Novemeber... ALREADY???

Yes... November is indeed right around the corner. Tuesday is Halloween... the start of Holiday insanity here. It does not end for me until mid-January as we not only have holidays but birthdays galore to deal with.

That is why I am truly loving my new monthly series and I know many of you are as well!! It is now in stores and ready for your use.

I took a poll on FB and election information was not included in this package by request. My election unit and freebies are also in stock. Just a few more days until the move is over and I am hoping to complete a few more items I have been working on. =)

Instead - we are focusing on families, harvest, fall, and Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy it. If you have any suggestions on additions you would like to see in future packages, leave me a comment. I am trying to add more to each one to make it truly one stop shopping.

I polled my children and this month they wanted to make 3 different sets of calendar numbers and letters. I also changed it by making the vowels a different color than the consonants.

One of my personal favorites of these packages are the monthly sight words. I included an easy way to track these with my Sight Word Magic set as I use the same method for both. We all know how important vocabulary is.  We have all seen and used the Fry's list for sight words but I wanted something more.

Each monthly kit includes 50 seasonal "sight words"! These are words that are specifically related to the season and the events that occur in this month. These are words your students will encounter while reading seasonal books. By creating a list of words for them to learn, I know that no matter what they check out of the library, they will know these words.

It is also a great way to challenge your "gifted and talented." =) 

As a bonus... my students know that these words MAY show up as challenge words on their vocabulary and/or spelling tests. I may require them to use these words in their writings this month. There is so much I can do with these lists!!

Just like last month... this kit includes calendars, journal prompts, newsletters, center labels, stationary, and interactive notebook pages. Some of the fun this month includes:

Creating a family tree! Writing about our families and traditions. Exploring our origins and learning more about the trip to a new land.

Math in action... recipes! There are 2 different versions. I am hoping to complete a freebie to go with this to take this one step further math wise. =)

Speaking of math... I have been working a lot on a math project lately! But I realize that many students are still struggling classifying numbers. So this month's packet focuses on identify odd, even, and prime numbers.

In addition I spent A LOT of time this month going through my personal library (well the boy's library anyways), polling teacher friends, and researching to find books for this months collection! I found some new favorites and hope you will as well.

Please leave me a comment with your book suggestions for fall, Thanksgiving, or the upcoming elections and I will be sure to add them.

As always... there is a lot more inside but this is just a sneak peak at what is in this month's  packet o'fun! You all enjoyed my freebie weeks this month and so I am going to try and schedule another freebie week and linky party too!

As always - leave a comment and I will have one of my boys pick a lucky winner! =) 

Papermonster Giveaway

I am so excited to share my new toy with you!

I got this in the mail about a week or so ago but have been so busy have not yet had the time to open it and try it out. Imagine my surprise when it came with all of this (note: I received a start package with my machine in order to complete this review):

When I was working in each quarter we made books for each individual student with their goals and worksheets for that quarter. It was a great way to keep track of progress on IEP goals. The problem was finding a time to use the schools single binding machine to create over 40 individual books.

I have had dreams of being able to make these books at home at my leisure. Uhhh huh... dreams people. I can make class books whenever I want. No endless gossiping while thinking "hurry up peeps I got things to do!"

My first thought... this is gonna be expensive! It actually is quite affordable. A package of 100 combs is only $4.50. Plastic covers are $10 for 100 (I don't usually use these). I usually use card stalk for the covers and they have 100 packs starting at $16! That had got to be the cheapest I have ever seen it.

Plus they have this amazing metallic line... no clue what to use it for but it looks like glitter!!! Glitter covers people... can you imagine it? I held in the girly squeal of excitement as hubby is in the room. He equates excited girly squeals with the balance in our checking account diminishing.

After all that excitement.... I wanted to know how easy this was going to be to use. 

The more pages you put in the harder it is to whole punch. I liked using about 8 pages at a time. Any more than 12 and I had to use a lot of muscle. Make sure ya get it all the way in. If you put in too many at once then you might not punch the paper correct. So less is better!

Load from back to front and make sure that you are putting the pages in the right side up so that the spine is on the left.

Make sure you use both handles so that you close it up smoothly. You slide it out of the locking mechanism to release and there is your book. It took me about 5 minutes to make the first one but I had a lot of helpers. It would take me about 3 minutes to create a book minus helpers and reading instructions.

Speaking of helpers... this item comes with a few warnings!

While checking my camera to make sure all the pictures were clear I heard "Thanks Mama for the Christmas present!" and snapped this of my baby trying to take the machine off to his lair. While wrestling with the bear and reclaiming my papermonster....

I hear "Awesome! I can create a new book!" and captured this picture. I shoulda known my "helpers" had their own agendas. They are now off writing stories and drawing pictures. The bear (my baby) is the middle one's walking dictionary. I love how they are so excited about writing and left the video games in the dust.

The boys would like you to know it is so easy to use that they could sneak out of bed at midnight to make their own books.

The best news... MyBinder is having a sale and I am giving away a PaperMonster! =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Football Sunday!

Have you all seen this sign? I totally need one for my house!

