Class Messenger- Using Your Smart Phone to Keep in Touch With Parents/Students

First things first...I'm on mat leave!! 8 weeks till the baby comes...hopefully, right. No early surprises. I do have some ultrasounds to check in on the baby's growth over the next few weeks but I am feeling good and looking forward to some time to rest and get ready before our whole world turns upside down.

Button clipart from Scrappin Doodles

Have you seen this new app/website? I heard about it from a colleague in the staff room last week. I must preface this post with the fact that I have not personally used this app but I think it looks great!

Here is an article I found about the app/website:
www.edudemic.com

This site looks great in itself and I think I will be back often to see what else they are writing about. 

Now, the app/website itself. I downloaded the app from the app store on to my iPhone and I don't really know much about other types of phones...so you'll have to investigate if you don't have an iPhone. The best part is that the app is FREE!! FREE!! All teachers love something free, right?

The website for this app is www.classmessenger.com and it is powered by Scholastic. Apparently the app used to be called What Did We Do Today? and has now changed to Class Messenger. Perhaps you have heard of the first but not the name change?

Here's the home screen-

I first created my account on my iPhone, because I downloaded the app first but I don't think it matters if you go to the website first. 

Once you are registered and logged in the app provides two different demos to help you see how it all works.

As I played around with the site, I found a great FAQ's section- for Teachers, Parents and Students. It seems like they've thought of everything!

There is also a great DEMO section that walks your through each step of setting up your classes and has demos for parents and students as well. 

Since I am off on leave, I don't actually have a class to try this out with...this year! But I am hoping that one of you all will jump on board and tell me all about it?! Yes??

I did start to attempt to build a class just to see how easy it was and  here's what you will see on the screen as you start to build your class. 

I like that Class Messenger has the option to build multiple classes, so if you teach rotary or want to organize your students by groups/classes that can be done as well.

There is a section where you can add contact details for your students/parents and I have highlighted some of the sections using arrows on the picture below. 

I think a form will need to be created in order to gather the email addresses needed to contact parents so they can sign up with the app. I haven't found a form provided on the site, so this may need to be done at your own school site. 

From here, there's not much more I can do...not actually having a class to sign up...boo. 

But...

I think this app/website has a lot of possibilities and I am very interested in hearing from anyone that uses it with their class this year.

Back to School Sale! And a FREEBIE!!

Unless you've been hiding under a rock you must have heard about the Teachers Pay Teacher Back to School sale today and tomorrow... who doesn't love a sale??

Now, I don't have a TPT store to direct you to for great savings...all my stuff is always a freebie here at my blog.

But I did buy some great items!

Since I am only going back to school for 9 short days before my mat leave starts I have been racking my brain about how to go about planning and teaching for those 9 days. I don't want to set up too many routines in case they're aren't what the teacher coming in will want for the class, but I also don't think I should teach any routines at all. Such a dilemma.

Then I start to think about curriculum...my school board has a process every September/October called re-organization. This is where schools and classes that have either too many students or not enough students get re-organized into proper class sizes. I understand the need for it but it's a lot of disruption for staff and students as classes can end up collapsed and teachers moved from one school to other overnight. Horrible, right?

Well, the chances are high of my school getting re-organized because our numbers are so high. This has happened to us every year for the last three...this year isn't looking any different. I want to spend my short time in the classroom creating small portfolios that my students can take with them in case they are moved to a new class and the teacher will have a glimpse into what they can do and have been doing without feeling like he/she needs to play catch up.

So when choosing my products for the sale I looked for items that covered a lot of general expectations and would allow the students to have fun while showcasing their abilities.

So what did I get?

Click on any of the images to be taken directly to the sellers TPT store and the product.

I love the idea of Math About Me...students start to think about numbers and math in a whole new way. I think this will be a great starting activity for my grade 3's and to pass along to their new teacher. 

After a whole summer off it can be difficult to get students to start writing again. I am hoping this will jump start their writing muscles and provide some diagnostic information for their new teacher. 

Gotta see how well they can make connections. I am hoping to do a 9-day (LOL) intensive connections unit while I am school to gain some insight into my student's reading ability that I can then pass on.

This product has some great get-to-know you activities and many of them could be used to create some cute class books. I think I will use a lot of them as time-fillers and seat work as I try to complete as many reading assessments in 9-days as possible.

Math diagnostic!! Grade 3 is a testing year in my province so I want to get my students started on the right foot (even if I won't be there at testing time) so they can be prepared. 

Lastly, I got some more of the ADORABLE Pink Cat Studio clip art that I have been using for my Back to School Teacher Binder Series. I am in love with it. 

If you've missed on on the freebies so far make sure you check out

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

And now for Part 4...more freebies for you!

Here is a little form to help you keep track of all your student's birthdays!

This a is cute package of forms I put together to help you prepare for a substitute. This freebie includes a spot to leave information about your class/students, classroom rules, procedures, behaviour management, recess routines, lunch information, dismiss routines, morning routines, and a feedback form.

