Homework Checklists

This project has been a favorite of mine! Not only is it extremely helpful during the school year for teachers, but it is also a life saver for students. Keep reading to get a little walk through...

 So, this is the sample homework checklist.

Spelling words and homework are listed in a clear format for students. I like this setup because it is thin enough for me to simply staple into student agendas on Monday morning. (Plus, two checklists per page means less copy paper!) Once stapled, they are set for the week!

My editable pack features three options.

1) Labels, titles, and cutesy fonts are NOT editable, but all other information is.

 2) Labels are editable in case you split your spelling words differently or need to add sight words or vocabulary.

 3) Literally everything here is editable. This is a great option for teachers who want to use their own cute fonts and borders.

Homework Policy:

Homework varies drastically depending on your school. I have certain things that I HAVE to give students. Homework is evaluated on our report cards. I am also mandated to give nightly homework instead of a weekly packet. So, how do you keep 6 & 7 year olds on track with nightly homework AND how do you as a teacher know who is completing what? My OCD kicked in this past school year.

 Last Year: I had a homework sheet with spelling words and nightly homework stapled into student agendas. Then, I had this on a clip board and would check off each student's homework each day. This way I have proof for report card time. This year I am definitely going to make this chart more eye appealing. :)

Now, I have taken the old form that was stapled into the student agendas and transformed it. This copy is MUCH more concise. I feel that it is easier for students to follow along. It has the weekly dates at the top (This helps for teacher planning and for parents). Spelling words are then listed by category. I like this system of breaking them up by skill, pattern, and no-excuse words (aka sight words). Under that are the nightly requirements.

Completed checklist (pardon my trash)...

When I check homework first thing in the morning, students open their agendas to this page. I then check off on my teacher checklist (that blah one above) and also on the student checklist that it is complete. If homework is not done or is forgotten, that assignment is highlighted on both my checklist and the student's. This serves as a reminder to parents after school and to me during report card time. And that's that! An easy peasy way to give homework and keep track of it during the busy school year! Check them out here.

Five for Friday - 6/20/14

 Linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for another wonderful Five for FRIDAY! Aren't Fridays wonderful!?!

On Father's Day, I went to mass with my dad, which is a HUGE deal. I go to church every week, but dad doesn't consider it church because it's not Catholic. :) Anyways, I decided to make his day and go with him. He was in heaven. (No pun intended! ha!) After mass, my brother, husband, and I hung out with Dad in the backyard. I made this homemade guac for the first time. YUM-O!

My teacher friend and I have been adamant on working out in the gym at my new community at least a few times per week. Boy oh boy have my arms been sore! I'm not used to lifting weights, but I do love it so far.

Teaching camp has been such wonderful experience! Most of the students are low readers or deaf and/or hard of hearing. This paper titled "My Favorite Part of Summer Camp" was written by one of my favorites. Although it is hard to read, this sweetie does seem to love my husband (He's the PE Coach) and his interesting games like Toilet Tag. Precious.

 

 Does anyone have a clothes and/or shoes addiction?!? Old Navy had 40% off all shoes on Wednesday, so naturally I had to stop in. Fast forward - I now own three more flats and some tortoise flip flops. How can a teacher help it???

 

I don't work camp on Fridays, so Fridays have become my creative day. Here are two things I've been working on...

 

This is the Editable Homework Checklist that I use in my classroom. I made an editable version and finally posted it today (Those editable formats are tricky!). I like having something small and simple to give students each week. I staple this checklist into my students' agendas on Monday morning and they are good to go! I'm going to write a blog post about this procedure soon.

 

I've also been working on this large pack of homework sheets. Each page is aligned to one of the Foundational Skills or Language Common Core Standards. I'm excited to have these to use next year as a way to check student understanding.

So, that's what's been going on. Be sure to link back up with the Five for Friday party and see what other teachers are up to! See ya!

Math Centers - A How-to Guide!

Last week I put all of my math center information together into one How-To pack in order to help those of you who are interested in beginning math centers as part (or all!) of your math block. It has over 90 pages worth of math center goodness! This post will give you a bit of an inside scoop into my math center setup. Enjoy!

 Before I explain each center, take a look at this overview.

I have 4 student groups. Each group has 4-7 kids depending on my class size.

My math block lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes, so the chart matches that time frame. Tweak the time to work for you.

