Back to School Organization-Parent Log, Meeting Notes, & Gradebook

Howdy! 

We live in a digital age. Does it simplify things? Yes. Can it come with complications? Yes. Can you make everyone happy? No. 

I love the "less" of having things online. You know, not having so many papers and distractions around. But listen, you can give the girl online digital tools, but you can't take away her love for hard copy things sometimes. 

For example, there is just something about going to the library and perusing the aisles of books and the smell of a book. Flipping the pages and stacking them up. I can not get on board with the Kindle. I am sorry. I NEED a hard copy. 

Same with certain teaching things. Sometimes I like a hard copy. Not for everything, because, I mean, we only have so much filing cabinet space before it becomes hoarding right? 

Here are three items I always liked having hard copy of in my back pocket. 

1. Meeting Notes: I actually have changed up how I take notes over the years and finally found a system that works for me and I love it. However, I had made this little note taking template years back and wanted to offer it up to anyone who might want to use it. 

Download HERE

2. Parent Contact Log: Communication with parents is key! I always liked to keep any emails I sent online digitally, but I also made phone calls home as well. I would keep this little spiral near my phone at school and document all the info when I did make a phone call. 

Download HERE

3. Gradebook: Just your run of the mill old school gradebook. We input grades online, however, having a hard copy has come in clutch many a time as well. It can also be used as a general checklist for students and tracking what they have turned in etc. 

Download HERE

Hope these help fellow hard copiers. Use or lose-pick and choose! 

Have a BLESSED week! 

How to Survive the End of the Year- A Top 5 List

Is the end of the year a little stressful? The To-Do list just seems to go on forever and it may not seem like it can all get done in time? Well I am here to tell you.....let me know how that works out for you....HAHA! Just kidding! For real, things will get done that are supposed to and maybe some things get put on the next list, but living the last little bit of the school year as a grouchie bug does not help you, the kids, or your coworkers! Here is my top 5 list of things that might take the edge off a little and help to refocus!

Guilty Pleasure:

Whether that is coffee, chocolate, working out, good smelling soap in the adult bathroom(hey it's the little things right?), etc... Find something that puts a smile on your face and gets you going to

"get er done!"

Don't project mood/feelings:

Kids getting a little restless? Coworkers giving you the eye? Are they testing the Jesus in you? 

-take deep breathes

-count to 10 (seriously can help filter)

-prioritize and pick your battles

I really try to live by the "leave it at the door" motto when it comes to going to work. We really are in this together and should support those around us. People deal with their own struggles daily-don't assume the grass is greener. 

 I know we are all human, things can come out accidently, and your tone/delivery can relay certain messages, if that is the case, recognize it and apologize.

We can all offer GRACE at this time of year. 

Truth be told we sometimes need to vent-that is okay...just find someone like a teacher BFF, your dog, or just throw it up to Jesus- but someone "safe" who knows you and understands.

Organize yourself:

Why? 

-not to miss deadlines

-not to lose things

-quick access to things you might need

-keep focused

Planning with the end in mind has been something I have found to be really helpful. Especially when I was in the classroom it helped to sometimes pre-prepare for the EOY at the BOY. 

Tip: Student permanent record files is always something we have to do at the EOY for each kid. So I put into a place ahead of time a way to filter the paperwork and organize it so when things came rolling in at the EOY I was not scrambling (it also helped a ton in the MOY when I had conferences and meetings on kids). 

Tip: utilize containers and bins 

Tip: set aside a spot in your room for EOY stuff (things you need to turn in, recycle, etc)

Tip: follow and/or make a checklist

Tip: create folders inside email...ummm also CHECK your email

We know there are a ton of EOY emails, some may seem like fluff, but others are crucial. It is your responsibility as a professional to set aside time to read them and decide your priority on them. Try to remember there are always  people on the other side of those emails and sometimes they have a to-do list a mile long too (that is me speaking from both sides of having been in the classroom and now as an Instructional Coach). Creating folders to be able to sort important emails that may be helpful to refer back to is also handy. 

Enjoy time with the kids:

Why?

It makes for good memories for both you AND the kids! 

You don't have to throw all your rules out and lower your expectations just because it is "end of the year/full moon/ready for summer" time. You can keep your structure AND still have fun!! 

Here are some examples I have either used or seen teachers use over the years:

-Autograph party

-STEM activities

-Minute to Win It

-Camp Learned A lot

-Memory Book creating

-Jeopardy Review games

-Different theme days (bubbles, board games, favorite book, dance party, etc)

-Celebrate goals met and success from the year. You can read about that HERE with freebie! 

Be strategic packing up your room:

Why? 

It totally makes unpacking it all for BOY easier. You can find things SO much faster and my favorite....GET RID OF STUFF as you pack it up! 

I am not sure what every schools expectation is leaving for summer, but every school I have worked in we are asked to take things off the walls, furniture goes in the middle of the room, items into cabinets ,etc to help the custodians clean more effectively over the summer. 

