tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16735889650773083752024-03-05T13:47:44.310-08:00Sorry About The Mess But...eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-50992293757561501602014-05-15T08:39:00.001-07:002014-05-15T08:39:15.042-07:00Don't be a kangaroo!<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Testing is finished!</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are done! </span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All of everyone's hard work (children and adult) from the past four years, summed up into 5 different test papers, each over and done with in less than one hour. This morning, I couldn't help but feel a little disheartened (although proud - very proud!).</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, this afternoon, a great gang of college kids came to school to do some sporting activities with our exhausted kiddies, which they loved. As the afternoon progressed and I watched them laugh, run, tease, lead, play, talk, plan, win, lose, comfort, encourage, support, strategise (and enjoy themselves), I started to change my point of view.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What will be will be, and I'm sure they've done brilliantly. But... regardless of the results, all that work has not been in vain, nor does it stop now. Everything they have learnt will go with them into the next stage of their life and we now get to spend the final 8 weeks valuing their other skills.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How sad for O, that she worked so hard but still struggled all this week. That she spent the year losing confidence but gaining in fear about what was coming. That she forgot what a great leader and friend she is but remembered that she didn't know her 3x table.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well now it's time for a change. Time for her, and all the others, to shine!</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My colleague sent me a link to this beautiful video:</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It absolutely sums up what the next 8 weeks need to be about. Remembering that all children are unique, talented and special and that our success is not determined by our ability to write an essay, comment on an author's use of imagery or multiply 29 by 316.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Instead, our success is measured in myriad ways. Ooey Gooey sums it up nicely <a href="http://www.ooeygooey.com/handouts/manykindsofsmart.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> and, in the meanwhile, I am so, super excited about our summer curriculum and giving them all something to be excited, proud and successful in!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZioLviLI-zsvMqhIaHeCmyHwK_NUKkUCaHrT2dqulqs7Lw2Q1vGwlRJzZV24Biv7uA4zB0E6RSDHRp6cHZIzl4Lq2iOuPKhyrjpZDfxcbOvxGMYgELuZ2qaWWgkM2CxH2rXXpD42jPzn/s1600/Screenshot+2014-05-15+16.33.34.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZioLviLI-zsvMqhIaHeCmyHwK_NUKkUCaHrT2dqulqs7Lw2Q1vGwlRJzZV24Biv7uA4zB0E6RSDHRp6cHZIzl4Lq2iOuPKhyrjpZDfxcbOvxGMYgELuZ2qaWWgkM2CxH2rXXpD42jPzn/s1600/Screenshot+2014-05-15+16.33.34.png" height="358" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And now, a special note to any of my kiddies, who are reading this...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well done all of you, so much, on everything you have achieved this year. It has all contributed to making you the wonderful, funny, kind and dedicated young people you are today, and I can't wait to share our final few weeks together. Let's make them the best yet! </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love from Miss O</span> </blockquote>
eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-73099850962188892332014-05-14T07:32:00.000-07:002014-05-14T10:40:13.653-07:00Sorry seems to be the hardest word...<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every class has one. Let's call him Fred. The puppy-eyed, angel-faced, 'wouldn't-hurt-a-fly' Fred, who "would never have pushed little Timmy down Miss because that would be a bad thing."</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As soon as your back is turned, thud goes Timmy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, my Fred definitely didn't push Timmy over today, or call him names, or snatch the ball from him. No sirree!</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Luckily, I had spent last night reviewing our Behaviour Management Policy and looking around at a more meaningful way to deal with inappropriate choices. Joelen, from <a href="http://www.cuppacocoa.com/" target="_blank">cuppacocoa</a>, explains it beautifully in her post: <a href="http://www.cuppacocoa.com/a-better-way-to-say-sorry/" target="_blank">A Better Way to Say Sorry</a>. Her post gave me lots of ideas, particularly about following through any incident with a chance to properly apologise.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A proper apology doesn't mean saying "Sorrrrrryy" or "Soz" or "Sorreeeee" or any of these permutations. It involves:</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Taking responsibility for what you did... "I'm sorry that I..."</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Understanding why this was wrong... "This was wrong because..." <i>(note - it is not wrong because you got caught or 'Shouldn't have,' or because you're being told off!)</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Explaining how you will change your actions in the future... "Next time, I will..."</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. Asking for forgiveness. As Joelen put it:</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is important to try to restore your friendship. Now, there is no rule that the other person </em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px;">has</span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> to forgive you. Sometimes, they won’t. That’s their decision. Hopefully, you will all try to be the kind of friends who will forgive easily, but that’s not something you automatically get just because you apologized. But you should at least ask for it.</em></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway, I really liked her approach. I love that it actually made the children think about what happened, their choices and the consequences of those choices. So when Fred knocked Timmy down and proceeded to tell me that he hadn't done anything wrong, I took him slowly through the apology procedure.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I actually used<a href="http://www.kidsskills.org/sorry/" target="_blank"> this program from Kids Skills</a>...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhED3K__hGifrEq6PEGBvuBKzIPVfqyo4k-0vAHz3yIKwYgwEfeRuGi6PFsj05denkpIUwxP1Q7gNsKcaO7LiAbpGS2g9LlwRJGxAwMwK9DzzpZ434E0_wRRwIkSpqFFetJMJxXMbrDJVz9/s1600/Screenshot+2014-05-14+13.03.05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhED3K__hGifrEq6PEGBvuBKzIPVfqyo4k-0vAHz3yIKwYgwEfeRuGi6PFsj05denkpIUwxP1Q7gNsKcaO7LiAbpGS2g9LlwRJGxAwMwK9DzzpZ434E0_wRRwIkSpqFFetJMJxXMbrDJVz9/s1600/Screenshot+2014-05-14+13.03.05.png" height="252" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">... which took us through the whole process and made it very clear.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a really formative, restorative and useful discussion, Fred had produced this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfiHcZL5P-ecYkFet5cZgq9DvrdKQse1CmC4DV7XixwrVLTWG4GiyHJR8O6M1M8KrXmZwtJWDMQOTCixmz4MDnoRPCRK_M5Pz-f1aEpSk3bSHyTHihIM1d1rdkIjcwKcklR8odEwuwXIV/s1600/Tristan+Apology+Letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfiHcZL5P-ecYkFet5cZgq9DvrdKQse1CmC4DV7XixwrVLTWG4GiyHJR8O6M1M8KrXmZwtJWDMQOTCixmz4MDnoRPCRK_M5Pz-f1aEpSk3bSHyTHihIM1d1rdkIjcwKcklR8odEwuwXIV/s1600/Tristan+Apology+Letter.jpg" height="640" width="438" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now Fred is quite a lad and I tried to make it very clear throughout the apology-writing that, this time, he did not have to actually give it to Timmy but that we wanted to think about his actions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imagine my pleasure and surprise when, at the end of the exercise, he desperately wanted it printed and to present it to Timmy. I could not have been prouder!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This strategy is now going to become an integral part of our behaviour management in Upper Phase and I cannot wait to see how the children take it on!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm currently setting up next year's planner and think I'm going to include a tracking section for apologies and behaviour management, that way I'll be able to see how much progress they make over the year. I'll post it here along with my new planner review as soon as it arrives!</span></div>
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eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-7617134708269660862014-04-17T00:34:00.002-07:002014-04-17T00:43:26.595-07:00Happy!<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the spirit of using this blog to celebrate all the greatness in my life, I just had to share this <a href="http://www.jibjab.com/" target="_blank">JibJab</a> video I made of my wonderful family - all except my Papa unfortunately (it would only let me have 5 people so I made it for him instead!) - being Happy! I love it! Enjoy :)</span><br />
