Five for Friday!! Spring Here we come!

Doodle Bugs Teaching!

Wahooooo! A whole week off from that place of learning and structure! Now should I plan my week off or just let it flow? If I don't plan things, nothing will get it done! If I do, it will be a lot like work!

There were many special events this week! Our schedule was off, grades are due, special ed. progress reports due..... and the students were vibrating...you could feel the hummmmmmm when you entered the building!

So the regular stuff wasn't working, who wants to sit through Reading Mastery lessons when  it's almost Spring Break?

We read The First Dog by Jan Brett....

They loved the book, I asked them what happened first, and then next and so on and typed it on the Promethean board as they reported each part.

The next day I  printed out their sentences, folded up some paper, stapled it...and set them loose on it! They did awesome of course!

The NEXT day, we read another book about dogs and a cat....

Danger the Dog Yard Cat

by Libby Riddles

(dog sled musher/ Iditarod Champion extraordinaire and first woman to win the 1049 mile race)

and made these simple and fun puppets.....

(they LOVE puppets)

and of course....Dr. Seuss.....here's our hallway bulletin board.....

It's a collage of Dr. Seuss characters from years past, and a  "Read across America" vintage poster with Garth Brooks! I've had THAT awhile.(he is still awesome!)

Our WINNING DOOR!

Great Day for UP by Dr. Seuss

The idea is to have the students do as much as possible....They cut the grass tufts, they decorated their own balloons and baskets, cut out the clouds, cut out the mini UP signs and of course posed for the pictures!

....with the upcoming break we thought the faces of the adults who work out of our classroom 

belonged on the bed next to the ending quote from the book.

There are so many creative people in our building! Here are some more doors and hallway art. I didn't get upstairs to take pictures so there are some missing.

and now I'm watching the Iditarod ceremonial start on TV! 

It's a good start to Spring Break and it's been snowing for a couple of days! Feels normal.

Later,

Paula



Setting up my classroom...Day 1 and 2

I am having so much fun setting up my classroom for the coming school year! I picked a color theme and with the help of teacher blogs, Teacher pay Teachers and Pinterest, there are plenty of cool ideas!

The beginning...........

 I am starting on my classroom early because I will be visiting Oklahoma the last couple of weeks before our return to school. Since our keys are checked in at the end of the year, the only time to get in the building is when our hard working custodians are there. Of course, summer school cuts into this grand plan! It leaves me 2 days to get in.

new borders!

It was bulletin board prep, laminating, cutting and adding magnets!

 

They work great by the way!

Furniture was moved around a bit.  The tile part of the room still needed to be waxed, so nothing could be placed on that section, but that wasn't a concern.

This school year I will have a student in a wheelchair, he needs lots of space for equipment, a mat to provide physical therapy and wide pathways to navigate around, in and out of the room. He has limited vision and I want him to have easy access to the promethean board. There is so much to think about!

DAY 2

This was my last day to work in the classroom before  leaving, I  was hoping to get a lot done, however, the day was filled with omens that I really should have stayed home!

I got the "Book Nook" started, I want it to be open and accessible to a wheelchair. It will include a listening center.

 

There is still A LOT to do! I really wanted to move my desk back to it's spot, but the amazing desk mover wasn't available at the time.

Here's the bulletin board that will be above my desk..... I love the border, it's called deco dots.

 

 

 

Made a "To do" list for when we return........

 

 

I do like this board....this border has more colors then the "theme" allows, but I already had it and it goes with Clifford.



 

Well that's all that's ready, but it's a start!

The omens included the room being hot, stuffy and there was no breeze today and of course, I didn't bring a fan. I spilled my coffee on the newly waxed, shiny floor! I stubbed my toe so hard that I had to stop and administer first aide. I was barefooted to stay cooler. My stomach was a little wonky. I began to question the wisdom of leaving the house today!

However, it's all good! AND I will be heading to the flat lands of Oklahoma, family and friends very soon! Wooooo! 

I will post more articles from summer school in the next 2 weeks while I am visiting!

Enjoy the remainder of your summer,
Paula