How to {{MAXIMIZE}} your Planning Period

Look. If you're not a teacher, you won't get this.

If you are a teacher, there is no need to explain the sacredness {is that even a word?!} of a teacher's planning period.

I've worked in the "real world" and I've worked in the classroom. Two *TOTALLY* different jungles (on many, many levels).

When you get your next year's schedule, you look at *three* things: (1) Lunch time, (2) the time blocked off to teach your curriculum and (3) your planning period.

I've worked in 3 different districts. I've had planning periods in the morning, the afternoon and as short as 45 minutes and as long as an hour and a half (seriously. first thing in the morning. 1 1/2 hours...it was *truly* glorious. BUT...at that school, we stayed til 5:00...and that's a totally different blog post).

I've also had required *weekly* meetings during my planning periods in one district, and in another, total freedom to run an errand outside of school if needed.

No matter what my planning period has looked like in the past, I've used the minutes I've been given to ssstttreeeetttcchhhhh and sqqqqquuueezzzeee every last ounce of time I could so that I could leave as soon as I was allowed to after school. (Yes, I'm that teacher).

Now, I'm not saying you can't have any fun, or go pee or drink a Diet Coke and eat a brownie during your planning period.

Some days, you just gotta eat a whole bag of Starbursts jellybeans with your team mates while "discussing school matters" during your sacred, golden, heavenly moments  with adults behind closed doors. {Not that I've ever done this...or...anything. *Ahem*}

...buuuutttt anyways...Most days, I maximized my planning time to the best of my ability. Yes, I took home many papers to grade (just ask my dear husband), but I wanted to make sure I used the time I was given to get done *as much* as I possibly could to plan and prepare for the following week.

Here's how I did it...

Have a Curriculum Map

The best way to ensure that your planning time is spent actually planning for the next week is by setting a pacing guide for the year before school starts.

Some districts require you to do this, some don't.

Some districts have these already made for you, some don't.

If you already have a curriculum map, then you are set!

If you have never created a curriculum map, I highly advise it.

There is no right or wrong way to create a curriculum map (unless the "higher-ups" say there is, then you nod your head, say, "Yes, sir!" and do it how they want you to). Some are super detailed and others just list skills and CCSS covered each week of the school year.

Sunny Days in Second Grade has an *awesome post* about creating a curriculum map and she even has a template for you to use! {Leave her love if you use it! It's great!}

Here are some other examples I have found. Do what works best for you and helps you to know which direction you are going each week.

http://www.forourfamily.info/curriculum-map/

http://www.jeffutecht.com/personalizing-education-in-a-standards-based-system/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/101894010292844948/

And here's another {{FREE}} Curriculum Map freebie from A Modern Teacher on TpT.

If you'd like something super basic, here is my 1st 9 Weeks At a Glance Post-It planner page. You can get all 4-9 weeks {FOR FREE} in my TpT store.

Once you know what you are planning for the next week, it's just as much work (if not more) gathering the resources and materials you need for your lesson planning. 

If I needed to make a parent phone call or write a parent note, I'd do that first thing before starting on any of my planning. Don't let parent communication slip because you feel overwhelmed. 

If you have meetings each week, use this planning guide so that you can plan out each day of your planning period with Post-It notes. 

Each day of the week, I determined what I would be planning for and doing each day.  

For example, most Mondays were shot. It was the start of the week and for whatever reason, my planning periods are always taken no matter what district I was in. Also, my team would discuss what was coming up for the week and sometimes we'd tweak the curriculum map if needed. 

Therefore, on Tuesdays, I set aside this day to type out my lesson plans. That's all I did on Tuesday.

On Wednesdays, I made copies that I needed for the next week and stored them in labeled file folders and in a wire wrack on my small group desk to grab and go when I needed them for the next week on a particular day.

Thursdays I would get the trade books or other materials I'd need for the next week. If I needed certain anchor charts made, posters blown up or activities made for literacy centers, I'd work on this.

Fridays were catch-up days. If I had a meeting one of the other days, I'd just push everything back a day. 

Ok. I'm just going to say this. Blame it on me if people start calling you the "school hermit". 

Buuuuuttttttttt..... Shut the door. 

There. I said it for you. 

