Student Voice using Google Forms

    

     So insane to think that the school year is halfway over. As the days go by, I realize that I needed to change up how I taught my math. I was doing whole group instruction regularly, and realized that I was not addressing all my student's needs. I created "math workshops" for our classroom. We tried it out Monday and successfully did it for the last 4 days of school. 

     This morning, I decided that I needed to make sure that what I was doing, was benefiting my students. If I was going to completely change how they were learning the math concepts, I wanted to make sure it was working. Teaching a group of 4th graders, I want them to realize they have a voice and an opinion. It was an opportunity to use my favorite Google Forms! I created a form that allowed my students to tell me if they liked math workshops, what their favorite rotation was and least favorite rotation. I also asked them if they had any questions, comments or concerns. 

     As the students finished their surveys, we reviewed the results and overall, I am very happy with the outcome. Prepping and worrying about how it would all work was totally worth it, as I had all 23 happy with doing math workshops. Some students said they like how organized it is, they learn "faster" and are able to do many different math things. 

     Here's to another week of math workshops and hopefully, things getting easier to plan out with it. Even with PLC, short Wednesday and short Friday afternoon, I was able to get it done everyday! 

Spelling in the Classroom

     Ever find yourself wondering why you spend hours in the copy room making math and spelling homework packets, when they never get turned back in? This school year, our school transitioned from Success For All to Reading Wonders for grades 3-5.
     I was so excited and motivated to start using spelling in the classroom, I couldn't wait to make copies of their spelling packets, send them home and find spelling scores increasing! Well, by semester 2, I was OVER it! I would spend so much time, making copies and having students staple them together just to have them not get turned in, completed halfheartedly, and student's making no progress on their post test (especially my poor spellers). I decided, no MORE! If the students were not going to put the effort in, neither was I.
     I decided to take the activities that the students were (or weren't) doing at home and create activities for them to do during small groups. For the last 2 weeks of instruction, students have been doing spelling EVERYDAY! At least I know when they are doing it in the classroom, they are actually trying.
     After many hours of work, I created my spelling activity task cards. Each week, I print out the week's activities on card stock. I have color coded them so that students do not get confused as to what activity they still need to do. I also have labeled each record sheet, set of instructions and cards to make it easier on myself when organizing and on them when doing the activities.

Here, I have two students working on spelling during small groups. They have their record sheet, activity card and instructions in front of them. 

Due to the fact that there are 5 activities, and some of my groups have more than 5 students, I am able to pair some students up if needed. In this group, these two students are working on alphabetizing their spelling words- together! 

I have Unit 3 available for sale in my TPT store, but I realize that some classrooms might be finishing Unit 3 or done with it completely. I will continue creating and uploading as we go in my classroom. Be on the lookout for the next unit's products. 

How do you do spelling in your classroom? My next goal is to work on our vocabulary practice, because as we all may know, worksheets are not the answer- and my kids need vocabulary practice. 

Have a great weekend! 

To Buy or Not to Buy

Hi friends. As I begin this journey in the field of business and blogging- I have been pondering a thought. I currently create all my TPT products on my computer that is loaned out from my school. I have access to it in the classroom and at home, so it's my teacher work/entrepreneurial work computer. I love my iPhone and have always wanted to own a Mac, but the thought scares me. I am so familiar with my HP that thinking about learning a new program is intense. I am wondering the thoughts of my fellow teacherpreneurs and bloggers. Should I continue using my school computer for my business, or invest in a computer used solely for the purpose of my business. 

I figure a logical way to figure this out is with a list of pros and cons, right? 

Keeping my HP- Pros: familiar with the program, have all my products on the computer already, belongs to the school if anything happens to it (I won't have to fix it)

Cons- It belongs to the school and is not mine, I am starting to fill it with products used outside the classroom for my business

Investing in a mac- Pros: new computer (fun), can sync with my iPhone, love apple products, my own computer to create/hold my products. 

Cons: $$, have to pay to fix it if it breaks, unfamiliar with pages 

Could I install ppt if I wanted to on the Mac or would that defeat the purpose of buying a Mac?

I am using the computer solely for business purposes, but am so new to this I wouldn't want to make the wrong choice. 

Ugh, it's so hard to decide. What are your thoughts? 

Classroom Reveal...Better Late than Never

     Happy New Year! As the 2nd half of our school year begins, so does my teacherpreneur dreams! In addition to my business goals, I have some blogging goals as well. In order for me to accomplish them, I have to start somewhere. What better place to start, than sharing my classroom with my readers! 
     When I did my student teaching back in Washington, I worked in a 5th grade classroom. I was always inspired by another 5th grade teacher at the school. Her classroom was always comforting, welcoming and homey. Never did she turn on a light in the classroom, her room was filled with string lights and lamps. She had pillows and chairs for students to use, it seemed like a place for students to feel welcome and comfortable. I always hoped that one day, my classroom would be the same. 
     Fast forward like 5 years later, and I feel like I have started to accomplish that classroom environment of my own! It's my 3rd year teaching and I have students that were in my class last year come to visit. They are so jealous that they never got what my students have now. They ask me, "do you ever turn your lights on?" "Do you use your yoga balls?" "How come they get pillows and chairs?" 
     Students aren't the only ones commenting, many teachers have stopped by throughout the year saying that they wish they were in my class. When they walk by, they feel comforted and relaxed. My reading coach commented that my classroom was like a "Bath and Body Works" :). 
     Walk in in the morning, you will hear classical music playing via my iPad through the TV. You will smell the warming scents of the holidays (I can't let them go yet) through my Scentsy. On the rare occasions that I do turn the lights on, my current students question "what's wrong and why are the lights on?" 
     Here's a few pictures of my classroom, don't mind the mess :) I hope you enjoy! 

View from the classroom door. I have 3 groups of 8 students. 

Part of our classroom library and the morning check in. Students use Popsicle sticks to check hot lunch or lunch from home. 

Reading focus wall, vocabulary words, and word wall. 

Science wall, homework turn in folders and my small groups area. 

My hidden desk :) As well as our math area- not used as much as I would like, but I still have time to perfect that. 

Computer area, schedule and our classroom iPad.

Front of the classroom, with my white board/chalk board. This is the desk I use throughout the day. 

View of the classroom from my teacher desk. Note our stability balls, we received 7 of them through a Donors choose grant and my kids love using them. 

Let's Do This Thing

Hi! Welcome to my blog!

My name is Stephanie and I am a 4th grade teacher on the Big Island of Hawaii. This is my 3rd year in the classroom, 3rd year in 4th grade. 

I hope this is the first of many blog posts to come. I am trying to get a blog going to increase my exposure to the teaching world. I have recently started devoting more time to my TPT store- adding items as I have created them for my own use. I love creating and allowing other teachers to benefit from my work. I am all about simplicity and what will help myself and others sail smoothly through the school day- and year! 

If you're interested, check out my store for any products that might work in your classroom. At our school, we use Reading Wonders and Engage NY. Most of my products are designed around those two programs so far. 

Learning with Aloha

If you wouldn't mind sharing my store and information with others, I would love it and be very appreciative. I also hope to learn more about this blogging world and help spread the name of other bloggers & teacherpreneurs that I have been following. 

P.S. If you haven't seen it already, check out iteachtvnetwork.com. It has been a great resource and motivating factor for myself to start this journey. 

My goal through this blog is to spread the word of my products, show what I have been doing in my classroom and share ideas that have been working. Maybe a little reflection/venting here and there :) 

You can also follow me on instagram. 

Here's to 2016- setting goals, making accomplishments, building a business and creating a following.