Class Dojo Communication Log

Hey y'all!  Wow, I am embarrassed that I haven't posted since July 1!

I'd love to say I've been busy creating things and getting ready for the new school year.  HA!  I have been busy with other things that I'll tell you about later.  Today is the first day I've done anything school related.

Like many of you, I use Class Dojo in my classroom.  This is actually something I started in February of last year.  I needed to do something different and one of my coworkers had just started Class Dojo so I thought I'd give it a try.

It worked really well.  However, I never changed my communication log.

So, today I set out to make a new communication log.  Then I went to open it and it's done in Publisher...dun dun dun.  Shouldn't be a problem.  I have my work laptop here.  However, and this is sad sad sad...I didn't feel like getting up and taking {literally} three steps to get my work laptop.  I also didn't feel like switching out my flash drives.

SO, I made a new one in Powerpoint.  That way, if you want to use it, you can edit it!  Here are the font's I used {ALL are from Kevin and Amanda...LOVE!}:

• My Name & Class Name:  Pea So Lovely
• Dojo Description:  Pea Hollee
• Points & Behaviors:  Pea Heather Michelle
• Points & Comments{right side}:  Pea Picky Panda
• Days:  Elephants in a Cherry Tree

Communication Log

Anyways, hopefully someone out there can use this!  Hope everyone is enjoying their summer :)

July Currently and a Fab Find

Hey y'all!  Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!  This is going to be a short and sweet post.  I'm trying to get it done before the Real Housewives of New Jersey comes on!

I'm linking up with Farley for her July Currently.

Have you been watching the coverage of the Olympic Trials?  Last night I got obsessed over the swimming trials.  Not necessarily the trials itself per se, but rather the set up of the pool.  Did you know they set the pool up in 8-10 days?  They have a 13 lane warm up pool as well.  AND they filled it up via fire truck!  Seriously, watch this video.  Amazing!

I just ordered my very first Erin Condren Life Planner.  I LOVE it (even if the picture won't rotate correctly!).

I LOVE The Lorax.  It's such a good story and puts taking care of the environment in a way my little 3rd graders really understand.  Plus, it's good to discuss the differences in the pictures.

I couldn't choose just one professional book.  I had to buy the book Improving Reading for one of my classes in grad school.  It has really good activities to help any kiddo that is struggling with reading.

I LOVE Dinah Zike's Foldable books!  I got this one this year and it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  It is split into section for things like ABC order, prefixes, dictionary skills, etc.  

Head on over and link up with Farley!

I'm also linking up with Elizabeth from Fun in Room 4B (It's her first linky so show some love).

I talked earlier about my Erin Condren Life Planner.  It's my first and I {LOVE} it!

I'm starting to fill it up!  I don't know why some of them are sideways.  I got the 16 month calendar so this will last me from July 2012 to December 2013.

Head on over and link up!

June Classroom Shopping

Hey folks!  How's it going?

I'll admit, I'm a little disappointed our boys didn't win the CWS.  But, I'm SO proud of their hard work. They are an awesome team :)

So I'm linking up with Kristen, none other than Ladybug herself.  It's hard to believe her coworkers don't know about her blog!

She's having a linky for summer purchases.

Now, I haven't bought a whole lot, and I'm not even sure all of my purchases were in June, but I think they were?  I swear, during the summer, the days just blend together.  I thought today was Wednesday!

So here's what I've got so far:

I ordered these from Really Good Stuff.  Here's how I use them.  Throughout the day, I give out raffle tickets for anything from participating to answering a question correctly to being on task, etc.  On the back, the kids write their number.  At the end of the day, they can turn in any raffle tickets they want or they can choose to not participate.  I choose one ticket and that kid gets to go to the prize box.  Now last year I used the raffle tickets they sell at Wal-Mart.  However, I had one kid that kept producing a lot of tickets.  Now, I won't call this kid bad, I'll just say there was no way I gave him that many tickets.  So, I thought he was taking them from the roll.  Turns out, he brought them from home!  So, I ordered like 7 rolls of this.  Hopefully it'll last me all year!

I got all of this from none other than the Target Dollar Spot.  I plan to use the trophy for the weekly winner (or maybe daily...haven't decided) of Class Dojo.  That kiddo will get to keep the trophy on their desk.  The other things are obviously for recess.  Hopefully they'll last a little longer than the things we had this year did. Do your kids go through recess supplies like they're going out of style?!

I don't know why it's upside down, but whatever.  I got this super cute border at Wal-Mart.  It was in a clearance section.  Can't pass it up!

I also got this at Wal-Mart.  It was also on clearance.  I thought it would be calming in the classroom.

