Learn Like a Pirate- What is a Student-Led Classroom? (and a FREEBIE)

Yay! I finally had a minute to sit down to write this post for the other book study that I am participating in this summer with The Primary Gal! You can purchase the book here Learn Like a Pirate if you would like to join in on the fun! 

I have to say that I am already in LOVE with this book! Only one chapter in and I don't want to put it down! I teach a 3-5th grade self contained class with a wide range of different abilities. The fist quote on the first page is something that myself and my paraprofessional are constantly saying to our students! I think that I am going to have to make it into a poster to hang up in our room!   As soon as I finished typing this post before I could publish it I had to make the posters...you can get them here for FREE!!! If you download them and love them please remember to give some feedback :) 

Classroom Poster!

(preview below)

"Right is right, even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it" - Augustine of Hippo

This is a powerful statement and this is something that I try to teach my students everyday. They should be making the right choices and right decisions even if the other students in the class or school are not :) 

In this first chapter Paul Solarz talks about how a student-led classroom is one where the students are making decisions and choices throughout the day without consulting with the teacher. I have been trying hard this year to have this happen in my classroom. I use Daily 5 as part of our readers workshop and I allow the students to choose the centers/activities that they do during this time. In a way this is teacher directed because they have to complete a certain number of centers but I try to give them the free choice in deciding which centers they go to and when they are in that center what activities they would like to complete. Decision making is difficult for some of my students and if they are given too many choices or sometimes even just two they become unable to make a decision. So far this year this has been working well and the students have been able to choose their tasks and they are working appropriately in the centers that they choose. 

I would love to hear any suggestions that any of you have on how to help make my classroom next year a little more student-led! I look forward to reading all of the posts :) 

Teaching with Intention- Chapter 1

I am super excited to participate in my first ever book study!! This book study is focusing on the book Teaching with Intention by: Debbie Miller  and it is hosted by Greg over at The Kindergarten Smorgasboard :) This week I am linking up with some amazing teacher bloggers to discuss chapter 1 of Teaching with Intention!! Make sure to visit their blogs to see what other teachers are saying about this chapter :) 

Mrs. Plemons Kindergarten

Enchanted Kindergarden

Primary Possibilities

So here it goes........

My ideal classroom is a classroom where the students are always engaged and always talking with one another. I have tables instead of desks in my classroom and I think that this is the best decision that I have made! Tables gives the students the opportunity to walk around and not feel like they have to stay at their desk. All materials would be organized and available for all students to use whenever they need. I would like people to feel happy and enthusiastic when they enter my room. I love bright colors so each one of my bulletin boards are covered in neon paper and bright borders to help the space feel fun and inviting. The library area has all of my books organizes in bright pink and black bins according to genre and reading level. Since I have a self contained class with students on all different reading levels I have a variety of books ranging from level AA-Z :) Lots of books means lots of bins! 

 

The students are working either independently or with other students even when the teacher is not teaching a specific mini lesson. I think that a successful classroom is one where the students feel comfortable enough to be talking and working with other students and not feel that they have to work silently or alone. I think that Debbie Miller describes an ideal classroom in my eyes. 

I already have a very wealthy classroom library and space in which students can go sit on the rug with either a pillow or sit upon to read quietly. The fact that I have tables for the students to work at during the day instead of desks I think helps facilitate the student led classroom aspect of my ideal classroom. I have a daily schedule posted on the board so that the students are aware of what is planned for the day and they can see when their pullouts are happening. My students have become so used to their schedules that they can go where they need to go without having to be reminded.  

Even though I think that I am on the way to my ideal classroom I am always learning and trying to improve what I do in my classroom. One aspect that I need to work on is trying to not let things pile up on my desk throughout the day! The mess drives my INSANE!! I am just so busy working with students that i will throw things in a pile and leave them there. I also am going to work on my library. I love the idea of my library and I know that it can be better.....Since I have such a wide variety of levels I have to come up with a better system for students to take books out and make sure that the students are choosing books that they can read independently. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this very long post! Check back next week for thought on chapter 2 :) I can't wait to keep reading!!! 

Winner Wednesday!!

                                          

YAY! Welcome to my first link up with A Dab of Glue Will Do for Winner Wednesday!!! The first Wednesday of ever month head on over to http://www.adabofgluewilldo.com/ and enter to win some amazing TPT products from some of the most amazing teachers :) 

This month I am giving away my most popular product... 30 Finish the Picture Writing Prompts! To win a copy of this please enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below :)a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Giveaway!!!

 This is an example of one of the prompts that are included in this pack. The students are given a page with a speech bubble and they have to draw a picture around the bubble. 

It is so much fun to watch their imaginations run wild with these writing prompts! One of my students drew a tiger and an elephant who were having a jumping jack contest (how creative!)

Watching students be creative and writing is amazing! I love how excited my students get when I pass out these finish the picture writing prompts :) 

Weekly Summer Link Up

I have linked up with Monica from iheartgrade3 for her Weekly Summer Link Up!! The topic for this week is our summer goals! 

My 5 goals for this summer are: 

What are your summer goals? Make sure to link up with Monica and check out some other amazing bloggers! 

Learn Like a Pirate Book Study!

I am super excited to link up with The Primary Gal for her Learn Like a Pirate book study this summer! Keep checking back starting June 4th to join in on the book study! Head on over to her blog now to join in on the fun :) 

Learn Like a Pirate

Click on the link above to purchase your copy on Amazon today and join in on the fun starting June 4th! 

**Liebster Award**

So excited to have been nominated for the Liebster Award by our friend Rachel over at The Special Abc's :) The Liebster Award is a way to discover and recognize new bloggers :) 

 

 

(thank you http://learninbooks.blogspot.com/ for the cute graphics) 

Once nominated for the Liebster Award by a fellow blogger you are to answer 11 questions so that others reading your blog can get to know you a little better :) I am using the template that was shared from learninbooks Here it goes......

Thank you again so much Rachel for the nomination!! I nominate the following blogs: 

KNJ Kreations

Breezy Special Ed

These are two amazing blogs and I can't wait to see what they post next! 

                        

                  

Five for Friday: 5/1/15

Wow! It is already May! I don't know about you but our end of the year countdown has started :) We are joining up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the Five for Friday Linky Party!! 

We had a traveling planetarium come to school and the kids had a blast! It was such a cool experience! This year my students have been a tad obsessed interested in the solar system and planets so this really was a great experience for them.

STARS TO GO

 

Decisions....decisions.....I bought myself an Erin Condren lesson planner this year and I feel that it was 1. a little pricey and 2. it did not fit my self contained classroom needs as far as planning goes. I have been debating on a planner for next year and I came across this Etsy store: Plum Paper  ....I love that I can customize what is in the planner and there are two options a $35 version and a $16 version...... Any thoughts other lesson planners that seem to work for any special education teachers out there? 

Not sure how come this wasn't my number 1 but I GOT A NEW CAR THIS WEEK!!!!!! My husband had this old Lancer (his very first car!) and it finally had its like ride...since my husband is AMAZING he told me that he would take my Saturn and I could pick out a new SUV! We bought a 2015 Kia Sorento and I could not be happier! 

Look at this beauty! 

Anyone else end up joining in on the fun during a math lesson?!? We were using marshmallows and toothpicks to create 3D shapes in math :) Such a fun activity.....Obviously I gave the kids some extra time at the end to create whatever they wanted. 

Non teacher related I finally finished putting together my shadow boxes from my wedding!! I am so happy with how they came out :) All of the little pieces from that special day in November are now together in a way that can be displayed and really cherished!