Thursday, July 17, 2014

Oops, I Didn't Do My Homework! (Freebie)

I must admit that I am not ready for summer to end.  I keep reading other blogs about setting up the classroom and I have to keep reminding myself that I have almost another month left of summer break.  It is the perk of going through the middle of June.  I am slowly beginning to think about next year and what I want to try with my new Littles.  I think that is one of the biggest blessings about our job...the chance to be innovative on a regular basis.  I  love the feeling of possibilities.  I love that we can reinvent what didn't work last year and keep what did work. 

So, I wanted to share with ya'll a little freebie that just added to TPT tonight. It's something that works for me and I wanted to share it.  It's a way that I communicate with students and parents that missing assignments have consequences.  My Oops sheet helps me relay that to my students and their families. 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Christy-Holder

It is a quick (yes QUICK) sheet that students complete before going to recess if they didn't bring their homework. I know some of you might be of the notion that students need recess and I do to.  I just also believe that actions have consequences.  I also understand that most of my students don't have active parents at home helping them with their homework each night.  My school has over 75 % free and reduced lunch.  My school has over 30 languages too.  But, my Littles all speak "recess" and "get this signed by your mom or dad."  And again, it is QUICK!  You simply tell the student what number to add to the math facts on the sheet and have a copy of the spelling words handy.  If you think that you would like a copy, visit my TPT store (click HERE) and snag yourself a free copy :)



Happy Teaching,

Monday, July 7, 2014

Email Hoarding

My name is Christy Holder and I am an email hoarder.  Admitting you have a problem is a step towards fixing it...right?

 I just spent over an hour in my school email account.  I went through over 2500 emails stretching back to 2011.  Yep...over 2500 emails.  Since 2011.  I seem to always tell myself that I might need that email or I'll delete them later.  Well, 2500 emails and 4 years later, I finally did it.  I had kind of gotten used to the 4 Friday morning emails telling me that my mailbox was becoming to large.  I mean 4 emails.  To tell me that my mailbox was too large.  4 emails that added to the already overflowing mailbox.  Emails like these: 

 

Do you get these too?  Sure, I deleted some throughout those 4 years, but clearly not enough.  Or regularly.  But, it's done now.  My inbox is only showing 11 emails that seem (right now) pertinent to next year.

                                                                 (11 feels so good!!!!)

 I admit that it felt soooo good to push delete on some emails about certain students.  You know the ones that made you question your calling.  The ones that your spouse prayed for you to have patience to deal with on a daily basis.  Those.  It was like a cleansing :)  Now, I need to go through my personal email account because unfortunately, I didn't leave my email hoarding at school each day :)