Hello November and Funny Kid Friday!

November is a nice time of year... well, a nice time of year once report cards are finished :) I'm joining Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching to share Five for Friday on this chilly morning... at least the snow that was predicted earlier in the week isn't on the radar anymore... whew!

1.  First off, I have to share a glimpse of our Halloween fun in the classroom last week.  Jonathan picked up a dancing hat for me! (Some wives get flowers, I get animated hats...) This gaudy, orange thing actually moves around a bit while cackling and playing the Munsters' Theme song! I couldn't resist bringing it to school... as much as the neighbors like seeing me in it, I thought the kids would like it more :)  My unsuspecting students and I were doing a sort of Mexican Hat Dance around it while singing our various Halloween songs, when all of a sudden it came to life! Everyone stopped in their tracks with eyes as big as saucers. They loved it and wanted it again and again... oh, goodie.

What a hat! It laughs, sings, howls, and dances!

2. I share a couple things that I want to REMEMBER for Conference/Halloween week NEXT year.  Take a look at my iPhone (I actually figured out how to take a screen shot- whoot):

I asked Siri to set alarms every twenty minutes, two minutes before the end of each parent-teacher conference. (Yes, this is something Siri can do!) WAY easier than setting a timer every twenty minutes. I have never been so on time for conferences.

I always set up a little waiting area outside my classroom door for parents on conference nights. I make sure there is kid writing and artwork, and class-made books for them to peruse. This year I put out York Peppermint Patties and water bottles, too. They enjoyed both treats so I'll do it again next year.

I also served these water bottles for our class Halloween party and they were a big hit (Note to self: remember bathroom breaks!) And then I took the leftover bottles home and suggested we hand them out for Trick or Treat. You have to SEE these bottles to know why I suggested it.

These were no ordinary bottles! Brilliant on the part of Nestle, who makes them. Well, my family looked at me as if I was nuts, but they put them into the caldron of candy that our trick or treaters choose from. HA! They went like hot cakes... or should I say, candy! Kids were fighting over them at the door. WHO KNEW! When I bought them they were on sale, two cases for the price of one, so they were even cheaper than some candy. I'm definitely remembering this next year and stocking up! It was good to know some kids choose water over sugar buzz, and so worth it to see the shocked looks on my own kids' faces as they flew out of that caldron... figuratively speaking, of course. Hee.

3. I love, love, love those cute pails that Target sells in their Dollar Spot. I have many sets and use them for all sorts of things. Look at this year's addition to the pail collection in the Monster Math area.

Halloween is definitely the time to stock up on monster supplies if you have a monster theme in your classroom. (The little plush monsters come by the dozen at Oriental Trading. We use them as math buddies and for various math activities. Click on the pic for a link to see them.)

But I have a word of caution about the buckets...

One of these things is not like the other... or should I say, is NO LONGER like the other! No more buying ribbon handled buckets for me! Those darn little scissor-happy kindergartners. Naughty, naughty!

4. I got an email from a teacher asking how I hang curtains over the shelves in my room. This can be seen most recently in Wednesday's post. I show how I made new student display space, and the curtains hang as backdrop. Click on the photo for a link to that post.

I have seen teachers put up tension rods and hang dowels to hang curtains. Some even use good old tape. I use velcro. I get the stick-on kind and run the hook side along the top edge. On most shelves where I've hung curtains there is a perfect edge to press it on to. Then I stick the soft side of the velcro to the top edge of my curtain. It sticks quite well– so well I don't sew it down with my sewing machine (Word of caution! Never run velcro with sticky back on your machine. You have to use the non-sticky kind or it gets really gunked up.) The curtains are not really curtains, just fabric from JoAnne's, which I do finish the edges of with my machine. I've found really good selections in the quilting section of the store. And of course, I use JoAnne coupons to buy the velcro and fabrics.

An added bonus of using stick-on velcro on the shelves is that it can be taken off when necessary, leaving no sign it was ever there. When I had to move classrooms several years ago, I peeled it off, and even reused it in the new room. I can't imagine having all my storage shelves exposed now.