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eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-73078601439183381062014-04-16T06:54:00.001-07:002014-04-16T06:59:30.145-07:00Science Week!<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Morning!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I have decided that I love the Easter holidays. Not like.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Lurrrve.</span> </span></b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">If I could, I would fill the room with little heart bubbles.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love that:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I get to spend time with my family (especially my Maman this time round - it was so lovely!);</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I get to spend time with MJK;</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have time to mindlessly catch up on my favourite shows (seasons 1 'thru' 5 of the Good Wife anyone?!);</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have time to do some work and that...</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This work does not need to be frantically catching up or preparing for the next observation or marking huge piles of books or worrying about testing;</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This work can focus on reading up on other people's ideas;</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This work can be creative;</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This work can definitely involve ideas from Pinterest!</span></li>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As part of all this creative fun, I've been focusing on/playing around with 2 things mainly. Firstly, our Science Week!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We're running this straight after SATs. I am <u>so</u> excited! The kiddies deserve a treat after all this push and I can't wait to share some of the amazingly fun activities with them. They will include:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know. The look on your face is probably exactly the same as the one my colleagues pulled when I told them! But it's going to be awesome! It is the brilliant idea of my co-blog-author, Miss Helen Peck and she is a scientist extraordinaire so.. 'ya know. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They are going to be Victorian children living in Soho at the time of the big outbreak (August/September 1854) with a character card each and spend the day in role working out the cause of the disease. Drs Snow and Farr will each be presenting their theories and the children will have different sources (interactive, fun, drama-based sources!) to work out what is happening. I can't wait! If you're interested in having a go yourself - click the screenshot for the download of the plan.</span></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdV8eb4fPJ1ROL3alcaI2T2ktuDKTGxmuQZS1rIFxBU7IZF6Cb91RcF7ipHm3HZHXCBt3A42oDV10ZNt1hyFUAuZVjdP8cm_NfpMRYdy-AIEB1VAedGHET0yokHt_ViwgwPTfK1Sxaav-/s1600/Screenshot+2014-04-16+11.20.15.png" height="401" width="640" /> </a> </div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We'll then have a day focusing on each of the following scientists:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Marie Curie</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isaac Newton</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Galileo</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Charles Darwin</span></li>
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(I am <u>super</u> excited for Darwin Day but keeping the lid closed on that for now! Be prepared for greatness!)</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyhoo, lots going on that I'll share with you in the upcoming weeks! I'd like to leave you with the the song we made to arch over all our topic - there was much hilarity in trying to come up with some of the lyrics! For a while there, we got a little stuck on Marie Curie with...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Won Nobel Prizes,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then my husband dies-es'.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Glad we managed to step away from that one! Anyhoo, as we learn about one scientist, we'll learn their verse/chorus. I encourage you to sing along out loud rather than just in your head! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">{sings} "<i>I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, singing Ayo! I'm Galileo!"...</i></span><br />
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eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-53088465527688284502014-04-10T08:32:00.003-07:002014-04-10T10:10:37.396-07:008 months later...<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello!</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, firstly I'm...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pio2f4rtvwDRkgkDSiZ69LsvAOLoQg36tvTvpUXFTmjX-o2iPOOIXieGZGwbNwbgDGBC9F0hcNV5mvsxgD_YTBBR29wC1LKtzf8hN0R7t0A2aLTFPFXM7pUsVW_SHilmdAlXFGMunhLL/s1600/200.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pio2f4rtvwDRkgkDSiZ69LsvAOLoQg36tvTvpUXFTmjX-o2iPOOIXieGZGwbNwbgDGBC9F0hcNV5mvsxgD_YTBBR29wC1LKtzf8hN0R7t0A2aLTFPFXM7pUsVW_SHilmdAlXFGMunhLL/s1600/200.gif" height="208" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started this blog in the summer term with full intent, dedication and excitement. Unfortunately, I slacked terribly and dropped everything waaaay back in August! Who does that?!</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyhoo, I'm back, on Spring Break (or Easter holiday as we call it in good ol' UK) and eager to get stuck back in. I've just ordered my new Erin Condren Life Planner (eeeek!!) and am so super excited to receive it and get my life back in organised mode - hence trying to catch back up with this blog.</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Against better advice, rather than making my blog topics teaching only, I'm going to use it as more of a catch-all to focus on my new goal of spending as much time on my wellbeing, health and loved ones as I do on my job. Incidentally, I'm hunting for a snazzy, catchy phrase to sum that up and use as a mini-mantra to keep me on track. What do you think of these?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVudjXooPcrLsegtsAIlj8EDp4Wh4rdTWdjIVU8NfxvIogi0GRy3B93LmXG1bkXSCDRucHzAJjsNpVZwmIF9EXbbTVOgOa4YAvY6dbEpjXUgS6LoskaKa9cAAGeGwKQEUE3rdwMdZzlPz/s1600/A+lovely+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVudjXooPcrLsegtsAIlj8EDp4Wh4rdTWdjIVU8NfxvIogi0GRy3B93LmXG1bkXSCDRucHzAJjsNpVZwmIF9EXbbTVOgOa4YAvY6dbEpjXUgS6LoskaKa9cAAGeGwKQEUE3rdwMdZzlPz/s1600/A+lovely+life.jpg" height="320" width="246" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS57RFQgDB9Xh1BzswDj3GuIapOgF6QE9_FJVuopEO7Hu0x0lYQzyN02V3Ly9sD_Jm0EqLcXKzuGr5bPaKTQPVRhdXaI2sEQjOAW6yffzKqsXZAoWpaY3ZBilyFxFQk3xBODfm944pvgvC/s1600/Being+healthy+and+fit+is+a+lifestyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS57RFQgDB9Xh1BzswDj3GuIapOgF6QE9_FJVuopEO7Hu0x0lYQzyN02V3Ly9sD_Jm0EqLcXKzuGr5bPaKTQPVRhdXaI2sEQjOAW6yffzKqsXZAoWpaY3ZBilyFxFQk3xBODfm944pvgvC/s1600/Being+healthy+and+fit+is+a+lifestyle.jpg" height="320" width="310" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAD-EZBNZ2MiU0AjvK2bvczLQNI8QzppjydB1S29AZlD0ywisX4kFFWyhDOsKaCoX90LD1GoI3iP0tlzUXy_j_LSzDmR4sK_-wKO7QvxIJSe25RLHZN1akxIP-Q1xIW01s8jRBr8N0uDq/s1600/Time+for+FB,+time+for+yoga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAD-EZBNZ2MiU0AjvK2bvczLQNI8QzppjydB1S29AZlD0ywisX4kFFWyhDOsKaCoX90LD1GoI3iP0tlzUXy_j_LSzDmR4sK_-wKO7QvxIJSe25RLHZN1akxIP-Q1xIW01s8jRBr8N0uDq/s1600/Time+for+FB,+time+for+yoga.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder if 'you matter' is perhaps a little self-involved? 'A lovely life' seems so apt though - that is what I already have and what to change my choices to make even lovelier!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have any ideas, please do post them in the comments below. I'd love some feedback and thoughts!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm now going to tail off to clean my kitchen - step 1 in making better home choices :) I've actually been following <a href="http://www.flylady.net/" target="_blank">FlyLady's website</a> recently and my lovely Maman and I have prepped everything ready for a fresh start for zone cleaning. Let's go!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chat very, very soon.</span></div>
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eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-60949232435347535572013-08-20T06:30:00.003-07:002013-08-20T06:30:59.002-07:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello Blogosphere, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am joining my friend, and amazing teacher ( see evidence of amazing stuff below) Claire in creating this blog. If you have already started following the blog you will notice that I have been extremely poor at actually taking part...at all... so far. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me remedy this situation. I have just completed my teacher training and am setting up my classroom for the first time. My school is an official Beach school and my class is called Sharks, so I have gone for the surprising theme of....The Sea! I'm so original!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having spent 2 years as a hard done by teaching assistant ( joking, I loved it) I have had a lot of time to think about my first classroom, having watched several teachers try different approaches both to classroom organisation and decoration. I thought that this time had me well prepared for my own class but I found myself several weeks ago standing in an empty room with NO ideas what to do first. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want my room to be inviting and warm and have lots of access to the display boards as I try to use these as active, fluid, boards instead of static displays. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are pictures of my first attempts to create a theme and to bring a room together ( not yet finished) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More pics and info to follow, as term begins</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYwJPViJB64L7wtgRJfq1t3wG6i07X8WrpDamoxcHFLdfcEcJ1p7ewSzBiFDH7ZJNKdGm-6V-TZWZ90ILb1RAl-v3ebpN8BmgyWYqfFc9RhUbxK7XYSD351L0XRFZnRDbxFRtemG5qbpk/s1600/2013-08-19+14.12.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYwJPViJB64L7wtgRJfq1t3wG6i07X8WrpDamoxcHFLdfcEcJ1p7ewSzBiFDH7ZJNKdGm-6V-TZWZ90ILb1RAl-v3ebpN8BmgyWYqfFc9RhUbxK7XYSD351L0XRFZnRDbxFRtemG5qbpk/s320/2013-08-19+14.12.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Helen</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">( Newly Qualified, Tiny Bit Terrified) </span>eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-38380451520680041672013-08-09T13:40:00.002-07:002013-08-09T13:40:53.704-07:00Learning and Working Walls {PROJECT CLASSROOM SERIES}<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So the holidays are over and it's time to get back to it. Although, I must say, I'm super excited! How lucky am I to have a job where I can't wait to get on with it. I am really privileged :D</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those of you who have been following my classroom thoughts, I'm running a short series this summer aimed at improving the use of my room, ready for when I can get there (only 2 days left now!!