2008-2009 to 2012-2013 Classroom Evolution

Phew!  We are one week into our school year, Orientation is over and went off without a hitch (worth mentioning, anyway), and the students have paid 4 of their 180 days' debt to society as fifth graders in my classroom *giggle*.  I've made quite a few changes this year and they really were more a product of the past four years' experiences.

I initially planned on doing my reveal today, but I have a few things that I finished up this weekend that I was going to take to school and hang first, so that will have to be my next post.

Obviously (based solely on the title of my blog), I have had a beach theme in the past.  That hasn't so much changed as it has evolved into more than just a beach theme.  It's also opening the door for me to transition into potentially changing the theme one day.  You know, if I win the lotto, get a wild hair, AND decide that I have nothing but time to dedicate to the cause.  I don't anticipate that happening ANY. TIME. SOON.

So, the evolution was caused by the team-teaching-turned-six-partner-switch that has occurred over the five years we've been working at OVE.  There have been a lot of changes, some good and others not-so-much, as far as the fifth grade team goes.  From the first year that we opened, out of a team of 8 (9 if you count our ESE Teachers, and I always do), only three of us remain.  *FROWN*  However, we've gotten the opportunity to make a lot more friends that way.

Short story EVEN LONGER, our grade level has been color coded since the first year we opened.  I was chose pink because red was already taken by the teacher who brought the idea from her former school--not being too big a fan of pink at the time, I have adapted MARVELOUSLY *patting myself on the back in an over-the-top-kinda-way*!  The first two years, I worked with Mrs. Teal (one of the originals ;)) and her color was...wait for it...TEAL!  For obvious reasons--though her favorite color was purple and happens to be my LEAST liked color (I detest purple and have no idea why)--and I am glad she went with her last name for the coding.  After that, my principal split us up to put two (what she called) seasoned teachers with two teachers who needed seasoning.  Hehehe, that part I rephrased.  My new partner, Mrs. Devine, was fairly new to teaching and I was excited because I conned convinced asked her to come to OVE when she was surplussed from GPE our first year of opening (she is the only other teacher that remains with us from the first year on our grade level).  Maureen (Devine)'s color choice was LIME GREEN.

NOW, we are split up in the grade level.  One partnership has the inclusion class and one mixed ability class (heterogeneous, if you will).  We remaining six have our homerooms, to whom we teach social studies, and then two homogeneous groups in our departmentalized subject areas.  For those who are new (and honestly, I'm not sure if I've even mentioned it yet), I teach language arts and reading to two blocks a day.

Last year was the first year that we did this and I really think that it went well.  I got the opportunity to work with five other teachers rather than just one, and also got the chance to know even more students rather than just the 44 I would have taught.

The color coding within my group began at that time with the three colors, as I was only using two in the previous years.  I had all of these left over teal and lime green storage  bins and areas, so it was just a natural color selection.  It wasn't all that obvious last year, but this year (and largely due to Pinterest and my constantly expanding blog reading/following) it took on a whole new dimension.  When former students returned to my room during Orientation to say hi--which I get VERY excited about because my babies leave the school after fifth so I don't get to see them in the hallways like other grade levels get to--they were oohing and aahing over the changes.  One student in particular, who I ADORE and taught the first year, said to her mom, "Mrs. Van Kampen has upgraded since I was in her class."   :D We had quite the giggle over that.

Well there you have it--I started using a beach theme, and it grew and grew for a few years and then this year I abruptly added a LOT of lime green and teal to my already pink accents and storage areas.  I am including a link to last year's sneak peek so that you can see the "before" from just a year ago.  My next post will have this year's updated (or upgraded, hehehe) look.

2011 Sneak Peek

New Lunch Board

This is going to be brief, as I'm about to swallow my head with my own yawns and have more papers to grade.  However, I found this BEAUT on Pinterest and wanted to share the sheer genius of it:

<<Source>>

Ironically I was already using cookie sheets for my lunch/attendance magnets, so I thought it would be great fun to dress up those drab ol' silver guys.  Here is mine:

Along the lines of "live and learn" I had to fix it twice that first day as it fell off of the bookshelf.  So it's already had a face lift.  I thought I had a picture of the changes, but I guess I'll have to take another tomorrow because I can't find it now.

