Thursday, August 8, 2013
Ahhhhhh-Melia Earhart!
I decided to try and write my first project based learning unit for TPT on Amelia Earhart. It turned out to be such a huge task. I had a hard time deciding how to edit my ideas... oy! My mind went in a million directions... but I finally think I did it. Please check it out! http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Amazing-Amelia-Earhart-A-Project-Based-Learning-Unit-For-Elementary-Students-817681
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
I need a few readers!
I have been working on this little Amelia Earhart unit for-EVAH. I have never written a Project Based Learning Unit for TPT before and I am trying to get used to the format. I need a few people to please give it a look and tell me what you think...
Please leave me a comment and let me know if you would be willing!
Please leave me a comment and let me know if you would be willing!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Treats for the Teacher Giveaway!!!!
This time of year we could all use some TREATS! I am SOOOOO excited to be able to offer this fabulous giveaway with the help of my amazing friend Jennifer Franks! She is not only a teacher, mother of three, wife, daughter, sister, and fabulous friend - she is also a Ambassador at the up and coming company Ocean Ave. and a Scentsy Consultant. She is one busy cookie! She is offering a free full size jar of the amazing Two Minute Miracle Exfoliation Gel - a $50 value and $25 Gift Card to her Scentsy store! Watch the video below to see what the Two Minute Miracle can do! It is AHHHH-Mazing~!
I am adding in a custom made owl pillow for your home or classroom. I will make it with your classroom or home colors. I am also including your choice of any three items from my TPT store.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Teaching Strategies Link-Up!
I adore this idea! Mrs. Patton over at http://pattonspatch.blogspot.com/ is keeping our focus on the important stuff by starting this great linky.
I love that she connected all her ideas by sharing things that she does with chart paper and smelly markers (my fav-or-ite!). So I decided to follow suit and keep all my ideas tied to technology. In my room we mainly use netbook laptops. We have school iPads that we can check out from the library on a rotating schedule, but we have our own set of laptops, so I focus on using those the most because we have the easiest access to those.
Pre-assessment: - I love to use Wallwisher.com. If you have never used this site, it will only take a few minutes to get started! It is a very simple way to get an idea of where everyone stands on an idea. You type in a question, the kids log into your page and click on a spot in the open area and type their ideas. You can see who wrote what - and you have IMMEDIATE feedback to see where each of your kiddos stands on an concept.
I use this a lot to decide what type of mini-lessons students might need on a concept. I can see where I need to focus very quickly from this. You can also use it after a lesson and compare the two.
Another great site for pre-assessment is Polleverywhere.com. You can use the site easily with cellphones if your kids have those, mine usually do not, so I just a personalized web address (you create one right on the site) and kids link to it, and answer. The polls are anonymous - so it gives you a feel for what the class knows as a whole. It literally takes seconds. The kids LOVE it because the you can see the poll fill up in live time. They feel safe being truthful about their answers because it is anonymous as well.
Formative and Formal Assessment: As we move deeper into a unit I like to check for understanding in several ways. Of course I love journaling in notebooks, exit tickets, etc. But I really love to see how they are doing using Kidblog.org . The kids love it because they can read each others blogs and respond and I get a very clear understanding of what they know. I can also respond to them and give them feedback and they can go through and correct mistakes. I sometimes even go through and color code word wall words that they have spelled incorrectly and have them go back and fix them. It can be used in so many ways.
Another favorite site of mine is Edmodo.com. It is probably the site I utilize most in my room. I often post questions as bellwork, sites I want them to visit, apps I want them to play, short quizzes, and polls. It can really be used anywhere in the curriculum. You can totally interact with your class from home or the doctor's office if you are out sick, you can see who took a quiz or answered a question (and if you are kind of evil like me, call the sub and ask to talk to the kid - tee hee - they really believe you have eyes everywhere this way). If you don't use this site I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. It will change your life - well, at least your school day! Oh... it also grades the quizzes for you! Holla!
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Pre-assessment: - I love to use Wallwisher.com. If you have never used this site, it will only take a few minutes to get started! It is a very simple way to get an idea of where everyone stands on an idea. You type in a question, the kids log into your page and click on a spot in the open area and type their ideas. You can see who wrote what - and you have IMMEDIATE feedback to see where each of your kiddos stands on an concept.
Another great site for pre-assessment is Polleverywhere.com. You can use the site easily with cellphones if your kids have those, mine usually do not, so I just a personalized web address (you create one right on the site) and kids link to it, and answer. The polls are anonymous - so it gives you a feel for what the class knows as a whole. It literally takes seconds. The kids LOVE it because the you can see the poll fill up in live time. They feel safe being truthful about their answers because it is anonymous as well.
Formative and Formal Assessment: As we move deeper into a unit I like to check for understanding in several ways. Of course I love journaling in notebooks, exit tickets, etc. But I really love to see how they are doing using Kidblog.org . The kids love it because they can read each others blogs and respond and I get a very clear understanding of what they know. I can also respond to them and give them feedback and they can go through and correct mistakes. I sometimes even go through and color code word wall words that they have spelled incorrectly and have them go back and fix them. It can be used in so many ways.
