Here's the Scoop on my week...
What is going on with you this week?
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Sunday Scoop {10/25/15}
Here's the Scoop on my week...
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Sunday Scoop {10/17/15}
Here's the Scoop on my week...
We flew to Texas this weekend for my husband's high school reunion, and are headed back home today. It's been a very short trip, but nice to see family and meet some of his old friends. I'm hoping for some very productive time on the plane, because I have lots to get done before Monday! PowerPoints for teaching Explorers (which will be part of a unit in my store soon), lesson plans for everything else, and it all needs to be done by 8pm so I can watch Walking Dead!!
What are you up to today? Link up, and let us know!
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Sunday Scoop {10.11.15}
Here's the Scoop on my week...
* We spent yesterday sheet-rocking (spelling? verb?) our garage. It looks great, we only have a few small spots to finish up and then clean up! We got a doggie door in so now our main man (Crosby) can go in and out as he pleases... he is one happy kid!
* I am so excited to teach about Christopher Columbus this week. We have only a three day week (no school on Thursday or Friday) so we are taking a break from our reading series. Instead, we will be focusing on Christopher Columbus and the truth behind the explorer that he was. I will be doing a few different things including reading a picture book that is written from the point of view of a Taino Indian, the first group of people that Columbus encountered after landing on the island of San Salvador. The picture book shows the truth behind Columbus and teaches students about how his arrival caused destruction to the people and culture.
Hope to Do:
* I have a group of about 5 students that are consistently finishing their work earlier than the rest of the class. It can be as much as 10 minutes early! They are seriously some speedy little devils. I have a few challenge activities that they work on but I need some more for them to choose from... so that is on my hope-to-do list today.
* I got a few (errr... 5) new packs of scrapbooking paper the other day and now I desperately need to clean up my scrapbooking paper stash.
Happy to Do:
* The hubs is home all day with no plans to go anywhere... so that means he GETS to spend the whole day with me. Lucky him!! ;)
Happy Sunday Friends. Can't wait to hear what you have going on this week or today! Grab the images and link up below.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Replacing Fonts in Just 5 Clicks {Tech Thursday}
Whether you’re updating old resources or just decided that the font you initially chose wasn’t quite right, replacing fonts can be a time-consuming task. Fortunately, PowerPoint has a solution for us!
Starting with the 2013 version, you can replace a given font in your PowerPoint with just a couple of clicks! Here’s how…
In PowerPoint, look at the top right hand side of the main ribbon area. Click the drop-down arrow beside “Replace,” then click “Replace Fonts.”
Next, choose the old font you want to replace from the first drop-down menu. Choose the new font from the second drop-down menu. Click “Ok”, and all of the text in that font will be replaced by the new font.
Font sizes will not change, and because of the difference in spacing from one font to another, you might have to adjust the size or spacing of your text. Other than that, though, your font replacement is finished, in just 5 clicks!
Have a time-saving tip? We’d love to hear it!
Link up below with your own Website or App recommendations, Tech Tips, Tutorials, or anything else tech-related! We can't wait to learn from you!
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Favorite Parent Conference Tips
Be Prepared!
In fact, be OVER prepared. An unprepared teacher on Parent Conference Night is likely to have difficult conferences.
You HAVE to be prepared or parents will not respect what you are telling them about their child. They will doubt that you have it "altogether", and they are actually right. The lines for communication will most likely be cut off before they even have a chance to form.
Unpreparedness also communicates to parents that you are unprofessional. It shines the light on your inefficiency. It suggests that you don't value their student because you couldn't be bothered to prepare for their visit.
Do you need to tell a parent that their child is struggling? Parents need to see proof. Print out any testing data and highlight what is important for the parent to understand. Also share with parents what you expect from a typical student and what you are hoping to see at the end of the school year. Share samples of an average student's work alongside their student's work. Have samples of grade level work on hand for parents to view. Parents need to see how much their child need to grow this school year. Save student work or have copies available for the parents to review. Most importantly, write up a summary of what is going to be discussed. This helps to keep you on track and gives you something the parents can sign, thus, giving you tangible proof of what took place during your meeting.
You are busy, and parents are busy. No one has time to sit and wait for an unprepared teacher to round up information on a student.
Always start positive!
I know you are probably thinking, "Uh...duh," but it actually needs to be said. Every parent needs to hear that their child is valued. They need to hear that you care for their child. The best way to communicate this is to say something positive about their student. But, sometimes it is really, REALLY difficult to find something favorable to say about the kiddo that has been making your class miserable. But you HAVE to. Bombarding parents with the negative right off the bat will only cause them to shut down and tune you out. The message you are trying to communicate will be lost.
Here are some examples of some positive statements:
I love the way John enters the classroom ready to go. (Translated: has lots of energy)
Lori is so sweat and loves to help in the classroom. (Translated: nothing academic to praise)
No one sharpens pencils like Hector! (Translated: Anything, and I mean anything, goes!)
Seth always volunteers to run errands for me. (Translated: can't stay in his seat)
I can always count on Lucy to help me remind others of the classroom rules. (Translated: tattling)
Here is a great link to a Scholastic article on report card comments that can also be helpful for conferences: 101 Report Card Comments.
You are on the same side!
It is so important to demonstrate to all of your parents that you are on the same side- the side of the child. They need to know that they are not alone, and that you are a team. Let them know that you need to work together. This is important because parent support can make all the difference in a struggling student's growth. Go as far as actually verbalizing that you are a team working together for the sake of the child.
Another way to show the parent that you are allies is to make sure that you sit next to them and not across from them in a "teacher" seat. This puts a barrier between you and that barrier can translate to, "I am on this side and you are on that one."
Most importantly, listen to the parents. They have valuable information. Be open to their knowledge of their own child. Parents were there before you and will still be there when the child leaves your classroom. As the teacher, you have important information for the parents. But this is a two way street- they have meaningful information for you as well.
Go into the conference with the view that the conference as an information exchangeinstead of just a flow from you to the parent.
What tips do you have for parent conferences?
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Sunday Scoop {10/4/15}
Here's the Scoop on my week...
What are you up to this week?