I have had the BEST first week! It was jam packed and the days went by in the blink of an eye. I've been use to have 18 kids for the whole day in first grade. Since I'm just teaching reading, I have three different classes and 72 kids! That is definitely going to take
So, you're a new 5th grade teacher... Are you overwhelmed? Excited? Terrified? Maybe you're all of these things! It is my hope that after reading this blog post, you will feel prepared and confident to meet your new
Illusions, meditations, stretching, and more.
I moved from Elementary to Middle School two years ago. This will be my third year in fifth grade. I really love setting up my classroom but it is so much easier and less time consuming now. Primary teachers go above and beyond!!! Here are some things that I do to make it even easier. Things that I do to get ready: (If you make a to do list before you go in it helps) #1 Clean out closets and organize...purge I quickly go through all my cabinets and drawers. I am still weeding down my teaching materials, if it is not science or math related, I have been giving it away. Last year, I saved photo copy boxes and when I finished a science unit I put it in a box and labeled it. The copy boxes fit in my closet. Take note of materials and what you may need as you organize. #2 Name Tags...no more labeling I was obsessed with labels and then went to a number system in my elementary classroom. No more!!! I have two homeroom classes and found it hard to use numbers. The only thing I label is their desk nameplates for the open door day. I bought the $1.00 chart strips from Target. The kids want to see who is in their class. We have the kids bring their nameplates with them when we switch classes the first few weeks. Fifth graders can write their name and label their own workbooks and notebooks!!!! Our students share desks and they write their name on masking tape and put on inside. Buy extra sharpies!!!! (Hint...laminate first. If there is an error, write over sharpie with dry erase marker and it comes off!!!) #3 Bulletin Boards..leave them up all year!!!! There are fewer bulletin boards in Middle School. I cover the boards in my classroom with fade less black paper and have not changed them since I moved. I cover up over the summer. I did update the middle board with a STEM section this year Design boards that you don't have to keep changing. It will save you time. #4 Copy for First Week (3 days)...Keep it Simple You will not get through everything you have planned. I was looking at my plans from last year and there were so many extra things added like an assembly, school pictures, fire drill, school tour, etc. The activities that you do plan take longer than you think. It is good to have extra things, but it should be focused on starting curriculum, like setting up interactive notebooks, going over math practices, multiplication quiz, etc. Choose your B2S activities carefully. I am doing a Math About Me Using Equations and a Fifth Grade News sheet. I do have team building things planned as well. (you don't want to repeat from other grades) Start out slow and establish your routines and expectations! #5 Planning I like to create a pacing guide for my math and science units. Luckily, our grade level team has created it together. There is so much to teach and it keeps me on track. #6 Furniture I like my desks in groups. We do a lot of group work in math and science. I also want my desks facing the front board, because I use the projector for math and use many video clips. I bought the supply carts from Target and have one for each group. If they are not using supplies, they can be moved. There is two extra shelves to store notebooks and anything else we need. The carts are on wheels and can be moved. I use a kidney table as my desk with cubbies for storage. The teacher desk was taking up too much space and I was never at it. I keep my lap top on a cart near the front board. I use a student chair at the cart, because they teacher chair was cumbersome. Have a great school year!!!!
Did you think teaching students to write would be a snap? I mean, you are a college-educated, certified individual. How hard could it possibly be? Well, it’s a challenge, especially when just starting out. In my classroom,
These activities are easy for kids to do, with concepts that build their science knowledge.
I happened to walk by this fabulous math project that one of my team members was doing with our kids. With her permission, I'm sharing it with you :) As a side note, I don't have pictures of the process because I discovered this project after-the-fact. In math class, they have been working on finding the volume of a rectangular prism. Students brought in boxes from various products, such as cereals, mac and cheese, even empty cases of pop. They used interlocking cubes to measure the length, width, and height of the box. Then they found the volume of the box using cubic units as the label. Using grid paper, they traced the dimensions on each side, cut out the box, reproduced the artwork on the sides, and assembled it into a box. Here is how they ended up! My favorite is the case of Mountain Dew :) Link up your math ideas!
