Classroom Newsletter

Here is the first newsletter of the new school year, ready to be sent to print shop! 

Summer Project: Reading Bench

Summer Classroom Project: Reading Bench before & after photo collage... I bought an old bench from a secondhand furniture store added a little paint, polka dots, and of course a monogram!

Teacher Center Organization

Here are a few updated pictures of my teacher table area, this is where small group lessons are conducted: 

Group Labels

Using Microsoft Word create group labels that match your room theme: 

HFW Sticker Sheets

Each student will receive their own high frequency word sticker sheets. These sheets will be combined to create a HFW booklet.  Using the Reading Street series from Pearson, I compiled a list of the 2nd grade words students are expected to master. Each time a student has mastered a word I will place a sticker in the box next to the word to indicate mastery. 

Brownie Points Compliment System

In my classroom I created a Brownie Points board for compliments given to my class by other teachers. Each time a compliment is given to us the students will earn a brownie point (clip art of a brownie that will velcro to a baking tray). When the tray is filled up with brownie points I will bake my class an actual box of brownies as a Friday treat for their accomplishment. I plan to use this as a big incentive for walking quietly in the hallways.

 

What you'll need to make your own Brownie Points board: 

- Metal baking tray ($1 at Dollar Tree) 

- Hook and loop velcro dots (Walmart) 

- Brownie clip art 

Library Sticks

Very simple to make and a great student tracking tool! Each student is assigned a class number, this number indicates which library stick they will use. Now when it comes time for them to visit your classroom library they will choose their library stick and place it inside the book bin where they made their book choice. Their stick will ensure the teacher they are making the correct AR level choice as their sticks remains in the book bin until they swap out their book.

How to make: 

- Go to Home Depot and ask a manager for your required amount of paint sticks, he or she is very accommodating if they know you're a teacher :) 

- Go to Walmart and purchase the cheapest can of black spray paint (the one I used was less than $1) 

- Spray paint the sticks and let each side dry then attach your classroom numbers with a hot glue gun 

I got my classroom numbers from A Cupcake for the Teacher Blogspot: acupcakefortheteacher.blogspot.com

Morning Message Slide

Each morning this PowerPoint slide will be displayed, it will hold important information that students will need to know to complete their morning routine. 

In addition to the morning message, each student will have a purple folder that contains his or her common core morning workbook. On the front cover I have glue a visual aid of our classroom morning procedures. 

Open House Direction Signs

I used Microsoft PowerPoint to create these direction signs for Open House. Once they are printed I will laminate and attach them to popsicle sticks or rulers. They will be set out in my classroom to ensure parents see everything before they leave. 

Help Wanted: Classroom Jobs

This is the bulletin board devoted to classroom jobs. Glued to the front of each library pocket is a job description (photos of descriptions below) and within each pocket is a popsicle stick with a student's number. Each nine weeks student jobs will be rotated. 

Classroom Layout

Pencil Dispenser

Another Pinterest inspiration- using a straw dispenser as a classroom pencil dispenser! 

No more time wasted waiting on students to select a sharpened pencil. Simply turn the dial and out comes a pencil ready to use without dispute. 

What to buy: 

Straw dispenser from Amazon.com 

Your choice scrapbook paper 

Your choice peel and stick scrapbook font 

Elmer's spray adhesive glue 

Math Facts Addition PowerPoint

Browsing Pinterest the other day I came across a wonderful idea to create a math facts powerpoint. Students will come to the carpet with a dry erase board and write their answers to the math facts as they displayed on the SmartBoard screen. You will see on the math facts link below the first slide shows an addition fact while the following slide displays the correct answer. 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Facts-Addition-Powerpoint-Practice-927202

First Day of School Photo Frame

Easy to make photo frame for the first day of school!

Supplies you will need: 

- Black foam board 

- Die cut letters 

- Ribbon 

- Hot glue gun 

Each of the above supplies I located at the local Dollar Tree. I plan on having each new student take a photo holding this first day frame and upon developing the pictures I will laminate and attach a magnet to the back for their parent's fridge! 

Open House Brochure

Last school year I handed out loads of copies to parents regarding classroom procedures, important dates, and school information. This school year I decided to compile the important information I wanted to share in an easy to handle brochure. This brochure was easily created using Microsoft Word and will be handed out to parents during Open House: