3/13/15

Today I had my students work in some Kagan Strategies and they did a great job!
I love to see when they are working productively to achieve learning.
My sixth graders are working on writing and simplifying algebraic expressions and they are having a hard time with this.  I had them work in pairs and talk about what they are finding easy and what they are having a hard time with.  There was lots of talking but it led them to some light bulb moments.
"Mrs. Overton! My light bulb just turned on.  I get it now!" a student said.
"I really like explaining my process because it helps to see the next step and to correct my previous step in case I make a mistake" another one said.
This is a proud teacher moment!

Teacher planner ideas

Every year I am in search of a wonderful, perfect planner for the school year... Well, I don't believe it exists. So I created my own! It is still not perfect but I have been able to add and take away what doesn't work. What I like the most is being able to decorate the front and back cover of the binder as well as decide on the tabs of the dividers. Here are some ideas of some of the things I did last year and what I have in mind for this year.

Here is the cover of the binder from last year.  I chose to have a green binder and I love purple.  I went to Michael's and chose different purple scrapbooking paper and played around with it.   I found the letters and the circle in the middle already made (on the sale rack)!!!!

 I used a different pattern of the purple paper to decorate the spine of the binder.  So as you can see, I used a contrast of purple with the green binder.

 On the back I used a scripture to inspire me on the hard days....we all know they happen quite often.  I need God power.

 

I created my own planning pages on word with tables.  I added my favorite color...purple.  I also added a cover page after every divider.

 These are monthly calendar pages to add all the meetings, and school events that happen throughout the year. Click here to get a FREE copy of the monthly calendar pages for 2014-2015

 I used these plastic dividers that have a pocket.  These work out great and I will be reusing them for my binder this school year.

 These are the dividers in the binder.  Here are the categories that I have used.  Some I will keep, some I will change and alter.
- daily schedule
- weekly teacher planner
- Common Core standards
- Class information (rosters, phone numbers, emails, etc)
- SAS information
- Month by month planner
- To do list
- Professional development meetings (all papers that are handed out at any meeting goes here)
- parent contact log (record of any contact with parents goes here)
- important documents
-  ideas for next year
- Chemical safety information ( I was chemical safety coordinator)

What I love about creating my own binder is that it is adaptable to me.  I will be making changes and I will be posting my new binder for this school year very soon!

Friday May 2, 2014

Today one of my students saw me early in the morning and said "you look like a ballerina today!" I'm wearing jeans and a yellow top...hair in a bun and my fabulous premier jewelry.... I can see that!

10/11/13

I am sitting by my desk in my classroom wathching my students. My 5th period is reading City of Ember as they listen to the CD of the book. I love watching their faces as they listen and I can see their imagination just exploding. Every page turns at the same time and their faces show amazement as the story unveils! I love this part of my jo! Thank you God for letting me do what I love!

10/2/13

Today we are gluing our maps of the world today and a map of pangaea on colored paper. "Mrs. Overton is Eurasia called Eurasia because it is Europe and Asia together?" student asks. "Yes it is!" I respond. "Cool"! he responds. ten minutes later.... "I heard that Russia is half Europe and half Asia. Is this true?" another student asks and before i could answer anything, another students says outloud... "I get it! Half Europe, half Asia! Well that was smart to name it that way!" this kid gets everything in a very slowed reaction...ALL THE TIME!!!

9/22/13

"Mrs. Overton, I am having difficulty dividing decimals?" student says "Ok. How about if you remove the decimals? Can you divide it then? After, we can take care of the decimal placing." I reply "Well, I still have problems with that?" student says "Ok, so you have problems dividing?" I ask "Well, not so much. Just when I have to do it and find the answer!" OMG!!!! Really? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Part 2: Today was a day of tears! During first period a student was crying...not crying...sobbing. I asked her whats wrong and she said she's very sad because her parents are getting a divorce. Then during third and fourth period, another girl sobbing. I asked her what's wrong. She said that she didn't get a chance to finish the pop quiz so she had gotten a low score, but that the boy across from her had laughed at her because he had finished and gotten them all right. So, I scolded the boy for laughing at his classmate and then I find out my words made him cry outside my classroom. Oh my!!! day full of drama and tears!

5/28/13

Today my students are doing independent math work to study and review for their math final tomorrow.


In the middle of the quiet one of my girls sighs and says

"I can't believe I will be a 7th grader in 2 weeks!"

Then she goes back to working.

So cute!