This spring is presenting new challenges for teachers all across the country. Some of us are getting ready to go back to the classroom for the first time this year. Some of us have been in person all year, but we are about to get new virtual kids. Some of you have been in the ... Read More about Classroom Management and Expectations
This post breaks down how I teach reading in 5th grade and how my reading block is structured, including the materials needed.
Discover a wide variety of engaging activities when teaching fractions. Cooperative learning strategies are used with many of these activities.
We are doing first grade phonics now. Get ready to learn and do all of the activities I think everyone will enjoy!
Inspire your second writers with this list of journal ideas and 2nd grade writing prompts shared by one of our Journal Buddies readers!
Book clubs in first grade?! It may seem like a stretch, but the Spring is such a great time to get your students ready and used to reading, thinking about, and discussing books with their peers instead of me, the teacher! When done right, it can be such a fun learning experience for both […]
Do you utilize math rotations in your classroom? Math centers are a great way to incorporate independence and corporative learning skills. It gives you time to work with students one on one or in small groups with skills they are struggling with. I know it can be overwhelming to get started with centers, especially if ... Read More about Time Saving Tips For Math Centers
Check out this great lesson I found on Cleverbean. Learning Intention: Create an artwork in response to the text ‘Journey’ by Aaron Becker.
Everything you need to know about teaching 5th grade categorized and organized by topic for easy reference.
Do you think reading centers are only for the littles? Think again! Learn why you should be using upper elementary reading centers.
Another center that is really popular in my class is Read, Visualize, Draw . It's a great way to practice visualizing while reading, which...
So it’s about that time for a lot of you out there. You know, Back to School Time! I have a little less than a month before I need to report for duty, but come August my brain pretty much switches from Summer Brain over to Teacher Brain. One of the things I love about going back to school is that it’s my opportunity to try out new ideas, to change up the decorations or furniture placement in my room, and to become a better version of my teacher self. I have last years mistakes and successes under my belt. I know what works, what really, really works, and what I won’t do again. Heading into my 6th year of teaching {{gasp}} I’m starting to finally feel like I know a few things :) I decided to round up some pins and products that I am really excited to put to use come September. Hopefully you will find some new ideas too. And if you’ve already tried an activity, tip, or product, I’d love to hear what you think about it! All the pictures are linked to the original source so you can read up on what makes them so fabulous! There are so many cute ideas listed here. It’s an especially awesome pin if you are also a parent with kids heading back to school. I especially love this adorable binder from Thirty Handmade Days… I’m loving the idea of individual trash cans so my kiddos aren’t up and down every time we make a craft or do a project. The ones pictured are from the adorable Michelle over at Fabulous in First. Speaking of Michelle… I am really excited to use her “Second Grade Helper” this year. This is going to be such a great resource for my kiddos to have in their desks. I can already hear the words, “Use your Helper.” Love it! {The link to this one is not a link to the specific post. I couldn’t find it on there! I’m also Tumblr-Illiterate so that might be part of the problem} I’m on a never-ending quest to be more organized and I love this idea. It lays it all out there for ya! When I make a big long list the important stuff sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. I might have to make a cutisfied version of this one but I love the inspiration! Speaking of being organized I am so loving this awesome InFORMation Kit by none other than the awesome, amazing Kelley Dolling. She’s seriously thought of everything, made it cute, and even better…editable. I wish I thought of it myself. This is a MUST DO for me. I love the “More Time” Bin. Instead of papers getting hidden in classwork folders, students put unfinished papers in the basket. They can go back to the basket whenever they have extra time AND I always know who is still working on what. Genius! I don’t have a classroom bathroom anymore, but I’m going to put these in the hallway bathrooms. They’re cute and they get the point across…don’t you just love when that happens?! I love, love, love all of these Parent Resources for Back to School. Consider