five for friday- second week of school

It was one week ago that I was sitting at home, exhausted after the first week of school.

I wish I could say I felt better one week later (a.k.a. today).....but, this week I went from just tired-- to sick and tired.  Like, can't sleep at night from coughing fits sick.  And losing my voice sick.

Teachers....you know how fun that is, right?

One week later, it seems to finally be making a turn for the better.
So, I'm celebrating with a fun "Five for Friday" linky party. 
Yeah, I'm such a party animal.  :)

Linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching....

 

number one

 

I.  LOVE.  THIS.  SHARPENER.

 

Sharpening pencils has always been a source of frustration for me.  Maybe because it's a never-ending cycle.  Maybe it's because my electric sharpeners always break pencils.  Or break down.  Or are extremely loud and grating to hear.

 

This one....sharpens pencils perfectly, doesn't break the pencils, and although I wouldn't call it "quiet"....it's definitely quieter and less annoying-sounding than my electric ones.

 

If this sharpener keeps this up all year, I would be even more impressed.

So excited to have found it through Classroom Friendly Supplies!

 

 

number two

 

I found this idea from Pinterest for a "Mystery Walker", and thought it might be a fun new thing to try this year.  So I took some poker chips that I randomly had accumulated over the years, numbered some round stickers and keep them in a large coffee mug that I got from a student last year.

(I don't drink coffee, so finding ways to use the teacher mugs I get is always a good thing)

 

Basically, each time we leave the room to travel to one of our specials classes (like music or art), I choose one of these chips from the mug, look at it secretively, and put it in my pocket....announcing that I have my "mystery walker".  The students know that I will be paying attention to this student and if he or she was walking up to my expectations, when we get back to the classroom I will reveal it to the class and they get to come pick a prize ticket.

 

Note:  If they don't meet my hallway expectations (i.e. talking, goofing around, etc.) then I just put the chip back and say that the mystery walker didn't earn a prize.  I don't reveal who it is though-- it keeps the students guessing if it was them. 

 

This has worked SO well this year, and it's amazing how a little incentive can motivate the kids to improve their hallway behavior!  Best thing-- the prizes are free and easy like being able to sit next to a friend at lunch, or sitting in one of my rolling chairs for a day.

 

number three

 

So this isn't from this week, but I had to share it....it's the second year in a row that I've used this "Welcome Bag" and I think I'll keep doing it.  The kids really seem to love it, it's a sweet way to start off the first day of school, and a chance to make sure they have a couple things they need right when they arrive.

 

This note explains what's inside the bag.  I can't take credit for coming up with this idea.  I found it through (shocker!) Pinterest, which linked me to the blog Pencils and Magic Wands. The note and homework pass can be found here.

 

Here's what else they get....some cute stickers, a happy star eraser, a welcome pencil (sharpened with my amazing sharpener of course), and a bright and fun bookmark.

 

I put them all into clear cellophane gift bags, and staple the note to the top.

Once I had everything in an assembly line, it didn't take long to get it all put together.

Totally worth it to see the kids' excitement finding them on their desk on that first day!

 

number four

 

Another new idea inspired by Pinterest....and another success!

 

Instead of your traditional bathroom passes that students either wear around their neck, wrist, or clip to their shirt....these actually stay in the classroom.

 

One for boys, one for girls.

Just simple labels (see link below) that I laminated and taped to a bottle of hand sanitizer.

 

When students need to use the bathroom (not during instruction, but any work or break time), they just take the "pass" and put it on their desk and then head to the bathroom.

When they come back, they can of course use some sanitizer and then put it back on the counter for the next student to use.

 

It's awesome because (a) I can always scan the desks to see who is gone, (b) I don't have the kids asking me if they can go since they can see where the bottle is, and (c) I don't have to worry about passes being left in the bathroom, wet and dirty from who-knows-what-they-do-with-it in there, or having a kid forget that they are wearing the pass.

 

My students have learned this new procedure very quickly, and I can already tell that I love it!

 

Note:  If you want those labels, you can find them FREE through the original blogger I found through Pinterest.  Go here for that post.

 

number five

 

One of my awesome fourth grade teaching teammates showed me how she had organized all of her meeting notes for this year into an adorable bound notebook.

 

Of course, I couldn't resist making my own.....through the seller "A Modern Teacher" I bought the organizer pages on TpT, and then I brought it to Staples for the binding.  The front and back covers are heavy-duty laminated so it will last all year.

 

Inside, I made tabs to label all of the sections for the different types of meetings I'll have regularly this year.

This doesn't even include special ed meetings, parent meetings, and other random committee meetings!  Whew.  I'm exhausted already.

 

And here's a look at one of the meeting notes pages....I've already used it for a few meetings and I LOVE it-- it keeps me organized, focused, and helps me to remember those random things we talk about but I sometimes forget about if I don't write it down.

Now I have no excuse!  :)

 

And now....I'm finally going to sleep.  For about ten hours. 

Because I finally can.