I'm linking up with Latoya again for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party.  This week's topic is goals for the upcoming school year.

So here are my goals:

Keep my kidney table organized!  My small group table in the back of my room becomes the place papers go to die!  I'm determined this year to not let this happen.  I will be filing paperwork as soon as I get it so that it doesn't pile up.  I also plan to recycle the papers I don't need instead of keeping them in a pile.

Effectively use my prep time!  I'm blessed that I get 4 prep periods a week.  I need to use them to plan and prepare for the week.

Utilize parent volunteers!  Parents at my school have to do 20 volunteer hours and many do more!  I need to have an effective schedule of what I want them to do and when I need them.  I also need to be firm with the schedule to make sure I always have something productive for them to do.

Leave by 4 pm daily!  The last few years, my poor daughter hasn't really done any extracurricular activities after school.  Luckily her preschool has dance during the day, but she's signed up for Taekwondo this summer and wants to try gymnastics in the fall.  I will be leaving work to make sure that I can take her to her events.

Differentiate, differentiate, differentiate!  I'm taking classes toward my GATE certificate beginning in a few weeks.  I want to make sure that I differentiate for my GATE students, as well as provide engaging, relevant activities for my kiddos that might be struggling to help them along.

What are your goals for the year?

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Brandi

Sorry for the lack of blogging last week.  I'm back in the swing of things ready to show off what I've been up to recently.  So I'm linking up with Tara and Joanne for

 

Here are my made its:

 

I decided to make reward tags!  I love all of the positive reinforcement opportunities they create.  I also love how they can be used for just about anything---behavior, academics,  milestones, holidays.  In reflecting on the past few years, I haven't been rewarding my kiddos enough.  I don't like the treasure box because I want to focus on intrinsic motivators, but I also realize that everyone likes a little extrinsic motivation.  Since these didn't cost much, I'm all about it!

 

I went a little overboard and made a ton!  I have some for WBT Super Improvers, ST Math, AR, birthdays, lost tooth, holidays, seasons, character traits, homework, class dojo, sight words, math facts, box tops, mystery student, writing, spelling, sight words, fluency, bucket filler, science, computers, music, art, p.e.! 

 

 

Goodness!  Typing it out that list seems so long! Everything is printed, but I ran out of laminating film and had to order more from Sam's Club (they don't sell them in my local store anymore...boo!). 

 

Here are some pictures of the pages I still need to cut and laminate

 

In the end, I think I'll end up with 4 container's worth of tags, but hopefully I'm done making them!

 

Bunting!  I've also caught the bunting bug!  I made a welcome bunting 

from the fabulous Christina Bainbridge

Ms. Miller bunting

 

 

and 2nd Grade Rocks bunting 

Sorry for the bad pictures.  I hung them up on my closet to take them! :)

The reward tags and {Your} grade rocks are available in my TpT store if you'd like to check them out.  Also, don't forget to check out my Facebook page for your fan freebies!  Now I'm going to sit back and get more ideas before school starts!

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Brandi

Hey everyone!  I'm linking up again with Elizabeth and Kristen for another week of Optimum Organization!

 

My tip this week is something new I'm using to help keep me organized this year.  I bought myself a Thirty-One organizing utility tote!

 

I love how it looks and there are so many pockets!  So far I have my favorite pens and highlighters in the front pocket.

erasable gel pens

erasable highlighters

I also bought an open top file box to put inside for hanging folders.  I found these bright colored ones from Wal-Mart.  I haven't labeled them yet (I've mostly sat admiring the bag!).

 

 

I did put my planner in the front and my Franklin-Covey personal planner in the back.

 

There are also some other things that I need to prep in the folders (hopefully for a Monday Made It soon).  My house is being fumigated this week so I've packed up to take some work with me.

 

I'm hoping that this bag will help keep my school life orgainzed as I go back and forth from home to work.  And if it doesn't work, at least it's cute right?

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Brandi

Today I'm linking up with Latoya for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party!  This week's topic is advice to new teachers.

Here's my advice:

Buy:

Comfortable shoes.  When I first started teaching I was 22 and wanted to look older professional so I wore dressy heels every day.  My background is in softball, so this was so uncomfortable for me!  There are so many cute, comfortable shoes that I now wear.  Remember, you'll be on your feet most of the day!

Always:

Over plan.  I still do this now going into my 10th year.  I find that it's better to be prepared then to sit with rowdy angelic children in front of you with nothing to do.

Never:

Be afraid to ask questions.  Veteran teachers don't know everything and no one expects you to.  Find someone you're comfortable with to go to when you need a little direction.

Find:

A friend on your staff.  You don't need to become besties with everyone, but you will need someone to talk to, vent, cry, and laugh with.

Make:

Time for yourself.  Teaching can be consuming, but you need to remember you are a person in addition to being Mr./Ms./Mrs. Teacher.  Take care of yourself so you can be your best for your kids.

Be:

Open minded.  You've learned a lot of stuff in classes and have visions of how your year will go.  Just remember to have an open mind.  Change is okay.  If you have to scrap your classroom management plans midyear multiple times, do it.  Find what works for you!

And don't forget that today is the last day for the 2nd grade facebook freebie hop!

Click here for directions on how to start.  Have fun!

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Brandi

Hey Second Grade Teacher Friends! Is it just me, or does it seem like there aren't a lot of second grade blogs to follow? Or when you're shopping on TPT, the K-2 products seem too easy, yet the 3-5 stuff is way too hard?

My girl, Tori, over at Tori's Teacher Tips, has rounded up some of the best second grade bloggers for a Facebook Freebie hop! Each of us has an *exclusive to Facebook* freebie for you. All you have to do is "like" our Facebook pages to pick it up. When you get to the Facebook page, look for this image:

Click on it and grab your freebie! It's that easy!

Look who's participating!

The easiest way to grab your freebies is to start at Tori's Teacher Tips' Facebook page, as she has all of our links in one convenient place. You'll also notice that she has a Rafflecopter on the page. That's because we all decided to throw in a Winner's Choice from our TPT stores for our Bloglovin' followers as well! That's right! You could win 23 products just for following us on Bloglovin'!!! Here are our Bloglovin' links:

Tori's Teacher Tips

Hippo Hooray for Second Grade

Mrs. Rios Teaches

Surfin' through Second

Smiling in Second Grade

Success in Second Grade

Diving Into 2nd Grade

Second Grade Nest

Teaching Little Miracles

Literacy Spark

Primary Junction

Reading and Writing Redhead

Teach 'n Tex

I Love My Classroom

That's So Second Grade

Stuckey in Second

The Educated Crown

Owl in a Vowel Tree

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Hard Core Teacher Resources

Simply Skilled in Second

Second Grade Math Maniac

Tonya's Treats for Teachers

Make sure you head over to our Facebook pages ASAP, because these freebies will only be available THIS WEEKEND! The freebies and giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday, July 21st. GOOD LUCK! 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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Brandi