Parent Curriculum Night

Hey Guys!

I bet so many of you are back in the swing of things - I almost envy you, as I sit here watching Kelly & Michael...sipping my coffee.  I really do.  Once school starts I find myself wishing that I was beyond all the back-to-school craziness.  I wish my students knew the Room 8 gig and we were past all that.  Since we start after Labor Day I still have some sleepless night ahead of me!!!

We all know how important it is to establish relationships with not just our students, but their families as well. Inevitably you will encounter many a bump and bruise as you navigate through the school year.  Having established an open line of communication with the families is critical.  If your parents understand that you are coming from a place of concern and care they are better able to hear you when you call with a behavioral or academic concern.  

At my school we have a Meet & Greet before school starts.  This is a time for students to see their new digs, meet the teacher and see their parents interact with the adult they are soon to spend the bulk of their days with - their teacher.  This is an "open house" type deal - so parents come and visit for a few minutes and then head out to the PTA ice cream social afterward.  

I created this little ditty for my Meet & Greet and thought I'd share it with you {if you haven't already picked it up on my Facebook page}.

Gum not included ;)

A couple of weeks after school starts we do our grade level curriculum night.  This is a parent-only event at my school.  I know sometimes it's hard to get parents there if they can't bring their child with them - it's best to do with the parents' undivided attention, but if the kids need to come - I say, let 'em come!

Here's how we run our curriculum night:

6:30-7:00

We meet in the cafeteria as a grade level.  Meeting together is a great way to show parents that you are a team, a village - and you're all in this little adventure together.  We start by introducing ourselves {each member of our team}.  It's nice to share a little about yourself...something that makes you seem human to them.

Next, we head into curriculum - this year we're using this great freebie template from Ladybug's Teacher Files.

This PowerPoint will help our team stay focused on what we want to cover in terms of curriculum.  Each one of us takes a curricular area to discuss with our parents.  Included on each slide is a word or two to help us remember what it is we'd like to share.  When speaking with parents we elaborate enough to help them have a basic understanding.

Template from Ladybug's Teacher Files - white words are typed in by teacher

I also have a personal classroom website that goes further in depth on curriculum, provides links of the common core standards, etc.  There's so much to cover in a 30 minute time period, we try to touch on the basics.  Having this same information readily available in one place {my website} reassures them that they don't have to feel overwhelmed, they can just sit and absorb as much as they can, and then visit my website to delve deeper or use as a reference.

I use TeacherWeb - it is $39 dollars a year and so easy to use!
I've been using TeacherWeb for 8 years...

7:05-7:35

Once we've shared the nuts & bolts of the curriculum we move down to our own classrooms for the final 30 minutes.  

Each year I have this little poem and apple sitting on the tables...

Freebie from Primary Press

This year, I'll be adding this sweet little freebie from Rowdy in Room 300...it's a great way to share a little about yourself.  Sometimes {how about all the time} I feel so hurried, I dive right into classroom procedures, and forget to share even one thing about myself.  Having this on the tables will help me to remember to SLOW down!!!!!

Click the picture to get yours free from Nicole!
I will write student names on each one so that I
 know who was there and who wasn't.

After I've shared a little about myself I dive right into my Room 8 Handbook.  This is available to parents on my class website so I don't print anything out from this handbook {trees are singing right now}.  I do not have this available to you, but you can see it {here} for ideas.

I display this PDF on my SmartBoard and go through each slide {and "in a nutshell" it}with the parents.  This handbook just provides the ins and outs of my classroom and my quirky-ness.  

I'm getting all techie this year and putting this little guy on each table...

The QR code will take them directly to our class website. I'm going to have parents {who can}
put this right on their iPhone home screen right then and there!

I like to save a few minutes at the end where parents can ask questions, introduce themselves and hopefully grab a sticky note from our door that has an item we "wish" for, for our classroom.  I don't have a picture of it, but I have the word "WISH" up on my classroom door...on colorful sticky notes I write different items that our class needs/wants.  I keep this up all year long.  Whether my door is open or closed {rarely} the parents can see our wishes and grab a sticky note.  

