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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Parent Communication Log - FREEBIE

As the year is coming to a close I look back and think of what I did that I was really happy with and what I could have improved on.  Luckily this year I had way more in the "happy" category than the "needs improvement" category.  One thing I could use improvement on this year was communication with parents.  Now I'm not just talking about conferences and phone calls but recording and keeping track of who I sent what to and when.  So I decided that next year I wanted to try using a Parent Communication Log.  Well I scoured the internet and there wasn't really anything (free) that just jumped out at me, so I decided to create one!

Since it's Teacher Appreciation Week and I feel like this is something everyone will need at some point, I am giving it away for FREE... FOREVER!  Even though I won't use it till next year I am actually pretty excited about it!  I'm going to get mine bound this weekend but you could also put it in a small binder.  I have so many binders in my room and if it's bound it will actually fit between my computer and phone nicely.

I want to show you how I plan on using it in my classroom and would love to know how you would use it or if you would add any other pages! 

The cover of the Communication Log is an Apple Design and it is specifically for next year (every year I will update).  There is a place for your name, grade level, and school.
 

For the class roster I added numbers for multiple reasons.  First, it's always nice to just glance and see how many students you have in your class.  Second, in our class every student gets a number and that is their number for multiple things all year.  The same number they get in class, they will get in the Communication Log.  This will also be helpful later on in the Student Logs.
 
 

There are 5 different pages for the address book.  The first picture is the first page of addresses that you see in the book.  The second page is the same layout for the next four pages except that the graphic is sometimes different and there is a new quote for each page.
 
 


Next up is the actual communication log (or student log as I like to call it).  Everyone might have their own way to go about it but here is what I did.  I printed off about 25 of these, front and back.  Each student will receive one sheet (six logs).  Now I know that some students will use up WAY more than one sheet and others might not even fill one up, but I didn't want to use up too much paper yet so we'll give it a go and see how it works.  Now if you have this in a binder then it doesn't matter and you can keep adding papers as you need.
 
Breakdown of log: There is a place for the student's name, parent/guardian's name, date and time, reason/outcome, who requested the conference and how.  I use the small box on the bottom right for the student's number (I spoke about it in the class roster section).  It makes it easier to find a student's page without having to use tabs.  You could use it for just page numbers though, totally your call!
 
 

Last but not least the Communication Tracker.  This is another simple way to kind of tally or see how many times you have (or have not) communicated with a parent.  I like to send home positive postcards and what not but with so many students I can never remember who got what and when.  With this tracker I can now see who has never received any "fun mail" or who might need to come in for a conference.  Instead of check marks, I put what form of communication we had and I included a key for you as well.
 

 
And the back cover...
 


That's pretty much it in a nut shell!  Nothing overly fancy but it is still fun and I won't mind looking at it everyday :o)  If you want your free copy head on over to my TPT store!  I hope you enjoy this little treat for next year (don't pretend like y'all aren't all thinking about it) and have a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Week!

 
 


Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Tried It Tuesday: Tagxedo

I'm linking up with Holly from Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday!  As I mentioned in May's Monthly Market, this year for our Mother's Day craftivity we are using Tagxedo.   It's this digital word art website that allows you to type in words and it turns those simple words into amazing works of art.  I have been tossing around lots of ideas on how to incorporate these works of art into Mother's Day and I think I have finally just decided on a large card.  Mostly because we're running out of time and I cannot put it off any longer?!  It's nothing overly fancy but I really like it and can expand more on it next year.

Once you're on the homepage, you will click on the Create tab in the top right.  Here is where the magic happens!  I just played around with it and figured it out but I will tell you some quick tips to get you started and life a little less confusing.

1. Load = type in the student's words
2. Save = save :o)  I've been saving it as 1MP and it's great quality!
3. Color Respin = change which words are which colors
4. Theme = choose your color scheme.  The border around your color block tells what color your background is.
5. Font = font :o)  You can upload your own font very easily though :o)
6. Orientation = change the words from jumble to horizontal to vertical to up and down, etc.
7. Shape - you can pick a new shape.  Our art teacher did their silhouettes by taking a picture of their heads on a white background and uploading it :o)  I typed "MOM" on Word and saved it as a picture and it filled in the word MOM :o)

That's all I've got for now but I'm sure you can play around and figure out A LOT more.  Here are some of our examples from today:




We are going to cut out the heart and place it on fancy scrapbook paper and what not to make cards.  Should look something like this but I'm going to let them get as creative as they want.

This one's for my momma!

I see this for LOTS of things!
  • End of the year - students write down something nice about each person and I type it in.  The shape will be of their name and it is a going away gift.  This would be a GREAT self confidence booster, especially for my guys going into middle school.
  • Teacher Appreciation Week (even for your teammates)
  • Mother's Day/Father's Day
  • Back to School - open house have an apple shape of all the things they have to look forward to this year!  (I'm definitely doing this)
What would you use it for?  Don't forget to check out my TPT store for the Teacher Appreciation Sale today and tomorrow!


