What a start to school!!!!

Well, it has been a great while since I have blogged.  My life has been crazy since I went back to work on the 20th of August.  

In my personal life, My divorce became final on the 24th of August and that was a big relief to get it done and over with.   I rented a new place, going from a two bedroom town home to a 3 bedroom house with a yard.  This was much needed, since me, my two children, two dogs, and bird where in a 900 square foot town home with out a yard.  

So with all that it has been 5 weeks of new students, lesson plans, packing, moving, getting furniture, and utilities all ready to go.

With all that in mind, it has been a pretty amazing 5 weeks.  

My kids are truly loving their new rooms and the space they have.  The dogs have decided that staying outside all day isn't such a bad thing.  My wonderful family has helped me get the house completely organized, and in fact, helped me move, have everything put away, and even pictures hung all in one weekend.  I couldn't have done it without them.  Then my gracious parents bought my kids new bikes this past Monday, and let me tell you, it has been the best thing for my kiddo's.  They are loving riding their bikes each night.

Now on to some school stuff.  

I am on a team with two other wonderful teachers.  Mrs. John teaches Science (she is amazing at it), Mr. Belknap teaches Math (not sure I would have the patience), and I teach Reading, Writing, and Social Studies (World Geography to be exact).  

So that means I have 3 blocks a day, each with a time limit of 90 minutes.  Yes, you read that right 90 minutes.  I am still working on how to get all my curriculum in.  Right now, I am trying to do 45 minutes of reading everyday and rotate writing and geography.  Let me tell you this has been tough.  Now, in the past, I have gotten to geography when I can, and focused on Reading and Writing (my favorites), but this year that isn't an option.  They (the district) have decided to add a district mid-year and end of year Geography test on us 6th Graders.  YIKES, now that is 3 district reading tests, 2 district writing tests, 2 district geography test, and the 1 BIG STATE READING TEST, and this is only what I have to get covered.   Needless to say, I am a bit worried about getting it all covered.  

Oh, did I mention that we have almost (27-28) 30 students in each block.  Yes, that is almost 30 hormonal boys and girls in a small portable classroom.  Low on space, but trying to make it fun.  I am trying to implement Daily 5/Cafe and some of the Whole Brain Teaching.  I still have not become consistent with any of it.  I am having a hard time finding Daily 5 time, because by the time I finish my 20 minute lesson, there just doesn't seem much time left.  Well, maybe that is because we have had mandatory keyboarding the last 3 weeks and our schedule has been CRAZY!!!!  

Then, there is the level of my students.  Can we say all over the place?  I have 3-4 brand new to the country English Language Learners, one who is needing to learn his colors, shapes, and sight words.  We have 3-4 darlings who like to test us daily, and we have to watch out for bullying on a regular basis, and then there are the ones who are slightly below grade level, and the rest are right about average.  Oh boy, differentiation, differentiation, differentiation.  Keeps me on my toes, that is for sure.

Overall, it has been a pretty good start to the year.  Most of the kids are respectful, at least to us teachers, and they seem to be working pretty hard. Plus, with progress reports going out this past week, I think the students have realized, that they are going to have to work for their grades, and thinking beyond the obvious is part of that.

So maybe some of my blogger friends can help me with ideas to incorporate Geography, Reading, and Writing.  I would love to know of some books that I can use to teach Geography through Reading.  Any ideas?  Websites?  Etc?

Well, till next time, and I hope it will be less that 5 weeks, Good luck with your endeavors and may each day be blessed with good things and happy times.

Nicole Rutledge

Monday Made it # 8

Well, I'm linking up again with Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics and her Monday Made It Party.  Make sure you check out what others are doing and join in on the fun.  If it wasn't for this every week, I probably wouldn't be where I am at with all the things I need to do for my class, or be as organized as I will be this year.

So on to my Made Its.

Made - It - Exit Ticket Board(s)

I did mine a little different than the other ones I have seen.  I used library pockets, and did it over 3 boards.  I did this for a couple of reasons - 1) I live in portable land and with the humidity and wind or other elements when the door opens, there is no guarantee that the sticky notes will stay.  2) I have 3 classes through out the day, and if I don't have time to grab the slips from each class, I might not have enough space.  