Hope you found this post useful.  If you have any cool ways you run your parent curriculum night I really would love for you to share!

Happy back to school...

Meet Trashy Crafter! {Sneak peek at my classroom too!}

Happy Friday - but really, is there such a thing when you are a teacher during the summer?  I was just thinking about that this morning.  It's all about perspective.  Give me a Friday in November, and I'm all about it.  TGIF! Give me a Friday in the summer - especially AUGUST - and I'm thinking "Fridays in the summer are reminders that another week has flown by..."  Alright, enough of that half empty garbage.  I *am* slightly geared up for the start of another great school year...see...

So, if you remember, I'm doing a little giveaway with Kim over at The Trashy Crafter. 

 You can enter {here} if you haven't already!

We thought we'd do a little Q & A to help you get to know her better. I was so tickled by her story and I'm sure you will be too!

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF

My name is Kim Franklin, and I am the person behind Trashy Crafter, along with my Mom Helen and my boyfriend Dave.  We create jewelry from damaged books and repurposed beads from broken necklaces. I have a full time job, and work on Trashy Crafter before and after work and on the weekends.  My goal is to pay off my student loan in the next two years. 

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO MAKE RECYCLED LIBRARY BOOK JEWELRY?

My Grandma taught me about crafts.  She, herself, was a crafter and passed down to me all I know.  It was my third grade teacher, Mrs. Bryant, that taught me how to roll paper beads.  We made magazine and newspaper beads. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE ONE PIECE OF JEWELRY?

It really depends on the type of paper; some books have really thick pages, these take much longer, some have thin pages, these take really long because we have to double or triple the paper for the bead.   On average a 3 piece bracelet set can take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. 

DO YOU THINK YOU AND YOUR "TRASHY CRAFTING" IS CHANGING THE WORLD?

I really do, my goal is to not only make people think differently about waste, but also to embrace the past and memories associated with it.  The world is so fixated on the future that it seems people forget to reflect and remember, and I think that my jewelry not only helps with the worlds waste, it also give people joy and happiness in a hectic world.  A person can remember a book their Mother or Grandmother read to them, or a book that changed their life, or a map from a road trip etc.  It's a huge honor to be the person bringing happiness and memories to the world :)

DO YOU ACCEPT DONATIONS? HOW WOULD PEOPLE DO THAT?

I do accept donations of popular children's books, novels or even maps. And also accept donations of broken bracelets and necklaces for repurposing in my jewelry.  If you would like to donate, shoot me an email at trashycrafter@gmail.com, often times if you have something I could really use I will give you a free thank you gift :)

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING JEWELRY?

Well, I have been crafty since I could hold scissors and not eat the Elmer's glue, and have made jewelry all my life.  I used to be more into the hemp making jewelry as a child and teenager, but love making recycled book beads.  What I love most about jewelry is the ability to be playful with the colors, textures and patterns of the beads, it's my favorite part of the process to pick out the used beads from the swap meet and created the jewelry when the book beads are finished. 

YOU MAKE JEWELRY FROM RECYCLED LIBRARY BOOKS, YOU MUST BE AN AVID READER, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME?  

That's really hard, I was always a weird kid in that I preferred to read history books and biographies about successful people, LOL.   I do love Dr. Seuss, my Grandma bought the monthly book club membership for me, and I LOVED getting a new one in the mail each week.  I would have to say Hop on Pop!   My favorite books now are all marketing and business books, I nerd out on stuff from Gary Vaynerchuck, Seth Godin and Napoleon Hill. 

Thanks so much, Kim, for sharing a little bit about yourself.  I hope my readers are just as touched with your story as I was.  I'm really looking forward to wearing my bracelets to school and sharing their meaning with my teacher friends!  You thought business was booming before...you just wait until my staff hears about you and your sweet, sweet bracelets!

If you haven't entered...take a few minutes to do that now. I made it really easy!!!  Just a few clicks and you're entered!  

Happy Friday! {Or is it....}

HUGE Firstie Friends Giveaway!

