Testing!

Oh the joys of testing!  Our "testing season" has officially begun and will continue for the next 3 weeks.  I can't decide if I prefer to test all subjects back-to-back or if I like having 4 days in between each test.

I can't complain though.  My kids worked really hard on their first test today and I am sure they did a fabulous job.

I made a new door sign...I was tired of the standard "Do Not Disturb" and "Testing" signs they give us.

Feel free to grab a copy for your classroom!  Just click on the photo above or click here.

Birthday Giveaway!!

Mrs. Wilson over at Confessions of a Teaching Junkie is having an awesome giveaway!


Head over to her site to check it out!!
http://confessionsofateachingjunkie.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-bloggy-birthday-bash.html

Currently...2013

Happy New Year!  My goal this year is to post 2-3 times a month (gotta start somewhere, right?).  I am enjoying my last few days of winter break and am going to finally tackle my growing to-do list.  To start my 2013 blogging, I am joining in Farley's "Currently".

You can join in too by going to Farley's page at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

Hope you have a healthy and happy 2013!!

~Alissa

A look inside....

The first three weeks of school have been crazy!  Getting things setup, meetings, helping plan a lip dub, open house, and back to school night....oh yeah...and some teaching!!! :-)

Anyway, as promised, here is a look inside my classroom.  You will see several pinterest-inspired ideas in my room this year and I am very excited how it turned out.

bulletin board outside my room

view from the door

Promethean board (my fav) and the front of the room

bookshelf (dictionaries, thesaurus, ActivExpressions, deskmaps, etc)

student cubbies

back counter

rest of the back counter

student work

reading corner

reading table

my desk

side of my desk w/ my teacher toolbox (and LIFE PLANNER!)

Getting Organized

Teachers officially go back in one week...which of course means I have been to my classroom several times already.

I wanted to start the year off  organized, so I turned to pinterest for inspiration.  I decided I wanted a teacher toolbox and a better system for turning in papers.

I made my teacher toolbox like so many of you have already done.  Mine is not as amazing as some of the ones I have seen, but I love it anyway.  (I just wish the drawers were deeper!)

I used the "Stack-On 22-Compartment Storage Cabinet " from Home Depot.  The labels were made by Kristen Doyle.

I also decided to make 2 sets of drawers for students to turn in papers, for me to place work in when they are absent, and to hold other papers I need.  

The drawers are from Target. (I got 2 sets.)

I made the labels using legal size paper and powerpoint. I am happy to send you the file if you want it.  (Just send me an email!)

Monday Made It

I am so excited to participate in my first ever Monday Made It Linky Party with 4th Grade Frolics!  I love Tara's site and I have really enjoyed seeing all the great posts people have linked up.

For my summer school class this week I made some reading strategies posters that we will use the next two weeks as we round out summer school.  The four strategies we are focusing on are: Inferring, Predicting, Summarizing, and Visualizing.

You can download a copy from google docs here.

I also FINALLY finished a ribbon wreath I started a while ago.  It's not perfect, but it is cute enough for now.  (Had to have lots of polka-dots in it, of course!)

Thanks for letting me join in this wonderful edition of "Monday Made It!"

~Alissa

Great Giveaway

Lauren over at Life in Middle School is celebrating having 100 followers with a giveaway! Click on the button below to check out all of the GOODIES you can win!!! :)  Also, don't forget to check out her posts!