Mrs. Heeren's Happenings: classroom photos

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Where I've Been ...and...The Day the Crayons Quit

Talk about a whirlwind of a year! Last summer I applied at another school to be closer to home and I feel like I haven't a taken a breath since I got the job! With setting up a new classroom and getting established in a new school, I have had ZERO time to make for my blog and TpT store. Here's a few snapshots of my new classroom:

I haven't made many of my own resources this year. But, luckily, there have be plenty of wonderful goodies on Teachers Pay Teachers to purchase when needing something for my lessons! I'd be lost without other teachers' creations!

Last year, I discovered the book The Day the Crayons Quit. Boy, is this a good one! If you aren't familiar with it, the story is about a box of crayons who become quite upset with their owner, Duncan, for various reasons. So, they write him letters expressing their complaints. This book is great to use for friendly letter writing and for teaching perspective. I decided that I'd have my students write their own letters to Duncan from the perspective of a crayon. I plan to compile their work into a class book once we're finished! I looked around online and didn't see any resources for this, so I actually made time to create something (my first product ALL YEAR)!

I put together a little packet with various types of writing paper and an editable book cover to make a class book. Check it out at my TpT Store! :)

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Day-the-Crayons-Quit-Writing-Project-1816090

I have lots of resource ideas bouncing around in my head! Summer break is almost here, so I plan to be making more posts in the near future {fingers crossed}. Thanks for following! :)

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

S.T.A.R. Folders, Writing Centers, Class Photos, and Freebies

It has been JULY since I last posted! (I did spend roughly an hour writing a post several weeks ago, but lost the whole thing. GRR! It has taken until now for me to find the time and motivation to redo it!) :)

The first thing I'm going to share is the setup of my students' "Take Home"/S.T.A.R. folders (Striving for Terrific Attitudes, Responsibility, and Success).

Front (Nothing special!)

Front Pocket- This is where students place their homework and anything that needs to be returned to school.

Class Information Sheet - Includes: daily schedule, class list, Scholastic Book Clubs code, class website address and QR code, homework schedule, class rules, and grading scale

CAFE Menu - After reading the CAFE book this summer, I decided to include a reading strategies menu in each of my students' folders. As I conference with students, I highlight the skill they are working on so they can share the strategy with their families and practice building the skill(s) at home.

S.T.A.R. Behavior Calendars - The students color the calendar each day to show their behavior on the color chart. Click HERE to view this on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Nightly Reading Log - Click HERE to download a free copy of the log I'm using with my class this year!

The 100 Club - Check this out on Christiana Bainbridge's blog!

Back Pocket - This pocket is for graded work or anything else that can stay at home.

I hope this is helpful, especially to those of you that have asked about my STAR folders!

I have made ONE measly product since school has started! {Sad, I know.} My newest TpT creation is my packet of Writing Center Activities. I created these to use for the Work on Writing portion of the Daily 5, but they can be used as early finisher activities, for literacy centers, etc. Here it is:

(Click either photo to view on TpT!)

I keep all of my writing journals, templates, and supplies neatly stacked away in this bin:

I also had many people ask about my welcome sign and table numbers. You can download them for free by clicking on the photos below! (Beware: It is a HUGE file...evidently!)