Exploring a new frontier...INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS!

I had a great first week of school!  I love seeing and meeting the kids for the first time, and I look forward to getting to know them.  Since I have been teaching at my school for quite some time (I'm one of the "veterans"), sometimes the kids have already heard about me from their friends or siblings.  However, here's one thing that my former students weren't able to talk about - Interactive Notebooks!  On the third day of school, we began setting up these bad boys, and so far, the kids are really enjoying it!

To start, I had committed to creating INBs since last spring.  Therefore, when we were asked to check over the school supply list for the new school year, I was able to add a composition notebook and a 3-pack of tape OR a 3-pack of glue sticks (absolutely NO white glue...ew!).  I was also able to use my remaining EEF funds to buy composition notebooks and tape from Office Depot.  I was so happy, because I teach 130-140 kids (it's still up in the air with schedule changes), and I only had to give about 10 notebooks to students!  One student even brought me a notebook to "pay" me back!

Then, I explained to the students that their notebooks are theirs to keep, and they would be able to decorate it any way they would like.  I gave them a warning, however, that I would be checking them regularly, so they better not have anything written inside or outside of it that is not "school appropriate".

Our school has changed it's bell schedule, and we now start 12 minutes earlier than in the past.  Therefore, I printed out our bell schedule so that the students can tape it in the front cover the their notebooks.  On the first page, I showed the students "Numbers About Me", and explained that they should decorate it using numbers that are important in their lives.

*Side note - mine looks cute right?  However, um, my birthday is wrong!  Lol...I was getting ideas from someone else's, and I accidentally wrote down the wrong year!  Haha!  I'm glad that I can laugh at myself :)

The next few pages are the Table of Contents (TOC) pages and Words Worth Knowing (WWK) pages.

In hindsight, I wish that I didn't use marker to make lines on my TOC pages, but oh well!  I had the students make 4 TOC pages and 8 WWK pages.

Finally, page 1 - My classroom info page.  Again, thanks to Sarah for the idea!

Class Information

Inside my class info page!

Pages 2-3 was my INB Expectations pages.  Sorry about page 3...I wasn't finished with my "give me five" page before taking the picture!

INB Expectations and "Give Me 5"

Inside INB Expectations page

Pages 4-5 were the learning styles pages.  Again, Sarah has some great ideas!  I haven't had a chance to draw my study tips...I'm such a slacker :(

Learning Styles...not finished yet!

At last, pages 6-7 I had the students complete a multiple intelligences inventory.  Before showing them my completed inventory, I had the students try to guess which one was my strongest.  Many of my kids weren't able to guess that I have a strong logical-mathematical intelligence...they were mostly guessing verbal.  I guess I talk to much?

And that's it!  I have had positive feedback from my students, ranging from "I like being organized!" to "Are we going to have arts and crafts day everyday?"  When I told them "math day" was going to be the next day, they didn't seem too happy.  Oh well...can't please everyone!

The Difference a Day Makes...

In addition to this blog, I've decided to also do a 180 blog.  What is a 180 blog?  It's where you write or take a picture showing each day of the school year.  My 180 blog is called The Difference a Day Makes.  Check it out here.

Classroom Reveal!

I know it's not Tuesday, but I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin's Back to School Tour:

We have been in school for a week already, and boy, I am exhausted!  For the past month, I've been preparing myself to for going back to school.  I've been busy getting my classroom ready, helping with new teacher interviews, and lesson planning.  A few posts ago, I promised that I would have pics of my classroom...here you go!

I love how my room turned out!  The color I picked out is bright and cheery, and most of all, it makes me happy :)

Classroom Tour (WARNING - a bunch of pics ahead!):

The bulletin board outside my room...a superhero theme!

My door!  When putting up my bulletin board, I didn't realize it was going to match my door sign :)

I'm trying groups this year...wish me luck!

The student workbooks we will be using in class.  I have about 130-140 kids this year...I've decided to buy another crate for the extra workbooks...see how they are bowing?

My Table of Contents Poster for our Interactive Notebooks

Student supply area

A close up...I'm crossing my fingers that the kids put things back where they belong!

Our school requires students to sign-out/in when leaving the room, and sign-in when your are tardy to class.  To the left is my make-up box where the kids will look up the date they are absent to find the handouts/work that was done on that day.

My "Words Worth Knowing" bulletin board...by the end of the year, I look forward to seeing this board filled up with all the new vocab words my students have learned!

My whiteboard...

This bookshelf holds my organizing bins for Essential Questions labels, "I Can" Statement labels, "Words Worth Knowing" labels, and expo markers.  The cart is where I will put my students' make-up tests and graded work (there are two drawers for each class).

