Day 7... Numbering the Textbooks

I don't use numbers in my classroom for many things, but, for me, there are two situations in which using numbers is more-than-helpful. The first is lining up. My kids line up alphabetically. This translates into "number order." Why? I guess because it takes too many syllables to say,"alphabetical order."

When students are in alphabetical number order, I can quickly see if someone is missing. Somehow they learn that leaving a space to signify a missing person makes it easier on my tired brain. And, yes, I have had to move around a few kids because the person in front or behind them in line was not a good partner. And, yes, kids always seem to get added in mid-year (and their name never starts with Z), requiring either a re-numbering (which rarely works well) or a "phase two" strategy. I distinctly remember having someone be #2.5 in line. At least the kids in proximity to her learned decimals that year!

The other situation in which I use numbers is for textbook assignments. If you're #4 in line, you are assigned all of the books bearing #4. Our textbooks spend a lot of time on the shelves, but having them numbered allows a student to keep track of his/her books whenever we use them. Now and then, the system has even alerted me to someone who was missing. "Why is math book #17 still on the shelf? Oh, she is in the principal's office...?"

A few years ago, I found these neon adhesive labels and I knew I just had to use them for something in my classroom! Eventually, I decided that their bright color would be perfect for helping us locate our numbered textbooks. I made a very simple template  with TWO numbers so that the books could be identified from the front or from the side. A few snips with the paper cutter and everything was ready.

I just peel off the backing and apply the labels to the textbooks. Easy! There were four colors, so I alternated... That little detail makes me extra happy--and explains why the numbers look so funny when printed on a page.

I just love how the books look together. So organized!

In June, I found that the same-numbered books were missing from each collection of textbooks. This is how I knew which parent to contact because the child had left all of his books at home. The system worked (beyond looking pretty, of course!) and the missing books were returned. You will notice that the books are bar-coded. I'd like to tell you why that is the case. Alas... I have no idea! And I'm fairly certain our school does not have a bar code reader...

Here are the books lined up the shelves. A few were still on students' desks because the books fit on the shelves with little room to spare. Aren't school districts funny?

How do you keep track of textbooks in your room? Do you use a number system or something else? I'm guessing it won't be too long before there aren't any textbooks at all. I guess I will just have to resort to color-coding their iPads!

A Goat and More

Lately, there have been several posts whose titles include words like "random" and "bits and pieces."  A quick look will reveal how many posts have multiple nouns collected in the title.  I think it is because this is a cRaZy time of year and many of us are struggling just to put one foot in front of the other.  Our mind is filled with "bits and pieces" because that is as close to a complete thought (yet alone a complete post!) that we can get!  This "Odds and Ends" post is like that.

I.
So I'll start with my favorite chuckle of the week.
One of my students had written something partially-decipherable in his journal.  I was able to make out something close to gowdtcard.  Just for fun, I'll leave his spelling in the conversation.

T:  Can you read me this part?
S: We went in my friend's gowdtcard.
T: {still trying to decode} Was that fun?
S: Yes.
T: Hmmm.  Can you tell me more?
S: We went in the gowdtcard at his house.
T:  Oh... Ummmm.  There was... um... a goat?
S: No! There was no goat.
T: Can you read this part again.
S: {Sighing} We went in my friend's gowdtcard. 
T:  Did you say goat cart?
S:  Yes.
T: {Biting my lip at this point} We went in my friend's goat cart?
S:  Yes!
T:  Sweetie, we write that word like this: go-kart. And it starts like go...
S: Oh! Go.... Cart!

 

II. 

I'm pretty crazy about caring for my textbooks. Knowing they may need to last forever, I expect my children to take care of their materials.  In truth, we don't use textbooks daily (or sometimes even weekly--except for math), but I still want them to look pretty on the shelf!  

My students are numbered alphabetically (that makes no sense when I type it--yet I know any teacher would understand the reference) and the books are numbered on the front and the spine. Kids are assigned books according to their number in line.  I have found that neon labels make it easy to find your books when you work at three different tables in one day!

On Thursday, however, our room looked like this. These are social studies and reading books. The math and science textbooks were piled on top of the adjoining bookshelf.  Yep, those shelves are empty.  Why?

A group of people went from room to room to do this...

If you've ever "lost" a kid (Hi BlogFriend!), you may wonder why we don't bar-code the kids instead of the books...

Oh.  Did I mention this happened DURING school?

III.
Some people had last Monday off.  I sure was jealous.  Our district moved Lincoln's birthday to tomorrow/Friday...Sorry Abe.  Like most folks, we have Monday off (Sorry, George, we've redesignated your birthday too!).  My four days of bliss will be even more blissful due to this collection.  My kids know me so well.  They rarely bring their homework, but on Valentine's day, they brought lots of chocolate.  Some of it is not pictured.  I bet you know why...

IV.
I'm still trying to figure out how to fix my numbered comments.  First, there were no comments.  And then there were a few comments, but no numbers.  And then there were numbers AND comments. I was happy. Comments make my heart sing. And then there were no numbers--but I had threaded comments (which I never asked for... they just appeared).  Then a friend tried to re-number the comments... and now every comment has TWO numbers.

Why does this matter?  Because...

V.
I am getting ready for a giveaway.

               Not  a little giveaway.

                                A BIG giveaway.

A BIG, THANKFUL giveaway.

                                         

And I am really, REALLY excited.

I like teaching math, but trying to pick a winner when each comment has two numbers is like an algebra problem gone wrong.  I have to fix that first.

So be watching...

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 Hey!  Maybe I can bar-code my entries!