Category: Blogging Besties

Currently: August {That's right, it's already August!}

8/2/2014

I'm linking up with Farley over at Oh Boy, 4th Grade for the August edition of "Currently" {my first ever!}. Yes, you heard me correcty...the AUGUST "Currently." I know as teachers we get a little time-warped, and I'm no exception! My jaw dropped when I realized it was August first. Where has the time gone? {Blog post coming soon detailing EXACTLY where our time has gone, as I reflect on our amazing summer.} For now, I'm going to savor every last remaining day and soak up the final days/weeks of summer...right after I give you the run-through on my "Currently!"

LISTENING: My son, Grayson, loves stories and we recently introduced him to the Netflix cache of Clifford episodes. Being a Scholastic blogger I have brought back stuffed Cliffords on multiple occasions, so he's a house favorite. Gray LOVES the little episodes, as they are recounts of stories we've read together. Today, he burst our chuckling, followed by muttering something to himself during one of the episodes. #priceless
LOVING: Saturdays in the summertime mean swimming lessons, followed by family brunch. Today, we were lucky enough for Gray's grandma to come watch him swim & join us for brunch. It's fantastic to see grandparents swooning over their little ones and enjoying every moment with them. We're so lucky that our already special Saturday was made even better with "Grams" there!
THINKING: Once August hits, I know I have to shift into school prep mode. This, coupled with upcoming blog post ideas & new product designs means my to-do list is longer than Santa's naughty/nice roster!
WANTING: Have you ever tasted a Culver's Oreo concrete mixer {with copious amounts of fluffy whipped cream, of course!}?? If you haven't, get over to the nearest Culver's & order the largest size they have immediately. I'm craving that sweet treat for some reason....and a few extra hours in the day {per my growing to-do list above}.
NEEDING: I have a special Chicago blogger brunch tomorrow and want to bring printed stationery goodies, but my computer & printer seem to be thwarting my efforts. #iwillfiguresomethingout In an effort not to waste any precious time, I'll shift over to finishing new digital designs!
FIRST DAY: I still have some time, but I'd better put the "pedal to the metal" for back-to-school prep, starting this week. I'm meeting up with my #teachingtwin, Jenna, to plan for our after school STEM club on Monday, and my team meets on Wednesday {super excited for both} to start planning curriculum. August 20th will be here before I know it!

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Oh, What a Week! {5 for Friday}

8/1/2014

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It's been an amazing week, and I'm going to replay some quick snapshots for you "5 for Friday-style" hosted by Doodle Bugs Teaching! Can it REALLY be August 1st already?!?! {#sayitaintso} If this past week is any indication, the last days of summer are going to be awesome...but fly by fast {too fast, really!}. I hope you're soaking up every last, delicious drop of summer like we're trying to do!

// Take a Peek @ My Week //

// Crazy over my First #Slantbox //

For a while now, I had been seeing pics of something called a #Slantbox / #Slantboxexchange floating all over Instagram. WHAT IS THIS SLANTBOX?!?!, I wondered. So, in true Lindsey fashion, I had to search and find the answer. Oh boy, I found a treasure box of goodies {literally} with this one! Read ALL ABOUT IT over at Jameson's blog, Lessons With Coffee. She has an entire website page dedicated to the who/what/when/where/why of all things Slantbox & even provides rules {which are both needed, & kind of fun}. Yesterday we were *MATCHED* with our giving/receiving partners for the August Slantbox, themed "Hometown Pride." I'm beyond psyched about my 2 August matches and cannot wait to see the fun & friendships that come from this exchange! Check out the details and sign up for September's exchange! Take a gander at my two matches below!

// Chicago Teacher-Blogger Stylish Soiree //

It's only 2 days and counting until the Chicago teacher-blogger brunch @ Bellwether hosted by Darling Dressed Duo and Sequins Are a Girl's Best Friend! You can read all about this event on my previous blog posts (1) (2). This event is sure to be fabulous, fashionable, and have fantastic food! I'll be the crazy lady snapping copious quantities of photos {including other people's food--haha!} and can't wait to post more in detail next week. Stay tuned for details about the chic venue, scrumptious food, & fantastic friends!