One thing that helped me be able to pack up easier was loading my cabinets by content...all math items together, reading items, etc. This made it a ton easier when I had to unpack and set up the next year. It also forced me to see what I had and if I was hoarding and needed an intervention.

Well there you have it! 5 quick tips for helping your end of year shenanigans run a bit smoother!! 

Have a BLESSED weekend!! 

"Fight the good fight of faith." 

1 Timothy 6:12

No More "What's Due?" Manage the paper monster!

How do you manage your classroom work and objectives? I am sure if your classroom is anything in the form of a normal classroom you have a lot going on throughout the week. Things can start piling up if you do not have some kind of a system in place. Even if a majority of what you do is in Interactive Notebooks, Seesaw, etc you can still get bogged down with what needs to be checked. Well I have tried various different things over the years and finally have settled on my newest technique. I have tweaked it and have seen such good results. And I promise you even 1st graders can manage it! 

The To-Do board! 

I have posted in the past about my kids having the chance to earn Fun Friday. After they accomplish all of their goals for the week they can earn that extra time to just be a kid and have some fun. I mean we work so hard during the week! 

On my back wall I have two empty cabinet fronts (prime real estate ya know?). I made picture icons of the objectives they would typically be faced with throughout the week as well as icons for what to do with the assignments when complete. I mean who just craves hearing..."I'm done!" What do I do with this? Where do I put it?" Well I can tell you I do not haha...I really want to foster independence and problem solving skills within those 4 walls. 

(I would have offered the icons as a freebie but it is tailored to what we do specifically, you would need to take pictures for your own icons-sorry!) 

Now we had a lot rolling this week so it looks kind of overwhelming to the naked eye lol...but my little owls have been trained on this and can execute it pretty well now days.

I put any assignment we have started and needs to be finished by Friday on the left side. On the right side I put the picture icon for where or what they need to do with it so they do not have to ask. 

"Corner of desk"- this tells me non-verbally I am done and you can come check my work. Most of these assignments/work was done in their interactive notebooks or folders where we didn't have to have extra copies made and waste paper or bury them in worksheets. 

"File"- I have made a file system at the front of the room with all their numbers on a file folder. They can slip their finished work in their and on Thursday and Friday morning I will check it.

"Picture of Me" - they can hand deliver it or also put it out on desk so I can come snatch it at my convenience. I don't typically use this one often but will when it is something I want right away.

"Work folder"- everyone every week has to have this out before starting Fun Friday. I do have some try to slip through the cracks each week and "say" they are done ;) ya know what I mean Vern?

The numbers next to the assignment are the magic numbers for the kids whose items I have not checked or have turned in. Once it is done I get to erase it off the board. I can tell you they love seeing their number go away. This is also helpful for some of my friends who are still learning to read. They know their number by heart already and the picture icons are obviously super fast to see as well! 

Here are some up close looks:

I really can't tell you how efficient this has made our weeks, and I love being able to see them turn around without me having to really say anything and check the to-do board on their own and Get 'Er Done! 

 I hope it sparked your interest if you are looking to streamline paper/assignment management in your classroom! 

Have a BLESSED week!!!

Looking for some organization and fun new products

Attention all Instructional Coaches!!!

 The ICD for the OCD

Instructional Coach Detailer for the OCD is all updated for the 2017-2018 school year! 

Let's face it, the IC job is multitasking at its finest! You don't have time to be scattered in your thoughts! Use the ICD to help you be OCD! 
This Instructional Coach Detailer is the perfect planner to help you balance all of your plans, notes, and to-do's!

What is included?

-Two different versions: ELA & Math/Science-Monthly overviews August - July (free updates each year!)-To-Do checklists with each month-Space to put sticky notes so they are never far away-Positive quotes to keep you going- Team planning overviews- Notes for meetings-Pages of team minute notes for team plannings-Teacher Checklists-to keep information of teachers easy

Print this in color or even just black and white!You can print as is, or rearrange pages in a spiral bound form or binder. Need more of a certain page? Print just what you need!Put it all together or make separate smaller books.Add in your school calendar, etc! 

If you'd like a custom cover I am happy to do that! Just email me! Email is listed in TPT product description page!

Suggestion: Print cover in color on card stock and print the other pages on regular paper (helps with printing cost)

***FREE updates each year!! 

Click HERE for ELA

Click HERE for Math/Science

Need more inserts? Check out my IC Quick Sheets to add to your planner and keep track of your coaching with teachers! (under the organization tab) or link: 

Here

I also just added some A La Carte pieces you can add to ANY planner!

Check them out HERE (they are free for now so grab them while you can!)

Last thing for today! I just finally got around to posting my newest edition of Monthly Jam- where I showcase my favorite 5 items in under 5 minutes!  I would love anyone who would like to participate to join me! You can see the original post HERE if you'd like to know the "guidelines". 

So I posted this one over on my YouTube channel....it is just up and going so please be gentle :) I'd love it if you'd subscribe while there too! 

Click HERE to watch! 

Have a Blessed week!!! 

