FRIDAY FREEBIE: Scientific Method Handout!

In the spirit of Science Week that I'm seeing all over the blogging world, I thought I'd post a Science freebie this week!  Now, I don't have a whole lot of homemade Science stuff..I still feel like such a newbie to teaching!  BUT I do have this bad boy--a handout to help teach the Scientific Method! 

 On the backside, you'll notice a handout for an experiment I used to accompany teaching about the Scientific Method. (I totally stole this idea from What the Teacher Wants!)  My students LOVED the Diaper Experiment last year. I only wish I took pics! And do you know how many corny jokes you can come up with when you're working with diapers?  SO MANY!  It's great! 

 Have a great weekend! :)

THURSDAY TIP: Using RAFTs for Cross-Curricular Projects

How many of you use RAFTS in your classroom?  A RAFT is a writing project that outlines the assignment in a concise and organized way.  You assign students the RAFT by selecting the Role, Audience, Format, Topic, and a Strong Word.  You can use RAFTS for larger writing projects or as a method to check for understanding. One of my favorite RAFTS that I use in my room is the Pumpkin RAFT.  Here's the project:

ROLE--Pumpkin
AUDIENCE--Children
FORMAT-- Persuasive Essay
TOPIC--Please don't carve/smash me!
STRONG WORD--annihilate 

I use the five-paragraph essay format for this project. Kids enjoy taking the perspective of a pumpkin.  I usually do some "inspirational activities" before the writing project begins to help them think like a pumpkin, namely "babysitting" one for a while.  We even adopt one for a class pet for a week. Good times! :)

RAFTs can be used for anything though!  Teaching about the circulatory system?

ROLE--Red Blood Cell
AUDIENCE--Other parts of the blood
FORMAT--Thank you note
TOPIC--Thanks for your help with doing my job!
STRONG WORD--collaboration

Teaching place value? 

ROLE--A comma
AUDIENCE--3rd Graders (or whatever grade you teach)
FORMAT--How-To Guide
TOPIC--How to place me in between periods
STRONG WORD--placement

 The possibilities are endless! :)  Here's the rubric I use for my Pumpkin Persuasive Essay! (Note: This is from my work with my former 5th graders.  I will modify the assignment this year for my 3rd Graders.)

Management Monday: Teaching Respect!

Respect seems to be disappearing.  What happened to it?  I know I'm a young teacher and that certainly impacts the way I'm viewed by students, but holy moly--sometimes I'm surprised by the things they say/do to myself and others. They say a picture's worth a thousand words.  I'll let you determine what the following two thousand words are.

These two examples (of many) fall right in line with the "logical consequence" model of teaching.  If students can't handle it, they can't do it.  So far this year, we've had A LOT of logical consequences.  It seems as if many of the GREAT items that I worked very hard to make/purchase for my students are disappearing one by one.  This is really too bad because I DID work very hard on these items. But I must do what I have to do to instill respect in my kiddos!

Regarding respectful behavior, well, I model it like WOAH!  I never yell and I always use "the magic word."  I keep calm but coach and encourage students often.  It's already paying off.  I see many of my kiddos rephrasing their statements to each other. ("Shut up!" --> "Could you please stop talking so loudly?") But it's certainly a process.  In my room, whining = more work for you. We've lost a lot of opportunities in the first few weeks too--but they're quick to learn how to keep their mouths closed if they have something negative to say! :D I was a little scared the first few days of school, but I'm learning that 3rd graders really can be "molded." It does take a LOT of patience and smiles and correcting and encouragement, but my goal is to produce 20 respectful youngins!

Now...what other great tidbits can you fabulous educators out there give me on how to instill respect in today's children?  

Sunday Teacher Routines!

Sunday is my prep day for the week!  It's a full marathon of cooking, cleaning, laundry, & mental preparation.  Once Monday begins, my body is so physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted that anything extra pretty much takes a back seat to ...well...survival.  I make sure I have an "easily-assembled" food supply on hand for the week. 

Now, I'll be honest--even though I'm a vegan, I do practice/suffer from the "see food" diet--I see food and I eat it. This especially happens when I come home at 4 or 5 pm (or 6 or 7 these days) and I'm STARVING.  (Hey, I eat breakfast at 5 and lunch at 11:30...I recognize I operate on a senior citizen's meal schedule, but don't be hatin'!)

C'est moi!  (Apres 4 pm)

 Someone very close to me once compared me to a raccoon raiding the cupboards. Cute, eh? 

