I got rid of my beanbags and switched to beach chairs this year.  I love the beach chairs and so do the kids.  They can still be comfortable without laying across the room.  I've noticed they are more engaged in what they are doing in the beach chairs than they were in the beanbags.  This was an unexpected surprise. I just made the switch because my beanbags were getting old and starting to rip.  The chairs are cute as well. 

I got this idea on Pintrest.  Someone did it in a pocket chart.  I have a small hallway at the entrance of my room so I covered it with paper and stapled up laminated sentence strips.  I let each student choose their own strip and we wrote their names on the bottom right corner in Sharpie.  Each week the students post a message using a Vis a Vis marker.  They are loving it and I am learning interesting things about them.  Some of the kids aren't sure what to write and will write simple things like, "I rock!"  Others are adding interesting facts about themselves or just sharing something they did.  I am loving this. The only part I don't like is wiping them off on Fridays so they are ready for the next Monday. 

Resource Schedule

I am a resource teacher and struggle every year with how to best meet the needs of my ever increasing number of students on my caseload.  This year I adapted and idea from the other resource teacher at my school (she's great).  She teachers the younger kids and has them on centers schedule with working with her as one of the centers.  I decided to to this with my students as well.  Now that we are a few weeks into school it is really starting to go more smoothly.  Each student has their name on the wall with their individual schedule underneath.  Next to each time frame is the letter G for Guckenberger, I for independent work, and C for computer.  When students come in they know exactly where they need to go and what they need to do (most of the time).  I am still working on the independent work time.  I find I am taking time away from the students that are having time with me to remind the independent workers what they need to be doing.  I just need to come up with a system that reminds them of their individual activities.  If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them.