For behavior management in my classroom, I use a classroom economy.  Students earn classroom dollars for doing their job as a student and they use those dollars to buy privileges in class or to pay fines that they have incurred for improper behavior.   Usually, if a student is misbehaving, I ask them to pay the fine, they do, and it is done.  However, if a student is having a particularly trying day, I ask them to start writing the infractions down on labels so that I can have a future record of the behaviors for report cards and parent conferences.  I then keep these in a tabbed record book that can be pulled out whenever I need to refer back to it. Today, I wanted to share with you how I made the record book :)  I am linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for her weekly Monday Made It linky for the first time this summer!  Yay!! I like to keep the labels in a spiral notebook.  It just makes things easier for me.  But finding one wi......

I am SO glad it is summer time.  Don't get me wrong, I love my job.  I love my students.  I love everything about being a teacher....and that includes my summers off.  So what have I done while on this break (my whole week off so far??)  I thought I would link up with Doodlebugs for her weekly Five for Friday and tell you all about it! Oh...and it is 300 pages, not 70! First off, I have been busy trying to get a bit of school work done.  The first thing I was able to do was to update the 5th Grade Calendar Math Starter Kit .  It now reflects the 2014-2015 school year...so if you have it already, make sure you go over to your TpT account  (in "My Purchases") and redownload it.  I have to say, that I am loving it with the new CCSS standards.  The kids showed such growth and I KNOW it is from Calendar. (though, if you have read my blog, you know how much I love that thing!!) We went to our first beach day of the summer ......

This week back was filled with so many new happenings, that I thought I would tell you a little bit about each of them, instead of lots of little blog posts about each of them.  Most of the week was spent getting back into the swing of things, relearning routines, and beginning some new ones.  So, what were we up to this week? Each January I like to start things off fresh and my room environment is no exception.  So I spent one afternoon and rearranged the furniture so that we have a better flow in the room.  Also, I was just tired of standing up at the ELMO in the front of the room.  I need to sit down some of the time!  :)  So now I have a little space to work, can still move around the room, and it all feels "new".  Do you ever just up and move your room around? I started organizing my students for Math Workshop.  I have added in a rotation, am working in my fabulous aide just a bit more, and allowing for more problem solving time......

Today is officially my last day of winter break (because the weekend doesn't really count, does it?? I mean, we would have it off anyway....but I digress)  I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed my time off, but I am also really excited to get back into my classroom.  I really do love what I do, so while I am sad to be leaving my little ones, I am happy to get back to my big ones. I thought I would cap off this last day of vacation with a Five for Friday review from Doodlebugs .  I have been doing a whole heck of a lot of planning, trying to get ready for next week.  Looking through Notice and Note to prepare my first Signpost lesson.  I actually also bought a lesson plan book!  Yay me!  My daughter and I like to go on "Girls' Dates" where it is just her and I spending the day together.  This time, we went to Disneyland and California Adventure.  On a side note, did you know they have a nursing/pumping station at both parks??......

Happy New Year everyone!  What an amazing year 2013 was for me.  The biggest accomplishment this year was the birth of this wonderful little baby boy who is now the light of our family.  He just makes our house feel "complete" and we are all totally in love. But now here, on January 1, I thought I would start off the year with what I was doing Currently by linking up with Farley at Oh Boy, 4th Grade . Listening -- That's self explanatory.  :)  My kids are really into playing Disneyland.  They like to pretend they are waiting in line.  I don't know why.  They never actually make in on the ride in their fantasy, they just pretend to wait in the big, long line. Loving -- I know I have been on maternity leave, but this last three weeks of winter break is really soothing to me.  I know my time off is up, so I am just relishing every moment at home. Thinking -- sleep.  The ever elusive sleep. Wanting -- I have seen that Jessica S......

 Over the past *almost* two years (gasp!  Has it really been that long???!!!) I have immersed myself in the world of blogging.  It has been nothing short of amazing.  The blogging community is such a fantastic and inspiring group of teachers.  I have grown as a teacher, improved my craft, and shared a bit of it with you all along the way. So as a token of my appreciation to you for joining me on this journey, I have teamed up with 14 of my bloggy friends to bring you a downright awesome giveaway. First and foremost, as a blogger, I am thankful of course for you all.  Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog.  As a teacher, though, I am thankful for anything and everything that makes my life easier.  The things that I have used in my room that I can count on to not only be spot on with the lesson but also are ready to go.  In math, the Spiral Homework and Quizzes, as well as Calendar Math do both of those things.  It is b......

Is it really October??  Wow...this year is just flying by.  Since it is the first of the month (ok, the 2nd, but who is counting?) I thought I would link up with Farley at Oh Boy, 4th Grade so you could see what is going on in my world Currently.... Yeah, not much has changed from my last two posts.  Mostly spending time with Cameron, getting to know him and enjoying every minute of my maternity leave.  I really have this itch to start getting ready for when I go back to work after leave is over, but spending time with this little man is far more appealing :)  He is just too cute!  (and for a current picture, head on over to Instagram  ;) ) As for a treat, I have some homework passes that you can use on Halloween.  I actually use these in my room because the thought of giving them more candy on that day, when the students are already hyped up, is rather unappealing to me :)  Plus, this is free for me...and anything I can do that cuts......