So today I made some soup, veggie burgers, a taco salad, and a fruit salad.  I brewed a pot of decaf coffee to take me through the week.  (This is progress--I used to drink a full pot of regular coffee EVERY DAY!) I went to school to finalize some plans and packed up my lunch for tomorrow too. (See my favorite container below!)  I feel like a real life adult!  It feels good to have a plan of action for the week.  The past few weeks have been more "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-esque."

My FAVORITE salad container (and other counter goodies)!

 

 

What's your Sunday routine like?

FRIDAY FREEBIE: Story Elements Note Page!

Oh my goodness--it's Friday!  I adore Friday.  I adore Friday even more than Saturday and Sunday, but only because the possibilities of the weekend are such much more enticing than the ACTUAL weekend.  Saturday is pretty good too and that's tomorrow--so YAY! 

My motto for this weekend!

After today/this week/this year, I want a big ol' glass (or mixing bowl) of wine and I want to celebrate another week down!

Come join in on the fun with your own mixed beverage of choice (bowl optional) and download this story elements note page!  (I know--there's no connection between these two items.  Please forgive all lack of creativity.)

PS--There's only one day left to catch the 20% off savings at my TPT and Teacher's Notebook store! :)

You guys are the best!

It's been a rough couple of weeks here on my end and, quite honestly, it's going to be a rough year for me.  Despite the hardships of my job, I come home to great blog comments and inspirational emails from my followers and readers and these just make me so HAPPY!  I'm completely honest when I say that this is what's keeping me going right now. I get major warm fuzzies! :)  Jordon over at Life is Better Messy nominated me for The Versatile Blogger award and Kel over at On the Brink of Something Beautiful even gave my blog a shout out!  You guys help to make the world a better place--thank you!

Onto the responsibility portion of the award....

7 Little Known Facts About Me  
(Well..to you...maybe not people who know me in real life...)

1. Despite my blog title, I actually gave up coffee this year.  I miss it like WOAH!  I drank coffee every day for over 10 years.  (I know--that's crazy.  But this explains why I'm short....)

2. I'm a vegan!

3.  People seem to think I'm really organized and on top of things.  In reality, I almost always feel frazzled and disorganized.  My secret?  I'm good at tucking piles away... ;)

4. I love to create things.  I'm seriously looking into side jobs that help me to harness my creative nature more.  I love to bake, cook, draw, write, and make anything really.  I want to publish a children's book before I'm 35!

5. I have the best nephew in the world and I miss my family terribly!  I stayed in the area after college and I am 2 1/2 hours away from them.  I have a HUGE family and I'd love to be able to see them more than I do now!

6. I pretty much live on peanut butter, roasted garlic hummus, and pita bread these days.

7.  I love that moment when you first get into a warm car--no matter how hot it is.  Sunny trips alone in the car are great too--with me singing off-key at the top of my lungs, of course.  I never sing in front of people but my rear view mirror gets quite the show. :) 

So I'll pass on my award in a future post, but in the meantime, because of my Warm Fuzzies, check out my TPT store and Teacher's Notebook store--where all of my items are 20% off until Friday! Just my little bit of payback to you other great individuals out there!

Management Monday: Students' Birthdays!

Kids love their birthday!  It's only the most important day of the year for them.  I try to acknowledge birthdays without feeding into the chaos too much. Here's what I do for my kiddos on their special day:

1. Birthday Banana!

Kids eat a lot of junk on their birthday.  I like to think this helps to balance it out!  It's kind of goofy, yes, but the kids actually like it.

2. Birthday Shirt

I put this shirt on the back of the student's chair for the day.  Every year someone accidentally thinks it's theirs to keep and I get to send a polite note to the student to please return my shirt.  Hey--no management strategy is perfect! :D

3. A Card from the Teacher

I give each student the card shown above along with a Free Book Pass inside! 

 The kids love this and I find these cards stuffed in students' desks all year long.  (I like to think it's because they value the card from me so much they don't want to throw it away.  We all know how loving and sentimental 3rd graders are.) :D

4. A Birthday Balloon

Students get to pick up one of these babies too!  They really do love funky straws.

So after typing all of this out, I feel like I give students a lot. But hey--they're special!  What do you do for student birthdays??

Facebook Lovin' Party!

Did you know that you can get even more Caffeinated goodness via Facebook?!  You can subscribe to Caffeinated Conclusions by simply liking my Facebook page! How easy is that?!  So while you're stalking checking up on your friends, you can also get super great blog updates!  Click below to join in the fun! (You should also know that I do Facebook exclusive giveaways from time to time too--all the more reason to join in on the fun!)

