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FAQs from teachers
I have a question about...
Thursday Book Bags
Clip chart
jewels
Editing your files
Updating this site
Maintaining
your new website
Graphics
Homework Club
Proper use of your documents and files
Procedure handbook
Classroom library
HORSE folders
Teaching Oasis
Free choice minutes
 Did
you get a grant for your Thursday Book Bags?
No. I had all of the books that are in
the bags. I bought the bags at Wal-Mart and purchased the
activities in the bags at the Dollar Store or the dollar spot at
Target.
But
don't you worry that kids won't return the Thursday Book Bags or
the items in them?
I have been doing these bags since
2007. In that time, one bag has not been returned, one
book has been ruined and promptly paid for by the family, and
two activities have been broken or lost pieces. Because
each family signs a contract for the bags, they are aware that
items need to be replaced or paid for before their child will be
able to take another bag home. And, really, if a child
without a large home library keeps a book or two... me paying
$10 to replace them is a small price to put books in that
child's hands!
Soooooo...
will you share your files for the bags?
Yes!
You can download some of my activities and the iron-on transfers
on my Files
page in the "T" section for "Thurdsay Book Bags"!
Where did you
get the
stick-on jewels for your clip chart?
I got them in the scrapbooking department at Hobby Lobby.
I know Jo-Ann Fabric sells them and I'm sure Michael's does too!
Just check the scrapbooking department!
I
really like one of your files, but it's not quiet perfect for my
needs. Will you send it to me in WORD so I can edit it?
Sorry! I will not send files out in
WORD format. Most of my files are generic enough that they
should be easy to adapt to fit different classroom situations.
Please enjoy my files in the PDF format I have posted them in.
Don't
you ever update this site anymore?!
Sorry... no.
I have been blogging since 2011 and LOVE it! I have been
introduced to so many new friends and have found blogging to be
an instant way to share my teaching in a conversational format,
rather than just off a webpage. I feel like I can interact
with my reader friends and blogging is SO much quicker and
easier! I encourage you to visit my blog... I think it's a
pretty cool place to be!
So, how
are you doing your website now?
Now I am creating my site with Microsoft
Expressions Web 4- you can download a free trial to see if you like
it! I paid $10 to godaddy.com for my domain name and I pay $5
a month for them to host my site. They will host your site for
free, if you wish, but there will be an ad banner on top of all of
your pages.
Where
did you get your great graphics for your site?
They ARE great, aren't they?! All of
the graphics on this site come from
Thistle Girl Designs.
You can join her graphics club to get a free set each month and a
10% discount on all purchases!
What
do you do with your "Homework Club" each month?
My "Homework Club" meets at the end of each
month to vote on a reward. It is always something small like
eating lunch together in the room, a sticker, piece of candy, or
other special treat.
Do
I have to e-mail you for permission to use your files and ideas in
my school or classroom?
Please use anything you find on this site in
your own classroom or school. You may NOT, under any
circumstances, post any of my files on any file sharing site, any
website (including your own classroom website), file
storing site, or online forum. If there is something on this
site you believe someone else could benefit from, please direct them
to this site.
You may
NOT
upload my documents to your own site, even if you credit me and
link to my site! Please direct teachers to my site
if there is something here you feel may interest them!
Please e-mail me
if you have questions about this!
Do
you give all of your students a copy of the "Procedure Handbook"?
No. We have a copy in the classroom to
refer to as needed. Parents wishing to view it can come in to
the room or download it from this site!
Why
do you choose not to organize your library by level?
I used to organize my library according to AR dot color.
Each basket was assigned a dot color and books of all variety
were inside, as long as they were the correct dot color.
The more that I thought about this, the more I realized that I
was teaching my students the wrong reason for reading. I
was teaching them that, when we read, the most important thing
to consider is whether a book is "our dot color" or not.
After re-organizing my library according to topic, genre,
author, etc... my students are able to understand that we choose
books based on our interests and our purpose and from there we
find books that are a good fit for us.
Where
did you get the white baskets you use to organize your classroom
library?
I got these baskets at Wal-Mart. They
are Sterlite brand and cost about $2.50 a piece.
Where
did you get the plastic folders you use for your HORSE folders?
For the past several years, I have gotten them at Wal-Mart.
However, the price has steadily increased each year! I
found similar folders at Target this year for less than the ones
I had been getting at Wal-Mart. They are much sturdier
too!
Didn't
you use to have more files on your site for teachers to use?
Yes- you might be looking for a certain file that I used to have
on my site. However, many of my old files have been
revised and are now for sale at the
Teaching Oasis, along
with many new files created by me,
Ms. Winston, and
Ms. Fiorini too!
Don't worry! I still add free files to this site too!
I
saw the picture of your "free choice minutes" on your
Classroom page. Can you
explain how that works?
My students sit in groups.
Each group has one member of the group with a basket stuck to
their desk using magnets. Every Monday, groups begin the
week with 5 craft pom-poms (free choice minutes) in their
basket. Groups earn minutes throughout the week for making
good choices and also lose them for making poor choices.
At the end of the day on Friday, I write each groups' total
minutes on the board and put up on overhead timer so they know
when it is their turn to play. If you are not yet on free
choice, you can read, draw, or work by yourself, at your seat,
silently. Kids not on free choice may not "do nothing".
Groups know to watch the timer for their time to play. The
timer beeps when there are two minutes left. This is the
"two minute warning". It is time to pick up. All
students must be back in their seats, with all things put away,
when the timer goes off.
 Teachers-
hopefully this page has answered some of your questions! If
you would like to contact me through e-mail, please use the icon
below to use my personal e-mail instead of using the e-mail listed
on this website. That is my school address and is for my
school families!
Thank you!
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