My oldest son's first word was football. Not mama, not dada, not even baba... football. I should have known what life had in store for me from that moment on.

Many of you know that I homeschooled my children for awhile but I have never shared the story of how it began or the frustrations that came with it. When my oldest was 2 I found him reading a book. Not the pictures.... the actual words. What sounds he hadn't figured out he made up.

I thought it was so amazing! He could read!! Little did I know the heartache this would cause. (To catch you up he has a form of Autism known as Asperger's Syndrome. He is very high functioning. He excels academically across the board but struggles socially).

Because he was so intent on learning, I taught him. It was sooo hard to keep up with his need for knowledge. One day when he was 4 he suddenly stopped learning. I was so happy but also concerned. He only wanted to know about football. I needed resources but couldn't find any. So I made everything myself... a huge massive collection of all things football. He loved it!

I have learned that sometimes to get students to move ahead we have to meet them where they are. My bff went into teaching before I did and has often pulled my football resources to get her reluctant students to write, learn vocabulary, or to do math.

So... Melonheadz and I have decided to create a complete line of football products! I am finishing them up now so they will be appearing in my store in the next few days BUT you can get a set early by leaving a comment below!

These are the original materials that I used all those years ago with new graphics to jazz it up! This packet includes 20 sentence stems/journal pages, 7 compare & contract activities, 2 goal pages, 4 pages of math, 6 pages of vocabulary, 1 geography activity, 3 class books/bulletin board projects, 1 research project, and 1 creative writing project. Over 60 pages of football fun!

My kids still love this packet. This is my baby's worksheet from today's game... he is working on adding more than 2 numbers together. Since adding is too simple for him he then groups each picture together and multiplies those and then adds. So the 2 field goals would be 2x3... it gets harder as the game goes on. =)

This is 17 weeks of greater than/less than score fun! Students record the score and then using > or < determine the winner. My son never understood Allie Alligator but he understood he wanted to be on the winning team and that the arrow always pointed toward the loser as their score was smaller.

And of course I had to do matching calendar numbers and a boggle board! We are working on getting a set out for every NFL team so if you are looking for a set, please let me know as I will put you on the top of the list.

What could be even better for football fans?? I will be selling exclusive Melonheadz Graphics for each of the teams as well. Again... I am a big tease as they are a work in progress but I couldn't wait to share with you!


I also wanted to share with you a post from Kinderzoo. I cannot imagine the grief she is going through at suddenly losing her husband, her best friend. I know that I would be devastated. She would hate it if she knew we were doing this but several of us would like to show our love and support during this difficult time.

If you have a moment - please visit her store and make a purchase. She has some amazing products. My favorites are her emergency Kinder plans. I could have so used them for that first week in school!!

Alphabet Songs

Have you heard about the Alphabet Songs from Have Fun Teaching? I have just discovered them and LOVE them!! I am so excited about these videos and I know just who to show these to first! Take a look...

I have spent a lot of time with with ESS (SPED) and ELL students in the last few months. What they need the most is a fun way that is engaging to learn phonics, sight words, etc. Its what all kids need when mastering something difficult.

They also need to retain this information which is difficult for some students with disabilities. I have spoken before about how I love to use music to help them retain information. We sing a lot in my class. My poor kids all know I sing in the key of  M (me!).

These videos are available for free on YouTube or if it is banned at your school... you can purchase the set. But wait! Right now, any teacher who posts a review like this one can get a free set! Open to everyone. FREEE! Unlimited winners. Hurry as the giveaway ends May 31st.

AND as if this is not enough... you have got to go and check out the free worksheets and things they have to go with the videos. Here is a link to their phonics section.  This is seriously my new favorite spot... It is TEACHER HEAVEN!

Free centers. Free teaching resources. Free activities, games, smartboard lesson plans, and behavior management resources. Free music for all kinds of subjects. They have free giveaways about once a month. I am going to have to start stalking them!

I am heading out the door to see if one of  my favorite students is still around as she never was able to grasp the letter P. I am Mrs. Oland. No P. She works with Speech to correct this.... hmmmm.... maybe I should show this to the speech therapist as well.

Oh so many possibilities! I love it!

Books for SPED/ESS

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my time in special education and would really love to learn more about these amazing kids.

Here are some book recommendations that I received during my practicum or from my instructor. I plan on reading these sometime soon.


Please click on any of the pictures to take you to Amazon where you can read more about each of these titles.

What books would you recommend for me to read?

IEPs, 504s, & Goals

There are many ways to help children with special needs. We generally think of only IEPs or 504s but I believe that every child is unique and should be treated as such. Each month I have my students create goals in their Brainy Matters Book.

We also talk about how keeping our goals in a visible location helps reminds us of what we are working on. If my students choose too, they make make a poster of their goals to take home with them and hang on a wall. I do not like to hang goals in the classroom as they are private. If we decided to set classroom goals (usually for behavior) then I will post those.

You can find a free copy of this goal poster in my TpT store.

Speaking of IEPs and 504s - I never dreamed that the process to identify and test a student would take so long! For a minimum of six months, students are being served only by the general education teacher while this process is being completed.

