Teacher Planning

The LAST thing I want to do ALL DAY when I first return, is sit in the cafetorium (I know this sounds somewhat like an insane asylum where human flesh is consumed, but what else am I supposed to call this multipurpose food service, performance studio?) on the world's worst designed group seating.  I mean really, why didn't we opt for long tables with continuous benches?  Why did we go with round tops with tiny round seats? Who likes sitting on those?  Clearly you can't get have more than 5 friends, because the lack of seating will cause fights at the lunch table every. single. day.  This is high school after all, the drama seeps from the walls.

Anyways.  I digress.

I understand that these meetings are "important" and that there is documentation that needs to be reviewed, signed, and collected.  I just think this meeting would be better off later... or done by Google Classroom assignments.   I can't believe I sat for 8 hours and "participated", yet have no idea what I learned.  This is what students must feel like.  What a good reminder of what not to do in my classes...

Give me a checklist and a scavenger hunt like you do for end-of-the-year checkout.  I'll get it done.  You can sign off on it, it can be official documentation.

UPDATE:  One week later...

Here is a pretty picture of my door.  Our faculty theme this year is RISE.  (Because, well, we were a B school last year, so...)  Immediately I knew I wanted to use the phrase "Rise and Grind," but since this is high school and everything can be taken "the wrong way," I'm hoping this coffee theme will lessen that incorrect interpretation.  And maybe it will even get me a cup or two of Starbucks from brown-nosing, tardy students who want to win me over.  (No bribes.  They don't work.)

I don't have any other "AFTER" pictures to post yet.  I DID manage to turn in my emergency sub plans, lesson plans for chemistry & environmental science for two weeks, made copies (read printed a lot from my printer), arranged my supply boxes, spray painted my Expo marker holders for each desk, and hung part of my decorations.

I must admit, going in to year TEN (!!!), I am the least prepared that I've ever been.  And I'm kind of okay with it.  I have plans, I have a general semester outline, I'll gradually get it all down in ink (and on Google Classroom), I just didn't spend the summer obsessing.  And, it was really great!  As much last minute notice gives me hives, I really know that I'll be great once I get into the swing of things, and having a TRUE SUMMER OFF was bliss!

Ok, gotta pack lunches and set the timer on the coffee pot.  I've got to go in early tomorrow to hide the chaos and put on my first day smile.  

Happy first day to all of my teacher friends! #BestYearEver

Back to School 2017

Back to School SALE happening on Teachers pay Teachers!  Use the code BTS2017 to save up to 25% on tons of great resources for your upcoming school year.  

Check out my store HERE, and then grab some amazing deals from your other favorite sellers!

#BackToSchool 

#Yay!

SOLAR ECLIPSE 2017 - The Great American Eclipse

Are you Ready?  THE Astronomical event of, dare I say, the CENTURY is upon us!  On August 21, 2017, North America will witness the first Total Solar Eclipse since 1918.  This. Is. Huge!

The Path of Totality, or greatest blockage of the Sun's light, will travel from Oregon to South Carolina, right down the middle of the continental United States.  It's *almost* perfectly timed for the school day too, which means no matter what subject you teach, or if you homeschool your kiddos, you will be able to squeeze this monumental event into your day.  The eclipse begins in Madras, Oregon around 9:00 local time (PDT) and they can expect Totality to occur at 10:19 am.  Moving East throughout the day, Nebraska and Missouri will witness the phases of the eclipse for a longer period of time, with the first signs of the eclipse, First Contact, around 11:35 am and Totality around 1:00 pm.  Southern Illinois gets the lucky spot with the Greatest Duration, meaning the eclipse will last the longest there.  First signs around 11:50 am and Totality at 1:20, lasting an estimated 2 minutes and 40 seconds.  And Kentucky has the pleasure of the Greatest Eclipse, where the most sunlight will be blocked at Totality.  The final lucky viewers, in Columbia, South Carolina, can expect the eclipse to begin just after 1:10pm and Totality to occur at 2:40pm.

Aw, bummer!  I don't live on the Path of Totality!  Not to worry.  As I said before, all of the continental United States will get to witness at least a Partial Solar Eclipse, meaning that *most* of the Sun will be blocked, just not the perfect halo of alignment like those lucky viewers along the Path of Totality.

