Cleaning Cards - Why didn't I think of this before?

Ever have one of those days where all of a sudden you look around the classroom and realize it is all out of whack? Not like a hurricane hit it, but it's the little things that look big that bother you, like these:

• books/dictionaries are backwards or spine is faced IN!
• tape was obviously used because pieces students did not want are now stuck onto the counter
• random pencils (which are always scarce) are laying all over the place
• there is a colored pencil in the marker bin & scissors in the ruler bin (can't they read the label?)
• paper is in the recycling bin because someone was too lazy to walk across the room
• that same tiny piece of trash has been there for 3 days
• There is trash sitting directly by the trash can, not in it

You get the point.

Planning for a Long-Term Sub

This is my first time planning for a long-term substitute.  I like to plan ahead, so I've been thinking about it a TON!  I'm due mid-April, which is perfect timing (if I do say so myself), which means I've had the whole year to think about it.  No, I am not a freak and did not plan for this since September.  However, thinking about what I'd like to do helps so I can complete bits and pieces along the way and now I'm ready to get down and dirty rather than "think" about what to do.

Even if you have a requested sub in your classroom for all the meetings you have to attend, it takes time to get to know someone's style and preferences while adding your own touch as well.  I was a long term sub for kindergarten and know how certain things are important to keep the same for when the teacher returns (even if I'm not returning), and things that I can change based on me and my style.

Here are some questions I asked myself and answers I came up with:

Q: How will I communicate what I do on a daily, weekly, and/or monthly basis that's NOT part of a what I would normally put on sub plans (such as book orders or how I communicate with families)? 
I already have a sub binder with school schedules, seating charts, emergency plans, basic classroom procedures, etc.  My major concern?  I did NOT want to completely overwhelm my sub with a classroom "manual" because to be honest, 1) I wouldn't read through a GIANT pack of papers and 2) I also know that as long as there is a general outline, a sub will still need to get into a groove and teach his/her own way.  

A: General Procedures & Routines Table of Contents
So I did come up with this.  It looks like a lot, but there's only a small little blurb about each thing, organized alphabetically with tabs, & it includes some specific events already planned for when I'm out.

Ok, so there are a lot of things on here, but I figure she can reference it as needed.
Remember, each item only has a small blurb about it, not some essay-long explanation.
 See below for a sample of what I wrote for the P and W sections:

Baby Name Revealed using Coordinate Graph Hidden Messages!

The best part about reading others' blogs are the cool finds, especially when they relate to your specific grade level and standards.  Fifth grade Common Core math requires students to master coordinate graphing within the first quadrant.  I always move to all four quadrants with students who are ready, though.  So anyway, I was reading posts from Teaching in Room 6 and am totally PSYCHED with what I found!!!

Christmas/Holiday Coupons as Gifts

Um, so this post is really late, but I just saw these pictures in my phone when students did the activity.  I don't know about other teachers, but I'm NEVER swamped  in December and have no excuses not to have posted on time.  ;)  Haha!

So basically, I wanted students to create gifts for families and/or friends where they wouldn't leave anyone out.  So I have students make coupon boxes, the gift that keeps on giving!  They can make as many as they want in the time we have and take materials home if they need more to make over break before Christmas.

Pencils in the Classroom...Problem Solved! Hopefully!

This is probably one of the nerdiest posts I can think of, but I'm so happy with how this turned out!

Ok, I've taught 7 years now and I don't have a major problem with how kids get pencils in my class, but I've never been satisfied.  Lately, it's even irked me a bit.  I have always had a dull and sharpened pencil can.  Students are supposed to exchange one for the other.  Then there's the ONE person in charge of sharpening all the dull pencils at the end of the day to refill.  Sounds like it works?  At first.

What typically happens is that kids just take and don't trade.  Then we are out of pencils and no matter how much we talk about being respectful of materials, cleaning out desks to find extra pencils, etc. it still happens.  Then when we're about to take math notes or whatever, you get that kid who can't seem to figure out what to do when he doesn't have a pencil.  Ugh!  (I'm probably overreacting, but it gets annoying.)

I got this dispenser on Amazon.com.

Happy Birthday Dr. King!!!

I feel it is so important to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his vision, and accomplishments.  This month has basically been dedicated to the man.  Not only that, I mention him throughout the year often.  However, January is a good time to remind students of his messages.  Here are some things that we have worked on the past couple of weeks since winter break.

Ok, fifth graders won't just read or listen to Dr. King's speech and totally get it.  They need background knowledge and guidance to understand the main messages.  Therefore, we listen to parts of the speech at a time, pause, reread & discuss, take notes, and continue.  This site is where I go to get the audio, since youtube is blocked at my school.  It also has words underneath if needed.  I feel breaking down the speech also allows kids to focus on each section at a time.  Here's a sample of how we marked the text: Marking up MLK's speech