New Year's Resolutions Linky: Organization

I might as well jump on the Band Wagon and link up with Hope at 2nd Grade Shenanigans.  Now that I'm in the Library, my organization and storage needs are a little different.

Binder clips will be a lot expensive than the shelf label holders in the catalogs.  Thank you Charity: The Organized Classroom Blog for inspiring me to re-purpose the "Cubby Clips".

This is how the magazine holders looked when I was in the classroom.  I have replaced the days of the week with grade level labels.  It really makes it easier when I have a sub.  The books, resources, and worksheets are ready to go.

First Book Fair

I have been busy with grad school, a Holiday program, and my very first Book Fair.  The day after my last class for the semester, the truck arrived with my Book Fair.  In order to prepare for the fair, I showed the preview video, met with the representative (who set up the online Book Fair), made Book Talk QR codes (I wish there was a student voice on the picture that I chose to use for this post), and displayed posters throughout the school.  The Music teacher, Art teacher, PE teacher and I also produced a Holiday program to promote the Book Fair.

Try It!

I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I'm in an old school, and the library is in a separate building.   When I heard the truck, the butterflies in my stomach started fluttering like crazy.  Sitting there alone, looking at the cases and boxes, I thought, "how will I ever pull this together?"  I had to recruit help from my sister. The only person who knew anything about setting up the fair was doing the job of two people, due to staff changes, so she was not able to help.  My sister, a kindergarten assistant, and I arranged the book cases and unpacked as many boxes as we could.  I was not happy with the way it was looking.  The next day, three students helped me, until the rep came.  He must set up Book Fairs in his sleep. He helped me fix the things that I was not happy with, and we finished setting up.  He was probably there for about 30 minutes, and we were done.

The Fair was ready for a Teacher Sneak Peek, that afternoon.  The spread included some of +Lisa Shively's Kitchen Helper dips, hot chocolate, and fudge. The Mexican Mambo dip was a hit.  The teachers made their wish lists, chit-chatted , and sampled the treats.  Teachers also entered for a chance to win a Book Fair gift certificate.  The winner was a new teacher.  The students had a sneak preview the next day.  They also made their wish lists.

I don't know what I would have done without my volunteers (two retired teachers and one parent).  The night of the Holiday program was crazy busy.  One of the retired teachers stayed the whole time.  The parent volunteer only planned to pop in, after the program, and leave.  When she saw how busy it was, she stayed.  I met the goal that was already set.

Now that my first Book Fair is out of the way, the Spring Book Fair should be easier.

Hip and Happening

On Monday, November 26th, we celebrated the 70th Day of School by taking a trip back into the 70's.  This was exciting for me, because I was in elementary school in the 70's.  I didn't have to do too much research for this day.  The teachers and staff had more fun than the students. One class tie-dyed their own shirts to celebrate the day.  I played 70's music in the library.  The students' favorite was ABC by the Jackson 5.  Monday was Outta Sight!

Can You Dig It?

Far Out

Right On

...For President

I've been so busy with school and my new duties as a media coordinator, but I've had fun with the election lessons.  For the K-2 classes, I read My Teacher for President by Kay Winters and Vote For Me! All About Civics by Kirsten Hall.  For the 3-5 classes, I read Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio and Vote by Eileen Christelow. 

Citizenship is the Character Ed Word for the Month

 

Before reading My Teacher for President, I asked the students what they thought the President does.  "He runs people out of the country."  "No! No! He runs in the country."  "He gives us gas." "He tells jokes."  

I love my job. <3  

Then I asked them why their teacher would be a good President.  The first four reasons on the chart below, were generated before I read the book to some 2nd graders. My favorite; "She's bossy."   The teachers loved seeing what their students thought of them.  After reading Vote for Me!..., to a class that tattles on each other all the time, I had them tell something nice about another student in their class.  I paired students so they would have to say something nice about someone they fight with all the time.  The smiles and attitudes were priceless.

My Teacher for President

The next day I read a "Pete the Cat" book and a "Pigeon" book to refresh the students' memory about the characters.  Then they voted for which character they wanted for President.  The kindergarten ballot had a picture of each character.  After voting they got a sticker that read, "I Voted". 

Kindergartners Vote for Pete the Cat or Pigeon

 I listen to the news on tv in mornings while getting ready for work.  One morning they were trying to explain electoral votes.  I was still confused.  Grace for President explained it so that I could understand it. My plan to have students research the number of electoral votes that NC has was ruined in one class, when a student noticed the illustration of the map with the numbers on it.

While two students at a time voted for Greg Heffley or Junie B. Jones, the other students watched Word Girl: A Vote for Becky.  They made connections between the book and the video.  It was interesting to see what connections each class was able to make.  Every class was able to connect the most obvious similarities, but they surprised me with their higher order thinking. 

5th Graders Vote for Greg Heffley or Junie B. Jones

The next day, I read Vote and we had some serious discussions about the history of voting and the voting process.  One fifth grade class made the observation that if we lived 130 years ago, nobody in one fifth grade class would be able to vote.  Only two students in that class would have been able to vote.  Although two other students looked like they would have been able to vote, one student pointed out that he would not have been able to vote because he is biracial.  Another student's last name would have kept him from voting.  I explained that's why every American should vote. They were surprised that the laws ("back then") would have prevented them from voting.  I hope that our discussion will come back to these students when they turn eighteen.

I Voted!