Update on my (see red) Name tags that last!!!

Last year we were ask to have our first graders line up in alphabetical order for lunch and make sure they had name tags.  So I decided to do something different and it lasted because I am using them again this year.  I do recommend you reinforce the opening on the plastic ID badge for the lanyard with clear packing tape or the fancy duck tape and then re cut or whole punch the hole for the lanyard (You can hole punch through packing tape but duck tape you may need to slice an opening).  For me spending a bit of money first off has saved me time and NO more word cards on roving/yarn!!!!  So it's time to share. 

Now you will have to spend a little money, but if you don't have to keep doing roving/yarn necklaces attached to word cards maybe you'll want to try this. 

I purchased from Staples but you can get at any office supply:  2 packages of the blue lanyards (12 for about $9.50) and 1 package of ID badge holders that attach to the lanyards (50 for about $20).  Then I got some Shipping Labels from Avery (8163).

I set up in Microsoft Word (labels) and printed my labels with my students first and last name, my name and room number, (that's what our cafeteria wanted) but you can put what ever you need or want on your name cards.  I cut a 3 x 5 card in half and put the label on it.  Then, I slipped the card into the name badge and walah!  A lasting name badge. 

How do I use them in my class:  I put my badges on my kidney table in the morning.  My students know that if they need to buy a lunch they need to get their necklace and put it on their desk.  When we go to lunch they put it on.  Once they get their lunch and are seated I come and collect their necklaces.  I do not want them to take them out to play.  That's it!

Have a terrific week and here's to saving time!

TeachersPayTeachers SALE for 2 days (Aug. 12,13) plus my store has a 20% off sale too, Use PROMO code BTS12

Hello I have learned that Teachers Pay Teachers only has a few sales a year and today Aug. 12 and tomorrow Aug. 13 are one of those sales.  As my title today says not only do they have a discount on items but so do I in my store.  Everything in my store is 20% off.  Hit the Teachers Pay Teachers button on my blog and it will take you to my store.  It's a small store but you get a lot of bang for your buck.  Why not get a few new things at a discount to start off your year or add to it if you've already started with some terrific items from me and others.  I know for I'll be shopping as soon as I'm done here. 

I've been teaching a long time and get bored with some of my things and I like to jazz up my mood when teaching with new stuff for cheap and pay a teacher instead of a publishing company (for double/triple the price).  All of us are teaching pretty much the same things so it's nice to utilize someone elses brain and as my Blog title says, "Save Time in First Grade", or any grade really!

Enjoy shopping and thanks for reading.  Have a terrific day and SAVE YOURSELF SOME TIME.

Well slowly but surely I am learning how to set up my blog.  I wonder is there a blogging for Dummies out there?

Today I finished another Treasures Reading Program packet.  It is a First grade Sight Word packet for Units 1-6.  It has all the words for each of the 5 weeks covered in these units.  I have combined weeks due to some weeks not having very many words.  This packet is useful for any reading program too.  Read the sheet in class or send it home.  Each sheet has groups of Sight words your child should read quickly.  Then you can keep score for 5 days and see how they improve.  When used in class, I say to my students, "read as fast as a jet".  They love it!

I have uploaded them in a PDF version or Microsoft publisher version.  They are available on TPT or http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

I have also added a PDF version of my Treasures Sight Words for Start Smart weeks 1 - 3.  It too is on my Store at TPT or http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

To access my store once your on their website:  please just type in my name on the search button:  Cindy Tirado  It should take you to my store. 

I am new to blogging so I don't know yet how to embed all the buttons and things to get you right to my store, sorry about that.  Perhaps I will figure it out one of these days.

Thanks for reading and here's to Saving Time!

A Few Tips to a Great New Year

My goal this week was to get into my classroom for only a couple of days and do a much set up as I could.  I entered my classroom and tried to remember where I shoved everything 6 weeks ago.  Let me tell you the older you get and the longer you teach the harder it is to remember where you shoved things for the summer break.  Every closet is a surprise, Ha Ha.  Then I see all of things I need to unload and put back in their places.  Sooooo Fun!  Not!!

My goal when I write here is to share experiences but also I like to share a tip or two that may save you time.

This year I was lucky no one used my room as in the past, so here's a great tip if you can do it:  set up your room with your beginning of the year bulletin boards and charts/posters prior to leaving. 

I have never been one to have every inch of my room decorated.  Tip:  it's O.K. to keep your room simple.  Why? because, I have found it hard for the students to focus and settle down when a room is too busy with stuff everywhere. Kids only notice things for a while and then it gets ignored.  So for my boys and girls basic charts/posters are up:  numbers with number words, colors with color words, my poem of the week, homework chart, and behavior chart.  These charts I've made and are scaffolds.  I scale them to just words later in the year.  Don't get me wrong as the year progresses I add things to our room environment we have created as a class, or relates to our theme.  These seem to be more meaningful to all.  Finally, my last tip don't be afraid to get rid of (put away) things your class won't be using anymore.  It's O.K.