I also got all of this at Wal-Mart and you guessed it...on clearance!  I think I"m going to put the time thing in my prize box.  I also forgot to take a picture of it, but I got clear pencil pouches on clearance at Wal-Mart as well.  

Have you bought anything for your classroom this summer yet?  I've seen a lot of people linking up so I'm sure you have!  Looking forward to your finds!  Head over and link up if you haven't already!

Stick a Fork in Me...I'm Done

Whew.  I can't believe it's essentially been 3 weeks since my last post.

I am done folks, D-O-N-E with grad school.

I took my last two classes during the last 3 weeks and I am 100% finished!

Our last day of school was Friday June 1.  Teachers came in on Monday June 4 for a workday.  I'll be totally honest...it doesn't count as work when the kids aren't there!  I was checked out and officially on summer break by 11:00.

Here's what I left my room looking like:

Those boxes on the tables are heeeeaaavvy.  SO heavy!

I was a liiiitle nervous because I found out during my check out meeting that my room would be used during the summer session so I went back and covered the cubbies with the green paper and taped my community supplies closed. 

Well, I had to go back to get something a couple of weeks ago and I found out one of the best teachers we have is in my room for summer clinic and she has the room set up so cute!  

If you're really noticeable, you can tell I switched rooms.  I mentioned it before, but my previous room was yellow, and this one is a pretty teal.  I am excited that my entire cabinet (at the front) is totally set up and organized.

On Friday, my kids helped SO much.  I think they thought I was kidding when I told them if they came on the half days they'd be put to work.  No joking here.

Have you seen the new blog Endless Pinabilities?  

Such a good idea!  Plus I'm a contributor, which is crazy considering I've been slack updating this blog!

One other thing on my totally random post, I have started to tackle my summer bucket list.  I started organizing my flash drive the other night.  Here's what it looks like so far (I'm not done yet):

So, I am slowly but surely accomplishing some things.  How's your summer going so far?  Have you accomplished a lot?

June Currently

Hey y'all!  I am so super excited because I am now officially on summer break!!!  Whoop whoop!

I kicked it off with a nice lunch with two coworkers.  One, my associate teacher, is leaving our school.  She is going to teach 6th grade Science ALL BOYS!  Kudos to her.  She would totally stay at my school, there just aren't any openings.  The other is my new teamie!  Remember how I've mentioned there's a girl that doesn't exactly show up for work all the time (as in, she's probably missed close to 20 days this year)?  Well, they moved her out of 3rd grade and into a non-testing grade (2nd) so I get to have the 2nd grade teacher as my new teamie...YAY!  We went to Panera (yum!).  For all of you sweet tea lovers out there, and thanks to the linky I know there are tons of you, Panera has really good sweet tea!  Just a little FYI :)

I tell ya, I am so tired!  I'm trying to get this posted so I can maybe go nap upstairs with Gizmo, who by the way, STILL has not come downstairs and I've been home over an hour.  Great guard dog I tell ya.

So, I am obviously linking up with Farley and her June Currently.  Have you seen her new blog design?  CA-UUUUTE!

 Seriously, how cute?! Okay, so here's what I'm up to:

 
A little elaboration:

Gizmo will NOT stop escaping from the kitchen.  I think we may have to crate him.  Seriously, here's just one picture of all of the junk crap household items he has managed to escape from:

HA, honestly, looking at this makes me laugh because we now have large Rubbermaid bins, our large cooler, and Matt's heavy toolbox among our current barricades.  Seriously, our living room looks like we are white trash.  It's embarrassing.  Plus, putting these barricades up nightly and taking them down is ridonculous.  He of course escaped at 4:45 this morning when a huge storm came rolling through. Even though it was a workday, I ended up just getting up with him. Ugh...okay, I'll stop talking about this because it really deserves a post all its own.

Have you seen the commercials for the Hey Batter Batter Blast at Sonic?  I got it today to celebrate school ending & before I can't eat it since I'll be returning to my diet tomorrow.  It was good, but not enough cookie dough and brownie batter.  I guess there never is. 

I would LOVE to go back to NYC.  I went with the hubby's family back in 2007 and it was amazing! 

We went to Atlanta last weekend.  Here are some pics from our trip since I totally spaced and never shared!

At the Braves Game.  The men behind us would NOT stop talking!

At the Georgia Aquarium

At the Gwinnet Braves game.  My college roomies!

At the Ferndale Museum of Natural History

Tristen got married!

There was a photo booth complete with props!  LOVED it!  They actually used this as their guest book!

