It has been fun creating and maintaining a classroom website but as you can imagine, I spend HOURS and HOURS in order to create and post the work on my site.  I made a commitment to answer every email sent to me about my website and help as many teachers with whatever their questions were.  I am proud to say I have helped over 4,000 teachers now. 

How Did I Create My Website?

I built my website in the summer of 2000 using MS FrontPage on the recommendation of my district.  That program is no longer being supported and sold.  My advice is I would ask your district tech person what they would like you to use to make your web site. I bought the program at Costco and taught myself to use Front Page five summers ago.  I knew absolutely nothing but was able to teach myself all about it using the help menus and making mistakes and learning from them.  There are also tutorials on the web you could use.   If you can take a class or learn from someone who has an existing web site that would be much easier.  My advice is start slowly and don't expect too much right away because what you see on my website is the result of over 4000 hours of work (a modest estimate).  The other thing is...your website will never be "finished" because there's always something else you could add to it.   

All of my web pages are set up with tables, some visible, some invisible.  This helps "lock" the information in place when people view my site using different monitor sized and screen resolutions. 

How Do I Do it All?

How Do I Hold a Classroom Auction?

How Do I Run My Banking Unit & Classroom Economy?

Our Classroom Economy:  I start the banking unit the first day of school.  On the first day of school, I give students a savings account book (I made it on the computer) and an envelope to keep their money in.  I teach students how to use the savings deposit slip (I made simple versions on the computer and print them on yellow) and withdrawal slips (pink paper).  I also have fines and fees so students have the experience of budgeting and withdrawing money.  You could set up incentives and have the students help think of ways they could earn money (extra credit, turning in homework, challenges etc). I made up a banker test that tests money counting types of questions, reducing bills to lowest terms (ex:  $67 would be given out as one $50, one $10, one $5, and two $1s.), as well as trying to find the error in a check or savings ledger.  Students with the highest scores are the top employees (president, vice president, managers, all the way to tellers and trainees).  I have students retake the test to be sure they can handle the transactions at the bank accurately.  When students have adding and subtracting decimals down, I introduce the check writing unit and students who pass the test earn checkbooks.  Again, they can fix errors by doing a retest if needed.  We hold banker meetings occasionally during lunch recess.

Students earn Classroom Collegiate Cash: I made Collegiate Cash on my computer and run it off on the copier (different denominations are different colors for ease of sorting).  I also get the checkbooks from a local bank who donates them to school programs. They are sample checks and say "VOID" where the signature goes. I think they are solely for educational purposes. I also make my own deposit and withdrawal slips as well as savings account books.  Sorry, I don't have copies to send you.  I created them using a program most teachers don't have so you wouldn't be able to open the document.

Banking Fines and Fees:  At the beginning of the year I pay for things like a parent signature of my rules or beginning of the year letter ($20) , homework in on time ($5) book projects and reports, etc.  I pay my students $10 "Collegiate Cash" for homework turned in on time and reading minutes. I usually don't fine for not turning in homework, because it ends up costing those students double since they didn't earn the money and then they have to pay.  Those students rarely have enough money for fines, so they have to pay with recess minutes.  I have "grammar fines" where improper grammar phrases like "Can Megan and me play a game?" costs them $10 (they learn the rule quickly!) and I have a "shut up" fine of $25 because that's not a respectful way to talk to someone.  I use "bathroom fines" when we've just come in from recess (within 45 minutes) and someone asks to use the restroom - that's $10 unless students think it's no big deal, then I keep raising it until they use the restroom at recess like they are supposed to.  I also have a "wandering fine" of $20 during lunch  because we don't have a cafeteria at my school.  Students eat in our classroom and students are supposed to eat while sitting down.  Students help me come up with fines.  They are very creative! 

April 15th - Tax Day:  On April 15th students add up all their cash, checks, money in their savings and checking accounts.  It's time to pay their classroom taxes.  An amazing fifth grade teacher from California, Mr. Brent Coley, created some tax forms he uses with his students.  I customized these to fit our classroom economy.  Students compute their itemized deductions, fill out a W-2, read the tax table, and file their tax return by April 15th.  Their "tax advisor" (parents) double check and  help if necessary.  Taxes need to be filed with Mrs. Renz on or before April 15th to avoid a penalty (loss of recess).