PS--Everyone attending will get chic teacher stationery from It's Elementary, My Dear! Take a sneak peek at the luxe loot they'll be receiving below! Who doesn't love some swanky S.W.A.G?!?

// Congrats, Meredith...Sign up to WIN BIG! //

Hip, hip, HOORAY for Meredith over at Creativity to the Core! She's celebrating & thankful for a HUGE milestone of 1,500 followers on Instagram! I'm joining a whole crew of other teachers supporting her success by donating goodies for a super sweet giveaway! One lucky winner will win ALL of the goodies below, PLUS COUTURE TEACHER STATIONERY from It's Elementary, My Dear! The picture above is just a SNEAK PEEK of the glittery goodness the lucky winner will receive from me. Take a gander below at the glorious gathering of giveaways galore {say that 5 times fast} from over 30 teachers who have donated downloads, goods, store credit, & more!
// See the entire post for more details & ENTER TO WIN! //

// Getting Ready to Get My BARGAIN On! //

This week I linked up with Mrs. D’s Corner and Miss V’s Busy Bees for the B2S Weekly Linky Party to share my love of all things classroom decor! If you check out the post, you'll learn that for the first time in 3 years, I'm not switching grade levels! This means, I get to keep my existing "Retro Road Trip" decor. Instead of starting from scratch {which is fun, but exhausting & quite expensive}, I get to tweak my design to perfect our classroom environment. And so....it begins. My bargain hunting bonanza. Already, I've begun scoping out the usual suspects: Wal-mart, Hobby Lobby, Goodwill, Dollar Tree, and the local party supply store. Check out some of the super bargain finds I'm keeping my eye on for purchase & projects, & check back for more on my end-of-summer bargain hunting for both school & fashion finds!

Tables & chairs @ Wal-mart

Vintage storage @ Hobby Lobby

// Goodwill Goodies that Need Some LOVE //

I haven't purchased any of these, but snapped pics of my fave finds from Goodwill when I perused last week. Should I get these? They range from $6 - $12, but I have to figure out if they're worth the repair effort! Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Retro rolling office chair & high top stool for whole group lessons @ Goodwill

Nesting tables for working around the room & retro high top chair for whole group lessons @ Goodwill

// This week With My Best Buddy //

It's been a week jam-packed full of fun with my little buddy! Thanks to Instagram, I'm more accountable for documenting these sweet, precious memories. It's so nice to be able to reflect on all of our summer time fun!

Petting farm, carousel rides, & LOTS of smiles

Grayson's new friend, Senor Burro @ dinner

Bike rides to the part on perfect summer nights

Swim lessons, splash pad, playground, & pool!

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Cruisin' Through Classroom Decor

7/30/2014

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I must admit, classroom decor is one of my {absolute} FAVORITE back to school rituals! As a wannabe graphic/interior designer & lover of party planning, classroom makeovers are just my cup of tea! So, I’m linking up with Mrs. D’s Corner and Miss V’s Busy Bees for the B2S Weekly Linky Party to share my love of all things classroom decor!

Having taught EVERY grade, K-4 {Whew...makes me tired just thinking about it!} it seems like I’ve used nearly every decor theme under the sun. Along the way, there’s been a LOT of elbow grease, paint, decluttering, moving, money spent...I mean, “invested,” and bushels of fun {just don’t ask my husband about that…}. Some rooms were at new schools, move-in ready, and still smelling of new carpet and fresh paint. Others...well, if I’m honest some of the classrooms started out looking like something from “Saw” or “Last House on the Left.” In the end, it’s an amazing feeling to create a space that’s pleasing to you and both appealing and brain friendly to your students. After all, we practically LIVE in our rooms for the majority of each day during the school year. I want to LOVE the space I’m in each day, and aim for my students to feel the same!