Drop your kids off at specials, run to the bathroom before the school nurse has to call your mom to bring you an extra pair of undies, grab a drink (like, from the Coke machine-kinda-drink) and head back to your room and Shut. The. Door. 

Do what needs to be done so that you can leave on time, or if you want to chat after school with your friends, you can do that with a clear "planning conscience". 

I never worried about closing my door. It's just what I did. I wasn't unsocial. I was just productive. 

As stated above, some days you just need to sit. And chat and eat and spill your guts with your friends. Been there, done that too many times to count. 

Don't let the time get away from you.

Unless dictated by the district (been there, done that, bought the shirt), your planning period is for you and your sanity to get things done.

Say "No!" to:

• wasted time
• disorganization
• no plan
• unnecessary gab sessions that leave you farther behind for the week

What is your favorite planning or organization tip for other teachers?

ZONK! {A Fun Review Game}

I have the *ultimate* review game for you! If you just joined my Periscope Party Hop session, then you've seen this game previewed *briefly*. I wanted to share this idea with you because I know you will love it. Most importantly, your kids will too!

This is a great game to practice:

• following directions
• responsibility as an individual
• responsibility as a teammate
• working together as a team
• listening skills
• basic math skills (addition)

When to Use this Game

I use it as a review game before a test or quiz. However, I introduce Zonk! the first week of school. I use it to review procedures, rules, and expectations. 

Also, sometimes at the end of the school day, my kids just wanted to play Zonk! with their vocabulary words or math facts. Hey, learning and fun mixed together!? Psstt. You got this.

How to Play

1) Split students up into 2 groups. (I typically did boys and girls, but you could do by table groups or transportation groups, or whatever works best for you. The number of groups doesn't matter.)

2) To determine which team goes first, choose someone from each group to draw two Zonk! cards. The player with the highest score has their team go first.

3) Simply ask the first team the first question. 

Example: "Jimmy's team. How do we walk down the hall correctly?"

{Sometimes I allow the teams to confer with one another before they can answer. Other times, it's each player for themselves when answering questions, but earning points for a team.}

Johnny: "We walk with our feet and faces forward, hands to our side."

Teacher: "Yes, that is correct. Come draw cards."

If Johnny would have gotten this question incorrect,  I would have moved to the first player of the next team, by asking the same question.

4) The student then comes up to the front and draws a card.

5) The cards are marked by 3 things:

- A point value (I had my points in increments of 5 points from 5-40, with 40 being the largest point value they could draw on one card.)

- The word ZONK!

- A fun color question (This just added to the suspense of drawing another card. My color questions were: "Choose a card that's the color of your family vehicle." | "Choose a card that's the color of your shirt you have on." - If I had on gray or black, I never had a gray or black card. So, I told them just to choose their favorite color in this instance. | "Choose your favorite color." | "Choose your best friend's favorite color.")

6) If a student draws a point value, they have the option to keep that card value, or keep going to add to their team's total.

7) If a student draws a ZONK! card, they lose all their points for just that round.

For Example:

If the girl's team draws out a total of 50 points in round 1, then when they draw cards out for round 2, they begin with the team's total of 50 points. During round 2, if they draw out a total of 100 points, then at the end of round 2, the girl's team has a total of 150 points. If during round 2, a girl draws out 100 points, and chooses to keep going and draws a ZONK! card next, then they lose their 100 points from round 2, but still keep their original 50 points.

8) If the team collects points during a round, it's the team's responsibility to record their own points on the board. {My rule: If the person that just got points during that round forgets to write their points on the board and sits down, their points go to another team. This just teaches them to follow directions, listen closely, and be responsible for their role as a team mate.}

How to make ZONK! Cards:

My original set of ZONK! cards are in storage, but I had these foam squares at home to show you how it works. (Ummm...because all teachers keep foam shapes in their houses. Duh.)

I got mine at the Dollar Tree years ago and they have lasted since I first made them in January 2008. I recommend the foam shapes because even laminated card stock wouldn't have held up this well.

I just wrote the point values, ZONK!, and color questions with a black Sharpie onto the foam shapes. 

This game is a for sure winner! I still have kids from my very first year teaching that asks if I still play ZONK! with my students. It's like, "ummm...is that all you remembered about me that year!?" haha 

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments. I hope your kids love this game as much as all mine have in the past. 

My LAST Day of VA-CAY {FREEBIE} Giveaway

Yes, it's that time of the year again for me. Today is officially my last day of summer vacation. Poot.

