Grades Poster

Here is a poster I have near my student mailboxes.  It explicitly shows my grading scale. 

Also, make note that a "check plus" is not the highest homework grade in my class.  A perfect score on homework is a "plus."  This system allows me to represent the full spectrum of grades (A through F) for short homework assignments. 

I find that this poster helps all of my students accurately judge their work.  It eliminates questions and confusion.  I even find myself referring to it when converting percentages to letter grades.

I Need to Use the Bathroom!

Here is my bathroom sign-out system:

This station is near my student tracker board so that as students sign-out, they can show it on the board. The sign-out station includes a cup of pens to use, a digital clock (so my students don't stand in the middle of the room trying to read the wall clock), sign-out charts for boys and girls, and even nurse passes.

I made simple charts within word documents so students record what times they leave and return to the classroom.  In addition to logging where students are, the charts help me figure out who may be missing math lessons every day to go to the bathroom!   More than a few times, I have used these charts to determine students who are anxious about a particular subject or time of day.

One of the many sneaky ways teachers figure things out . . .

How are you getting home?

In order to keep track of how each student gets home after school, I've made a simple chart and had it laminated. 

Once the chart is hung on the wall near the door, I use overhead markers to write student names in the boxes.  Using erasable markers allows me to move student names as needed when schedules change.  This chart can be used year after year.  It is also an important tool for substitutes and classroom helpers to refer to. 

Download a free pdf of Transportation Chart!  It is google document in pdf format. 

Gradebook

Don't waste money on a store-bought gradebook when you can make your own cute gradebook that can be used year after year.

This one-inch binder was a dollar store find (of course).

My grade book is comprised of class lists and 8 tabs for keeping things in order.  I always have extra class lists up front and ready to go . . . these help for keeping track of grades, recording responses, organizing groups, etc. 

I have the following tabs in my gradebook to keep everything organized:

• READ = reading grades
• ELA = English language arts grades (spelling and writing)
• SCIENCE (2 sections) = science grades
• MATH = math grades
• C.C. = Common Core checklists
• SCHEDULES = district calendar, grading term dates, specialist schedule, etc.
• LISTS = class lists, school lists, peanut safe snack lists, etc.

What I love most about using a binder for grades?  I can add whatever I need!  I can include school paperwork, calendars, extra tabs, and anything else I find helpful.  It's customizable and cute. 

Common Core ELA Grade 5 Checklists

STUDENT CHECKLISTS:

I created these checklists to keep track of student progress on each of the ELA standards for Common Core. 

These checklists are for all strands of the ELA standards: language, literature, informational text, writing, reading foundations, and speaking and listening. 

The checklists have spaces for student names as well as corresponding boxes to keep track of student mastery.  When a student meets a particular standard, write the date in the matching box.  This helps you document student progress. 

The checklists can be very long (specifically the writing checklist), so I glued them together - see the first picture.  In order to fit the large checklists in my grading binder, I folded each list to fit. 

Get a free download of my Common Core ELA Grade 5 Student Checklist!  It is a free google.doc in PDF format.

TEACHER LISTS:
This checklist is for teachers to correlate the new Common Core ELA Grade 5 Standards to their current textbook and curriculum series. 

This checklist includes already prepared columns with the Common Core ELA standards - one column with the official language, one with more common language.  There are also two additional columns for you to write the corresponding chapters or sections in your current textbook and other activities/projects/worksheets that you use.  This chart is a fantastic way to organize your current materials to work for the Common Core standards.

Get a free download of my Common Core ELA Grade 5 Teacher Checklist!  It is a free google.doc in PDF format. 

Also take a look at my MATH checklists!

 

Common Core MATH Grade 5 Checklists

STUDENT CHECKLISTS:

I created these checklists to keep track of student progress on each of the MATH standards for Common Core.  These checklists are for all strands of the MATH standards: operations and algebraic thinking, number and operations in base ten, number and operations - fractions, the number system, measurement and data, and geometry. 

