Packing It Up! {w/ Mrs. Decatur's Little Gators}

Hey y'all! I seriously am in total denial that the summer is coming in HOT!

 My room is barely taken down or packed up, which is so unlike me! I like to take pretty much everything down each year even though this will be four years in the same room, same subjects, and same grade for me! I just like to start fresh each year while building on previous years do's and don'ts. You can tell by this pictures its the end of the year, stuff is falling off the walls and I am not bothering to put it back up! 

My holy grail summer tip is to make a "Summer Look Out" List in my phone because lord knows I will not be carrying around my planner/notebook/28 differ list pads while I am bopping around town all summer! 

Before I really get started packing up, I just walk around my room 'surveying' the goods! Each year is different. Some years I have a full prize box in May, some years, like now...it is running super low! So I add "student prizes" to my look out list. So when I am at big lots on July 12th, I can double check to see if I really do need  those 12 packs of smelly highlighters!

 I don't like to over buy during the summer or purchase things I won't end up needing. This especially relates to craft supplies, which are not provided by my school (think googley eyes, glitter, paint, chenille sticks). Sometimes I use it all up and some years I have plenty but I will not remember in the middle of the summer. 

I also like to add things that need to be replaced each year but are not your "standard" teacher supplies like dry erase or bulletin borders. Things like my birthday pencils, or calendar numbers.. some how I lost the "1st" and the "3rd" this year?!? So I will be on the lookout for a new set! 

Classroom Organization {Paper}

Classroom organization really makes my heart happy. I spent the first few years of my teaching career constantly reorganizing everything trying to find the best & most efficient way to store different things in the classroom. 

Paper is one of those things that classroom teachers have a TON of! I store my construction paper, computer paper, handwriting paper & tablets in the same cabinet. 

Its far from picture perfect, but it ACTUALLY works. My cabinet looks something like this throughout the year. Handwriting paper, special printer papers, & extra packs of colored paper go up top. 

To keep it organized throughout the year & be able to easily grab any color I want. I used small white sticker dots on plastic magazine holders. 

I simply used markers to color on the white stickers to color code my bins! 

There is some wear and tear on them, but this has worked wonderfully for me for the last three years!

How do you store your stash of paper?

July Currently

I always love reading everyone's currently to see what everyone is up to. During the summer its even more fun to see goals & travels. I have so much going on this month, but it is all super fun! 

Listening: I am watching "The Tomorrow People" on Netflix. It is a pretty silly show, but its good background noise for computer work and planning! I am always looking for a show to keep on in the background while I work, study, or clean! Recommendations? 

Loving: I have been reading "Unshakable" and I really like how 'real' it is and actually applicable. Each idea seems achievable in my classroom and the positive approach to everyday teaching is a great rejuvenation for the new school year coming up {and something I truly needed}. There is a wonderful book study starting on Facebook July 15. I will be in Cabo San Lucas, but hopefully I will be able to join in from abroad.

Thinking: I am thinking about what on earth I need to pack for Vegas, I have read a ton of blog & IG posts about what to take. I have my labels made, buttons ordered, & name tags printed! One of my lovely roommates is helping my print & bind my handouts! She even made a special cover for the front, how sweet is ELAeveryday?! 

Wanting: Vegas! Simple enough right? I have never been to Las Vegas and I could not be more excited. I have the best three suitemates and I just know we are going to have so much fun! I cannot wait to learn and grow as a teacher and TPTer! 

Needing: To start checking things off my todo list. I have so many lists, one for back to school, Vegas conference, my Cabo vacation, first grade team meeting, and my beautiful sister's bridal shower! So many lists, so much fun, so little time! 

All star: I am choosing organizing, I love to arrange things & get organized, which is lucky because I have a lot going on this month! 

Head over and link up with Farley for July! 

{Five for Friday}- June 19, 2015

Hey, everyone! I'm so excited to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday again this week! Its so fun to read everyone's Five for Friday's during the summer because so much is going on! 

My husband  & I recently purchased new bedroom furniture, with all of the last week of school crazy, summer traveling, and grad school..I just had time to get my vanity all organized. Since this is the place where I start my days, I like to have it look inviting and organized! The top drawers are very very shallow {it is supposed to be a desk} so I was struggling to find makeup trays to fit. THEN I found these $1, Dollar Tree serving trays & they worked like a charm! 

