Tips for Encouraging Parent Involvement in the Classroom

The key to a successful year is having the support of the parents of the children we care for and educate. We know it is just as important to build relationships with our parents as it is to do so with our kiddos! This edition of the Weekend Warriors is all about getting parents involved in their child's education.

I love that we have open house the first week of school. My evening always includes a presentation of what can be expected throughout the year. It's great that I have that chance to speak from the heart, to tell parents my philosophy on education, to ask for their assistance in working as a TEAM, to help to ease their anxieties about the unknown and all of that good stuff! The parents always leave happy, relieved and excited that the year will be a great one! I leave with tons of party helpers, classroom volunteers and co-teachers! Involvement at its best!

This is the parent night presentation that I use. 

It helps to have a format to keep on track so I don't forget what I want to say!

  These are just a few of the slides. You can read the full description and see it at my store here!

 Parent involvement beyond a classroom newsletter? There's an app for that!

Did you know that Scholastic has a great way to send information out to parents! 

It's called Class Messenger. 

All of the information and phone numbers are completely hidden. You can send out reminders, photos of your class in action, donation requests and quick notes to helpers. 

BLOOMZ is also a good app to look into. Teachers have found great success using Class Dojo too. 

Do a little research to find out which would be a good fit for you!

Happy teaching!

Word Walls in the Primary Classroom Made Easy! Editable Word Cards

Word walls are a great way to encourage correct spelling in writing as well as a wonderful classroom resource to teach high-frequency words. I want my second graders to learn all of their sight words and heart words and MORE, including content vocabulary and theme words to use in their writing. I'm excited to show you these versatile resources!

You can edit the cards by typing in the words that you want, whenever you want them!

 This chalkboard set is simply black and white with a tiny bit of chevron for some cute! 

It would go great in a chalkboard or black and bright themed room.

The other is a cute and colorful polka dot set. These cards can be edited too!

You may also like some letter circles for cute bulletin board headings in your room. You can print them on bright paper, or print in black and white, cut them out and glue them on fun scrapbook papers with a triangle cut out of the center to make a banner or bunting!

If you like EASY too and want to see more images and read the full descriptions, just click on the pictures!

:)

Student Name Labeling Using Address Labels: Free Template for Teachers

 Have you gotten yours yet? I got it! The long awaited class list! This is when things start to get exciting! I love to look at the student names knowing that soon I'll be putting faces to those names and that we will be spending the year together as a little classroom family.

 Once that list is in my hands, I immediately GET TO WORK! 

Read on and I'll tell you how I cut costs on labeling student supplies like folders and cubby tags, while saving precious time!

Before leaving for the summer, I stocked up on some colorful blank name tags from Creative Teaching Press. I slap on an address label and then laminate them to use for cubby tags. They are fun and colorful, AND I use very little ink that way. As a matter of fact, I slap those address labels on everything~ student folders, workbooks, composition books, spiral notebooks, job rotation cards, job boards...you can see my post about that and some pictures here.

Last year, I provided a link to download the template from Avery. I have found that some sites ask you to install or allow other things and that always makes me nervous. For the same Avery template from someone you can trust :), you can download a freebie from my dropbox if you like. Just click on the image to take you there.

This is what you will see when you get to the document. Be sure to click on the arrow in the corner to download it!
 Then you can make changes!

I took the liberty to start typing for you! Just backspace away my names to add your own kiddos! Reduce the font size to add last names so the text fits in the space. These fit Avery brand 8860 the 1"x 2 5/8" size.

The template freebie is very plain Jane, but I always make some for my nieces with a little clip art flower or some fancy, colorful fonts! You might try that too!

What creative, time-saving ways have you found to use address labels?

Meet the Teacher Blogger and Author Behind Creative Lesson Cafe #teacherbloggers Linky

Getting to know you...getting to know all about you! Those are the lyrics to a favorite song I used to perform on stage. Want to know more about me? Well here it is! Welcome to my about me post! What a fun opportunity to get to introduce myself to you and get to know so many other teacher bloggers I follow a little bit better! 

I'm linking up with Falling into First for this fun blog party! Read below to see my answers to some of her creative question prompts! Maybe we have some things in common other than teaching!

So that's me in the picture above as a brunette, which is my real hair color before the gray took over and I was forced to work with it! I am a forty-something, pushing fifty soon, (yikes) second grade public school teacher in a large suburban district. This marks my silver anniversary celebrating 25 amazing years in the classroom!

