Teaching Tip of the Day - Zip Grade

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I know scantrons aren't the rage of education these days, but I found a way to make them less of a hassle for when you do use them.  Download the app: Zip Grade.  It acts as a scantron machine on your smart phone device.  Need answer sheets? No more begging colleagues to help a sista out and give you a stack of scantrons OR no more hoarding scantrons for when you "really need them" and they're no where to be found.  Go to zipgrade.com to print answer keys directly from their site.  For the first 100 graded papers, it's free.  If you want to grade more than that, it's only $1.99.  I think yes.

How I used it today: I hate assigning reading for homework (even though I teach English) because assessing who read the next day is always messy.  Not this time.  I made a multiple choice quiz for the rest of the reading selection and handed students a scantron as they walked in.  When they settled down and were quiet, I handed out the questions.  When they were done with the quiz they were to read their AR books.  While they read I "graded" their quizzes just by using the camera on my class iPad over their answer keys.  The app graded all the quizzes in less than a minute.  I also had immediate results on how students answered the questions... meaning, the app provides data as to how many students chose letter A, B, C, D, or E for each question. For example, if 9 students guessed the correct answer was A, but the real answer was really B and only 3 students got that question right, it's worth looking at why this happened. This really helps with knowing what you might have missed while teaching.  I will, for sure, be purchasing this app.

Pros:

• Easy Access - on my phone or iPad
• Less Time - I don't have to go anywhere to do my grading and I don't put off the grading because of a dreadful walk (Funny story - ONE time I had to throw out a stack of student response scantrons because I waited too long to grade them because I never felt like getting out of my flow and going to the room that had the grading machine... awful!!!)
• Immediate Data- It was easy to review today after the quiz because I knew exactly which questions students struggled on
• Easy to use - not that a scantron is hard to use... but it's a dying breed.  Some veterans don't even know how to use the machine - let alone newbies.

Cons:

• Money out-of-pocket - Not a large price to pay though
• Negative Rep - Scantrons don't get much respect these days in the teaching field, but can be used for quick feedback

Tip of the Day - "Back-to-School" Night

My school just hosted a "Back-to-School" Night for parents to come to each class to get an overview of what to expect from each class for the year.  At the very last minute, I remembered how I bought picture frames from Ikea for class stations.  I whipped these bad boys out and quickly created signs using MS Publisher.  Near every handout, I had a sign to easily identify what it was.  I received a lot of compliments (from other teachers).  I guess I can assume that parents liked it too.  I may do a survey with the names I received to get feedback on the night as a whole. Just speaking out loud here...

Idea of the Day- Ebates

Get a $10 gift card and cash back for doing something you already do through Ebates!

The site is easy to use - sign up for an account. Choose where you want your gift card from (I chose Target). Browse through their extensive list of online retailers (I mostly use LOFT) and click the store you were already going to shop from.  Make your purchase... That's it.  You'll receive cash back every time your cash back amount hits $5.

This isn't a get rich scheme - but its a good way to take charge of the purchases you already are making online.  With Christmas around the corner, it would be nice to see some of your own money back in your pocket where it belongs.

If you sign up through my link, and make the $25 in the allotted time (it was a couple months I believe) then I get $10 cash back.  And then you can solicit your own friends and family too to get $10 back for each of them!

Here are only a few retailers that are associated with Ebates:

• LOFT - 6% cash back
• WALMART - 1% cash back
• Bath and Body Works - 2% cash back
• Macy's - 6% cash back

Teaching Tip of the Day - Donors Choose

About a week before school started, I signed up for a class project on donorschoose.org. I decided I would request a class iPad(with case) for students to use (instead of them using my personal iPad).  I didn't think much of the project which cost around $700... I figured "who knows" and "we'll see."  Well, I sure did see! KIA Motors of America sponsored half the cost of the project. Then, my mom jumped on board with a donation and used the code "Inspire" for donorschoose to double her donation.  Then, with the help of other people from the community (who I've never met) we met our goal in only about 2 weeks.