Head on over to The Lesson Plan Diva to like all of your other favorite blog pages!  (Don't worry--I already know I'm not your one true love. This is probably due to my blogging laziness as of lately.  It will get better--I promise.)  :)

I wish you a happy Sunday evening!

FRIDAY FREEBIE: Literature Circle Lesson Plan

Happy Friday!  Today's Friday Freebie is perfect for any teacher who uses Literature Circles in the classroom!  I loved doing literature circles, but, sadly, with our new Reading Series and my new grade level, literature circles just aren't happening this year!!  Use this lesson plan template wisely, grasshopper! :)

Have a phenomenal weekend my friends!

Regarding a Third Grader's Heart

I feel unlike myself.  The first few weeks of school I have to turn into a teacher I don't like a whole lot.  I smile less than normal, I can't joke around, and I have to constantly correct behavior.  Usually I'm more of the warm, fuzzy, touchy-feely sort of person, but hey--I've gotta lay down the law.  Last night, the internal conflict got the best of me and I had a bit of a breakdown. It's so hard in the beginning and I'm reminded of this every year.  So, last night I cried.

And then today happened. My job sometimes leaves me feeling crazy.  Last night, in between sobs, I considered searching for another job because I'm pretty sure another 30 years in this occupation will leave me cynical, single, and crazy. Today, that idea COMPLETELY changed and I wanted to cry because of how PROUD I was of my students.  How do they always know when you need a good day?  It's kind of amazing really.  Their behavior was better, they worked hard, we even got to laugh together a couple of times.

I picked up my students after lunch and I noticed one of my kiddos following me around.  I turned and asked him what he needed and he, as proud as ever (and with the biggest, goofiest grin), handed me a bag of Funyuns. "Here, Ms. N...I bought you these as a present! I really like them and I thought you might too." And he continued to wear a grin large enough to split his face in half.  It was the sweetest, happiest moment of my whole year (so far)....followed by a GIGANTIC hug that made it even better.  What an amazing little boy.  I suppose maybe I'm not screwing up their life so badly after all....

Management Monday: Teaching Procedures!

Boy has this topic been a part of my reality the last few days!  All (good) teachers know that it's essential to teach every behavior, procedure, and routine in your classroom in the first few days of school.  I'll admit that this is a much slower process this year than it has been in past years.  I'm learning new routines myself which makes this process feel ever-the-more exhausting.

Click to download!

So what do I use for procedures in my classroom?  This summer I wrote a Classroom Procedural Handbook!  I planned on using this as a teaching tool in the beginning, and a "retraining" tool as students began to show they did not know routines and procedures. We're practicing, practicing, practicing!  But there's SO MUCH and everything's new to my 3rd graders, so I have to prioritize where I'm retraining right now. I'm hoping I begin to figure things out quickly and that they do the same. 

Our school day is very short!  I begin teaching at 8:30 and the students dismiss at 1:50.  Subtract 30 to 40 minutes for a special, 30 minutes each for Lunch & Recess, and those dreaded transition/hallway walking/bathroom & drink trips/snack times and that's what I have for time to teach everything! It never feels like enough and that clock is my biggest enemy!  So these routines and procedures, once learned, will be a god-send!  I should note, I have learned that some of these routines are already downright obselete!

So, no, this Management Monday post is not a handy tip for you!  But hey, it's something when I'm downright exhausted... :D

What I Learned My First Week in 3rd Grade!

The first week of school is over!  I very much so want to sing this to the high heavens!  I am reminded, however, that we still have a LOT of work to do before we get into a regular routine.  Here's a list of my Top Ten lessons I learned this past week.  (I should remind you, if you have forgotten, that this is my first year in 3rd Grade as I'm moving down from 5th.  This is most important to the following list...):

1. Third Graders talk A. LOT!! Holy moly.  I wish someone would have warned me. It's been a week of full blow intervention! Luckily, I have a pretty hefty bag of tricks. We're moving forward...(albeit at a sloth-like pace.)

2. Third Graders need CONSTANT reminders AND praise.  This leaves me very tired by the end of the day.

3.  For planning purposes..a simple mathematic equation:

Length of 5th Grade Lesson x 4 = length of 3rd Grade Lesson

4. I may not be able to teach content until November.  I hope my administration, parents, fellow teachers, and state understand.

