Rocking Out in First Grade!

Hi, my name is Morgan and I have a problem with rearranging my classroom mulitple times during the year. IT NEVER FAILS.

This is basically how the weeks leading up to the first day of school look: 

1. I map out my room. I plan for every area that I need in my room and what I want on the walls.

2. I walk into my BLANK ALL WHITE room. (Thank you summer school for making me destroy everything I stressed over all year).

3. I start putting up the decor, I move furniture into the place I arranged for. Things do not fit appropriately, I move furniture again. Eventually I have the room how I want it! Yay. This takes days (which is the small amount of in between time from summer school to our first day). 

4. I am a happy teacher in my pretty room... waiting for my kiddos.

Then, BOOM... October hits. I dislike the "flow" of my room. 

5. My kids walk into a new room sometime around then. I like it now.

*This happened more then I would like to admit during the school year. Oops!

Now, tell me I am not the only one with this problem! I think the issue is unlike with my own apartment (furnished by my father in the furniture business) I did not get to pick out the items in my classroom nor do I have the means to actually do that myself. Sadly, neither does my school. So I make do with what I have and I end up never pleased. Wamp wamp. This year however, I have decided to really make a room that I love. If I love it, then my students will love it based off of my pure enthusiasm about how much I love it! Last year I looked at a lot of blogs for inspiration of how I would like my room to be set up. I have never used a theme so I really wanted to pick something that would appeal to MY personality! I found Cara's pictures and I loved them. If you know me you know I am a fan of neon, sparkle, hollywood, fashion, etc. Her room screamed rockstar glamour! And here we are today... my new room will be a mix of hollywood/ rockstar, neon colors, and sparkle! I am now done mapping out my room, my walls, and fingers crossed this will happen once and stay that way. *Ms. Thomas it is YOUR job to keep me strong*

Also, tonight while I was checking out some of my fav bloggers, I saw Abby was doing a Rockstar room as well! This makes me happy! I saw her cute behavior management and I LOVE IT! Abby you are a true inspiration as well! I cannot wait to post pictures of my new room... and give you a glimpse into my teacher bffs room. We have a sliding door between our room, no big deal. 

That door= teacher heaven!

Question: How do you keep from rearranging your room during the year and What is your theme?

In other news, I am now back from NYC! Is it possible to be even busier over the summer? I am NEVER home! Always in another city! Below are some pictures from my trip! That city kicked my bottom back into shape... a certain someone I went with LOVED the subway, so I did at least 4 hours of stair master/ treadmill time (if not more). 

Cental Park Tour on the Pedi Cab... best idea my feet have ever known

  Dinner in NYC is fabulous.    


At the Carrie Bradshaw stoop. In love.

 Rockefeller Observation Deck

 Serendipity= Bliss.

 Please look at those stairs. That was one of THREE we did to get down to this subway. I died. Must. Work. Out!

 FAO Schwartz where my sweet boyfriend bought an Broadway and Subway children's book for my classroom. Sweet lil thing.

 Pipa's Tapas Dinner. Wonderful!

 Last night. Last subway. 

One happy child on the subway. 

Deb and I... day 2

Guys... this is major stuff. I'm not sure if I will get out everything I want in one post without you giving up on the reading... so we shall see how this goes.

All of the information can be found in Making the Most of Small Groups by Debbie Diller. (Great book!)

Day 2 of the Debbie Diller conference focused on small groups! Thank you lord above! I already felt like I had a pretty good grasp on workstations after my trial (and errors) last year. So, this year I really wanted to focus on improving my small groups! This is crucial time that I get to spend with my students so I want it to be worth it! 

Debbie's tips for what to include in Guided Reading:

1. Before reading (approximately 5 minutes)

• Introduce the book to the students (talk and make predictions).  Set the purpose! Be specific on what you are reading to find out/ looking for... students can record their answers on a sticky note! Debbie would include on different pages questions that the students could record their answers! Love it. 
• Review the focus reading strategies (Tip: every guided reading should include the comprehension) The strategy you choose to focus on should have already been taught in whole group. 
• Review vocabulary- High frequency words... have students ZOOM in on new words in order to build vocabulary. 
• Phonemic awareness should not be included in the Guided Reading lesson. (This is where I will need to figure out how best to meet my students who do not have this skill, eek! Stay tuned how that goes)

2. During Reading... your job is to listen in and prompt as needed!

• Your job is NOT to correct their mistakes... that is the student's job! This is so important to remember. 
• Do not round robin... did you not HATE that part as a child. You sat their in class plotting out what you had to read, practicing in your head, not even paying attention to what the other's were reading. Enough said. 
• Once you are comfortable with your small groups THEN you can begin taking notes. Last year I used a binder with the plastic dividers with pockets. I wrote each child's name on a library card. Depending one which group the student was in was where I placed the card. (If a student was in the yellow group they went into the sleeve of the yellow divider. Simple... and easy to keep up with. Once they are full... file them away. These are GREAT tools in order to see where your students are, keep track of progress, and they help you to accommodated your students needs. Tip: You can even store the leveled readers you are using in the pocket or an example shown she attached a cd pocket onto her divider and stored her notes in there!

