I'm through...what can I do?

We all know students finish things at different rates and we always get the infamous "I'm done what can I do?"! AAAHHH...I'm not a big fan of forced things for students to do. I feel they do their best work when they have choices in what they are doing! 

This is my "I'm through...what can I do?" Poster set. I have it hanging in my room between my windows. 

We spent the first two weeks of school exploring the different options, practicing, modeling expectations, etc. As the year goes on I will add more or switch them out as the needs of my class change. My students use it primary when they are done with their Morning Work / Bell Work / Seat Work in the morning. It also comes in handy on test day when you have those that need some extra time.

You can get these here at my TpT store.
The nice thing is I will customize & update it as teachers email me with other things they want or need.

Teacher's Toolbox

Something I LOVE that I made this year is my teacher toolbox. Several teachers use theirs for their own supplies, but I decided to use mine for the frequent things my kiddos need. It is so much easier than them asking all the time for a post-it, band-aid, pencil, etc. 

I decided to go with tabs only for my box. I wanted my students to be able to see what they were searching for in addition to reading the labels. The labels were are super cute & FREE download from Lady Bug's Teacher Files. Get your editable set here!  Since these were free labels, I had to keep the black and white color. I liked the font & kept it as well. 

I had purchased a dark blue box from Lowe's. 

The dark tabs on a dark box didn't go well, so I ended up enlisting the help of my handyman dad to help me sand, spray paint, sand, spray paint, sand my toolbox all up. The sanding was a very tiny grit paper along with a regular brown lunch bag. It just helped take off rough edges and any runs I had from a heavy spray paint finger! I wish I had taken pictures of the process, but I was too excited to remember!

 Here's the finished product!

This has been a GREAT addition to my classroom!  I highly suggest the investment!

Interactive Notebook

So Interactive Notebooks have become all the rage on TpT and on so many blogs. I loved purchasing them on TpT, but after about my 3rd one I still didn't find one that fit Reading Street & what my classroom needs were. Either the skills didn't match perfectly, there were wordings I wanted to change, or things I needed to add.  So of COURSE I had to make my own! 

Here are a few sample pictures from Unit 1.

I have to be honest...the first day I did this with my kiddos I was ready to scream! It seemed like such a simple activity, but took FOREVER!  BUT...they LOVED it and had so much fun with it. So we have stuck with it and are on our third story creating these pages together. Every entry goes just a little bit smoother.

I have found it is good to have a sample journal already completed (like the above) to show them as you explain the process.  Then I create a second one that you color, draw in, write answers/examples, etc. for them to see as you are creating it with them. I keep reinforcing the idea that they can "reference" this ELA Notebook ANYTIME they need to.

My best "success" story to date to tell me this is worth ever bit of the effort is this...my students completed their first reading test on their own last week. The cold read / comprehension part referenced Main Ideas & Details. In the middle of the test I saw one of my students with his ELA Notebook out. I simply asked him what he was doing...his reply..."I was "referencing" my ELA Notebook to confirm the difference between Main Idea, Detail, and Topic. You said we could pull it out anytime we needed it." Indeed I did!!

So far I only have completed Reading Street Unit 1 & Unit 2, but like everything else in my TpT Store I will be creating them for all the units.

Check out a full preview of everything you get in Unit 1 here in my TpT Store! Click here for Unit 2.

If you have any suggestions, needs, or ideas for additions just let me know!

Open House FREEBIE!

With the start of school things have been so hectic! I have Open House (Back to School Night) this Thursday...so here is a freebie I'm going to share with you that I like doing. It is my "Thanks for Poppin' In" popcorn label. 

I always like having something nice for the parents & kiddos...and popcorn always seems to be a fan favorite...so I created this label last year.  I usually head to my local SAMs Club & buy a huge box of microwave popcorn, print the label off, & I'm all set. I either have a nice basket for everyone to take from or add it to the papers the parents take home. I've also used these for Parent-Teacher Conferences. 

It uses Avery Label 5164. Get this FREEBIE here in my TpT Store!