Outfit of the Day - Leopard and Royal Blue

My room at school is still SO hot.  At certain points during the day I think it is almost cruel to have students in there... but I don't have many other options.  We can escape to the library where three other classes are scheduled to be in there at the same time... which doesn't leave me much room to teach and my kids much room to learn.  I haven't come home yet from school feeling clean.  I have had a continual film on my body every day.  I think you get the picture... and I think many of you know exactly what I'm talking about.

On to the pretty things... I got this leopard print fly away back blouse with royal blue along the edges at Marshalls for about $13.  I wasn't sure if I would wear it to school, but with my preface being about how hot my room is, I used this blouse as an option.  I layered a royal blue tank underneath so that there would be no inappropriate skin exposure.  I paired this lovely top with white Bermuda shorts (from TJ Maxx a while ago) and a braided flat pair of brown sandals. Oh yeah... and my usual watch which I still love.

Teaching Tip of the Day- Reward Jars

I know I plan on using my reward cards as the year goes on, but I like this idea too.  I am holding a 4 book raffle for students that behave, students that complete their work, and students that act as a leader, etc.  I bought blue raffle tickets (at Walmart) and got each book for 50 cents at a church book sale (I already have each of these books in my class library).  The books are: 1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 2. A Million Little Pieces 3. Twilight 4. Gossip Girl

I made the jars out of recycled pasta sauce jars, scrapbook paper (cut a 12x12 into 4 parts - 3" a piece), and attached labels I made with MS Publisher.

Outfit of the Day - First day of school

Welcome to a new year of school!  I greeted my students today with a beautiful classroom (I worked with what I had) and an appealing outfit (although its not my favorite).  The heat also greeted us and made it a difficult first day - BUT here are some pictures of me and my classroom.

 

Do you love the stud bracelet?! I do too! I love gold and I love turquoise and how BA do the spikes and big links look?  I got my handmade creation from a seller on ETSY called Hbunnie who I also follow on Instagram.  That's where I got a coupon code for FREE SHIPPING!  Check her out!!

These monogrammed earrings I picked up from Francesca's during my back-to-school clothing shopping spree.

Pics of my class:

The wrapping paper for the bulletin board is from Home Goods. (See blog post here about it).

The green papers hanging from the top are papers with no names (yes, already!).  I plan on putting a banner on top saying "No Names."

And check out those lovely chalk boards... 

Since I don't touch chalk, I am using this chalk board as a magnet board instead to put other things I need.

I made these Literary Device Posters in MS Publisher and had them printed and laminated at Staples for less than $3 each.  I also used a coupon code with my order :MCSOFF for 20% off. They did a great job.

My students need to sign out to use the bathroom, etc. so I also used the chalk board (ledge) for an organizational space to eliminate the clipboard being on a table or desk.  I made the sign in MS Publisher, Printed it on Card Stock, used a blade and straight edge to make perfect straight edges, and finally laminated it with non heated lamination sheets. Pain in the A.  I have recently added a laminating machine to my Christmas list.

This may be a trick everyone knew except for me... but to avoid un-pinning your important papers that get updated all the time, put the push pin in the cork board and hang your document with a binder clip.  I also put my documents in a page protector.

I inherited this wooden treasure chest with the room, so I put it to use by putting the highlighters in it on a desk up in the front so all students can come up and grab one as needed.

This is one of my bulletin boards (none of them are finished) with zebra fabric. (See post about bulletin boards here).  I added the phrase "Wild Out" in cut out letters... then I'm going to make a sign saying "Accelerated Reading."  And below this bulletin board is where a lot of my books are for the class library.

I made these book shelf labels in MS Publisher and uploaded them to my TpT account for FREE.  I printed them on colored card stock and laminated these guys as well.

How'd your first day go?  Did you sweat away 5 lbs like I did today?  I could have swore I went into teaching and not a physical trade... Oh wait...