breaking news!!!!!!

day 33 of 100 degree or over weather...doesn't stand a chance against my breaking news tonight!!! haha ;) well probably not...but we'll pretend (right?) anyways, i am proud to present my very FIRST google doc to share with all my bloggy teacher friends!!! i mean, in my opinion this is long over due...i am so thankful for all the inspiring ideas/documents you all so graciously share on your blogs ....i wanted to give back and do the same!!

so here's the deal....i wanted to share my new behavior clip chart i created back in june!! I did a color pocket chart last year, and for 'lack of better words'....it sucked!!! colors just didn't do 'the job' for room A112....

when you open the pdf in google docs....you'll see there are 8 slides....i only used 7 of them (i couldn't delete without losing the whole document...technical difficulties..) and slide 9 & 10 are flipped...cool down room comes before phone call home.

here is a low down on how it works and the order to put it together in:

- Good Day- this is the level you can move up to for outstanding behavior!!

- Falcon Pride- this is the level that everyone starts their day on (falcon=our mascot)

- Reminder- this is the 'warning' level...i just like the way reminder sounds better than warning...

-5 minutes of physical activities- this sounds harsh, but it really isn't....instead of sitting out 5 minutes of recess...they will walk 'laps' or do a few jumping jacks during their 5 minutes. i think it is much more proactive to have the kiddos moving A) to release energy B) for their mental and physical health.

- 10 minutes of physical activities- i deleted this level...i'm not running a boot camp here!

- Sit alone at lunch- i have the kiddos sit at the middle table during lunch time if they make it to this level...harsh i know, BUT if my kids made it to this level... they rarely did again! some times all they need is some 'me' time!

- Cool down room- i loveeeee this level!!! why, you ask?? I'll tell you...

• you 'partner' up with another teacher on your hall, BUT in another grade level. you set a designated area in the other room for the student to go when they need the 'cool off' room. the first week you will take your class to the classroom to show where the cool off area is (when your 'partner' is at specials, lunch, etc.) what to do when you come in...this helps make them more comfortable, and avoids 'that' BIG scene for you and your kiddos...This is what you need to have in that area...a desk with a couple things inside... a timer (for how long they need to stay), 'stop & think' worksheet (it is a document i created that gives the student the chance to write down what happened and how they feel....i will dig this out of my files ASAP), and grade level appropriate work. then when the time allotted is up, they come back to the room! this is great because if the particular student is having a hard day and makes it to this level, then they obviously want some time alone to cool off....and it gives the teacher time to cool off before you reach your 'level'. I wouldn't steer you in the wrong direction...promise!

- Phone call home- i think this level speaks for itself!

after all this rambling, do you even want to see it??? yes?? i knew it!! 

all you need to do it  click the picture below!! enjoy.

i will post a picture of the finished clip chart next week, but i wanted jazz it up a bit (obviously)...so i glued the print outs on different colored scrapbook paper, then taped it together in order vertically, and finally laminated for durability!! 

if you have a question, concern, or want me to customize something on the chart for you... don't hesitate to ask! just comment below or email me!!!

i would love to know...was this at all helpful???

i hope my breaking news was all that you hoped it would be! ;)

before and happily ever after.

I wanted to give you the grand tour of my classroom....i am going to give you some before pictures...and then the after pictures to follow... get some popcorn and enjoy.

(our classroom theme is crayons...get it kranz/crayons.....say it out loud.)

Welcome to Miss Kranz's pack....come on in....

this is what i had to work with the first day i walked in my new  "home"
this is the back of the room.

desks desks and more desks.

the front of the room....

how was i ever going to start...were the thoughts going through my head...good thing my family is amazing and was willing to help.....but KATIE (my sister) was the biggest help of them all, i don't know how i could have done any of the work without her!!! let me remind you this was the end of july in DALLAS TEXAS and we had NO A/C....zip zilch zero...noooooo air.

the front of the room with a face lift....and katie hard at work.

the side bulletin boards....i thought i measured wrong....freaking out.

never fear....double up on the border and you'll be FINE.

my new chair i got from uptown country...my favorite home store EVER.

my RHS corner....katie made a 'voice' bubble that comes from the eagles
mouth and says....oscar the eagle says... i write on it with expo marker.

my small group table all jazzed up!

my back shelf....katie came up with the cute idea of setting up the books on display like a library. all (some) of my favorite books. 

my calendar wall....its interactive with velcro and laminated so the students can write on it with visa vi or expo marker.

our "drop off" station....
this is right by the door when the students walk
in.

classroom jobs

our math wall....for math vocabulary.

the science area....katie and i rigged and made those bulletin
boards. (the magnetic letter are no more. they are now
in a box safe and sound for centers)

our word wall....it looks good up high...BUT let me tell you,
it sure is a pain to add words to.

the table book baskets (excuse the books are all messy)

books, math tool boxes (for each table), chapter
books, and math manipulatives!!

this is outside my door, a student writes in chalk
to tell where we are if we leave the classroom.

my 'teacher' area...behind my desk....

lesson planning supplies and what not.

no classroom is complete without a mini
fridge....the plastic drawers are for each day
of the weeks plans/papers.

this is where i file all their graded papers...

teacher bulletin board, pictures and things that
make me happy.

Rules for D.E.A.R. time...we have it every morning
after the announcements.

"our poster closet"
this is where i keep all my posters....i just
tape them onto hangers.
i'm obsessed with making posters. 

reading wall.

so there you have it....the before and after of my "home away from home"....

Let me know what you think!!!

she's baaaaaack!!!!!!!!

