Guess what time it is? ...It's TOOL TIME!

The first week is D-O-N-E!
I feel like I've been in school for at least three weeks...I finally moved things around to where it works for me. I have a girl driven class this year too.{ I have 13 girls and only 7 boys.}
I am going to have to get it together for this crowd!
I started my Guided Math routine, kinda! I forgot I had DUTY at 8:00 am Monday morning.
 (If I had turned on my e-mail sooner my calendar program would have given me a heads up~Thanks Kristin) It was a Monday, so I didn't go to my e-mail first. I was going to set my self up for a the premier of my  Guided Math lessons...<insert laugh/snort here>....well one thing led to another and while I was flitting around the room my intern might have reminded me I have duty..it was 10 minutes until 8 when it kicked in I have to go and can't be back to my room until 8:30 and yep, at 8:30 is when I start Math...yikes, I didn't have my Math vocabulary page printed off, yikes I didn't have my charts ready to Anchor the lesson..yikes I had 10 minutes to pee and run to the office to sign in and grab my attendance folder and make sure I had coffee..oh Monday, you are so cruel!
 My neighbor says casually, "I stay late on Fridays, so I don't have this issue on Mondays" OK... lesson learned! (but in my defense I didn't make those lesson plans until Saturday....)

Our school has started a new Math initiative.."Math Manipulative Time" Every grade level in addition to a scheduled Math time has to set aside 35 minutes (pre-determined) to incorporate math manipulatives(I call them tools) into a lesson. I know what you are thinking, "But I use math tools everyday in every math lesson I teach"...here's the punch line, not all teachers know HOW to use the tools, or EVERY tool. Some teachers (blaspheme) don't even use Math Tools! (yikes, hello..it's 2012!) BUT I'm not judging just putting it out there. I was shocked it has come to this. Obviously, to me, that means enough teachers are either not using them, or don't know how or aren't comfortable teaching with Math tools.

 Can I clep out of this 35 minutes ? I NEED to teach writing ...

.......but I can tell you this, the kids L-O-V-E this time, it reinforces the morning Math lesson, PLUS it saved the grand opening of Guided Math!
Tomorrow is Day 3 of my Guided Math time, and I haven't even met with a small group yet, which means I think I will be using Math Tool Time to catch up and start groups while the rest of the class uses the tools independently to finish up their Math problems, games and fluency! I think I might actually like this Tool Time after all....now if only I could find another 35 minutes to teach writing..oh I'll save that for another post!
See you soon!

Finally..Photos!

Here it is..... I finally got around to taking the  post pictures. I tried putting both pre/post school pictures, check us out!

This is Wall #1, the short wall...I already changed the clock area too! The Apple is gone and I hung up the Minute to Dismissal chart!!!

 

 

Wall #2 Really got a make over, the BEE rules are up, the plants/lamps and a new word wall too!

Closer to the front door I added the Pinterest idea from Miss. Nelson...

....and my work area got a little more "ME"! Please EXCUSE the mess, this was taken on the second day of school, when I 100% forgot any of the Clutter-Free ideas, I am back on track now!!!

 

 

 

Wall #3 got a whole new look this year!!!



I put up curtains, with the cutest bunting, plus all my books, except for the Chapter Books! Here is a closer look at the Bunting...thanks to School Girl Style....

 

 

 

Wall #4 is a really, really B-I-G wall.....

 I put up my C A F E board and added the NEW Pinterest idea for "Good Listeners", the "1 Minute Dismissal Checklist has been moved to the clock wall!

 

 My Calendar area is still under construction, but at least it is functional!

Here is a bigger view...the Bees on the wall will hang their writing!

Part of Wall #1 is a Math Facts area and the Front door....

 

 

 

 

 

 

The outside





 

From the inside looking out.....

 

 

In the Hallway, I have yet another Pinterest created idea, our display area!

My neighbor does the "Hollywood" theme..check out her display, Walk of Fame knock-off and all!

 

Did I mention, on the First Day of school, I made them these precious Lucky Charms bags....I LOVE Lucky Charms...YUMM-O

 

I feel so much better sharing my room with you!...hope you enjoyed it... Next blog will be about what is going on in the HIVE, until then bloggy friends, get some sleep! I am!!!

 

 

The FASTEST Week EVER! and the Jitters...

WHAT? It's Friday? Are you kidding me?
So here I sit exhausted, OK I'm really lying in bed, I can't believe my first week back to work is over. I feel like a bus just ran over me!
I got the room ready, I forgot to take pictures, I even reminded my intern to remind me to take pictures...we are beat! I was so focused on making everything as cute as all the ideas on Pinterest that I forgot to make my welcome letter....WHAT? Oh yeah, today at 10:30 am while "Meet the Teacher" was in full swing it dawned on me, "Hey, no one is asking about lunch time, or bus schedules..what's going on?" So I write that info on my board...2 hours later at lunch I realized I did not even print out my sweet letter, nor did I print out the supply list (stop laughing , I did quickly print out a few copies) thankfully our school is "Going Green" this year and most of all that is on my website ANYWAY!

Time to reflect,
 "Um girl? What are you up to?"
 I have been so consumed with new ideas and workshops and new CCSS, and presenting new Deliberate Practice evaluations to the staff that I didn't get to my "to do" list, as I have always done in years past...the funny thing is...I don't think anyone noticed!

I am really bummed that I haven't blogged at all this week! Is it going to be like this all year long? I miss blogging...so I think I am going to build in a blog time into my schedule at least twice a week!   I have been keeping a list of things to blog about too!

I really want to talk to you about the new "Homework Policy" and "Grading Concerns" I also need your opinions about my schedule and of course to let you know how my new Math TIME is going...plus post pictures and ideas and lessons we are doing...So I am going to bid you adieu and good night for now...hopefully I can schedule a blog in for Monday night and let you know how my classroom is shaping up!
I've missed you!

Because I have missed you so so much, I decided to go all out and link up to  "A Turn to Learn" ...

Don't forget to comment on the 2 blogs before  you on the Linky Party!