5.  Yippee! It's the time of month for Funny Kid Friday! Link-up, link-up, link-up to share yours, or use the comment section. Remember, you can link up all month!

Here's my tale for this time. I now have in class the little brother of two older boys, both of whom I had in kindergarten several years back. I love their mom and looked forward to yet our third parent-teacher conference. As I was making notes on Son Number Three so I'd be ready for her conference, I remembered what she shared with me at our very first parent-teacher conference on Son Number One. She had commented on how Son Number One was learning to write very well! His writing was really taking off and he was writing all the time at home now. Then she asked me if she should thank me for that... or not... and handed me a note that said in very clear kindergarten spelling:

bg ft mene mom

Then she cracked up. We both did, as I realized that Son Number One had given his little, itty, bitty mom this note that very clearly let her know he was mad at her– Big, Fat, Meanie Mom, indeed! We chuckled even harder when I told her he was quoting great literature-- Lily from Lily's Purple Plastic Purse! That made her feel a bit better as she had not been happy with his description.

I reminded her of this funny incident at last week's parent-teacher conference.  We laughed all over again as she said that note truly was a keeper. Ah, kiddos, you gotta love them!

Okay, time to share your story in the link or comments.  Then go on back to read more fun by clicking on Doodlebug's button up top.

An InLinkz Link-up

Do-It-Themselves Student Display

I'm linking up with Miss DeCarbo at Sugar and Spice for Wordless Wednesday to show off a new way to display student work.

I have student work up in several places in my room and out in our centrum, but I really wanted a spot for the work the kids chose to display, and where they could put it up on their own. The putting-it-up-on- their-own part proved to be a bit of a challenge as display spaces, like bulletin boards, tend to be up high.  I finally created the perfect spot, heretofore unused.

Yes, this photo was taken at night... don't YOU live at school??

I took a long plastic strip that I got in the lumber department of Lowes. You could use a wooden strip but I find the plastic easier to work with. I used purple duct tape to cover it-- faster than painting and it can't flake off. It fit so that the edges of the tape wrapped around to the back on the top and bottom edges of the strip. Then I screwed the strip to the edge of my window counter ledge. I suppose you could skip this strip step and just use the edge of the counter, but I wanted to mess up the counter edge as little as possible, and gluing 20+ clips directly to it might have left too much mess. This way there will only be some very small unobtrusive holes in the counter edge when I'm gone. And I think the purple edge makes it look "on purpose." The color theme of my room is sage green, gray, and purple.

Close up– see those little screws?

I got wide black clothespins at Michaels and wrote the kids' names on them with white chalk pen, also found at Michael's. I needed a few more clothespins than they had, so I bought plain ones and spray painted them using black chalkboard paint and it worked just fine. The white chalkboard marker stays on as the kids use the clip, but if I wet it, it wipes right off– handy for putting next year's crop of kids' names on. The hot glue gun did the job of attaching the clothespins to the strip.  I spaced the clothes pins so that student work (of 8.5x11) could hang in either the vertical or horizontal position. I have fabric "curtains" that cover all the stuff on my shelves- makes for a much cleaner look– and the kids' work hangs with the curtain as a backdrop. Now the kids can hang whatever they are proud of in their own designated spot, and change it in seconds. I am happy with it and so are they!

So, how do you do student display? Do you let them choose what goes up? Have you found a way to let them put it up by themselves? Is this photo and post helpful to you?  I hope to hear!

Now click on the Wordless Wednesday button up top to find more good stuff! Have a great week!

The post Do-It-Themselves Student Display first appeared on kidpeopleclassroom.com

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Currently November

I'm linking up with Farley at Oh Boy, Fourth Grade for Currently November.  Here's what's happening!

Listening to.. and loving... the sounds of Autumn!  Crunchy leaves, football fans, rakes and leaf blowers. It's all good.

Loving the long holiday season that is coming up! Pretty decorations, festive food, friends and family, time away from school, lots of activities! It's all good.