So since we got new furniture, I am looking for the perfect lighting to hang above our sitting area! We have two, VERY ugly fans in our bedroom, we will be replacing the one above our bed with a prettier fan & the one above the seating are with something like this! The best part is that I told my MIL I liked this one and 30 minutes later, she texts me a photo of almost the same thing for sell at HEB!? What...haha who knew HEB had chandeliers!? 

I ordered new glasses, I have been wearing the same pair since 10th grade! I wear contacts 96% of the time, so I don't normally need glasses, but it was time! I got the glasses in the picture above for less than $30! WHOOP.

I am so glad that I join in {I almost didn't, but FOMO} the #TPTSellerChallenge. I hadn't created or refreshed any product since September of this last school year. The challenge got me back into the groove & I ended up making over about half of my products & I deleted some altogether! 

I was even inspired to create my logo banner & make my 'quote' a picture ad! I love the end results, but I think I need to try again on the quote! 

I saw so many wonderful lists of summer reading, I really had to be honest with myself, I KNOW I will not finish 8 PD books this summer. So I tried to choose the ones that I really thought I could read and internalize before August. I just got these last night & I already read 3 chapters of "Unshakable". It is so real and motivating at the same time. It doesn't pretend that every teacher is happy everyday and is always prepared. It helps you see your 'authentic self' and offers small improvements for your daily mindset. If you are looking for a PD book this summer, I highly recommend it! 

What are your summer PD must reads?

Reflect and Refresh: Part 1-Looking Back

Welcome to Reflect and Refresh, a two part linky party where teacher bloggers share their reflections on the 2014-2015 school year and ways they are planning to refresh their teaching in 2015-2016.

This is my second official day of summer and I think since I still taking two grad classes, my official freedom of summer feeling will probably start closer to July! However, I am ready to reflect on school year 2014-2015 by linking up with Mrs.D'sCorner! It has been an interesting year for me because it was my first time to teach the same thing/grade two years in a row! Next year will be my third year in first grade, same room, same school! Whoooo! So I finally feel like I can focus on something besides ideas for lesson plans!

Communication: This year at meet the teacher, I had parents give their information but also had a spot for them to write their preferred phone call time. I think this helped the issue of calling and just getting the machine, somethings are best heard live than over a message. I also kept a monthly log of parents and families that I Spoke with and the reason. I have done this before but this year I took care to see which I had not spoken to in awhile and also called with updates! Next year I want to try and make some sort of calling schedule so I can make sure I keep in touch with all parents. 

Organization: I LOVE to organize, especially my classroom. I try not to change things up during the year and keep it consistent for the kiddos. So during the last couple of weeks of school I tried very hard to organize all of my workstations games and materials. I filed all of my TPT centers in gallon size ziploc bags in my files cabinet by theme/month/holiday. I also have a second drawer that are filed by reading/writing/phonics TEKS/Skill. It has worked wonders when I need to clean out and switch my stations out! 

Content: This year I worked very hard to make sure my students reading comprehension was on par. I did a lot of post it note activities and exit tickets too! I love using the post its towards the end of the year in first grade, it is so cute to see what they take away from a lesson as the most important. After my lesson, students typically go to round one of Daily5, this leaves me time to pull any students who may have not fully grasped the lesson in a small group to figure out if they need extra lessons, a slower explanation, or gaps filled during small group to be able to understand. After I assessed (very informally) who did not understand what, I would go right into guided reading groups. 

My Big Summer Project: REorganizing my leveled library. This has been a struggle for me, I first separated my "genre library" from my "leveled library" last summer. The students liked having a basket to choose "on level" books to take AR quizzes on when they were book shopping, as well as having the freedom to choose books from the genre library based on their interests. I really liked the system, I just did not divide up the leveled baskets enough. My ranges within each basket are too large. It really affected the struggling readers who need smaller ranges to be successful on AR quizzes. So I need to go back in peel off about 1000 small dot stickers, find new baskets, make new labels and regroup! It will be worth it! :) 

How will you refresh for next year? 