My supply shelf!  The two white organizing drawers to the left hold my rulers, protractors, scissors, markers, colored pencils, and crayons.  The other two organizing to the right are for my groups.  Each group in my class has a drawer assigned to them with supplies so that we don't have to spend so much time getting supplies together.  The purple and green cloth bins hold all my bulk office/school supplies such as pencils, erasers, tape, highlighters, glue, etc.

My desk.  It's clean now, but pretty much by the end of every day it looks like a hot mess! 

My filing cabinet and teacher supply area

I hope you enjoyed a tour of my classroom!  I wish everyone luck on a brand new school year :)

August Currently...

Hi, all!  I'm super excited to linking up for the first time with Farley @ Oh Boy 4th Grade for this month's Currently!

Listening/Watching:  Twilight:  Breaking Dawn Part 1...don't judge me!

Loving:  My new clothes!  My BFF and I went shopping in New Orleans yesterday, and I bought the cutest stuff!  Last week, we shopped, and I bought two super cute maxi dresses.  She asked me why I didn't wear one of them when we went to NOLA...naturally I said, "I'm not going to wear them until school starts!"  

Thinking:  Planning out the new year and using interactive notebooks.  I know it's going to take A LOT of pre-planning and major classroom management, but I feel up to the task!  Now, I have to actually plan out what will be going in my lessons!  I can do it!

Wanting:  Some new Chuck Taylors!  You can pretty much wear them with anything!  You know...like these:

Chuck Taylor Low Tops!

Needing:  To finish getting my classroom together...it is a HOT MESS!  I finally finished painting it...yay!  Now, I have to unpack all my stuff and organize!  One of previous posts shows the before...I'm waiting until I am 100% finished with my classroom before I post any pictures.  I plan on finishing by Thursday...stay tuned, and wish me luck!

1st Day for Me and Kids:  My official 1st day is August 8th, but I've pretty much been going to the school regularly for various reasons the past couple weeks (working registration, painting my classroom, helping with interviews for a couple positions we still have to fill, etc.).  On Wednesday, team leaders have to be present for New Teacher Orientation at our school.  We have teacher workdays August 11-15, and the kids will have their 1st day on August 18th.  

That's pretty much it...if you're already starting school this week, good luck on the new school year!  For the rest of y'all, enjoy the rest of your summer!  

Teacher Survival Kits

I really love the people I work with.  The 8th grade group of teachers are really good people, and we genuinely have a respect for one another.  For the past few years, there have only been maybe one or two teachers who have left for different reasons (other positions in the school/district, grad school, changing schools, etc.), so we have gotten really close as a group.  However, this year, only 5 of us will be returning (This makes me sad...three teachers are moving to other grades/positions, one is moving away from the area, and one is leaving to work with her family's business.), so it's going to be really different.  

This year, the other 8th grade team leader and I wanted to get our 8th grade team of teachers a little "happy" to kick off the brand new school year.  We both love our teams!  So, this past Friday we went shopping for our "Teacher Survival Kits," and here's what we got!  

From Sam's
Chapstick 
Lifesavers 
Gum 
Crystal Light - individual packs
Advil - individual dosage packs

From Dollar Tree
Gift bags
Lint Rollers
Hand Sanitizer
Tissue

From Target
Pretzel Chips

From Walmart
Shout Wipes
Water bottles

From Oriental Trading Company
Apple-shaped Stress Balls

From our PTA
Pens - really, the best pens ever!

And last, I'm going to bake them some cookies :)  Yum!

Essential Questions, "I Can" Statements, and Words Worth Knowing...Oh My!

So the other day I bought this baby:

It's a laminator...It's AMAAAAZZZING!

I have spent the last week laminating everything for my classroom - whiteboard signs, door signs, exit slip signs...everything!  I also have all my CCSS Standards, Essential Questions, "I Can" Statements, and Word Worth Knowing laminated, too!  I don't know why I didn't think of it before...this way I can post them on my board and have them already up in case of observations.  Also, I won't have to worry about kids "accidentally" erasing them when they walk by (a big pet peeve of mine!) and needing to rewrite them everyday.

The laminator is so easy to use, and the laminating pouches are so much thicker than our laminating machine at school.  

So, here's some pics:

Some of my whiteboard signs!

8th Grade CCSS 

Words Worth Knowing...aka VOCAB!

Essential Questions!

"I Can" Statements :)

I'm pretty excited!  Tomorrow, I'll be going up to the school to work registration, and I'll get to get a better look at how all my stuff will fit in my new classroom!

So much to do, so little time!

Update 7/22/14:  I got a few stuff checked off my list of things to do...yay!!

I need to get a lot out of my head...it's spinning right now with so much to do!

