2014-2015 Western Theme Classroom

Another year, another theme!  This year, our 6th graders are going to be excited to be in class with a WESTERN theme!  Enjoy!

These are posters of our Boys Town Social Skills.  Next to the Sheriff character, I have posted positive (Yee-Haw!) and Negative (Whoa!) consequences! 

One of my favorite signs in my room.  It is hard to read, but it says "What happens in the barn, stays in the barn!"

These hats are based off of Edward deBono's 6 Thinking Hats that will provide higher level thinking!

One of my favorite things is to reward students positively.  With having five different core classes, Cooperation Grids allow me the ease in management to do this.  When a student does anything that is worth recognizing, they will get to sign their name in a square.  When their class has filled up their grid, we will draw for prizes.  Usually the prizes are books, a coupon for a free book out of our next book order, gum, sugar-free sour lifesavers, and an iTunes gift card!  I will add more this year!

Our library area!

My handy husband built a covered wagon to go over my bathtub!

"Wanted:  READ or Alive!"  Currently, the wanted posters display our state's Golden Sower Award nominees.  This will be swapped out later for other books that students will recommend.

One thing I learned last year is that students need to be taught how to respond to questions being asked.  They need to back up their response with EVIDENCE from the text.  This board will house useful tips on how to do that properly!

Every year, I try to buy a new chair to match my theme.  This year, it was this beauty!  This is a Cozy Sac bean bag chair!  I hope the kids love it!

My desk (home) area!

A view from the door!

I am going to post pictures throughout the year of the FUN we have in Language Arts or 6th grade!

Another project by my hubby!  He cut out these silhouettes and painted them for me!  They look so cool in person!

I hope you enjoyed my classroom this year!

To see other GREAT classrooms, check out Just a Primary Girl's Linky Party with other classroom tours!

A New Year...A New Theme!!!

I am so excited for the new school year to start.  I finished my Master's this summer (can I get a woot-woot!!!) so I know that I am going to be able to implement some goodies this year (AND HAVE MORE TIME TO BLOG...oops, sorry, didn't mean to yell!  I am just excited to spend more time with y'all!)

I am going to give you a little sneak peek to my new theme (maybe you already guessed what it was by my new blog design???)

It's GAME TIME!!!

This is my new binder cover to help my kiddos stay organized!

And, this is the sign going above my whiteboard to display my cursive alphabet strip! 

I can't wait to show y'all pictures!!!  Stay tuned...

What do you think of my new blog design???

Hollywood...Here I Come!!!

In preparation for my new theme for next year, I have created a few documents that I am getting ready to print at school.  I know, I know...I should be enjoying the summer days instead of wasting away at my computer.  I just can't help myself.  I am moving to a new room next year and I can't completely wrap my head around where everything is going to go.  Sooooo...I thought that I could use this time to get things done that I KNOW I am going to use!

Here is a sneak peek to coming up goodies!

Lead Actor/Supporting Actor (Helper of the Day)
Those of you that follow me know that I like to have ONE helper-of-the-day instead of classroom jobs.  This person helps me with EVERYTHING!  They LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  After they become the helper of the day, then they move to the bottom two slots before they get put on "vacation."  This year, with my Hollywood theme, I am having a Lead Actor and the two bottom helpers will be called Supporting Actors!  This is what their name plate will look like when I pull them out of the envelope!  More coming soon...

Box-Office Behavior:
As you know, I LOVE the Clip Chart by Rick Morrisson.  I have used it for two years and won't look back!  It is amazing.  I wanted to spice it up, so I made it match my Hollywood Theme this year.  I got the original idea from a fellow blogger-check out Mrs. Fiorini's blog!  It is amazing!  I adjusted it to fit my needs.  I only have the headings done, but can't wait to show you the finished product when I have it!  For now, this is what you get:

Please click on the picture to download them if you would like.  I don't know if I like the "Think about it" choice yet.  I wanted to do "Take 5" but then the clip art would have been the same for Parent Contact.  OCD coming out in me wouldn't allow it.  Please help with suggestions!

Box-Office Report
The component that I think helps the MOST with our clip chart is our parent communication.  They get to see where our students end up at the end of a day and they really do back it up!  THAT is why it works so well-THANKS PARENTS!!!
Here is the report that goes in their STAR Binders:

Star Binder:
Of course, many of you use these binders as communication with parents.  Here is what I will be putting in the front Binder!

And Last, but not least...another great idea by a fellow blogger...Homeworkopoly.  This is my first time using this and I am still reading up on how to make it operate, but I am getting into the swing of things and at least getting my document ready to print so I can laminate.  My inspiration came from Ladybug's Teacher Files.  Please see her original document.  She was sooooo sweet and even told me what fonts she used.  They are now my favorite fonts to use!!!  LOVE them!  If you haven't used smiley monster and Elephants in Cherry Trees together, they are a MUST!  I pretty much kept everything the same, just tweaked a few things!