Class Dojo is Awesome!! Focus on Positive Behaviors!

I'm sure many of you already use or have heard of Class Dojo, so this won't be news to your ears. But for those of you who haven't heard about it...you gotta check it out!

Class Dojo is a free interactive behavior management program online (Class Dojo just released an Android app and iOS app too). It is super easy to use and my kids LOVE it! I've been focusing on the positive behaviors (this is the first week of school and my students have all been amazing thus far). The students can earn points for various things such as staying on task, participation, etc. They can also have points taken away for negative behaviors such as showing disrespect, being off task, etc.

I'm still thinking about what I will be doing with the points and how often they will be tallied up...weekly, biweekly, or monthly tally.

So throughout the day I have been awarding points and the students can't wait to log on to their account and check out their daily total.  I also like that the parents can log on and view how their child is doing. Class Dojo has some great data reports for parents and students.

One major "selling" point for the kid was that they could go in and change/create their own avatar. I'm a bit exhausted and don't feel as though I am explaining this site as best as I could, so you will just have to check it out and explore for yourselves. I'm positive you and your students will love it.

                                                              

Labels with Pizzaz!

This year I am using journals for everything. Last year I got my feet wet with math journals and loved them! I like how interactive they can become. So, I was in desperate need of cute labels for my student's journals. After scouring the web I found some nifty FREE address labels that go with my color/design theme this year.

Check out World Label and make your own super cute labels. It was so easy! Initially, I was going to design my own, but I just don't have time for that right now.

I used Avery 5160 address labels. The site will tell you what kind of labels you can use. They have designs for oval labels, file folder labels, multi-purpose labels, round labels, etc. Just scroll down to the label you want and click the "Download Autofill" button and you are ready to go! I chose three different designs, but they have quite a few that are free.

I apologize for the yellow tint of the photos....this is what happens when I take photos at night under my dining room lighting. Sigh...

Meet The Teacher! Linky Party!

I love this week long linky party from Blog Hoppin'!

1.  I'm a tomboy. I love the outdoors and not the relaxing at the beach kind of outdoors. I'm talking about the getting muddy and extreme! I love going 4x4ing with my hubby, dad, and brother. So much fun heading out into the mountains riding on the narrow cliffs and speeding down some crazy hills.

2.  I'm addicted to traveling. I really have a problem and should seek help for this wanderlust bug that has bitten me! I just can't seem to stop! I have so much curiosity for the world around me whether it be out of the country, state, or local. There is so much out there to be discovered and I want to experience it all. This affliction got started 10 years ago with my first adventure to Europe. Since January of this year, I have been fortunate enough to visit the United Arab Emirates, Oregon, New Jersey, and in the fall I shall explore Kentucky!! The photo is of an elementary school in the United Arab Emirates. I was such an honor to spend the day with them!

3.  I HATE shopping. There is nothing worse than shopping. Ugh...I guess that goes back to my tomboy roots. I only go shopping when there is a purpose...groceries, new pants, etc. Even then I am in and out. 

4.  I have my motorcycle licence. I must admit that I kept renewing my permit for years before I actually went in and took the test for my class M license. There is nothing better than riding on an open country rode with my Vespa.

5.  I want to move out of the country.  My husband has family in Germany and Slovenia and I would love to move out there! What and adventure that would be. But, for right now his career keeps us here in CA. You never know.... The photo is of Piran one of my favorite places in Europe.

6.  My boys are my life! When I say boys, I am of course talking about my cute little Doxies Hans and Buster. Who knew an animal could steal your heart! Nothing beats a rough day like coming home to my babies.

7.  I'm heading into my 7th year of teaching. I thought 7 years was quite a milestone...that is until today. During our PD the teachers introduced themselves and the majority of teachers at my new school all have an average of 11 to 12 years of teaching experience. A few amazing teachers are in the 20th and 30th plus years! 

8.  I'm married!  My husband and I are coming up on our 5 year anniversary! Although, we've been together for 12 years. We met through a mutual friend and the rest is history.

          

9.  I practice yoga and aerial arts.  I've been practicing yoga for 3 years now. I initially got into it to help relieve some stress. It worked and I became hooked. This year a friend of mine introduced me to the aerial arts (think Cirque Du Soleil...when the girls or guys are hanging from the silk in the air). I took some time off this summer for various reasons and will be getting back into next week! It is the best workout ever!

10. Tomorrow is the first day of school! Tomorrow I start the next phase in my teaching adventure. I'm excited to be at my new school. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming. I can't wait to meet my 5th graders tomorrow. 

Cute Colleague Gift:::Monday Made It!

I can't believe my summer has ended! The past few weeks have been absolutely crazy! All last week was spent getting my new room together at my new school! Super excited to be starting this school year.

Linking up once again for Monday Made It with 4th Grade Frolics. There are lots of great ideas so make sure you head on over to her page and check out everyone's nifty DIY's!

I made my 5th grade colleague (who is also new to the school and is going into her 7th year of teaching too!) a cute little first week of school gift. We start tomorrow!! Wowsa!

I found the gift tag over at Miss Lovie's blog who got it from My Sister's Suitcase (a super cute blog with a lot of adorable free printables). Don't we all need a little chocolate and caffeine at the end of the first week...or daily for that matter!

I bought the water bottle (or should I say water mason jar) at Target for $10. Filled the mason jar up with chocolate. Tied two small soda bottles together with some ribbon and viola....adorable teacher colleague gift!

For those of you who are already back in school, I hope your first week is amazing!

:::Donors Choose Project:::Saturday Snapshots:::All in One!

Hello! Today I got to see my new room for the first time! It definitely needs some work, but I'm sure it will look great once I am done with it! My husband did the brunt of the work. He moved all my stuff up two flights of stairs! My new school site doesn't have an elevator which can make the moving process difficult. It also made me realize that maybe I should get rid of some stuff! It's a large room with a huge window along one wall. I love natural light! The only problem is the bookshelves, they are missing the shelves or the brackets to hold the shelves. I'm hoping the school has extra bookshelves or brackets. Otherwise, my classroom library won't have a home.

My Donor's Choose project was just posted and if you know of anyone who would be willing to help us out, my students and I would be forever grateful! I want my students to receive a subscription to Time for Kids. Last year my 5th graders received Weekly Reader and LOVED it. This year I wanted to try out Time for Kids. For the next 7 days, any donation will be doubled...they will be matching it dollar for dollar. All you have to do is enter the code INSPIRE on the payment screen. The math offer lasts until August 10th.

The link: Read All About It, Read All About It! Time for Kids!


Now for a link up with Run! Miss Nelsons Got the Camera! and her Saturday Snapshots link!  Make sure to check out her post for some other nifty photos! Today I'm sharing some photos I took while spending New Years Eve in Virginia City, NV. I've never really experienced snow before this. There was one time while traveling through Vienna, Austria in which a bit of light snow was falling...only to melt when it touched you. While traveling via train the mountains were covered in snow, but I wasn't able to actually go out and be one with the snow so to speak.

So I was SUPER excited when the lady at our hotel/B&B told us it was snowing ALOT! We stayed at the historic Tahoe House and loved it! The rooms were super cute and the hotel keepers were amazing! I couldn't get enough of the snow! I'm sure if I had to live in it day in and day out, it may lose it's sparkle! I don't know if I would like having to dig my car out of the snow (we saw quite a few people doing this).

Currently: August!

I had no idea it was August already! That is until I saw everyone linking up with Oh Boy Fourth Grade for the August Currently.

My currently is short and sweet this month. I'm exhausted (but for all the best reasons) and just want to watch a movie right now. So where is that DVD remote.....