Thinking about that pond I love... except for this time of year.  I did the first steps to winterizing a few weeks ago.. and then the dog fell in! Gotta finish it up today while trying to touch the water as little as possible because it is COLD. Winterizing works, though– last year I didn't lose a single fish! It's all good.

Wanting to finish up several posts. I just posted about the Liebster Award. A nice surprise and perk that Pixie Anne gave me. I'm passing it on! And I have a new student display space that my kiddos are using and loving and I gotta share about that. Waiting for a Monday Made It! And I've got several things going for Five for Friday, and it will be Funny Kid Friday as well. Yep, lots of writing and finishing touches to do this week. It's all good.

Needing to give the house a shake down. I don't think it ever gets as dumpy as during the back to school season... except we've been in school for two months and it still looks so cluttered. I had both daughters home this weekend and looking at it through their eyes I'm sure they were thinking, Mom, you used to say it was US who messed it up! Gotta make it a priority in the next few weeks before it's holiday time. It's all good... soon.

Reading... well, actually just finishing The Book of Life by Debra Harkness.  It is the last in the All Souls Trilogy. This series was recommended to me by my favorite bookseller and she really knows good fiction. It features witches and vampires with a nice dose of history, and sense of family thrown in. Thoroughly engrossing. So sad to see it end! Gotta go see what's next in the book pile... What would I do without books! This is the detail of everyone else's post that I'll be giving the most attention to.  I love hearing about good books.  Click on back to Farley now! It's all good.

The post Currently November first appeared on kidpeopleclassroom.com

I Got a Liebster!

Well, this is a special post. Pixie Anne from Growing Little Learners nominated me for a Liebster Award.

This particular award is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers and want to share their great content with more readers. I so appreciate this little perk because I myself have found some great bloggers by trailing the Liebster Award recipients. So THANKS Pixie Anne!

Click to see who else Pixie Anne nominated!

To accept the nomination I must:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated me
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers
3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator
4. Write 5-11 random facts about myself
5. Create 5-11 questions for your nominees
6. Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them

Here come my answers to Pixie Anne's questions:

1.  Why and how long ago did you start blogging? 

I started last February. My primary motivation was sharing. I've been very involved in PD in my district, and in promoting sharing among teachers throughout my whole career. And I like to write. This seemed like just one more way to do that.

2.  What one word sums up the heart of your blog and why?

Ah-Ha! Is that a word? I hope when teachers read my posts they think, Now, that's a good idea, a new idea, or I could do that this way. Teachers are better teachers when they learn new ways of teaching and doing things.

3.  Is there something you learned late in your blogging journey that you wish you knew before?

Everything I know now– LOL. It really is a matter of you don't now what you don't know, and you can't know it until you need it. I guess I wish I had known someone already blogging so I could have some conversations. Everything I've needed to know, I've had to search out, and sometimes search hard. I SO appreciate those bloggers who comment, email, and answer questions. I want to do the same for others.

4.  What is your favorite past time other than blogging?

I love teaching, and it was the right career choice for me, but I've never doubted there are other things I can do. I like to make stuff, and fix up stuff, and write, and go to movies and read, and spend time with friends and families. My husband and I have often joke that we'd like to have a "gift toy antique boutique that specializes in custom interiors and catering."

5.  How many hours per week do you dedicate to your blog? 

Some weeks it is lots, and some weeks next to none. There are always things I could be doing and I keep a running list of ideas.

6.  What category of blog posts do you enjoy the most?

Sharing tips, ideas, learning strategies. Also, sharing a chuckle, especially when it comes from the kids. That is why I started Funny Kid Fridays-- weekly in the summer and monthly during school. Look for one this coming Friday. It's a linky, so you can add yours too. The stuff kids say and do and think is a joy of the profession.

7.  Where does your blog inspiration come from?

Most of my ideas come from time spent in the classroom and with kids. And I am inspired by things I want to try myself. Also, just always thinking about how to use things in the classroom as I go through daily life.

