Data Driven Panic

Sooo, after the last test my students took to guide instruction and give an idea of performance, we had a team meeting letting us know how to interpret said results and where to go from there.  As much as I look at the numbers and interpret the data, I just want to put this out there...if you have access to your test items/questions, PLEASE make sure that you're looking at what your students are being asked.

I think in the grand scheme of things, sometimes we forget that no matter the level of intelligence/skill, these test are still written by humans.  Humans are still known to err.  It happens and we all catch it on our occasional assignments and/or answer keys.  TRUST YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND INSTINCTS and ALWAYS double check.  It truly can be such a relieve to realize that a question or answer choice was poorly worded.

Hang in there, check, double check, and TRUST that you're doing your best when you are.  For some reason, I felt it necessary to put that out there and I hope it brings comfort to someone who needs to read it.

Loooong Week

I am sooooo glad it's Friday--this week has been jam packed with report cards, committee meeting, team meeting, flipped schedule (two days), data meeting, district spelling bee, and today we finish off with our grade level awards ceremony.  OH, and yesterday my husband left for Falon, NV for a week "or two" for work.  :(

PHEW!  Thank goodness for the goodness of Martin Luther King, Jr and Monday off (certainly the Monday off is just an added bonus for all of the wonderful changes he inspired and caused in our nation), because I am hoping needing to get caught up!  Anyone else feeling like an anvil was dropped on them this week?

Deep Breath...I'm Gonna Do It!

I'm going to take the challenge!  I have what I like to refer to as "Organized Chaos" going on in my room and I am finally in the first stage of recovery.  I am admitting that I have a problem.  SO, I'm counting on the Clutter Free Classroom to lead me out of the dark, dismal clutter-filled dungeon.  Lead on, Strong Leader! 

This is my desk--though I rarely sit here, it is  the first unpacking zone of my morning.

This isn't bad as I just had to completely reorganize it before Christmas when one of the shelves gave  under the weight and spilled everything onto the floor.  

Cleaning basket on the floor for quick touch-ups.  I also just added that.  These used to be across the room under the sink.

BONUS!  My inbox was actually cleaned out on Friday before I left school.  :)

This is my actual work area/meeting area.  This is unpacking zone number two.  By the end of the day, this table is usually covered.  I can't explain it.  :(

On the stool I have all of the Scholastic Book Orders that filled my mailbox when I returned from break.  Why are they here?  No idea.  I am not sure what I'm going to do with them yet so it seemed as good a place as any, I suppose. The pink bin is how I file all of the papers that need to be returned to my reading groups.  That is actually organized and ready to disperse tomorrow in our Tuesday Folders. WHOOT!  

Another angle of my work table.

My library is in a state of...well let's just say it's in a state.  I started with the best of intentions, too, but I am still struggling with a way to ensure that the books will be returned to their proper place when a student is finished.  When I find them in the wrong places (desks, cubbies, random places in the room), I place them on a shelf to be reshelved.  Oy--that's a mouthful.

I just did some reorganization here on Friday to put the station activities in those new magazine holders from Target.  I apparently got distracted because you can see the leftovers on the chair.

The leftovers.

The shelves above my sink--not too bad.

I just moved the pillows over here b/c they were on the bottom shelves of my library and I decided that I needed those shelves for...BOOKS!  Whodathunkit?

Not bad...

This needs some attention.  It has cups, plates, mouthwash, standardized testing copies, and treats.  A bit of  a mix that makes no sense.  I should mention that I don't use these cups or plates for anything.

My writing station--not bad.  The only reason the crayons are there is because that is where I keep my stragglers and I have a plan for those using a Pinteresting idea for Valentine's Day.  ;)

Believe it or not, I've actually gone through this basket MANY times.  I have most of those copies in digital files.  Someone please tell me to recycle them?

Intended organization going slightly awry...  The folders are mostly empty, the manilla envelope is for a student who withdrew and I want all of her stuff together for when I receive her withdrawal packet.

Rarely used nonfiction resources.  I have such a hard time getting my students to choose books from over there, but you put them in the school library and they head straight to the informational books.  Bizarre.  I think I need to make it look more appealing.  I am also thinking about getting rid of the magazine rack and all of the contained magazines.  They. Are. Never. Used.

Another failing attempt at being organized.  If only I didn't have the attention span of a PUPPY! :(

And so begins the tour of my closet.  I am SO glad that this door not only shuts, but also locks.  I have made a very honorable attempt at being organized here, but it's those moments when I have to put something away quickly or those days when I can't get to it (for putting it in its appropriate place, anyway) and then INTO the dungeon/closet it goes.  :(

I can't even make excuses for what you're seeing here.

Though I know what is in each of the pink-lidded bins, I think I need to finish labeling them to feel good about them.

Buddy Read books.

Many of those portfolios are empty and the rest are storing things that I.  NEVER.  USE!  Ahem...RECYCLE THEM, KRYSTAL!!!

Hey, it's a way to store charts. ;)

Yeah--no idea, no excuse.

UGH!  Deeper in, and definitely darker!

Please don't judge me for the tops of my filing cabinets.  Again, tucked in the closet and I'm reverted back to the peek-a-boo game of childhood where, if I can't see it, it isn't there.  Hmph!

Now, as bad as this looks, this is where I store all of my empty gift bags, wrapping paper, and totes.   Certainly there's a better way...

This is actually organized!  WHOOT!

SO that's it...and now that I'd like to go bury my head in the sand, I can only hope...that there is still hope for me.

Liebster Award

My cup runneth over!  Thank you to Linda over at Tales of a Fifth Grade Teacher for awarding me the Liebster Award!

The next step is to award five blogs with the award--they have to have 200 followers or less.  So, without further ado:

Smiling in Second Grade

The Best Endings

Ms.Rachel's Room

Live, Laugh, and Love to Learn in 2nd Grade

One Little Word

Farley over at Oh Boy 4th Grade does something fun instead of resolutions for the new year.  I'd been reading responses to it through my Google Reader and started thinking about what my OLW would be, if I decided to do it (which, of course, I had or I wouldn't have given it any thought at all).  I have FINALLY decided on one:

I think that if I can do that on a regular basis...I can call each day a success!  LOVE this idea!  Thank you, Farley, for your idea!