3. After Reading

• Part 1: talk about what they read, check for comprehension!
• Part 2L Strategies: whatever streagies you are focusing on review now and then remind them to use it throughout the day :)
• Teacher reflection: Debbie believes it is important to jot down a note as the students are leaving the table, something you do not want to forget. 

4. Running Records

• Use a familiar book to the students, however it cannot be something the child has memorized
• Debbie did a running record on ONE student before she began her small group lesson.
• She modified the running record. This means that she did not do a running record to get a Guided Reading Level... she still taught during the running record. However, she used it more as an INSTRUCTIONAL tool. 

** I mentioned early about the post it notes when setting a purpose... they can also be used to mark a page you would like the students to stop on. In her example she had the students read to that post it note and make an inference on that page (the purpose was already set earlier). Be sure to MODEL how students should record their responses (this is a great way to incorporate writing). 

Just remember...Every child learns to read for someone else! 

It is our job's as teachers to help each child accomplish this goal! I wanted read for my dad. 

(He'd kill me if he knew I put a picture of him up, but I love this picture. Typical dad look ha)

He read to me EVERY single night, the classic children's stories. I would memorize the story and I remember how excited he was when I would read the page! *Smiles* There began my obsession reading. I wanted my dad to have that look of being proud on his face, and I loved that time with my dad before I went to bed. I remember when he signed me up for the Dr. Seuss books that came in the mail. I could not wait until we got a new book to read together. Those memories last forever. Who was the person you learned to read for? 

Well, I hope you made it to the end and it was worth the reading!

Part 1: Debbie Diller Conference (Finally)

I know, I know... again long overdue. I am just no longer making promises on a time frame so I can stop having to apologize ha! 

Anyways, I wanted to share some insight with you from the Debbie Diller conference. (That was oh, in June! oops)

First, my teacher bestie and I met the Debbie. She was adorable. I just wanted to squeeze her! Don't worry, I refrained. 

The first day of the conference dealt with Math and Literacy Workstations. Day two focused on small groups. 

Important things I loved/ learned from The Debbie (Day 1 of the Conference)...

#1. She introduce the book Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt. She read the story to us and explained how she had a discussion with her students about "jumping into the unknown". She used the example towards teachers starting workstations. However, I think I am going to use this same concept at the beginning of the school year. I love to build a family community in my classroom and I think telling the students who are scared about first grade how great the "jumping into the unknown" can be will be a great way to start that! Check out ma girl's blog for a cute activity she created to go with it.

PS Ffi, go ahead and send me my free copy! Thanks ha
Click the link below for her activity!

#2, Try pairing students by level so the higher kids do not have to do all of the work. I know... I kind of gasped at this when I first thought of two of my lower babies together. But then I had this a-ha moment...
 put in the workstations things that your lower students can be successful with and then differentiate in order to reach your high students. Debbie suggested putting a baggie or box at workstations with a colored dot. Each group knows which dot of supplies is for them.  For example in math workstations maybe have a baggie for lower students with smaller numbers and the higher can work with larger numbers. Simple right? Same activity, just modified to meet individual students needs. 

#3. You can actually write on your small group table using DRY ERASE markers... who knew? This will make it a lot easier for me instead of having to pass out the dry erase boards. 

#4. Debbie introduced ideas for the Creation Station. I have never used this station but I thought it could be something new for me this year. She had students work on How-To Books (after modeling how to make them many times). Her examples from the classroom were adorable! Students were so creative with ideas on how to make various things. She also suggested using a date-stamp when adding to the their books! 

#5. If you have a large classroom remember that you can always reproduce the same station twice! Two listening stations, two big book, etc. This will eliminate the problem of having to create 14 different stations around the room! Also, remember that stations can be portable. Place them in a large plastic bin with a lid and voila, portable station! 

#6. Drink Stirries for small pointers. Duh right? Cheap... easy... done. 

6. Number Roll or Wonder Woman Belt... great idea for math when using concepts such as count on, count back, one more/ one less or two more/ two less.

And then at the end of our day... Ffion FORCED me into Lakeshore Learning.  Just look at that happy lil' kid smile.

I will be posting about day 2 (small groups) in the future... remember I cannot make anymore promises ha. Just kidding! I'm in the middle of no where right now, so it looks like I'll have a lot of time to post it tomorrow!

WINNER!

Sorry I am a little late on posting the winner... we stayed at the beach longer than expected. Not that I am complaining! 

Anyways, using the true random number generator the winner of the $20.00 gift certificate was #18:

Congratulations! 

Mrs. D, please email me as soon as possible so I can get your contact information and the Lakeshore gift-card to you :)! 

Thank you to all of you who entered the giveaway and follow me! I am BEYOND grateful! 