Forever young, especially at heart, is how I want to stay! I still feel 21 on the inside!

I have taught middle school math and science and grades K-2 in the public schools and at a Catholic school. My first position was teaching pre-algebra to 7th graders who knew more math than I did! 

The hardest thing I've ever done was to earn my Masters Degree in a very challenging program while working full time, getting married and having an infant along the way. I am Nationally Board Certified and licensed for private practice in counseling psychology. 

As a former middle school counselor, I enjoyed helping my emotional adolescents with the drama and trauma in their world! Now I LIVE IT with a teenager of my own. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

My most important job and greatest accomplishment, of course, has been as mom to this awesome guy! He is the love of my life and my pride and joy! 

I love to spend time as Auntie Jean with my favorite kids in the whole world! 

 

The two big girls are my sister's daughters and the little one is my baby brother's child!

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS..

Most of all, I love~ Family things. Coffee things. Sunshine things. TV drama. Dancing. Black. Sparkly things. Pretty things. Cute things. Musical things. Panera Bread. Express. Good hair days. and traveling (but NOT flying).

 Yeah. I pretty much love everything as you can see!

I'm sure I'm the world's easiest person to shop for.

Now for some fun with a...

IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

Hmm...I dreamed of auditioning for the Rockettes or to be a back-up singer. :)

 An orthodontist would be great. I loved my job assisting. 

Maybe I would open a dance studio. 

If I owned an Orange Leaf franchise, I could eat the leftovers at the end of the day!
 Now that's an idea! 

But really, when I retire, I will be a university supervisor for student teachers. I enjoy being a mentor teacher.

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________, SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

I'd like to use my expertise, creativity and talents to enter more data into the computer please!

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

I would invite my grandparents and baby angel Alex so they could meet my son.

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

The subtitle would be...and then go scream in your pillow.

Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

Time travel to go back and have a chance at redos to right the wrongs and relive all of the happy times that went by too fast!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

I use this one a lot! My nana used to say, "This too shall pass". It always does!

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

 I would belt out RESPECT! by Aretha! Teachers and mothers of teenagers need more I say!

Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

I get so much done in the morning. Coffee helps for sure!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

It's really hard to choose because I have been staring at all of them for so long! Maybe the pumpkin life cycle lunch bag book, because it is something crafty that turns out super cute and the cover matches this here chalkboard theme!

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU!

 Speaking of pumpkins, I am allergic to just about everything. I'm allergic to all fruits and vegetables unless they are cooked, canned or processed. I even have an epi pen. I can't carve a pumpkin or peel potatoes without wearing gloves. Sadly, I cannot eat apples, strawberries or melon. I don't dare eat a banana. 

 A big bummer is that I am also allergic to dairy products which I LOVE but I do cheat with ice cream. 

So, basically, I can eat cookies and drink coffee. :)

That's about all I can think of to tell you for now... 

Thanks for joining me for this bio party! 

Back to School Icebreaker Activity Cards

On the first day of school, a new class is usually super shy and most of the kids are nervous. I always like to do a lot of getting to know you activities, especially during the first week. As you probably know, I just LOVE task cards of any kind in the classroom. I have stacks of them handy and ready to use for so many activities! I'm super excited to share with you the latest in my card set series! This time, it's all about creating a fun and comfortable classroom environment from the start! Here it is!

It's a 40 card set with all kinds of cuteness featuring Melonheadz Kidlettes! 

You can read the full description here if you like!

 This is my plan. On the first day of school, I will have my kids sit in a circle. These cards will be face down in a draw pile. I will pick a stick and that child will have a turn. They choose a card, read the prompt and TALK! The others will practice attentive listening while we all get to know each other better. If any of the kiddos are feeling too shy to share on the first day, I may give them the option to pass and come back to them at the end in case they change their mind! I think they will once they see how fun and easy it is.

BEFORE the activity starts, I will choose a few cards and answer them. This way, the kids will get to know me and I can model the way I want them to elaborate with their responses. 

We can do this again on another day too, because each child will likely draw a different card the second time around. We may even use these for quick writes here and there!

I know they will love it and I hope you do too!

Happy teaching!

Blog Party: My Summer Fun- Road Tests, Women of Rock and Itty Bitty!

This was the BEST week of my summer vacation so far! I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching to give you a peek! Since we are not back to school yet, this is mostly about summer fun!