So I see myself using index cards (over multiple days), and them sliding their index cards in to the slot as they leave.  

Made It # 2 - More Book Bags

 
I got 15 more bags done, thanks to my amazing Mother who helped me accomplish this while she was here this weekend.  Not sure what I would do without her.

So that means I have 12 green and 15 Red.    Still have 18 Green, 15 Red, and 30 Blue to go.  I had better work on a set a night if I want this finished, since I am back to school on MONDAY!!!!  YIKES!!!

Made It #3 - 

 I then started working on my writing process folders - 4 pocket folders that is.  I got this off pinterest.

If you want to know how to do this, please go here for instructions.
 
 Now for a little something different.

I need MONDAY MADE IT HELP!!!!!!

I posted this last Saturday, but realize a lot of people may not have seen it.  

Awhile back I had a Monday Made It # 3.

Then I pulled it out to show my mom this weekend the actual thing and when I went to unfold it, it was all stuck together.  Even with a hair dryer to try and allow the glue to melt, this is what I ended up with.

As you can see, the paper tore, and I couldn't even get the top two pieces apart.  It was a very sad moment.   I would love your suggestions on how to prevent this, because I would like to create it again.   I appreciate P Marksberry and their comment about a sealer.  

Well, till next week, I'm Off to finish creating and getting things done.  

Here is my current list:

13 Topic Binders (yep, didn't get anymore of those finished)
63 Book Bags
My Teacher Notebook - started but not finished
My Sub Notebook
75 Writing Folders
and classroom set up, I should stay pretty busy.  

YIKES, I had better stay BUSY!!!!  A Lot to do and not a lot of time.

Nicole Rutledge


 

HELP!!!

I need some major modge podge help.  Back in July I made a writing process line up so that my kids could mark where they were in the writing process.  It looked like this.

Last night I took it out to show my Mom, who wanted to see my projects in person, and it was all stuck together.  I had folded it to store it.  So now it looks like this:

As you can see when they got pulled apart, my pages ripped.  and I couldn't even get the top two apart.

I don't have a problem recreating this, but I would like to know how to prevent it from doing this again.  Was Modge Podge the wrong thing to use?  I will take any suggestions.  I think I'll Link Up with Tara and Monday Made It today so that someone might get a few more suggestions.

Thanks all my bloggie friends.

Nicole Rutledge

Monday Made It #7 on Tuesday

Well, if you caught my Monday Made it last week, you know that last week was kind of a blur. 

I started off in Dallas at Mary Kay Sapphire Seminar.  Oh, How much fun I had.

New Nail Colors!!!                            Dress made out of recycled             Future National Mundy
                                                                         boxes!                              Area (My Girlfriends).

I finished up in Dallas on Wednesday Morning and headed to Mardel's to get some laminating done (I had a 5 Feet Free coupon!).  After doing that, repacking, and getting my carpets cleaned, I headed over to my sisters for another Stitching Weekend.

Thursday Morning - Beth (my sister), and I headed down to Red Rock, Texas to Hideaway Hills Bed and Breakfast.  Oh my, what an amazing place.  It holds a max of 10 people in bungalows.  Has a separate great room, that they have set up for crafts.  Yes, that means 10 large tables with rolling comfortable chairs and lights already provided.  They have had quilters, scrappers, and stitchers all come.  Not to mention each meal we had was to die for and the owners just became a part of our group.  Oh how much fun. 

My project here was a stitched sampler.  This piece was started in March of 2009.  It is being completed by My mom, my sister, and myself.  Let me explain,  we each started our own piece (yes all the same design), and then are rotating it around so we each have the same completed piece, that each of us stitched on.

Here is the piece I worked on, my mom's:

The before I started my section (My Mom stitched this part):

Here is what I got done while I was there (I stitched):

Sorry, I couldn't get it to turn, but you should be able to see what I added.  The phrase so far on there is "With Silken Stitches Dost My Nee" (the last word will be needle).