Have a great evening!

- Posted by kvk using BlogPress from my iPhone

Applying My Theme

WOW!  What a bunch of work to recreate and apply my theme to things I'm already using.  I don't even know if it's overkill or just a bunch of things that only I appreciate.  Truly, I am not concerned if only I appreciate them.  The fact of the matter is that I spend a bulk of my life for over 200 days a year in this classroom and if it looks pretty to me and I appreciate it, it makes me happier...thereby making the lives of my itty- bitties (the ten year olds) and my loved ones better by default.  A happy teacher makes a happy learning environment. 
**Stepping down from my soap box.**

I made a sign (stay tuned, I'll post it below) for my classroom because even my principal stopped by during preplanning to ask me for a favor and stopped dead short in her tracks to say, "Oh, I was going to ask you to make something for me, but seeing this, perhaps I should ask someone else."  To which I replied, "Nonsense...what do you need?"  She is my boss after all, and I absolutely adore her. 

Now, what she was referring to is no surprise to my teammates.  These lovely ladies have come to expect what my principal saw every time we have an extended break.  It's a combination of my self-diagnosed ADD/OCD (or ACDDDO, in alphabetical order, like it should be).  Basically I pull everything out of my closet, shelves, drawers, bins, etc. and re-organize it. I don't know why.  It makes no sense and I wish I had complete mind control over my OWN brain to stop it. 

And THAT is what brings me to my current dilemma...why is it that I'm trying to apply my beach theme to everything this year?  Is it because I've already reorganized and need something to occupy my OCD part of my brain?  HAH!  I assure you, that is not the case.  It is because the school year is when my ADD takes complete control.  Grade papers?  But, but, but, I haven't typed that cute sign (found on Pinterest) up on the new beach backgrounds I've bought and downloaded:

Feel free to click on the poster to download it.  I won't embarrass myself by telling you how long something so simple took me to recreate.  *blush*

Have a great Sunday...I'm off to grade papers!  

Seastars, Sand Dollars, and Love,

Krystal

Sneak Peak

I've finally gotten around to taking some pictures of this year's classroom.  Here are a bunch to wet your whistle and then I'm off to bed (captions will have to be added tomorrow, folks, sorry).  It is waaaaaaay past my bedtime for a school night!

These are used to remind the students of the color code in my classroom.  Some of them have three teachers, and it can be a challenge remembering what each teacher has assigned to a specific time of day.  There are also labels on their desks with their numbers printed in the ink color that matched their period as well. 

My homeroom made quilt squares to honor the memories of the  nearly 3000 people lost to the attacks of 9-11.

This was a Pinterest modified idea.  Each roster is listed in Wordle format and posted outside of my door.

This is the Hello and Welcome board outside of my door.

I have this board posted outside of my room to remind the students  of the resource and lunch for the day.  They have about 25 minutes in the hall before entering, so they should, in theory, have read it before entering.   My Secret Word will be posted on this board beginning next week. 

This is the view of my door (the classroom side) with folders for students who were out and a couple of reminders.  The first--the BEACH sign--tells them what they should remember before entering the Beach every day.  The second is at about eye level for the seated children that reminds them that their future is in front of them (meaning the instruction/or activity in front of them, not who or what is seen in the window of the hallway).

The clipboard hanging is one that I decorated with scrapbook paper and some small shells and starfish.  It contains  my Tardy Log and is located just inside the door.  When students are Tardy, they are to sign in, so as not to disrupt instruction to report in.  You can also see the Standout Students and Student of the Month Character Traits posted next to it.

This is a word wall on which bricks containing Figurative Language will be posted.  It used to be posted outside on the hallway walls, but I've brought it in to make it more student interactive and am going to try and color code it to reflect class period.