Team Leader Stuff:

• Sign supplement contract completed 7/14/14
• Work registration on the 21st completed 7/21/14
• Buy stuff for Teacher Survival Kits completed 7/18/14
• Make cookies!
• Make new team leader binders and files

Cheer Stuff:

• Make t-shirt design completed 7/17/14
• Pick up signed supplement contract completed 7/14/14

Classroom Decor:

• Paint walls completed 7/30/14
• Clean out closets and desk/pack up old stuff
• Unpack my stuff!
• Make curtains completed 7/31/14
• Make labels for whiteboards complete 7/18/14
• Plan out bulletin boards (I have 3 to create!)
• Superhero Students (student work - outside my classroom)
• Standards for Math Practice
• Instagram/Shout Out

INB (so much to plan!):

• Plan Unit 1.1
• Create foldables, example problems, student reflections

That's all for now...I might be updating this soon with more things that I need.  Since I've been on vacay, I haven't been at home to really plan.  I'll be home Sunday night, so I'll finally get a chance to print out things and create my actual INB!  

Section Overview

Since I've decided to go "all in" with interactive notebooks this year, I have really been trying really hard to plan out how I will introduce each unit.  Again, Jessie Hester from Mrs. Hester's Classroom is my inspiration...she begins each unit with a unit overview, which maps out the essential questions and vocabulary.  Here's what I have so far:

Instead of essential questions, I've decided to use "I can" statements.  This way, students know EXACTLY what they are supposed to learn during the course of our unit, and they can check off the statements they are now able to do!  (I'm not doing away with essential questions - my principal requires them - but I plan on using them in student reflection questions at the end of certain lessons.) 

I have a "Words Worth Knowing" section (aka vocabulary), and I've added a section where students can write down the dates form quizzes, homework checks, INB checks, unit and district tests, and a project.  That's all for now...it's still a work in progress :) 

New Year, New Classroom!

I'm out of town for a few days, but before I left, I visited my new classroom.  A bunch of the teachers at our school shifted to other subjects/grades, and this year I'm moving next door so that all the teachers on my team are in the same hallway.  Now, I LOVED my classroom, however, the main reason why I'm moving has to do with the Promethean board arrangement.  Three years ago, I painted my classroom a greenish-teal color (Behr's Shoreline Green, to be exact) and decorated with purple and black accents.  Now that I've moved next door, I've got a brand new slate to decorate!  Here's what my new classroom looks like now:

From the back corner...

From my desk in the front corner of the room...

While it's not bad, I really need color to make me happy!  I tried to talk myself out of painting my new classroom, but I just couldn't...am I crazy?  As you can see in the first picture, I tried out four colors.  I think I've found the right one:

Did I mention I LOVE teal?

It's probably a shade lighter and a little more blue than my old room.  I'll have more pics whenever I start painting!  In the meantime, I'm trying really hard to set up my curriculum and unit pacing to incorporate interactive notebooks this year.  While this will be our fourth year doing CCSS, and I pretty much know what I'm teaching, the planning involved in implementing INBs is tough!  I'm ready for the challenge... really want my students to be actively engaged this year!  Stay tuned...See y'all later!

Miss Lorenzo's Lowdown

To all middle school teachers...do you send home a newsletter to your students' parents?

I know that in the elementary world, it's probably a little bit easier to send home a newsletter every week.  However, with 130-140 students at a time, it can be a little difficult.  Middle school children often "forget" about important dates or events that go on during school.  Enter "Miss Lorenzo's Lowdown":

This is an example of my parent newsletter that I send out every Monday (It was from the second week of school last year!).  On my back-to-school handouts, I have my parents indicate if they would like to receive my newsletter via email, and I save their email addresses in groups in my school email account.  Then, I would email them my newsletter (bcc, of course - so that they don't know each other's addresses) and let them know what their kids could look forward to that week!  It takes a little time at first to input the parent emails into my address book, but once I do it, I don't have to enter email addresses again for the rest of the year AND I don't have to search for parent emails if I need to contact them!  I have gotten plenty of complements over their year from parents who are grateful that I take the time to let them know what's going on.  The students, however, complain that their parents know so much!!  Haha!

I'm thinking of changing the format for this coming year.  I really like this layout from Sarah Rubin's post, who was inspired from Jessie Hester at Mrs. Hester's classroom.  These two are my main inspiration for doing ISN's this year!  They are really the best!

What other new things are y'all (I'm from the south - it's a habit) planning to do for this upcoming school year?

New teacher on the block...

Hi, everyone!  Blogging is a brand new thing to me, so any and all suggestions are appreciated!  I want to use this blog to help me reflect on my teaching, especially since I will be incorporating interactive notebooks (INB) this year as one of my main teaching strategies.  

I am entering my EIGHTH year of teaching this year, and I'm still learning about everything related to teaching!  I'm always interested in the new strategies for classroom management and teaching...I feel that as a teacher, there is always opportunities to learn and grow in this profession.  I enjoy reading other teaching blogs and sorting through Pinterest posts to get ideas for my classroom...hopefully, I can contribute in some way by writing about my class and helping you!  I look forward to collaborating with you!