Remakes! Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!!!!!

I have remade a couple of cute organization tools in my classroom lately and I want to share them with you!

***I love the border and numbers I got from two bloggers I follow, the 3am Teacher and A Cupcake for the Teacher!  Gotta LOVE freebies!!!!!!!!!

First, is my "Where Are You?" board.  My kids feel a real responsibility to make sure that they always move their number before they leave the classroom!  Love it!

Here is my "How Do I Get Home?" clothespin line! (without the clothespins on it!)

My number sticks! I use these for my classroom jobs and for my "Pick A Stick" bucket for when I need to choose a random student for something.

This isn't a great picture, but I got this set of drawers from a coworker and I have too many students this year to use them.  There just aren't' enough drawers for them!  But there sure are enough for me! :-)

I printed out labels for each drawer saying what is in them.  Love it!  No more scrambling around for my white out!

In a previous blog I wrote about the S.T.A.R notebooks that I was going to begin using this year!  I finally got all of the binders I needed and then got in my order of tabs!  I spent last weekend opening 30 packages, writing on 150 tabs, ripping them apart and sliding them where they're supposed to go!  It was a long process but well worth it!  My students are super organized so far and it's making life easier on them as well as me!

I also blogged recently about a board I made for our Meet the Teacher night! I decided to stop buying everything myself this year and to begin asking some of my parents for help!  Some of them actually decided to help!  I have gotten lots of extra paper, hand sanitizer and even iTunes gift cards for our class sets of iPads!!!!!

Here is a picture of it after Meet the Teacher!  Pretty good considering I teach in a school that is 90%+ below the poverty line...

And lastly, a picture of my beautiful sister and I!  We went to a wedding reception over the weekend and got to get all dressed up!  I'm so thankful to have her as my sister! 

(I'm on the left and she is on the right.)

School has gone SOOOO much better this week than last week.  Regardless of that, I am still super excited that the 3 day weekend is coming up quickly!

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Mexican Tortelloni Alfredo! Nom Nom!

I have had a great (much needed) weekend!  Friday night was relaxing, last night I went to a wedding reception and today was shopping, house cleaning, school prepping, COOKING day!

I made an old {INCREDIBLY easy} favorite of mine this evening, Mexican Tortelloni Alfredo!  I love it, my husband loves it and even my baby girl loved it! :-)

Ingredients:
1 package three cheese tortelloni
1 1/2 cups alfredo sauce
half can of Rotel
2 chicken breasts, cubed and cooked

Directions:
Cook tortelloni according to package instructions
Drain and add chicken, alfredo and rotel!

THAT'S IT! :-)

Serve with cheese bread.  Simple and delicious. That's how I like to do dinner!

The alfredo makes the dish rich and the Rotel gives it a touch of spice.  Absolutely love it!  Since it is a tad bit spicy I took out some of the tortelloni mixture before I added the Rotel and just substituted peas and carrots for my daughter's dinner.  Nom Nom!

Oh, and I redid some super cute things for my classroom this weekend that I will post tomorrow for the MMI Linky Party! Can't wait!

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Five for Friday Linky and Shout-Outs!

What a crazy first week of school!  Although it hasn't been the best week for me, I thought I'd share a couple of good things that have happened so I am linking up with Doodle Bugs {first grade rocks} for the FIVE FOR FRIDAY linky party!

1.  Building classroom community (Part 1):  Balloon Popping Activity

       I worked really hard this week, especially today, to build more of a classroom community in my room.  I found a couple of games that worked very well with my students.  This balloon popping activity was super fun for my students.  I put the provided questions into different colored balloons and then passed the balloons out.  The students had to blow up their balloons and then get into groups based on the color of their balloon.  One at a time, they had to figure out a way to pop their balloon and read and answer the question.  It was a fun activity that let the kids get up out of their seats and learn about each other.  The link to the activity is below!