The summer seriously went by so fast! I visited family in Kentucky for 3 weeks and my sister had the sweetest baby boy, Carter Eli. He was born on July 6th and I just LOVE his little stinkin' face to death! I can't WAIT until Christmas to see him again! {Enjoy the mini brag fest below...}

Me and my sister...she looks great about to go into labor! :) 

Two days old in the hospital...our sweet little froggy boy! 

I mean, who wouldn't WANT to pinch those sweet cheeks off!?!?! 

             

                   I love this little face! It's like he's saying, "OH! Aunt Lindsay! What BIG hair you have!" haha

And the NEWEST one...precious!!! I LOVE him!

Isn't he just PRECIOUS?!?!?...ok...moving on...

AND...this was the FIRST summer since I was 16 {and I'm 27 now} that I didn't have a job {well, other than TpT, but which is seriously a part-time job all in itself it seems!}. Can you believe it?! I was SO excited!

So, in honor of my LAST day of summer, I've decided 3 things:

1) To stay in my PJ's all day long {and paint my toenails while I'm at it...}. ALL day long.

AND...I even have polka dot pajamas. 

2) I'm going to drink a whole pot of coffee {because I do good on a school day if I actually get a cup in} as s-l-o-w-l-y as I want to and freely go to the bathroom as many times as I want without having to wait for a planning period or a random passer-by to cover my classroom.

2 1/2) Watch Grey's Anatomy re-runs on Netflix while drinking my entire pot of coffee.

3) Give away A TON of freebies and products from my TpT and TN store!!! WOOHOO!!! Are you excited?!?! Oh man, I know I am! :)

First, you must know that we have to use our imaginations a little bit today. Last time I was at school, I took pictures of some parts of my room, but not others. Therefore, some of the freebies, you will have to imagine what they look like finished. Also, because I do have so much I need to finish and laminate and get hung up, I could go up to school and get that done, but over my dead body on my last day of summer break I'll just wait until next week to do that. So, I have pictures of my products, just not laminated and hung up. 

So, here goes! {Click on each picture to download the product from Google Docs.}

I made these {CUTE} little numbers using one of my Clip Art files {found here!} for my "Check In" board that will be on the side of filing cabinet. Each child is assigned a number, based on alphabetical order, and each morning, they will place their number under "I'm Here" or "Absent" {see next picture}. One of my classroom jobs is "Secretary". Each morning, the secretary will report to me who is absent based on this board {there will be a list of each number that correlates with each student listed in the classroom, however, the kids always remember whose number is whose faster than I ever do!}. Each afternoon, the secretary moves all numbers back over to the absent side. I am going to laminate each, and hot glue a magnet on the back. WOOHOO!

Ignore the coffee table...Envision this on a filing cabinet....you see it?? haha

\

If you would like the "I'm Here" and "Absent" labels, click on the above picture! Also, when you click on this link, you'll get two headers "Reading" and "Writing". {It's a TWO-fer freebie!} I am going to use these to write my daily Standards & Objectives under. 

Ok...notice the green & yellow tins? I got them from the $ bin at Target about a month ago. I printed the "Sharp" and "Dull" labels, laminated, and hot glued them onto the tin. Click the "Sharp" & "Dull" picture below to download these labels! :)

And NOW to the good stuff! 

I'm going to give away 3...THREE....TRES....of each of my TOP selling 3rd Grade Reading Resources! Here's how you enter to win:

1) PREVIEW each of the items below {by clicking on each product's picture }and decide which ONE you would LOVE to have {Please only CHOOSE one to comment on to win, thanks!}. 

2) Follow my TpT Store
3) Follow my blog, if you haven't already {for the latest on ALL freebies and give-aways!}
4) Comment below on which one item you'd like to win{don't FORGET to leave your email address!}

5) The first 3 people to comment on each individual product, WINS that product!

Make sense?! Ok....GO!

Good luck, and enjoy the last days (or weeks if you have them, just don't tell me...haha) left of your sweet, sweet summer break! 

Well, I'm off to finish my pot of coffee and relive all of the drama of Meredith and McDreamy. *Sigh* Oh, how I will enjoy every last second of this brain mush day of nothingness. 