5. When they rewrote our new Common Core Standards, were life lessons at all considered for the curriculum?  If so, my 3rd Graders could probably already graduate.

6. What teacher wears heels?! (And who knows where I can get a pair of slippers that look professional?!)

7. I need to learn to put in a catheter.

8. Third Graders get excited about a lot!  I like to joke a lot.  This is not a good mix.  I'm limiting myself to one joke a day for the first few weeks of school.  By October, I'll consider two. On the bright side, if you call something a "game" (even a regular lesson), they think it's a game and consequently love you.  I use this to my advantage.

9. It's really easy to get to know your 3rd Graders!  I pretty much had every personality down after the first day!  This makes it 8,483% easier to connect with them and help them to learn.  I love this part!

10.  And number ten...I need to create several intervention plans for things I never expected.  Fifth grade management is in no way like 3rd Grade management.  I can't even do drinks, bathroom, and hallway walking the same way. I need a professional assistant.  Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

So, four days down and many more to go!  To those of you who teach Pre-School, Kindergarten, or even First and Second Grade....God bless you. You are saints and I truly believe you are going straight to heaven no matter what.

FRIDAY FREEBIE: Please Excuse the Mess...

Happy Friday!  As an elementary School teacher, this quote is pretty much a necessity the cutest addition ever for outside your classroom door.  Enjoy this printable disclaimer! :)

Management Monday: Using a Planning Binder!

One of the handiest tools that I use in my classroom is my teacher's Planning Binder!  A couple of weeks ago, I posted about using Student Organizational Binders in the classroom.

TAA DAA!  My Planning Binder!

The Planning  Binder is the "teacher's edition" of this handy tool. I love that I can take it home at the end of the day and it has everything I need to "fully function" at home.  I have tabs for:

1. Classroom & School Information (class lists, calendars, addresses, contact info, tracking sheets, etc)
2. Calendars (1 for teacher reminders/dates, 1 for student dates)
2. My Planning Calendars (1 set for each subject)
3. My Gradebook
4. My Planbook
5. Meeting Notes

Planning Calendars in ACTION!

The Planning Calendars are, by FAR, my favorite component.  There's something about viewing a whole month at one time that helps me with my longer-term planning.  I am, by no means, a long-term planner.  (I really don't know how teachers can plan out a whole week, month, or even YEAR at a time!) The Planning Calendars helps me with this by allowing me to better visualize and schedule assessments and projects.

I know this isn't a revolutionary concept for many of you but I just started using this last year and I feel much more organized because of it.  I found, my first year, that managing a separate gradebook, set of calendars, planbook, and then random student information drove me NUTS!  Now it's all together in one location (something I'm a huge advocate of!) and it's even portable. NICE!

 I've attached the Planning Calendars here and a random assortment of covers.  Choose your favorite!  (These are directly taken from my Classroom Theme Kits, by the way...so enjoy!) :D

50 Followers = 50% OFF!

Happy "Sundae"! :)  I'm up to 50+ followers!  Because you've all made me so happy, for today only, EVERYTHING at my Teacher's Notebook shop is 50% off! 

This is an AMAZING deal!   Tell everyone you know!!  No seriously....get on the phone and call your parents, teacher friends, veterinarian, and cable service providers.  I'll even let you share the link with YOUR blog followers.  :D  Happy shopping!

My Top 10 Blogs!

Oh my goodness!  I won an award!  It's been a long time since that's happened and it's overwhelmingly providing me with warm fuzzies!  A HUGE thank you to Mrs. Zrihen over at A Teacher's Treasure! Thanks for making my day!  (You know the "pudding face" commercials?  That's pretty much me right now.)

Soo...it's only fair to share my Top 10 Teaching blogs!

1. The Clutter-Free Classroom

I love this blog!  It has GREAT tips and she puts together the  CUTEST items!  I was even featured during her Classroom Theme series and it pretty much made me feel like the specialest person alive. :D

2. Kleinspiration

One of my goals for this academic year was to incorporate (way more) technology.  I've already gained a GREAT DEAL of knowledge in that department from Erin!  I think it's fantastic!

3. Lesson Plan SOS

These ladies do GREAT work! I love the style of everything they make, design, and blog about.  I like their ideas, their writing, their creations.  I like to consider us secret BFFs. That is all.


4. The Teacher Wife

Adorability at its finest!  I'm impressed by all that she does, especially for her "age."  (I feel like an 80 year old man when I write things like that!) Her blog is super cute too.  I'm a sucker for WONDERFUL aesthetics.