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today, I'm going to think about my learning and working walls. I don't know if many of you Stateside folk refer to Working Walls but we use them here as workshop displays that might involve anchor charts, key vocab, photos and images, really anything that supports the children and documents/guides their learning journey in a unit or topic. I love using them and we draw on them daily with the kiddies but I think they need sprucing up this year, especially my Learning Wall. My Learning Wall is where I display objectives, success criteria and examples of great learning for each lesson or session. In my school we use some acronyms for these three aspects:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WALT - We Are Learning To... (learning objective)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WILF - What I'm Looking For... (success criteria)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WAGOLL - What A Good One Looks Like (example of great learning)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love using these abbreviations as, once the children know exactly what they mean, they are quick, short, sharp ways to refer to our learning expectations and they children use them in the self and peer-assessment all the time. It's so sweet to hear them talking about the great WILF that they've seen their friend use. What little sponges they are!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our acronyms, especially WAGOLL, which made me think of a waggly-tailed doggy straightaway, led me to create our 'Learning Family': WALT (boy), WILF (girl), WAGOLL (dog).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGaZ0RMrbbjEQxQogMXCanjcCA3qKi7OvUfA_8PntWka7PqZI0idGq1OpubofqNMyOmuXRcGnrg9a-SaRfMvLSazn67lEkR34p1_C1wRBNfKXZxvIKLbieZEQhY9aNmySA_g4bKdYtRbT/s1600/Preview+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGaZ0RMrbbjEQxQogMXCanjcCA3qKi7OvUfA_8PntWka7PqZI0idGq1OpubofqNMyOmuXRcGnrg9a-SaRfMvLSazn67lEkR34p1_C1wRBNfKXZxvIKLbieZEQhY9aNmySA_g4bKdYtRbT/s640/Preview+Picture.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-Im-Looking-For-WILF-Frame-764866" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMqwjW-yoiHOTL0DC3LBGEMUFk_lHoohlbZ8p5nhsG7EgUVaoLv-3hFCi_cH6Ij4HSNU4b4Uc6tH2vIdd2QylXLaDh07HryyKh_W0j7eMi1ta4vH5j8bz8SQX15nLcOkumCGd5zuxUxC7/s400/WILF+House.jpg" width="285" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They live in WILF's house, which is built on the 'Foundations of Writing':</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 - CIFS (What a sentence needs - Capital, Information, Full Stop, check for Sense)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 - Handwriting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 - Spelling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4 - Layout</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">... And the specific success criteria for the lesson go in the blank space of the house (I have it cut out and stuck to my whiteboard - <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-Im-Looking-For-WILF-Frame-764866" target="_blank">that version</a> is available on TpT alongside a template for printing it onto post-its for the kiddies' books).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMqwjW-yoiHOTL0DC3LBGEMUFk_lHoohlbZ8p5nhsG7EgUVaoLv-3hFCi_cH6Ij4HSNU4b4Uc6tH2vIdd2QylXLaDh07HryyKh_W0j7eMi1ta4vH5j8bz8SQX15nLcOkumCGd5zuxUxC7/s1600/WILF+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Woo! What a ramble! Sorry about that - it's quite a thing to explain. Essentially, my Learning Wall is based entirely on these three acronyms and the little system we developed as a class around it. (The idea of WILF's house came about through one of my children, whose dad is a builder, once we'd discussed Foundations of Writing as a standalone idea - what a smartie!) Thanks to <a href="http://www.scrappindoodles.com/" target="_blank">Scrappin' Doodles</a> for her lovely graphics, which helped me to jazz up our class system!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sooo.. let me (finally) get down to it. Here are my Learning and Working Walls as they stand:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My Learning Wall:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_C6-qsffadZvJzGnQ1z0elvtSQd-9JvDukk_jTYsy_Gs8RjO9V7pDPwruzotm7t_E9cVLOKflQEtLcvqFQaPT-ifF7xsNZwZIgkMvXmXUwhifqAsyrWxgUr2waIx_XvUcUoYjEPYSWlS/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_C6-qsffadZvJzGnQ1z0elvtSQd-9JvDukk_jTYsy_Gs8RjO9V7pDPwruzotm7t_E9cVLOKflQEtLcvqFQaPT-ifF7xsNZwZIgkMvXmXUwhifqAsyrWxgUr2waIx_XvUcUoYjEPYSWlS/s640/IMG_0019.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYei3mWmrAS2xRhsuCkIRR9bwitaZr3iO5nXZQZ2zI2GeycftwYu74NscrVGUzBNZibW8x27W77HiRIRjVLPAQLK95g-tanu53UuzWUUEehxHfZq_BIgYpxp4hQpeMqB6F3gdhLAN81U-m/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYei3mWmrAS2xRhsuCkIRR9bwitaZr3iO5nXZQZ2zI2GeycftwYu74NscrVGUzBNZibW8x27W77HiRIRjVLPAQLK95g-tanu53UuzWUUEehxHfZq_BIgYpxp4hQpeMqB6F3gdhLAN81U-m/s400/IMG_0020.jpg" width="298" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqG90v5maQt5as5IkRuqF859uZJG1NuPs3828MzXBywETVItCZjsKL9ze6F8uC4SrDV8vCB4UlCoq3hMFn6r3-sC1YdgPGzJzA6Eb5UNlehlPCHCjB5gK5nUFBUG0H5nA8J4cZz7PVCOa/s1600/2+Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqG90v5maQt5as5IkRuqF859uZJG1NuPs3828MzXBywETVItCZjsKL9ze6F8uC4SrDV8vCB4UlCoq3hMFn6r3-sC1YdgPGzJzA6Eb5UNlehlPCHCjB5gK5nUFBUG0H5nA8J4cZz7PVCOa/s1600/2+Stars.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Love the Miss Othacehe stickers above my desk. They mean that the kiddies never have to ask how to spell my rather tricky name and I can claim this little corner as my own. A little selfish perhaps, but necessary!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Bright rainbow border with white backing - nice contrast here :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Space to store my anchor charts behind where my flipchart normally sits - great hidden storage!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The marking scheme (available as a <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Marking-Scheme-768479" target="_blank">freebie</a> at my TPT store if you fancy it) and Think About The... QUACK poster are useful to have on hand during every lesson, this location suits them fine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The big 'What Will I Hear You Saying' and 'What Will I See You Doing' buttons that help us build WILF/success criteria. Great to hear the kiddies using these phrases to guide their own learning!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqir6YW87jfrkp2ghYxPERs45RWNP8rSv_0TZMPYZ9j9cct3ft7ssn9LVT14n7gw_eUauZ15eDQ5nvQdicidkryvNPT-CJP3DGUpNpYlDk2rl5bhQr9KiNv76qrWrj14qwkwxqW8G5gez/s1600/And+A+Wish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqir6YW87jfrkp2ghYxPERs45RWNP8rSv_0TZMPYZ9j9cct3ft7ssn9LVT14n7gw_eUauZ15eDQ5nvQdicidkryvNPT-CJP3DGUpNpYlDk2rl5bhQr9KiNv76qrWrj14qwkwxqW8G5gez/s1600/And+A+Wish.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The super messy/cluttered approach :( It really distracts from the focus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- No clear space for WALT. You can see I tried to create a section for WALT and WILF at the start of the year (before my new scheme and design) but they were just too small. I really want a large, dedicated strip at the top next year I think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Lack of border/jazzing up of any kind on the flipchart. It looks so bland and blends horribly into the rest of the board. Considering that this is where the main part of our learning happens, it needs to draw the eye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- No clear separation between my teacher area (Thank you cards, documents pinned up, hanging file organiser) and the Learning Wall. Possibly confusing for the kiddies when they're trying to find the information they need.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And now for my Working Walls:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUuFKN3PPACQ8Gon6vLLUxLycYuZxp0EA8bPOu_37OKsf3N4rVUnkYNDeGPY8OITGEX-5_uFdjtQNUAOtLfDN06j6Jp4XmpHDhUJMguSHXIj2Lj1yxE2rhXLjyhT6onIEk5maTa5KZnOw/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUuFKN3PPACQ8Gon6vLLUxLycYuZxp0EA8bPOu_37OKsf3N4rVUnkYNDeGPY8OITGEX-5_uFdjtQNUAOtLfDN06j6Jp4XmpHDhUJMguSHXIj2Lj1yxE2rhXLjyhT6onIEk5maTa5KZnOw/s400/IMG_0008.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mpN-qhIJr1BNnU6bkBws1F10dlv8GCQaHD-LRowmYVkJU5FlEz7zZcouPrfOviIAf-EepLtufH4ZtyHskhPsTvCYDoelDFJMmjqjRFtrYtnB6-Tkklw9Trwo5IGZ4NSuP_Ta5gaI-R1c/s1600/IMG_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mpN-qhIJr1BNnU6bkBws1F10dlv8GCQaHD-LRowmYVkJU5FlEz7zZcouPrfOviIAf-EepLtufH4ZtyHskhPsTvCYDoelDFJMmjqjRFtrYtnB6-Tkklw9Trwo5IGZ4NSuP_Ta5gaI-R1c/s400/IMG_0009.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMplkoTwB9SeyCDoPrx70cA7bYaPQbNs-IbS5z7cLIjNScU8JHhIL73gNfaQdlVRzmxox-tNFI3OyjHBKkO27qAQ4ksSv8Ub12ljgsM3He3wfMukkcMFBy1sKpPJlJBtOrSOykYKWCw7Zt/s1600/2+Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMplkoTwB9SeyCDoPrx70cA7bYaPQbNs-IbS5z7cLIjNScU8JHhIL73gNfaQdlVRzmxox-tNFI3OyjHBKkO27qAQ4ksSv8Ub12ljgsM3He3wfMukkcMFBy1sKpPJlJBtOrSOykYKWCw7Zt/s1600/2+Stars.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The five blocked-out areas for the different strands of Maths that we teach, helps to make it clearer for the kiddies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The 'Questions, Comments, Ideas and Thoughts' posters to link to our Stop! Think! Jot! process in reading comprehension. (A fab idea which I 'borrowed' from <a href="http://teachingmyfriends.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Small%20Group%20Instruction" target="_blank">Nancy @ Teaching My Friends</a> - stop by and check out her blog - loads of great ideas!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The range of materials on display - I count anchor charts, images, diagrams, key vocab, examples of work, posters, pictures from the text, number lines, vocal prompts, post-its and exit slips. Pheww!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQDGHCtlBafttl2j3ZzolPwyOzWKYkJAWo4hIhdf-UQHWnDdkf9hxVeALrqPVmbmWS4cNyNvqRbdMcJ3LvLxN4J-KsdwFRJpeCZnSNQoOqGLtfdxabtmwjfCa6kqBgpruVuqmOcNr767c/s1600/And+A+Wish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQDGHCtlBafttl2j3ZzolPwyOzWKYkJAWo4hIhdf-UQHWnDdkf9hxVeALrqPVmbmWS4cNyNvqRbdMcJ3LvLxN4J-KsdwFRJpeCZnSNQoOqGLtfdxabtmwjfCa6kqBgpruVuqmOcNr767c/s1600/And+A+Wish.