September Updates

This month has flown and is flying by at school. It could be that with all of the new students which means interim IEPs, hurricanes, and scheduled days off we are just plain busy.

The students have been busy utilizing Moby Max and Brain Pop Jr. on their iPads, which helps because I can track data. Speaking of data I love using my data to drive instruction and this means more meaningful instruction for my students. I am constantly having to update their individual lesson plans and I love that kind of busy.

This month we are studying community helpers, fall, apples and sports as center themes in the classroom. I am constantly making new games for the class, because I think if I am tired of looking at it then they must be tired of using it to learn. One of the newest addition is our story map which allows us to break down a story, retell and sequence the story.
Tomorrow we will read How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World.  I am so excited.

Contact information

With the beginning of a new school year I do need to update all of my contact information on the blog. Many of the parents in my classroom are already aware of the new contact information, but for the newbies.
I teach K-5 self-contained special education at Frank Long Elementary School. This is the most awesome school, but I am a little biased.
My current schedule is:
7:20-7:50 student arrival
7:50-8:10 breakfast in the room
8:10-8:30 calendar/morning meeting
8:30-9:15 reading
9:15-10:00 math
10:00-10:30 finish morning work, writing, and reward time
10:30-11:15 specials/teacher planning
11:15-11:45 lunch
11:45-12:05 recess
12:05-12:50 science
12:50-1:30 social studies
1:30-2:00 TEACCH box time/IEP goals

School contact is pgrady@liberty.k12.ga.us

WELCOME BACK!!!!!!! 2016-2017

I absolutely cannot believe it is already the beginning of the second week of school. I have no idea where last week went.  We had an amazing start to what is going to be an amazing year of learning and exploring at FLE. I am so proud of what the students were able to accomplish last week.
I am continuing pre-assessments this week in order to determine instructional levels in the classroom. I teach in what feels like a one room schoolhouse and it does make for some crazy instructional planning. This year fortunately I only have one kinder, and only three on alternate assessments, so that will help.
Things that I changed in my classroom for the better have shown to be helpful the first week. I have returned to the tried and true with behavioral management and we had more time on task and less time with behaviors. I have returned to the traffic light system. I know many teachers hate this method, but I do not have my students move a clip. I keep up with on the clipboard so they are not seeing their name or picture on a color beside green. I am hoping this week that routine has developed enough to introduce the token economy on a full roll out to the students. Often students who are low such as many of mine they do not have the cognitive development to understanding working for three chips before receiving their reward. This has been a challenge for me. We will overcome and get it together.
Academically, I am also trying a few new things such as a weekly progress report on academics and skills (without grades), just a quick note to let parents know how their students are doing. I am also sending home weekly skill sheets for their parents to work on skills specific to the child. This is not graded either rather it is designed to help the students learn.

I will post updates later this week on new changes and how they are working in the classroom.
Happy Teaching and Learning !!!!!!!!
Ms. Grady

Updating

I have not held up my New Year's Resolution of posting at least once a week. Life and teaching happens everyday and I simply forget to post.
We are wrapping up the school year with less than one month to go.
Upcoming events include:
School holiday April 29 and May 2
Schools wide Coke fundraiser begins May 3
Cinco de May celebration-May 5- we are planning to collaborate with the GATE classes as we follow traditions and break Pinata.
Special Olympics- Ft. Stewart/ Hinesville- May 6
Frankie the Bear visits out classroom on May 10- this is a classroom reward for PBIS
Field Day is May 20
End of the year party will be an ice cream social- May 26
Kindergarten celebration with early check out for kindergarten on May 27
Last day of school May 27

WOW!!!! When I write it all down it really seems busy.

I will post pictures from events to show us having fun.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

I hope everyone is refreshed and on fire for learning as we return from the holidays. I think we all needed the break.  Great news!!!!! GAA is almost over Hip Hip Hooray!!!!!
The class is growing by leaps and bounds. We are gaining another student tomorrow. Welcome Hayden!

I am planning a lot of new activities to celebrate the New Year and other events this month. We do have a long weekend this month, which will be nice.

We are continuing to work on IEP goals as part of our curriculum along with standards based instruction. I am encouraging my parents to work with their students at home on their goals so we can see lots of growth before the end of the year.

Welcome back students and lets finish this year Frank Long strong.