Beautiful Behavior

I'm once again linking up with Delightfully Dedicated for her summer series. This week is all about classroom behavior.

There are endless plans for classroom management, and I've tried quite a few. Last year I used a behavior scale in which students could move up or down. The consequences for moving down are missing 5 minutes of recess, writing up a behavior action plan, or going to the office (for extreme circumstances only). Then consequences for moving up are:

a) dojo points
b) pawprint
c) King card

a) Dojo points: I began using class dojo last year. The kids loved it! They could create an avatar and earn dojo points towards a class prize. Parents could keep track of their child's behavior from home and make comments or send messages. It really is a valuable tool for school/home communication.

b) Pawprints: Our school has a reward system called "Paw-sitive Passes". Students or entire classes can earn pawprints from any staff member and get acknowledged monthly during their lunch period. Classrooms with the most paws per month get to keep a trophy in their room for the entire month.

c) King Card: Our local King's Variety Store offers coupons for students to come get a prize out of their treasure chest.

These are all effective extrinsic awards, but as a school we wanted to work on more of an intrinsic approach. So this year we are going to begin Stephen Covey's Leader in Me process.

 If you haven't had a chance to read this book, I highly suggest it. It teaches kids (and staff) how to use the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to strengthen their personal lives as well as relationships with others. We've already had the first session of staff training. I'll keep you updated as we roll out this process to see how it's working. I'm so excited to get started!

Head on back to Delighfully Dedicated to see more beautiful behavior!

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!  This has always been one of my favorite times of the year...the parades, fireworks, barbecues, and family. I grew up in a huge family, and every July 4 we went to the town parade then spent the rest of the day at a local baseball park. We put up shades, brought tons of food, and just enjoyed each other. The grown-ups talked about whatever grown-ups talk about, and all of us cousins played softball, Frisbee,  and water guns. The heat never seemed to bother us! As soon as it started to get dark, we spread out the blankets and just anticipated the upcoming show. I remember asking (about every 2 minutes) when it would start. Then the sky would explode! I have to say, our small town went above and beyond with their presentation. The local radio stations would play patriotic music as the fireworks were ignited from the fair grounds. These are memories I will cherish forever.

Now, my husband and I have our own traditions. My husband, a police officer, works at the city parade while I take our kids to a local parade in our neighborhood. Then the whole family (decidedly smaller now) meets at our house for food and games. As soon as it is dark enough we sit in our backyard and watch the firework show ignited from a small island in the middle of a reservoir about a mile away from our house.

Though the celebration is smaller, the spirit and anticipation are just the same. We feel privileged to live in this great country with all the freedoms we enjoy.

My niece, Fae, at her 1st July 4 Parade. In the background my daughter, Allison is giving candy to another little parade-watcher.

To help my teacher friends celebrate, I'm offering 2 of my patriotic products as freebies for the entire month of July. Happy Independence Day! Click on the pictures to go to my TPT page and get your freebie.

Classy Classrooms

Click on this banner to go back to the original link-up.

I'm linking up with Delightfully Dedicated for her summer series.  I'm going for a total classroom makeover this year. I'm moving classrooms, and my new room is already painted a zen-like blue and cream. It's beautiful...but my lime green, turquoise, and black theme from the last few years will have to go. I'm a little sad to see all my bright colors go, but super excited for a new relaxing atmosphere. So here are pictures of last years' deco...

Birthday Wall

Writing Corner

View from my door

View from my library

Reading Wall

Library 

View from my desk

Math Corner

Jobs and Leader in Me Wall

Summer Reading

I

I look forward to hours and hours of summer reading every school year! This year I'm linking up with Julie Faulkner for "The Books of Summer" linky party. I look forward to all your summer book-lists. Here are the first 5 of mine:

1. I've been reading this series at the request of my 15-year old son, and I'm hooked! This is the final installment, and I can't wait to get started on it.

2.  I always read at least one professional book, and this year I chose The Writing Thief by Ruth Culham. This one is all about using mentor texts to teach writing and reinforce reading.

3.  Of course, I have to start a new series. This book is technically not for sale until September 8, so it will probably be my last book of the summer.

4.  Everyone needs a great re-read, so my 4th book choice is The Hobbit. Again, this one was at the request of my son.

5.  Finally, I loved the movie, so I have to read the book.

Follow the link to go back to the original page, and enjoy your summer reading!

The Books of Summer

Teacher Appreciation Week

I'm participating in Teachers Pay Teachers teacher appreciation sale.

My entire store is 20% off. I've focused on literature resources for 5th grade this year and have added some new products to my store.

 Supplement packets to use as independent novel studies

 Literature units perfect for literature circles

 and decor to build a literacy rich environment

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Story Sunday Linky

I'm linking up with Elizabeth-Elle at Lifelong Learning for Story Sunday.



Click on the button above to go to the original post. I think this is my new favorite linky! Getting, and more importantly, keeping kids interested in reading is tough. This linky provides some great tips to keep you encouraged. These are a few ideas I use in my classroom and with my own kids:

1. Provide free-reading time DAILY! I have an hour-long block for reading and the first 15 minutes are set aside for silent reading. There is usually time at the end of the block for more silent reading. My 5th graders are also encouraged to read whenever they have a few free minutes throughout the day.

2. Read Aloud. It doesn't matter if you teach kindergarten or middle school, kids love to hear stories read aloud. They can get lost in a story even if they can't read the words themselves. I'm currently reading The True Confession of Charlotte Doyle (my favorite children's book) to my 5th grade class, and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 to my daughter at home. Even my 14-year-old son will listen in at home (though he won't admit he's actually listening).

3. Let them catch you reading! I love to discuss what I'm reading with my class. Our 5th grade has genre requirements each month, and I my favorite part of the month is helping kids choose their book in the particular genre we're working on. I also take suggestions from them for which book I should try next. At home, I pack my book around with me everywhere, so my own children see that I value reading. Right now I'm reading Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett, and it is always next to me just waiting for me to get a few precious minutes of free-time, whether I'm grading papers or getting ready for bed, or running kids to dance practice or scouts. I want them to see that reading can happen anywhere.

4. Keep busy work at a minimum. No matter what grading system your school uses, we all have to assess comprehensions, vocabulary, and so on with what our students are reading. Worksheets, response activities, journals, etc. are all valuable and necessary, but should not be the focus of our reading blocks. Actual reading needs to be the focus, and what most of our reading time is spend on.

5. Reward reading and use reading as a reward. Our goal is that a love of reading is a reward in itself, but until then there will always be students that need an incentive. Our school has a "Reading Around the World" optional program in which students who want to participate get the chance to earn monthly rewards, get their name on a given destination on a huge world map that takes up one wall in the school, and be recognized at an end-of-the-year celebration assembly. Within classrooms students can set goals and be awarded for milestones met. Free-reading can be used as a reward for good behavior for individuals or entire classes. Offer book clubs during lunch, before, or after school for kids to get together and talk about their favorite books. Get creative with it!

I hope these are helpful tips. Click on the button to see some more wonderful reading ideas!