This is my AR Stars board.  It is simply laminated scrapbook paper with an image of beach sand.  When the students take and pass their first AR Quiz, they (in theory) take off their flip flops and enter the beach to begin beachcombing for seashells.  For every passed quiz, they get a seashell sticker with their name on it and for every tenth quiz passed, they get a larger, laminated seashell placed on the board.  The smaller shells are sticker sheets that I buy at A.C. Moore and they are 27 for about $1.00 (although sometimes I find them on sale) and the larger ones are simply clipart shells that I printed and laminated last year.  The paper and larger seashells can be re-used so I am able to save the school on laminating.  The flip flops are scrapbook paper that I cut out on my Cricut using the "Life is a Beach" cartridge.

I found these signs on one of the blogs I'm "stalking" and will figure out which one and post the link this weekend.  

I have an individual reward ticket procedure and draw five tickets, randomly, each Friday.  I take their pictures in front of the board and they get a visit to my candy bin when I draw their names.   

I have a separate clipboard for each of my class periods.  I found these key chains at Home Depot and the cover pages are old calendar pages that I trimmed down and laminated for durability.

The hanging garland in front of the door I found at Big Lots, on  clearance--WOOT-WOOOOT!

I have posted these Pinteresting finds before, but here they are , in use, in my classroom.  I also have a Dr. Seuss corner so that his books are easily accessible when I need them for mini-lessons.

These are the bins where the students put their individual reward tickets.  I am embarrassed to see that I  haven't added labels to them yet.  That will  most likely change today (Mrs. Van Kampen LOVES labels).  :D

Each child has an individual bin to turn in any assignments or anything that I'd be collecting whole group.  I just realized I didn't take a picture of the flip side of these and will try to do so today after they take their vocabulary quizzes.

This is a close-up of the sign.  Ideally, the children would read it and then check their papers for the listed items before turning them in.  I truly think that the number of "Anonymous (no name)" papers has dropped, dramatically, but there are still those precious few who forget.

I saw something on Pinterest where people were making alphabets for students to use in their stations (spelling or vocabulary).  I modified it to fit my needs and this is my lunch count board.  It is an old calendar page that was a picture of a beach.  I'm not sure if the picture is as clear as I had hoped, but it was only my second attempt at making them--the first attempt I gave to Mrs. Devine to use in her room.

Here you see the board in action.  This also serves as my attendance.  This will likely be updated this weekend because I saw the CUTEST idea on Pinterest last night *insert cheesy grin here* and am just dying to get those boards home to give them a face lift!

I refer to two of these signs often:  "Nothing is never and option!" and "It's okay not to know; it is not okay not to try."

Believe it or not, this is a $5 beach towel I found on ABC Distributing.  I thought it was super cute and brightly colored so it is a backdrop behind the student computers.  The sea-art above I made and (I believe) I have posted before.  If you'd like to know how I made them, leave a comment.  I'd be happy to share the simple instructions!  :)

The top of my media cabinet has some "Personals" as well as a few of my favorite things.

More of my Teacher Desk wall area.

The wooden word phrases I found at A.C. Moore for $1 a piece a few years ago and the sign I found on one of my Blogger Stalkee's pages.  I'll post the link here after school sometime today to give proper credit.

Seastars, Sand Dollars, and Love,

Krystal

Pinterest-ing II

This was so adorable and easy that I made it immediately upon finding it.  HERE is the original post though on that site, she didn't use the Wordle website.  If you haven't been on it, check it out HERE!  It's a great site and so much fun!  There is another one that has more options, and at the moment I can't remember what it is, but I will check my browsing history and update this posting if I come across it.

I made three, but need to head back to the dollar store to pick up two more document frames because I only had one left.  I plat to hang them outside of my room where my rosters USED to be. ;)

Aren't they just ADORABLE?  And when I get up to the Dollar Tree, I'll have paid a whopping $2.14 (including tax)!  Ironically I already had an idea to do something like this for the children for a Christmas gift or an end-of-year gift.  I'm SO excited that I've already taken a picture of each of their writings that I intend to do it with.  NOW...to start stocking up on document frames...  ;)