You have a teacher with no training in special education wondering if there is a problem. She/he shares their concerns, tries an intervention strategy for 3 weeks, it doesn't work, he/she goes back to the committee and shares the results of the intervention only to be given another strategy to try for another three weeks. And when that doesn't work another strategy for another 3 weeks and when that doesn't work they have 30 days to set a meeting to get permission to test from the parents. 60 days to test then a meeting to share the results. If the tests prove the teacher is correct and needs help, there is 30 days to write and sign the IEP.  If not, the student usually ends up with a 504.

What a lot of red tape for one little guy! As a parent I am frustrated with the process. As a teacher I am frustrated with the process. And I know for certain all my child or student wants is to be able to please me by doing what I request just like everyone else. But they can't.

Sigh... I wish there was another way! I think knowing this will make me a better teacher as this process only reinforces to me the need for monthly goals for every student.

I laughed so hard when I read this poem from Extra Special Teaching and just has to share it with all of you!

Why is it so funny? Well at the time my grad class was all about special education. Each week we studied a different disorder and then began writing IEPs for our invisible "students." One-Three IEPs a week and then we would meet with our "IEP team" to discuss each one. Then we would start all over again... and again... and again...

As soon as I read it, I sent off an email to all my classmates telling them they just had to see this. Only Dr. Seuss can make an IEP funny and make me want to write another one.

What Teachers Need

This week, I have been talking about SPED or ESS. This post is a reflection of my time in this environment but pertains to all teachers everywhere.

There are certain things every teacher should have access to so that they can help their students can succeed academically. Here is my list of things teachers need!

 

CURRICULUM

You would think that this is an obvious one but with budget cuts and increasing student populations, something has to give somewhere. 

One of the things to cut... consumable materials. Workbooks that were designed for student use to go with textbooks are disappearing from the budgets so part of the key components of the curriculum is gone. Some districts want to do away with textbooks completely as they are too expensive. Then what will the students use? 

Special Education curriculum is expensive. At the school I was at, it simply was not in the budget. It hasn't been in the budget for the past six years. It is not in next year's budget either. Instead the ESS teachers are trying to modify general education materials for use with the students. It is difficulty; it is not working very well.

 

TECHNOLOGY

 With the focus on CCSS which includes technology based standards, you think technology would be a part of every class. ESPECIALLY, assistive technology in an ESS classroom or a school cutting back on curriculum and thinking eliminating textbooks. 


There is 1 shared computer per classroom. There is a projector. Shared means between students and teacher. So much for privacy if all student records are accessible by the students! No smart boards, no iPads, no TVs, or stereos. And no computer lab.

hmmm.... 

This school is struggling to meet NCLB

wonder why? 

(sorry, sarcastic response just seemed to be needed here!)

MONEY

While money has been donated to help out the school it goes to pay for teachers. It pays for paraprofessionals and teachers for specials.

There was no music, art, pe, or library until a donation was made to pay for salaries for these items. The school district already had to cut back on recess as there is simply no one to watch the students play. So they sit in class all day without a break.

Can you imagine sitting all day at your job without a break? No recess, no specials, and no planning time.  So the donated funds went to pay for these things.

CLASSROOM SPACE

The schools in this district are all the same and were built in the last decade. They actually have windows but they are next to the ceiling. They let in some light and you have a nice view of the sky. A great little reminder that it is a nice day outside but you won't get to enjoy it. Not even at recess, there is no recess. You can see it at lunch... for 25 minutes if you eat quickly.

This is the entire size of the classroom... see the 6 desks. I am standing by the back wall next to the teacher's desk. You are only not seeing the wall of shelves, another row of 3 desks, and the door in this picture. Ignore the office to the right. Now imagine fitting in up to 35 desks in this space! 

Yes, yes you read that right... I did not take a picture of the other rooms to show its chaos but I am sure you can imagine. No cubbies, no place to hang jackets, no coat closets. This is it. Even office workers in cubicles have more space than in this design for a classroom.

With all the desks and chairs... there is no room for centers. No room for carpet time. No room for bulletins boards (2 walls are white boards, the third is built in shelves). No room for a quiet spot to relax when one is overwhelmed. No room for partner reading, no room for privacy during testing.

Sigh....

To be fair, the Kindergarten pod had space. Each classroom had its own bathroom. Tables replaced desks and had matching tiny chairs. The rooms were the same size just smaller kids and less of them fit better. I am thinking if I knock a wall down between two classrooms, then I would be good on space!

I know not all schools are like this. In fact MOST of the schools my children have attended have been amazing places with curriculum, technology, and space. They have also been in middle class schools in nice neighborhoods.

While the houses look nice, this area is riddled with poverty. We are here as we lost 70% of our income due to the economy as are most of our neighbors. The boys are currently homeschooled. The question is, can they receive an education in a system that can't meet the basic needs of teachers and students?

And while I am asking off-topic questions, is the reason schools in poverty ridden areas are struggling or failing because they lack the basic resources necessary to provide students with a minimum level of education?