Things That Drive Me Bananas... Pet Peeves

Alisha from The Bubbly Blonde is having a Linky party about Classroom Pet Peeves!
Ironically, I have been thinking about this for a few days now. I currently work at a summer camp (obviously I couldn't get enough of the kiddos) and this week I've had this one child who has been going to the nurse for EVERYTHING... I swear this child is accident prone, but it has started to remind me of all the things that drive me absolutely INSANE in my classroom.

#3. I have to agree with Rachel @ A Sarti Party with this one. 
I hate everything and anything Pencils. Although it's not my number one, it drive's me bonkers. It never fails that for any and every subject/ activity, someone has a pencil issue. Either its broken, missing, needs an eraser, needs to be sharpened. I know these things happen but I have a box filled with sharpened pencils that are always readily available for these issues... the kids just don't ever remember to get up and get them or take care of these issues alone. BLAH! 

#2. Nurse Goers- Now don't get me wrong, there are kids who you know that really have to go to the nurse. There are the ones who are seriously injured, those who look sick, those who have medications that need to be taken... but I know that you know the ones that I am talking about... those select few who always play the "I dooooon't feeeeeeeeel good" card ALLLLL THE TIME!! - the one the nurse knows by name and usually says... "what's wrong today, Bobby?"
 
#1. Kids who want to be first for everything... they run to the door, they're at the edge of their seats to get ahead of their friends... they only hear HALF of the directions because they're too busy worrying about how they are going to be first.  UGGGGGGGGGGH


What are your Pet Peeves? Link up you know that when you read these you'll be nodding in agreement! It'll actually make you happy to know that your not the only one!!

Plan, Plan, Plan, Plan.... All the ways we plan.

I bet you can't guess what I've been thinking about ALL DAY.... that's right... PLANNING
This must be because I started creating my Daily 5 & Guided Reading Binder.. so that maybe... just maybe I'll be motivated to plan. Decorating binders always helps me get motivated to use them and plan in them.
I'm looking to link up with friends about how we decide to organize our lesson plans.

I guess I just haven't found what works best for me yet... I mean its only my second year teaching so I'm sure I'll find my nitch, but what better a time than now to ask for some advice about how other teachers plan. Here are some of the many, many questions I have about planing. If you have answers post about them and let me know how you organize your plans.  I'd love to see and read about what you do.

Questions I've Got:

1. How do you do your weekly planning? 

Last year I made a binder where I held daily scheduled plans. I had one page per day in an hourly format where I listed what we would do that day. It worked really well, since I am a listing person, but I was constantly photocopying and found myself sitting down every Sunday writing out my weekly schedule which always felt like it took FOREVER. 

Have you created anything to this extent that works for you? 

I will insert a pic here soon... but I left last years plan book in the classroom 

Some people use plan books that they buy or that their schools give them to use. 

Should I just use these? Do they work better?

2. How do you keep your lesson plan binders organized?

I'm huge on binders (I know a lot of us are). What do your binders look like?

Do you organize by unit, or by subject? What kind of lesson plan templates do you use to help you keep your files neat and tidy?

Here are some pictures of my Reading Binders.

This one is for C.A.F.E Conferencing
This houses notes about each individuals reading and their needs as well as a calendar for meetings with each student.  (I'll put pictures of what goes inside when I get to finishing them)

Guided Reading Binder

Houses Groups and Plans for each Group as well as Lessons for each book in my very small library of leveled books I use for Guided Reading... I also have lessons on books from the our Literacy Bookroom (again pictures of inside to come).

Reading Lessons

This binder houses plans for all my general reading lessons. I'm going to try to organize them by unit (ie. Setting Up Our Classroom Library... for the beginning of the year lessons followed by all the Cafe Strategies and Daily 5 Lessons I will teach). Still figuring this one out so suggestions are welcome. 

Here are the 3 of them together. Don't they look cute? --- If you haven't noticed by now I'm keeping up with my Jungle Theme.

Thanks in advance for all your love, support, and advice :)

The Newbie 

Be sure to tell your friends about my blog and my post... Maybe they can help me out too!!! 

Creating & Teaching Giveaway

I'm going to try my best to do my FIRST EVER link. I follow Erin at Creating and Teaching and she is giving away a cute room sign for having 100 followers. :) I think that it's the sweetest idea. My name will change next summer and I can't stop thinking about all of the signs I'll have to change. This would be a great start :)

Go to her blog for your chance to win.                                                

Here's what you do:

1. Follow her blog. (linked above)

2. Follow Creating & Teaching on facebook.

3. Add her blog button to your blog.

4. Post a blog entry about this giveaway with a link back to her post.

While your there check out her blog for amazingly creative things... I especially love her seasonal binder idea

Last Year's Classroom... What Will I do This Year?