The checklists have spaces for student names as well as corresponding boxes to keep track of student mastery.  When a student meets a particular standard, write the date in the matching box.  This helps you document student progress.  If needed, to fit the large checklists in my grading binder, I glued multiple pages together and folded each list to fit. 

Get a free download of my Common Core MATH Grade 5 Student Checklist!  It is a free google.doc in PDF format.

TEACHER LISTS:
This checklist is for teachers to correlate the new Common Core MATH Grade 5 Standards to their current textbook and curriculum series. 

This checklist includes already prepared columns with the Common Core MATH standards - one column with the official language, one with more common language.  There are also two additional columns for you to write the corresponding chapters or sections in your current textbook and other activities/projects/worksheets that you use.  This chart is a fantastic way to organize your current materials to work for the Common Core standards.

Get a free download of my Common Core MATH Grade 5 Teacher Checklist!  It is a free google.doc in PDF format. 

Also check out my ELA checklists! 

Class Mascots

Want a fun way to start the year off as a team?  Vote on a class mascot!

Every year, I have the students vote on an animal as our classroom mascot.  I only have one rule: it must start with the letter T.  It turns into my first lesson on alliteration.  Then we try to come up with a slogan as well.  They're tied to learning and usually include a play on words.

Here are the past two years' mascots:

"We can learn and toucan, too!"

"We're spinning webs of skills and talents!"

I can't wait to see what this year's class votes on . . . I'm hoping it will be the TIGERS :)

The New Hall Pass

My very first Pinterest project!  I got the idea from a pin on a friend's board.  I was able to turn an old cookie sheet (which another teacher was throwing out) into a great board to keep track of where my students are. 

After painting the cookie sheet and spraying it with a clear coat, I decorated sections with headings for: in the room, nurse, library, boys bathroom, girls bathroom, office, and specialist.  You could add any spaces that your students usually frequent to your own board. 

Next I glued numbers I printed from my computer onto glass craft beads.  After trimming off the excess paper, I added a magnet to each one. 

When all the numbers are at the top of the board, I know all students are in the classroom.  When students leave for any reason, they move their number to the correct space.  This lets me know where students are, even when things get hectic. 

Like I said, I got the idea from Pinterest (my most exciting, organized, and time-wasting website of the moment).  Here is the original project! with more detailed how-to instructions. 

Popsicle Sticks

"But, it's not fair!"

To keep things fair (and keep the kids on their toes), I use a cup full of popsicle sticks to help give everyone a chance to contribute in class.  Plus, popsicle sticks can always be found at my local dollar store which makes my wallet smile :)

I use these popsicle sticks to determine the order students present projects, who answers questions aloud, partners for activities, turns during class games, and random group assignments.  I also use the sticks to lay out on a table when configuring seating arrangements or groupings (this helps me visually) so I don't have to keep erasing and making changes.   It's so easy to move sticks on a table until I'm completely satisfied. 

Did you notice that the sticks are in a cute cup, too?  This plastic cup was one that I used in my college dorm room (GO HUSKERS!) and I smile every time I look at it. 

On my popsicle sticks, I include information that will help me sort students for grouping.  I include students' names, classroom numbers, and a color for their gender. 

It's difficult to see, but the girls have pink dots

and the boys have blue (stereotypical, but easy).

By putting this information on each stick, I can use them for much more than just choosing who is called on next. 

What else do you put on your student popsicle sticks?

Give Me Five!

To further solidify my obsession with the number 5, here is my quiet signal poster:

"Give Me Five!" is the strategy I use to grab the attention of my students.  I don't like to raise my voice, so I simply say "give me five" and put my hand up.  Then I wait for students to put their hands up to me and show me they're ready to listen.  Students catch on quickly when they see their peers with their hands up in the air.  It's a great way to bring them back from a loud or chaotic project. 

I don't always expect the kiddos to drop what they're doing in a split second - what an unrealistic expectation!  I allow them a bit of time to finish the sentence they're writing, gluing the poster they're working on, or discussing their reading question.  I do, however, remind them that they should give me five as soon as they can.  I even reward the class when they are all ready quickly. 

