A Glimpse into Let's be Franco

Let's be Franco

Going back to school is a bag full of mixed emotions... a fresh start, the loss of summertime freedom, great co-workers, a strict schedule, new students, freshly waxed floors, and a new classroom decor. 

This summer, the school painted my classroom walls blue and I love it! Well, it didn't quite match my old decor, so I changed everything, and NOW I love it :) 

Let's be Franco

This year, I can't wait to foster a growth mindset with my students! This bulletin board is waiting for their goals! 

Let's be Franco

I feel like with all my goals this year, I don't have enough bulletin boards. I am playing homeworkopoly with my students so I put my board up! If the students complete their homework for the week, they get to play on Friday! 

Let's be Franco

I upgraded my classroom jobs! I love the way the descriptions are included on the job itself. It saves the students from having to remember all the requirements of the jobs! Check out this post for a sneak peak at the jobs!

Let's be Franco 

Let's be Franco

Getting ready for math workshop with this poster! I made the "MATH" cards with Velcro on the back so I can move them around. All the groups have to do is peak at the board to know what they are supposed to do! 

Growth Mindset, S.T.E.A.M., Math Workshop, Classroom Jobs, I am ready for this year!

I can't wait to show you the boards when they are filled with student work!

Happy Teaching!

Rethink Morning Work with S.T.E.A.M.

Let's be Franco

The students walk into class, unpack their bags only to find ANOTHER white mindless worksheet on their desk. What if there was a way to rethink Morning Work to be more engaging and encourage students to delve right in to higher level thinking when they walk through the door? 

I was feeling overwhelmed by the management of morning work that my students were doing. It never failed that there were  students that rushed through the worksheet to talk to their friends, students that came in late and barely had time to even get started, and students that never finished the morning work. Then I took a step back and started to think, Is what they are doing worthwhile? Am I just giving the students worksheets to fill time before the "real" academics started?

Also, there is only so much precious time in the day. I felt like other teachers were implementing S.T.E.A.M. activities in their classes to engage students and my thought was always, How do you find the time!?

So that brings me to rethinking morning work. Here was the checklist of what I wanted...
- Give the students the choice to work together or alone.
- Engage students in high interest topics.
- Introduce topics that weren't covered in our curriculum. 
- Include topics for every learner. 
- Integrate S.T.E.A.M. in a way that did not require a lot of materials or prep. 

Let's be Franco

Here is what I came up with! 
The stations include...

Let's be Franco

• Science: Explore - In this station, you can explore the science topics that interest you! Choose something you want to learn more about using these resources.
• Technology: Apply - In this station, you can use your technology skills to animate, code, or explore Google products.
• Engineering: Build - In this station, you will use various manipulatives to design and build different structures.
• Art: Design - In this station, you can use your artistic expression to create a picture. Use these ideas to get your creativity flowing!
• Math: Solve - In this station, you can use your problem solving skills to solve puzzles!
• AND 6 MORE!

Each of the station have options that the students can choose from too!

Let's be Franco

This has changed my morning! Students are so excited to begin and create. They love sharing their projects too! For complete preview and directions click HERE.

3 Reasons to Decorate with Student Work!

Let's be Franco 

Saving student work from year to year is a great way to decorate the classroom! 

1. For Teachers - It is cheap :) Yep, I said it!  But really it an inexpensive way to showcase what goes on in the classroom while still being academic and pertinent to the class! 

2. For Parents - It is an amazing way to showcase all the quality projects you do in your classroom. Parents love seeing what their children will be doing during the year at Back to School Night. 

3. For Students - Students take ownership and pride in their work when it is on display. They also look forward to "the cool" projects that they see and get excited for the upcoming year!

Let's be Franco 

This display always makes me smile because it showcases student work from up to 3 years ago! It brings back memories :) 

This Fantasy Choice Project gives students options as to how they want to best show their understanding of the fantasy book they read. Some students choose to create a movie poster! 

Let's be Franco

Some students loved the project so much, they decided that they would create movie posters for our read aloud books too! 

What are your favorite projects to display?
Happy Teaching!

Top 3 Resources to Set Up Your Classroom

Let's be Franco

Freshly painted walls and shiny waxed floors greeted me as I stepped into school for the first time in over a month. There are not many professions where one can say they can start with a clean slate every year. New students, new expectations, and a renewed hope that this year will be better than the last. That is one of many things that makes teaching so special. 

In honor of starting a new school year, I wanted to share my must haves to start my class on the right foot. 

