Next Year: Writing Binder/Folder and Freebie!

   This is something that I ended up implementing towards the end of the school year because it was really simple and I felt that I would be beneficial to my students.

   We had been using writing folders, but are folder were made from paper and were falling apart towards the middle of the school year. Now truth be told, some of this could have been saved if I had put their papers in instead of them, but then again that just wastes my time for doing other things. Also students need to learn how to place papers inside something correctly anyways. 

   I had seen on Pinerest the writing goals poster and I really loved the idea, though I decided to change that and place it as the front page in the student's writing binder to remind them what they need to be working on. I would meet with some of my students everyday during writing time throughout the week and we would check to see if they completed this goal or not. Their writing team would also look at that to help them when checking their writing. 

   Other writing tools in the binder included, alphabet chart, digraphs chart, vowels chart, writing checklist, sights chart, and color words.

   In my packet I have included different writing checklists as the year progresses because I start to expect more from my students. I also later in the year I will include the second sight word list, digraphs, and vowels chart. I add them after I have teach my students about them. 

   You can getting the whole writing packet for free at my Teachers Pay Teachers store. 

End of First School Year and Reflection

   Today was officially the last school day for teachers and yesterday was the last day with the students. I seriously can not believe how fast the school year went by. I feel like it was only yesterday that I first found out that I got the position. It felt really weird walking around my bare and semi empty classroom. 

   I will always have a special place in my heart for my first class (don't all teachers), though at the same time most of them are ready to go to first grade. It may be weird,but I am excited for next school year because I have all these new ideas that I want to use. I know that I will also be busy creating things this summer for next school year too. 

   When I think back over the course of the whole school year I am proud of my first year and thing that overall things went very smoothly. I didn't have issues with any of the other teachers and most importantly the parents. My principal evened mentioned how she was kind of surprise that she didn't get any complaints about me which she thought she would since I was late coming in, new to the school, and a first year teacher. It felt really good to hear that from her. 

Goals for next School Year:

- Planning - There was a brand new curriculum and not just for me, but for the whole county. I went through it once, so I know second time will be slightly easier. I want to be able to plan ahead and not just try making it day by day sometimes.

- Guided Math - I feel really comfortable with guided reading, but I don't feel that at all with guided math. I am going to be reading up about it from other teachers and see what will work best for me. 

- Games, Activities, and Centers - I plan for next school year to get rid of seatwork/independent work during guided reading. It was just a lot of work trying to find/create work for all my students and I don't want to do that next year. My students like doing it and I didn't like grading it. So next year they will get to choose two center options during that time. That means I need to find lots of fun game and activities for that to do. Luckily we have an amazing place called TPT with lots of wonderful creations. 

Only One Week Left

   I kept believe there is only one week left of my first year as a teacher. These last few months have just flew by. You can tell that because I didn't post anything on here during the months of March and April. 

   I am both sad and glad that the end of the year is almost here. For the past month the students have been making me a little stir crazy. They have not been listening as well and I think that is mostly from having indoor recess for almost three weeks in a row. 

   I also worry about if I taught my students all that I possibly could before they go to First grade. I don't want their teachers next year wondering why they don't know something when they should. 

   Teachers last day is on the 17th It is going to be strange not having the students walk through the door that day like they have been since September.