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May 21, 2016

The (DREADED) End of the School Year

It's the end of the school year!


Every year, I forget the torture that is THE END OF THE YEAR!



(A Walking Dead Meme--- for those of you that LOVE TWD as much as I!)


Here are my top 10 reasons why I hate the end of the school year:

Getting organized is a perpetual goal that defies me each and every year.  My grandiose plans of putting everything in "its" spot laughs in my face as the year comes to an end. 


Oh, why did I wait so long to gather up grades? The last grading period always catches me off guard! Here it is, three weeks until school is out, and I need 4 major grades, 16 daily grades, and 3 glasses of wine!


"But the test is over."
Yes. This is what I hear every time I pass out work for the students to complete in the last few weeks of school.  I don't know where they got the idea that school was over the day after the test, but I'm sure the pounding in my head is from all the times I've had to argue that case.


All those "original" copy pages in that giant stack are begging to be sorted and filed so they can be found easily next year. Why didn't I just do it as I went???


My kids are finally good at turning in their papers, signaling they need to go to the bathroom, and completing those problems.  The sinking sensation that next year's crop won't know ANYTHING seriously causes a heart palpitation. 


OK, so I have to pack up EVERYTHING??? Even though I always plan on doing a good job of packing up my stuff- JUST IN CASE I GET MOVED- I know that most likely I'll be super exhausted in the last few moments before I'm officially free for the summer and will end up just emptying my desk drawers into a giant box along with a hodge podge of other things that I found stashed in dark recesses of my room. 

All that documentation is due at the end of the year. ENOUGH SAID.


INSANE, I TELL YOU! When did it become okay to open a bag of M&Ms and chow down on them in the middle of the lesson? And then blame the act of running around the classroom on the sugar found in the M&Ms? I swear I have good classroom management--- just don't come checking in the last couple of weeks of school!


Nine months of making 22 other human beings do what 99% of the time they don't want to do is EXHAUSTING! Adding lesson plans, PLCs, ARDs, extensions, differentiations, programs, and conferences to the mix can make you feel like you'd like to be placed in an induced coma.  
An induced coma.... YES, PLEASE!

But seriously. 

Despite all the reasons above, my number one reason for hating the end of the year is that I have to say goodbye to some of my favorite people on the planet.  I will miss all the hugs, smiles, and words of affirmation. I will miss those light bulb moments and those moments in which I could quite literally see a kid's confidence being raised.  The end of the year makes me sad because I know that a part of my life that I have loved living is over.  I will never have this same little family community again. I will never laugh at that one's jokes, or be amazed at that one's art, or even take a deep breath at that one's annoying behavior.  I will miss it all, but I will especially miss all my little sweeties!

This blog post is dedicated to my class of 2016. 

You have been extra special!




 End of Year Awards with MEMES

These awards are not only funny, but they'll make sure your students know that you appreciate exactly what makes them so special!  You're sure to find one for each of your students!

Click here to get them for yourself!


Clean Desk Award
Right-Hand Man Award
Avid Reader Award
Future Scientist Award
The Fearless Award
Good Attitude Award
Handwriting Award
The Cooperative Award
Computer Guru Award
Class Comedian Award
Peace Keeper Award
Deep Thinker Award
Good Leader Award
Good Listener Award
Mother Hen Award
Perseverance Award
Individuality Award
Task Master Award
Future Teacher Award
Mathematician Award
Good Friend Award
Artist Award
Most Dramatic Award
Most Inquisitive Award
The History Buff Award
The Poet Award
Teacher’s Pet Award
Homework Award
Spelling Award
Participation Award
Athletic Award
Best Helper Award
Quick Worker Award
Sweetness Award
Future Architect Award
Optimist Award
The Overcomer Award
Most Improved Award
Best Dressed Award
Innovator Award
Perfect Attendance Award
Best Singer Award
The Happy Award
Time Tracker Award
Free-Thinker Award
Go Green Award
Open-Minded Award
Sportsmanship Award
Good Manners Award
Best Smile Award


LEAVE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS!

January 2, 2016

Using File Pockets to Keep Student Work Organized!

Staying organized saves me lots of time!  

This is what I've been using this year, and I have to say, I LOVE it!
Keep reading to see how it works!

Here are the basics:

One file sorter for each day of the week.
One file pocket for each assignment.



For each assignment, I put a blank copy of the assignment along with an attached class checklist in the front of the pocket.  As students complete their work, they know to turn it in behind my copy. I usually even have a fast finisher "get it started." The student finished first grabs a checklist and staples it to the extra copy and places it in a pocket. The students then turn the papers in number order and check their name off the attached checklist.   Click here to download a free Checklist Template!

Why have one for each day of the week?

Having a week's worth of organization helps me keep up with all the students' work, absent work, late work, and more!  Once the entire class has completed and turned in the assignment, I remove the stack from the pocket.  All the papers are together! Any late or absent work has already been notated on the checklist. The checklist is attached to the original assignment, so after I collect the papers,  I usually complete this copy and use it as a key!

Here are some details:





I put all extra copies in the file folder.  When students are absent, they know exactly where to go to find their absent work.  They know to grab whatever is in each pocket for the day!

Turning in student work this way is great for several reasons:

1. Kids always know where to go to turn in work.
2. You know immediately which kids haven't turned in their work.
3. The work is in alphabetical order so it makes putting grades into the grade book quick.
4. You can annotate the checklist with things like "absent" or "late".  Click here to download a free Checklist Template! I can also annotate things like "no name", "too sloppy" or other anecdotal records that I might otherwise forget.
5. I leave the student work in the pocket until everyone's work is completed and turned in.  In this way, I never have miscellaneous papers floating around.


I also use hanging file holders to interact with individual students!


Each student in my class has their own pocket.  Inside the file folder, I keep the students' weekly parent communication card. You can check out my $1.00 product for parent communication here! It is easily available for the students to grab and mark or for me to. Any other papers get placed outside of the folder. 

Corrections

I'm a big believer in students correcting their mistakes on their work. Each afternoon, I place any student corrections in the pockets. Students can grab their work easily when they see it in their pocket.

Homework

Students turn their homework in this way each morning. I can instantly see if any students did not turn in their homework, and because the conduct card is located in the same pocket, it's very easy to mark the missing homework on their parent communication card. 

Fast Math

My students perfect their multiplication skills via my Fast Math program.  It's difficult to keep up with lots of students because each student works at their own pace in a completely individualized way. I use these pockets to quickly communicate to each student about what work they need to complete.

Why Use a File Pockets System?

  • It's organized!
  • It's much quicker than passing out papers to students or placing on their desks
  • It builds routine which creates better classroom management

I'd love to hear some of your favorite classroom management or organization systems! COMMENT BELOW!