The inside and outside of my classroom door!!! 'wizard of oz' theme this year!!!

first day of school goodies...highlighters for a
'bright' year...and my first real apple as a teacher!!

what a way to start a school year...happened a
couple days before school started....i miss my car ...

so...i have totally neglected my blogger friends...i am so sorry, but between school,moving,and wrecking my car :( i haven't had alot of free 'blogging' time!!! i promise i will make it up to you!

I wanted to share my classroom photos that i took before school started!!...there have been some changes already...i'll add some photos below of the newest classroom updates!!...click the link below to view my photos....please leave me some comments on what you think!! :)

extreme make over: glitter edition...classroom 2011 (facebook photo album) CLICK ME!!!

i can't get this picture to rotate...but i love the note so much!!

welcome...to total chaos...over 100 degree weather...and no a/c....

before...

locker tags i made to go with our theme

their name tags for the first day of school and
when we go on field trips...i wrote their names in
the box...and my information is on a label stuck
on the back! :)

their 'GO' books...."getting organized"...thanks for
the 'GO' idea to one of my bloggy friends!

in the door way....

desk reminders...how we do our heading....and
"writer's eye" mini poster!

quotes and new mirror in the back above sink area!

behavior clip chart

my new classroom library...that NEEDS to be cleaned....but i'm LOVING it this year!! 

my new apartment living room! :)

since i said school, my car wreck, and moving was taking up all of my time....i wanted to share pictures from each of them!!...i am super excited about my new living room wall...it makes me so happy every time i walk into my new place....comments are always appreciated!

well this teacher is totally exhausted....good thing tomorrow is friday!! woo hoo!!!...i have a fun weekend ahead...going on a day trip to hico,texas for some junking/flea market shopping with a good friend and teacher friend, emily! (you can find her blog here...a first grade frenzy)

ok i need to stop staring at the computer screen, and need to finish project runway FINALE!!!!!!

until next time....

ollie says good night!!!

i get by with a little help from my...."things"

i was just sitting here thinking about going back to work tomorrow....then started thinking about all of the "things" that i have to HAVE every weekday or else i might as well get back into bed because my day will be "unbalanced" and "off"....so i thought it would be interesting to make a list of my "must haves" that get me through the workday....i am a little embarrassed that i NEED some of these just to make my day feel "right", but oh well it makes me happy, and it's who i am!!!


so here it goes....

1. i need my horrible iphone alarm tone to wake me up every morning, or i will have 20 lonely, teacher-less  students at school....my iphone also serves as my window to the outside world throughout my day (of course only during 'break' times). when my kids are doing something that i want to remember/document/have as a memory/the list goes on....it is so handy to just pull out snap a couple pictures, or take a quick video clip of it. (which i am trying to do more of because at the end of the year, i want to make a video of our school year together for each of my students.) 

2.  this is a BIG "must have"....MUSIC. i have to have some type of music playing at all times throughout my day. which most of the is the beatles, duh. my goal at the beginning of the year was to have "good day sunshine" playing each day when the children arrived, but sadly i think i can count on one hand how many times that goal has been accomplished. on the other hand, more than half of my class can now name all 4 beatles....not bragging or anything... haha :)

3.   i  look forward to picking out my 'daily ensemble' every morning...this may seem either A) stupid  B) corny C) snobbish D) really fun or E) all of the above

...if you chose D, we should become friends...haha....no but listen, here is my reasoning....my mom always told me growing up, "you feel how you look"...and that really is true, the days that i am running late and look all sloppy...i feel tired and sluggish (which i know is all in my head), but that is why i think it is really important to look your best because that is when you have more confidence and you are happier....i know that's the case for me!!!

....if you know me at all, you are probably thinking CLARKS is on your list?? WHAT??...the rumors are true, some of my favorite pairs of shoes are now clarks. it is official...i'm a teacher.

 if i wasn't educating young minds, i would probably be doing something in fashion...but i'm not so....i'll stick with my clarks and early morning ensemble decisions.

4.  which brings me to #4 my caffeine addiction....i know i know, it is not good for me, but i have to start off my day with either my starbucks skinny vanilla latte, or some home-brewed coffee....on the days that i don't have my coffee glued to my hand in the morning....my kids know somethings up!! then after lunch i'll have a coke zero in my texas tech coozie glued to my hand (which i am trying to be healthier and stop drinking coke zero and switch to green tea). i'll let you how that goes....hahaha

5.  mr. sketch markers and flair pens pretty much just make me happy. if we are making a poster, anchor chart, if i am writing a note home, a to-do list, or writing up on the dukane.....i HAVE to be using my colorful markers/pens for the sole purpose of just flat ou making me happy. everything is just more interesting, entertaining, and pleasant when it is colorful....i'm sorry if you don't agree, because your life must be pretty 'black & white'....

 6. i know the year is 2011 and i should be more "green" and have an online calendar, or use my ical...but nope sorry i can't. i have to write my birthdays/important dates, appointments, meetings, and most definetly happy hours (hahaha) down in my old fashioned calendar and have it with me at all times. it is also full of my many "to-do" lists, that i make daily, you know the ones that  half of the time you don't even look at again....don't lie...i know you all do that too, not just me. 

also, i couldn't get through even just half a day of scholl without my lesson plan binder...that is either glued to my dukane cart or my desk....i would be lost without it. i mean with all the time that my teammates and i put into making one every week....it better be used religiously, right???

well that concludes my list of "must haves"....i hope you found it entertaining....i would love to read about some of your daily "must haves"!!! 

until next time,