Scanner Pro

This app sits right next to Class Dojo in my phone...

As I was working today, I realized that I use the app Scanner Pro a lot. If you are not familiar with it, it is an app (one of many scanner apps) that is available in the Apple app store. Scanner Pro is pretty awesome because it works so well! To get the technical review on it simply type it into Google  or look it up in the app store. What I want to show you is how any teacher can utilize this simple tool. 

1. Use it to pull anchor charts off your wall and into the hands of the students!

These were taken with my iPhone right off my classroom walls. Don't believe me? Look at the staples in the top corners. The color photo was taken with the app, and I'll use those to project on the screen for the students to see as I teach. The black and white copy, which prints really nice, is given on a half sheet for my students to glue into their interactive notebooks. 
This is a great way to bring your classroom anchors to life! They no longer become just anchor chart forgotten on a wall - they transform into tools that your students will learn to utilize.

2.Quickly copy student work! Simply scan and load
This is handy especially when kids are working in their journals, and you don't want to rip it out. For example, my students were doing a free-write the other day in their journals, but I didn't want to mess up their pages...so I scanned them! Here is how the scan will come out:

3. Digitalize your school notes. (I store all mine in the Evernote app.) Every training I've ever been to has my notes right in the app now. 

4. Capture and store parent-notes.

5. Store agendas from different meetings. Comes in handy when you have staff or grade-level meetings.

6. If there is a document somebody has, but they don't want to give it up...you can politely "borrow" it, digitalize it, and print it later. 

7. Need a page out of a book? Scan it.

8. You can hook your Google Drive up with it. 

The possibilities are endless. I'm constantly finding new ways to use it. It works both great in the classroom and out of it. Helps keep you organized, and you can digitalize some of those papers we all have stacked up around the desk. 

I'll share more uses if I find any! 

I am thankful for...

I was driving earlier this week, and as I sat in traffic I told myself that I needed to make it a goal to post more. I want to document my year because as a familiar voice at my school always says, "Great things are happening at Pecan Springs!" And I definitely believe that to be true. 

With this week being only two days, and with lesson plans complete for the next week or so, I found that I have some spare time this Sunday afternoon. This is perfect because I started a tradition my first year teaching, and I today I continued it. 

Because this is the week to reflect on everything we are thankful for, I always make sure to bring the theme into my classroom (as do most teachers.) Something I began when I started teaching was a simple thank you note to each student. A little card to let the students know that they are appreciated and to highlight two qualities that they exhibit. 

As I was writing their cards, I reflected just how thankful I truly am for my students and my school. They push me everyday to be the best I can be, and they constantly challenge me each day to be better. Always reminding me that there is room for improvement. I love my job, and no matter how difficult or stressful it may be - this is my career and each challenge makes me stronger. I am thankful for where I ended up this school year. 

In addition, I am thankful for my three day break, sleep, and pie.

Enjoy it everyone! And if anybody happens to read this before the end of the year, go pick up some thank you cards and let your students know how awesome they are. 

Thank-you cards ready to go! 

One month later...

A little over a month in now! It's been going great! I can't believe how smooth everything seems to be running. Of course getting back into the routine is always a little bumpy, (mainly on my eating and sleeping schedule) but we are definitely in the swing of it now.

In the past month, my class has become very close. The sense of community has been established, and now I am fine-tuning some things. For example, seating arrangements have morphed, the class library has a system, class jobs have a smooth schedule, all the teaching components are working out and lesson planning is finally down.

For this post, I want to share two technology tools that have helped my year get off to such a great start. I have plenty more, but I'll share them as the year goes on. I'm trying some for the first time myself, and I need to decide if they are worth it. 

ClassDojo

 

I'm tired of hearing about it too - everyone has an opinion on it, good or bad, but it works for me. I use it as a student motivator, an accountability system and a parent connection. ClassDojo is a fun addition to my classroom. I don't show the kids their points all the time, usually when I need a timer (it has one on the website) the kids can see their points. The kids can use their points every two weeks on various items like 'lunch bunch,' sit by a friend, etc. For the program to work, I make sure that I add importance to the point, and its getting to the point where all you hear is the "ring" and students suddenly adjust their behavior. It's pretty awesome. As well, this app has basically eliminated the need for the Remind app because ClassDojo has recently introduced a Class Story which is sort of like a social network only for your students' parents. You can share visual updates, standard text updates and more. It brings your parents into the classroom and solidifies the parent connection every efficient classroom needs. The app and website both work seamlessly. No need for any other behavior or parent contact program. 