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The two completely clashing designs and backings. This was due to a last-minute inspection visit, where we were required to redo our displays into the 5 strands in the second to last week of the year but I still really hate it. Consistency! If in doubt, think 'What would <a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/" target="_blank">Schoolgirl Style</a> do?!' :D</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The unbacked, poorly-photocopied images on the Literacy board. Although WWs should be quick, this just looks scruffy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- That my Reading and Writing boards have become one. We use a brilliant scheme (has revolutionised my Literacy teaching!) called Read Write Inc. to teach Literacy, which is based on one week of reading-focused activities followed by one week of writing focus, which works really well to develop a sense of the text and writing skills but means that I have condensed those two displays into one this year. It hasn't worked. Must make sure I have one board for each Literacy aspect next year. I really missed having it. :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's it! What an essay! As a thank you for reading, help yourself to a freebie of the Learning Family to adorn your own walls. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Learning-Objective-and-Success-Criteria-Family-818712" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWXsor4cdlK2o56QF5V7VtVLaGer_e1OHYLt3fp5UVBrVcXud9fBbL_n-YzUq__OqpJh8q-mVVvGyZ2QEif53S1rXDoAxM-tjYJmbYnmxwYAmRdCZ9nHN6mouyIhIGjmFKHAyU5hxmoOY/s320/Fronsheet+image.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, I love reading your comments - let me know of any suggestions you have for my walls. :) Your comments and ideas would be really appreciated!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See you soon!</span></div>
eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-73020851923512647292013-08-08T10:21:00.000-07:002013-08-11T23:28:42.749-07:00Holiday Snaps and Freebie!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hulloh! I'm baaack!</span><br />
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After 2 wonderful weeks of sunshine, sangria and fabulous times, I'm now home. Apologies for the long absence, especially so close to my blog 'd<span style="font-size: 12pt;">ébut' but in all honesty I feel no regret, the holiday was just fabulous! I thought I'd take the opportunity to share some snaps and highlights and so give you my first little hello from the real me! I'm also going to take this opportunity to link up with Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week: Meet the Teacher...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">...and hope you enjoy some insight into the behind-the-scenes of the blog! </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here goes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">MJK welcoming me to the Puerto Banus harbour. What beautiful weather after grimy UK!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No judging - my family and I play tabletop role games when we're on holiday. It's so much fun! This time, my sister and her boyfriend got a little too much into their character: Shikage, and went all out with their costumes! He even made origami Ninja Stars!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of my 'beautiful' family gurning at me on a night out for a yummy dinner (see the yummy dinner below!)...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yum! The.. best.. paella.. ever!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the final night, we had a disco party. As MJK and I forgot to bring costumes (hits forehead), he decided to don one of my maxi dresses. There ensued much mirth and merriment! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next stage of our holiday was in the county of Bouillon, Belgium. We went on a little wander around this beautiful town...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The view from the chateau was incredible!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> What a sweet set of in-laws I have too :D</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The town was so wonderful, we went back the next day for more...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The best moules-frites I've ever had (which is saying something as I'm french!) and...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">swan pedalos!!! Luckily, I didn't have to pedal, the men took care of that :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We finished off our two weeks with a romantic 3-day break in Amsterdam. It was my first time but MJK had been several times before. I think he enjoyed playing tour guide a little too much. He even had the accessories down...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Luckily, we protected ourselves from the rain through other means!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Yummy waffles (we had 2 - very greedy!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the Amsterdam Museum above a 'Walk on Art' carpet. Tens of individual squares of art from different local designers printed into a long runner carpet. Fabulous!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Beautiful little sets of bowls at the market. How I wish we had a car with us :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Croquettes!! These and Febo fed us for the three days pretty much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Delicious lattes at a bar in the Red Light District. I love that they were served in glasses!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After three brilliant days (and lots of googly-eyed stares at the sights of the city) it was time to go home. MJK, ever the sailor at heart, was super excited to see our boat...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aHGAo_57mppl568zaXHP_MLk1pyiCVhakCiTFcCLTMIf3jFha4OdbnHJngIf2fX4-6nARyY7XEsT5NWLCLePDFr0Q-ma3hlMnZsi5YR372vo2dhR18JNyRCeyfQu0fjCypWHigFpz8-5/s1600/IMG_5113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aHGAo_57mppl568zaXHP_MLk1pyiCVhakCiTFcCLTMIf3jFha4OdbnHJngIf2fX4-6nARyY7XEsT5NWLCLePDFr0Q-ma3hlMnZsi5YR372vo2dhR18JNyRCeyfQu0fjCypWHigFpz8-5/s400/IMG_5113.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isn't he cute!? The boat was fabulous but the most glorious view was that of England in the morning as we came into harbour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As they say... "There's no place like home."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5gyIH5vncEJga7WfqubWhdIi7bJI1XXd75QdpDJUZQYY-kjoxNwC5_27yV-2tvEm6rK5OCvuMvWi7XzY2e67MggIbQOd9G3ZhhenuSNI1ApfEsp843I4DvhXpINq3S1mfCQ_yNIeC0OT/s1600/IMG_5013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5gyIH5vncEJga7WfqubWhdIi7bJI1XXd75QdpDJUZQYY-kjoxNwC5_27yV-2tvEm6rK5OCvuMvWi7XzY2e67MggIbQOd9G3ZhhenuSNI1ApfEsp843I4DvhXpINq3S1mfCQ_yNIeC0OT/s400/IMG_5013.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoyed this little insight into my life and that you accept my apology for my digi-absence. :) As a little thank you for reading, take these Guided Reading Rotation cards that I made in my first few days of holiday. I'm looking forward to using them in class (I get into my classroom on Monday!!!) and hope you enjoy them too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Reading-Rotation-Timetable-Cards-816550" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9Bad9nFBKurQnBVrwg7LyAEieDeyp10Hiw_3cVTrBbW7xGQzOGesjXYjyYI6bLd0pjRzgKwvijJr72jcM2ntplpsv1MxTdwh-WuBpwj7BG90zaXhnrshwZmIzjZFRZGN9dbVUu4N3t7D/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-08-08+at+18.11.37.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">UPDATE: Just remembered that I got the inspiration for the cards from 4th Grade Frolic and her oh-so-generous <a href="https://www.facebook.com/4thGradeFrolics" target="_blank">Facebook Fan Freebie</a> of a Daily 5 Rotation board. Big thank you to her for all the ideas and inspiration. Head on over and check out her fab <a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/classroom-reveal-2013-2014.html" target="_blank">Classroom Reveal</a> that she's just posted. Super jealous!</span></div>
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eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-82884227078939054302013-07-20T09:49:00.002-07:002013-07-20T09:59:02.226-07:00Teacher Area Optimum Organization {PROJECT CLASSROOM SERIES}<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's that time of the week! Optimum Organization time! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJbEcGavmv85IuHJOP3v2WYFuxKPC4zTHV1SG6PzDUxAD1sVRsntUc5eGaeUPo2MMTz-F02HmlYATz97dJtThNEloBBqY4m7ZPgSkyEDjPfJQf0VIpvUMhHNO7JQSHStoTiNlS8Aj3rCo/s1600/Optimum+Organization+Linky+Final.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJbEcGavmv85IuHJOP3v2WYFuxKPC4zTHV1SG6PzDUxAD1sVRsntUc5eGaeUPo2MMTz-F02HmlYATz97dJtThNEloBBqY4m7ZPgSkyEDjPfJQf0VIpvUMhHNO7JQSHStoTiNlS8Aj3rCo/s1600/Optimum+Organization+Linky+Final.png" /></span></a></div>
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I'm sorry to say that, for the second week running, my organization is going to be planning-based with nothing concrete to show for it. We don't break up until Wednesday so at the moment my classroom is completely stripped of any paper, furnishings or trimmings and the kiddies and I are decamping to the field outside for all our lessons whilst another class uses our space. Therefore, I thought I'd use the opportunity to take some time to consider the organization of the central hub of our room - the Teacher Area.</span><br />
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Last year, my old room didn't have any space for a teacher area. I just ended up with a battered old desk tucked against the wall. This year, I decided to take action and commandeer an entire corner of our classroom as MINE! </span><br />
