Monday Made It {June 17th}

One week down....that's so sad :(  I know that some of you are still in school so you are like, "Whatever."  But you will soon understand my frustration.  I didn't really accomplish jack-diddly.  And that unnerves me.  A lot.  Anyway, I'm going to try to be better this week.  So, here goes....

Let me start by saying that this is totally not my idea at all.  I've seen several of my bloggy friends making these.  I first saw Rachel at The Tattooed Teacher (y'all I've met her in real life and she is as cool as you think she is) make these and then our good friend Tara did, too.  And, if last year's toolbox success (link here) is any indication of what this can be, then I am like, "Bring it!"  So, I did.

But, you know me...I'm so OCD that my daughter and I call it CDO because that would make it right.  {Get it?}  Therefore, I needed it to be all matchy-matchy to my room.  Here's my version.  Before you look, I realize that I broke the whole "CDO" persona.  But, it is in the order of importance to me, so I guess that really does make me a little bit OCD.  Or not.  Whatever.

And the best part is...I finally made it.  I had that on my list all week last week and it kept getting put to the side for other things.

Would you like a copy?  If this style and these colors suit you, I'd love to share.  Click on the picture above or on the file image below and it will take you to Google Drive.  Go to file-download and it's yours.  Just comment below that you snagged it for yourself.  I'd love to hear from you :)

Now, off to blog stalk all of Tara's link ups to find out what I'll be working on this week :)

Aaargh You a Pirate? {Chapters 1-3}

Have you started reading this book yet?

I am absolutely loving Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess.

Sadly, I am behind in linking up with each chapter because I've been running around like crazy.  But, today I am going to link up my thoughts on Chapters 1-3.
I've actually read the entire book already.  I couldn't put it down.  I found myself head-nodding on every single page. If you haven't started reading this book yet {go get it now}, I'd like to share with you why I love the entire book.
#1 This book is written by a current teacher.  Dave Burgess is a high school teacher that is practicing what he is preaching.
#2 The purpose of this book is to provide teachers with tips on how to increase student engagement while boosting their own creativity.  I'm all about finding something that will engage my students.
and
#3 Dave Burgess is practicing what he is preaching.  Oh wait, I said that already.  But, really it's pretty impressive.  He also doesn't claim to know all of the answers and doesn't give off the vibe that everything in is book will work magically in your classroom.  He's realistic and shares tips and ideas that can work as long as the teachers reading the book look within themselves to find the creativity that is there and use it to the benefit of all students.

There are three parts to this book:
Part 1: Teach Like a Pirate
Part 2: Crafting Engaging Lessons
Part 3: Building a Better Pirate

In Part 1, it is broken down the the meaning of each letter of the word "PIRATE"~Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask and Analyze, Transformation, Enthusiasm

Today, {since I am late to the party}, I will be sharing my thoughts on Passion, Immersion and Rapport

Chapter 1: Passion

Like I said before, Dave Burgess is realistic.  He says, "Here is the secret:  We are not passionate about everything we teach."  And he's right.  We can't possibly LOVE every single standard that we are required to teach.  There are three components of passion in the classroom: content passion, professional passion and personal passion.  How do we show passion about fractions, for example?  In all reality, how can I possibly be that passionate about any of the math standards?  Simple. I rely on the other two components.  I rely on professional and personal passion.  Why did I become a teacher in the first place?  It certainly wasn't to become rich.  I wanted to foster a love for learning (personal passion).  This past year, it was by fostering a love for learning math.  I never in my wildest imagination thought I would only be teaching math. But, I want to bring that love of learning into my classroom.  It is through my delivery of the standards that my students can become passionate about learning math.  If I make it as fun and exciting as I can, they will be more engaged and enthusiastic about learning math.

Chapter 2: Immersion

Dave Burgess explains immersion with the following analogy:  Are you a lifeguard or a swimmer?  Do you sit on the sidelines in your classroom, or do you jump right in with your students and swim along?  I want to be that second example.  I want to be able to "give myself up to the moment" as he suggestions and be truly present in their learning.  It's simple, really.  In my opinion it is all about being a facilitator to learning rather than just a plain old director.  Again, it goes back to truly fostering a love for learning...the process of learning...and not just the outcome.  I will "be there".  Will you?

