Friday Folders Made Easy - Free Download!

This week, I printed out my last Friday folder cover sheets of the year (sniff sniff). I've used Friday folders for the past few years and LOVE how it helps improve communication with parents while minimizing the random graded papers in kids' backpacks. I used to have these really intricate behavior and classwork forms and comments for each student. I typically run about 30 kids a year, which meant slaving away over those forms each Thursday night.

The form I used this year has been the easiest yet (I found something similar on Pinterest and modified it to fit my students, although I can't find the original post to save my life!).

I have many Spanish-speaking families, so I use a bilingual version, but one in English is available in the same download.

Just click the picture above to get this form FREE!

Also, I hit over 300 followers on TeachersPayTeachers and I'm ALMOST at 150 here... Maybe it's about time for a celebration? Check back soon!

Have a great start to your week!

Finally! Updated Clip Chart Calendars

Well, I thought I could outsmart this whole flu thing that had been going around. I didn't get a flu shot and ended up regretting it... BIG TIME. I was totally out of commission for like four days, and I'm just FINALLY starting to feel like my normal self nearly two weeks later. Sigh.

But now I feel back to normal (almost), and I've finally finished something I've been meaning to do - updating my clip chart calendars for parents! I use a clip chart in my classroom (I have two for free downloading in my TpT store), and I have been using these charts to communicate how students do each day with parents. It has worked WONDERFULLY! The students have poly folders with prongs that we use for homework folders. I print one calendar per kiddo each month on cardstock (easier for the kids to slide in and out) and slip it into a sheet protector in the prongs. If you don't have access to color ink, I've included a black and white version that the students can color in the key for. The kids color the calendar themselves as I circulate to make any little notes, and BAM! In about 2 minutes my 28 kiddos have their clip chart colors available for parents to see and sign off on.

It has been GREAT for documentation, because each month I pull the calendars and file them away for each kiddo. Plus, it's rewarding to see good behavior (or improving behavior) charted out for the kids in a visual way.

This is what each calendar looks like:

Click the pic below to snag your free clip chart calendars:

I'm linking up with Manic Monday!

Plants Unit, Currently April, and a FREEBIE!

Well, spring break is over.

Sad.

On the bright side, we started new units in ALL subjects today... Holla! Well, I love our plant and Kevin Henkes units, which we began today, so I'm in a happy lesson planning place. :)

I worked away during my break to get my plants unit updated.

 

This is what the old unit looked like. It makes me want to throw up a little. So I did a little PowerPointing, and this is the result:

MUCH better! 

What's included in this unit:

- Unit planner for 10 days of lessons
- Suggested books to read aloud
- Instructions for all activities
- Plant life cycle mini book
- Labs including observing soaked bean seeds, fruits with various seed types, growing bean plants, and water transportation
- Root, fruit, and leaf sort
- Flower facts craftivity (NEW for April 2013 update)
- Original plant song
- Unit assessment (NEW for April 2013 update)

If you'd like to grab the unit, click on the picture above to take you to my TpT store!

We did the first activity today, a RAN (a form of a KWL that allows for misconceptions... Which we all know firsties can have a LOT of!):

(Those kiddos are inquisitive - our Post-Its of questions spilled into the misconceptions box! Gotta get smaller Post-Its!)

Tomorrow, we're going to start talking about the life cycle of a plant. I made this little freebie for you to snag:

Click the picture above to go to my TpT store to download the freebie. It is a short reading passage with a brief five question true/false quiz to check comprehension.

Also, I thought I'd post my Currently April. :)

It's about time to call it a night... I am in for a LONG day tomorrow!