8.  Which blog post that you've written are you most proud of?

Hmmm, well, whether it's MY favorite or not, funny thing is that one single post has had more than ten times the views of others. I have no idea why. It is a review of the book Interrupting Chicken. It does have a great video read aloud of the book on it, but I don't get why it would have so many views. I actually say in the post that I wrote it in record time, too. Is that reason to speed-write in the future :) As to MY favorites– I love my Funny Kid Friday posts because I like to laugh and people have shared some funny stories. And several people have asked me about how I incorporate movement into my classroom (a big thing with me) and I love referring them to these posts- click to see.

Motor Kids Center

Standing Center Options

9.  Is there any post you've been planning to do, but have postponed for a while now?

Remember that running list of ideas I mentioned above? Well, it is lonnnggg.  I have a classroom display idea that is working well for my kids which I hope to share soon... and lots of others...

10.  What is your favorite aspect of blogging?

Oh, this one is easy– it's "meeting" people. I love knowing the teachers who are out there and how they think, learn, and do things both the same and different from myself. And I especially like finding teacher bloggers from around the world! Again, lots of same and different issues and ideas, even though sometimes from the other side of the globe.

11.  Which recipe, project, or idea on my blog would you be most likely to try yourself? 
I have most appreciated knowing about The Literacy Shed animations Pixie Anne posts about. They can hold teaching points for all sorts of things. The Happy Duckling with its pop-up format is fantastic. 

Here are some random things about me.  Can you relate?
1. I don't know how to swim! My brothers learned in one week while staying with family with a pool, but it never caught on with me. I made swimming a priority with my own kids though!
2. I am of Irish decent. My Irish Nana and Grumps (Gramps) were full of stories that they passed on, and I pass on today. I have a fondness for the fae- fairies, leprechauns, and the like- because of those Irish roots. When I went to Ireland as a child I spent most of my time looking for the fairy folk.
3. I like to cook and bake when I have the time, but on a regular daily basis, not so much.
4. Some of my favorite music is Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, ELO, Michael Buble.
5. If I ever win a lot of money, I'm getting a housekeeper so I can just do the fun stuff around the house!

And HERE are the bloggers I nominate for the Liebster Award.  Check them out by clicking on their buttons! Each one offers their own voice and ideas to the blogosphere in great ways!  

Racheal

Amanda

Alex

Kacie

Kristin

Lily

Paula

Natalie

Kristin and Lindsey

And, Ladies, here are my questions to you:

1. What one word sums up  the heart of your blog?

2. What is your favorite post, or your favorite category of post?

3. What one blog tip would you pass on to other bloggers?

4. What one thing would you most like to learn?

5. What's your favorite holiday and why?

6. How do you spend your summers?

7. If you could live some place else, in some other time, where would it be?

8. And I GOTTA ask this :) What idea on my blog is most useful to you?

I look forward to hearing from the Nominees and from readers alike on the new people they find through the Liebster.

The post I Got a Liebster! first appeared on kidpeopleclassroom.com

A Cozy Chat and Some Monstrous Ideas

Hello Everybody! I hear some of the hardest weeks in school are these that we're in right now-- the honeymoon period is over, so much stuff is going on with parent-teacher conferences and assessments, and Thanksgiving break is still only a far away speck on the calendar. I'm busy, but loving my class and taking each day as it comes. Thanks to Kacey at Doodle Bugs for her Five for Friday link-up to share with you what I hope are some helpful ideas.

1.  I'm gearing up for the bulk of my parent-teacher conferences next week. A photo might not be the first way a teacher thinks of to share about parent-teacher conferences, but for me, the details of the setting are the first important detail.

Let's have a little chat!

I very much want parents to feel the conference is a conversation, so a comfortable setting is crucial. We meet in front of my "fireplace" looking at each other. I have a small side table available to hold my notes and handouts. There is space for parents to sit together on the couch, if both parents come to the conference.  And just as crucial there is a third chair to form a triangle when separated parents come to the conference as the couch might be too cozy in some cases. And yes, I pretty much insist that separated parents come for one conference. It's not twice the time that I must give for two conferences that is my concern, but that both parents hear the same information from me.

