Where it all Goes Down- Classroom pics

So like I mentioned before... I've joined the Blog Hoppin madness and I'm giving you a small preview of "Where it all goes down" under construction.

I was just recently allowed into my classroom on Monday and Luckily things are moving along.
There are still a million things I've found on Pinterest that I still have yet to get around to making buuuuut as far as classroom set up goes... things are going well.

Here are a few pictures of my classroom for this school year :)Enjoy

This is what my classroom looked like the first day I walked in... AHHHHH!!!

Notice the green bulletin board??? That was my CAFE PLAN A. but I changed my mind and Below is plan B for the CAFE/ DAILY 5- I'm implementing that this year!!

Daily 5/ CAFE Board... Tadaaaa!!

My Desk- Still haven't touched it and school starts on Tuesday!!!

The Library- I still want to buy new baskets and reorganize the books... not sure if I will have time... I did make new labels so if I can't reorganize them at least they can get fresh basket labels.

Star Student Board

Word Work Station from the back... where I will post spelling words and phonics lessons we are working on.

Word work Station from the front- where I will store word work materials. I think I am going to nix the bag Idea I posted about earlier this summer... and just store items in this excellent cart

Word Wall- Last years word wall will have to do.. No time to jazz it up this year.

Where all the Nice work hangs out

YAY... My new Kidney Table... never had one... now I do..fabulous reading will go on here.

More Guided Reading- I got the idea to cover the side of the file cabinet last night... I have to find out who's idea this is so I can credit them!

Cubbie area- Where the kids hang their things...

This year I've put a circle table in here as well as the art supplies for a small get away area for the kids... I've only got 15 kids this year so I'm going to use the extra cubbies as an area to store toys and indoor recess things...

Not sure why I didn't start with this picture but here is the door to my classroom... All ready to welcome the kiddies!!!

Hope you enjoyed the progress... More pictures to come :)

Teacher Talk Tuesday

So like I said... I'M SORRY I AM BLOGGING TWICE TODAY :)

More on the Blog Hoppin madness

It's only my second year but here is a bit of advice from one newish teacher to her blogging friends...

1.) ASK FOR HELP This is something I really wish I did more of... I'm working on it but it's my number one advice to a newbie. There is absolutely no way you can do it alone your first year. My 2nd grade teamies have all been teaching a long time (one of them has been a teacher for 35years) I would always feel dumb asking and bothering my grade level with questions but when I finally did, the advice... lesson ideas... and even materials just started rolling in. I realized how eager they were to help me out and I even wished I had asked for help sooner!

2.) GO HOME Last year I was staying after until almost 7 or 8pm after school... I just couldn't pull myself away from my classroom. It didn't help that I live an hour away from my job... It was almost as if I had a phobia of leaving it over night. It wasn't until winter when the days grew shorter and it was pitch dark out by the time that I got home when I realized how unfair I was being to myself. -- It's okay to want to stay after to get things situated the first month or two of school, but don't overdo it. Give yourself a time limit and stick to it. Prioritize and be realistic.. Good teacher's don't need to wear their underpants over their pants (like superman) to be great!

3.) MAKE TEACHER FRIENDS- I am going to take my own advice on this one. I stayed in my batcave all last year and didn't venture out. I was always stressing and working in my room. Like I mentioned lots of my neighboring teachers are a lot older than I am and have families to ten to (Lets face it... They have real Lives). This year I plan on making more staff friends and getting involved. Hopefully this year I can create some friendships- you know the ones that aren't just all about school. Dinners, movies, weekend get togethers... do I sound desperate for friends??? Fingers Crossed- but take my advice... it'll be a good thing. 

4.) HAVE FUN Smile as much as possible, love the new experiences... and don't sweat the small stuff. Life goes on and things get better :)

Blog Hoppin

This week I have started working on my classroom... School Starts Tuesday the 30th and they only let us into the building on Monday. Hence the reason I haven't blogged in FOREVER... I'm totally overwhelmed and freaking out... ANYWHO... here's what I'm up to ...

I've joined the Teacher Week Fun at
PLEASE DON'T HATE ME... I'M GOING TO BLOG MORE THAN ONCE TODAY..... BUT I NEED TO CATCH UP.
Check out the website and join the fun 

Blog Hoppin Fun 

So lets start w. Meet The Teacher Monday

Something about me..
I am a Second Grade Sheltered English Teacher. This means I teach 2nd graders who's native language is Portuguese and are still in transition to standard English Learning. My first language is English, however I grew up speaking Portuguese at home as my parents are from Portuguese-speaking countries. I still live at home with my parents even though I will be a quarter of a century old in December. Hopefully I will be moving out within the year. I am one of 4 children... being 3rd in line has always been my favorite spot... no role-model pressures but not quite babied either. My hobbies include blogging (though I've neglected as I mentioned before), singing, dancing, spending time with family and friends, as well as occasionally getting crafty.