Hello friends! Are you ready for a HUGE giveaway? Some AMAZING teacher bloggers have put together a fantastic set of prizes for you. We have 42 bloggers participating, so we are giving away a prize pack of 14 products each to 3 winners! :) You can enter on the Firstie Friends Facebook Page, and you can earn a LOT of entries. Go to the tabs under the header picture and click the tab that says "Giveaway". The giveaway will end on Monday, August 4th at 8pm CST. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for reading! Good luck in the giveaway!

I'm Not an Interior Designer

Okay, I have a major confession. I'm not an interior designer.  I think I might just be the opposite of that. Sometimes I feel a little inferior for that, but most of the time I don't.  It usually hits me around back to school time when I'm bombarded {I say that with love in my heart} with classroom setup pictures on Instagram, Pinterest, Blogs, Facebook.  Of course, I could look the other way, but I don't.  I stare.  Sometimes I drool. Most of the time I just smile.

So, I'm pretty good at a lot of things.  I'm really good at others.  Some things I just stink at. Classroom decor I could use a little help with.  Setting up my classroom is just that; setting up a functional space.  I like to make it cute...but I mostly like to make it functional.  You can do both, you say?  No, really I can't...I'm just not capable of that kind of creativity and level of multitasking.

I think I have Decorator ADD.  Sometimes I think I might want to get all fancy, all "School Girl Style" but then I get overwhelmed by the whole thought of coordinating things.  I'm just too random and too practical when it comes to choosing what goes into my room.  Sometimes it all comes together and it looks like I coordinated...but when that happens, it's really just a happy accident. I'd like to say it's more than that but that would be a lie.

What I don't understand is how a classroom teacher changes their "theme" each year.  Do you have a money tree in the backyard?  Do you have endless amounts of creative energy?  Is there a pill for that?  I did finally succumb to this whole theme business a few years back and went with "colorful".  That's a theme, right?  So that bright blue bin I picked up ten years ago goes nicely with the bright red bin I picked up last year.  I think I might check out the Target dollar spot and pick up a green bin for this year's theme of...you guessed it...COLORFUL!

I'm still in full on summer mode.  Teachers go back at the end of August and school starts after Labor Day. I will be that friend that makes you feel REAL good about yourself.  I'll post pictures of my colorful classroom just as soon as it's all put together...promise!

I'm gonna guess it'll look a little something like this...

Happy Times!

Nineteen Boys & Four Girls...Classroom Pictures too! {And some other this and that's}

Hey Friends,

We are on our way to the first day of a new school year!  The classroom is all put together, I've meeted {not a word, I know - but it's cute, right?} and greeted, and now I'm ready and rarin' to go!

I do have an unusual breakdown this year of 19 boys and 4 girls.  No lie and no joke.  I'm a wee bit concerned - but an even bigger part of me is excited.  I have two boys of my own and I do seem to "get" them.  I almost wish they had put those four girls in the other classes and left me with all boys.  That would have been really interesting... {maybe even cool?}

One thing I do know is we'll be incorporating a lot of movement into our day {which is good for everyone}.  I have a Brain Break document that I created last year and shared {here}. We'll be doing a lot of dancin' and a movin' and a groovin' throughout the day!  Maybe I'll take off some extra LB's that way! HA!

Here are some pictures of my 2013-2014 classroom...

I also wanted to let you know about a neat opportunity over at Mardel.com  for ONE DAY ONLY. Online customers who purchase one 12-count set of their exclusive "Renewing Minds Collection" file folders - Mardel will donate a duplicate set to a school affected by the May 20th tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.  This offer is only valid until midnight tonight {September 1st} and can be found online {here}.

Aren't they cute?

I hope you'll consider purchasing some cute file folders - it may seem small, but little glimmers of happiness can make a teacher's day - especially after such devastation.  

Tuesday's the day!!!!!  Woo hoo!!!!!

Toodles!

Five for Friday {Linky Party}

Hey Everybody!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs this week.  Woo hoo!!!!

I'm not in full-on school mode, but sort of. I have no idea why I'm having such a hard time getting my brain wrapped around the fact that I'm starting school next week.  Hmmm...could it be...

...there was a cloudless sky today?  It was gorgeous.  I couldn't resist catching some rays, napping and reading a good book.  I think knowing the craziness that awaits has me in MAJOR denial!!!!