// The BIG 10: Extreme Classroom Makeover //

I had a blast chronicling my many adventures in classroom moves, cleaning, painting, and decorating in two Scholastic Top Teaching blog posts titled The Big 10: Extreme Classroom Makeover: Part 1 & Part 2.
Check out the posts for tips, tricks, and techniques to help you live by my Big 10 rules for classroom makeovers as you go back to school this year!

Imagine the possibilities.
Start with a clean slate.
Lay on a base coat.
Keep function foremost.
Start styling.
Be fabulously frugal.
Date your design.
Pace yourself.
Send out an S.O.S.
What to do when disaster strikes!

// Evolution of a CLassroom //

See my classroom evolve over the past few years, prior to teaching
4th grade and implementing a "Retro Road Trip" themed decor!

// Themed Classroom Decor Galore //

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE a good theme. I don’t care what I’m planning (parties, outfits, home decor, you name it), I’m a bit of a theme addict. When I was first teaching, my theme choices and content primarily revolved around interest, cutesy-value, and other such fun factors. As I’ve grown as a teacher, I’ve learned to appreciate the value in two very important things involved in classroom environment: 1) Decor tied to curriculum content 2) Decluttering & creating a non-overstimulating environment.

When setting up furniture, bulletin boards, common areas, center stations, and more, I keep executive functioning in mind. Read all about executive functioning, it’s classroom components, and impact on students on my Scholastic Top Teaching blog post.

While you’re there, download these darling FREEBIES I created to support classroom design with executive functioning in mind that are both cute and functional {#winning}.

I like to have my cake and eat it, too, so I want my classroom design to be both cute and facilitate learning. Since the regions of the United States play a major role in most of our curricular content, both our academic and classroom decor is themed as a “Retro Road Trip.” From the welcome pack students receive from me in the summer, to classroom decor, and graphics used throughout, students are immersed in a retro road trip experience. Take a peek at tidbits from my decor and setup last year, and read on to see NEW ADDITIONS {bargain finds!} for this year’s design!

// Keep on Cruisin' //

For the past 3 years, I moved one grade each year: new hire starting in 2nd, 2nd to 3rd, and then 3rd to 4th. Each year I tailored my decor to a new theme that correlated to our curricular content. {Yes, it was an exhausting whirlwind, but it was also a lot of fun!} This year I’m parked firmly in 4th {LOVE 4th grade!} and this gives me the opportunity to tweak, add to, and omit items that I feel would make our classroom environment better. For me, that means FUN raiding of Hobby Lobby and Goodwill clearance sections! So far, I’ve scored BIG TIME at Hobby Lobby. Many of the authentic vintage signs I wanted last year are now on 80% off, and so I felt like I was practically STEALING them as I loaded my cart up and hauled them to my vehicle. Take a peek at the revved up loot I’ll be adding this year to my decor!

Stay tuned for future posts with more details about full 2014 classroom decor reveal, year-long classroom themes, bargain hunting sprees, & much, much more!

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Binder Blunder: Help me Choose!

7/30/2014

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// Wordless Wednesday @ Sugar & SPice //

I'm linking up with Miss DeCarbo @ Sugar & Spice for my 1st ever Wordless Wednesday! I LOVE photographs, so this seems like a perfect fit for a weekly link-up! Check out the linky rules & other pic posts to join in on the fun!

// HELP! I can't Choose! //

There's just something about new school/office supplies that makes me giddy, & this year it seems like my favorite supply shops (Target & Walmart) are loaded with smart style for trendy teachers! I {might} have gone a little overboard on purchasing new, cool binders for myself and will probably take one back because I most likely will only need 3 of them. HELP! Which ones would YOU keep?

I'm taking a poll below, but also want to hear your reasoning. You can vote for your top THREE binders below. Then, leave a comment telling why you love them as much as I do! Have fun & happy voting!

Tell me WHY you chose the 3 you did in the comments below!