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The only problem is, that corner of the classroom was pretty spacious and I consequently became pretty complacent about the space. I kept telling myself that it was neat and ordered and tidy and organized and shiny and beautiful and exemplary... You get the picture. That is, until I saw this photograph:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT2deD5VpmeGTwi9zVM59wEAp9Zv-vv0ysSoBcJ_W7oeofvDwTNhb4ZwJRcv2lQEpqOJlhf-2Vu_RXkwIOHJbEW5BUezsYAoRfsHWQ7-pGdNk8yZ2zYzb0yUQy9CZh9fzJoMc1OjOGm0m/s1600/IMG_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT2deD5VpmeGTwi9zVM59wEAp9Zv-vv0ysSoBcJ_W7oeofvDwTNhb4ZwJRcv2lQEpqOJlhf-2Vu_RXkwIOHJbEW5BUezsYAoRfsHWQ7-pGdNk8yZ2zYzb0yUQy9CZh9fzJoMc1OjOGm0m/s640/IMG_0026.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aaargh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Feel free to turn away now. I won't be offended if you never return. Who am I to provide organisational tips with a command centre like this?! It doesn't get any better in my surrounding area either...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, as I'm moving room <u>again</u> this year (4 years teaching, 4 different classrooms!), I get an opportunity to rethink these areas and have them ready mentally for when I move back into my new room in 3 weeks' time. (The setup there is very similar, with only the position of the shelves being different. I will still have the same amount of storage thank goodness!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To do this, I'm going to use my 2 stars and a wish system that I use to mark the kiddies' books. (Although I definitely won't limit myself to those numbers!). The stars are what I like and the wish is what I would change. Here goes...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU6ehgcPvtYNIKIMhFrV9ueJBl0zN-2RTzTEDNP4CMXGQsUNcbWrb6TgoPo0vqLEtnKWJTBPgmyC1w-diPt-ddTmsjvheKnrxsCwFES4u9hhbbpPAKsMNENXYWUJH2RCihVoPR5yGzTN6/s1600/stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU6ehgcPvtYNIKIMhFrV9ueJBl0zN-2RTzTEDNP4CMXGQsUNcbWrb6TgoPo0vqLEtnKWJTBPgmyC1w-diPt-ddTmsjvheKnrxsCwFES4u9hhbbpPAKsMNENXYWUJH2RCihVoPR5yGzTN6/s200/stars.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The amount of storage I have! It's fab having all this space for the things I need and to have everything in one handy place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- My hanging file organizer. This has <u>revolutionised</u> my paperwork organisation and general day-to-day life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- My Teacher Toolbox. I heart<span style="text-align: center;"> this. See above :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- My red and blue trays for homework and notes/lunch money to come in (although I'm definitely not precious about the trays themselves - just the system!)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlMYc1W9r0DpHICgq0s-JBOsaXUHwm1GI7-3bjNCdswcz5wgbdzKlzCBSYrFkhLN3h2qVLxYSTTmF7-00PFV31ioBZIH9q9UHHxtWjcwUB34sX8xENtgU70V_pD8PzNd0p3QUOlPc4KUP/s1600/wish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlMYc1W9r0DpHICgq0s-JBOsaXUHwm1GI7-3bjNCdswcz5wgbdzKlzCBSYrFkhLN3h2qVLxYSTTmF7-00PFV31ioBZIH9q9UHHxtWjcwUB34sX8xENtgU70V_pD8PzNd0p3QUOlPc4KUP/s200/wish.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Baskets, baskets, baskets!!! For all the shelves, everywhere, lots of them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Labels!</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Some sort of the system for my maths resources. We don't have many manipulatives as we use a scheme that requires just a set few but I can't seem to find a good system to get them ready when I want them in lessons. Maybe tubs? Here are some ideas from some other brilliant bloggers:</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shelves and drawers from <a href="http://www.theteacherstudio.com/" target="_blank">Fourth Grade Studio</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.theteacherstudio.com/2013/01/math-manipulative-organization.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tK8szZ9xEbiK7L2jVgAxhEZTgZfWHSxm_yFplf8NWqeXpgH1HC2OQJeNukcyYaEblVEwi_mY6oJGG98ey98q_lY61B-C42LHeivcIJdrQ8B_FDJOxT9HJ-NO0B7cI6b8CN2ff4RVmmIN/s1600/maths1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Clear plastic tubs from <a href="http://acupcakefortheteacher.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">A Cupcake for the Teacher</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://acupcakefortheteacher.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/organize-your-math-manipulatives.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JeuotrDGQpXkX9T5xqugzPpLEc31fM2j1k0S-qlTzvJ8f4fMmIQwPgCtIICK2yFXbuYpwAYdG_VpqWegxrKtRptO3_pi8mIIRGQVBo31Xl9d0oxhxfm45zRcTuQ-hsXkPYYv0owGzRiy/s320/maths2.png" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rolling drawers from <a href="http://www.mrsfreshwatersclass.com/" target="_blank">Mrs Freshwater's Class</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mrsfreshwatersclass.com/2012/06/classroom-organizing-take-3-math.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLxWPfTdbOj799O_jUIY4BAGajzH9fO0Y90cmx2ckTr38KTE6QuDyWX81N3sL9v_Ejv2EwVKYbW-UmuyHFWpgJGScMWxtNIKBIbu6gy356dcTN_oqj2TK79FJ4A6nQJ9b2y7d6DmAARWc/s320/math3.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you think? Probably clear tubs are the way to go for what I have mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Contact paper/paint for the back of the shelves to cover the old walls</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Maybe some curtains to cover up the top/middle shelves. I don't use the things on there so much and the curtains might cover and smarten things up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So that's it for my rather measly contribution to an otherwise fab linky. Thanks to Kristen <a href="http://www.ladybugsteacherfiles.com/" target="_blank">(Ladybug's Teacher Files)</a> and Elizabeth <a href="http://funin4b.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">(Fun in Room 4B)</a> for hosting! I'll be off for the next couple of weeks on holiday but will hopefully have more to show after a few days in my new class. In the meanwhile, I'd love some suggestions with your thoughts on what I could do. Please let me know if anything springs to mind! :D</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See you soon!</span></div>
eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-1728331468946237422013-07-18T11:28:00.002-07:002013-07-18T13:00:44.763-07:00I love my Liebster Award! (and quite a bit About Me!)<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Yesterday, when looking through comments from <a href="http://sorryaboutthemessbut.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/my-very-first-ever-monday-madness_15.html" target="_blank">my first Monday Madness post</a> I was absolutely gobsmacked to find two nominations for the Liebster Award. I am so utterly flattered, amazed and grateful to <a href="http://random-craftiness.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Katie</a> and <a href="http://fittobefourth.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mary</a> for thinking of me and my newest venture. Let's hope I do them credit!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQcLbkMIPAYVcCkw31-eQDvDo1Dq47TR7xK7xywpYMJ0N7vmHC3n5SqSXpG3dMSdMplWwHBCBJT8AvUj1Ha9drh-QGFTyVI43RcPCBKCDhmDVsG75195YwhyZXvjsCDCelYVYFZ1hryMK/s1600/300A07AB-DB1D-45D0-AD8B-E8C9D86DE460.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQcLbkMIPAYVcCkw31-eQDvDo1Dq47TR7xK7xywpYMJ0N7vmHC3n5SqSXpG3dMSdMplWwHBCBJT8AvUj1Ha9drh-QGFTyVI43RcPCBKCDhmDVsG75195YwhyZXvjsCDCelYVYFZ1hryMK/s320/300A07AB-DB1D-45D0-AD8B-E8C9D86DE460.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">As I understand it, the Liebster Award is presented to new bloggers, with fewer than 200 followers. Liebster, a German word, means...</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.dictionarist.com/Liebster" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiS9Pol_P_jA6l-tPLe7Ai2lfhdvDos1JfIWGP9eJkV_4Qr3F7GrF5ZrcaBt9MFF-3r23p9JftgGZxDf5xYLgnVHyGw9sg1cFPo641VdqByP30DTo62tJSLl4GPUwAiCGEl5eJmdXpQA2/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-07-18+at+19.31.22.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">What a lovely award to receive! I feel all sparkly and twinkly. Thank you ladies! My part of the job is easy. :) I get to answer some questions about myself, which were posed by Mary and Katie, then list 11 random facts and nominate 5-11 further new blogs as my Liebsters. Here I go...</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile;">Questions from Mary</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://fittobefourth.blogspot.co.uk/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEKke0wADsfCHMnOudcArpd0OoB5ba_aotzVz0YbUSG31NLeyy-xVYdasIfDwug1NdzcNyKZH3o6sGPO7vAyRnLxGypHHOgaTCea3lZ-1K3ooUVJoknFqNv-HEuK8z83Ho13O9P3JKniY/s200/Fit+to+be+Fourth.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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1. How did you come up with your blog name?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">My classroom always used to be known for being the messy one and although I'm getting better at it, I will always sacrifice short-term tidiness for the enjoyment and learning of the kiddies and that's the way I like it. :) I really wanted my blog title to reflect my personality and teaching priorities and explain how fundamental the children are to my classroom. Focus on the learning, not the teaching! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">2. What type of music do you like?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Anything and everything. My iPod on Shuffle is one of the most hilarious/embarrassing things you will ever hear. Who doesn't love a blend of Killswitch Engage/Craig David/Taylor Swift?!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">3. What is your favorite sport to watch/play?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">None. I am definitely an indoor gal. Unfortunately, my otherwise wonderful MJK is a devoted sports-lover and so I would have to say, my favourite sport to watch has to be football (soccer) when his team, Tottenham Hotspur, wins, as it ensures a very lovely evening in the Messy household :D.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">4. How many siblings do you have?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">3! How lucky am I?! I have 3 fabulous </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">sisters and I absolutely love it. As I grew up they were my playmates and now that I'm older they are my confidantes, cheerleaders and best friends. Huge thanks to my wonderful parents for all their devoted love, support and care which turned us into the people we are today.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://farmerbrowns.co.uk/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4t0H3NOB68p-6nW76FbEid82nwidqcM_FSzw-rw8SsDzApyOmfrP0v5RU8WzxhiZf7RPZsDF5AjFY3siOlKJ648-6YXFG6Dv2LklZdvOIy4kmVjq9uLJAMf3A8Hlwft04iNS8woJyA4tZ/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-07-18+at+19.59.53.png" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">5. What is your favorite restaurant?