2.  Building Classroom Community (Part 2):  The toilet paper game! 

       I found this game on a random website when I was googling community building activities, and I can't find the link!  I had my students silently sit in a circle in our room.  I took out a roll of toilet paper and pulled a bit off.  I handed it to the student next to me and all I said was "take what you need".  She took some and each child after her took some.  Some students took more than others.  No one had any idea what we were about to do!  As soon as the roll got back around to me I ripped off the first square and shared a fact about myself.  Then I ripped off the remaining squares, one by one, sharing information about myself as a person.  We went around and listened carefully as each student shared interesting facts about themselves.  It took a while because I have 27 students, but it was a very enjoyable activity.

3.  Creative Juices (Part 1):  Love this frame!

       I have been a busy bee recreating some posters and such in my classroom using a couple of new things I've found on TPT!  I found this frame from the 3am Teacher TPT store! I have been using this frame for EVERYTHING in my room... I am in love with it! Visit her blog here!

4.  Creative Juices (Part 2):  Classroom Number Printables!

       And I have decided to redo my classroom numbers for my jobs chart, my "Where Are You" sign, and my "Pick a Stick" bucket using these adorable classroom numbers from A Cupcake for the Teacher on TPT!  I am so thankful for Freebies!  Visit her blog here!

5.  Blue Bell Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

I literally couldn't have made it through the week without it...Thank you God, for ice cream.

I am really looking forward to getting to know my students better and solving the talking problem in my classroom very soon!

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What's the Word? And HELP!

So, friends, it's been a while since I've visited the blogging world.  I've been, oh, what's the word, EXHAUSTED! Yes, that's it!

I started school on Monday and my life has been a complete and utter whirlwind since then.  Meeting and building relationships with new students, teaching new curriculum (yes, we began teaching on the second day) and just trying to find time to sleep has been overwhelming!!!

I have 26 students in my room and there is absolutely no room for any movement at all!  I usually love for my kiddos to be able to work on the floor and move around the room, but that is impossible now.  It makes me sad that I can't do things exactly like I used to, but I am already building great relationships with (most of) them and am really looking forward to a great year. :-)

But I need some advice.  My students this year are TALKERS!  No matter what I've tried, they just won't stop.  I've already taken minutes from their recess, which I hate doing, but I'm not sure what else to do.  I've tried positively reinforcing the students who aren't talking, I've tried my classroom behavior management systems already, but they just LOVE to talk!  Yes, it's only the 3rd day of class, but I want to nip it in the bud quickly!

Do you have any helpful strategies for getting students to just stop talking so much?  Sounds ridiculous, but any suggestions would be great.

On another note, I already feel completely back into teacher-mode and I love filling all 26 of their little minds with wisdom!  It is fulfilling, even on days when I start rethinking my line of work!   And my kiddos are super excited about their S.T.A.R. notebooks.  If you want info on those, check out my earlier post, "i heart organizing"!

Sorry for sounding whiny.  :-(  We all need a little help sometimes!  A happier post to come soon!

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I heart organizing!

I'm linking up again today to BlogHoppin' for their Teacher Week '13!  I missed out yesterday because I had already posted all of the super-sweet pics of my classroom!  I am obsessed with organization and I am one of the most organized people in the world, but I don't really have any cool pics to post so I will keep it simple tonight.  I'm exhausted this evening but didn't want to miss out on another day of the linky party so here are 3 things I do in my classroom to organize instruction.

1.  I utilize the use of Daily Folders in my classroom.  This is a folder that has a calendar inside that goes home every day after school and comes back every morning.  I put a sticker or write a short memo for each day for every student (it usually doesn't take long at all because most of them just get stickers or happy faces!) and when the student takes the folder home their parent is supposed to check the folder and initial on the date so I know they saw it.  That is my daily way of communicating with my student's parents.  I also have my students take any homework or important papers home in this folder so they aren't put in their backpacks and lost forever!

2.  I absolutely love how my students manage where they go during their Daily 5 rotations.  I use a really cool sheet that I created with the directions for each rotation at the top of the page and a chart that they put a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in whichever rotation they went to 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.  I will definitely post a picture of this sheet (when I can get back to my classroom) incase anyone wants to steal it!  It gives the students the choice of deciding which rotation they go to when and it makes them not only feel independent but also in control of their own learning.