Chapter 3: Rapport

How do we build a solid rapport with our students so that they are as committed to their own learning as much as we are committed to "making them learn"?  Simple.  It's all about engagement.  One of the things that I try to do is build a relationship with my students from day one. So, when I read about Dave's Day 1, 2 and 3 lessons, I couldn't have nodded my head more ferociously.  Seriously.  My head about popped off.  Last year, I wrote an article for Really Good Stuff explaining what I do to build rapport with my students starting on day one.  This article sums up my belief that building that rapport is crucial to establishing the type of relationship I want with my students.  Please read the article {here} if interested :)

If you haven't already purchased this book, I highly recommend it. I'll be back with some more of my thoughts on the book later.  Consider linking up with Gina or Jennifer.  If you go to their blogs (click on their names), you will find a list of other bloggers who are reading the book and can read more about their thoughts, too.  

Argh!! :)

Optimum Organization {June 15}

So sorry!  I'm a little late to my own party.  I spent the last few days with my girl.  We went down to Charleston to visit the College of Charleston (my Alma mater).  Yikes.  If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that my newest hashtag is #wheredidthetimego. (Join me @elizabethsupan.  I changed it from Fun in Room 4B because I found that I was posting pictures of everything in my life, not just blog stuff.) I'm sure I will be using that hashtag a lot over the next two years.  She'll be a junior next year and well.....sad face.

But, better late than never, right?

If you'd like to link up with us, grab the button above and share either an organizational idea or an organizational find.  You can join the party on Kristen's blog or mine...it's all the same party so come on over!

Now on to my idea for the week.

I have an organizational find for you.  Last week, when shopping for the container to make my "File/Copy/Grade" container (That's going to be my Monday Made It this week), I came across these bins at Target.  Oh, Target.  How I love thee!  {And then at the same time....not so much.}  At least they were on sale!

These bins are essentially covered trays.  You know, like paper trays.  I can put a lot of papers in there.  Like a lot.  But, actually, what I'm thinking of using them for is to store my math "Hands On" materials. I bought one bin for each of my 4 groups.

Last year, I had this system:

Each group had a shelf.  So, in the picture above Group 1 had two tubs and a basket.  Yeah, that lasted for about a minute.  Maybe two.  As my students were scrambling to put away their materials as I was counting down to "rotate" to their next station, they would just shove them in whatever tub they could come to quickly.  I totally get that.  I probably would have done the same thing.  So this year, the new green tubs are large enough to hold all of my games, a few dry erase boards (markers and erasers, too), and a few task cards.  I can still differentiate the tubs according to the needs of the students by placing the materials in there appropriate for that particular group.

Oh, and yes, I will be making cute labels for them as soon as I can wash the sand off of my feet and unpack.

Yep, tomorrow.

Link up below!  I can't wait to read more of what you all are finding/doing to stay/get organized!  Thanks everyone for joining us :)

Monday Made It {June 10th}

I'm linking up with Tara for the summer series of Monday Made It :)

I'm officially on summer vacation and had high hopes of bringing you a lot this week...but, sadly, no.  Instead, I only have one home and one school related "Made Its" to show you.  First, I'll start with my home made it.

So, my friend, Tara, is a super gardener.  She's inspiring me to be better.  For my home Made It, I planted some ivy in a pretty iron basket under my kitchen sink.  I'm hoping that I don't kill this before the end of the summer.  {I'll keep you posted.}

For my school Made It, I created these baskets for Box Tops and Campbell's Soup Labels.  When my students bring them in to class, we put them in a basket to save until we go to either Library (Box Tops) or P.E. (Campbell's).  I used these cute baskets all last year and the system worked.  Now, they are somewhat pretty, too :)  They'll be even prettier with my fancy ribbon...but guess what?  I left all of my ribbon at school.  Looks like a school trip is in my future.  But, I knew that already because I have a huge to do list for my organization link up this week!

You can grab these labels for yourself (from Google Drive) by clicking on the picture below:

All you have to do to snag it for yourself is to click-File-Download and it's yours if you want it.

Head on over to my friend Tara's place and check out all of the awesome things that you will be busy making this summer.

Optimum Organization Linky...June 8th

Hey everyone!  It's my first real day of summer.  Yay!  I know that several of you are still pluggin' along.  You can do it, you can do it, you can do it :)

Welcome to the next weekly installment of the Optimum Organization Linky Party.  Kristen and I are so glad you are here and hope that you can link up with us this week.  This linky will be up all week beginning today.  So, if you can't join us today, feel free to link up all week long.  We will post a new linky each Saturday all summer long.

Would you like to join us? 

Here are the steps...

1. Write a blog post about one or both of the following:

An Organizational Idea

This can be something that you've used in the past that has worked well, or something you are developing this summer for next year. One idea is fine, as this will be a weekly linky party.

and/or

An Organizational Find

Share a find you scored when shopping this summer (binders, bins, folders, containers, magnetic boards, etc.) that will make a huge difference in your classroom organization and management.

