Beginning of the Year – Page 2

New Teacher Advice Linky Party

leslie August 29, 2011 0 Comments

It has been a while since I linked up, but I found a new party about New Teacher Advice that I wanted to join at For the past 2 years, I have run my classroom with the help of a timer. I live and die by the timer and my students know it after the first week of school.I bought it at Wal-Mart for about $5.00 and it been worth it! It's also magnetic which is a double plus because I...

What was I so worried about???

leslie August 29, 2011 2 Comments

This past summer I had been flipping out over teaching 6th graders.Were they going to have that dreaded "attitude"? Can I still give high-fives or will they think I am stupid? Will they still want to get on the carpet and read with me? Will they get my jokes? Could I possibly love them as much as I did my 4th graders? Lots of questions and concerns were put to rest after this first week:) I...

VBS in the Class Part 2

leslie August 14, 2011 5 Comments

So I have been out of the loop on my blogging for the last 2 weeks and I am missing it!!! Last week our church hosted VBS- Pandamania style by Groups; it was also the same week that I was in Guatemala on a mission trip... which I will post about next.I usually help paint, decorate, and do crafts for the little 3yr-6yr olds during VBS, but since this year I was not going to be able to do that, I...

Home Sweet Second Home… Classroom Set-up

leslie July 29, 2011 7 Comments

I am OBSESSED with color. No specific color, just all of them. So logically my classroom looks like a rainbow blew up in it. And no... I am not teaching kindergarten or even elementary where this would be most appropriate. I am teaching 6th grade... I think the kids are supposed to be maturing, but I'm sure my classroom will bring back nostalgic feelings of years long...

New {School} Year’s Resolutions

leslie July 25, 2011 3 Comments

There is a linky party going on... and Clutter-Free Classroom is hosting!My school year resolutions:1) Figure out and implement Math Stations for 6th graders. I have done a lot of training on differentiated instruction and math centers for the middle school room. Hopefully I can make this happen.2) Use music in the classroom for transitions between stations and during class. I'm...

Bucket Filling 101

leslie July 18, 2011 4 Comments

I am still new to bucket filling. It is something that I learned through proteacher last summer. If you are not a member to the wonderful site, filled with teachers, for teachers, and tons of ideas about teaching... then you need to go now! Just click on the link, but would you please finish reading about bucket filling??Bucket Filling is a new take on the age old principle "Do...

Postcards…. Starting off the Year with a Good Note

leslie July 14, 2011 4 Comments

I love getting mail! Some email... yes... but real MAIL. The kind someone actually wrote, put a stamp on it and put my name as the address. I LOVE IT, and unfortunately I don't get much of it... besides bills. I don't count that as real mail.And who doesn't love real mail??? During the summer last year, I sent postcards to my kiddos and I had all but one child come to Meet...

Today’s Craft Project…. NOTEBOOKS!!

leslie July 13, 2011 7 Comments

This week, Hobby Lobby has a LOT of scrapbook items on sale, including paper and stickers!!! I LOVE stickers... can't have enough! Anyway here is a set up of my craft project that took me about 1.5 hours to do 4 notebooks from start to finish. The composition books are on sale at Staples for $0.50. This year I am teaching two classes (morning and afternoon) but I am teaching...

D.R.A.G.O.N binders

leslie July 9, 2011 2 Comments

Last summer I spent a LOT of time on the computer. Researching...creating.... researching....digging... "borrowing" ideas ;) One I came across was the concept of a MOOSE binder. A MOOSE binder is a way of helping your students stay organized. There is no reason why they should lose a paper, or not have something if they keep up with their binder. I introduced these...