SAFETY ALERT!  

YOU CAN'T JUST USE SUNGLASSES TO VIEW A SOLAR ECLIPSE!

I know it seems like it should be *fine*, but burn retinas aren't cool.  So, make an eclipse viewer with your kiddos.  It's easy.  It's fast.  It doesn't require anything you don't already have in the closet.  And, you will save your precious eye sight, which seems like a really good idea!

This info, plus a couple more great pages of DOODLE NOTES and a CLOSE READING ARTICLE with COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS, are available in my store.  Click the PIN to check it out!

6 Tips to Avoid Update Overload

It's summer.  Time to relax, unwind, breathe, ... and stress about ALL the THINGS that need to be done to my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

I want to learn about Pinterest.  I want to redo all of my covers.  I want to start over on some of my old products that haven't ever sold.  I want to create my tracking documents in excel.  I want to update all of my product descriptions to include links to more similar products (I took the easy way out, and just linked them all to my biggest bundle).

I'm no expert, that is true, but I've given myself 6 Tips to AVOID Update Overload.

1. Focus on SMALL products that can be created quickly (but with high quality)

Think items that use the same template, or pieces of a bundle.
Example: Cornell Notes Template & 3 different Biology units using that template

2. Learn something new and apply it (from this point forward)

Don't try to go back and fix everything you've created so far.  There will be times you don't have time to create new products, and you can update the old ones with your new knowledge
Example: Watched a video about Pinterest Pins -- changed my COLORING covers (and created a new cover template to use going forward)

3. Don't Reinvent the Wheel

Stick to your productive best sellers.  How can you grow those ideas?

4. Be ready for BACK TO SCHOOL

Try to market my existing products as Back to School items.  Create Pins & Facebook posts that shows my followers how to use as a first day/week/unit item.
Example: Big Kid Coloring as Binder Covers, Cornell Notes Template, General Classroom Bundle for setting up rules and procedures.

5. Find the source of traffic & build on it.  

I noticed that I'm gaining organic Instagram followers and that I'm getting traffic to TpT from my blog.  So, here I am updating my blog.  (I also want to change this at some point, but if it's driving traffic, I'll take what I have for now).

6. CELEBRATE!

My TpT birthday is in July.  I'm excited about the success of my first year.  I know that I will continue to grow as long as I continue to create quality products that I can use in my classroom.  I will slowly learn the marketing side, and I will become more efficient.

How do YOU avoid Update Overload?  Give me your tips in the comments below.

Making a GIF and updating my TpT website

Am I amazing or what?!?

I am totally going to toot my own horn right now.  I (read the directions and after many missteps) figured out how to:

 a) create the appropriate sized pictures to go in my TpT quote box

 b) save them as jpegs (and adjust the pixel size!)

 c) upload them to a FREE GIF maker 

 d) save the GIF

 e) embed the GIF in my TPT quote box

Aren't you impressed?

This is honestly something I've wanted to try, but have been feeling really intimidated by.  I'm not going to lie, it took me forever and a day just to figure out the series of steps to make a static "cute" quote box.  But, then, since I'd already spent the better part of an hour trying to figure out which character I'd messed up in the line of code, I decided to go for it.  

And you know what, making the GIF was the easiest part of all! 

So these are the images I decided to use.  I wanted to spruce up my store for the upcoming CYBER MONDAY & TUESDAY SALE (which you ALL know about, right?) and so I made these in PowerPoint and then went from there.

HOW TO CREATE SLIDES & SAVE AS JPEG IMAGES

1. Create a NEW slide show, click on THEMES to select SLIDE SIZE.  Customize the slide size: Width: 4.25 inches x Height: 1.75 inches.
2. Design the number of slides you'd like in your animated GIF.  (I'm not a graphic designer, so I'm sure that my slides will get better over time.)
3. SAVE YOUR WORK!
4. On my Mac, I can select SAVE AS PICTURES.  When I select it, I can choose the file type JPEG.  Then click OPTIONS.  At the bottom, I can adjust the pixels.  I set my max height to be 150 pixels, and the width automatically changed (to about 380).  (Do not exceed 175 wide x 450 tall).

