Science Notebooks

Absolutely my saving grace as far as keeping this insane year somewhat organized... Having my students keep up these notebooks has been a major part to any success that I have had this year. I use a very specific organization method and definitely have to be sure to repeat it again and again... not just in the beginning of the year but daily. I spend almost an entire day setting them up during the first week and when I grade them I take the time to not only fill out the rubric but also write notes throughout (it is tedious but I feel the students really appreciate it and acknowledge the fact that they are meaningful). I have everything including my intro powerpoint, rubric, and the reflection that I have them complete on my TPT Site

Seating Arrangement

This small detail is seriously KEY it is really important to create a seating chart that you are happy with and benefits your students best. Be sure to check out the IEPS to see if there are any special needs and if you are able to speak with parents before school begins (like I was lucky enough to get to) be sure to take down some notes about little things that they say. So and so can't sit next to each other, my child needs to be up front. Just try to ensure that those first day go as smooth as possible. For me groups just seemed like too much of a distraction for the first couple of weeks so they were in rows. Once we got started with labs and more group work the tables changed to accommodate that. I also really liked labeling the desks. I had four rows which each had the same color labels and I numbered the desks with that color paper and a number 1-8. It made for a quick calling random calling system and also made it nice to dismiss by which color row was ready. I really liked it and the labels stayed on until I switched into groups and took them off so it totally worked for me!

Lab Safety

I absolutely love this activity for the first week or so of school!

First I showed the students this video that I found on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJG0ir9nDtc
which I uploaded into a powerpoint by using keepvid.com which is amazing! It makes showing clips so simple and quick!
 Then I had the students choose one rule and illustrate a do and a don't for each... Here are a few samples! They also make for a really great bulletin board to take away some of the blankness from the beginning of the year!

Classroom Jobs!

All I can say about this is I wish I had done it sooner... Such a time saver and really gives the students a sense of responsibility. I had then fill out applications, make silent appointments to interview one another, and even vote for who would get the job after they explained their qualifications. The eighth graders were not all about the whole activity but they are more than willing to help out with the jobs.

Haha who was I kidding???

I can't believe that it has almost been two whole months of teaching! What a wild wild roller coaster! I can't say that I have loved every minute but at this moment looking back I am really happy (good thing you didn't ask me a few days ago). Definitely no time to keep up a blog, which I really shouldn't even be on right now!
But no matter how difficult it is and how thin I feel that I am being stretched, I know that all of my kids deserve even more than my best so I have to keep trying the best I can. 
Plus, somehow they always bring a smile to my face. 
Teaching three grades, going to school full time, being in charge of student council, helping out with this that and everything in between, while still trying to be myself somewhere in there is A LOT! But hopefully I will make it through and only cause minimal damage.

     

Between some energy boosters, vitamin c, snacks, and my students silliness everyday... I think I just might be able to make it through the year! We might even have a little fun and learn something along the way!

Even though I did not have time to actually post... I took tons of pictures along the way. So now I  will backtrack a bit and overload the blog with my first couple months of teaching!