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://farmerbrowns.co.uk/" target="_blank">Farmer Brown's</a> in Norwich. I love wandering into town with MJK on a balmy evening and enjoying some delicious local Tapas in this eclectically-designed and laid-back treasure.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">6. What do you enjoy doing most when you are on vacation?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Chatting, reading, laughing, singing, hugging, catching-up and spending time with people that I don't get to see nearly as often as I would like.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">7. What do you enjoy most about teaching?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">The people I spend my day with. How amazing is it that I get paid to spend all day with 30 sparky, interested, kind, caring, supportive, polite and interesting kiddies?! What an amazing opportunity!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">8. What are your hobbies?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Crafting!! Reading, shopping (does that count? :D), baking, travelling and most recently, blogging!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">9. What is your favorite children's book?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">This one is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px;">so hard! I suppose it has to be <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Place-Call-Home-Alexis-Deacon/dp/0763653608/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374173460&sr=1-1&keywords=a+place+to+call+home" target="_blank">A Place To Call Home by Alexis Deacon.</a> It always makes me cry and think about everything ahead of the little people that I teach and all the things they will achieve and places they will go!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">10. What do you enjoy most about having a blog?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">The community! I've received such a wonderful, warm welcome and it's such a pleasure to share in all your great ideas and voices. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">11. What do you like best about where you live?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">That it's quite and safe yet vibrant and lively. That I get to live the city-life but am a 7minute drive from the countryside and 25mins from lots of glorious beaches. The very, very best bit is that MJK lives there with me! What a joy it is to wake up next to someone you love. :D</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Nobile; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px;"><b>Questions from Katie</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://random-craftiness.blogspot.co.uk/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT59k7NZZwrt84jJEuboQm1q9B9kW4wRPaMG_GOnQWDpBY9adWAO_3oPOjmER3-2l9erxv2KEqGeZEMJjsmpBcxp2PO8gmm4xvF-CyPNP4DBzSZXeHo5baG4ZJwmNNVnLqRrugl0wr1za3/s200/Random+Craftiness.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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1. If you could hop in the car and take a road trip anywhere right now, where would it be?</div>
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To my parents' house. Although I love where I live, I really miss being so far from them and my sisters. I really can't wait until they invent the teleporter!</div>
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2. What book/magazine are you currently working on reading?</div>
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At the moment, I'm reading <a href="http://www.bartimaeusbooks.com/" target="_blank">Bartimaeus</a>, which was recommended to me by one of my kiddies. It's fab!</div>
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3. How did you choose to start a blog?</div>
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I was tired of sitting on the sidelines! I was so impressed by all the wonderful ideas and suggestions out there but felt that I couldn't really join in or even say well done until I had put in some work myself. Turns out I'm absolutely loving it!</div>
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4. If you could get paid to do anything, what would it be? </div>
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Teaching! I seriously adore my job, love Mondays and can't think of anything better to do. I can come in on anyday with a grump, feeling tired and within 5 mins of being in the classroom I feel energised, positive and so happy. Where else would I be able to combine that with a reason to buy a corner rounder I ask you?! :D</div>
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5. Favourite classroom theme?</div>
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All of <a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/" target="_blank">Schoolgirl Style's</a> designs. She is fabulous! At the moment, I'm all about the navy/coral combination (see my <a href="http://sorryaboutthemessbut.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/classroom-breakup.html" target="_blank">Classroom Breakup post</a> to learn more about this dilemma!) but, if I lived in the States and could find a wider range of bulletin board papers and trims, I'd love to go for Tattoed Teacher's new Vintage Chalkboard theme. It's just so pretty!</div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vintage-Chalkboard-shabby-chic-decor-for-the-classroom-editable-762998" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCtHZBQp6Fuyq8fs8AH7BBcUhJl1Up4BxBDkZ5ekOsHn2VSbWs_7dG3QL3kAlkcTjaCbjBKVhVYypuyd-Mdtn8mG0uy1SmUbdYfOpITMRWUrv4PhJ2tgQAtfl_yf9zu6oX5xuxkLGq3__/s320/9eb573f022452cfaa3445dbf7b8cc003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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6. Best teaching moment?</div>
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I couldn't possibly pick! One of the most recent moments however was this absolutely dear message from one of my boys, who had had a bit of a tough time in previous years. He and I have absolutely meshed this year and he has grown and shone and exceeded everything we could ever have dreamed for him. He hid outside the classroom one afternoon and came in with this note. Needless to say, I sobbed...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0kLo8CvKcOyLRKZJr72hr7f_ek1wLKATI3N-xmOCcGb8qBji87Fzr0fkCtbmVf_cMBho-pPZLAgAGeuef-r-1jUGJJVO68Rc35RrAaO1SPKxJYilZAJGRyPTPFfHgUV6NKI0E3TEAfOj/s1600/IMG_4553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0kLo8CvKcOyLRKZJr72hr7f_ek1wLKATI3N-xmOCcGb8qBji87Fzr0fkCtbmVf_cMBho-pPZLAgAGeuef-r-1jUGJJVO68Rc35RrAaO1SPKxJYilZAJGRyPTPFfHgUV6NKI0E3TEAfOj/s640/IMG_4553.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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He even accessorised it with glitzy polka-dots for me!</div>
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7. If you had one wish, what would you wish for? (And none of that wishing for more wishes nonsense!)</div>
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Health, love and happiness. That's it. I feel so blessed that I don't need to wish for them at the moment. </div>
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8. What is the strangest food you've ever eaten?</div>
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I'm pretty gastronomically boring and mellow unfortunately. Maybe frogs at my grandparents' house?</div>
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/aug/07/frogs-legs-france-asia" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWod_VMrrSgNYSxqpdxYhyphenhyphenXCefqaDoCWO2dNdn1gC5wcuFONNZZXQ_ANdgupXr-nuIxjMXZy7MYy5q2MfPgvb_Ht4lD8mXJS5CLEymuNefc98ANwpYnKHpj3gDwiltdWOFkgqPic8kyg3i/s320/Dining-on-frogs-legs-at-t-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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9. Who was your favourite teacher growing up and why?</div>
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Mr Pashby - because he had a reputation as the fiercest, strictest teacher in school and was actually the most fun and engaging teacher you could dream of. I try to emulate him in my teaching and wish I could go back and watch him again. What an inspiration!</div>
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10. What is your favourite trait about yourself?</div>
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Empathy (MJK calls it my scary stalker mind-reading!). Although sometimes I have no idea how to support people with their worries, I like knowing that I'm aware of the people around me and that I will always put the people I love first.</div>
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11. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?<br />
A golden labrador. What a loyal, gentle, happy creature. Who wouldn't want one?!<br />
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Phew! That's it for this huuuge Q&A About Me section. Well done if you made it to the bottom of this section!<br />
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What I'm going to do (and I hope Katie and Mary don't mind too much), is pop one of my 11 random facts into each of my next 11 posts, instead of making you read through another huge section all about me.<br />
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Instead, let's now celebrate some other fabulous new bloggers and give them their chance to share in this virtual circle time. :) I have to admit, I've broken the rules here. I haven't been able to limit it down to my 5 favourite blogs under 200 followers, but instead I've looked at some brilliant UK-based blogs, which contribute lots of resources and ideas to the system. Under the radar stars! :)<br />
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So, without further ado...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g6YJcE_oq8-uYBKlsRw-DNEUJLJn68iMKEcXFnmneOgOT_Qj_C7Kwcwf5Nd73cimJX7B-C5DMDedgna_9QS_DQflSQk4gy9K7PKYBrItyMm9hkYp3R4FGJWOsjMvV9cipfY6J0vbwdzI/s1600/drumroll_thumb%5B2%5D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g6YJcE_oq8-uYBKlsRw-DNEUJLJn68iMKEcXFnmneOgOT_Qj_C7Kwcwf5Nd73cimJX7B-C5DMDedgna_9QS_DQflSQk4gy9K7PKYBrItyMm9hkYp3R4FGJWOsjMvV9cipfY6J0vbwdzI/s1600/drumroll_thumb%5B2%5D.gif" /></a></div>
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My nominees are:</div>
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<a href="http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/"><img alt="ICTmagic" src="http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/file/view/ICTmagic_widget.gif" /></a>
