along with Read Across America Day (or Week...or Month), I did this bulletin board last year and I'm doing it again this year.  I take a lined sheet of paper and a blank sheet and staple them together.  The kids draw their favorite book on one side and write what they love about the book on the lined side.  I take pictures of kids looking at a book and print them off of my home computer. The kid's pictures will take a TON of ink when you print them off, but it's so worth it.

Just some tips if you'd like to make this bulletin board, put each picture as a slide in a powerpoint presentation.  Then cover all of the background you can with white shapes to save on ink.  If you've taken pictures at a close enough depth, they should turn out perfect!

Last, OH MY GOODNESS.  This is so cute!  I found this leprechaun trap on Pinterest and the link was dead, but it was enough to spark my interest.  I can honestly say I've never done a send home project with my kids.  The school I am at has little family participation, so I always assumed it wouldn't work.  After seeing this, though, all I can ask is why not?  If parents help, they help.  If not, at least I tried!  If you search "Leprechaun Trap" on Pinterest, there's so much more.  Like this letter, for example:

There are so many writing templates to go along with it as well.  I plan on asking my kids to make the Leprechaun Trap and then have them write about it the next week after they turn in their traps.  Crossing my fingers that it will work out, but it sure looks like fun!

An InLinkz Link-up

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