Rent:  To get a feel for how income and expenses work, students "rent" their desk, chair and locker area in the spring (no, they can't opt to not have the items).  Once a month I put bills on their desks and bankers collect fees and check off who has paid.  I make sure I've given them enough chance to earn money to pay their fines.  This gives the students practice writing check and balancing their check ledgers. Bankers initial the ledgers as each transaction is made. 

Earning Extra Money:  Students also earn $50 for each Mastery Club Challenge they complete.  I'd suggest you have the students give you suggestions for fines and ways to earn money. I'm sure they will come up with more than you'd imagine!

Auction: At the end of the year I hold an auction so students can spend all their cash - garage sale type things and things students have donated.  Games, bike locks, school supplies, candy, pop, movie passes, ice cream coupons, and dinner-out coupons from local restaurants are also popular. I collect these all year. 

OUR COLLEGE FOCUS 

click to enlarge photo

 In our classroom, we don't say, "WILL go to college?" . . . instead, we say, "WHICH college will you go to?" 

I believe students need to start thinking about setting a goal to go to college and begin to plan and anticipate it early in life.  The important thing isn't where they go to college; the important thing is that students go to college.

College Field Trip:  Our students will take a field trip in the spring to the Oregon State University campus (where I earned by undergraduate degree in 1980).  We will tour several dorms, eat in a campus dining hall, tour several academic buildings, library, Memorial Union, the Dixon Recreation Center, visit the OSU Bookstore, and possibly tour the athletic stadiums.

Students earn Classroom Collegiate Cash: I made Collegiate Cash on my computer and run it off on the copier (different denominations are different colors for ease of sorting).  I also get the checkbooks from a local bank who donates them to school programs. They are sample checks and say "VOID" where the signature goes. I think they are solely for educational purposes. I also make my own deposit and withdrawal slips as well as savings account books.  Sorry, I don't have copies to send you.  I created them using a program most teachers don't have so you wouldn't be able to open the document.

How Can I Use Mrs. Renz's Ideas in My Classroom?

Teachers work way too hard not to share.  However, I feel we need to share the right way.  Teachers, you have permission to adapt and/or use my work in your classroom.  You may not copy any work from my website and paste it to your website.  If you'd like to use my work, please contact me and credit me on the page where it is used and link back to my web site. www.mrsrenz.net

How Do I Manage My Book Projects?

Students read a lot more since I started the monthly book projects. They love the variety of project choices.  These projects are in addition to the reading group instruction they receive.  Each student selects and reads the book of his/her choice. 

Students read each night as part of their homework.  Students record the number of minutes they read each night the homework log sheet.  I give students time during silent reading to read their book and also make reading part of the nightly homework (15 minutes).  I give some class time to work on the projects and provide the paper necessary also.  

We share projects on the last day of the month, when projects are due.  I grade all the projects with simple scoring guides for the literary elements included & also for neatness/creativity and spelling.

How Do I Teach Math?

Every morning students sign in on the SMART Board and we figure out the fraction, decimal, and percent of students sharing that trait.  Students love moving their name and we do all kinds of math with the data collected.   

I am in the process of creating sets of my sign-ins for Teachers pay Teachers.  Check it out on my TpT store.  Check back for the creation of more sets throughout the summer of 2012.

I use whatever materials I can to teach the state standards in math.  I use manipulatives as much as possible to ensure concrete understanding, especially in number sense and the place value system.  We use base 10 pieces to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and to build area models.  We use pattern blocks with fractions, dice for all kinds of probability "games" I play with the class, and even the Oregon Trail simulation I created uses math group problem solving skills.  I read math stories and embed math into the day as much as I can to reinforce concepts where ever appropriate. 

I created a  math web page for students to go along with what I’m teaching so my students could have a web extension for each lesson.  I surfed the web to find the links for each lesson.  When students finish the lesson we are on, I let them use any lessons in the same chapter up to, and before that as reinforcement.   We also have a daily math focus that students use to reinforce, strengthen, and stretch their skills. Students are challenged each week on homework with math problems that are for extra credit.  I also post Brain Buster questions to challenge students.

Assessment:  I use the tests in the book.  I make an answer key and the questions which are supposed to be secure I make worth 3 points.  The developing questions I only make worth 1 point.  Its kind of hard to grade but that makes it fairer.

How Do I Follow the Iditarod with Students?

I make it pretty simple.  Students draw the name & bio of a musher in the race.  They create a triangular name tag with pictures of dogs and musher’s face glued on to the sled. 

