My New Idea: Collaborative Team Daily Reflections

For the last two years I have taught 8th Grade Math and 8th Grade Math Support.  Both of these classes have been two totally separate periods and had their own beginning of class and end of class routines.

8th Grade Math
8th Grade Math students worked collaboratively in teams.  In their teams they completed a daily warm-up "Solve It, PROVE It".  The periods were only 50 minutes and there was never time to spare.  I had the students working until 2 minutes before the bell.  The Resource Monitor had just enough time to get the team's homework and return all of the team's supplies before the bell rang.

Math Support
Math Support students worked independently and used 1:1 iPads.  When they came into class they got their assigned iPad, signed into Showbie and completed a daily warm-up "A Blast From the Past". Because all of the students had to return their iPads at the end of class, I had the students complete a "Ticket Out the Door" Writing Reflection every day.  This would ensure that the students would all be returning their iPads at different times, depending on how long it took them to type their written response.

Blocked Math Periods
This year we are going to blocked math periods, which is essentially two periods altogether. This is awesome because time has always been my enemy.   I know that my classroom structure in Math 8 worked, so other than some new ideas and a few tweaks I want to continue doing the same thing I did last year.  I also know that what I did in Math Support was super effective.  So I am basically going to merge the two periods together into one blocked math period.

It is super important to me that this blocked math period to runs seamlessly. Think of it like Part One of my blocked period which will be my Math 8 structure (teams), and Part Two of my blocked math period which will be my Math Support structure (independent). Both parts of my blocked period this year will have a name.  I will refer to these names in class and when I blog.  Part One of my blocked math will simply be Math 8, and Part Two of my blocked math will now be called iMath (independent Math). I love it because it is a play on the fact that students use iPads, and this is the more independent part of their mathematics learning.

I have a lot of new ideas that I will be trying out and incorporating this year in my Math 8 and in my iMath sections of my blocked math period.  I needed to think of a way to seamlessly transition from Math 8 to iMath.  So I came up with this new idea; My Team Daily Reflection.

At the end of Math 8 (Part One of the block), each team will complete a "Team Reflection".  The Resource Monitor-Recorder/Reporter for the day will be responsible for facilitating this "Team Reflection".  After the team has completed their "Team Reflection", they will get their assigned iPads and start with iMath (Part Two of the block).

This is a new idea, and I know I will tweak it throughout the year, and come up with new ideas for prompts. This is just the start of my new idea. I am hoping my idea will be of use to you in your classroom or inspire an idea for your classroom.

My New Team Daily Reflections
After each example of my Team Daily Reflections I am including a link to the PDF and Word Files.   Feel free to download and use or modify to fit your classroom needs.  :o)

Here are examples of my new idea my Team Daily Reflections (Version One):

Download Links: One Word Team Reflection - PDF File ~ Word File

Download Links: Math Practices Team Reflection -  PDF File ~ Word File

Download Links:  Show What You Know Team Reflection - PDF File ~ Word File

Download Links:  Tweet This Team Reflection - PDF File ~ Word File

Download Links: Team Work Team Reflection - PDF File ~ Word File

Here is a zip file with all of the fonts I used.  You should download this if you are using any of the word files... :o)

Download Link:  Fonts I Used Zip File

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog.  Hopefully my ideas gave you inspiration for your classroom.  :o)

Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom Environment

Last summer I started designing and creating a Growth Mindset classroom.  It is important to me that my classroom is a place where the students want to be and want to learn.  I spent more time this summer thinking of ideas and creating new resources for this year. I spent a lot of time Googling and Pinteresting ideas for quotes. :o)

Don't ask how many trips to three different crafts stores it took or how much laminating I had to cut out. LOL.  I am excited with my final products because everything turned out really good. So it was all worth it. I can't wait to put everything in my classroom.

I have not been to my classroom yet this summer, so right now all I have to share is the pictures of the final products on my table at home.  I figured I would blog about it now because maybe my ideas will give you inspiration for your classroom.  I will blog more later with my classroom reveal.

I am so excited. Everything turned out really good.  Most of my ideas are made with plain white copies, scrapbook paper and construction paper.  I am attaching download links after each set of pictures.  Feel free be inspired, to use my ideas or to modify my ideas.

My New "I Teach" Wall Hanging
Last summer I created an "I Teach" wall hanging which I loved.  I am changing my desk area a little and so I made a new "I Teach" wall hanging that will go with my new teaching area.  This will hang by my desk... :o)

Download Links:  My I Teach Poster - PDF File   ~  Word File  

My Team Hanging Stars
Last year we lost our class size reduction and after four years, went from a class size of 21 students to a class size of 24 students.  So for the last five years I have only had 6 "Teams".  This year we are going up to a class size of 28 students, so now I will have more "Teams".  I used to use the 6 colors of the rainbow for my "Team" colors. I needed to add two more colors, so I chose black and pink.

These are the new "Team" stars that will hang above each "Team".

Download Links:  My Hanging Team Stars - PDF File  ~  Word File

My Awesome Poster
This is going to go above my classroom door so as the students leave my classroom, this is the last thing they will see.  I wanted to leave them with a positive thought to carry with them throughout the day. :o)

Download Links:  My Be Awesome Poster - PDF File  ~ Word File

My YET Poster
This is going to hang above one of the windows in my classroom.  I love this phrase and I am hoping that this will help the students learn the importance of YET.  :o)

Download Links:  My YET Poster - PDF File ~  Word File

My Rainbow Motivational Posters
These are some more of my favorite quotes.  I made these to hang by the window in a space I can never figure out what to do with.

