Five for Friday, Classroom Reveal, Giveaway, & More!

Wow...I have not been anywhere NEAR as dedicated to blogging this week as I would have liked!! I didn't even get to link up with ANY of my favorites all week!!  Today is Saturday and NOW I'm finally linking up my Five for Friday with Kacey over at Doodle Bugs Teaching???!?!

Here we go!

I officially went back to school this week!  First week in a new school, new grade, new EVERYTHING!  As many of you know I have taught elementary for 10 years, and this year I will be teaching at an AWESOME middle school in my district.  I'm teaching 6th grade math and science (my two favs!!).  I am working with an awesome team, and my teaching partner and I are on a two man team and we work together beautifully.  We have one of the higher gifted classes on our team, so I will be doing a LOT of differentiation this year.  What is also great about this school, is that the elementary school I taught at for 6 years feeds into this middle school, so I am really excited to see and teach a lot of my former students.  We had our meet the teacher open house on Wednesday, and it was so GREAT!  It makes me sooooooooo excited to start teaching on Monday (although I'm sure this will be the most nervous I have been since my first year)!  I am excited to take you all with me on the journey!

 I figured that since I was headed back to school, it is a good time to give away a little back to school goodies.  I love having giveaways to thank such wonderful followers, so here it is!

I have included 5 of my back to school items that have been hot sellers, and one that I just created! :)  If you win, you'll get my Student Procedure Handbook, Exit Ticket Bulletin Board, Inspirational Quotes Subway Art, Math Problem Solving Strategies, and a Would You Rather 4 Corners Ice Breaker Power Point!!  That is a $14 Value!!!  So, if you have already gone back to school you could still use it, and if you HAVEN'T gone back to school--this will hook you up!!! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I finally got my classroom ready to go!  I thought it was hard to decorate a middle school classroom!  The hard part was trying to figure out WHAT to put on the walls and boards, but I was pretty happy with how it turned out:

So, the board that I really had some fun with was this one:

I created a BOGGLE board, like many of you have...but I needed something more CHALLENGING for my students.  So...I made sure that all 20 numbers were linked to another on the board in some way or another, and it will be the students job to tell me HOW they are related (such as which operation links the numbers).  For example, I have 1/4, 3, and 3/4 scattered on the board, so a student could say 1/4 x 3 is 3/4.  I am collecting all of the boards that I do this year into one file...so I can get any kinks out first, then it will be up in my TPT store once I get it rolling! Then for the first people that download the small file, you will be able to keep REdownloading it at no cost as I add more to it.  If you think this is something that you would want NOW, just send me an e-mail and I'll get it up and running. :)

So, another thing that I have been struggling with this week is what kind of ice breaker activities to do the first week of school---I LOVE me some ice breakers!!! :)  I'm going to do some of my old standbys, but I worked on one today that I think will be a hit---especially with older kids!

I plan to use this sometime within the week!  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!  There are 9 questions for students to answer with choices A-D that correspond A, B, C, D throughout the room.  I thought this would be GREAT for middle schoolers because of the moving around, talking, etc.  Plus there are some great questions--I plan to play along, too! :)  It would be great for grades 4-12!  It's part of my giveaway package, but if you want it for the first week of school, you can get it HERE.

I hope that everyone has a great rest of the weekend!!!!!

Classroom Procedures Blog Hop & a Classroom Rewards Freebie

Last Saturday of summer vacation!  AHHHHHH....where did the summer go????  Well, in the spirit of back to school I have teamed up with some fellow North Carolina teachers for a classroom procedure blog hop!! 

Classroom procedures are SOOOOOO important!!!  It's always amazing how just one little blip in a normal procedure can throw the whole day off.  We know what it is like when we are out of the classroom, and a guest teacher is in our spot!  The students are always there to remind them of how "Ms/Mr. So and So does it this way!" :)  That's the sign of a good procedure! :)  So here are some of my FAVORTE tips for back to school, or if you are just starting out as a teacher.

SIMPLE RULES. 

 I have only always had 3:  Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible.  That pretty much sums it all up! :)  On that first week I have those rules up on the board, and we brainstorm as a class what each rule means and looks like.  I still plan to do that this year with my 6th graders!  

GET YOUR STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

Every year I have my class make a procedure handbook for the classroom:

We talk as a class about each procedure, then the students pair up, write what they are to do for each procedure, illustrate it, and then present it to the class. This gives THEM some ownership in the classroom.  It also makes for a great bulletin board display to start the year and then goes great into a class handbook for new students, guest teachers, or even students that need a refresher.  If you're interested in trying this in your classroom, check it out by clicking the picture above. :)

YOU WILL LEARN WITH EXPERIENCE

So...I always thought that I LOVED hand held pencil sharpeners for kids.  I mean what is better than them sharpening their own pencils at their seat...until it crashes to the floor while you are teaching!!  So, from there on, I have used this:

I love that students can just put a pencil that isn't sharp in the basket to be sharpened, and then take a brand new one to write with. Whoever invented this idea is GENIUS! :)

HAVE STUDENT REWARDS BE AFFORDABLE.