1st Giveaway/ Happy Birthday TPT Sale!

To celebrate the 27th Birthday of this boy right here..... 

...everything in my Teachers Pay Teachers store is 15% off! It will be starting now and ending at 12:00 A. M. on June 30th {his birthday is July 1st :) }!

ALSO,
I recently realized I reached

followers! AH. I feel... beyond. Therefore, to celebrate my dear sweet blog friends I am doing a giveaway! Try and tell me you aren't smiling now. 

The prize: $20.00 gift card to the one and only Lakeshore Learning and a lifetime guarantee of my blogger friendship!

Here's how to enter: (2 chances!)
1st Entry: You must be a follower of First Grade Fresh. Then, leave a comment below letting me know that you are a follower.
2nd Entry: Blog about my giveaway, then leave the link in a comment below!

Pretty Simple right?
I will be heading to the beach this Thursday for the 4th of July so I will post something tomorrow about the Debbie Diller's conference I attended. You just don't even know the amount of knowledge I gained from two days with this woman. Love me some Deb.

Anyways, the giveaway will end Sunday night at 12 A.M. The winner will be announced Monday night when I return from my lil' fun in the sun vacay. I'll have a nice bronzed glow so we will ALL be in good spirits Monday!

Teacher/ Lakeshore Purchases

While in Houston for the Debbie Diller Conference, Ms. Thomas suggested we go to Lakeshore. Seriously? Bad Idea! Thanks a lot Ffi. We both gave ourselves a budget... and yet still went over. I just CANNOT pass up a teacher sale. I am weak. 

However, I did good and put things back that I did not need at this exact moment and they were not on sale. I am a recovering from an obsession with shopping...these things take time. Anyways, I got a school planner which is perfect. It even has to do list pages throughout, we all know I love a list.  As you can see I bought the Blends and Digraphs Work Center. It came with cards and foam letters. I figured this would be great to incorporate in one of my workstations and it was on sale for $23.00. I had to get it. 

I also purchased this new Vera Bradley notebook. I have an obsession with notebooks. I like to write down my lists, teacher ideas, and to do's in something cute. Can you blame me? It makes me happy.

At the Debbie Diller Conference she gave us these book bags from Really Good Stuff. I'm thinking about getting these for small groups next year. Do any of you use them? Is it worth the money? 

 Lastly, I told you I won the $25.00 gift card from Lakeshore from Primary Graffiti. After trying to figure out what to buy with the money, I finally decided upon the Teacher organizer. I love all things organization and this is purely for the teacher. I figured I would never splurge for something for myself otherwise, so I might as well do it with my gift card. Therefore, when Lakeshore did their end of the year promo code for 20% off, I just had to go ahead and get the Teacher Organizer. I think the grand total for my purchase was $17.00. Can't beat that! 

I love getting packages at the door...

Yay! It's so pretty! I know I am going to love it. 

Just a lil' Vacay

Yes, I did not abandon my blog! I realize it has been a while since I have posted! I needed to take a breather from the blog world and focus on the end of the school year (and my own life). I wanted to enjoy every last moment with my kiddos as much as I possibly could! Is it weird to say how much I miss them?

After the end of every school year I need to re-group and take a break from ALL things teaching. It becomes SO consuming over the school year, because I love it. Its my favorite hobby, yet this can lead to problems in my social life ha. So, we all know giving up all teaching things... not possible. I was still reading the Debbie Diller Math Workstations book, while I was taking my "break". Typical.  I want to feel refreshed and ready to take on the new school year! THANK YOU SUMMER BREAK!

Here's a lil' update on what I have been doing on my vacay from the blogging world....

1. Tore down everything in my room. Tear. Sadly our rooms are used for Summer School so EVERYTHING must come down and be stored away! This was not fun! Below is my class and I enjoying our last day together! I love these lil faces! And in true "me" fashion we did a lil' soul train to end of the day. 

Above is a picture one of my students drew of me in his memory book. Tyler obviously can see my love of fashion! ha

 2. I got to catch up with my besties! School was taking over my life, so its nice to now visit them at work and just hang out!

3. Went to Jazz Fest and Bayou Country Fest! Love.

4. My baby brother graduated. We're 7 years apart, so hes my baby and I'm so proud of this kid. Plus, isn't he adorable!

5. Wedding Season. Do I need to even say anymore? It's taking over our lives. At least it gives me a good excuse to shop! Guess that budget went out the door. I'll try again next month!

6. Went to Portland for a business trip with the boy. Took a tour of the Gorge with his mother. I guess I didn't realize what this tour entailed. I wore my wedges... and found myself hiking in them. Fun. 

 (Not made for hiking. Duh.)

And LAST and MOST important... I got to hang out with the FABULOUS Debbie Diller. If you read my blog, then by now you know I love this woman. Girl crush. She's what I want to be "when I grow up".  She got a lil spark in her, life myself... which is one out of many reasons why I love her! Her conference was wonderful. I will tell you ALL about it in my next post!