My Home Away from Home & Finally Tried It!!

I'm sure by now, many of you are back to school.  We still have two more weeks (our kids can't start until after September 1st -- state law), but I start teaching summer school on Thursday.

Today is Day #2 of Teacher Week '13...

As you can see, I'm supposed to give a grand tour of my classroom today.  I'd like to show off the parts of my room that are ready...There is still MUCH work to be done.  Just like many of you, I spend a lot of time in my room before school starts getting it just the way I like it.  I figure that I spend so much time there that it needs to be exactly like I want it...my home away from home.  :)

The Classroom Library

The AR Racetrack

(The flags represent the percent of goal points each student is at.)

The Writing Board

This is new for me this year. Those black labels are the Six Traits and I will be putting our mini-lessons under the traits as I teach them.  (Kind of like CAFE!)

Writing Pennant

Made the WRITE pennant and around it are my Types of Writing Mini-Posters from my TpT Store.

Reading Rug

Also new for me this year.  I got rid of a table so we could have a place to meet together and read.  This space definitely still needs some help!  (Don't you love those ugly black cords that are running along the wall from my SMART Board to my desk?  Gonna have to fix that....)

Citing Evidence Posters

I'm so excited to have found these posters from Joanne Miller at Head Over Heels for Teaching.  They are on the wall by our Reading Rug so we can get used to using this language when we discuss our reading.  You can find them in her TpT Store if you'd like a set of your own.

That's it for the grand tour today.  The other side of the room (where I didn't take any pictures) is full of boxes and supplies that are waiting for a home.  I'll post more pictures after they disappear.  :)

Since it's Tuesday, I'd also like to link up with Holly at Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday.

This week's Try-It fits in perfectly with my room tour, because it is something I tried to make for my room.

I have to thank Holly for introducing me to the joys of Mod Podge!  (I am on my second bottle already...)  Holly shared many crafts this summer on Monday Made It that she made using Mod Podge.  I made this READ sign to hang in our library. So glad I 'tried' it!!

Before I go, I want to give a quick shout out to Diane at Fifth in the Middle.

Diane designed that cute new button that's at the top of my sidebar.  (Did you see it???)  She has started the Helpful Blogger Network on her blog.  Any blogger who signs up with Diane, agrees to:

1. You agree to do your best to answer questions posed to you on your blog in a reasonable amount of time.
2. If you cannot answer the question, you will still reply to the person asking the question.
3. Add the button to your blog's sidebar.
4. If you have another area of expertise on which you would be willing to field questions, state that in the Name field, ie. technology, TpT, behavior management, etc.

I signed up and offered to be a resource for those of you with questions about writing instruction and/or professional reading suggestions.  So if you have any questions, ask away!  :)

 

Thanks for stopping by!!