I am constantly blogging now. I really shouldn't. Instead I should be reading for my grad class... BUT THIS IS JUST MUCH MORE FUN.

If you haven't noticed I'm new to blogging this summer and I have so many things I'd like to share about my last year teaching and this new year to come.

Here are some pictures of my classroom last year. Hope you enjoy!! (Most all the lettering for my signs are done with my Cricut Machine... I <3 it)

Here is the entrance to room 123

WELCOME

I like to call this my ART CART: it holds papers, extra markers, 

glue, crayons, and lots more. 

Above you will see our job chart, dismissal chart, and around the panda are 

our specials which include times and days 

Across from the Art Cart is the King/ Queen of the Jungle Board

One student is selected each week to be the King/Queen of the Jungle!! 

Student Mailboxes- papers and notices to go home!! 

Homework bin and papers to pass back bins are above!! 

Behind the mailbox is the Lunch Count.

I use tins and Popsicle sticks for students to choose. 

I got the idea for the hungry hippos sign from another blog I will give

credit  to that blogger when I go back and find their site!

Our sink area :)

Student Cubby Area- I had that shelf place up there but I think 

I'm going to take it down this year... I never used it :(

Guided Reading Table on the right 

I'M GETTING A KIDNEY THIS YEAR YAY!!

Student tables & bulletin boards

My Teacher Desk 

Its a bit messy from this section

Here is a better view

My Roaring Readers sign and some of my Library. 

I made that Lion by hand :)

More of my Library and our meeting spot on the rug :)

Here is Leo the Lion our class mascot

I love my chair too. Thanks to my mother in-law to be. 

Behavior Chart- Again Credit to the sign idea

Mine however is hand made by my cricut

Math & Computer Section... 

I didn't use that computer last year

It was such a shame. 

Writing Station. 

So there you have it folks.... Last years classroom... A memory of A First Year Teacher.... 

So excited to start this years classroom.... I think I'll start working on what to do next... :)

OMG... I can't Believe I'm Thinking About School

I guess it's time I join the rest of the crazies, and start thinking about back to school. Don't get me wrong... I'm super excited to start my second year teaching second grade.... BUUUUUUT.... I don't want summer to be over just yet!!

In thinking about the new school year here are a list of things I'd like to do between now and DUN.. DUN.. DUUUUUUN... August 30th :

1.) Implement the Daily 5 & C.A.F.E for my literacy instruction... I've been reading LOTS this summer
2.) Work on my Word Work Bags for the Daily 5.
3.) Work on a Great Word Study/ Phonics Plan using our school's program Fundations
4.) Spelling --- our school doesn't have a spelling program so I'm lost on where to start (HELP)
5.) Buy SUPER CUTE back to school stuff (I've kinda started already)
6.) Decorating and preparing student materials as well as the classroom:)

I really need to get going on this stuff!!! --- What are your Plans for the rest of the summer?

On another note,
I am also looking for help on my blog!!! I can't stand the top header!!! I have no idea how to spruce it up. I love my background... if only I could find something to place up their and get everything in proportion!! As well as getting my background creators name off of my date and into the corner somewhere?!?
So frustrating!! This is what Iget for being a newbie!!!

New Blogger... So much to say

Oh how and where should I begin? I guess a simple introduction followed by my inspiration to blogging seems to be the most suitable place to begin... 

My name is Suzy and I am a  first year 2nd Grade Sheltered English teacher. I can't believe I am almost done with my first year !!! Just 2 1/2 school days until summer vacation.. but who's counting right? I am a Native English speaker, as I was born and raised here in good old Massachusetts, but was blessed to be born into a Portuguese speaking family. I had the luxury of learning to languages at the same time, English and Portuguese. I have never been more proud to be bilingual than I am today. 

I always wanted to be a teacher... and secretly... I've always wanted to teach second grade, but who knew I would score a job that catered to the person I am and want to be. LUCKY ME!! I teach second grade aaaaaand I teach Portuguese students. My classroom consists of some students who were born in Brazil but mostly students who were born here but come from Portuguese speaking households. All of my students speak English... I am there to help them build better English vocabulary as well as guide them through the curriculum content at a slower pace with much more differentiated instruction to meet their needs. 

As my first year comes to a close... again 2 DAYS, I can't help but be SO thankful for the job I've chosen. I absolutely LOVE what I do. 

Now... Why am I blogging... Well WHY NOT?!? 

I think I'm teacher blogging for all of the same reasons why all other teachers blog. The best way to learn is from personal experience... which I know many of you have! I hope to make zillions of friends and learn KA-zillions of things as I blog and read other blogs. I have lots of questions and hope you all have tons of answers. 

I am so excited to be a blogger! 

Thanks for reading :)