Finally, I'd love for you check out the TPT stores for my fellow contributors over at A Class*y Collaboration.

Click on the buttons below to head to their  TPT stores.

Kathy is participating too! She has a tonne of math games that would be great for math centres.

Brenda has some amazing Beanie Bag Decoding Strategy Posters...just added to my cart!

Everything in Ciera's store is sooo cute! I love the Author's Purpose Powerpoint and colouring set.

Jacque has some super cute alphabet posters.

Rachel is in on the sale too!! She has a wide variety of sub plans available.

Sabra has two cute fraction sets- Fraction War! The kids would love it. 

Hope your shopping is going as well as mine!

My Teacher Bag Linky Party

Well, now that all the Schoolapalooza over at A Class*y Collaboration has reached an end (sad face) I can post about my...

TEACHER BAG!

I must say, I don't have just one. I am a self-diagnosed bag-aholic and having Thirty-One come to Canada was probably not the best thing for my wallet. I change my purse at least twice (if not more) a week and probably only carry the same teacher bag for a month at a time. That being said, I do have some go-to faves that stay in rotation longer than others.

Last year the bag I used the most was this amazing canvas tote from The Bay. 

Photo via Gracious, Good's Blog

I loved that it had the traditional Hudson Bay colours (I wish I could afford one of their blankets!) and how sturdy it is. 

Plus, it was on sale for $25! Awesome.

I could pack this baby full of stuff and it would still hold more. My car often told me that my passenger wasn't wearing their seatbelt when I carried it to school. A sign that maybe there was too much in it? Hmmmmm.

Photo via Thirty-One

My best friend just bought me the Organizing Utility Tote from Thirty-One for my up-coming birthday (August 19th if you're wondering) and I love it. She got this print with my initials on it. I'm sure for the next year while I am on mat leave it'll be put into service as a diaper bag, but look out September 2014! I've got a new Teacher Bag.

Photo via GreenThinkers

Sometimes I just carry a few reusable grocery bags from a local grocery store because they're big, sturdy and can hold a lot. Plus, they come in all sorts of cool fruit and vegetable designs!

  

Photo via Thirty-One

Photo via Thirty-One

Since I am only going back to school for nine days this year, I don't anticipate needing to carrying a lot of stuff so I am going to rotate between my new Retro Metro Bag and the Inside Out Bag from Thirty-One.

I've been carrying these bags everywhere with me since they arrived and I love both of them!

I would love for you to link up with my ongoing linky party and share your Teacher Bag...or bags, as the case may be.

As a thank you to everyone that links up, 

I'd like to offer them a personalized Teacher Planning Binder cover page like the one pictured below. 

Would you like to display the linky party on your blog? Then grab the code here.

get the InLinkz code

Teacher Binder Cover Pages- Freebie

Welcome to Part 3 of my Back to School Teacher Binder Series.

I hope you have found something to your liking so far. If you are coming over from A Class*y Collaboration's Schoolpalooza- WELCOME!

Please make sure that you have see the first two parts to this series so that you don't miss out on any of the freebies.

Part 1

Part 2

I've saved a good freebie for the day that I was being highlighted for Schoolapalooza...I think it's my favourite part of my series!

How can you resist chevron AND owls?

Today's freebie is COVER PAGES!

That's right. These can be used as cover pages for your Teacher's Planning Binder or to for the divided sections inside. Which ever suits your fancy.

In this freebie there are 17 different covers! Whew...There has to be at least a few that work for you. BUT if not, please leave a comment or email me. I can add more covers to please everybody in their organizational needs.

Here's a few samples.

Click on either of the images above to get your copy 

of these 17 (!) cover pages.

This freebie includes the following 17 cover pages:

- Anecdotal Observations

- Assessment Profiles

- Common Core Standards

- Curriculum Planning

- Grade Book

- Guided Math Planning

- Guided Reading Planning

- Homework

- Lesson Planning

- Monthly Calendar

- Communication Log

- Staff and Team Meetings

- Standards

- Student Information

- The Daily Five

- Year Long Planning

- Teacher Planning Binder 

Thanks for visiting and please leave a comment below... especially if I am missing a cover you would like!

Back to School Freebie Series- Teaching Binder Printables

Thanks to a follower who emailed me to say that the links for my freebies weren't working. I'm so sorry. 

The problem has been fixed and they are working now.

It's back to school time and I have been working hard on updating my Teacher Binder printables from last year (here and here) and adding new ones for y'all. 

This is going to be a series of posts so make sure you check back often...plus, some of my freebies will only be offered over at A Class*y Collaboration as part of a special event we have planned. Whew, can you handle all that excitement? 

I am basically attempting to create all the forms and organizational tools I need for my class...the things I find most useful. If you don't see something you think you would like, please email me or leave a message and I will do my best to try and create something for you.

My first two freebies are for the all important act of communication. My very first associate teacher in Teacher's College told me that one of the best things a teacher can do is 

C.Y. A. 

(Cover Your Ass!)

Which means documenting all communication between home and school. Believe this type of thing has saved me a lot of trouble in the past.

