Friday Flashback - Pencils, 100 Days, and Wrapping Up Verbs AND Currently!

I can't believe that I'm blogging about pencils yet AGAIN! My pencil challenge worked for a while, but then I got tired of it. It was always the SAME KIDS. So I conceded defeat a month or so ago. This week, I unveiled my new strategy - personalized pencils. I ordered a gross (I HOPE that will be enough) from Atlas. If I could have gotten ones that would sound an alarm when they crossed the threshold of my classroom, I think that I would have. Anyway, I had them imprinted with what I believe to be VERY clear instructions. Basically, this is MY pencil, so use it then GIVE IT BACK. I ordered a very distinct color, and put students on a mission to narc on anyone that had one outside of my classroom. So far, so good. I put three out, and they've been used daily and returned.

And then we had a snow day on Wednesday. I have such mixed feelings about snow days. On one hand, I like the unexpected day off. On the other hand, I'd rather have a nice spring/summer day off instead of making up a snow day. Now, late starts... that's something that I fully endorse. I get to sleep in AND it counts as a full day of school. Unfortunately, my current superintendent is more of an all-or-nothing type of person. It only bothers me when we don't have a late start and the roads are bad. I travel twenty-five miles to school each day, so it really affects me when I'm white-knuckled on the Interstate. I always update my resume during this time of year in the hope's that maybe I can get a job in my resident district. But alas, I know that deep down I am too comfortable in my current position of fourteen years to ever make the change. It would sure make my life easier in the long-run, though. But that whole "change" thing is scary...


I have never celebrated the 100th day of school with my class, but I found this cool activity from one of the first blogs that I started reading. It's fairly simple. I posted some chart paper in the hallway, and taped up the topics - 100 Books We Love, 100 Things That Make Us Happy, 100 Things That Are Round, etc. Students added to the lists before school, between classes, and after school. Students seemed to enjoy it (even though I had to get rid of a few inappropriate items), and it wasn't too kiddish. Download your own signs {here}.

I created a verb foldable that went with a noun foldable I blogged about previously. The surprising news is that several students actually commented as we were folding, "Remember? We did this for nouns, too." Oh. My. Gosh. Hallelujah! I guess I know what we'll be doing to sum up our next unit of adjectives! And even better, they came up with great ideas on what to write underneath (or at least they did a good job of referring to my anchor chart). It was the most magical fifteen minutes...

Today we started to implement our new assignment policy. I'm not sure what I think about it, but we'll see. I'd be interested in any feedback that you have if you have done something similar or if you have done something that has been successful. *ASP is our after school program where students do their work, kind of like tutoring.

Fifth Grade Assignment Policy
(per quarter)

1st Late Assignment
Oops!

2nd Late Assignment
15-Minute Classroom Detention
Parents Contacted

 3rd Late Assignment
30-Minute Lunch Detention
Parents Contacted

4th Late Assignment
45-Minute Main Detention
Parents Contacted

5th Late Assignment
Parent Meeting
ASP 3x/Week


And I'll go ahead and throw in my Currently...

24 comments

  1. I really like your Day 100 activities - as a fellow fifth grade teacher, I want to do something to celebrate the 100th day without being too kiddy. This seems like a wonderful addition to my plans.

    Also, I LOVE your verb foldable - definitely going to try that on our next unit.

    I hear ya about snow days - my principal is an "all or nothing" girl too - however, we're usually a nothing. Haven't had a real snow day off from school in 2 years.

    ~Jessica
    Joy in the Journey

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  2. At my school we use " working lunch" to combat late work. Students have to get their trays and eat while they work. No recess, no talking, no fun. We all take turns a week at a time. The kids hate giving up their lunch, so it does help. Of course there are always those few who are constantly in there.

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    1. That's what the 30-minute lunch detention is. A few students had it for another reason, and they let everyone else know that it was not fun! So I guess word-of-mouth could help us there :)

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  3. Hi! I found you through the Friday Flashback Linky and I'm your newest follower! I am excited to find another "upper grades" teacher blog to follow since it seems most are K-2!
    Jessica
    ideas by jivey


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  5. I would LOVE to have a maid. I think for the past three years that is all I have asked my hubby for when it came to any holiday or birthday he needed an "idea" for, but I have yet to get one! :)
    Along with confusing "your" and "you're" I also don't like when people confuse "there", "their", and "they're". I totally blame my 8th grade English teacher Mrs. Adams. She made sure we knew our proper grammar!

    Mrs. Pauley’s Kindergarten

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    1. They were pretty reasonably priced. I think that it was around $25 for 144 pencils.

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  7. I love that you brought the 100th day celebration to 5th grade! Looks like they enjoyed it!

    ThePolishedTeacher

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  8. I would love to see 100 Day in the upper grades! Good job making it fun :)

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  9. I love that so many other people in the Currently think that common misspellings by teachers (and others) are annoying! I know I mess up from time to time - but all.the.time? Seriously?! I'm your newest follower! There's a good chance I'll be teaching 5th grade reading next year, so I can't wait to see what all you write about. :)

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  10. I love Fridays too! I would love a maid/ cleaning fairy to come and do it for me. I tend to be lazy in that area...although I did do a quick clean last week when my landlord was coming to fix the hot water! ;)

    :) Kaitlyn
    Smiles and Sunshine

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  11. I love the 100 things activity you did!! Thanks for linking up!

    Kimberly Ann
    Live, Laugh, I love Kindergarten

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  12. Ha! My pet peeve is ANYONE who doesn't get contractions! OY! I LOVE your 100 Day idea- perfect for the age group. Thanks for linking up!

    Irene
    Learning With Mrs. Leeby

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  13. I love Fridays! I want a maid that comes a couple times a week A chef would be nice, too.
    ~April Walker
    The Idea Backpack
    Balancing the Backpack

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  14. I use a classroom economy in my room and students have to "purchase" pencils from our class store. This has REALLY helped with preventing MY supply disappearing. Love your pencils, hope they follow the directions!

    Jess

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  15. Love how you incorporated the 100th day for your 5th graders! I, too, need a maid!! It seems my house is always the LAST thing on my to-do list. Sure hope those pencils work for you!

    Amanda
    Teaching Maddeness

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  17. Sorry..I left the wrong link earlier!! Oh my...anyway...yes spring needs to hurry up and get here!! I always had a pencil problem in my class:( I hope your new pencils are working for ya!
    Newest follower here!

    Tammy
    Come By and Visit My Blogs!
    ”Dots” of Fun!
    1...2...3...Teach With Me

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  18. I wish I had seen your 100 day activities before now! Too cute. They'll have to be in my folder for next year. :)

    Make sure to stop by and enter my giveaway
    -Courtney
    http://2ndgradesnapshots.blogspot.com/

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  19. Great ideas for 100 days! I hope I have not missed my school district's official 100th day of school. I love your personalized pencils. I ask for collateral if students want to borrow a pen or pencil. They need to leave a pencil case, book, etc of theirs and then I give it back at the end of period/day. This helps both of us remember that an item was borrowed. Cute blog. I found you through the Farley Currently Link Up.

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