HOW TO CREATE GIF FROM JPEG IMAGES

1. Open a new tab in your browser, and go to the website GIFMAKER.ME
2. UPLOAD your JPEG images from the folder on your computer.
3. (I found that if I uploaded the "whole slide show" three times in a row, it wouldn't freeze at the end of the animation.)
4. Select your timing.  I used 1500 milliseconds.  It might be too fast.  2000 milliseconds might be too slow.  Play around with it.
5. I left ALL OF THE OTHER SETTINGS alone!  (Including number of repeats.  It was set to 0, which means infinite.)
6. On the bottom right you can select DOWNLOAD GIF.
7. It will open as a preview and defaults to your DOWNLOADS folder.  However, I renamed it from the preview and saved it into the folder with my other store banners.

HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR GIF TO A FREE WEBSITE

1. Open a new tab in your browser, and go to the website IMGSAFE.ORG
2. Sign up for a free account.  Then LOGIN.
3. UPLOAD your GIF from the folder on your computer.
4. Go to MY IMAGES and select your new GIF.  It will open a web address where it is housed online.  COPY the entire web address.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR URL TINY

1. Open a new tab in your browser, and go to the website TINYURL.COM
2. PASTE the web address in the provided box.  CLICK  MakeTinyURL!
3. On the next screen it will give you a shortened web address.  You will need this for "hacking" your quote box.  (I suggest that you not only copy to clipboard, but also write it down. Between this step and actually pasting into the code, I made many errors and had to try again and again.)

HOW TO HACK YOUR QUOTE BOX

1. Open a new tab in your browser, and go to the website Glitter Meets Glue
2. Read the directions CAREFULLY and follow the steps for linking your product page to your quote box. (It involves a pinterest pin and a TINYURL.  I followed her instructions.)
3. When you get to STEPS 8 & 9 and you edit your Teachers Pay Teachers profile, you will need to use your GIF TINYURL in the place of

Small Changes - Big Project

WOW!

This morning I decided that I'm going to pay $20 to feature my All-in-One Bulletin Board: Molecular Genetics on Teachers Pay Teachers next month.  (I'm hoping everyone is following a similar pacing guide, and will hit THE CENTRAL DOGMA OF BIOLOGY at the same time I will.)

From September 19th through the 22nd, my product will be featured at the top of the product listing page (IF the user selects to sort by SCIENCE and 9-12.)  I can use my earnings to pay for the promotion, so I don't have to put up any money up front, which is really nice.  

Because I'm featuring this product, I decided that I needed to go back and make sure I applied the advice I got from Misty Miller, as well as make a few minor changes to my logo and preview page.

I needed to :
1. Copyright EVERY page
2. Include my PLEASE READ: Terms of Use, Follow Me, Provide Feedback, and Credits pages
3. Update my thumbnails and previews with a watermark

Of course, its never as simple as 1,2,3.  First I had to update my logo to include a font that I know I had purchased, therefore have commercial copyright permission to use.  Then I had to go in and update the image on my PLEASE READ document and the thumbnail for the preview.  While I was in the preview, I also moved the blocks around to make the product description more visible.  Then I had to edit a typo on the Follow Me page, create the Provide Feedback page, and edit the Credits page.  Once all of those minor changes, that took 2 hours, were done, I was able to insert the PLEASE READ pdf into the existing pdf.  I had to add in the copyright text on each page and I finally was able to upload the modified document 3 hours after I began.

I hope that now my edits will be faster, all I will need to do is insert the copyright and the modified PLEASE READ document into each of the All-in-One Bulletin Board files and then upload to TpT.  I know I need to edit my bundle so that they contain the copyrighted pages, and then I'll have to make time to do the previews and modify the thumbnails.  But, that is not happening today.  Today, I'm done with TpT, and on to grading tests and entering grades online.

Have any of you had to modify your TpT materials?  Have you found a simpler way?

Learning how to improve my store

I did what every great student needs to do, I asked for feedback.  I wanted positive words of encouragement and constructive criticism on my overall look, pricing, and quality for my Sunshine State Science store on Teachers pay Teachers. 

I went on to the forums and I asked for input.  And from the 6 responses I got, I was very pleased.  I had some great insight on what to include from Misty Miller, who's blog, http://justathoughtortwotpt.blogspot.com is just a treasure trove of helpful hints for anyone that wants to improve their Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Misty has GREAT advice, and better yet, EASY TO FOLLOW instructions on how to improve almost every aspect of your store.  Her first suggestions for me were to include the copyright on every single page of each document, add a Terms of Use and Credits page (along with info on how to Follow Me), and finally to add hyperlinks in my product descriptions.

