Keep Calm & Bug On! {CCSS Literacy Centers}

Hi Friends! Happy {almost} TGIF! My post is going to be super short tonight, but I did want to quickly share my newest set of centers. These are perfect for back to school and/or during the month of September...or could be a great theme if you study insects in your grade level. They have been aligned to CCSS for 2nd and 3rd Grade. I have had many requests for monthly literacy centers, so I am definitely working on that for you! Consider this set...September! ;) 

I have also had lots of requests on my Facebook Page asking for me to share how I organize my centers! So....

That is all included in this unit! 

I have also included two different sets of directions. 

One with words...

 

And one set with pictures for struggling students, students with accommodations, or ESOL students. 

Here is a look at the 10 centers included...

You can grab these centers in my TPT shop by clicking {HERE}. 

Guess it's time to start thinking about October centers! ;) That is just crazy to me! Well, that is all for me tonight. I hope that your weather was as beautiful as my southern weather today. I mean, it was GORGEOUS here. It was a lovely reminder that fall is on it's way! 

Have a great night! 

Now Teach: Teacher Week 2013

Eeeek...I love day three of Teacher Week 2013. Why you ask? It is all about organization, and I mean...what teacher is not head over heels for organizing? Wait...don't answer that question! ;) 

Here are a few strategies that I use during my back to school night {which is always hella crazy} and some more strategies that I use throughout the year. 

Supply Drop: 

First of all, I am ALL about working smarter not harder because a teacher's time is extremely valuable. This organizational idea is one of my faves because it saves hours {and I do mean HOURS} of time at the beginning of the year...when we need it most! 

So basically I use the supply tags from my Welcome Back Essentials Pack and tape them onto buckets. Then, when my students enter my room {either during welcome back night or during the first day}, they drop their supplies into the correct bucket.

This organizational strategy will save you *hours* of supply sorting!

 

But Wait...don't just stop there. I also have a gigantic trash can beside the buckets and actually have the students take everything out of packages (minus crayons) so that I do not have to spend hours taking supplies out of packaging. Within a matter of minutes, your supplies for the year is ready to go. And the best part? All you have to do is put it on the shelf. 

Teacher Information Magnets

This is actually a little organizational tip to help parents out. I have done this since my very first year, and parents are always super thankful to have my information in one location should they need to contact me. 

 I just type all of my information on a cute little card, laminate, and stick a magnet to the back. Then I display them on my board for our open house night and parents grab one. Super easy...and a great way to establish beginning communication with your parents. 

How Do I Get Home Tags

  

I don't know about you, but first day dismissal always stresses me out. I was with my last group for three years and still...that first day dismissal gets the best of me. That might have a little something to do with the fact that a few years ago, a parent had a few choice words for me because the child decided to take his little self to the bus after I placed him in the car rider line. So, this is a quick fix and something that I am sure you already do. I just print up labels and write each students name on their method of transportation. Then attach them before dismissal on the first 2/3{ish} days. Let's be honest...who has time to look down at a clipboard during those first few days? So this makes it super easy and if a child gets lost misplaced, other teachers are able to assist. 

All of these organizational tips and materials {plus more} can be found in my Welcome Back Essentials Pack! 

These next few strategies will help you stay organized throughout the year. 

I know I have posted about my math center organization several times, but for all of my newbies...here it is again. Plus, it is my absolute favorite way to display my centers...so...naturally, I had to include it in this post! :) 

This is super simple. I attach butcher paper to the back of my book shelf with hot glue. Then, I use velcro strips or dots to attach the folders. This makes it extremely easy to switch out my centers each month! 

My center organization was also in my post from yesterday, and I had lots of questions about where to purchase these centers. You can check them all out in my TPT shop under by math tab {HERE}. They are offered in individual sets or in bundles. You can also read more about them {HERE}. 

 

One of my biggest teacher pet peeves is when my library is all messed up! I mean, I spend hours reorganizing that area every. single. YEAR! These place holders helped tremendously. Since I use a numbering system in my classroom {which I highly recommend}, I just created circles with each student's number on the inside. Each time they selected a book from the library, they used their marker to hold the book's place. Then, they could easily return the book to it's rightful spot! :) LOVE THIS! 

Now I feel like I need to go organize something. :) Be sure and link up with Blog Hoppin' to share all of your fabulous organizational techniques! 

Classroom Digs: Teacher Week 2013

It's time for Day 2 of Teacher Week 2013. I had a great time co-hosting yesterday's post and if you missed that, you can check it out {HERE}. Today is all abut classroom digs. As you know, I recently moved to Atlanta, so today, I am showing pictures of my classroom in SC. This was BY FAR my favorite classroom, so I feel that it is a perfect time to revisit this little space. 

One of my favorite things about being a teacher is the fact that I get to design and decorate my very own classroom! I mean…what teacher doesn’t go crazy preparing a classroom for a new year?!? I tend to go a little beyond crazy, but I am totally ok with that!

So…here is a little look into my SC teaching nook {Man I miss this place!!}

Classroom Library

My classroom library was organized by genre and leveled by Lexile! I also decided to separate my bookshelves into fiction and nonfiction text!

 

Then, I had a separate section for mentor texts which was used to inspire young writers! 

Double copy books are a must for any library! The kiddos loved being able to chit chat about their favorite stories!

 

I used my cameo to create these book box student numbers. When they pull a book from the classroom library, they used the marker to hold it’s place so they would remember where to return the book when they are finished reading! So long hours of reorganizing books! Many thanks to Teri over at A Cupcake for the Teacher for such a wonderful idea!

I also had several interactive bulletin boards in my library center. 

Peer Recommendations

Identifying Themes

Book Awards and Rave Reviews

These interactive boards were all located in our library so that students could use the information when choosing the perfect book!

And of course…no library would be complete without the King! ;)

Guided Reading & Small Group Instruction Area

I spend lots of instructional time in this area and love it's cozy little feel. I also had content words on ribbons going down this wall. I have searched and searched for a picture, but can't seem to find one at the moment. 

The storage space under a kidney table is out of this world! I HIGHLY recommend a table skirt...if you don't already have one! 

Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck

 

Why place bookshelves against a wall when they can provide the perfect place for centers and/or supplies?! I couldn’t live without this extra space!



Mid year, I also added book boxes for my kiddos as we began to heavily implement reader's workshop into the classroom. This addition was perfect and these boxes were amazing. The kids would grab them and take them to their book nook during independent reading time. 

My back door was covered with our classroom rules from my Desire to Inspire Pack! 

My Inspirational Wall: Desire to Inspire

A Bird’s Eye View {Almost}

Front:

Back:

My Favorite Purchase {Totally Unnecessary…but I LOVE IT!}

My LED board! I picked this up from SAM’s and it is perfect for our daily schedule!

Outside Walls

Which eventually changed to this...after our entire school was painted...

Oh Snap! Reading Ribbons

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you know my classroom doesn't stay like this for long. I am always changing things up and redecorating for themes and incentives. I love that my job allows me to have so much fun. Seriously, I couldn't imagine doing anything else! 

Here are just a few of our classroom transformations! 



Beach Theme for PASS Paradise! 

I transformed the room into Wizard of Oz for Halloween during our book study. 

Adjective Fashion Week 2012! 

Go for the Gold Olympic Theme

A Reading Camp Out! 

 A Day in China! 

Well, that’s all for me! Thanks for taking a tour of my little space! Be sure and link up with Blog Hoppin' and show us your classroom. I can't wait to see your home away from home!