We came back Sunday, and did I mention that while I drove my lovely sister cut out all 20 feet of laminated items for me.  YEA, BETH!!!  Then she asked if I had more laminating, and when I said yes, she said it is hers to cut out at night.  So I finished the last 15 feet of Laminating I had today.  Woo Hoo.

On to my school made its:  Yes I did do some of those.

I completed my Vocabulary in Context Binder to add with my other 5 I have done.

In case you didn't read last weeks post, I have printed off hard copies of lessons and reading passages for each "topic" and for the grades 2-6 from www.readworks.org.  With all the RTI and different levels I have in my 6th grade class', this allows me to have the information at my fingertips with out having to go web searching.

I also worked on creating book bags.

So, I know I could have bought actual book boxes, but when you need 90 (yes, 3 classes of 30), the next question is where to put them.  I don't have room for all those boxes.  Then I thought well I could just do canvas bags, okay on space, but that green thing called money, my budget just won't fit that.  I tried using gallon baggies last year, but they broke, and some non-fiction books just wouldn't fit.  So then with all the duck tape projects going around, I decided that maybe duck tape would fix the breaking problem(reinforce the edges and bottom).  The I started thinking about size and remembered those baggies I saw a few years back with the school bus' on them.  I couldn't find those, but Hefty had a 2.5 gallon Ziploc bag.  I decided to go with those.  12 for $4 wasn't bad, big enough for most non-fiction or picture books, and I got duck tape when it was on sales at Michael's for 2 for 7.  So I started off with one box of bags and tried it tonight.  I'm pretty happy with how they came out.  Now to find a storage idea, and see if they actually work. By the way, that is my son (Paul) who was helping me.

So after a busy week, then a busy Monday with my kids I got back from their Dad's, I decided I should like up with Tara for her Monday Made It.

I start back to school on the 20th, so not much more time and so much to do.  Another :

13 Topic Binders
78 Book Bags
My Teacher Notebook - started but not finished
My Sub Notebook
Exit Ticket Poster
and classroom set up, I should stay pretty busy.

Till next Monday,  Have fun linking up with Tara and seeing what others made.
If you want to get some of that awesome nail polish, check out my website at www.marykay.com/nrutledge

Nicole Rutledge
 

Monday Made It #6!!!!

Well, here goes nothing.  I am posting this from my phone because I am in Dallas at Mary Kay Sapphire Seminar!!!  Woo Hoo Party Time.  Yes, that is right, on top of being a teacher, parent, and stitcher, I am an independent beauty consultant.  Interested in skin care, body care, color cosmetics and more?  Then check out my website at www.marykay.com/nrutledge and let me guide you to amazing things.

Okay, okay, I'm back on track now.  Back to school stuff.  Well, this is what I "made".
Well, rats!!!  Can't figure out how to insert the image off my phone, I'll explain instead. 

I have printed off over the past few weeks lesson passages and ideas from my district web site and www.readworks.org to create separate binders for the different concepts in reading (summary, main idea, inference, etc.).  The binders are coming together slowly, but I'm still working on it. 

Then there is the stuff I printed on card stock - Parts of the Daily 5, CAFE Headers and Strategies, Daily 5 bookmarks, Calendar Pieces, Affix Word Wall, figurative language posters, genre posters, and I think 1 other thing.  Okay, I know not really a made it, but a heck of a lot of printing, and then at least an hour of cutting and trimming to get ready to laminate.  Thank you Mardels for the coupon for 5 feet of free laminating.  At least it will save some money (oh, and they accidentally gave me 2 :))!!!  So as for later this week, I will be a laminating, cutting machine, because as you can tell, I only have a little laminating!!!!

Well - Ta Ta for now, post more about seminar later, and the another stitching weekend coming up, then I guess it is back to reality.

Tara, sorry but the only way I know how to put a link to the Monday made it site with my phone is this way - www.4thgradefrolic.blogspot.com.  I'll try to rdmebed to grab your button on Wednesday when I'm back at home.

