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

This is part 2 of a 2 part series on my Summer Bucket List--last post I shared some of the things I hope to accomplish on my professional list of things to do--and several have been completed with 5 weeks to spare!  This post is a look at the 5 things I want to do personally this summer.

#1

Finish the first Game of Thrones Novel--and maybe another book or 2

So GoT--I admit I was a little late to the game--pun intended--and managed to binge watch 6 seasons of Game of Thrones in 6 weeks (maybe less).  After the first few episodes, thanks to HBO GO, I was hooked and had to read the novel series.  Admittedly, this is the first “grown up” novel I have read in a long time--but it has just the right amount of fantasy, romance, and destruction that I like!  I am about halfway through the first novel and can not wait to finish it.

#2

Take my kids outside everyday

Now this one is HARD--cause TEXAS IS HOT--LIKE HOT HOT--but kids need to go outside everyday.  We have been doing very well with this one actually--we go to the zoo once a week, the splash pad and the park.  I spent the weekend actually working to make the backyard a place to hang out and play.  I am so excited to get my girls in the sun and fresh air and away from the iPad screen.

#3

Organize, Organize, Organize

So I love to be organized--I really do--but organizing overwhelms me sometimes to the point where I let things just get out of control and then the job becomes so BIG I just give up before I start.  BUT this summer I am going to really try.  The big job is the kids toys--they have so many! Have you seen the Trofast storage systems from Ikea? They are like an organization dream come true.  Ideally I would have a wall full of these to organize my kids room with gorgeous labels and the toys would always be returned to the right bin.

#4

Get creative with Hand Lettering

I love hand lettering.  I want to learn how to draw gorgeous letters using all kinds of fun techniques.  So I have been scouring the net and Pinterest looking for lettering tutorials and ideas.  I was inspired by some of the awesome Bible journaling I have seen like this here

Isn’t this just gorgeous?  I am not artistic--but I really want to try this.

#5

Alone time

I am an introvert.  I need to re-energize by being alone.  One of my goals for the summer is to take alone time, even if it is only for 5 or 10 minutes--but everyday I need to sit by myself to regroup so that I can be the best version of me I can.

Are you working on some personal goals this summer? What are your focusing on?  I would love to hear what you are doing personally to make yourself feel good and refreshed before school starts again in August.

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.