Monday Made It: Aug. 5

I can’t believe it’s already August!  Where did the time go?!  This is probably my last Monday Made It post for awhile.  It’s time to get all my previous projects together and set up my classroom.  Hopefully, I’ll have some classroom pics to share soon.

New project…
I made shelf markers out of paint sticks.  I got this idea from Mrs. Jones Teaches and I’m hoping it will help keep my classroom library more organized. I assign my students numbers each year.  The plan is for the kids to use “their” shelf marker when selecting a book. Not only will the kids know where to put their books when they are finished, but I will also be able to tell with a quick glance who has a book checked out.

Mrs. Jones’s shelf markers are definitely cuter than mine but I’m starting to feel the pressure to finish up with the crafty stuff so I can get the room put together. 


Another new project…
Lots of people have been adding READ signs to their classrooms.  I LOVE every single sign I’ve seen.  However, I decided to be a little different.  I created a TRY sign.  I want my students to remember to keep trying.  Sometimes things get difficult but you can’t succeed unless you TRY.


Old project…
I made this last summer but I’m sharing it anyway.  We do A LOT of cutting and gluing in my classroom.  That causes A LOT of trips to the trash can and that causes A LOT of commotion.  Last year I solved that problem by putting mini trash cans at each table.  It worked really well for me.  These are cheap pots that I bought at Walmart and decorated by adding fabric.


I can’t wait to check out what everyone else has been up to.  Have a great week!

5 comments Classroom Decor, classroom management, Monday Made It, organization

Hallway Behavior

Whew!  I think I’ve finally managed to recover from my first week with the kiddies.  It looks like I have a great class and the only drawback to the whole week was a kid breaking her arm on the FIRST day of school!

Our principal has asked us to focus more on hallway behavior.  I must admit, this is something we all needed to work on.  Have you heard of 2,1,0? 

I think the poster pretty much explains it.  Anytime we’re in the hall, the kids are expected to have their hands clasped behind their backs, stand in one straight line, and stay quiet.  The whole school did a great job with this new expectation.  I noticed all the kids seemed to have more self-control and I was very impressed with my class.  This was new to them but they really tried to do a good job.  They earned so many compliments that I decided to take them out for extra recess at the end of the day and that’s when it happened.  The broken arm.  I felt horrible! 

Despite the arm, it was a great week.  I put extra effort into establishing routines and it showed.  I know I’m going to be anxious to jump right into the curriculum next week, but I’m going to make sure I continue with reinforcing my expectations.

Anyone else have an exciting 1st week?

3 comments behavior, classroom management

Number Line Behavior

One of these days I'll post about something other than math.  Right now I'm on a math kick and I gotta just roll with it.

I came across a new site (well, new to me) when I was reading Stephanie's blog 3rd Grade Thoughts.

It's the Teaching Channel.  I love being able to go into other people's classrooms and see how they do things.  I always get good ideas that way.  The problem is I'm always teaching when they are so I don't get to visit very often.

I found this video that shows how to incorporate math into classroom management.  I teach 3rd grade so my kiddos don't learn about negative numbers.  However, a big push lately has been to find fractions on a number line and my kiddos definitely need more practice.  I thought about  using this idea to work on that skill.  I still need to give this idea some thought but I'm thinking about awarding fractional points for their behavior (fourth a point,half point, etc).  Of course, I would need to do A LOT of modeling.  Any suggestions?

2 comments behavior, classroom management, math