Positive Preparation: Enjoying Summer and Still Getting Things Done

I love my summers!  Quality time spent with my two beautiful girls.  We visit the zoo weekly, run around at the splash pad, play at the park and read at the library.  Staying busy in the morning and cooling off from the summer heat in the afternoons is our life.  Luckily I still have one little who needs her afternoon nap and during that 2-3 hour block I find the time to be super productive.

During this block of productivity, I like to prepare for August and the upcoming school year.  I search Teachers Pay Teachers for great products, read blogs, and update resources I will need during the first few weeks of school.

This past week, I was able to update my class syllabus.  Last school year was the first time I had developed a syllabus for my class.  I was inspired by the adorable syllabus Ms. Leslie Ann at Life in Fifth Grade shared on her blog and used that as a guideline for my own classroom.

I handed it out to parents on Meet The Teacher Night and posted it on my website.  I found it to be incredibly helpful for parents, and saw a huge decrease in emails from parents asking about dates, how to find information and general homework questions.

Last year's syllabus was really geared towards parents and I knew for next school year that I wanted to develop a version that was for the student's and formatted to fit in their interactive notebooks so they had the information available at all times.  I spent one of my moments of productivity updating and creating a pamphlet style syllabus that could be easily glued down, and I am really happy with the outcome.  Below are images of the syllabus has currently designed for the parents to receive on Meet the Teacher Night.  Now, considering this is still June, changes may be made,  but so far I am happy with the outcome.

I also am very happy with the student version of the syllabus

Starting Class in the First Five Minutes

As a fifth grade teacher on a campus that is departmentalized, I see four science classes each day.  I struggled the first few years with transitioning smoothly from one class to the next.  Kids would be rushed out the door so they made it to their next class on time, papers would be left in messy piles all over the room, and lab equipment would be hastily shoved into containers for the next class.  I would quickly work to get things ready while students surrounded me with questions, requests, late work, etc.  It was enough to make me want to pull my hair out!

In my attempt to alleviate the stress of transitioning from one class to the next, I created one of my most successful classroom management techniques, simply called “The First 5 Minutes”

The most important goal I wanted to accomplish was to have the students come in to my classroom and get to work independently so that I could have 5 minutes to prepare everything they would need for that day’s activity. 

I start “The First Five Minutes” on the first day of school.  When students enter the classroom, I ask them to read the screen.  I project a list of things they need to accomplish. This list always reminds them to sharpen their pencils, use the restroom, get water, and to set themselves up for success.  I might also include directions to get their homework out, turn in their conduct card and take home folder, or copy the agenda from the board.  By the end of the first week, my students know that as soon as they walk in to my classroom they need to read the screen and get started on accomplishing the tasks I have listed.

I also explain to students that during this 5 minutes they are not to ask me questions or hand me anything.  I let them know that I need the first five minutes of class to get everything ready for them.  Once the five minutes has passed, I always turn to the class and ask them if they need to tell me anything and then we get started.

This simple technique has really helped me deal with the transition between each class and has really helped me keep my sanity during the day.  

Summer Bucket List

Every summer I come up with a bucket list of things I want to do-both personally and professionally. This summer is no different and I am well on my way to doing a lot of what I wanted to get done, well, done. This is a two part series, broken down into 5 professional and 5 personal.  I wanted to share with you guys some of the things I have been able to do, and some of the things that I am still looking forward to doing and accomplishing.  My professional goals are focused on products I want to create in my classroom.  I have really started to enjoy creating products--using fun backgrounds, cute fonts, and adorable clip art to get the decor just the way I want it. Plus, it has become my “adult coloring book”--a complete stress reliever.  The second post will focus on my personal summer bucket list--the book I hope to finish, the shows I want to binge watch on Netflix--you get the idea.

Professional Bucket List

#1 Create an “I Can” Pennant for my classroom

I teach 5th grade science in a suburban school district that is growing every year.  In the last 5 years, the district as grown greatly in diversity--especially economic diversity.  In response to that, the district required “I WIll” statements to be posted every day.  There was not a whole lot of other information provided and very little direction.  I just took the TEKS (learning standards in Texas)  I was teaching for that week, through an I will in front and scribbled it on the whiteboard.  Honestly, half the time I forgot about it--so I knew I needed something permanent that I could use year after year, and also added to the decor of my classroom.  

I created pennant posters for each of the TEKS and my plan is to hang a clothesline on my focus wall and hang each pennant as we work on that unit.  I am excited to see the knowledge of the students grow on the pennant throughout the year.  This is also available on my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

#2 Create a One Minute Dismissal Checklist

I love all those ideas on Pinterest for the one minute dismissal checklist.  I wanted to create one that works for my own classroom.  My biggest issue is not giving my students enough time to clean their area, gather supplies, put homework away and get out in a quiet orderly fashion every time we switch classes.  Next year, I will see 4 different science classes.  I am hoping that designating the last minute to class and having the visual of the checklist will streamline dismissal time.  

#3 Early Finishers Choice Board

This was another idea I saw on Pinterest.  I am still not entirely sure I want this in the classroom. Obviously I know kids finish assignments at different times, and unless I want chaos I should have things to keep the kiddos occupied--BUT--I also have an issue with kids who think school work is a race and they have to be the first to cross the finish line.

#4 Bring this to class icons

For the last 8 years I have posted a dry erase board outside the door to my classroom and every day I would write what the kiddos needed for class that day.  After the first 6 weeks, they figure out what they need from their lockers daily and I stop updating the board.  It has worked great, until this past school year--the kids just didn’t pay attention to when the board was updated.  I want to create “Icons”--app like pictures with colorful backgrounds that will capture the kids attention quickly and effectively.

# 5 First 2 Weeks Lesson Plans mapped out and copies made BEFORE I officially report back to campus

The biggest goal on my summer bucket list is to have the first 2 weeks completely mapped out in my planner before reporting back to campus.  This includes making the copies I will need.  When school starts--I want to focus on establishing my expectations and procedures--this is a huge professional goal for me and I know that I will be able to focus on it more if my curriculum for those first two weeks is well planned out and ready to go.

Do you create a summer bucket list? What professional or personal things have you been able to cross off your list so far? I'd love to hear from you and share ideas.