Organizing organizers

Although I do not have a teaching job, or even a classroom, I have been slowly collecting items for my future classroom. Here I have taken the typical plastic storage cart that I have seen in many classrooms and I have hidden all the stuff in the drawers. Although you cannot see in this picture, I use a black and white printed contact paper to cover the sides of the drawers,and I love it. In this photo, I have used black construction paper slid into place to hide the stuff from the front, and then I wrote on 3x5 index cards what was in each drawer. Problem? Yes, the construction paper gets disheveled and so do the cards. What I would do (trial and error at its best here). I would use the same contact paper to cover the front like I did the sides then I would take a coordinating piece of paper and make a label. I would then attach the label with clear contact paper.

School T-shirts

I just read some comments on a blog and one teacher mentioned that on the first day of school each year, the teachers at her school get a new t-shirt to wear.  She also mentioned how she was beginning to collect several.  I then realized, she may have some that are just sitting in her closet with nothing to do, but collect dust and attract moths.  Why not put those t-shirts to good use?

What about a lightweight school spirit blanket?

Check this out:

http://www.rusticsunshine.com/t-shirt-quilt/

I love this that she made.

        Lay the t-shirts flat, design up, and make a template (square or rectangular) using cardboard or something easy to cut, but sturdy, square up the template and cut it.  Then use it to cut out the front and back of each t-shirt.  Kick in those DIY mad seamstress skills and begin stitching. Here are a few ideas....

1. Sew all squares to make a t-shirt throw.

2. Stitch the shirt fronts together, stitch the shirt backs together, put quilt batting between, the sew them all together. (Don't forget to run stitches in any pattern to hold the quilt batting in place.)

3 Use #1 as a quilt top, take more material to use as quilt bottom, and do #2.

Any extra tops and bottoms, stitch the sides together, leaving a small opening (big enough for your hand to go into, stuff, and stitch closed.

Now you will have a school spirit COMFY t-shirt blanket that you can keep in your classroom for when you get a bit chilly, or for the kids to sit on when you have class outside.  Easy to wash, and puts those extra T-shirts to good use. :)

The pillows are wonderful for those reading corners, or to toss in the floor to rest your tired tootsies. ;)

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Things I think I need in the classroom-what do you think?

I want to be as chemical free as possible in my classroom, however I feel I need to be as clean as possible. Below I am going to make a list of things I want to have in keeping my classroom clean.  My friends, please feel free to respond and let me know what you think about each item.

Himalayan salt lamp- natural air purifier and cool to look at

Homemade spray of vinegar and tea tree oil for a disinfecting all purpose cleaner. Great for desks.

Broom and dust pan- just a small fancy one for quick clean ups of dirt from muddy shoes, spilled snack, etc.

Cheap toothbrush- for many uses including cleaning small areas

Dawn dish soap for extra tough clean ups

Magic erasers for when scrubbing is necessary. Great for desks too. 

Small bottle of Clorox Bleach for when the room needs a deep cleaning. 

Baking soda- used to make a scrubbing paste with a bit of water.

microfiber cleaning cloths

Paper towels

Small trash can for disposal of cleaning cloths until I take them home to wash.

Socks- each student bring a couple of mismatch socks for dry erasers.

Can you think of anything else?

Absent Student papers- another idea.

We all know that from time to time, nearly every student will be absent at least once in a school year.  I saw the best idea the other day on Pinterest. The idea is you take a file crate, set up 31 folders, labeled from 1-31. These numbers stand for the date of the month. Print enough copies so that each student has one.  Take the remaining of the copies (the ones for absent students) and place them in that day. 

What I love about this is the fact that a the students can go to the crate and collect the papers they missed for their time absent without the teacher having to search and then go make copies.

What I dislike is, the students have a entire month where they can "collect" their missing assignments.  There are problems with this.  There will always be the one student who doesn't check until the end of the month, there is a great risk of another student helping them self to the remainder of the papers because they keep loosing theirs, and this allows the teacher a chance to be forgetful.

Why not set it up where there are 5 folders. Each of the five are labeled Monday thru Friday.  On a Post-It, write each days absent students and then stick it to the inside of each folder.  As the students collect their assignments, they can mark off their name for the day.  I would also set up, on a clip board, each days assignments for the week. It becomes the students responsibility to collect their missed work.  I would also give time on Friday evenings to collect missed work, take home for the weekend, and return by Monday.  

With this said, on Monday morning, I would then collect the absent work.

With having this system, the teacher will then have a daily list of students absent and a list of the work they missed.  If the teacher uses a binder to organize this, then I would suggest a 3" so they can file the weeks list behind the daily folders.   This way the papers can be retrieved when necessary.

Again, these are just ideas that I am collecting so that I can look back on them when I get my own classroom. 

