Setting it up & Personal home media monitoring sheet FREEBIE

So long summer fun in the sun, so long lazy days & timeless schedules!  It's almost time, and the excitment is mounting.  Oddly I am not ready to begin the process of setting up the classroom and what not-it's taken me years to realize my brain does not function well during "set up" time.  I have even drawn maps and planned out on paper only to rearrange once it was actually set up.  At least this time my hubby has stepped up to the plate and really been helpful.  From annoyingly telling me to get in that room while he's off & able to help with our son to coming in and uncovering and helping me arrange some things.  :)  Finally-it only took about  ten years for him to be this supportive in my teaching career (no joke literally about 10 years!).  I am tempted to rid myself of my desk but I need it for the laptop & paperwork stuff.  Other than that I really don't use it.  I have to connect the laptop to the SMARTboard b/c student computer has no sound (hence being the "student" computer) I'm going crazy trying to set up this part of my room, I have another area where I do my small group stuff....wish me look and any tips are greatly appreciated.

   On another subject-I have been meaning to post a Media Time Limit sheet for those with kiddos at home. It has helped me to keep up with how long my son's sat in front of a screen and given him a visual aid as well.  There were too many times I've sat and balanced bank account, paid bills, etc on the computer and fallen into the "sure" for every "Can I watch another Mickey? SuperWhy? Octonots" etc I laminated the sheet and we color in a star with an expo marker-I'll upload a couple I've made so help yourselves!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Media-Time-Managementhttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Media-Time-Management

What's up with Teaching blog addict site?

For two days now my computer says "possible threat" whenever I try to access Teaching Blog Addict site, anyone else have this problem?

AGAHAHAHHGH! Classroom libraries

Yep I misspelled the title of the post-I can't seem to get my classroom shut down and it's so frustrating!  I've covered and bagged, cleaned and put away....for a week now!  I should be reminding myself that the last work day was just Tuesday-but really was hoping to not take all week.  I finally took my computer down, just have to bag it tidy up my mess I've left and cover class library bookshelves.  Which brings me to my request and outcry for help with CLASSROOM LIBRARIES!!!!!

  This seems to be the one huge thorn in my side for two years running.  It's just my second year in second grade (was in k5 before), and it's my first year in this classroom.  I've arranged and re-arranged and finally have  all other areas of my classroom how I would like them (for the most part).  But no matter how I organize or categorize my books, I feel like the students still aren't able to search as easily as I'd like, not to mention put them back in the matching basket, I think my mix of overly labeled books from k5 and the extra genres and categories are confusing for a second grader.  Next year I'm going to use color codes for reading levels.  I recently obtained a metal shelf that I thought would be great (I even measured the small spaces for baskets-just clearly not very well) None of my baskets work and the ones that fit do not hold that many picture books.

   I originally wanted to move my library area to the corner of the room, and the metal shelving to the side of it can be used to hang some of my cloth world and U.S. maps.  Then I thought maybe I should separate the larger book bins (science, reptiles, birds, animal families, etc. my really large group of books) and have a "class community boxes" basically by themes, then have an area with the chapter books and leveled books,  but I'm hopelessly lost :(  Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated!
As you can see I just began with a pile and then got ready to get my shelves covered.  So I had some kind of progress in a way. ;)

Last Day :(

Well....."Schools out for SUMMER!!" Even so, I am such a dork that I'm a little bummed.  As you near the last few weeks of the school year, your thoughts switch to the new school year.  It's only natural, how and what you'd do differently next year, what you'll do the same that worked well this year, finding new ideas, etc.  By the time you actually shut your room down you've gained so much momentum finishing up file  folder games, or organizational things that you've played with all year-you're bummed its over!  At least I am and this is my theory.  hahahah
  This year my class was full of children that had enormous hearts. So loving and so thoughtful I really will miss this group-time went to fast this year.  One of my students, first thing this morning says "This is the saddest day of the year-the last day of school"  so sweet.
  Of course I will be swinging by this weekend to knock out some covering of bookshelves, etc and finish putting everything away.  My students cleaned their desk inside and out for me (gotta love shaving cream!) I also had a few super duper cleaners help me clean off the shelves (seriously-someone taught these kids some serious cleaning skills!) One boy was explaining to one of my girls how to be sure and wipe the sides and back of the shelves!  So cute, so helpful.  Will miss them all, but can't wait to see them go through school excelling all the way!  :)  They were truly some rockin' stars!

Adventure Sharing

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Adventure Sharing

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Free Mother's Day Activity Packet

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