On that little table, I always have some handouts for parents to go away with. Tips for practicing math concepts or letters, sight, or rhyming words. I also suggest a good read– Lucy Calkins' Raising Lifelong Learners. This is not a "parenting" book, per se, but one that talks about how parents can support their child's learning from pre-K through high school. It is a fantastic book that I recommend all teachers and parents read. I copy the chapter on raising readers to give to parents as a tease. (Copying one chapter of a book for educational purposes is allowed.) Many parents end up buying the book, and I have a few copies to loan out as well.

Another important detail of my conferences is my opening line. "I have lots to share about your child, but we'll start with what you most want to know about. Don't worry, I'll fit all I have to share around that." I think it is important to share control of this meeting– parents and I are partners in the education of their child, after all. Sometimes parents respond by saying their preference is for me to start with what I have. Sometimes parents think a minute and give me an answer. Sometimes they know immediately what they want to hear about. Another reason my opening line is important to a good parent-teacher conference is because I know people have a hard time listening when they have a pressing question in mind. Much better to satisfy that so we can move on to cover everything else. And how horrible is it to come to the end of a conference, with the next parent waiting in the wings, and be asked a question that could have been easily discussed if you had known that was important to the parents!

Teachers sometimes ask me if I can still get in all I need to say if I allow the parent to begin. My answer is yes. I basically structure my conferences into two equally important parts– academics and social/learning behaviors.  I start with student strengths in these areas, then move on to concerns, though I do not see the standard parent-teacher conference as the time to discuss these fully.  I usually share what I see, giving examples, and then talk about the ways I work with the student on these points. I always tell parents I will follow up further, usually after the first report card comes out.

What elements of parent-teacher conferences are important to you?

2.  Oh, how I hate the clean up that happens at the end of the school year! WHY am I thinking of that NOW? Because this last year, for some reason, I lost so much stuff! Among the items that still haven't resurfaced is a very neat laser pointer. It was also a clicker, allowing me to click on my computer remotely when using it with a projector. I used the laser all the time in class to point out resources in the room to kids. It is important that kids remember to use the word wall, or our anchor charts posted around the room. When I'm working with a child that needs to look at something specifically, it is so useful to be able to use a laser pointer to show them where to look, so neither one of us has to get up to see it. I finally couldn't stand being without a pointer any more and decided to buy another. They are surprisingly pricey at office supply stores, but our trusty ACE Hardware store had a BARGAIN! A laser pointer that is also a LED flashlight AND a pen for only $3.50. At just an ordinary pen size, it is really portable as well. Yippee!

It looks like an ordinary pen but it's a laser pointer!

3. Well, aren't I crafty! I made a moveable number line! I took a meter/yard stick (a little longer than a regular yard stick to give more number room) and covered it with bright green masking tape. I wrote numbers every 1.5 inches, as every inch made the numbers too close together to be easily read. I then ran a strip of press-on magnetic tape on the back  Voila!

Number lines are important tools in math and we learn about numbers, number order, counting, addition, subtraction, etc.  And I can move it into and out of prime student viewing space on the white board as needed. So much easier than drawing or using masking tape for the line on the board. WHY didn't I think of it before?? I put a bit of magnet on the back of a little car, some little animals and lego guys, and of course, some monsters, to use as place holders when I move around on the line. "If the monster made three hops, and then he made two more, how many hops did he make?" Always keep it fun!

4. Do you use Phone-a-Friend in class? I find it helps kids control blurting and gives think time when playing learning games. We started with parent centers this week and parents are teaching it to the kids. Eventually they'll be able to do it on their own with lots of different games.

If one student turns over a card or lands on a spot, and can't do the task- say, read the sight word- they can "phone-a-friend." They hold their hand up to their cheek and says "Ring-ring, Sam" or whoever they choose.

Like my model child? I was too busy at schools to get a photo!

The stumped child knows who to call on because the kids who know the answer put their hand on the table in the "phone position."

