Fabulous Back to School Ideas, A New Portfolio Pack, Freebies and a Giveaway!!!

I have my act in gear now! It's FRIDAY!

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching to share my Five for Friday :)

 

 

This week I am sharing some great ideas I have come across from other fabulous teachers! I love reading teaching blogs, but sometimes there are so many and I can't keep up. I have organized a folder on my computer by subject that holds "the keepers"..... The ideas I want to go back to and use. Whether I will or not..... well that's a different story :)

Ok, this is a simple idea from Amy Lemons, but I love the look of it and the practicality if you can pull it off in your classroom. I don't know of too many bulletin boards being this low, but you get the gist. Make it visible so the kiddos can actually use it.

At this level, the students can use a pointer or a ruler to count ahead.

 

I also love to have a bin of laminated hundreds charts that kids can refer to and pick up on their own.

Looking for an easy word study activity or need to check in to see if your students can read their sigh words? I just love this idea from Cara Carroll.

 

Here's how she uses it:

The objective of this activity is to have your kids search for sight words.  I keep my Sight Wordles in a plastic sheet protector and have the kids use their Expo markers to highlight the words they find.

 

You can do this lots of different ways...

* have the kids search for words they KNOW {this would be great for a quick assessment!}

* have the kids search for SPECIFIC words {great for a review!!!}

*have the kids search for words with 2 letters, 3 letters, etc.

* have the kids search for words that rhyme with __________.

 

Here is how to create a WORDLE. Go to www.wordle.net

 

I am always looking for new ways to display students work. I just love these next 2 ideas!

The first is featuring a writer of the week :) How cute is this? If you have the room, this would be a great way to showcase a student(s) work. See more HERE at Write on Fourth Grade!

 

 

As teachers, we tend to display math and language a lot more than other subjects. I love teaching Science and having my students take part in science labs. I think the idea of using science lab photos on the bulletin board shows learning in many other ways. Plus, I think more students would stop and take a look at the board :) Love it!

 

I have been wanting to do this for a while, but honestly, where do you find the time! LOL.

An objective board!

All the things you are currently working on in the classroom. No matter who comes in... the principal, vice principal, occasional teacher, parents etc., everyone knows what you are learning.

If I can get my act together, this may be something that I would like to try! :)

 

 

And finally..... I have completed My Year at School Portfolio Pack! Super happy with how it turned out and excited to share it with you :)

 

It's packed with a slew of useable goods.

 

 Here is why I created this.....

Every year, mostly at parent/ teacher interview time, report card time, or at the end of the year, I want to be able to refer to students work in a concise way. I don't like putting a pile of books for parents to look through during student-led conferences, or showing random samples of work that I grabbed quickly during interviews. In addition, at the end of the year, I love making a DVD for the kids, as well as a portfolio as a keepsake for them. Why not have a pack devoted to making life more simple! :)

 

I know many teachers create portfolios at the end of the year.... and there hasn't been a year that I haven't seen a teacher running around trying to finish them, realizing time is quickly running out!

 It's crazy, people!

 

Here's how I use them:

 

I usually purchase a small 3-ring binder at the Dollarstore or use a scrapbook (usually these are with the notebooks at school in the supply room). In this pack, there are multiple portfolio covers to choose from. Some are coloured and some are black and white (for easy printing at school).

 

Throughout the year I collect a piece of art work, or a science lab or a math activity. I send a lot home for parents to see and sign (so they know what's going on) and have students return it. I then keep their work samples in a file folder with their name on it, in my filing cabinet or I have them immediately put it in their portfolio. They get really excited about this!

 

The pack includes subject covers, as well as goal and reflection sheets for that subject. These sheets are also labelled beginning of the year and end of the year so you know when to start/complete a reflection or set goals.

 

 

There are additional reflection sheets that are non-subject related, but reflect on the school year that are also included in the pack.

 

At the end of the year, it makes for a great keepsake and you don't have to fret about buying all the kids something if they money is not there.

 

 

 HERE are a couple of freebies from the pack!

Enjoy!

 

Enter to win this pack, now :)

 

Want to get this ready now? This pack is also ON SALE until Saturday at midnight.  

Click HERE to pick it up!

 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Have a great weekend :)

~Kaitlin~