photos of my classroom

This is my Every Day Counts Math Center.

This is my CAFE bulletin board, year long 6 traits bulletin board and library center.

My new arrangement of my desk!  Love it!

It's almost 2 AM...

It's almost two in the morning and I am pinning and watching the Golden Girls. This episode is the one where Dorothy is the director of Henny Penny. She encourages students to have a love of reading. Rose tries to get the children to want to change Henny penny. I have been thinking about rearranging my classroom to make it more user friendly. All of my bulletin boards will be rearranged. I am on the search for a pensieve for my cafe paperwork. I am so excited to get back into school mode!

Finally Finished!

I finally finished the Daily CAFE by Boushey & Moser and I cannot wait to get started this fall with my partners in crime Mrs. J & Mrs. G!!!! The vacation to beautiful Nashville gave me lots of time to read and reflect. My goal this summer is to upgrade my blog so that people want to read it :). I'm spending a great deal of professional development time on Pinterest. Happy summer pinning everyone!

Organizing Student Info at the Start of the Year

Okay, so I am not the most organized person in the world and to those who know me this is a shocker...NOT!  I have however with the help of my friend and fellow teacher Kim come up with a good way to keep all student info at my fingertips.  How you ask???  Well I'll share...here's what you'll need:

A 3/4" binder
page separators and tabs
copy paper

What do I put in it?

1. Previous year ISTEP (or your state standardized test score).
2. Our schools Internet use agreement, daily dismissal form and code of conduct agreement.
3. A time capsule sheet that the student has filled out.
4. A reading inventory that is boy or girl specific.
5. A sheet for the parents to fill out about their child.
6. Behavior plans for students who have them.
7. IEP or 504 information for resource students. 

This year I had to break out the binder to remind student's parents that they had signed an Internet use agreement and code of conduct agreement when they said they hadn't seen them...I was so glad I had all of this information in a class binder so that it was easy to find.  I only have to look in one simple place to find all information I need. 

I will post my parent sheet for you to use, I hope this helps you!!!!  Below is the URL for Smekens Reading inventory.

http://www.smekenseducation.com/interest-inventories-for-your-readers.html

Why did I choose this title for my blog?

I chose Fifth Grade and Fairy Dust because 1. I teach fifth grade and 2. I think teaching is magical (the fairy dust). I love love love my job! I wake up happy to go to it every day. What makes the magic...well, first I have the best principal to work for, I have a great staff to work with and Smith School has great students! I use the following programs in my room: 1. 6 traits of writing (I follow Smekens). 2. Daily 5 by Boushey and Moser. 3. We use RtI. 4. Singapore Math/Everyday Counts math calendar. 5. Technology! Technology! Technology!

Sweet Summertime

Summer should be full of maxing and relaxing, but wowee!  I have been cleaning and organizing the fifth grade room for three days now and I don't see an end in sight...this week anyway.  I'm hoping to get some great ideas and pictures up soon.  Things you can look for on this blog...

Smekens 6 Traits links I love
Daily 5/CAFE ideas
Super Awesome Social Studies Plans
Library organization
How to organize your writing tricks box!

and whatever else enters my crazy little mind!

End of the year

This year is coming to a close! Lots of changes in store for Smith Elementary and Mrs. Crabb's class! I will be sad to say goodbye to Miss Fendley, my friend and mentor. I am looking forward to sharing 5th grade with Mrs. Johnson in the coming years!! Look for teaching tips and lesson plans to share in the future!