    


Over this long Labor Day weekend, I took her advice.  I created the documents she suggested, and I included them on my TWO new products.

It will be a loooong time before I get a chance to edit EVERY SINGLE ONE of my 71 products to make sure they are up to date.  But I will do at least one per weekend until Christmas Break, and then I'll reassess.  (I also have to be sure to switch out my clipart ~which I think is all public domain and copyright free~ to be sure that I'm not infringing on anyone's intellectual property rights.)

Focus on Environment & Culture

I grabbed this piece of the Indiana's DOE's Walkthrough Checklist, and while they use their own RISE evaluation tool and Florida uses the Marzano system, the verbiage has showed up in the evidence section of my observation results, so I'm certain that portions overlap.

The first week is so important for setting expectations, practicing classroom routines, modifying behavior, preparing for all the uncomfortable growth the brain will do throughout the year.  And for some reason, my first thought every year is, DECORATE!  Not organized, neat & uncluttered, but full on Pinterest-ed!

Rather than taking the time to set up the bins and boxes, I quickly Clorox-ed the cabinets and surfaces and began my room beautification process.  I spent days, at least two full ones, hot gluing posters to my walls, making makeshift bulletin boards from cork squares and plastic tablecloths.  I posted all of my Learning Goals, Marzano Scales, Essential Questions, Vocabulary, and even made a place to celebrate success as evidence of my deliberate practice.  I went to multiple stores to stock up on new hot glue sticks, double sided tape, borders, fabric scraps, and cute pushpins.  As I looked at Pinterest Biology classrooms, I felt less than average, Let me tell you, when I got to the end of the day on Thursday, I felt ready to move on to updating my syllabi and photocopying my first three days work of handouts.

Feeling good on Friday, I left knowing I wouldn't have to wait in line for the copier.  I could tackle a new lesson planning software that promises to make my life easier, as soon as I manage to figure it out (without training).

And then Monday morning arrived.  Two full days before students reported, half of the artifacts I had dutifully displayed were dangling, a quarter were already on the floor.  Ugh!  Really?  Phew!  At least the Learning Goals, Marzano Scales, Essential Questions, Vocabulary, and Celebrations of Success had weathered the humidity and soaring temperatures of a weekend without AC.

By the time students were waking up on Wednesday, the dangling had begun drooping and dropping.  My masterpiece, the All-in-One Display, had lost its battle, oh how the mighty had fallen.  (And I didn't even get to take a picture to use on my TpT store!!! GRRR!)  The hours of work staring up at me from the dusty, cockroach trodden floor.  I pulled down the last of the hangers-on and tidied up.  I. WAS. ANNOYED, but optimistic.  Maybe I'll have my kids re-glue them to the walls when we are ready to display their first set of content review bulletin boards.  It can be part of their project, design the display space...

I didn't spend the time organizing my supply closet, (read: I threw everything in and closed the door.  The tornado may have touched down less than a quarter mile from school during orientation, but it wrecked havoc on my supply closet!) or setting up all of the interactive notebook supply bins.  I wasted my time decorating and it was all for naught.

So.  Lesson learned.  Pinterest has beautiful rooms with banners and borders and alternative seating options... but I need to use this year as an eye-opener.  The check boxes don't ask for color schemes or coordinating frog themes, they ask for organization, neatness and lack of clutter.  I can get points for an orderly environment.  I have already displayed the Learning goals/data on the panes of the cabinets where plenty of clear tape will hold them in place.

Next year, I'll set a reminder on my phone to read this post and start with CLEANING and ORGANIZING, not decorating.

$10 Dry Erase Tables

Let me start off with this.  THIS WAS NOT MY IDEA, I found a post by Sprout Classrooms from 2014 and pretty much followed her directions to a T.

UPDATE! Tables in Use
"Important Things"	Neuroplasticity	Everyone's Engaged

Dry Erase Table Transformation
BEFORE	Primer	AFTER

Time:

Total Time = 5 days

Primer ~ 3 hrs + overnight

Dry-Erase ~ 2 hrs + 3 DAYS cure

Cost:

My total cost was ~$120 for 12 tables
$10 per table!