A quick tip: For those student who always seem to have trouble returning notes and tests signed...especially if the grade/mark is not so great, I photocopy the test BEFORE I send it home so that I still retain a copy even if it is "lost" before a parent sees it. 

Student Contact Information

This is a sheet to help you keep all your students contact info in one place. My board doesn't allow emailing between parents and teachers so I did not include a column for that, but you could always use the notes section. 

Parent Communication Log

In the past I used one sheet per student to record communication between home and school, but I found there were some students who required little communication and it was a waste of paper. So this year I am going to attempt a monthly log. That is I will record all the communication that takes place within a given month on one sheet. We'll see how it goes. 

All of the gorgeous clip art I will be using during this Teacher Binder series comes from Scrappin Doodles (http://www.scrappindoodles.com) and Pink Cat Studio (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Pink-Cat-Studio). I am in LOVE with the owls!!!

And...please, link up with my What are you carrying? Back to School Linky Party. There just might be a surprise freebie for all those who link up!

Teacher Binder Printables- Part 2- Behaviour and Missing Assignment Logs

Thanks to a follower who emailed me to say that the links for my freebies weren't working. I'm so sorry. 

The problem has been fixed and they are working now.

Thanks for coming back to check out the second post in my Back to School Teacher Binder Series.

If you missed Part 1, click here to check it out. 

Part 2

Today I am offering you two different logs to help you track student behaviour in your classroom. 

Behaviour Log

Click on the image above to get your own copy. 

Missing Assignment Log

Click on the image above to get your own copy. 

I find that these simple logs are powerful tools in your classrooms. It will help you to communicate with parents or guardians about their child's achievement in your class. Also, you will be able to track patterns of behaviour that your students are exhibiting and be able to intervene to help them. 

My Teacher Binder series is just getting warmed up! I still have an amazing collection of Cover Pages that can be used at the front of individual binders or as dividers, a Substitute Teacher Notes set, as well as much more!

Want something for your binder? 

Leave me a comment below and I'll get to work.

Schoolapalooza and A Class*y Cruise!

There's so much going on all around the blogosphere it's hard to keep up, but it sure is exciting!

The gals over at A Class*y Collaboration are partying along with everyone else. And just one party, but TWO! That's right...

The first is a chance to link up your classroom reveal posts and photos. I must say that these are always my favourite post of the whole year. I love to see how other people organize their rooms, how they adapt the ideas they find from other people and all the beautiful things they have created for their rooms and students.

Click on the image above to head on over to

 A Class*y Collaboration to link up your own posts 

and check out the ideas of others. 

I'm in a unique situation this year as I am currently pregnant and will only be returning to school for 9 days total. I am planning to link up with some pictures from last year's classroom as well as my plans for how to start a class that I will only occupy for 9 days! It's going to be difficult that's for sure.

Any helpful hints or suggestions you have would be great!

The second event going on over at A Class*y Collaboration is Schoolapalooza! That's a mouthful!

Each day a couple of bloggers will be highlighted and exclusive freebies will be offered at A Class*y Collaboration and their teaching blogs. Be sure to check back everyday to pick up your freebies!

My freebies will be part of my Back to School Teacher Binder Series.

I will be back tomorrow with more freebies for your Teacher Binder right here at Thinking of Teaching. Then when my turn comes around on A Class*y Collaboration there will be two exclusive freebies from my series available over there! 

Back to School, Thirty-One and the Perfect School Bag Link Up

I've been reading all sorts of Back to School posts and seeing tonnes of Instagram pics...oh dear, not already! Here in Ontario we don't go back to school until September 3rd and this year since I am pregnant I might not be going back at all. However, that's not stopping me from planning, and pinning and getting lots of ideas....for September 2014.

One of the first things I did is host an online Thirty-One party for my friends and family because Thirty-One is now in Canada! Oh my goodness I have been waiting FOREVER to be able to order everything from Thirty-One! Ever since I first saw their products on a number of teacher blogs I knew I wanted it...all.  

I learned that Thirty-One was in Canada from Teaching is a Gift when she hosted a Thirty-One giveaway awhile back.

Through her blog I found Jen Bellinger who is not only a teacher but a Thirty-One consultant here in Ontario. I urge ALL Canadian teachers to get in touch with her, get a catalogue and get ordering!

Here's her contact info:
Jen Bellinger
Website: https://www.mythirtyone.ca/JenBellinger/
Email:  jens31canada@gmail.com

Meanwhile, Lessons from the Middle is having a super fun Thirty-One giveaway on her Facebook page. 

The party is tonight from 9pm to 10pm on her Facebook page so set an alarm and don't forget to stop by. 

In celebration of Back to School I'm hosting a linky party!

I want to know what your teacher bag looks like. Is it big, huge, multiple bags? Lots of pockets, one big pit? Do you have a separate lunch bag? What do you keep in your bag? Share it all. 

I'll be back soon with some picture of my own bag...my new Thirty-One bag that is, and perhaps some bags from the past.