Photo #229: School Begins Next Week

Teachers do not officially go back to school until August 23rd, but I had my first committee meeting of the school year today. Afterwards I spent some time working in my room, before I had to go to work at Huntington.

Things are coming together. The computer center is hooked up and everything is working, the desks are arranged, and the nametags are on them. Text books have been passed out, and they are waiting for the kids to arrive.



I put up my Three Dogs on a Porch bulletin board. This will be our word wall. After teaching the vocabulary for a story, we are supposed to select three important words that we continue to display throughout the year. This came from the Jo Robinson PD that many teachers in our district went to back in June. I decided to take it literally and make three dogs on a porch. I will put the words on dog bones to display them. I liked the way it came out.



I have lots more to do, but the room will be ready in time for Open House, one week from tonight.

Photo #222: New Bulletin Boards

Preparation for going back to school has begun. I already have the desks arranged. Tomorrow I'm going into school to put up bulletin boards, attach name tags to the desks with clear contact paper, and hook up the computers.

When I was first teaching, I created some elaborate bulletin boards, but I haven't done much of that during the past few years. Mostly I've just slapped up some posters or displayed student work.

Back in June I attended a literacy PD. The presenter talked about focusing on three important vocabulary words after you have taught the vocabulary for each story. These words should continue to be displayed on the word wall. She called this "Three Dogs On a Porch." When I stopped by school a few weeks ago, my principal told me that our school district wants everyone to do this. It is a "non-negotiable."

Last week, when I was in my classroom, I was trying to figure out where I was going to put this word wall. I decided to use the three small bulletin boards at the back of the room. Then I got the idea to turn the bulletin boards into a porch, and put three dogs on it. The vocabulary words will go on dog bones. So I have been working to draw the dogs and create the parts for the porch. I got out my scrapbooking books and materials, and I've been have some fun with it. Here is my work in progress. If it all comes together tomorrow, I will photograph the finished product.