Whew!

*New freebies below: nonfiction book labels, transportation sign, Who's out and Morning Message headings, Homework BINGO*

Today I went back to my classroom and attacked it!  I started in my library by setting up my new book bins and then organizing my fiction books.  Then I adhered my new nonfiction labels to the bins.  Much later after I left my kind friend Ivy and her son Julian filled my trunk with books that he has outgrown....I feel so blessed to have friends that are so giving <3

The picture is a bit blurry but here are the book bins (blue and green)!  Each child will have their own drawer to keep their reading journal, clipboard, whiteboard and whatever else they find necessary

Again its a little blurry, I just wasn't doing to well with the camera today :(  but I love the handle on the bins.  I am going to make circular name labels and hang them to the right side with ribbon.

Here is the fiction library.  I added pink bins to the red ones and really sifted through the baskets to make other themed baskets. The black bins are the leveled library.  I find it very helpful to divided nonfiction, fiction and leveled books into different colored baskets....clean up is so much easier at the beginning of the year!

The nonfiction library makes my heart happy!  At the beginning of last year I was disappointed with the number of NF books I owned, so I really worked on it this year and hit up Goodwill every month.

Here are my nonfiction labels for you!  Let me know if you would like me to add more:)

Again blurry, but you get the idea.

AND here are all the books Ivy and Julian donated!!  I don't know if you can tell but there are a TON!  Can't wait to get into my classroom again to organize them :)

Then I worked on all kinds of projects around the room...here they are!

 The hall was a bit dark so I couldn't get a clear picture but it says 'Welcome to 1st Grade.'

Here is my new transportation sign hanging near the door.

I hung up my frames a week or two ago but they already fell so I used  Kerri's Mighty Math Wall Cards from Teacher Bits and Bobs.  I printed two to a sheet so I could fit my area, laminated them then hot glued them to ribbon and then the ribbon to the wall.  I thought it would make a good daily job or a math center.

 Who's out board attached to our door.



And the morning message board.

Get yours here, Headings, along with circular labels for book bins or whatever you decide.

This area still needs A LOT of work!  This is my makeshift bulletin board since I only have one real one.  I'm finding it hard to get everything just right using magnets.  I'm thinking about deliniating areas with black paper..but we will see. 

So right now it holds:

-Classroom Jobs

-Owl Behavior Chart

-The Name Game

-The Math Name Game

-Wheel of Choice

-Homework Bingo

Students write their name in a square every time they turn in homework.  At the end of the week or month a square is selected.

Here is my new bucket filler display!  It's definitely worth half of my only bulletin board!

 I have two guided reading tables and both of them get my new crate seats! I need to lower the tables to accomodate. An aide runs a group in my room once a day and uses the table but then the students also use it while writing.

 This is my table.  See my guided reading shelf behind it with all the blue bins?  Oh and the pile of junk sitting on the table?

 This is my take home library.  Kids can take two home a night and when they are returned they get two more.

Ok that was enough for today!  I still have a to-do list though:(

Hope you enjoyed!

Check, check and check!

As I sit here and look at my summer time list of school related things to do I am impressed at how much I have been able to check off....and that's while I've been working (3 weeks summer program, 2 weeks curriculum design, 1 week taking care of my younger siblings)!  I just love that feeling of getting stuff done!!!

Today my boyfriend and I cut 15 pieces of wood for crate seats and rounded the corners :)  Earlier this week I went into school and started laying out my room and decorating a bit (with help from the littles).  I am so pleased with what was accomplished and look forward to the finished product.  Check out pictures below!

Here are handy library cards for your classroom library.  Laminate them and use a sharpie marker each month to write the child's reading level.  The child can use it whenever shopping for books.  You could even write logins on the back or use them as book marks.

Student classroom library card

Here are some pictures of things I've (we've) done:

 Old car chairs that the littles help me reupholstered...LOVE them!

 Chairs in the classroom library

New curtains and chairs

 Organized the nonfiction library (still need to make labels)

 Math Corner with calendar math frames and table manipulatives

Calendar Math for frames

 Start of the word wall

 Wrapping paper adhered to the back of the book shelf

 Bulletin board the littles did with both ribbon and paper borders layered

The back of three filing cabinets made into an extra bulletin board (I only have one real one)

I can't wait to take pictures when it's all complete.

Oh My Word

A teacher at my school told me about an app today that I am just dying over.  I'm just so excited!!  Thank you Lindsay :)  Now drumroll please..............My Books Pro!!!!!

My Books Pro

Metosphere

This app is from Android and it allows you to scan the barcodes of your books and manage a book catalog.  I am so looking forward to using this app in my class room to check out books to take home!!  It will help with book loss and student responsibility.  I had a stack of books I bought today and scanned them all in and it was so easy.  You can also scan in bulk. 

Does anyone use this app?  Can you give me more details?

On another note I changed up my site for a little bit of summer cheer :)  To give credit where it is due I have to thank the ladies that are running our Summer Reading Academy for coming up with our motto, "Dare to be Wise!"  I just see it so fitting for the times we are living in and the changes that are coming.  So choose to be wise with me...it'll be fun!

Classroom Library Organization

My fiction books are in baskets by themes.  Some are more general (stories about people), some are book series and some are more specific (stories about Moms and Dads). The labels are adhered with Velcro. The students read these books in the morning after unpacking, after finishing up work and at the end of the day.  I also allow 2 free choice books to be chosen for their book bin.

Here are my labels:  Fiction Labels

My non-fiction books are in a different colored bin.  They have the same duties as my fiction book collection.

Here are my non-fiction labels: Non-Fiction Labels

Above the fiction book area on the window ledge is the partnership book area.  The students are grouped in pairs or threesomes based off their reading level.  In the partnership numbered basket, there are comprehension cubes, story stars, fix up strategies, post-its, and their choice of books (each child gets one choice and must get enough copies for all members.)  The books come with our reading series (we use PM Rigby for guided reading groups) and I have leveled them using Guided Reading standards.

This is my guided reading group books by level.  Each level has 6 to 10 books each with 6 copies (I know, I'm lucky).  The books are PM Rigby and I highly recommend them.



 This bookshelf holds the students leveled books.  The students choose these as needed for their book bins.  I used to make the students change out every week but I have found with the increase comprehension work we are doing they just want to hold on to them longer.  If their reading level has increase then I encourage them to change them out.  Most students change out every 2 weeks.



 I have two areas for my big books.  This is my non-fiction area.  My fiction area is a full shelf and a laundry basket full.  These are selected during any free choice time.

Ok, so this looks a bit sloppy but it really is organized.  There are three bins going straight back in a deep cabinet (with a door for hiding).  I have typed out running records in each bag with a copy of the story (or 2).  They are organized by DRA/Guided Reading Levels and I have two choices for each level.  I usually do a running record on each child at least once a month.  I have a first grade chart that I keep for each child telling the goal, where they are at and whether they met the goal.  (I will post it when I get to my school computer.)

That's all I got for tonight, I will add to this tomorrow :)