Well best of luck to those who are starting next week and if not continue to enjoy your summer break. 

Thanks for reading and here's to saving time.

Only try a couple of new things at a time when starting a new year.

I have seen so many fun ideas and activities that I would love to do with my new first graders this coming year, but I have also learned through my many years of teaching that you should only try a few new things at a time. If you change too much it can become overwhelming and at least for me my room won't run as smoothy and flow as I like it. Like last year my district introduced us to the Treasures Reading Program and the Dibles Assessments. I really did not do much new in my classroom except to learn the ins and outs of both Treasures and Dibles. Now this up comming year with those two programs sort of under my belt, I can now tweek Treasures to meet my students needs adding activities/centers, and lessons. After using Dibles I now know I need to have things to keep my students occupied for a certain amount of time so I can do the one on one testing. So I'm thinking this year I'll try and add more focussed literacy and math centers as well as trying out some whole brain teaching techniques (www.wholebrainteaching.com). Why do I mention this? Well many teachers I know want to try so many things they see others doing that seem to be working (including me). So I always suggest (and have to remind myself) run your class the way you are comfortable then if you see something new you like go ahead and add it. If it works perfect, use it, but if it doesn't or your not comfortable with it dump it and go back to your old stuff. You will feel better and be less stressed. Lord knows we are stressed enough with all our current challenges in teaching now days. So as the statement say, "Keep it simple". Do what works for you and gets your students learning. Here's to saving time. Thanks for reading

Word Sort Cards for Units 1 -6 for Treasures Reading Program First Grade

Wow! I finally finished the Words Sort cards for Macmillian/McGraw-Hill Treasures Reading program First Grade. They are at my TPT Store (Teacher Pay Teacher), just type in the search my name Cindy Tirado and my store will come up. Last year when we had to implement this reading program I found there were a lot of materials, but they had no cards to use for the sorting lesson during the Phonics/Spelling portion of the Weeks lesson. All last year each week I quickly wrote the words on 3 x 5 index cards, what a pain! Now they are are ready just download, print, laminate, and cut. By the way if you don't use Treasures reading program they are terrific words sorts to add to any Reading lesson and or center. Thanks for reading and here's to saving time!

     Since I'm new to blogging I don't know all the gadgets and things to put on my blog page, so I'm trying to teach myself and see what the pros out there have on their pages, so bear with me.

      It's so interesting to read what everyone is teaching and how they think of such terrific ideas and ways for their students to learn.  I have a renewed sense of hope that perhaps many of you are not getting bogged down by all the testing most of us are required to do now days.  As I start my new year in a couple of weeks I know that I will have to start our district testing (CELDT and Dibels) which I dread because of the amount of time it takes away from my students, but I will keep in mind the information I gain from these test as well as all of the wonderful primary teachers out there who push through the testing sessions and just have fun teaching.

     I just visited a site by  Ms. A at www.oceansoffirstgradefun.blogspot.com She had a couple of terrific freebies on working with the short vowels and a number/color/counting activity.  I have added them to a binder I have set up for small group activities/Workshop/Work Station time.  The binder came from another teacher I found while blogging, her blog site, is called www.funinfirstgrade.blogspot.com  She has pages set up with various phonemic awareness and phonics titles.  Once you find some activity relating to that topic you just add your idea behind that title.  As she suggested I have put all my titles in sheet protectors and any ideas behind the title.

        I though I might share an  organization tool. I use.  All through my years of teaching it's been easier for me to remember my students first names. Now, if I have 2-3 students with the same first name (which has happened) I fore sure learn those students last name. Believe you me I do learn every ones last name eventually, but I don't find it to be that critical particularly in the beginning of the year.   Everything I do from my cubbies/mailboxes, to my grade book, homework folders, to classwork is put in alphabet order by first name.  No biggy if someone leaves.  I just add them to the bottom of my grade book sheet and on my cubbies.  I might shift every one's cubby/mailbox up or over one (HINT: their fist names are velcroed onto the cubbies/mailboxes, so it's easy to move).
     HINT:  Here's my fast way to get students names in alphabetical order by first names.  At the beginning of the year I put everybodies name on an excel spreed sheet then I click the button to sort and "walah" everybody is in order by first name.  I make a second spreed sheet with last names first and I click the sort button and "walah" I have my second sheet in order by last names.  I keep these sheets particularly the first name order and make copies to be used a check list for  various things I need through the year.  Having students in order by first name is also easier for my aide or parent helpers (if I was ever so lucky to have one) to use when calling students, checking in homework etc.   Now I do have to get my students in alphabetical order by last name for our lunch line, cums, and emergency cards, so that's why I make the second sheet sorted by last names.
    Many a time I don't have help, so by having everything by first name I find it to be much faster for me to sort and stay organized.  I know many out there do the number system, but I find first name order works for me.  An added bonus is that I have found my students catching on to the idea of ABC order by using their first names.

Well here's to Saving Time and thanks for reading.