Finally, I want to go to an amusement park.  I went to Carowinds last year so who knows, maybe we'll go again this year!

I don't think I even have to say it, but head on over to Farley's and link up!

And thanks so much to those of you who have linked up with my first linky!  I cannot believe all the entries!  I promise I'm slowly but surely getting to commenting on all of them!  Still haven't linked up?  Join the fun!

Requests and Moving

Hey y'all!  TGIF!

I know some of you are already enjoying your sweet summertime and I am oh so close!  We have ONE more half day tomorrow and then Monday is a teacher workday.  It hasn't really sunk in yet that school is over.  I don't know why.  It should since I'm moving rooms...again!

I moved rooms last year and now I'm moving again. 

I asked the principal about boxes, since we were provided with boxes last year.  He hadn't ordered any and reminded me that it was good to purge.

I told him purge is not in my vocabulary at work.  However, I have gotten rid of some things.  I've been hanging on to some things from when I taught 5th.  I don't have any intention to go back to 5th, so I gave it all away. 

I plan to use child labor my sweet little kiddos to help move most things out of my room tomorrow morning.  Do you have to switch rooms?  I'm quite jealous of those of you who don't!

One thing that was kind of exciting happened yesterday during our awards ceremony.  Our janitor called me over and led me out of the cafeteria.  Waiting for me was a second grade girl and her mom.  The mom requested that her daughter be in my class next year!  I was so excited...I love when parents do that!

Then, after school, I was talking to one of my kids parents and she thanked me for my work with her child.  She even asked if I was going to move up to 4th grade!  SO nice! 

Have you ever had parents request you as their child's teacher?  How did you feel about it?

Thanks so much to everyone who has linked up to my first linky!  I love checking out all of your responses.  I promise I will get to yours if I haven't yet :)  If you haven't joined...what are you waiting for?!

Summer Reading & Rocking Resources

I am all about the linky parties lately.  I love linkies because they give you a focus to what you're going to write about.  I think we all know that without a topic, I tend to ramble.

Okay, okay.  I ramble no matter what. 

I'm going to be slick and put two linkies together because I'm cool like that tired.

Holy Cow.  I think I should have mentioned book hoarding in my Obsession Linky.  I just took a picture.  Much easier.

Yup, your eyes do not deceive you.  Nothing school related.  However, that doesn't mean I won't be perusing any.  I have this book coming home with me:

I would also like to check out these books from Debbie Diller (I know some of you swear by it!)

This book also looks really interesting:

This one looks kinda funny!

So that's what I'm reading this summer, or at least what I'm planning to read.  It'll be interesting to see how many of these books I read...HA!  I really am interested in reading stations & math stations since I feel like I'll have a little bit more time next year.  Please head over and link up so I can get some more books to read...can you say hoarder?!  Actually, maybe you shouldn't link up because I sure would love to win the Ron Clark book ;)

I also just discovered Kelley's blog the Teacher Idea Factory.  Oh my goodness is her blog cute!  Isn't it amazing how many wonderful blogs there are out there?  I love finding new ones and I'm her newest follower!

Her linky is all about those things we teachers cannot live without.  HA, where do I even begin?!

I ♥ my cart!  I use it during Voyager instruction, guided reading, and when our lovely smartboard decides to spaz out and not work.

Do you use streamline videos in your classroom?  Due to district restrictions, I'm forced to this is how we watch videos.  Those of you with posts from YouTube...can't happen.  Nada.  They have videos for just about everything though which is fantabulous and it's good because I never have to worry about inappropriate suggested videos from YouTube.

{source}

Swoon.  I ♥♥♥ my document camera.  It helps my kiddos to see me writing on the same paper they have, particularly since a lot of mine struggle with reading. 

I teach in a Title 1 School so we have an entire literacy closet/room with Scholastic A-Z levels.  It is aaahhhhmazing.

LOVE this site!  It used to be totally free, but now it is only $20 for a year.  That's a little over a dollar a month and well worth it in my opinion.  I have a coworker who ahem, cough, doesn't show up on a regular basis.  This site helps me make packets busy work enrichment for kiddos at the drop of a hat.  SO easy!

So those are some of the resources I use.  What do you use?  Can't wait to check it out.  Make sure you head on over and link up!

Also, don't forget about my Obsessions Linky!  Thanks to everyone who has already linked up :)

 

Oh, and before I go, here is something I whipped up a few weeks ago.  I made some homemade cookies, printed this on card stock, and gave it to some of the faculty and staff at my school.  They all really appreciated it.  Maybe you can use it in your whole 3 days of school left or something, lol.  We are down to one full day.  Whoop whoop!

Thank You