Materials:

• Acetone 
• Lint-Free Rags
• Latex Primer (indoor)
• Paint Roller & Pads (2 x smooth finish)
• Paint Stir Stick (...which I forgot, so an old ruler...)
• Paint Can Opener
• Disposable Paint Tray (2)
• Rust-Oleum Dry Erase Paint (1 kit for 3-4 tables)
• Tarps or Sheets (to make your custodians happy)

Procedure:

DAY ONE: 

Clean & Prime
Clean	Supplies	Prime

1. Use acetone on a lint-free rag to clean the table tops.  DO NOT USE SOAP (per the directions on the primer can).
2. Shake the primer vigorously.  Open, stir completely, pour into paint tray.
3. Roll primer on to table tops and sides, using a somewhat thick coating.  (I did NOT sand the table tops, once I cleaned them, I went straight to primer and had no issues.)  
4. DO AT LEAST 3 COATS.  Per the directions on the primer can, allow 1 hour between coats.  The dry erase paint does not have much of a white background, so you want complete coverage with the primer.
5. Allow to set overnight.

Save any leftover primer for next summer - the original post suggests reapplying before each school year. (I did 12 tables and used 2/3 of the gallon of primer.)

DAY TWO: 

Dry Erase Paint These pictures are all from Rust-Oleum
Product	Combine	Outcome

1. Shake the dry-erase coating and base paint cans vigorously.  Open each, pour A into B and stir completely.  Pour into paint tray.
2. Roll dry-erase paint on to table tops and sides, using a thin coating.  (This is a VERY thin paint, be careful with splashing.)  The roller will make it look texturized as you apply, but it does dry to become a slick surface.
3. DO AT LEAST 3 COATS.  Per the directions on the box, allow 30 minutes between coats. 
4. Allow to cure for 3 days.

I used 3 boxes of dry-erase paint for 12 tables.  I have a back up box, just in case, but after testing, I didn't seem to need an extra coat, even though I have some "dull" spots.

DAY FIVE: 

In an inconspicuous location, like the side of the table, test your markers.

Test Your Markers!
EXPO - Bold Colors	EXPO - Multi Pack	CRA-Z-ART Dry erase
some residue	all clear	significant residue

1. Let the marker dry on the surface for about 15 minutes.
2. Erase.
3. Use white board cleaner (or water) to clean completely.

My Notes & Opinions:

Overall, I'm amped to try these out with the kids on the first day of school! I think they are really going to enjoy working problems and brainstorming on these tables, rather than in their notebooks.  I can see a lot of jig-sawing and collaboration in their future.

EVERY.  SINGLE.  TEACHER. who stopped by to say hello during pre-planning exclaimed, "WOW!  How did YOU get new tables?!?"  When I told them about the dry erase surface, their envy grew.  Even the custodians, who were justifiably concerned about their newly waxed floors, were pumped.  The white certainly brightens up my window-less lab.

I read that the PINK EXPO markers leave a stain, and although my test pink did not, I am going to pull the pink markers and not use them.  I am disappointed that the Cra-Z-Art markers I found on clearance left such a residue.  I'm not going to be using these with kids.  I'll see how they do on my normal teacher whiteboard, and if they stain there, I'll give them away.  Wah. Wah.

From the blog post by Sprout Classroom, I calculated 4 boxes of Rust Oleum Dry Erase Paint for 12 tables (that are approximately 3' x 6').  I only ended up using 3 of the kits, even with 3 coats.  We will be using the tables regularly and I'll see if we need to add a coating of dry-erase over the Labor Day long weekend.  If not, maybe Christmas break will see a reapply, or maybe right before the end of the school year. (I didn't like using my back to school planning time for this project).

Last, but certainly not least, I tend to be an "ask for forgiveness" person.  However, in this case, I definitely asked for permission.  My principal had to get the go ahead from the county level to "alter school property" so I'm glad I didn't just wing it.  If you'd like a copy of the email, I used Genius Hour Projects as my driving factor, please request it in the comments.

What do you think?  Is this something you will try?

Best Year Ever Sale!

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NEW POSTINGS!
Detention Slip {Editable}	Bathroom Pass