3.  This year I am going to begin using S.T.A.R Notebooks (Students Taking Academic Responsibility).  This is a binder that my students will keep at school at all times and put any notes we take or assignments we are working on in it.  One thing I try to teach a lot of is note-taking.  Anytime we practice reading or math I have students write down examples or definitions from the lesson.  In previous years these notes ended up being smashed in the back of their desk or thrown away.  This year we will keep them organized in their S.T.A.R Notebooks for future reference!  I made the cover and two inside inserts for our S.T.A.R Notebook today...Take a look!  I used wording and some ideas from this website.

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I love using my Daily Folders.  My Daily 5 rotation sheet works great for my students and I because it lets them take control of their own learning.  And I am more than excited to start using my S.T.A.R Notebooks this year!

Sidenote***My school had our Meet the Teacher Night tonight and it was absolutely fantastic!  I had 19 of my 25 students show up!  Most of my parents seemed very nice and supportive.  I am excited about this school year and my new kiddos! :-)

Well, it's off to bed for this tired mommywifeteachercook!

I will [try to] link up tomorrow for 'Taming the Wild'!

Meet the Teacher Monday Linky Party!

 So, I know that I am committing a blogger sin by posting again today, but I just had to take part in the Blog Hoppin' Teacher Week '13 Linky Party!

{1}  I am obsessed with basically any show that aires on ABC.  Grey's Anatomy, Castle, Scandal...all of them!  They are my nightly guilty pleasures!  We all need one (or five...)!

{2}  This will be my 3rd year to teach 5th grade and I absolutely love it.  I was initially very intimidated to be going into fifth grade but I truly enjoy every minute of it!

{3}  I recently got a tattoo to match the one my husband got for me on his forearm... his is on the left and mine is on the right!

{4}  Diet Pepsi is seriously the love of my life.  I must have a huge cup of it every morning or else my day just doesn't start right.

{5}  I desperately want another sewing machine!  I had one in high school that was really old but it did the job.  I am always seeing these cute things on Pinterest that I want to make, but definitely need a sewing machine to do!

{6}  Speaking of Pinterest, I am an ADDICT!  Seriously.  Follow me!

{7}  My favorite book series is the Emily Giffin series.  If you've never read them, check them out!

{8}  I am in love with Jake Gyllenhaal.  Seriously, who isn't???

{9}  Trying out new recipes is one of my favorite things to do.  I often take a recipe I find and then tweak it to be exactly how my husband and I like it!  I love experimenting with recipes, and if it's a complete failure, I always have Papa Johns on speed dial!

{10}  And last but not least, I seriously have the most adorable daughter in the world.  Sometimes I am still overwhelmed at how much I really love her.  Being a mommy is just the greatest thing in the world.

Thanks for reading! :-)  Check back each day this week as I try to keep up with the daily Linky Parties!

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Monday Made it!

Linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for my VERY 1st MMI!  I'm excited!

I've been posting pics of my classroom but I figure I'd add a few more things I made today while up at school!

This is the way I am going to keep track of how many compliments my students get from other teachers and administrators.  Any time they get a compliment my 'chain manager' will add a letter.  When they have gotten all of the letters connected we will have some sort of party.  I love it! :-)

This is my favorite thing ever!  I made this so the kiddos can hold it up to frame their face and I can take a picture of them to put on my big bulletin board in the hallway!  Kids love to see their pictures and I figure it's a fun way to start the year!  

Last year I did this same type of thing and at the end of the year I gave them their picture from the first day and the end of school.  They LOVED being able to look at how much they had changed! 

And this is my small bulletin board out in my hallway.  I figure it's good for my students to know my 'favorite' things.  We instantly build a relationship and my students love looking at the pics of my family! 

Well, that's all for my 1st Monday Made It!  I'm excited to Link up and get more connected in the blogging world!

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