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<a href="http://learningtobebetter.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-qJ6Nif2MFMpXdPzIkoP_i0Q4tw514HAwZAdMg7bFXrU1ztZwj3M67PHRYxI5kpkhrY0Dvc4f0gDguM2yZB0WipAtSlFQrOKtVL2iq8JlB64rWWdE5-7PWFhrxOVIYa3GDbu8b-pbyZy/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-07-18+at+20.44.44.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://ebd35.wordpress.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9IjV65AkzZH_ezS9gFa-lnMeDAxSLE9CRUavsJcU6O11Btt33M59mAUn4t9I3QjjowOCFWQLsb-P9xneyvevicQ6Kx7QIxgV1Mc0qA52nOEaV1FR-sdRoLidP9PtezUG00MgbPYbo4Pd/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-07-18+at+20.46.02.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://dedwards.me/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDFS0_20S4Q2EEgQqCGEDUF-qseC2m4MkW_Um8iSCQ_POExAbsnFhZKNFRv3elvHq2UhZnvhvGd71peSisaRm9YO3JQMcu8fAgYryAxugZU-9CB6za66GUYFcHFSybNIrRoZxrufD8cpm/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-18+at+20.47.37.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.digitalleadernetwork.co.uk/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXjT5Xz00eD5PVDgBJtJN2jxfTlnejbI0uDha-49msgqnZ4ycRQ-zmtKgMROH2C5yWXH9l5Sdfy9rdjdyM-zsWH2CBfZfBZMJyytlUrXOn05L65a_2V3FYAJDMdR6M8F-wO9kLz_zCpGY/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-07-18+at+20.50.11.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Congratulations to all of the above. Brilliant blogs a-plenty and I hope you all enjoy discovering some new blogging adventures. :D</div>
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See you all soon!</div>
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eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-52974431353396758332013-07-17T12:19:00.000-07:002013-07-17T12:19:30.770-07:00Welcome to the Great Classroom Makeover of 2013! {PROJECT CLASSROOM SERIES}Pheww. Huge sigh. Slight empty feeling. After a whole year of the hardest work I've ever done (and my fab colleagues and brilliant kiddies too!) the inspectors came this week and have now left. We've done our best and what will be will be but it's such a relief to know that I've played my part for the school and I can now enjoy the final few days (5 left!) with my kiddos and focus on making next year even better. Plus, I'm moving up to 5th grade with them so I can really enjoy it without the usual end of year bittersweet moments.<br />
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The cherry on the cake is that all my crafty, creaty, designy moments are now justified and I'm actually properly allowed to think about next year and how I want my learning space to look. Inspired by <a href="http://shutthedoorandteach.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/upgrade-kids-materials-shelf-summer.html" target="_blank">Amber's great series</a> of classroom summer project posts, I've decided to imitate her great system and be brutally honest about all the various areas of my classroom. Hopefully, it should help me sort the wheat from the chaff and make my next room really purposeful for all of its residents!<br />
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My classroom has mutated over my past 3 years of teaching and this year has definitely been the most practical and suited to how I teach. Also, thanks to the ever-fabulous <a href="http://www.clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Clutter-Free Classroom blog</a>, I completely revitalised my organisation processes and can now actually function. I haven't lost a single piece of legal paperwork, bank statement or tooth in any of my 'strategically-placed' piles all year! (That definitely didn't happen in previous years, all in one week, during the critical observation period. No sirree!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.afinelung.com/wp-content/uploads/piles_of_paperwork2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://www.afinelung.com/wp-content/uploads/piles_of_paperwork2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anyhoo, I'm a much happier bunny this year but there is always room for improvement. So I took to my camera (read iPad) and snapped away. Having now looked at them in the very cold light of day, there is unfortunately far more room for improvement than I had anticipated. (I think my rose-coloured glasses embedded themselves over the stress of the past few months and I lost my sense of anything!)<br />
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So here I go. Today is going to be a short tour of my classroom through the wonderful medium of pictures and then, over the next few days/weeks, I'll take each area, one at a time, and give it the 'Two Stars and a Wish' treatment. (For those of you that don't use this, it's a marking strategy. I put my kiddies through it every day so may as well practise what I preach - although I think I'll probably have more than just 1 wish for improvement!)<br />
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Teacher area first - this looked so much better in my head. The middle photo is shocking!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWo82242xXe7GUD8_pEvgljS8PCmw5vypUIFvcpIfYzo05m2N5k8ztj7zYYM8i0s3yD8Q6j4_iccmhBJILbc1X39Grx0fFk0Mk4vKJ1VHaUMKHjnyJo7-yzJTAA-U4LeT6RTQ5kTqUbOlr/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWo82242xXe7GUD8_pEvgljS8PCmw5vypUIFvcpIfYzo05m2N5k8ztj7zYYM8i0s3yD8Q6j4_iccmhBJILbc1X39Grx0fFk0Mk4vKJ1VHaUMKHjnyJo7-yzJTAA-U4LeT6RTQ5kTqUbOlr/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasn9cveethZa2LLlFQgIa-gZacIDg4avnJjLEGLGD4lC35wXwF6SggniZlhZehzjWL3GgmiS8cFRyzW9dDXSsAqCfAU14YFUzDolHMxpiy5i0bK0JRMgk2dv1d4zlRntg_k2D8fLAS1M8/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasn9cveethZa2LLlFQgIa-gZacIDg4avnJjLEGLGD4lC35wXwF6SggniZlhZehzjWL3GgmiS8cFRyzW9dDXSsAqCfAU14YFUzDolHMxpiy5i0bK0JRMgk2dv1d4zlRntg_k2D8fLAS1M8/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGMN_Lg0CkIKaNlSmVJ2VeoCgs7w_Hj_f6_dtufN_7NfCv4lKCDPkw5ZiiBO3OBAPVozqTdREhMjJjy-LScnanXnu2G1XfATtjf2Es35YwcA5CIXJW-dCGKds-PPUssYuY66uMNhFAoHW/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGMN_Lg0CkIKaNlSmVJ2VeoCgs7w_Hj_f6_dtufN_7NfCv4lKCDPkw5ZiiBO3OBAPVozqTdREhMjJjy-LScnanXnu2G1XfATtjf2Es35YwcA5CIXJW-dCGKds-PPUssYuY66uMNhFAoHW/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My back wall with my working walls for Maths and Literacy, <a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/hand-signals-signs-classroom-360.html" target="_blank">hand signals</a> and Communication Station.<br />
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Newly revitalised Book Nook, which still looks dated and shabby :(</div>
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Front Wall and Interactive Whiteboard<br />
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And last but not least, the kiddies' cloakroom area with our Brownie Points trays and calendar.<br />
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Hope you enjoyed the photos! Please feel free to offer some pre-emptive critique of things that really stand out as quite shocking. I'm already super excited about analysing and revitalising the whole affair on my move to my new room! Can you tell that I'm in end of year mode? Look out for drooping borders, battered pompoms and missing labels! Think of it as a treasure hunt :)<br />
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<br />eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-53369849036645229162013-07-15T02:59:00.002-07:002013-07-15T02:59:12.149-07:00My Very First Ever Monday Madness!How exciting! All year I've been drawing such inspiration from the fabulous posts and today I'm joining in!<br />
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I'm actually writing this on a Thursday (teehee - so sneaky!) because I'm super eager to get there but I promise and I'll be good and wait to post until Monday. See you at midnight GMT! :D<br />
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Anyhow, my Monday Made It this week is my Writing Process Chart. I am super excited to get to use this and the kiddies are already moving their pegs and thinking about their Next Steps based on the chart. What a positive impact from one small craft.<br />
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I was inspired for this project because I realised that although they've done lots of fabulous writing this year, they've never had a chance to see the whole process of writing through to a finished text or book. I then stumbled upon this brilliant YouTube from Harper Collins called 'How A Book Is Made', which details the entire process in seven, short (about 4 mins each), kid-friendly videos. We only intended to watch one but actually spent the whole lesson going through the series, making notes and collecting Top Tips as we went.<br />
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Here's Episode 4: Creating the Art as a sample of the idea.<br />
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As we discussed the process, it became really clear that the children wanted some guidance on the steps to take, so I decided to make a peg chart that could help them keep track of their next steps. A little bit of photoshop, printing, cutting, laminating and ribbon-ing later... Tada!</div>
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Apologies for the terrible light, I was a teeny tiny bit too eager :S, hopefully you get the gist. The kiddies came in at lunch to move their pegs around, debating whether they needed to spend more time on 'Copywriting/Proofing' their work or whether they were ready to publish. What stars! They were also super-inspired by Episode 4 and are currently sketching out designs and redesigns of their main characters...</div>
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So there you are. The <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Process-Chart-764813" target="_blank">printables</a> are available in my<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Claire-Othacehe" target="_blank"> brand new, shiny TPT store</a> if you fancy a look or a print. </div>
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Thank you so much for letting me join the Monday gang! Special thanks to Tara, both for <a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">her brilliant blog</a> that has kept me so inspired and for running this lovely linky.</div>
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See you all next week!</div>