1. ) This week, my brother was in town from Denver. I got to spend a few days with Chris, my sister-in-law Shanna and my Itty Bitty who's name begins with A. I mentioned a special someone in my last bloggy blurb and here she is! Meet Abra!

 

Isn't she a precious dolly? It was so great to see them and to get to know my little niece. Thank goodness for Skype. She knew her Michigan family right away and just loved her big, big cousin and Auntie Jean! She is just the cutest, tiniest and smartest little thing with a huge personality! I could just eat her up! We went to The Detroit Zoo, we swam, we visited The Henry Ford, we took her to the splash park and we took lots of pictures! 

 Abra stole the show for sure!

2.) They left for a while to get in touch with the great outdoors at our family cottage in Canada, so here and there, I did fit in some work. I made a batch of new kid-friendly fonts to add to the forever bundle. One of the fonts I named for these two best cousins! Tall and Small. That about sums it up, don't you think?

Also work related, I bought all of my paper supplies for the year at the brand new Office Max that opened around the corner! DANGEROUS! 

3.) What did you do this summer? 

When people ask me this, I will have to honestly say...I DROVE! 

 Fifty practice hours for new drivers doesn't seem like a lot until you have to be the nervous parent coach and passenger. Ten of those hours have be at night. We've been leaving the house, sometimes in our PJs, at 10:00 EVERY NIGHT to go driving around. Well, thankfully, our hours are DONE as of today! AND...He passed the driving road test with flying colors. It was a crazy, busy, tough drive in another city he is not familiar with. They have really beefed up the expectations for teen drivers which is a great thing for every one's safety. Here is the event captured at the top secret, no-practicing-here-allowed location.

Remember that dreaded parking test folks? Nightmares.

 You ROCKED the test bud! So proud of you! 

4.) This week, we finally opened up the new camera I've been telling you about. In five minutes flat, this one had it all figured out. We are trying to discover more adult ways enjoy our favorite childhood activities so we ever outgrow them! Now, we go on location for photo shoots. Hope he sticks with it. Grandpa was a talented photographer and I know he is smiling down on his boy! 

 This wildlife photographer has just captured the elusive red panda, mom's favorite animal!

5.) I'll leave you with a fun one! We had a chance to go to the Women of Rock exhibit. It was really something to see the actual costumes worn by so many fabulous ladies on stage. Only they could get away with it!

Guess who these costumes belong to? Yep. You were right! 

Cher and Michigan's own Madonna! 

That only scratches the surface of my awesome week friends!

Sadly, their visit is over and they've gone home to get ready for Itty Bitty to start preschool.

 I miss them so much already. Waaa! 

  But I am happy... because tonight... I plan to put up my feet up at 10:00, watch something nerdy on the weather channel, and count my blessings for the time we had together and for a successful road test today. 

Sailing Theme Classroom Decor Set and Labeling Kit TPT

Are you ready to sail into a new school year with a new classroom theme?  I'm SUPER excited to share a brand new classroom decor set with you! This one has an adorable nautical and sailing theme! I love it so much I want to do a complete classroom makeover! :)

Have you been dreaming of a new classroom theme for you room too? Maybe you are setting up a brand new classroom and looking for an easy way to decorate, organize and label. Well, this kit has labels, posters and signs galore!

The great thing is that most of the printables are completely editable!

You can use these shapes and pieces any creative way you like to go labeling CRAZY!

To see more of this set and read the full description, you can view this item here!

I hope you like this set too! 

If you do, leave me some blog lovin' or Pin this set for me!

 

I'll leave you in smooth sailin' mode with one of my treasured photos.
Meet my two favorite sailors! 

This is my awesome and fun-lovin' uncle taking my buddy for a cruise down the river!
GREAT TIMES! 

Love ya UJJ!

 

Reading Comprehension Skills Worksheets for Small Groups and Whole Class Instruction

 I am so thankful for a teaching resource I can easily use during reading that requires basically NO PREP other than making copies. Maybe you're with me on that one!

That's where this reading comprehension packet can help make your lesson planning a breeze! A page from this is great to use for sub plans too. The skills go along with just about any book.

Here's how it works:

1. Choose a reading skill from the packet.

2. Give a mini-lesson.

3. Read a book to the class during story time or assign an independent read.

4. Use one of the skill pages from this packet as a follow-up activity or as an assessment.

Choose one comprehension skill to focus on and your work for planning is DONE for at least one subject!

If you think these would be a great resource to have for your class too, you can see more of the packet here. 

Happy teaching!