I heard about this strategy from fellow teachers and loved it the moment I heard it.  I don't know where I originally found my poster, but here is a link to some really cute ones with polka dots: Give Me 5 Posters

Keep it Simple

With all the complicated projects I find myself caught up in . . . I keep one thing in my classroom simple from year-to-year: our rules!

It's funny that I came up with 5 simple rules for 5th grade (I must be attracted to that number).  I realize that many teachers prefer to create their classroom rules each year with their students; however, I love the simplicity of these magic five rules. 

One new thing I plan to do this year (before unveiling this poster) is to brainstorm rules with my students on the board and then correlate our rules with these overarching five rules.  I think it will be a fun activity for us to come together as a group as well as a great lesson in categorizing and summarizing.  

When my students want a rule for "not talking out of turn" . . . this would go under the big rules of respecting others and respecting learning.  When students say we should "keep books looking like new" . . . they're really saying to respect materials.  I can't wait to match my students' ideas with our big rules.

Although a unique and creative rule would be "Don't whine to Mrs. Touponce when it's math time because you really would rather have your nose stuck in a book and because you feel like you can't do math even though it's just solving problems which you do every day of your life."  Isn't it more concise and realistic just to say DO YOUR BEST?!

Okay, now I think it would be funny to come up with an elaborate rules poster, too...

Job Chart

To keep our busy classroom running smoothly, everyone pitches in!  I've created a magnetic job chart to keep track of our employment opportunities. 

The best things about this job chart are that it can be used from year to year, you can customize it with your unique classroom jobs, and it uses many things you may already have lying around!

Materials you need for this project:

• posterboard
• cardboard or cardstock
• ruler
• pencil
• scissors
• permanent markers
• magnetic sheets or magnetic tape
• contact paper (optional)

 How to DIY:

1. Choose the jobs you need to keep your classroom clean and organized (my classroom jobs are listed below).  Also decide how many students should have each job. 
2. Divide your board up into the appropriate amount of sections using pencil and a ruler.  Make sure you include spaces for your job titles and spaces for the cardboard numbers. 
3. Once you are happy with your layout, use permanent markers to go over lines and write in the job titles.
4. Cut cardboard (or thick cardstock)  into rectangles that will fit on your chart. 
5. Write numbers on the rectangles - that way you can reuse the chart every year without writing new student names every fall. 
6. Cut and affix magnets to the rectangles as well as the chart.
7. Cover the nonmagnetic portions of the chart with contact paper for additional durability (optional). 

Once you hang the job chart, your students will love looking for their job posting!  I also have students "apply" for the job they want with a simple application.  I ask them what job they want and why they are qualified.  It's a great way to show them writing for a purpose.  In addition to applying for jobs, I may choose to "fire" students who complete their responsibilities inadequately. I then open up the job for someone on vacation or someone who wants a new job.  We hold open applications only twice a year; however, you could change your classroom jobs as frequently as you like. 

My classroom jobs are:
- calendar - changes our calendar monthly and refreshes the date each day on our board.
- art center - responsible for organizing our art supplies near the sink.
- writing center - responsible for organizing our writing supplies (pens, paper, dictionaries, etc.)
- messenger - brings papers to the office, takes materials to other classrooms, etc.
- garbage collector - puts our two trash cans in the hall at the end of each day for the custodians.
- lunch count - counts lunch choices and resets the clips for the next day.
- sharpener - empties the pencil shavings from our electric sharpener. 
- duster/cleaner - in charge of cleaning supplies during our Friday room cleanings.
- hall monitor - ensures no one leaves items in our hallway cubbies at the end of each day.
- chalkboard - erases the board at the end of lessons and/or at the end of the day.
- librarians - responsible for keeping our classroom library clean and organized.
- paper passers - assist me in passing out work and distributing assignments into mailboxes.
- overhead - in charge of the overhead machine, projector cart, pull-down screen, and the lights.
- newsletter - 2 students write our monthly newsletter (I add notes from me, too). 
- vacation - these are students who have a temporary break from a job.