I would like to introduce my class to you!

This is my 16th year teaching and my very first year teaching a combination class. Yep! You heard that right! I have a combination class of 1st and 2nd graders. I have taught both grade levels before just never together. I have already found it quite challenging. 

This didn't come about because we had too many and couldn't make another class in 1st and 2nd grade. We actually have three 1st/2nd grade combination classes. We are trying a new model out and we hope it works out well for the students. My class will be the acceleration group. We will be moving quickly. And we already have in math. With testing beginning Tuesday, Language Arts is off to a slow start, but as soon as it's over I will have my children off and running in that area also.

Luckily, every parent gave me permission for their child to be featured on my blog so you will be able to see my whole class throughout the year working on their activities. Being that I have two grade levels, I will be spending a great deal of time teaching in small groups and in centers. 

Each morning, my students come in and work on their morning work. There is a 20 minute window of time where the students are coming in from breakfast so it is vital that they have something to do. I was so, so very fortunate to find Emily Ames' morning work bundles! I looked all over TpT for morning work for my kiddos. Her product was not too easy and not too hard, but just right! I was very impressed that she included some additional pages for differentiation if I needed them. If you would like to see Emily's morning work products just click on the picture below.

For math this year, I decided I need to turn to Interactive Notebooks to help me with my small group instruction. Again, I went searching and found that Blair Turner had exactly what I was looking for. Everything I needed was there for the whole year! I purchased both grade levels and started using them right away. I love them! The kids love them! They really look forward to using them and I think that says it all! Just click the picture below to see all of Blair's Interactive Notebook Bundles.

I also turned to Jamie from Not So Wimpy Teacher for her Tools for Interactive Notebooks and for her ideas on setting up my math groups. Thank you Jamie!!!

So far the rest of the day has been handwriting, review, and some whole group lessons that both grade levels can do. As soon as testing is over we will begin reading groups. I plan on using Reading A-Z while the other two combination classes will be using other reading series we have in the building.

Well there you have it! An adorable photo of my kids at the top of this post (I didn't even tell them to pose!) and a run down of some what's happening in my class so far this year. More to come!

Using Your Google Calendar to Stay Organized

I've always considered myself a pretty organized person even when I was a little girl. I think my mom would agree with me on that! I try to keep my ducks in a row. That's just how I am. As teachers, we always have those little and big ducks we need to keep in a row. Sometimes it is a little hard for some teachers to do that more than others.

I worked with a wonderful teacher for many years. He made everyone in the school laugh. He was awesome! But his 'ducks' were anything but in a row! Actually, that would make me laugh too! If all the teachers had two weeks to turn in a form to the principal and that form was due at noon on Friday, well, you would see him flying down the hall at 11:59. The form would be in his hand, his shirt flying out behind him, and he would slide right into the office like he was sliding into a base at a baseball game. I expected to hear the principal yell out, "you're out!" but she never did. (She didn't have a sense of humor.) Anyways, here was me watching and wondering why he never remembered. But I knew. He didn't remember because he didn't have anything to remind him.

We all need some sort of way to keep track. To keep those ducks in a row. I assume that everyone knows all about the Google calendar or that they know how to use it, but since I have shown it to a number of people who have asked me, I know that there are many that don't. Last year a fellow teacher made a comment that I never forget anything. Guess what? I do forget! But here is my secret to why I look like I don't.

All you need is a gmail account. If you don't have one it's free. I have a gmail account with my school system and my own personal one as well. Every gmail account has it's own calendar app. This calendar app is going to do the work for you. I love it! It's easy and it's reliable!

Play around with your calendar. You may find some settings or features that work for you that I don't need or use. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

For more technology tips, check out this weekly linky by clicking the picture below.