So it's been discovered...my love for making charts with fun colors, fonts, and symmetry!  This is my fifth year teaching and my third year at this school.  And now they know!  So what does that mean?  I get to help collaborate and make curriculum/standards-based and CUTE anchor charts for our new writing initiative! The nerd in me is kind of excited about this because then I get to have a say of how something looks that has to hang on my classroom walls.  PLUS, it is a way to get my creative-juices flowing!
    Our new writing initiative requires many specific posters and charts to be used daily within our lessons.  I have many I'd like to eventually share with you!  The one I produced last night is for the upper-grades.  I'm sure you've seen the RACE strategy floating around Pinterest and TPT for writing.  Our teachers, however, wanted RACES and the extra S stands for Spelling.  I thought you all might be interested too!  Click HERE to download your own FREE copies of these to put in writing notebooks, enlarge to poster-size, etc! There is the RACES or RACE in color or b/w printer friendly version.  Happy Wednesday!

 CLICK HERE for your FREE copy

 CLICK HERE for your FREE copy

Need some input...

Hello and HAPPY TUESDAY!  I did a Periscope today (find me at "Sweet Tea Teach") and was hoping to get some input on some things I've been brainstorming about lately.  If you have some ideas...let me know!

1.  I have the help of many adults this year...YAY!!! I'm not USED to this...so I need HELP trying to figure out how to best use these resources! I have a college-student who is planning to be a teacher.  She is spending a full day with me each week and a couple other hours throughout the week.  I also have a shadow for one of my students, but has to really allow him to try to be independent.  Therefor, I am able to use her during the day, especially because she does not have to sit with the student at lunch, specials, or recess.  I know she can be used effectively!  ALSO, I have some AWESOME parents who want to help in the classroom AND outside the classroom.

So, what I DO know is I can have them help struggling students...clerical stuff....cut lamination... but I want to do more!  If you have any ideas of what/how you exactly use people in your room to help you, let me know!  I am open to new creative ideas!   Thanks in advance....I know this will help my kiddos and my day go smoother.  I can't wait to hear some input! :) 

2.  I also want to know...what do you do for "phonics" or spelling grades BESIDES a rote memorization spelling list and test.  We are revamping our spelling and how we assess it.  Students need to be measured by another way rather than memorizing the words for the week.  Please leave a comment explaining what works for you!

Thanks everyone!  Isn't the internet amazing?? I can ask teachers across the world to help me brainstorm for my specific classroom needs...talk about amazing!  We have a endless amount of teacher friends with teaching knowledge out there...so thanks in advance for your help!

How I keep my sanity during Rocket Math.... (and less paper!)

Hi everyone!  I recently did a Periscope (....my third ever!) on how I implement Rocket Math in my classroom.  Side note- If you do not know what Rocket Math is, let me quickly brief you.  It is a series of leveled time 1-minute math fact fluency practice that we do daily.  In second, we start on level A and hope to be able to get to level Z of only addition.  After addition is subtraction, then multiplication (for your higher learners in 2nd), and division.  So, it lends itself to anywhere from 1st-5th grade to reinforce that quick mental math fact fluency.

Anyway....if you use Rocket Math (or another type of math fact fluency daily practice) I urge you to watch the video below.  I found that by assembling my Rocket Math packets (A-Z addition) into a page protector and putting them in a 3-prong poly folder, I could save on copies.  To practice, we use our dry-erase markers.  If they met their goal, I immediately check those folders (as those who did not, erase their sheet and put it away).  IF they met their goal and they got ALL their problems correct, then waiting behind the level they did (for example: A), then I pull that level out and underneath it is the next level (example: B).  Now they erase their sheet protector and they are ready for tomorrow's practice.  No extra copying or sorting.  Just take those papers of finished levels and file them back into you Rocket Math file, ready for next year.

So what do I let my students do while I check the people who have met their goal?  I use this time for them to do a movement and music activity (such as a Harry Kindergarten math song...check him out on YouTube) OR a Go Noodle video. 
Video of my Tip from Periscope: https://vimeo.com/137447195

Please let me know if you have any questions about how I incorporate this!  If you have any more suggestions on how you measure math fact fluency or how you  implement Rocket Math, please leave me a comment! :)

Happy Wednesday!  Half way to the weekend :)

Day 8...and I need a sub!?

Raise your hand if....you've ever had to get a sub during the first full week of school!

 

Yep, it happened to me.... Day 8 of school and I wake up at 2:00am with chills and a fever.  "This CANNOT be happening," I immediately think!  Then it hits me, Susie-Q in my class, went home early with a sore throat the day before, right after she gave me a big hug.  "So this is it.  I have no choice but to text my principal," (really, at 2:00am, because she is seriously that cool  And because I know she won't see it until she wakes up) and submit a substitute request.  After I realize I have a high fever, sore throat, and will not be going to work the next day, I ALSO realize I have NO emergency sub plans yet.  I mean, it IS only DAY 8 and I have had "bigger fish to fry" than to get emergency sub plans.  Too achy and tired to leave my bed, I type an entire days worth of plans on my cell phone, email it to myself and pledge to email it to my grade-team at 7:00 to have them print for the sub.