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<br />eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-4179621151862939202013-07-12T11:55:00.003-07:002013-07-13T07:35:44.998-07:00Classroom BreakupThis end-of-year stress is getting to me. Ergo, in typical me style, I am procrastinating wildly on everything I should actually be doing and, instead, am plugging in many, many, many hours on organising and sorting out my second home and playing at being an interior designer :) So, it's now time for...<br />
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<a href="http://www.ladybugsteacherfiles.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzgamLYJ2kdB3aa2GCaccRi4Uxq4XldiTkiS7oF7hGREcmp9TdFEpXSHtLVa8HVmdGL-jQR-b0D5dqEXPyIdhgSUdd6o_Hv8Hd68dSMvCLSvHVD5YLRxwrxa6einMgNz9fFNGokEjowbi/s1600/ladybugsteacherfiles.png" /></a></div>
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This post, my first-ever foray into this lovely linky, is unfortunately not yet on a great system of labelling or boxing things up (bring on the summer shopping spree!) but rather on organising my entire classroom at a more macro level. Hopefully, you'll see how my ideas sort themselves out as I go!</div>
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So... last night I was making yet another bright polka-dot/chalkboard/owl-themed printable for next year's classroom, when I finally found that I just could not. I could not make any more mismatched, clashing polka dot affairs. Nor could I try to arm-wrestle some sort of vague reference to owls in. Nor could I ignore my love for bright, light and airy things by trying to mimic a faux-chalkboard effect through digital papers. I just couldn't.</div>
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My eyes widened as I turned to MJK. "What shall I do?!" I exclaimed. Having spent the better part of the past 3 months' time and wages on organising my lovely 5th grade room, I didn't know if I had enough in me to walk away. I felt like I was in the middle of a break-up. You know the one. The one where you have had niggly doubts for a while but if you don't say them out loud they don't exist. Until the day when it's all too much and you just need to get out. Yesterday. So I've decided to cut my losses and leave.<br />
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...<br />
...<br />
...<br />
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A couple of glasses of rosé later, I had done my mourning and looked up all my exes online to find the ones that still looked hot (replace 'exes' with 'potential classroom themes' as applicable!). I was ready to go on the rebound. Except, I think this rebound is The One. And I do not say that lightly. I always thought (easier with hindsight I know) that my polka dot was beautiful and lovely and bright but not quite me. This beauty however, hits every nail right on its sparkly, airy, feminine, strong yet peaceful head:<br />
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<a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/2013/06/preppy-navy-coral-inspiration/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pX_EY5fOuUtAMn9i4i_mW6-d01wdG8-IuJk8u6-CSibkCKNhPI8F08HJtPyU7DK48OOd9Rth22M9utGGwwTFNAKFwULl59WWrh5YfuGHkwXG3YSDi2E3UrKrgRKsCP-U38SrsSbrlS8g/s640/navy-coral-inspiration_thumb.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
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Thanks to the inimitable <a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/2013/06/preppy-navy-coral-inspiration/" target="_blank">Schoolgirl Style</a>, I now feel at peace. How glorious will this be!? Admittedly, all pins in the navy/coral category bring up a string of beautiful weddings rather than fabulous classrooms, but I'm sure that will soon change. Here's my digital take at what it might end up looking like in situ:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsAsa5d4iSxhMOsQlNnmLr-0g2lEwn5k4ZfBmNtUCb6pqGYNal7yng0VZESDETxdqDKMjiDsVhve-30OYa7zYjJaYvgw0gNdVaM9FPnj5XfbpeqZV8NEypNGJwDLljSLI4yVu_KGmBKq4/s1600/Wall+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsAsa5d4iSxhMOsQlNnmLr-0g2lEwn5k4ZfBmNtUCb6pqGYNal7yng0VZESDETxdqDKMjiDsVhve-30OYa7zYjJaYvgw0gNdVaM9FPnj5XfbpeqZV8NEypNGJwDLljSLI4yVu_KGmBKq4/s640/Wall+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWE7-rWafXKPUF8lRlLZSshDOf23IgOdnSTkb5nw9uLgAl-XcpA5RYPMpZqTfnF1SiK_zoGVKIZSEkPcyFj_RLHWZhrbIC6dAWjNXE4IyRW-nit7RO-WNdHSUkP1fxQsjSAQG0LiVQQXD/s1600/Wall+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWE7-rWafXKPUF8lRlLZSshDOf23IgOdnSTkb5nw9uLgAl-XcpA5RYPMpZqTfnF1SiK_zoGVKIZSEkPcyFj_RLHWZhrbIC6dAWjNXE4IyRW-nit7RO-WNdHSUkP1fxQsjSAQG0LiVQQXD/s640/Wall+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSappgZEK1zhSPBEcMBd3HOErmABudYrlkXsSRMr_Mp624hu9PQKcNv-gCBIOUMN-xZ1_qyPTfD5pc491_gxyAq6fzmRzQbV1hWjHNh6btMDQ_WEMLesj7lQejGoglP2A0-n3cd2VDtZtc/s1600/Wall+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSappgZEK1zhSPBEcMBd3HOErmABudYrlkXsSRMr_Mp624hu9PQKcNv-gCBIOUMN-xZ1_qyPTfD5pc491_gxyAq6fzmRzQbV1hWjHNh6btMDQ_WEMLesj7lQejGoglP2A0-n3cd2VDtZtc/s640/Wall+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHD8NyF4dIO2g1hOyJaqPo6dwjxfwXMocXdEEF3aCR65H1REFf9OLmoWYvzPJHbw4PcVQC8Ald4BxcySkzThYFkJVbJWynrXZrob9JSaI5Qz1awUcWpnRDUxbRvQ9cIjeHv-zV7nesnOon/s1600/Wall+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHD8NyF4dIO2g1hOyJaqPo6dwjxfwXMocXdEEF3aCR65H1REFf9OLmoWYvzPJHbw4PcVQC8Ald4BxcySkzThYFkJVbJWynrXZrob9JSaI5Qz1awUcWpnRDUxbRvQ9cIjeHv-zV7nesnOon/s640/Wall+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Unfortunately, my classroom furniture is not quite that same lovely muted grey. Rather, an 'eclectic' concoction of old, mossy, blue-green carpet and worn burgundy curtains. I guess I'll just work around those :S<br />
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So... what do you think? Is this wildness? Is it actually, truly, just a rebound? Or is it fabulous, if a little 'Fred Perry'?<br />
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In the meanwhile, I feel much more at peace knowing that I know where things go, that colours will match and that baskets can officially be purchased/spray painted. If you have any great sources or stores, please let me know! I'm super excited to navy-it-up!<br />
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As a little thank you for reading this post, please take <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Marking-Scheme-768479" target="_blank">this copy</a> of the aforementioned 'printable' I was making, which started all this! FREE at <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Claire-Othacehe" target="_blank">my brand new, shiny TPT store!</a> Enjoy :D<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Marking-Scheme-768479" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IBZFM0CB5muq9sKQH8HoK71wfsNbHwlwZxpEDqeV-mXTqBe3Kxow3G5vbN3zECR6t20L67f68afit3pUkQHUJhCSC6Ijl3byPnd0kBhfk-leijAwB37P_UJ8iPmTbr4kaAahOcS7zp7d/s400/FINAL+no+mess.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>eglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673588965077308375.post-88818320416265938112013-07-10T12:16:00.001-07:002013-07-10T12:16:15.996-07:00Meet the Teacher and CURRENTLY<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having spent the better part of the best year turning the ogling of Pinterest, Google Reader, Monday Made It! and other linkys into a professional spectator sport, I thought it was about time I join the party. I'm Claire, I currently teach Year 5 (4th Grade) and am moving up to Year 6 (5th) in September. I absolutely adore my job and feel so lucky to get paid to do all my favourite things and spend all day with 30 of my favourite people!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I'd kick off my foray into the blogging world with a first attempt at a 'Currently'. I've had a good rummage through <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Farley's fabulous blog</a> and have tried to follow the guidance but apologies if I'm not quite 'spot on.' Fingers crossed and here goes...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNn3lCpRAlXghogl-oESLXt-7TbICOHWb7OOwrxMge5bBqzTeXre_oWGnP7KSZmk6SukeG8FtB6Rn6j9oBrqzJYc-23nLKK_D4DW-DvEQdDaLL_CkEmkutJs0jnhUdievZzPqQT1Ha0C1/s640/Slide09+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNn3lCpRAlXghogl-oESLXt-7TbICOHWb7OOwrxMge5bBqzTeXre_oWGnP7KSZmk6SukeG8FtB6Rn6j9oBrqzJYc-23nLKK_D4DW-DvEQdDaLL_CkEmkutJs0jnhUdievZzPqQT1Ha0C1/s640/Slide09+copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Listening -</span></b> My friend recommended this band and they are such a happy, reggae-y, ska-infused blend of summery goodness. Absolutely perfect for winding the windows down and driving along Norfolk country lanes. We're having a bit of a uni (college for you stateside folk) reunion in October and all of my housemates are coming to me to go and see them play live. What a great reason to regroup and reconnect with some fabulous people! :D<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Loving -</b></span> It is almost July and this weekend is only the <u>second</u> day of sunshine. How depressing. And yet, how wonderful when it does actually come out. MJK (my lovely OH) ran a 10k run, whilst I got to sit outside chatting with the other watching women, so we really made the most of the sunshine. We're now in our backyard having a bbq and enjoying some quality time together. I love weekends!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Thinking -</b></span> See above :D<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Wanting -</b></span> As most of the blogs I follow as States -based, I am very jealous of everyone wrapping up their classrooms and thinking about next year. All the classroom ideas are drool-worthy, especially the fabulous tubs and baskets you all seem to find in every colour under the sun. So jealous!<br />
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<b style="color: blue;">Needing - </b>Reports are my nemesis. It's a sad fact that I already know that I will be writing them at 4a.m. on the due date - oops! Procrastination is my middle name.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Tips, tricks or hints - </span>Especially plan in some nice lunches. That midday break is still the stuff of dreams, and generally filled with marking and printing but on those rare occasions when it does happen, a lovely lunchbox is sure to make it even more magical. Check out these beauties from the ever-amazing Erin Condren too! http://www.erincondren.com/lunchbox/personalized.html<br />
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So there you have it, a little bit of me for you. Hope to continue this lovely blogging journey for many adventures to come :Deglantinexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348633146944951568noreply@blogger.com0