Monday, May 6, 2013

200 Followers Giveaway Winner and Teacher Appreciation Sale!

I have to apologize for no Social Studies Sunday yesterday.  We had a little mishap with our computer and had to trade it in.  On the plus side, I got a new computer AND was able to save all my files and pictures!  It almost got ugly there folks, lol.  Today though I have LOTS of giveaway and sale news! 

A big congratulations to Bren P. for winning my 200 Follower Giveaway!!!!


Thank you to everyone who entered and supported the amazing women who donated to this giveaway and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who donated.  200 followers is a big compliment but the kindness y'all have shown me is an even bigger compliment.  I have made many friends along the way and I can't wait to meet more.  You all have made me a better teacher and I appreciate you for it :o)

That being said, it's time for a SALE!  Everything in my store will be 20% off!  Don't forget to add on TPT's code and get a total of 28% off.  I'm very excited to fill up my cart with all the goodies I've been hoarding saving in my wish list.

thanks to Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs for the wonderful graphic

Last but not least my friend Holly from Fourth Grade Flipper is having her 500 Follower Giveaway and has some AMAZING prizes!  Head on over and enter, you better believe I'm heading over to enter right now, lol.  If you've never checked out her blog now is the time!  She always has great ideas and a wonderful linky on Tuesdays.


Our peach pie is just coming out of the oven so I MUST go! Once again, Happy Teacher Appreciation Week y'all!


Saturday, May 4, 2013

Prefix Parlor Pin It and Win It Flash Giveaway!

Teacher Appreciation Week is starting and I wanted to have a little Pin It and Win It Flash Giveaway for all the fantastic teachers out there.  This will only last until midnight tonight!!!  Prefix Parlor is a super cute game that I use with small groups and during Daily 5 at one of the literacy stations.  There are three different sets (sets 4 and 5 coming later tonight or tomorrow).  Each set contains five different "prefix cones",  15 "root word scoops", three blank scoops (so you can add other root words of your choice), a Prefix Parlor Menu, and ten Enrichment Cards to further expand their learning!




It is a wonderful review after we learn the different prefixes but can also be used as an exploration center.  Even if your students have never learned these particular prefixes, they will be able to use their context clues and dictionary skills to decode the vocabulary terms and understand and master what each prefix means.

Three sets are available at the moment!  Pin one of the images back to this post and leave these three things in the comments section below to receive your set:

1. Link back to your pin 
2. Your email
3. Which set you want

Once that is done I will email you the set of your choice!

Set 1: un-, re-, pro-, pre-, mis-


Set 2: anti-, dis-, ex-, non-, under-


Set 3: bi-, de-, en-, co-, tri-


I would REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate it if once you received your Prefix Parlor set, you would head over to my Facebook page and leave a comment about what you think under this post!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week y'all!


Friday, May 3, 2013

Friday Flashback and Five for Friday

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!!!!  That means I'm linking up with Doodlebugs Teaching for Five for Friday and Teaching Maddeness for Friday Flashback!




1. Last night was Basket Night/Book Fair and it was a HUGE success!  There was a great turn out and lots of my students were able to attend.  My room moms are the best and created a Harry Potter basket for our classroom!  We all donated a little something to it and our fantastic art teacher and librarian donated books 1-7 so it turned out to be a huge hit!



2. The author of Dragon Run, Pat Matthews, was also at our Book Fair to sign copies of his book.  My teammate and I snagged a picture and signed copy before we had to announce the raffle winners for the baskets!  All in all, a  pretty great night!



3. Well I finally did it.  I created a Facebook page for Teaching with a Touch of Twang!  I would love for you to click the link below to become a fan and follow me on Facebook.  There I will post things from my blog, ideas and giveaways from my blogging buddies, websites and other special giveaways!



4. I have also decided to join the Instagram craze!  My username is... you guessed it - teachingwithatouchoftwang.  What the Teacher Wants and Apples and ABC's have collaborated together and created #teachertalktuesday.  Every Tuesday I (and many other amazing teachers) will post one picture from our school day.  I have already started following some of my fellow blogging buddies and am already getting so many ideas for next year!  If you already have Instagram leave your username in the comments section, I would love to follow you as well!  Don't forget to link up by clicking the picture below.



5. This last one literally happened in the last hour of the school day.  My media specialist came to me with an offer from Scholastic that we couldn't pass up.  They are offering certain schools a chance to participate in a pilot program called QR Booktalks.  They send you a box of not yet published books and your students have a short amount of time to read one and create a "book teaser trailer" by writing a short summary and recording a book teaser trailer on camera.  We had to write a "pick us" letter and get it delivered by 3:00 PM today because there are three schools in the running and only two can participate.  Fingers crossed that we get picked!

Don't forget to link up your ideas for May's Monthly Market: Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, and the End of the Year and enter my 200 Follower Giveaway (open till May 5th).  You have all month to add your ideas and check out what other people are doing as well!

 

Check out Doodlebugs Teaching and Teaching Maddeness and link up your week in review.  Happy weekend y'all!


