Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

Teaching with Heart and Creativity

Organization and Reteach!

I am back from vacation and feeling full of family love!  I missed out on the Vegas scene {insert sobs, kicking, and screaming} but this was Hub’s only week off during our Summer vacation so I chose family time! {wailing, wall pounding, more sobs….}

Once we got our vacation planned I was able to let missing out on the Vegas fun go, and enjoy my precious family! Nothing like another road trip to help that right along! Siri only lead me to a shady side of Dallas once.  Hubs was there to turn her off and toss her on the floor board.  She behaved herself after that.

I will have pictures of that fun at the end of this post.   I am all about business right now.  My morning coffee is not playing around.

Last week, I was having a very productive teacher workday shopping and prepping things here at home.  I shared these three pictures on my facebook page.
  
#1 school supply shophoarding

Notice the lack of milk, bread, eggs, or anything that will sustain my
family through the week.  Nope, we can live on three prong folders and crayons.  I know it is a bit sickening to see this in July, but around here if I wait just one week, I will be left with only Tinkerbell and Teletubbies folders without brads. 

#2 Laminating  …sigh…. If everything I own could be sent through the laminator, it would be. 

 I am so in love.  These will be on
my word wall as the letter headers.  This all comes from my Chalky Classroom Garden Decor set.  It has been updated so if you own it you can get the updates free.  Ashley Hughes is my hero. Her flowers are genius.

#3 Back to School Prep   

This picture started some great conversation.  I loved how everyone was sharing where they got their supplies!  I was also asked very sweetly by three wonderful teachers, to take pictures of each page in my Rise and Shine binder as I have it set up for the beginning of the year.  *I also added a couple games and some important numbers (like zero) to the file so please go download your updated version for free!

For those of you who already have your binder set up just how you want it, please scroll very quickly past these next few pictures! 🙂

This is for those that are feeling unsure about getting started. 
How I will begin this binder—page by page picture version

Front cover

Slide into the clear overlay.
If you don’t have a clear overlay it can be the first sheet protector page on the inside.
*you can use plastic folders instead of binders if you want to keep the price and size down.*

Zipper pouches (Dollar Tree and Target have deals right now that I know of)
Contents for now:

  • Skinny dry erase marker (4 packs on sale at walmart but black works best for erasing) 
  • Cheap washcloth cut in quarters (only one quarter needed per pouch)
  • Some
    sort of counter or manipulative.  I chose foam round pieces because I
    have a zillion of them at school.  other ideas are plastic beans, or
    seasonal pieces from the dollar store.

 First Page: Reference page for days, months, and numbers

Next two pages: Write on wipe off activities. 

This page will be manipulated by the student.  I got the first day ready in each one.

Behind each number are the cards that will need to be changed as the days progress.

 This is what it would look like on the 137th day of school.

* I didn’t show a game page, but I do have my first set of word cards and my first number matching game run off and prepped.  Those two games will be on the next page in a trading card holder like the one pictured above.  Those are the first two “games” that will be introduced. This is what helps to take care of the extra time that some students have in the morning waiting for their later peers to get in the room and get settled.

 Optional section- I added one divider and put in my daily language and daily math

I put in the math and language run back to back for the whole month so the practice pages are there when I need them and I don’t have to run to the copier.  I do not plan to do these every day, but I do plan to expose my kids to them at least twice a week.

If you want to see my other posts on the binder you can click here and here.

 Alright it’s time to come back to the rug and refocus!  Ahem.  Class Class?
Thank You

For those of you that teach older kids and you want to do the rise and shine binder idea with them, my friend Shannon has created the upper grade version.

You can check it out on her blog here!  She and I worked together for the last two years.  I was getting requests for a version that would work for older students.   She said she could help me out with that!  I hope it helps out those of you that need something for your older students!

Now I have another organization discovery that I just have to share!  

 I began making a teacher binder to house all my math units for this year and then as I laminated and cut out the pieces that I will be using for my lessons, I realized that a binder with all those laminated posters and lesson pieces is not the best combination.    (you can see the math unit posts here and here)

The accordion folder above (is that really it’s name?) is what I will now use to house all my math units.  Although it comes with built in tabs, I am using the post it tabs pictured above because they are big, colorful, and make it easy to keep things separate.  I made a nice little home for the first 6 unit math units and all their pieces!