CommonTeaching.com

www.commonteaching.com

This is an amazing, very clean website where you can organize your lesson plans. It's an interactive lesson plan book that you can use all year, every year, with any class. It takes teacher collaboration to the next level because it's easy. You can customize every piece of it, and my favorite is that you are able to directly attach any documents, anchor chart ideas or websites. It's 100% free to plan and store your plans on their website, but if you wanted to print them out in a really nice PDF format they have an "upgrade" option. Although, I think it works just fine to have open on my computer all day. However, if you really wanted to print them, or have them with you at all times, just screen shot the screen and print them out. If they had an app for the iPad (which I'm sure they will soon) that'd be great, but they don't so I just screen shot. Again this site is one of my favorite! 

Buckle Up!

The first week zoomed on by, and it felt great! I don't know if I just feel comfortable in the classroom? Or my students are just really awesome? Or a mixture of both? Not sure, but the week was smooth. I implemented everything I had planned, and the kids responded positively. They all seemed to really enjoy the classroom environment.

I think a big part of the success this week was giving the responsibility to the students, and treating them with respect. They know that every action they decide to make has a consequence, good or bad. I let them decide on the class rules, the class jobs and I let them know that everything I do in the room is a result of their actions. I even let them set expectations for me, and they were honest with what they what from their teacher. And, I'm not talking about silly expectations like, "Mr. Salinas must bring us candy everyday - no. They said things like "Mr. Salinas must be thankful, forgiving, positive.." I'll post a picture later..I've never done it before, but it was a powerful conversation.

I don't know if that makes sense, but all of that takes away the "man, my teacher is really mean...let's find his weakness and revolt!" mentality. They feel like they are in control. Now I just need to keep it going for, what, nine more months?

I know I can do it - it's all mental. It's about faking confidence even when something doesn't go as planned. It's about the way I word things to the students. Letting them know that they have an influence with everything that happens in their classroom. Most importantly though, it's about staying positive. My students deserve to come in feeling important, knowing that they have a responsibility and a purpose. They don't need me to put them down, they need me to push them. To keep them in line. They need me to teach them to be better. I am strict with my students, but in a fair way.

I've never been on a roller coaster, but I always say that the year feels like one. There's some screaming. There's anxiety. There's adrenaline. It takes off really fast, goes through loops and changes, but if you do what you're suppose to - everything will be fine. In the end you'll smile, and do it again. Just to reiterate,  I've never been on a roller coaster, but I imagine teaching is the same thing.

Countdown...

Today is Meet-The-Teacher Night! 

My classroom is all set, and the students are slowly trickling in. I love seeing the kids before you really get to know them. You know nothing about them other than they are on your roster. It's a great position to be in. It's all fresh. I have no idea the backgrounds or personalities my kids are coming in with, and that is what is so exciting about Monday. I can't lie...it's also the one thing that causes a lot of anxiety. A lot of unknown. However, if I can follow my strict plan I have set for next week - my students and I will have an awesome year!!

That's kind of nerve racking too though...knowing that next week will determine how the rest of my year goes...

We'll see what happens.

Putting the Pieces Together

It's a new year! At a new school! In a new district!

I'm going to miss summer, but I'm ready to tackle year three. These first couple days back at work I've slowly been going through all my stuff and strategically placing it where I think it will benefit the classroom. So far everything is going smoothly. Butcher paper is being put up, computers being plugged in, organizing shelves, unraveling countless yards of border - all of that with a few days of meetings here and there. It's not that stressful.

For the beginning of the year, I always tend to be over-prepared and extra-organized. This is the time to think of everything that has to do with the environment of the classroom. Once my students show up, my focus is on them and the instruction I provide. I will probably never get to organizing that closet of outrageously placed math manipulatives once my kids are in.

In just three days I've managed to put my classroom together. Next week I plan on labeling some areas in the room, and then start the planning process! That's when the stress level will increase a bit.

I'll be updating this blog every week or so. In it I hope to provide an insight on my teaching style, as well, I will use this to share any new teaching resources and ideas I come across throughout the year.

Welcome to my classroom.

...