A Little Change of Scenery

I am so proud of some of the new "stuff" I have put up in my classroom this year and I just wanted to share some pics of the decorations.  Like many other teachers this year, I'm into the "owl" theme.  Some of these I created...some I purchased.  

   
I made this Welcome Back banner and placed it over the first place my children go when they come into my room..."the backpack hooks."

Since we practice multiplication facts all year, beginning with the first week of school, I made this multiplication facts bulletin board.  I tried to match the color scheme of the new tree decal I placed on my wall beside the bulletin board.

My Favorite!  I know I have already blogged about this owl tree but, I am in love with it and had to show it again :)

Place Value Fun

My kids had a blast this week completing several place value activities.  One activity that is always a hit in my classroom is called Place Value Partners.  It is a simple idea.  There is a Sender board and Receiver board.  Students take turns sending and receiving numbers and then reading the number created.  Both partners have to agree that the number read by the Receiver is read correctly.  This is a great way to practice reading large numbers and placing numbers in the correct place value columns.
I have created a variation of the boards I used and put this activity on TpT.  It is called, "Send Me a Digit."  Please feel free to check it out!  It looks different from the boards you see in the pictures on this blog but, the idea is the same.

Place Value Sender/Receiver Activity

Getting My Classroom Ready

Well, it's almost time for school to start and I have spent several days this summer trying to "beautify" my classroom.  I have seen so many gorgeous, organized classrooms in the last few weeks.  Wow!  Seeing all these great classrooms made me want to do something exciting to my own.  I began by putting some stickers on my classroom wall.  The wall in my room is a block wall and I kept reading and hearing that stickers would not adhere to textured walls.  So, it was with much apprehension that I put up these stickers.  It took several hours and the entire time I was worried about them sticking.  I just knew when I walked into my classroom several days later, the decals would be peeling from the walls and some of them laying face down on the floor.  So, far nothing has moved.  I am keeping my fingers crossed though!    

                 I am very proud of how these turned out!

TpT Sale!

Just wanted to say I am so excited about the Teacher Pay Teachers sale tomorrow and Monday, (August 12 -13)!  I have my Wish List ready and waiting to go!  
Be sure and check out my store Mrs. C's Classroom using the link below.  Along with the sale TpT is throwing, I am taking an additional 20% off ALL my items in my store. 

Mrs. C's Classroom

I Still Have a Few More Weeks

I have been relaxing some more and spending time in Florida.  It is nice to go places, but it is always nice to come home :)  I know a lot of school districts around me have already began inservice and several are already having classes.  I still have a few more weeks to prepare.  Thank Goodness!  I believe I have relaxed too much this summer :)  I need to get hopping!  The one thing I always want to do is get my house spotlessly clean before I go back to the classroom in the fall.  So far, I have never succeeded in this task, but that doesn't keep me from trying.  I think I can!  I think I can!  
If you need any more beginning of the year forms, I have one you might like.  It is a form that is filled out at school by students and teacher.  It has school phone numbers, websites, etc... More importantly, it has the phone numbers of three other students in the classroom.  No more excuses about leaving the assignment at school, or forgetting what the assignment was.  Students now have 3 friends to call in case of emergencies :) I hold them accountable for calling their peers.  After the form is filled out, it is taken home to the parent.  I always suggest placing the form on the refrigerator. Here is the link, and I hope this form is helpful to you: BACK-to-SCHOOL @ HOME INFO SHEET 

Getting Anxious

I have been busy this evening reading posts about getting classrooms ready for the beginning of school. This makes me both anxious and excited.  I am anxious because I cannot get into my classroom until after July 22.  I am so envious of educators who are allowed to spend the summer fixing their rooms up at will. I am excited because I have been working on ideas here at home to use and have seen some wonderful classroom set-ups on teacher blogs and on Pinterest.  Classrooms have certainly come a long way from the time when I began my teaching career back in 1989! 

Tangrams: Part II

The second day of experimenting with Tangrams, I began the class by reading the book, Grandfather Tang's Story by Ann Tompert. My students then got an unexpected treat.  We spent the remainder of the class playing a Tangram game on the iPads.  

iPads 

always

equal


happy 


and


excited


kids!