No Mess Glue

Glue! I have noticed that teachers are using stick glue in the classroom more and more. Really! Some of the reasons are due to fast drying time, less mess, and easy to use. Yes! These are great, but look at the negatives: the little sticks run out fast, aren't refillable, , they tend to dry out before you know it, and overtime the glue looses its bond. Talk about frustrating! Well, have I got a solution! As I was perusing through my Oriental Trading magazine today I saw that they had empty bingo markers for sale . Then I had a little light bulb go off. Why not fill them with glue? White school glue is a bit thicker than paint so it shouldn't spill, the sponge tip allows for a smooth thin layer, and it has a cap so it can be closed. If the glue is too thick for the marker, then all you have to do is add a few drops of water and mix it well. The teacher can add a few drops of food coloring before pouring it into the marker for added interest. The teacher can limit the amount of glue in the marker. There is less waste since these markers are refillable. There is as much control of the glue as a stick of glue. Teachers and Educators should be pouncing on this idea. Ok, so I do realize that there are liquid glue sticks out there, but do you realize that the glue is runnier that the classic white glue? Those tubes tend to drool! The refillable bingo markers are designed to keep thick liquids under control.

Here I found some for $14.95

Sargent Art Brushless Paint Marker Empty Dispensers - 1 Ounce - Pack of 10

@ Amazon.com

Practicum Love- first week in the classroom

This is so true. Thank you Katie for sharing this. http://katiemalinski.com/2013/12/the-kids-who-need-the-most-love-will-ask-for-it-in-the-most-unloving-ways/

Yay!  I have finally began my practicum.  It feels so good.  I love my mentoring teacher, the students, and the staff. I do not care if there is a licensed teacher in the room with me,  I grab the reigns when I feel I need to and run with them.  One thing that I have learned with my practicum is to just jump in there and do what you know needs to be done.  If you have questions ask them, and follow your mentoring teacher everywhere except for the bathroom (that is just wrong).   I have already spent about 15 minutes in the principles office. No I did not get into trouble,  he invited me into his office while he talked to the 4th grade teachers about students who's parents needed a call from the principle due to students lacking in their work.  It was nice to know that they are wholly welcoming me into their school with open arms.

If you are beginning practicums or student teaching, all I can say is just jump in and go for it.  If you have ideas, express them. If you have questions, ask them. And, most of all, DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE CONTROL.  You are there to get a hands on experience in teaching and you will either grab that bull by the horns and run with him, or you will jump off and throw your hands in the air (at which time the kids will run all over you like little bulls).  Don't hesitate, that is when you will begin second guessing yourself.  

I pondered over what I should take to my practicum school for months, and I even resorted to searching the internet.  I could not find anything about what I should take to the practicum with me.  After some intense pondering, I can to the conclusion that I only needed some basic materials.  Here they are:

Pencil
Pen (colored, black, and or red)
Paper- for notes
Time sheet
Identification
Hand Sanitizer
Snack
Ice water
Ibuprofen (taken before entering the school)
And lastly, Your Sanity

Make sure that when you enter that school you have a clear head, and open eyes and ears. Upon entering that school, those kids are your responsibility.

A little piece of advice my instructor gave me is: "If at any point you feel that teaching is not for you then get out".  Don't do something that you regret.  If you second guess teaching, then it may not be for you.  Don't stay in the teaching field and waste space,  get out and let someone else who wants to be there do it.

Absent students paper work

Okay, I have just had a shining epiphany.  First of all I am in love with the idea of student jobs in the classroom.  With that said, my epiphany is...wait for it...wait for it.... Have a student job where the student is responsible for making a bundle of papers and assignments for the absent students.  What do you think about it?  I think its grand.  Here is how I would set it up...

When planning your lesson plans, go on ahead and make enough copies of handouts so that each child gets one and then have two extras.  When the papers are passed around, someone needs to be responsible in making sure the extras are placed where the paper bundler has easy access throughout the day.

 Of the morning when you take roll, let the paper bundler know how many students are absent for that day.  The paper bundler will then be responsible for organizing the papers so that each student absent for the day will have a bundle.  The paper bundler can use a table or even the floor to use paper clips and bundle the days handouts.  They can work on this when they have finished their assignment early or have extra time throughout the day.  At the end of the day, the paper bundler can then nicely and neatly stack the papers and then staple them together.  These paper bundles can then be placed in a area near the door or where ever is convenient for the when the students return.

With this in mind, the paper bundler can also slap a sticky note on each paper that has a due date or any information that needs to be passed to the other student.

Okay, you are wondering what to do with the two extra copies.  Chances are, a student is going to mess up and either loose their paper or its rips.  The student then has immediate access to a extra copy of the days handout.  They do not have to bother you when they need it.  If you want to make 5 extra copies then feel free, or however many you think may be needed.

Does this make sense?  It just takes alot off of you.  For some reason if the paper bundler has not done their job correctly then it will show when the student comes back to class and does not have everything in their paper bundle.

This will also help if you have another student with the job of writing down and putting the days activities in a binder for the week.  The activities can be recorded, then placed in page protectors in a binder where all student can access it throughout the week.  This way the student can go to the binder first to see what they need to do.  Also you can type up a child friendly lesson plan that the students can read and understand.  All of this can be kept in the binder and will be good for when a parent comes to class and asks "what has my child been learning?"