I teach a short mini lesson for 5-10 minutes when we first start. This may be the "We Do" pages from our math textbook or just some practice problems that I want to do with the kids. I do not keep students in whole group for a long time. I have found that most students do their best work in centers when the centers are engaging and filled with movement. Soooo, I give them what they need and send them off to do their best!

Each student goes to 4 rotations each day: Independent, Centers, Computer, and Small Group.

Independent: a workbook page or handout usually at desks

Centers/Stations: one of the 5 activities listed below usually on the carpet

Computer: i-Ready Math Online Lesson

(We have to use this program, so use whatever math program or website you prefer.)

Small Group: This is your time to teach & provide remediation!

The groups rotate through this setup using the chart above. I laminate the cards and write student names on top of the cards in permanent marker. That way, I can easily erase names (Expo on top of Sharpie works wonders!) when groups change. These cards are all available in the How-To pack.

 If you have never had students complete math centers, it can be overwhelming at first. I have created a system that works for me because it is S-I-M-P-L-E. Seriously. Simple.

Like I said, students go through 4 rotations each day: Independent, Centers, Computer, & Small Group. One of those rotations is centers. I have 5 different centers - one for each day of the week. (See the "Math Centers" chart on the math block overview page above.) Below are some close up pictures to show you a few activities that may take place in each of the centers. A full description of each center with images and links to each activity are in the Math Centers - How-To pack.

Monday

1. Review Your Skills:
What do they already know but need practice in?

 

Tuesday

2. Currently...Day 1: 

What are you teaching right now?

Wednesday

3. Fact Practice:
What facts should they practice?

Thursday

 4. Currently...Day 2:
What are you teaching right now?

Friday

5. Math Journal:
What fun journal activity will help them master the topic?

Many people see math centers as "too much prep". I'm here to tell you it is not! I have a detailed description of what you NEED to prep and what you do NOT NEED to prep each week. These ideas will help you when you are developing your own ideas.

Here's a peek at some labels that are included in the pack. The color option has a yellow background. The labels shown below are in black and white and would look wonderful if printed onto brightly colored paper. Print, cut, & laminate the labels before attaching to your center bins to ensure that they last the entire year!

I love math centers because the kids feel free to move around. They are not stuck in their seats with a workbook. Plus, what kid wouldn't want to play games during math. Heck! They don't even realize they're learning. :) What more can a teacher ask for??? 

I hope I answered some questions about implementing math centers. Be sure to check out my Math Center How-To Guide for step-by-step instructions, student grouping ideas, detailed descriptions of each center with activity links, rotation chart labels, and center bin labels!

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Five for Friday - 6/13/14

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for my first Five for Friday Linky Party of the summer! Yippppeeee!

This week was my first week without these precious little ones. I miss them...and yet I celebrate each morning when that 5am alarm doesn't go off! You know what I mean???

I started co-teaching a reading class at a camp for struggling readers and children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This week has been, by far, one of the best experiences I have had so far in my schooling. I am so excited to push myself in how I go about teaching reading while pushing students to conquer their specific difficulties. 

Can someone say, NEW HOUSE?!? I am so excited to finally be in our own place. We borrowed my dad's (gigantic) red car to bring load after load to our new place. I cannot explain how nice it is to be roommate free.

New house means new closet! I call it, The Devil Wears Target! I'm extremely OCD when it comes to my closet. So if you look in the picture you will see about 50 dresses color coded on the right with a bunch of sweaters hanging in front of them. On the bottom left, you will see gazillions of shirts color coded. My heels get shown off on the top shelf while my flats sit not the floor just waiting for their shoe rack. Nick gets the top left shelf...

As with my closet, the kitchen cabinets are being organized. This is one of my favorite pictures because it just makes my heart happy. A place for everything, and everything in place. It's not surprising that I was awarded the superlative "Most Organized" at our end of the year staff luncheon... LOL

Be sure to check back in at Doodle Bugs Teaching for more Five for Friday posts!

Enjoy your week!

Monday Made It! - 6/2/14

Linking up with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It! I've been crazy busy with work and my masters lately, so not much has been finished...however...

All About Dogs is finished! I've started making close reading passages for my students and the LOVE them! So, I continue to make them. This pack has 10 passages and took me a long while because I mean, who knows about this many dogs?!? Anyway, I learned a lot, but sure am glad to be finished! Click here to check it out!

Be sure to link up and check out some other Monday Made It creations!