I did, however, go in earlier in the week and made some progress in my classroom...

I might look done, but I can assure you I'm not even close.  So many folders to label, lamination to cut, and names to write.  Oh, and then there's this...

Meet the Fix-Its is just to help me space my clothes pins out - but isn't it cute? Thanks Lyndsey!!!

It's a monkey on my back.  I'm pretty much craft challenged...in a big way.  This "bulletin board" has made me grouchy more than a few times.  At my old school I had HUGE, gorgeous bulletin boards outside of my classroom.  Putting things up was a breeze.  I had never heard of a school without them.  I have stapled {not a good plan} and gone through rolls and rolls of tape to put up projects.  

So I went out and bought some really cute scrap paper, put my mad washi tape skills to work...

...but putting it all together has me befuddled.  It just seems like a lot of work and that I might be missing something.  I don't quite know what?  Maybe I'm just missing the patience-for-this-kinda-thing-gene. Honestly, I don't feel like messing with the hot glue.  Sooo, do any of you out there have any easier/faster ideas for me?  I think I'm going to use my clothes pins for something else.  One more question...what should I use to adhere my laminated scrapbook paper to the wall? {and what should I use to hang up our work don't forget that}

Happy Friday to my already teaching, teacher friends.  Happy last weekend before it all starts to my haven't started teaching, teacher friends.  

Toodles!

It's the most wonderful time....of the year....

Hey Everyone!

It's sale time!!!!!! Teaching can be hard.  Really hard.  Of course light bulbs going on, hugs and smiles all make it more than worth it.  Then there are the little things that I call the "sparkles" of teaching.  Target Dollar Spot...c'mon, if that's not a sparkle in your day, you can't call yourself a teacher!  Another sparkle is the sale over at TpT.

I'm sure you've heard about it...

So, actually it starts in t-minus one hour - fifteen minutes {midnight} so I'm pretty sure I'm just going to wait around and kick it off right with a little midnight shopping.  Why not?

Some products in my store that you might find useful...

                                               

Happy Shopping!!!!!

Click on my store to head on over!

Starbucks Anybody? *Giveaway* *Updated*

Have some of you really gone back to school?  You have, haven't you?  I guess when your last day was in May that makes sense to be going back already.  Me, on the other hand, well I was still teaching mid-June, so thankfully and blessedly I don't go back until the end of August and kids start back after Labor Day.

Here's the problem. MY problem.  We haven't always started after Labor Day.  We used to go back mid-August.  Which meant once the calendar flipped over to August 1st my head was thinking "Back to School". Unfortunately, I can't shift my thinking and I'm already chomping at the bit. 

Can I share an ugly secret with you?

I've been buying, printing and making things all summer and then I hide them behind a chair.  No need to put hubby on high alert.  Really, I'm only thinking about him because that's the kinda wife I am.  

So, while my days of waking up to an alarm are still in the distance...as are my weekly {that's the plan...ONCE a week people, NOT daily} visits to Starbucks...I recognize a ton of you are hearing that wretched buzz of yours.  I thought I would try to make your harried first weeks a little sweeter by giving away two $10 gift eCards to Starbucks!!!!!

I can almost smell the Pumpkin Spice Lattes!!!!!

I'll choose two winners on Wednesday, August 7th, using my boys' as random number generators!

Leave a comment with advice for those who are new to teaching! 

{Giveaway Closed}

{Include your email address}

"Like" me on Facebook

Follow my TpT Store

{Leave three separate comments - for three entries - this girl is "old school" - I'm getting rid of the mall hair next week!}

Winners announced, August 7th...sometime....let's say when it's a freckle past a hair.

Toodles!

Congrats to Barbara {#8 because my "baby" is 8} and Jenalyn {#11 because my oldest is 11}!  My boys thought it would be cool to choose based on their ages!

Check your email in a few...

Enjoy!

Currently

Holy Toledo!!!!!

Friends, I've got nothing...I mean, I'm so tired I think I may just go to bed now.  How's that? 

I did muster up a Currently because I love them and Farley so much!!!

Toodles!