"If we say we are HIS, we must follow the example of Christ."

1 John 2:6

New Song & Editable To Do Lists!

Happy Sunday!
Quick check in today to share two new uploads that you might find helpful.

First up, a new song!! So I was in planning the other day with my 2nd grade team and perusing the information of the new unit they will be doing, which included a piece about celebrating reading. It basically said that when you love a book you can't just keep it to yourself that you want and need to share it, to give it away......boom enter my amazing singing talents haha!! I immediately busted out with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Give It Away song. They are not exactly a staple in my music list, but that song is pretty well known for that catchy chorus. Needless to say I went home on a mission to create a song based around it. And a day later here we are! So if you want to promote loving books and shouting it from the rooftops then this song is for you! It is only 54 seconds so quick, easy, and to the point! It is in a PowerPoint format so you can use presentation mode and the instrumental audio file is included.

Click HERE to grab yours! 

Click below to hear an example! Please no judgement, I am not vocally trained lol or I'd be getting paid the big bucks right?

Next up: EDITABLE To Do Lists!! Who doesn't love a to do list right?! I had created these over time for various reasons and decided to finally load them all and make a little packet. The headings are editable so you can personalize that part to your liking.

Click HERE to check them out! 

Have a BLESSED week ahead! 

Are your anchor charts a hot mess?! Here's a solution!

Anchor charts! Love them! A definite helpful resource for the kiddos throughout the year. But also can be a pain to store. They can be big and slippery and good heavens don't roll them or you'll be sitting paper weights on them for a week to flatten them! 

EEK! seeing that picture gives me hives! Now I realize some teachers may not "keep" their anchor charts once they are made. However, I like to do a mixture of both keeping and re-making. I make a lot of charts in the midst of teaching and may end up "raffling" them off to the kids and not keeping them. But I also make a lot of "templates" ahead of time, laminate them, and then add in the info with dry erase or wet erase with the kids. 

SO what have I done? Saved those clear plastic hangers I get when I go shopping haha. 

I hole punch the posters I am keeping and put the rings through them to hang them on the hangers.

I categorize them by content area and then by objectives we teach together or back to back. 

Of course I need it to be color coded as well. 

I use these amazing labels:

They fit perfectly in the empty space on the hanger. I then tape over it to secure it a bit more.

Here are some close up's:

Now I can easily access all my posters and just pull the hanger I will be needing that week or month.

Phew! Anchor chart madness averted! Hope this helps! 

Have a BLESSED weekend! 

To Do Board!

On to the main event!

How do you manage your classroom work and objectives? I am sure if your classroom is anything in the form of a normal classroom you got a lot going on throughout the week. Things can start piling up if you do not have some kind of a system in place. Well I have tried various different things over the years and finally have settled on my newest technique...for now anyways lol. I have tweaked it over the past two years and have seen such good results. And I promise you 1st graders can manage it! 

The To-Do board! 

I have posted in the past about my kids having the chance to earn Fun Friday. After they accomplish all of their goals for the week they can earn that extra time to just be a kid and have some fun. I mean we work so hard during the week! 

On my back wall of cabinets I have two empty front cabinets I decided to use. I made picture icons of the objectives they would typically be faced with throughout the week as well as icons for what to do with the assignments when complete. I mean who just craves hearing..."I'm done!" What do I do with this? Where do I put it?" Well I can tell you I do not haha...I really want to foster independence and problem solving skills within those 4 walls. 

(I would have offered the icons as a freebie but it is tailored to what we do specifically, you would need to take pictures for your own icons-sorry!) 

Now we had a lot rolling this week so it looks kind of overwhelming to the naked eye lol...but my little owls have been trained on this and can execute it pretty well now days.

I put any assignment we have started and needs to be finished by Friday on the left side. On the right side I put the picture icon for where or what they need to do with it so they do not have to ask. 

"Corner of desk"- this tells me non-verbally I am done and you can come check my work.

"File"- I have made a file system at the front of the room with all their numbers on a file folder. They can slip their finished work in their and on Thursday and Friday morning I will check it.

"Picture of Me" - they can hand deliver it or also put it out on desk so I can come snatch it at my convenience. I don't typically use this one often but will when it is something I want right away.

"Work folder"- everyone every week has to have this out before starting Fun Friday. I do have some try to slip through the cracks each week and "say" they are done ;) ya know what I mean Vern?

The numbers next to the assignment are the magic numbers for the kids whose items I have not checked or have turned in. Once it is done I get to erase it off the board. I can tell you they love seeing their number go away. This is also helpful for some of my friends who are still learning to read. They know their number by heart already and the picture icons are obviously super fast to see as well! 

Here are some up close looks:

I really can't tell you how efficient this has made my week each week and I love being able to see them turn around without me having to really say anything and check the to-do board on their own and Get 'Er Done! 

Well I am so proud of myself for getting this posted!! I hope it sparked your interest if you are looking to streamline paper/assignment management in your classroom! 

Have a BLESSED week!!!