We do the Iditarod "Self Starts" each day while the race is on.   

Each morning students log in to the Iditarod website and check the musher's standings and move a little place marker on the desk.  I keep a can of place numbers on the table (they look like a bookmark).  

At the end of the race, we figure out the total real earnings the mushers earned and I scale it back proportionally and we divide up the money among the winners.  That's it!

How Do I Set Up a Free Web Page?

This is not my area of expertise but I'll try to help a bit.

Teacher Web:  - for a small fee, create a simple, nice looking website.  Here is an example of an elementary website.

School Notes.com - another free service

How Do I Manage Homework and 100% Homework Club?

How Can I Get Involved with the JASON Project?

The JASON Project is an awesome science/math/technology program and is open to any teacher who wants to attend training.  It is Dr. Bob Ballard's (scientist who discovered the Titanic) program for school students in grades 4-9.  I attended a training at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) in Portland.  OMSI sponsored the training for Oregon & Washington teachers.  Sadly, due to budget cuts, OMSI no longer sponsors the JASON Project.

How Do I Run My "Star of the Week" Program?

Star Student of the Week is great.  I try to coordinate the child's week with his/her birthday if possible and students bring in all kinds of items to display for the week.  I always start out being the "Star" so they can see what I bring in.  I have students fill out a booklet the first week of school all about themselves.  When the student is the special person, on Friday, the students reads the book about him/herself to the class (favorites, family info., goals for the future etc.) and the students ask questions.  The class each then writes and illustrates two sentences with compliments or nice statements about the child (nothing generic like '"you are nice" - it must be specific - you are nice because you loaned me a pencil when I needed it).  I use the book binder to make a book for the student to take home with all the nice things classmates have said. 

How Do I Run the Wise Owl Student of the Month?

The Wise Owl Award is extremely motivating for my students. The Wise Owl is awarded to the "Student of the Month"  who has best exhibited one or more of the following qualities:

How Can I Get Answer Keys for the Activities and Homework?

How Do You Add the Cool Website Stuff to a Page?

Floating Images:  The images that float on my calendar page are from a programming language called javascript.  I learned how to do this from an awesome site called Lissa Explains it All.  You add the script to your web page and add the graphic you want to fall.  You can change the image to anything you want.  During different months I change the floating image - snowflakes, hearts, shamrocks, flowers, kites, apples, pumpkins and trees to name a few.  This is Lissa's page that I used to teach myself how to add javascript.

Cursor Trails:  My oceanography page has floating bubbles which are kind of fun.  I learned that from Lissa Explains It All, too.  Her site is amazing and very helpful.

How Do You Get Those Really Cool Fonts On Your Website?

I bought the fonts I use for many of my page titles from an online company called Lettering Delights.  They have GREAT deals for teachers.  You download the fonts immediately and can also get a backup CD of fonts.  Their projects come with a browser that lets you create and modify the colors and patterns of the fonts, too.  I have been totally pleased with their products and customer service too.  The fonts become images that you upload to your site. 

The best deal they off for teachers is called Teaching Delights.  It offers serious deals to educators.  I bought Volumes 1, 2 and 3 when they were bundled together for a really great price.  Be sure to get the deal for teachers because it is a GREAT value.

How Do I Get Permission to Link to Mrs. Renz's Website?

Educators, you have permission to link to my website.  All that I ask is that you credit me on the page where the link is used and link back to my site. It is not permitted to copy content from my website and paste it onto another site without written permission from Mrs. Renz.  If you would like to link to my site or use my work, please e-mail the following:  Your name, the web address to your site and your state and you'll be added.  I am especially pleased to hear from schools, universities and authors that are using my work.  Thanks.  

Can I Copy Your Website Pages and Paste Them to My Website?

No, you may not.  As you might have already guessed, my website has taken me hundreds and hundreds of hours to create over the past 12 years.  As educators, we teach our students about how to properly use information from primary sources and how to cite sources.  We should never plagiarize someone's work and take it by copying and pasting.  We must hold ourselves to the same standard we demand of our students.  I have freely allowed thousands and thousands of teachers to use my projects, handouts, and ideas in their classrooms or to link to my website.  The proper way to use someone's work is to ask their permission and to credit them and link to their site if requested.  It is frustrating to see my work posted on someone else's website with their copyright notice attached!