5.  Teaching in High Heels

I love this blog MOST for the "What I'm Loving Wednesday" series.  I like series.  They're predictable and routine and, like a child, I thrive on those! Gladys has impeccable taste!

6. Mrs. Bainbridge's Class

Christina is AMAZING! I found her classroom website last year (with all the FANTASTIC teacher resources on it!) and it was then that a) I decided I liked her a lot, 2) she inspired me to do 439 projects, and c) I made it my personal goal to be just like her. So naturally, when I found out she started blogging, I was ALL. OVER. IT. 

7.  The Inspired Apple

Abby is amazing!  Have you seen her on the TpT site?  She's a MACHINE!  She radiates cuteness and I love all of her creations.  She also keeps me chuckling as I adore her writing style.  I'm a sucker for a great, blunt, and goofy author.  When I grow up, I want to be just like her.



8. Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher

 

When I knew I first wanted to start a blog (throwback to 2010!), I started looking at and for others' 5th grade blogs!  I actually found very few.  There are a TON of primary blogs out there.  As I perused I came across this blog--one of my early blog list additions! I  now check it daily that we're at the same grade level!  

9. Create*Teach*Share

 

I get LOTS of great ideas from this blog. I love her "theory" as well and I commend her on her efforts as an educator as she's moved around a LOT in a short period of time!  I feel this way sometimes and I sometimes consider it a hurdle to the flow of my creative juices! So--yeah.  She's awesome.

10. 3rd Grade's a Hoot

I really only recently came across this blog!  (So recently, in fact, I haven't even had the time to add her button yet!! WHAT?!)  Look at how CUTE it is! Oh my gosh! I like the owl craze as of the last few years.  I totally buy into it. I'm pretty sure that's what I'm doing for a theme in my classroom next year!  So..anyways...Misty's teaching 3rd this year and I'm pumped cause we can be grade level buddies. I would like lots more grade level buddies.  Tell your 3rd grade friends because I'd like someone to sit with at lunch discuss education with.

FRIDAY FREEBIE: Polka Dot Calendar Set!

Happy Friday y'all! In celebration of almost EVERYONE having returned to school, this week's FREEBIE is a BIGGIE! I just love this calendar set and I hope you do too! You'll get all the months of the year, calendar days, plus a set of blanks! For more lovely polka dot creations, check out my store! 

Click me to download! :)

 Enjoy! :)

P.S.--Facebook fans--head on over to my Facebook page to enter a giveaway! 

THURSDAY TIP: Using Vistaprint in the Classroom!

I discovered Vistaprint last May.  In a mere 16 months I have gone from semi-curious browser to full blown addict. When I first discovered Vistaprint, I used their provided templates. As I became more "proficient" with the site, I began designing my own items and uploading the creations.  This has allowed me, especially this year, to furnish my classroom with the designs that I truly adore.  I ALWAYS wait till great deals come along (especially shipping deals) and pay next to nothing for each product!

So you might be wondering...Just how addicted am I?  Well let's take a look.

 

Let's start with the view from my classroom as you first walk in the door. Here you see one banner from Vistaprint and that's IT!  (There's another one on the other side though that you can't see that says "Student of the Month.")  I guess that brings our count to two. 

When you walk into my classroom you see this.  Now, this only LOOKS like 5 items, but it's actually closer to a fifty (if not more!)  Those bins are holding a LOT of items.  There's a bin there for all of my Stamps, Business Cards, Postcards, & Notecards/Magnets/Other small random items. My behavior clip chart is also from Vistaprint! This brings our count to...oh I don't know...100?

Front of my classroom...From left to right...poster with "Strategies for Success", my Writing Idea Jar and Treat Jar were made using Window Decals for  labels, a mug to hold my student sticks, and my "Today's Schedule" & "Planner & Agenda" signs on the board are Car Door magnets! New total? 106(ish).

I like banners the best, especially for putting stuff on the wall!  From left to right: my Treat Bag is a tote, my desk name plates are actually Rack Cards, and all of the other highlighted items are banners that I created! 112.

In the back of the classroom (by the student cubbies), I have this old boring filing cabinet that I spruced up with some Car Door Magnets.  These also serve as friendly reminders as to what students should be doing when they get to school and before they go home. (115)

Now these are just a small portion of what I actually have made for my classroom, but it gives you a visual as to how I use these items!  To see MORE of my creations, check out my Vistaprint Goodies album HERE!