them printed and prepared for the first day of school and/or Open House. They’re attention grabbing but have really important and relevant information and tips for parents. Creating a tightknit classroom community from day 1 is so important to me. I organize plenty of activities year after year that have worked wonderfully and I am excited about adding this one to the mix. I bought the frame to make this today and I can’t wait to have my kiddos sign it the first day. {The print is a FREEBIE by the way :)} This class list idea is oh-so-cute and perfect for a sub-binder or student teacher. Or those first few crazy days where you don’t even remember your own name, much less those 28 little people running around your room. Okay, so I kind, sorta, cheated with the second image because it’s a product of mine, but really, between Alisha’s totally awesome, super-fabulous “Savvy in Second Grade” pack and my “Back to School MEGA Book Pack” my lessons and activities for the first two weeks of school are completely covered. Alisha has compiled some of the cutest crafts and activities into this pack. I am seriously obsessed. Seriously. I’m lovin’ it. I am also a HUGE book lover and I want my kiddos to have the same love for reading that I do. I try to incorporate as many story-based lessons as I can {outside of our regular curriculum}. I start off right away with my Back to School MEGA Pack. It has tons of lessons to go with your favorite Back to School books including… *Stripes *Chrysanthemum *The Recess Queen *The Juicebox Bully *Hooway for Wodney Wat *Dear Teacher *How I Spent My Summer Vacation I’ll be back soon to show off a few of the activities! The above are only a few of my Back to School Pins. You can check out my Back to School Pinterest Board by clicking below. Don’t forget…my Favorite Things Linky is this Thursday! The category this week is Back to School Faves for the Kids. I’ll be back with even more Back to School goodies! There’s also still time to scoop up this fabulous BUNDLE from educents. There are so many great products included in this bundle by so many of my favorite 2nd and 3rd Grade bloggers. This is good stuff, people! Have a great night everyone! Halle
Our new reading series at school uses a lot of photo cards. We use them to introduce our new vocabulary words and to retell our stories.
When I start the new school year, I pick a book of the day for the first two weeks. I create a variety of activities to go with each book. I use a lot of books that focus on social and emotional learning, including kindness, friendship, and respect. But, I also add in some fun ... Read More about 8 Books for Back to School
This spring is presenting new challenges for teachers all across the country. Some of us are getting ready to go back to the classroom for the first time this year. Some of us have been in person all year, but we are about to get new virtual kids. Some of you have been in the ... Read More about Classroom Management and Expectations
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Do you utilize math rotations in your classroom? Math centers are a great way to incorporate independence and corporative learning skills. It gives you time to work with students one on one or in small groups with skills they are struggling with. I know it can be overwhelming to get started with centers, especially if ... Read More about Time Saving Tips For Math Centers
The activities below are available for free download, and are to be used in educational and/or private settings. They may not be used elsewhere or for other purposes (such as for profit) unless exp…
Use this free printable book report sandwich idea to recall what you read. Print in black / white or color and use with elementary age kids.
My best advice to any teacher is to start the year with simple, but clear classroom expectations. If students know what you expect out of them starting from the beginning of the year, you will spend less time stopping instruction to correct behavior. When students know the expectations, they will try their best to follow ... Read More about Classroom Expectations
Engage students in science for September on topics like magnets, apples, matter, and fall through science experiments and integrating science and literacy.
Use low-prep writing crafts to get students excited about writing and showcase everything they have learned.
Hey everyone! Just putting together some of my end-of-the-year projects and wanted to share this mini memory book with you guys. Why is it a...
Assessment is a word that many educators have come to dislike, but we all know that assessment drives instruction. It is important to know where your learners are at in order to teach them effectively. My beginning literacy skills assessment is great way to see what your young learners know. Alphabet knowledge and phonological and phonemic awareness