It those kids do any blurting, like "me, me, me!" they can't be called on for help. This ability to signal that they know the answer keeps all the kids engaged through everybody's turn. Sam holds her "phone" to her ear and says the answer. The child who didn't know, then learns and gets to go on playing. The kids really like to use this element in games, and I love that it gives everyone think time, keeps kids engaged, and teaches the ones who need to know what we're working on. It also deemphasizes competition and puts a positive spin on helping everyone get the answer.

5. Tis the season for monsters... well, for me it is always the season for little monsters, as I've posted about numerous times before. I have a monster pin board that has everything from food, to art, to clothes, to toys, to learning activities-- and all MONSTER! You want to check it out, especially with Halloween just a week away.  Click on the Pin Board pic here.

And I'll leave you with this little video– I think it was around when I was a kid, so we can call it a classic. It will have you all bopping around the room for some Halloween brain breaks.

Scooch on back to Five for Friday for lots more fun!

Here's to a great week-before-Halloween, Everybody!

The post A Cozy Chat and Some Monstrous Ideas first appeared on KidpeopleClassroom.com

Five for Friday, a Tip and a Tale

Man, there's lots going on! Lots is good, except that lots competes for blogging time. Hats off to any teacher in the blog-o-sphere who posts on a real regular basis! I don't know how you do it!

Here are five random things I've come across this week which I think you'll be interested in. Thanks to Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday links. And to Tara for Monday Made It, too.

1.  So I start out with a Monday Made-It... well, if it counts that I share how I made something better and easier to use. I have lots of games that need dice- dice with letters, or sight words, or directions, or what have you. I've tried the wipe-off kind, but the writing comes off when the kids use them. I sometimes put a piece of tape over the writing, but that is a pain. I have pocket dice which I like a lot better. They are sold in lots of places now.  Click on the caption to find them for a pretty good price on Amazon.

Differentiated Instruction Cubes

Well, I thought they were going to be just what I needed, but there was a problem or two to fix. When I put pieces of paper in the pockets, they fell out as the kids used the dice. Then I thought, laminating the paper might help as the plastic of the laminate will stick to the plastic pocket, but those fell out, too. Then I tried taping the pockets closed, but that didn't look so good, and you had to peel the tape off each time you changed the items in the dice. I then tried using Post-It notes, but they didn't stick much to the material of the dice. FINALLY I came up with a way to make it work... I write on the BACK of the Post-It note...

Then I slide it in so the sticky part is stuck to the plastic pocket itself, not the material.

PLUS, if you write on the bottom of the Post-It, then you can cut off that word, and write the next word on the new bottom edge to get multiple uses from just one note.

TA-DA.  How do you use your dice?

2.  Just in case you ever doubt the importance of what you do when you teach reading, here is a special perspective and some inspiration.

3.  It's been rather damp here, all summer and even into the fall.  Somebody had a little fun with a toadstool and our Little Free Library. Extra weather protection, I guess.

And my daughter can do most any kind of photo alteration, in Power Point for heaven's sake.

4.  I would LOVE to hear what your favorite and most used smart phone feature is. I just came into the 21st century, finally, and got my first ever- an iPhone 6. I'm still fumbling around with it a lot. We are an Apple family with laptops, iPods and my iPad, so I think it will come eventually, but I'd like to get to the good stuff sooner rather than later. If you'd let me know what you use the most, I'll check it out. I'd much appreciate it!

5.  Okay, so it's not really time for a monthly Funny Kid Friday, but you know me, I got one anyway.

I have this one little guy who is fun, and bright, and verbal. He struggles with school behavior sometimes, though.  This week at one point he said at the top of his lungs for half the school to hear, "I do not like FOLLOWING the rules... I do not like the RULES!"  Good thing he has the verbal skills to express himself completely.  It was a great starting point for a little more discussion.  You can't talk about rules too many times. Sometimes I don't like em either.

Scoot on over.  Find good stuff! Thanks, Kacey. Thanks, Tara.

The post Five for Friday, a Tip and a Tale first appeared on KidpeopleClassroom.com