If you want to link up to reflect & refresh, click below! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Five for Friday-February 20th

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  Hello! Welcome to my "Five on Friday"! Keep scrolling to see what I have been up to!   1.

  I recently (5ish weeks ago) stopped *mostly* eating carbs and sugar. It has been great for me! I can actually tell I have more energy than ever before just because I am eating correctly. Since I have been doing this I have used my Kitchen Aid Mixer more in the last month than I have in the last two years! I made carb/sugar free jello creams, carb free spicy crackers, and even some zucchini chicken Alfredo!        2.

 

 We have been celebrating and learning all about Presidents' Day, specifically George Washington & Abraham Lincoln. I really enjoy teaching about these guys! There are so many cute activities & books to read. The books are themed and the kids use those during 'Read to Self'.  

  The bottom left is our anchor chart and the bottom right is the poem we will be adding to our poetry notebook today! I found it as a freebie, click the photo to go to Mrs.Brinkman's Blog to get one yourself. YAY!  

  The top right is a photo of my 'work on writing' area. I have said this before but I love Latoya Reed's writing centers! They are simple and ready to go! Here is the one I used this week! Click the picture to check it out in her TPT store. You can see in the right hand corner of my collage picture that I display the sentence stems & theme words in clear picture frames. I use the word wall words in the little bucket. My kiddos can go grab those anytime they need to!   3.  

  I have been working SO hard to get my Etsy shop full of new invitations! I have been focusing mostly on bridal shower and save the dates! My sweet sister is getting married in October, so I am practicing for her! Please check out my store if you are in the market for personalized paper goods! Click on the photo to go to my Etsy shop or search "Dot on Design" on facebook!   4.  

I shamefully LOVE redbull. I got so excited when I finally found these new flavors! Wild Cherry, Tropical, & Orange! I tried the wild cherry today, I was pretty disappointed. I guess its a sign that I should give up energy drinks!

 

5.  

 

I am so excited for go Texan day! Next Friday, all of us Texans will be decked out in our finest rodeo gear and ready to celebrate the great(est) state we call home! I am already planning my outfit, chili for our staff cook off, & fun read alouds and activities for the classroom!   These are two of my FAVORITE read alouds for the rodeo!

 

I found this adorablllleee freebie from Liz Kinsinger on TPT that goes along with the book! Just click the picture to go to her shop!

 

 

Happy go Texan week! Don't forget your boots!

 

Five for Friday

 

  Hello! Welcome to my first "Five on Friday"! Keep scrolling to see what I have been up to!   1. My sweet, sweet, student teacher is leaving!

 

Her last day is on Monday and I am so sad! It is so nice to have a buddy in the classroom all day! I have enjoyed being a mentor more than I ever thought I would! I learned SO much from working with her this year! The kiddos are going to be SO SAD! They love her so much! But she is AMAZING and already scored a job in NOVEMBER! WOW!  We have plans to be pen pals with our classes already!   2. I am starting a blog series!   I finally identified why I don't ever really post. I get so many wonderful ideas from other teachers on IG, Pintrest, blogs, and TPT. That I feel most of my ideas are not really MY ideas to begin with. So I just don't feel the need to share how I remade *insert Fab Teacher Blogger Everyone Knows* anchor charts! I decided what I do best in the classroom is organizing and being efficient! I am going to do a ten part series on little tricks and tips I use to keep myself on track on a daily/weekly/monthly/annual basis. I am looking for a few teacher friends to join up with me! Please email me at katiedecatur@gmail.com if you are interested in doing a guest post!     3. I am collaborating with Paper+Spark!  

  I am working Janet over at Paper+Spark to design some really purposeful organization items for teachers that I will be blogging about in my series! All the items I design and she creates will available in her shop on Etsy for a big sale during the thanksgiving and Christmas season!   4. I started an Etsy! Dot on Designs  

I have been creating invitations for friends and family for a while now. Its something I really do enjoy making and perfecting! So I started an etsy shop! www.etsy.com/shop/dotondesigns  If you need a quick custom invite that you can print on your own! Look me up!   5. My blogging and RL Bestie officially owns her site!  

Jaclyn is a blogging super star! Its amazing we can even be friends since I am not. HA. Head over to her blog to read about fab outfit ides, packing plans, and fashionable mom essentials!