1. Setting up expectations in the classroom with classroom rules! My friend introduced me to Whole Brain Teaching and I have never looked back :) The rules are simple and the interaction is fun! My all time favorite rule is to "Keep Your Dear Teacher Happy."

Let's be Franco

To make my classroom management easier, I have the rules pasted on each student's desk. If a student breaks a rule, they get a check on their behavior chart. If they don't have a check for the week, they earn tickets on Friday! 

Let's be Franco

2. Kagan Desk Tags and Numbers are a must have! They have saved me from having to think about groups, who can line up first or who should get supplies from the back table. All I have to do now, is call "The ones can line up" or "A's can you teach the B's" 

Let's be Franco 

Each table gets a number...

Let's be Franco

Then, each desk will get a number that correlates with their table...

Let's be Franco

The grouping combinations are endless!

3. Enrichment activities for early finishers or those willing to put their heart and soul into extra credit! These aren't your standard extra credit assignments, they require thought, effort, and creative thinking! 

Let's be Franco

Now, there are many other things to think about around the room but these 3 are always set up before the students walk in the door! 

What are your must haves for classroom set up!?

Happy Teaching! 

Growth Mindset + SMART Goals!

Let's be Franco

How do you change the mindset of your students when they want to give up? Encouraging students and giving them positive reinforcement have always been my go to ways to help students be more successful. I have learned that student motivation also has to come from within. I have tried different ways of goal setting to show students how to create a goal and achieve it! 

Last year, I stumbled across SMART goals. 

Let's be Franco

The reason I love these goals is that students are held accountable for their goals. I even used it as a math activity and had the students graph their progress each week on the effort they are putting in to achieve the goals they set out to accomplish. 

I was also introduced to the Growth Mindset last year and loved it! It is the idea that our minds are not fixed. Instead of saying "I can't do multiplication, I have never been good at math." You flip your thinking to "I haven't been able to master multiplication yet but I know I can work harder and will be able to!"

Fast forward to... linking SMART goals with the GROWTH MINDSET! The students will brainstorm a SMART goal that is achievable and measurable throughout the year. The students will post their goal on a bulletin board and monitor their goal and mindset throughout the semester! Bonus - A bulletin board that lasts all year round! 

Let's be Franco

Let's be Franco

Let me know what you think! 
Happy Teaching!

Classroom Jobs!

When I first started teaching 5th grade, I wanted everything to be perfect and I felt like it was hard to give up control of the classroom tasks. I sure have learned my lesson since then! 5th grade students are so helpful and when you give them responsibility. Giving the students jobs, helps them take ownership of what goes on in the classroom. 

Let's be Franco

 Now, 5th graders also think that they are older and wiser than their younger counterparts and deserve more responsibility. I wanted to create jobs and responsibilities that reflect their age group. 

Let's be Franco

 In my classroom, the students get "paid" in tickets if they do their job for the week. In order to get paid, they have to fulfill all the tasks described in the job description. Instead of me trying to remember what each person is responsible for, I put it right on the poster! 

Let's be Franco

 When I put the jobs up in my classroom, I print them in color and get them laminated right away. After I laminate, I put them up on the "Help Wanted" wall. I will put the students names on banner in the middle of the job posting in permanent marker. Throughout the year, as I change jobs, I color over the name with Expo marker and wipe clean to write a new name! 

Let's be Franco

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Can you think of more jobs that should be added on to the list? Let me know!

You may also like the black and white version! 

Let's be Franco

Getting Back to School with Math

Let's be Franco

Pairing sports and academics always seems to be a hit in my classroom. A BONUS is when I can say that I have met the Common Core standards while we play!

I started playing Math Baseball last year because I am always looking for a new way to review material. I want to keep the students engaged and interested in every question. While we play, I have every student hold a personal white board to work out each math problem. 

To begin, the class is split into two groups (boys vs. girls?). I place the bases around the room so the students have to walk to the base which gets them up and moving. 

Let's be Franco

One team starts up to bat while the other is playing the field. The batting team will "roll a hit" by rolling a dice to find out what kind of hit they are playing for. 
Single - roll is a 1 or 4
Double - roll is a 2 or 5
Triple - roll is a 3 or 6
Depending on what they roll, I will choose a question that is appropriate for the level of hit. 

Let's be Franco

To keep the fielding team involved, they  determine whether the answer is correct or incorrect (I always have the final say though!) 

What could be better than using Math Baseball to start the first lesson of 5th grade math? They can review what they learned in 4th grade while making the class fun for you and the students! If you teach 4th grade, this also covers all the standards to review at the end of the year!

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