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Tune into Technology: Crazy -for- QR Codes

7/29/2014

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It is a public running joke at my school that I am CRAZY for QR codes. Tease all you want, because I’m totally fine wearing the crown of the resident QR code queen (....or crazy lady). So much of what the students are learning and reporting on involve creative, multi-media applications that simply cannot be conveyed on paper. To tie in video, audio, photo, documents, games, and more, students utilize iPads for a variety of applications. Communicating such layered projects can be tough! Using a QR code to link to a video recording, student-created webpage, portfolio link, online document or presentation is a 21st Century, interactive way to engage students, parents, and hallway bypassers in everything from center instructions to hallway displays. Get your scanners ready to be QR code crazy with Mrs. Petlak’s class!

Interactive Tech-Based Student Work Displays
Check out my Scholastic Top Teaching blog posts featuring interactive QR code use (linked below) from the 2013-2014 school year. You’ll get a kick out of some of the awesome student recordings and creative applications for this simple tech tool! See how we use QR codes to provide interactive multi-dimensional hallway displays that provide an in-depth profile of student learning! Projects featured using QR codes include:

Student Pinterest boards and pins
Greenscreen student video reporting/recording
Educreations screencast recordings
Hands-on math games video tutorial recordings
Project-based Picasso research

Clone the Teacher:
I know I can’t be the only teacher who wishes they could clone about 5 of me so that there were enough hands and eyes and ears to most effectively provide individual support as needed in my classroom! Since that isn’t possible (...and is a bit frightening, trust me….1 of me is enough!), using a QR code to convey meaning, instructions, and more is the next best thing! While you’re manning small group instruction, record your voice or video demo of what needs to be done at each student workstation. We actually did this for a recent STEM family event {watch for future fun posts!!} & it was hugely successful with both students and parents. Heck--you could record an ENTIRE LESSON via video or screencast and link it to a QR code! This works really well, when you have substitute teachers, too. It’s like you’re there even when you’re NOT!

BEST . GIFTS . EVER .
As favors for our STEM family event, we filmed students using a greenscreen app, then linked a QR code to each video. Next, we created keychain tags with design on the front and corresponding student video recording QR code on the back. Now, students can scan the code and watch their video whenever they want!

Big Time Book Use:
QR codes can be AMAZING tech tools for creating interactive books and related activities! Talk about making the magic of reading come to life!

Student self-recording of book read aloud
Teacher recording of book read aloud
Student-created dramatic version of book using apps such as FaceTalker & Puppet Pals.
Student book reviews using video or audio recordings.
Book movie trailers to pique interest when browsing the library searching for books.

I LOVE Sue Lynch’s twist on the traditional reading center. Let’s face it, CD recordings of audio books are becoming tough to find...and so are CD players! {I felt really, REALLY old when I had to explain to my students how to use a CD player and CD discman. Can anyone say “child of the 80s & 90s????} Sue uses the trendy tech-appeal of iPod graphics, inserts a QR code linked to an audio recording of the book, and then, VOILA! Students scan and listen to the stories on their own handheld device. Check out her product, Listening Center Twist on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Keep ‘Em Honest:
Cloning yourself via QR code to help students check practice work is not only fun for your kiddos, but it helps them practice honesty, and makes quick checking for understanding simple & efficient. Simply link the answer (I use Google docs to link & share) to individual questions, task cards, or answers for an entire practice sheet to a QR code. Copy and paste the QR code onto the activity page(s) or do the old-fashioned version and PHYSICALLY {gasp!} cut and paste the printed QR code onto the activities. Our very own linky hostess-with-the-mostess, Kristin Kennedy of iTeach 1:1 has AMAZING answer & check (via QR code) activities that are perfect for student workstations that promote independence!

On the Hunt:
QR code scavenger hunts are SO . MUCH . FUN. We have used them in our classrooms for fun math facts practice, geography challenges, evidence of STEM in our school building, word hunts, and much, much more! Again, tech-teacher-extraordinaire, Kristin Kennedy of iTeach 1:1 has fab QR code scavenger hunt materials that are perfect for independent skills practice with a fun twist!