Above is a peek into unit 2.  All the items are laminated and ready for my math wall and whole group lessons.  I will just pull out the essential questions, big ideas, and whatever I need for that day, week. etc!

 This is a mock up I made of a math focus wall just so you can see how the pieces will look as you pull them out to teach.  This only shows a little of unit 2.

 I think this will help me since I don’t like to file much after I am done teaching something.  I am a Stuffy McStufferson.  This will let me be a Dumpy McDumperson right into the pocket.  I am pretty sure I can maintain that through the year! 
As you can see I haven’t gotten to unit 4-6 to laminate, but they are patiently waiting for that time and I don’t have to worry about losing any important pages!

Family Vacation Time!
We escaped San Antonio and headed for the Dallas Area to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge
My kids are in the picture under the sign-this entrance was HUGE

 They were the perfect age for this place because they could roam the giant compound and do all the activities they wanted without us having to tag along on everything.   We tagged along for some and gave them their freedom too.
I am such a lucky mom!  I can’t believe that I have two preteens. Baby girl is almost a teenager!

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    Comments

    5. Love your Rise and Shine binders! I have a question, where did you end up purchasing your binders at. I am always on the look out for a great binder deal for my kiddos.

      Reply

    6. I know this makes me Nosie McNoserie, but I have to know if you buy all of your supplies (binders, dividers, cardstock, journals) out of your own pocket or does your district help? It's okay if you don't want to answer, I am just wondering b/c my school gives me a $0 budget and classroom decor is eating my budget like nobody's business right now and I haven't even looked at school supplies! AHHHH….

      I like your math binder a lot! I could have used that when I taught 2nd Grade self-contained. Right now, I've got to get started on 3rd Grade Reading Bell Work.

      Deniece

      Reply

    8. GirlFRAN! Seriously can I come visit your room! You amaze me!!! Love all your math units! I have everyone of 'um on my wishlist!!!!
      Where's your accordian folder from? Adorable!

      Reply

    9. Reagan, where is the thread where people were talking about getting their supplies? I've priced Walmart and Target, but the clearview binders are about $2 each. Just curious if anyone found them for less. 🙂

      Reply

    12. Thanks again, I have been searching for a way to organize my morning work and this is what I am looking for. I appreciate your ideas so much.

      Reply

    17. Wow girlie, you have busy creating, laminating, and cutting this summer! All of your stuff looks great. I too went crazy shopping this weekend! Wish we didn't have to buy everything out of pocket. 🙁

      –Caitlin
      thekindergarden.blogspot.com

      Reply

    18. I am really excited to use the interactive Rise and Shine binders. I purchased a class set of those floppy binders a few years ago and haven't used them, so I think this will be perfect!

      I have one question about one of the pages.

      On the green page with the several ten frames that says, "Build It. Draw it. Color it." What does that mean? Do they build the number on the ten frames first, then draw circles, then color the circles, or something like that??

      I'll be sure to go back and check out the other posts to see if my question is answered there.

      Love your ideas!
      Amanda
      sweetiesinsecond.blogspot.com

      Reply

    22. I LOVE these Rise and Shine binders! What an awesomely amazing idea! Here's my question: do you create NEW binders every year, or do you reuse them from year to year? 🙂 Thank you for sharing your brainy mcbrain with us!

      Reply

    23. Your binders are fabulous! I was wondering what you thought about adding a data page so the kids could record their scores in the binder. Thank you for sharing all of your hard work!

      Reply

    24. I am wondering do you print at home(color printing..) or do you send it to the copy store?
      ***Can't wait to do my R&S binder… I bought out Target when they had pencil pouches for 50 cents!
      and… To you and several others do your kids not bring their own s. supplies?? Yes there are things I like to buy but there is a list and parents provide .

      Reply

    26. I love the idea of your Rise and Shine binder, and I'm trying to get together the binders,pouches, etc. needed for this. I happen to be in my local Walmart(Fort Worth,TX) and found poly binder pouches for 25¢ so I got 28. I made sure to leave a few for other teachers out there.

      Reply

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