Fast forward to prompt care...a place I remember oh so well my second year in teaching!  I think I was on antibiotics every single month from the germ exposure and the fact that I had no clue that I was allergic to SO many things.  So, prompt care on a school day is an old familiar memory.  I got the report that I definitely had strep. YAY.  I hope this isn't a preface to this school year.

Strep is so much worse as an adult!  I feel like I used to bounce back from strep SO much quicker as a child.  But strep as an adult usually means a fever for 24 hours straight!  This time was no exception.  Missing school on the Friday of a first full week back was less than ideal, it also was a blessing in disguise.  I missed and worried about my kiddos all day, don't get me wrong!  Even so, I spent Friday resting all day.  Saturday was also a very lazy pajama day.  Once I finally broke my fever I was able to leisurely prepare some amazing items for Parent Orientation next week (post to come soon)!  After that, I watched a movie with my husband...on the couch...and we did not cut out lamination, grade papers, label zip-loc baggies, etc!  We just enjoyed getting to watch a movie and not do ANY school work!  What a notion!  Then Sunday, I was feeling myself again, just with very low energy.  So, I slept in, again.  And by "I slept in," I mean 1:00.  Sorry, not sorry.  I slept in until 1:00 and I'm NOT ashamed!  Who knows when I'll ever get to do that again!  This time of year is typically EXHAUSTING for me and I never find a way to allow myself to slow down.  Unfortunately, strep throat caused me to slow down unwillingly.  However, I was able to find the peace of resting and taking time for myself.  I need to do that more often!

I cannot wait to see what this week brings! I'm finally seeing the product of teaching routines and procedures explicitly...and that is exciting!  Who doesn't love a classroom that has rock-solid routines and procedures?!  Maybe I'll pick another night this week to enjoy a couch date sans lamination or grading papers.  You teacher wives (and mommies) out there, I dare you to do the same! Your husband (and children) will be shocked...and so grateful!

My Real Classroom Reveal

My newest edition to my classroom....a bathtub! Yes, this is a REAL cast iron claw foot tub! 

Hello teacher friends! :) Back-to-school is in FULL session and my classroom is nearly ready!  Now before I share my real classroom pictures...please know that these pics are those perfectly staged photos.  These photos are real-life.  You may see stacks of textbooks to distribute, stacks of chairs in a corner, empty-anchor-chart-less walls, etc.  However, I hope you will see some fun decor and organizing ideas you might like!  I LOVE using blue and green in my classroom.  Blue is calming and serene, and green represents growth and success.  I want to feel those emotions daily and hope that my students do too!  My class is ready for about 18 students and features 3 student computers, small group area, carpet area, reading center, Promethean board, and more.  This is my second year in this room.  I have had my share of moving classrooms in the summer and I finally had the chance to get to make this room exactly what I wanted this year!  Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to follow me for more classroom updates!

Panoramic shot of my room from the door side.  My data wall is ready...but I need a phrase for the "Student Work" side!  Any suggestions?

I cannot wait to see my kiddos doing their "Read-To-Self" in this cute nook!  My sweet husband bought this for my classroom before my first year teaching 5 years ago...and we FINALLY flipped this tub this summer!  I couldn't have asked for better result! <3

More reading center and carpet time chair

I LOVE my 3-drawer set-up between desks.  Helps my kiddos handle their desk clutter a good bit better!

Say it with me.... "I LOVE IKEA!!!!!"  These stools, ya'll.....best purchase ever!  After small group is over, they stack neatly in a corner and OUT of the way! And they are less than $5 each!

Chevron contact paper makeover for my cabinets!  Best and cheapest investment towards your classroom makeover!

Like what you see? See more updates by following me on Instagram at TheSweetTeaTeacher !

Here we GOOOOO...my FIRST post!  This blog has been churning in my mind for what seems like years now!  I've ALWAYS enjoyed learning from other blogging teachers through their blog posts and journey into their classrooms to get ideas and tips for my own.  Finally, I feel like I am ready to jump into this big bloggin' pond head-first...except I'm terrible at diving!  But, swimming has always been my thing, so I'll keep swimming until I get there! :)

Way too soon, school will be starting back for me.  I'm entering into my 5TH year teaching...where does the time go?  I feel like a new teacher still!  Well, kind of...You see, this is my FIRST YEAR getting to teach the same grade, in the same room, in the same school, in the same county, EVER!  I'm beyond excited to get to use this year to grow and improve from the year before.  Why so many grade levels/schools/counties, you ask?  Well, we all know that to get your first teaching job you will take whatever you can get!  So, I took a job in a very rural area 1 hour away from home.  The next year, I moved to a school a bit closer to home.  THEN, I got married and moved further away.  So to avoid another long commute, I found a wonderful job teaching pre-K at a school in my new state and county.  After pre-K, I moved up to 2nd grade.  Last year was a fantastic year that I was so sad to see end.  I know that class will always have a very special place in my heart.  However, I have high hopes for this year too.  I look forward to sharing my ups and downs, tips and tricks, and more TPT products to come with you all!

I've already decided that soon, VERY SOON, I will be making a post of my classroom reveal! So excited!  Can I give you a hint?  It involves a unique furniture flip new addition! :)

See you SOON,

The Sweet Tea Teacher

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