Parent Teacher Conferences

Today is the first day of my parent teacher conferences. What do you do to get ready for those annual meetings with the parents? This is the second time I have met with parents, so I have a different agenda than the first time (I will post at a different time what I do for the first time I meet with parents).

During the second conference, my agenda focuses on what they have learned so far and what skills they are still struggling with. If I have not done so already, I would make a prescription plan to help any struggling students with goals for the end of the year. This plan is for student and parents to work on at home. I also fill out a form that discusses work habits and citizenship.

Finally, I share with them their district testing growth. In my school district we use the Acuity by McGraw-Hill. We test the kids three times. The first is half of the previous year, the second is more of the current year and less of the previous, and the third is all of the current year. It has this awesome feature that shows the growth from each of the tests.

I would love to hear what others do during their conferences!

Do the crime...pay the fine! Ticket system in room 16.

  

   As you all know, every teacher must have something new in their bag of tricks to handle changes in student behavior. After the holidays, it always seems that the students have forgotten how to behave. It is the beginning of the year all over again!

  My little darlings have been especially chatty since their return to school, so I decided to mix it up with my Superstar program. The normal routine was a verbal warning and then if it happened again, they would lose a star (money in room 16). A loss of star would result in a citizenship mark on their citizenship card that went home weekly. I needed them to realize that their slacking off on the expectations was not going to be taken lightly, since they are very close to becoming 4th graders and should be acting like one. My answer to them was a ticket. I had created a ticket system that made them accountable for their actions. The ticket would be issued for the infraction and the student then would have to fill it out. The ticket is sent home that day. Just like real world tickets, there are fines to pay. If a student received a ticket for choosing not to follow the rules, then they would have to pay a fine of 5 stars. If said ticket did not return the next day signed by the student's parent, then the fine doubled in addition with a loss of a break. Well...tickets were given left and right in the beginning. Now, I would say I can go a whole week and only have to issue maybe one ticket. I call this success! I now have my sweet, respectful class again :)

Introducing Ugly Duckling Images!

I have just completed my first set of clipart! Let just say, it is a learning experience! Drawing on paper is one thing, but to make a digital image of it and make it look worthy of purchasing is another. I would appreciate any feedback. I plan on making more soon, but in the mean time, if you have a particular theme you want to see let me know. I can even make a custom set by request!

The set I made are kids. You can purchase the set HERE!

It is only $1. I hope you like them. Be sure to come back a check for more sets!

TPT - Teachers Pay Teachers

Do you like free things? DUH! Everyone does. Teachers Pay Teachers is a great site that has thousands of free things. It is also a great place to sell too. I have a few items here. When I say a few, I literally me a few. I am just getting started and hope to get more things up. If you have not had the chance to visit this great site, here is a link!

Who is Sharon?

Hi! I'm Sharon and I am the owner of this brand new blog. I am new to the blogging world, so bear with me.

Why did I start this blog? Well, I LOVE teaching. I have been a teacher since 1999. I have taught 5th grade, 6th grade, and currently teach 3rd. I have taught kindergarten and second grade summer school too. I felt that it was time I shared my experience with other teachers.

My plan is to post ideas to perhaps help a newbie teacher needing some advice. I want to post things that I have learned from others to pass that knowledge on. I want to share my file cabinet of resources that I have created and how I have used them. Finally, I eventually want to get my store some exposure. I am in the process of creating Ugly Duckling Images which are graphics for teachers to use.

I hope you enjoy my blog and plan to subscribe to my posts!