Secret Treasures:
This year I want to make or purchase secret rewards using QR codes. Simple create a reward coupon, upload it to a share site (like Google Drive), link it to a qr code, and then print a paper coupon/ticket that has the QR code visible. Students scan the code to see their prize! Joanne Miller has a great example of such incentives with her awesome Scan To Win Reward Tickets.

I love this idea because you could use this process to make CUSTOM secret rewards. We have done something similar in the past using invisible markers with students who have individualized behavior/incentive plans. Have the child work with you to create a list of rewards he/she would love. Follow the instructions above, but program the coupons with the incentives specific to that student. When that child earns his/her reward, they will scan and receive something JUST for them! They’ll love it.

What’s Next for this QR Code Queen?
I’m always looking for ways to expand my tech-tool use, and in the year to come, I want to try out augmented reality through apps like Aurasma. Check out this post on augmented reality by my friend, tech-wiz, and fabulous edu-blogger, Erin Klein. Similar to QR codes, this brings classroom activities and displays to life and I can’t wait to try it this school year!

Still QR Crazed?
I get it….you can’t get enough! If this is the case, you have to pop on over to 2 amazing posts by my fellow Scholastic blogger, Christy Crawford. You’ll be so inspired and adding to your to-do list that you’ll be QR crazed for days!

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<<Previous

Currently: August {That's right, it's already August!}

Oh, What a Week! {5 for Friday}

// Take a Peek @ My Week //

// Crazy over my First #Slantbox //

// Chicago Teacher-Blogger Stylish Soiree //

// Congrats, Meredith...Sign up to WIN BIG! //

// Getting Ready to Get My BARGAIN On! //

// Goodwill Goodies that Need Some LOVE //

// This week With My Best Buddy //

Cruisin' Through Classroom Decor

// The BIG 10: Extreme Classroom Makeover //

// Evolution of a CLassroom //

// Themed Classroom Decor Galore //

// Keep on Cruisin' //

Binder Blunder: Help me Choose!

// Wordless Wednesday @ Sugar & SPice //

// HELP! I can't Choose! //

Tell me WHY you chose the 3 you did in the comments below!

Tune into Technology: Crazy -for- QR Codes

Never Miss
A Beat:
Subscribe
>>>>>>>>>

// CONNECT //

MEET LINDSEY

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SHOP NOW

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// Home // Blog // About // Shop // Connect //

Currently: August {That's right, it's already August!}

Oh, What a Week! {5 for Friday}

// Take a Peek @ My Week //

// Crazy over my First #Slantbox //

// Chicago Teacher-Blogger Stylish Soiree //

// Congrats, Meredith...Sign up to WIN BIG! //

// Getting Ready to Get My BARGAIN On! //

// Goodwill Goodies that Need Some LOVE //

// This week With My Best Buddy //

Cruisin' Through Classroom Decor

// The BIG 10: Extreme Classroom Makeover //

// Evolution of a CLassroom //

// Themed Classroom Decor Galore //

// Keep on Cruisin' //

Binder Blunder: Help me Choose!

// Wordless Wednesday @ Sugar & SPice //

// HELP! I can't Choose! //

Tell me WHY you chose the 3 you did in the comments below!

Tune into Technology: Crazy -for- QR Codes

Never Miss A Beat: Subscribe >>>>>>>>>

// CONNECT //

Be an INSIDER!

MEET LINDSEY

Find Me On // TPT //

FAVORITE THINGS

ERIN CONDREN

SITE DESIGN

SHOP NOW

PHOTO LOVE

PIN-TASTIC

CATEGORIES

ARCHIVES

LINKED UP

// Home // Blog // About // Shop // Connect //

Never Miss
A Beat:
Subscribe
>>>>>>>>>

Find Me On
// TPT //