2. Grab a button for your blog post:

3. Link on up! You can join the party on Kristen's blog or mine...it's all the same party so come on over!

4. The Fine Print! We do have a couple of rules for this linky, as shown below. 

The purpose of this linky party is to provide new and veteran teachers a chance to come together and share ideas on how to get organized for a new school year.  Please join us and share your advice and expertise, but not links to products please.  Please share new posts in which you are participating in the party, not links to older posts or labels on your blog.  Thanks so much for understanding!

Now on to my ideas for the week.  These are simple again seeing as I was knee deep in "end of the year chaos" last week.

But, I found this:

I found it in the dollar bin at Target.  It's a notepad and has just enough pages to get me through the summer. I really want to stick to my list this summer and I hope that this helps me stay organized and get things done :)

Another organizational tool that I'm going to share is my love for Dropbox.

At the end of the year we are always asked at my school to back up all of our data "just in case".  I'm a little paranoid about keeping all of my files in one spot. (Several computer crashes later...)  So, in addition to keeping my files on my computer and on an external hard drive, I now keep most of my files in my Dropbox account.

Have you heard of Dropbox?  If not this is my "Organizational Find" of the day for you!

Basically it is a shared directory in the sky.  You can share folders with other people, too.  For example, I have two shared folders that I use all of the time.  I have a "Fourth Grade" file where we keep all things related to all of us in 4th grade.  Back to school files, end of the year files...basically anything that we share.  Then, I have a "Fourth Grade Math" file where the two teachers who teach math (me and my math partner in crime) keep all files that we share for math: videos, my lapbook files, notes, all foldables, etc.
I started using Dropbox last summer and it has been a life saver.  I can access all of the files where ever I go...my computer at school, my laptop at home, my iPad, my iPhone...it's awesome!  You should check it out. Just click on the picture above and you can go through a tour to find out more.  Just click on "Take a tour" once you get to the page.

So there you have it...two basic organizational ideas for this week. Next week, I hope to show you more since I'm officially on Summer Break!

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Five for Friday, June 7th

Yay, it's the last day.  I came home and took a nap.  Seriously.  Workdays are that exhausting, right?

But, I'm awake now and linking up for my Five for Friday.

#1~Well, it's the last day for teachers.  But, yesterday was the last day for students.  I wore this shirt:

I took a selfie...but it was raining that day and well, hair issues and...not posting ;)

#2~ We had our candy award presentations on the last day.  Thanks, Rachel (The Tattooed Teacher)!

Complete with a red carpet and everything!

I'm going to miss those sweeties.  I really, really am.

#3~Summer Reading has begun already:

These are the next two in my group of books I've ordered.  I have a total of 4 professional books that I want to read, so I've already started.  {Add that to about 5 "fun" books and I'll be reading a lot!}

But, when I'm not reading, I'll be busy wasting time doing this:
#4~

Have you heard of Icon Pop? It's my new time waster.  I had to let go of Candy Crush....I started dreaming about it.  That's strange, right?

Finally, I'm slowly becoming obsessed with Instagram.  My account is a combination of my blog/teaching stuff and my family.  I only have one account now.  I started with two, but that was just too much:

You can find me by searching "elizabethsupan" if you are interested in the random photos of my life.

Happy Friday everyone!  Head on over to Doodle Bugs Teaching to link up or to just check out what everyone is up to this week :)

Monday Made It~ June 3rd

It might not be officially summertime for me, but I'm linking up with Tara for the summer series of Monday Made It :)

So, since it's my first summertime link up...this post is all about being glad it's {almost} summer.
I'm giving these treats to my son's teachers on Thursday.  {Luckily, I don't think any of them are readers of this here blog...and if they are, well, "Surprise"!}

I started off by finding the cute little orange slices at Coley's Corner.  {Click here for the free tag!}
I printed them, and used my fancy circle cutter (a fabulous find last summer) to cut them all within seconds.  OK, maybe not seconds...but it was pretty fast.

 Then, I punched a tiny hole in the top center.  That hole puncher is another of my favorite things.  Much like Oprah, but way cheaper than any of her favorite things.  It punches a little bitty hole that allows ribbon to stay in place and the tag stays snug.

Attached to the precious card is a cool orange/mango flavored water and a bag of goldfish.  Nothing fancy.  But, it's the thought, right?
Now, next Monday will officially be "summer" for me.  So, I'm hoping to see you next week with more than just a dinky teacher gift.  Hopefully.  That is unless the pool calls........
Head on over to my friend Tara's place and check out all of the awesome things that you will be busy making this summer.