Until then,

A Teacher's Prayer

With this new school year rapidly approaching us all, it's important to take the time to remember why we do what we do.

1) We are completely insane.

Wait...start again... ;)

1) It's our calling, no matter how hard it may be.
2) We love those sweet babies, no matter how crazy they can make you how challenging each day can be.

So my prayer this summer for this upcoming school year was to focus on being more compassionate and tenderhearted. I remember reading a verse in May during my devotions one morning that spoke to me so loudly:

Ephesians 4:32

Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Now, I know the whole "Separation of Church and State" yada-yada, but I also know Who gets me through each and every day, no matter how wonderful or stressful that school day may be. Because I am aware of God's great grace and strength He gives me each day, I have made a promise to myself to pray for my class each day, focusing on being more tenderhearted, and compassionate in all situations with my students {and peers}. It's so easy to quickly forget what their family life may be, or what struggles their little minds and hearts are dealing with when giving directions to little Suzy Q for the 823459325th 3rd time in a row. Or to huff, and puff when a colleague is driving you crazy {...PLEASE tell me I am not the only one?!}. I know the number of times a day that I mess up and God sticks with me and loves me anyways.

I created this file to put in a frame on my desk {as to not "influence" my students, but as a reminder to myself daily} to be a more tenderhearted teacher and colleague.

Click on the picture to download a copy for yourself if you wish from Google Documents. I have created two versions to pick from!

Here's to a great school year, full of lots of adventure, learning, and caring for those sweet babies when they are in our home-away-from-home, our classroom.

Until then,

"THE" Room, Part 1

So since today is the first official day of my blogging life I would like to take a moment and say to all of those that are reading this, I'm sorry. You might get sick of me quickly with all the jumbled up blogging madness genius running through my little brain!

The entire time I was working in my room today and sitting through a meeting, all I kept thinking about was blogging and what my first "official school post" would be, and if someone would read it, or if I should take pictures, and would I have time to blog, and on and on and on...

So, here I am, making finding time {priorities, people!} to blog about my sweet little classroom.

Let me explain to you my classroom history: It CHANGES frequently! I have never, since the very beginning of my teaching time {5 whole years ago}, stayed in the same classroom. Each year, I lovingly throw all my crap put all of my things into boxes, and ship it next door or down the hall.

Last year, when my husband and I moved from Kentucky to Louisiana, my husband found out how much I hoard classroom materials of a treasure cove of classroom resources I have managed to come across!

So, a year later, a state later, and 3 classrooms later {yes, I've moved to 3 classrooms in 1 school year...that's a different story!}, I can finally say I am making this classroom mine, and can hopefully turn this room into my own little polka dot sanctuary.

Since the kids aren't coming for 2 more weeks, I still have time to finagle things around a bit, but this is what I've managed to accomplish in a few days {and a tireless summer creating materials like a mad woman}.

Because there is limited wall space {we have pods...ummm...Yippie?!}, I like to use the fronts of as many magnetic surfaces as possible. I am going to use these numbers printed on card stock with a magnet on the back to assign jobs. CLICK on the picture to directly link you to my Leopard & Zebra Classroom Themed classroom signs at my TpT store!

Put these up above my desk area...have blank space, will use! I LOVED how they turned out! :)

{Check out these "Asking Questions Posters" Posters at my store by clicking on the picture!}

OH MY WORD! One of my most FAVORITE things I have now are my 6 Traits "VOICES" headers I got HERE, from Ladybug's Teacher Files. SO CUTE and I am very excited to utilize them on a daily basis in my classroom during writing. It's a GREAT reference point for students each day. Whenever we touch on a specific trait, I'm going to put on a sentence strip something we learned about that trait and add it underneath each heading! :) 

My writing center is also something I'm looking forward to using more often with my kiddos this year! I have *some* things added, but really not a whole lot. Also, since my classroom is small and I'm trying to maximize my space, I also have the bottom row as part of my library! :)  

Here is my library {I'm going to post on how I have it set up this year soon...I L-O-V-E it and I KNOW it will function well with my students and their learning!!!}. Yes, notice the gaping hole in my wall...that's my neighbor. Yup. ALLLLL-righty then. :)

AND the other half of my sweet little library... :)

Well, that's a brief introduction into my third grade classroom. I have lots of things marked off my list, with a couple million more things left to do before the babies show up! :) 

Until then,