Each week, Mr. Bones has a different quote for my students to analyze. They write their answers on the blue pieces of scrap paper and place their answers in the blue magnetic container. Then, on Fridays, we discuss what the quote means as a class. It has been a great way to integrate more character education in my classroom and my students are really enjoying it! He may seem creepy to you, but Mr. Bones is downright insightful...and adorable. :)
I'd like to introduce you all to Mr. Bones. Mr. Bones was a gift from one of my students, who clearly understands my sense of humor. He has become a "mascot" of sorts in our classroom, and I plan on using him like an elf on the shelf in December.
Each week, Mr. Bones has a different quote for my students to analyze. They write their answers on the blue pieces of scrap paper and place their answers in the blue magnetic container. Then, on Fridays, we discuss what the quote means as a class. It has been a great way to integrate more character education in my classroom and my students are really enjoying it! He may seem creepy to you, but Mr. Bones is downright insightful...and adorable. :)
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Disclosure: This was not my idea. I got this idea from a teacher on my fifth grade team, and it is so good I had to share it with all of you! What I'm about to share with you will revolutionize your classroom, and maybe your life. It. Is. That. Amazing. It is also simple. A perfect, "Why didn't I think of that?" moment! Each kiddo in my classroom now has their own specific turn in tray. They are labeled with their classroom number and are in ABC order. On top of their trays is a plastic file holder containing their mailboxes, where they pick up their graded papers and mail each morning. What makes this system so great you ask? Well for one thing, it is not very easy to see when a student hasn't turned something in. I can walk over to the trays and remind my friends when something is missing.
My assignment sorter labels who is missing which assignments using a clipboard and keeps that on a shelf as well so that my forgetful leaders know when they need to complete something missing. Also, now when my assignment sorters gather the papers at the end of the day, they are ALREADY IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER AND READY FOR THE GRADEBOOK!! HALLELUJAH! This system has seriously changed my life. Why waste an organizer like this on mailboxes when you can use it to help organize your assignments and get a clear visual of who is missing what? I couldn't wait to share this with you all, and I hope you find it useful in your classroom! To say my life has changed a lot since switching to elementary would be the understatement of the year. I sometimes feel as if my life has changed more in the last few months than in the last several years. My schedule is different, the way I feel about teaching is different, and it is all for the better. :) Here are several of the major ways life has changed since the switch. 1. I stay up later...and sleep later! Since my start time for school is now 8:50 instead of 7:15, I find that I am staying up later (usually watching Netflix while grading) and sleeping in until at least 5:30 on most days. I usually arrive at school between 7:00-7:10 and try to get all of the "teacher stuff" finished before my kiddos arrive. It's really nice having all of that morning time to accomplish things! My morning breakfast every day: oatmeal and a banana (with coffee of course)! 2. However, I have way less time in the afternoons now. I finish teaching around 4:10 and usually don't leave until 4:45 or 5:00. I was used to staying after school for the musical at the middle school until 3:30/4:00, but not getting home until 5:30 is definitely new to me. My husband and I have had to plan better for dinners since we are usually starving when he gets home at 6:00, so we now are much better grocery shoppers and meal makers than before! 3. I have a fever...for...you know...little baby Tacketts now more than ever. Being around little kids is so different than middle schoolers. Watching the kindergarteners and preschool tots toddle around the hallway makes me even more excited about having kids of my own! They are so precious! I don't know if I could teach kids that young just yet (after all, I'm still adjusting my sense of humor to match elementary darlings) but seeing their cute art on the walls, seeing how excited they are just to wave at you, and hearing them ask the sweetest questions like, "Do you like snow Mrs. Tackett?" for no reason at all makes my heart melt. 4. I have a new love for teaching and a new respect for the profession. Teaching all subjects gives you such a broader perspective on so many things, and makes me wish I had had that opportunity with many of my middle school kids. I have such a deeper understanding of my students' strengths and weaknesses. I also have a new appreciation for elementary school teachers and how many hats we have to wear during the day. Having the same kids all day long changes you as a teacher. You are a counselor more often than not, and you have to be a master at not just one subject, but many! My day FLIES by and is never monotonous or dull now! T-shirt gift from a student! How awesome is that? 5. I'm rediscovering my cutesy side. Being an elementary school teacher allows me to be more cutesy than before. I can get excited about stickers and bulletin boards and smelly bookmarks and holiday themed sunglasses and socks from the Dollar Spot and no one makes fun of me. Making anchor charts, decorating my classroom, all of that cute stuff gives me a rush! :) Yesterday I came home from Target with Christmas Tree sunglasses and stickers and my husband just laughed and smiled. I'm right where I belong. :) 6. I have more time for more of everything at school! Having an entire day with my students gives me more freedom for character education and technology-two of my deepest passions in education. My school is doing a book study on "Leader in Me," and I definitely feel that my class is helping lead that movement. I also started implementing Edmodo this week and found that I could use it way more than before at the middle school level. I even linked poems to Edmodo and had my students electronically respond to the poem using Edmodo! It was AMAZING! 7. I'm more tired...haha! Being a first year teacher all over again has been the most tiring and humbling experience. It's so great to have mentors and teachers I can look up to. I have less time to blog and cannot begin to tell you how glad I am that I finished my master's degree before making this switch! It's also exhausting to try and find that happy balance between work and home again...but I wouldn't trade it for anything! 8. I love holidays more than ever! Being in an elementary building makes you love everything cute and holiday themed. Halloween was so much fun, and I can't wait for more activities centered around Thanksgiving and Christmas! Well, the OCD in me really wishes this list could be an even ten, but those are the major ways life has changed! I'm so happy I made the switch!
Recently, my classroom was given a few iPads to use in our classroom. All of the fifth grade teachers have a few, and the idea is that when we want to use ALL of the iPads for a learning activity we can borrow from each other. I was THRILLED when I found out we would be receiving them, since I am always looking for new ways to incorporate technology into my classroom! Then...it started. My kids discovered the iPads and began rushing through their work for a chance to practice their math or spelling skills on the coveted cutting edge tablets. I noticed some arguing and then some yelling, and heard many a "I want a turn's." I couldn't take it. I asked my husband for some suggestions. Sometimes, non-teachers give the best ideas (probably because they aren't asked enough). Should I have assigned iPads each day? Should I go in number order? Example: Day #1 Kids #1-2 get the iPads, Day #2 Kids #3-4, and so on. What was a teacher to do? He suggested having a range of kids for each day of the week. Here is what we came up with. Monday- #1-5 Tuesday- #6-11 Wednesday- #12-16 Thursday- #17-20 Friday- #21-23 In order for a kiddo to use the iPad on their particular day, they must tell me specifically what they are using the iPad for. I also informed them that as the "boss applesauce," I can hand an iPad to any student, regardless if it is their "day." So far the system is working beautifully! How do you handle using limited technology in your classroom?
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About MeTeacher of leaders. Life-long learner. Space geek. Lover of all things color-coordinated, organized, and cutesy. Categories
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September 2015
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