Nicole

Monday Made It - #? for me

Hello All,

Well last week was crazy and I am so behind.  Behind on Guiding Readers book study, Daily 5 Book Study, and now CAFE book study.  I plan on catching up today between doctors appointments and other things, so today will be a multiple blog day (sorry).

I finally got the craft projects I wanted to get done on Thursday.  My brain just wasn't in school last week, and it was probably due to all the divorce stuff I was handling (that's okay because I was ready for it to be done with).

Here is all what I completed thursday night while watching TV, and procrastinating on house work.

#1 - No Name Board -
         There have been so many out there, so I can't tell you exactly where I got my inspiration, maybe a little from all.   I kept mine simple.  (sorry its the wrong direction)






















# 2 -   Table Tubs and Buckets
I got the tubs from the dollar store and the buckets from the dollar spot at Target.  If you go looking for these and can't find the orange one, it is because I spray painted a silver one orange.  The silver one (s - don't forget I painted one orange) had a chalkboard spot on them to write and I just put my labels over them.   I created the labels on my computer and then went Modge Podge crazy (well at least for me). 

I plan on the tubs holding community crayons, colored pencils, scissors, glue sticks, and maybe markers.   As for the buckets, I am thinking one at each table each day for them to put their trash in and then empty at the end of class, just maybe this week keep little papers off the floor.

 

 

#3 - Where are you board -

Again  I know I have seen this in circle format somewhere on our Monday Made It's, but I am not sure who started it.   I got the two rectangular trays from Dollar store and took some spray paint to them.   The magnets are the clear class rocks from Michaels in the flower section with Modge Podged numbers that I created off my computer and magnets glued on.  

#4 - Well I had extra of those clear rocks and decided I should make some more magnets from the stitching crew I am getting together with the first week of August.  Back to the computer for some fun pictures and more Modge Podge.  Hope they like them.

#5 - Tuesday at my Mary Kay Meeting we had a party and I was responsible for the fruit salad.  Loved my fruit bowl and had to share.

# 6- I need your help here.  At my big stitch weekend a couple of weeks ago, the ladies gave us these medal siding things.  They weren't a big hit, but I knew I should be able to use them in my classroom somehow.  I ended up getting mine plus the 4 others from the people at my table (like I said, they weren't a hit).  I spray painted them to match my buckets as a start (I know I am missing yellow, didn't have yellow spray paint at the time).  I'm not sure what to do with them?  I have thought of stacking them to show class volume, putting them on my table for the kids to request bathroom, etc, or maybe one on my table to show busy or free for when I am in small groups.  I would love to have your ideas.  Here is a picture so you know what I am talking about.

Hope you all have a Marvelous Monday and Don't forget to Link Up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for all of this weeks Monday Made Its.

Monday Made It #4

Well, I am back from my wonderful birthday weekend and all I have for a Monday Made It is for my home from my trip.

I got to attend a stitching retreat put on by The Silver Needle in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  I was able to join all of these women.

That would be 121 women representing 24 states and Canada.  For Thursday and all of Friday till 5 we got to work on what every project we wanted.  So there were lots of neat projects going on.  During that time I was able to finish a piece I have been working on for months.  (unfortunately during school, I don't get to stitch daily).   Here is what I finished on Friday.

Friday evening the ladies at the Stitching Needle had the designers of Bent Creek Designs come and give us projects and teach us some new stitches.  YEA!!

Here where the projects we received Friday:                          

      Saturday's Projects:        

 

Both of these ladies also helped us  make these magnets.  One is just cutesy and the pink one is a pin cushion.  Here is a pictures.  

To finish up Saturday we got some awesome gifts:

 And I finished one of Friday's Teaching Projects:

I guess I now have to get ready for some school made its, but I sure did have a great amount of fun in Tulsa with my mom and my sister and all the women.

Till next week.  Happy Make It Monday.  I can't wait to see who else posts things on Tara's Monday Made It.  Link up and see what others have done and post yours as well.