Download Links:  My Motivational Rainbow Posters - PDF File   ~ Word File

My Mistakes Posters
This year I have a entire section on one of my walls dedicated to mistakes.  In middle school students are so afraid to make mistakes.  This year my goal is to change that.  I mean seriously with the amount of mistakes I make regularly, you would think the students would realize that its no big deal.... LOL

These posters are going on a wall with the phrase: Mistakes are the stepping stones to learning.

   

Download Links:  My Mistakes Posters - PDF File  ~ Word File

My Growth Mindset Posters
I wanted to create these posters last year but I ran out of time.  So this summer I made my own set of "Change Your Words - Change Your Mindset" posters.  I tweaked some of the phrases and decided to use words that I know my students say.  I love how they turned out.  I can't wait to reinforce these posters every day with my students.

Download Links:  My Growth Mindset Posters - PDF File  ~ Word File

Here is a zip file with all of the fonts I used in all of the posters I made.
You should download this if you are using any of the word files... :o)

Download Link:  Fonts I Used Zip File

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog.  Hopefully my ideas gave you inspiration for your classroom.  :o)

Classroom Posters and Bathroom Pass #mondaymadeit

I am linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for this week's Monday Made it to share a few things I have been working on.  :o)

If you follow me on Twitter you will know that I have been busy with "Made Its" this summer. :o)

I am trying to find a solution to a never ending problem.  Students needing to use the bathroom is always such a problem and I have struggled with this every year.  I am trying something new this year after coming across various ideas on Pinterest.

I have made a Bathroom Pass Record Sheet for the students to keep in their Math Folder.  They will be given 5 opportunities each quarter to use the restroom during class. My expectations and procedures are clearly given on My Bathroom Pass Record Sheet.

Even though this is a Bathroom Pass Record Sheet, you will see that I included a spot for them to record their destination.  This was done intentionally.  I teach middle school.  I want the students to write that they are going to the bathroom so therefore they should not be going anywhere else. :o)

You will also notice that I am including Bonus Points for students who never leave to use the restroom.  They will be able to use these Bonus Points on assessments and homework. :o)

I am including files for you to download and use.  Feel free to modify to fit your needs.  I am including links to the PDF file, editable Word file and a zip file of the fonts I used.

Download Links:
Bathroom Pass Record Sheet PDF File
Bathroom Pass Record Sheet Editable Word File
Zip File of Fonts I Used

I am also including another "Made It" that I shared on Twitter this weekend. :o)  These are some Keep Calm Posters I made for my classroom. Feel free to download and use.

Download Link:
My Keep Calm Posters PDF File


** Update: Per request I am sharing my PowerPoint File.  Feel free to modify and make your own posters.  :o)

Download Link:
My Keep Calm Posters Editable PowerPoint File

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog... :o)

My Beginning of the Year Handouts

I have been going through my files from last year. I have been thinking about what I want to keep and what new ideas to add for this year.

I am sharing my ideas and decided to post pictures and links to my files. Feel free to download and use in your classroom.  If you would like to modify any of the files, email me and I will send you the Word files. :o)

I have previously blogged about my Letter to My Students.  It was really important that I use this again this year.  I will have the students put this into their Interactive Math Note Folders as the first page.  Copied on the back of the Letter to My Students is a Graphic Organizer of my Team Roles for the students to reference.  These Team Roles are used every day and are a big part of my Classroom Structure.

Here is the Letter to My Students and the Team Roles Graphic Organizer.

Download Links:
Team Roles Graphic Organizer

I have also decided to use my Problem Solving in Math and Writing in Math IMN Resources again. These were super effective.  These are meant to be copied back to back.

Download Links:
Problem Solving in Math 
Writing about Math

On the first day I have the students complete an All About Me Graphic Organizer and write a Beginning of the Year Letter to Myself. These are meant to be copied back to back.

Download Links:
All About Me Graphic Organizer
Beginning of the Year Letter to Myself

For homework I plan on sending home a goal setting assignment. These will help me understand my students feeling about Math and what their goals for the year are.  These are meant to be copied back to back.

Download Links:
Hands Up to a Successful Year
Year Long Math Goals


*** Update - I am adding a link with a zip file of the fonts I used for those who want to edit the files.
Download Link:  My Font Files


Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog.  I hope you find my ideas useful. :o)

My Mathematicians "Say" Academic Vocabulary Book

I have blogged previously about my Classroom Structure . Part of that structure is what the students do when they come into the room. When the students come into the classroom I have up the Word of the Day and the Materials Needed for the day.  The Resource Monitor gets the supplies and the rest of the Team Members turn in their homework and write down the Word of the Day while they waited for the bell to ring.

Here is an example:

Last year I had the students write the Word of the Day in a graphic organizer.  They would keep the graphic organizer in the pocket of their IMN Folder.  When they filled it up they would put the graphic organizer into the prongs of their folder.

Here are some of my students Word of the Day Graphic Organizers.

This year I am definitely keeping that part of my classroom structure. I am going to keep doing the Word of the Day and the Graphic Organizer but I made some tweaks to my idea.

I decided to make the graphic organizers into a booklet that the students will keep in the pocket of their IMN Folder.  I am going to have the students use their Academic Vocabulary books in team discussions and in some writing activities and performance tasks.  I think that making their Word of the Day Graphic Organizer into a booklet will make it more accessible for them.

I created a cover for the academic vocabulary book and the graphic organizer pages. I am going to send it to the district printer and have it printed and stapled.

Here is the cover of my new academic vocabulary book idea. Updated: (Version 2)

Here are the pages of my new academic vocabulary book idea.

Feel free to use my new idea in your classroom. :o)

Click the link below to download a copy of my student academic vocabulary book.

8th Grade Math Academic Vocabulary Book  ~  PDF Link
7th Grade Math Academic Vocabulary Book  ~  PDF Link
6th Grade Math Academic Vocabulary Book  ~  PDF Link

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog. :o)