 Here I am w.  my niece Djaeda (the d is silent)

How Long have I been teaching?
This will be my second year teaching the same grade in the very same classroom :)

You Might Not Know...
I am .... GETTING MARRIED!!! I just got engaged in March of this year and my Wonderful Fiance and I are planning on getting married AUGUST 4, 2011 :)
I am soooo excited... I already bought the dress and we've picked out our venue. Just a few more things to do... let me know if you have any advice... I'd love to hear invitation ideas.

What I look forward to this school year...
Staying in the same grade and the same classroom as well as having only 15 kids this year. Last year I reached 23 by January... glad to have less.
I also look forward to meeting these new cutie pies... I feel in love with my first group of students... I hope my heart is big enough for this new group.

What I wish To Improve...
Organization- I am totally organized when it comes to "a place for everything" but I still feel so unorganized when it comes to planning... still planing day by day :(

Hopefully my binders will help me stay organized

Daily 5/ CAFE- Fingers crossed it all goes well

At least the board looks great!! 

What I can't teach w.out
1.) Coffee
2.) Writing utensils- Sharpies, Mr. Sketch Markers, Flare Pens
3.) To Do Lists / Post it Notes
4.) LOVE & Patients

Hope You've enjoyed ... Check out my next post for "Teacher Talk Tuesday"

Back from Cali and STRESSED ...

My oh My.... Vacation before school begins is bitter sweet. It's so hard to concentrate on relaxing when you know that you have a stack of to do lists waiting for you at home.

So I spent a week in California visiting my sister and her family and it was such a great time. Beautiful weather and excellent company. Unfortunately my mind was half there and half here at home... thinking about work... I KNOW RIGHT?!?

So here is what is stressing me out ... THE DAILY 5 & CAFE . I want to implement these programs but they feel so JAM PACKED. Last year I felt as though I could only fit one teaching point and active piece a day. I'm feeling so overwhelmed that I can't even get all the parts to a day done that they recommend to do.

So I'm looking to you, blog friends, for advice... I've got A MILLION questions (well just a couple) as this is my first year implementing both programs.

1.When is it a good time to start implementing??? ... 1st Day of School? or should I hold off a day or so? What do you do?

2.Is it okay to just focus on one point a day... ie focus one day on read to self ... next day CAFE lesson one and practice read to self... next day review previous day then CAFE lesson two and practice Read to self and so on?

I can't think of anymore questions but I know I have more... but for now PLEASE HELP.

I'm trying to plan my first week and I just feel SO OVERWHELMED!!!

Going To California

I am soooo excited. My younger brother and I will be traveling to California to visit our sister and her family tomorrow. We will be gone for a whole week so I will keep my posting to a minimum while on vacation. I am so excited to see my nieces and nephew. I'm off for a well needed vacation!!

To those of you starting school soon-- Good Luck
To the rest of you... enjoy the last few days :)

xoxo
Suzy

I Won I Won- Can you believe it?

Thank you soooooooo much to Erin From Creating and Teaching !
I actually won something and I NEVER WIN!!! I am so super excited to receive a fabulous custom made frame from my new blog friend!! I will post a picture of it when I get it. Check out her amazing blog, she has lots of great tips... and she is super cute and crafty!!! <3 <3

Thanks again Erin :)

Daily 5- Wordstudy

So I am excited to start using the Daily 5 program in my classroom this year. I'm a bit nervous because when I start implementing new things, I worry I'm not doing it the right way or using it to its full potential.
When I was reading the Daily 5 I thought to myself "hey, I kind of already do this with my stations- we listen to reading, we buddy read, we go to reading groups, and we read to ourselves". I thought, "Okay, now lets think about word work and work on writing and include these into our literacy block.

So here I am ... open to your opinions. This was my idea about how I would make a word work run in my classroom this year. Please feel free to let me know what you think.

I plan to have students work independently on word work in a way that will help students study for spelling tests. I work in a very low income community and have always wondered how I could raise students spelling scores. I know that they are not getting enough practice at home (due to lack of home support) and so I figured, I should support them in school and what a great way to do so then in word work.

First I created 6 bags (various colors) as well as bag labels.

In these bags I plan on including various activities in which students can practice their spelling words in fun ways.

Here are some things I've included in these bags:

Rainbow Write- Papers and Markers so that students can write their spelling words in a rainbow pattern (each letter a different color).

Dry Erase Board & Markers- Kids love to write on dry erase boards. I found these erasers at Target for a dollar.

Magnetic Board and Magnetic Letters-

I also made these cute holders for the magnets-

Stencil Writing -

I also plan on having a "Look, say, cover, write, check folder in the bag.
(I'll include a pic later)


I'm just getting started on these bags but would love to hear the opinions of others.

Do you all have any more suggestions? I'd like to fill the bag with lots of things to keep the kiddos entertained.

What do you do for word study?