Ok, raise your hand if your first few years teaching you broke the bank buying things for your treasure box??  I know I SURE did!!!!  That is when I had to think up a solution.  I came up with a variety of classroom rewards that students can choose from that are mostly FREE!!!

This is just the first page of it.  It's in my TPT store for free, so if you click on the picture above it will take you right to it! :)

 I used a classroom economy system in elementary school, so this worked out PERFECTLY.  They kept it in their take home folders, and could refer to it periodically to see what they were saving up for!  

So, there was MY take on classroom procedures! :)  What are some of YOUR favorite procedures or tips and tricks in YOUR classroom?

Now, to continue hopping, head on over to visit Kim from Activity Tailor!  She has some GREAT tips to offer you on students with attention issues and a SUPER freebie!

Meet the Teacher Linky! :)

Today I am linking up (FINALLY) with Stephanie over at Falling into First for her AWESOME linky!!!

Here's a little about me:

I am a North Carolinian by way of Michigan.  I moved here for a teaching job (and let's not lie...warmer weather. :))  My husband is ALSO a teacher!  We actually met when we taught together!  We have a one year old miracle baby that tomorrow celebrates ONE YEAR of being home with us from his 98 day NICU stay after being born at 25 weeks.  

When you see him now-you would NEVER know he was a little 1 pound 9 inch baby! :)  We are VERY blessed.

I have taught elementary school for 10 years...grades 2-5.  This year I wanted to try something I ALWAYS wanted to do:  Middle School!  So, I will be teaching math and science to 6th graders starting August 25th! 

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

sharpies, nature, baby snuggles, kayaking, blogging, creating, eating at different types of restaurants, travel, The Walking Dead, spending time with family & friends, shopping, Michigan, OBX, camping

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

I would love to do something that involved travel and FOOD. :)  You know, like one of those people of the Food Network that get to go to ALL of these cool places, check out different restaurants, and eat YUMMY food!  

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

creative, cheerful, enthusiastic
 

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

Can I PLEASE sit through another meeting?
 

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

I LOVE Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon.  I would love to have them both...now THAT would be fun!!! 

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

Take Risks-It's About the Journey

 Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

 I would also have to pick teleportation because sometimes it just plain STINKS to be a days travel away from family.  If I could teleport I could go home whenever I wanted. :)

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world" 

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Honestly, it would not be anything!  I CANNOT sing!  I would be one of those people that they make fun of on the outtakes...so really I could just about sing anything.

 Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

I am DEFINITELY more of a morning person!  I love my quiet time before baby B gets up to just relax, drink coffee, create, or blog.

 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

I LOVE my math strategies posters!!  From the style of the posters to the way that I printed and mounted them...L-O-V-E it!

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 

I ran a WHOLE marathon a few years ago (you wouldn't know that looking at me now, though!  lol).  My goal was under 5 hours, and I finished in 4 hours and 56 minutes.  ha ha.  Definitely one of my BEST accomplishments!!!!

Monday Made It-Subway Art Obsession

HAPPY MONDAY!  This is my LAST Monday before I am officially back in Back to School mode.  AHHH...

Before I get on with the Monday Made It's, I just want to thank everyone for all of your support during my 100 follower giveaway!!! :)  We have three winners...I have already e-mailed you all.  

My Prize Pack:  Emily P.

Elementary Prize Pack:  Andrea L.

Secondary Prize Pack:  Purple P.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Ok, time to link up with Tara over at Fourth Grade Frolics for Monday Made It!!! :)  I'm sure that so many people will have back to school Made It's so, I will try to keep them to a minimum. :)

This could potentially be my most FAVORITE thing that I have ever made for my classroom!!!  Since I will be teaching middle school this year, I needed some new posters for my wall because my other posters just won't cut it. :)  So...I made myself math problem solving strategy posters! :)

I have been LOVING the neon/black and neon/chalkboard look, so I made them in that style.  :)  I made a lime green tissue pom for the top, matted the pages I printed on black card stock, and then bought a cute black & white ribbon for hanging it.  :)

If you would like the printable, you can find it here:

Here is a NON-School related item that I made this week. :)  It was my hubby's birthday yesterday (he is also a teacher), and I had our son "make" this for him:

I figured that he could put this on his desk at school. :)  I just used a wooden frame from Michaels that I painted and used scrap book stickers to embellish it. 

Ok. here is the last school related thing that I will blog about.  I made some OTHER subway art items, too (along with about 15 tissue poms, but who wants to see a picture of that? :)).  I have a few FAVORITE quotes that I also turned into neon subway art, too!

I really love how these turned out!  Anyway, if you like them, you can click on the picture above.  

I will be going into my classroom today for the last time until next Monday when I am required to go back. I hope that you all have a WONDERFUL week!!!!!!!!!   

August Currently

Happy August THIRD...ha ha.  I'm a little late with the link-up.  I think that I want to be in denial that it's already AUGUST!!!  Waaahhhh.  Time to get my Currently on with Farley over at Oh Boy! 4th Grade.

Have a great Sunday everyone!