Thursday, May 2, 2013

Currently May

I'm linking up today with Farley from Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for her May Currently!  I'm actually being REALLY bad right now.  I should be getting ready for work but tonight with the Book Fair, Basket Night, and Family Dinner it's going to be hectic busy and I won't be able to post till really late.  So it's happening now instead of blow drying my hair, lol.


Listening:  I just LOVE this soundtrack (and movie)!  It always gets me dancing and jumping around, which is like working out... LOL.

Loving: I've reached 200 followers!!!  It's very exciting and to celebrate I'm having a giveaway with LOTS of wonderful products from some AMAZING bloggers and a gift card to TPT!  If you haven't already entered click on the link below and put your name in for the raffle on May 5th.


Thinking: I told you yesterday on May's Monthly Market about my Mother's Day craft that my kiddos will be making, but after playing around with Tagxedo I think I'm going to change it up a little.  Still the same idea of digital art, just a little altering with the silhouette possibly.  I'll keep you updated with the final product!

Wanting:  Is anyone else in suspense?!  I think I'm more nervous that I won't be with my team any more.  Our team is concerned that there might be some switching people around if they've been in the same grade for a while, so even if I'm not moved my fantabulous team might be :o(  BUT then we might not change anything... Haha it's so nerve wracking?!

Needing: I have just been exhausted this week!  I feel like today is Friday and it's not :o(  I can't seem to wake up and I can't wait for summer to be here when I don't have to hear that mean ol' alarm anymore.

Summer Bucket List: Pretty simple here.  We're adopting Common Core next year and there is a high possibility I'll be teaching all the subjects so there will be A LOT of creating new curriculum in this house.  Second, (my absolute favorite) read!  I want to read some professional books, like my new Word Nerds, some fun relaxing novels, and next year's Sunshine State books.  Last but not least, I would love to clean out my classroom and organize everything into tubs and bins and see what I actually have in that hot mess.  Fingers crossed I'll be able to go in during the summer some!

May's Monthly Market opened up yesterday!  Don't forget to link up your ideas for Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day and/or the End of the Year and see what everyone else is doing in their classrooms for these celebrations as well.  Click on the link below to link up.  I can't wait to see every one's ideas :o)



Have a great day and happy Thursday y'all!


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

May's Monthly Market and GIVEAWAY

It's that time again for Monthly Market!  To participate all you have to do is write a post about one, two, or all three of the topics for the month and link back up to share your ideas.  They can be ideas you've already tried, things you want to try (hello Pinterest!), or products that you've used or plan on using.  The whole point of the market is to swap or trade ideas with people in the same situation as you are.  You can link up all month as well.  This month we are celebrating Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day and the End of the Year (VERY excited to be celebrating that one!). 


Cinco de Mayo:
Is it awful that we really don't do anything to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the classroom?  I usually eat lots of salsa though at home if that compensates for it??? LOL  I would LOVE to hear what some other classrooms do and get some great ideas.

Mother's Day:
Click here for last year's Mother's Day gift: Mom's Gazette.  The kids had a lot of fun creating a newspaper for their mom.  Thanks Martha Stewart for the front page template!  Since there was no back we created an Author's Spotlight (the student's favorites in fifth grade), a BioPoem and coupons for Mom to use!

 

This year I want to make silhouettes of the students with a little twist.  The picture below was my "pinspiration."  Now the twist is that instead of pretty scrapbook paper for the background, I want students to write either twenty different adjectives that describe their mom, or maybe ten reasons why she's the best mom ever, and have them continually repeat like digital art behind the silhouette.  It won't be perfect and some words will get cut off but since it continually repeats down the page you're bound to see it again somewhere else.  Our amazing art teacher showed me this cool site called Tagxedo that will help out with all that and I'm VERY excited to get started.  I'm going to try and make a tester tomorrow so fingers crossed!  I will post pictures of the final product and tell you more about my Tagxedo experience next week for Fourth Grade Flipper's Tried It Tuesday :o)


End of the Year:
The end of the year is always so crazy for fifth grade?!  We have the maturation video (yikes!),  Sunshine State Party, Fifth Grade Party, Safety Patrol Party,  Sunshine State Feast, Book Fair, Award Ceremony, etc.  You get the point.  Since there is all this going on and it is during the day, my kids are always being pulled out of the classroom so it's rare that I have them all together for activities.

One thing I love to do though is Paper Plate Awards.  They aren't the "fancy paper" kind of awards but I think the kids actually prefer these because they are designed and decorated just for them.  It's unique and special and shows that I paid attention to them over the year and I really "GET" them and appreciate them.
(Not from my classroom)

Cannot forget the new monthly writing prompt calendar for our Daily 3: Writing Connection Station!  The first three people to link up will get a copy for free!!!


Go ahead and post your amazing ideas as well!  If you do please include the button and a link back to this post.  Also remember to comment on the blog before and after yours (who doesn't love comments?!).  Don't forget that my 200 Followers Giveaway is still going on until May 5th so be sure and enter for some FANTABULOUS prizes - yep prizes, plural!