I am back in the classroom!!!

I took a long period off from posting because I had to attend a conference and was interviewing for other positions.  I am happy to say that I found a new school and a new position.  For the past two years I have been teaching third and fourth grade (and I love them).  When I was hired she asked if I was willing to return to sixth grade (a grade that I have taught for three years), I was not interested in the grade but was willing to take the position in order to work at the school.  She emailed me a few days later and let me know that I would be in either third or fourth grade.  I am ecstatic!  I have started to plan, and decided to stick with my frog theme!

When I first started teaching six long years ago (haha), I found a program called Power Teaching (now called Whole Brain Teaching, but I preferred the previous name) and I fell in love.  It fit my teaching style so well.  It is very active, loud, and dare I say it, FUN!  I have since melded that program with some of my personal style and Love and Logic.  Since I am teaching at a new school and continuing my theme of frogs, I have decided to make Whole Brain Teaching frog themed!  Doesn't that sound like a whole lot of fun!?  I have made frog themed posters for both the rules and procedures, and since I do not want to encroach on Mr. Biffle (a very friendly and helpful man might I add), I have decided to provide these materials for FREE!

The Rules:

The Procedures:

Classroom Rolling and Clip Chartin'

As I sat on the couch last night and reminisced about my classroom, I began to think about the students that I was fortunate enough to have for two years.  I have not only fallen in love with 3rd and 4th grade, but also with the idea of rolling.  Having the same students for two years, or more for some teachers I have known, can be a wonderful and rewarding experience for all involved.

Teachers are more able to focus on the individual students: they are more aware of each student's short-comings and talents.  As an example, in the 2011-2012 academic year I was faced with a third grader that was new to our district.  This child was unable to read (really the child couldn't read the word 'cat'), after working with the child for a few short weeks, the child and I set the goal of reading at grade-level by the end of fourth grade.  I am happy to say that we reached our goal.  I feel the fact that I was more able to accomplish this feat because I was able to keep the classroom and this child's education consistent for two academic years.

The flip side, of course, is having two years with a challenging student.  This can make both the student and the educator weary.  I came down to third and fourth grade from sixth grade.  I did not expect too much of a difference between the grades (it is only two years, isn't it!), but I was very wrong.  The classroom management style that I was used to using (I was one of the first to begin using Power Teaching, now known as Whole Brain Teaching) was not as effective with a combination class.  I had one student, in particular, that did not respond to much of anything except immediate, and almost constant, positive reinforcement.  After some searching, I wandered upon the behavior clip chart system.  I did not want to abandon my Power Teaching, but was willing to add the clip chart to my repertoire.  My kids loved the clip chart, and slowly we fazed out many facets of Power Teaching (a subject I will post on tomorrow).

For some reason, other than finding great clip art, I have decided to work with bears this summer.  Here is the clip chart that I made for a co-worker.

For All Those Bored Youngsters!!!

To all those children who just got out of school, or are just about to, do not fear summer boredom.  Young children everywhere are counting down the days until summer break, not out of excitement, but rather out of fear.  Imagine, if you will, a child who is used to being completely engaged and entertained by their ever present (and might I say amazing?) teacher.  Then after a short 180 days, they are thrust unexpectedly into the world of video games, television, and junk food.  Yes, fellow educators, we believe that children enjoy these things, but I have received surprising and wonderful news... they DREAD it!  For all the educators and parents out there who want to save their youngsters from SSBS (Severe Summer Boredom Syndrome), have I got the perfect packet for you.

Summer math packets that are aligned to, and cover the vast majority of, Common Core State Standards.

Yee haw!!! Am I right or what!?

My Beary First Post

I am what most people would consider a blog stalker... yes that is correct, I am that guy who finds blogs that he enjoys, favorites them, and visits them to the point of obsession.  I have been an educator for going on six years (seven if you count substitute teaching, I think each year of that should count as two years).  My first three years were spent teaching a self-contained sixth grade class.  I loved the experience, but every year after winter break I returned with dread in my heart.  Winter break caused a curious phenomena, all of my lovely, sweet, sixth grade girls would return as hormone driven monsters bent on my destruction!

So after three lovely years, I went down to teach a combined third and fourth grade class.  It was there that I found heaven.  I thoroughly enjoy working with third and fourth graders, but alas, all good things must come to an end.  I have been placed in an instructional coaching position for the upcoming academic year.

The worst part about leaving the classroom you ask?  I do not get to come up with a theme and decorate my room.  I have no idea why I enjoy decorating, I am a horrible housekeeper and extremely disorganized.  Decorating my classroom is my guilty pleasure.  But a job change can not keep a man down.  I have began to create classroom themed materials for others to use (and perhaps for my office at one point :) )

I will be posting the materials on the blog as well as on my TpT page:

FourthandGoal

If you have been wondering why the title of my first post contains the word 'Beary', well thanks for reading to find out!  My first project for the summer is centered around the bear clip art I found on ScrappinDoodles.

My Beary Amazaing Calendar Months!

The project started out as a camping theme, but slowly morphed and changed into a bear themed explosion of sorts.  I also created dates to go with each month as well as unthemed dates for those of you that are like me and try to limit your laminating a cutting time (Kindergarten and scissor handling were not kind to me).

And wait!  If you buy within the next 15 minutes I will throw in name plates for your student desks (enter awed head shaking and applauding here)

Thanks to everyone for taking their time to read my rants!

FourthandGoal