Another favorite site of mine is Edmodo.com. It is probably the site I utilize most in my room. I often post questions as bellwork, sites I want them to visit, apps I want them to play, short quizzes, and polls. It can really be used anywhere in the curriculum. You can totally interact with your class from home or the doctor's office if you are out sick, you can see who took a quiz or answered a question (and if you are kind of evil like me, call the sub and ask to talk to the kid - tee hee - they really believe you have eyes everywhere this way). If you don't use this site I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. It will change your life - well, at least your school day! Oh... it also grades the quizzes for you! Holla!
I also use analogies very often in my room to see if my babies are making connections between their learning and seeing what those connections are. I use my own unit on analogies http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Huge-Analogy-Packet-for-Elementary-Kids-468284 - to show them how to make analogies and then I make them create their own building on the concept we are working on ie - 5 is to 25 as 6 is to 30 (relating factor - x5). Another great place to practice analogies is http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/vocabulary_games/analogies.html
Back to School NIGHTMARE #1!
I had a dream that I walked in on the first morning of school, and everything looked perfect, my class was all cute and happy and waiting and I looked over into my desk chair and there was a adorable little boy there. He was smiling, so I said hello and told me to, "get out". I told him to go find his seat and he told called me some names and told me that he would be "running this show". I asked him who he was and he told me I should know, I should have been warned. I got closer to him and he pulled out a teeny tiny pair of scissors (like nail scissors) and stabbed me in the shoulder. I started freaking out and calling for help. Everyone kept laughing and telling me he was just a little kid and "to get over it". So I went back in the room and he was laughing and pulled out a yellow wrench and hit me in the side of the forehead. I was bleeding and yelling and everyone told me to get over it again. So I just ran out into the hall. That was the end of the dream.
What the world was that???!!!! LOL!
Please tell me I am not the only one who has nightmares in anticipation of the new year!
Friday, August 2, 2013
August Currently!
Can I tell you a secret? I have not really enjoyed this summer all that much...
It is not that is has been awful or anything... but is has been kind of hard and boring. My hubby works from home - he changed jobs in the school year and this was the first summer of this... and well, it sucked. It's not that I don't LOVE to be with him, because I do, I love him to the ends of the earth.... but having four rowdy kids in the house all summer, while he tries to work, has been trying at best. He is on the phone a lot, and my two littles don't quite understand that he is off limits. So everyone has been a bit grouchy. I have tried to take them out as often as I can, but I live in North Texas - so it is 100+ degrees most of the time, and there is just so much one can take of that! We also had to postpone our Disneyland trip because of hubby's job... so we have really not done all that much.
SOOOO.... I am not entirely unready for school to start. A statement that I am sure to regret midweek our first week in...but right now, August is not really making me sad...so I am linking up with Farley to celebrate it with a new Currently.
It's pretty self explanatory I think.
Does anyone have a computer with the pop off tablet screen? It sounds great, I just don't know anyone who has one and I want to know if the reality seems as good as the idea.
And my must haves...
It is not that is has been awful or anything... but is has been kind of hard and boring. My hubby works from home - he changed jobs in the school year and this was the first summer of this... and well, it sucked. It's not that I don't LOVE to be with him, because I do, I love him to the ends of the earth.... but having four rowdy kids in the house all summer, while he tries to work, has been trying at best. He is on the phone a lot, and my two littles don't quite understand that he is off limits. So everyone has been a bit grouchy. I have tried to take them out as often as I can, but I live in North Texas - so it is 100+ degrees most of the time, and there is just so much one can take of that! We also had to postpone our Disneyland trip because of hubby's job... so we have really not done all that much.
SOOOO.... I am not entirely unready for school to start. A statement that I am sure to regret midweek our first week in...but right now, August is not really making me sad...so I am linking up with Farley to celebrate it with a new Currently.
Does anyone have a computer with the pop off tablet screen? It sounds great, I just don't know anyone who has one and I want to know if the reality seems as good as the idea.
And my must haves...
- Scentos - I love them and right now they are .30 at our Michaels! I have a ton of them, but I bought more.
- Ticonderoga Pencils - I think they are the only pencils that actually sharpen without fail. I hate dollar store pencils with my whole heart. I buy them on amazon.com for about $15.00 of 96 - http://www.amazon.com/Dixon-Ticonderoga-Woodcase-Pencil-13872/dp/B00125Q75Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375476541&sr=8-1&keywords=ticonderoga+pencils. I kind of hoard them.
- I am so excited to use this super cute activity from Linda Kamp this fall.... Love that is incorporates math from day 1! http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-About-Me-Getting-to-Know-You-Math-Craftivity-326091 I love EVERYTHING that lady makes!
North Texas Meet Up!
I am so stinking excited about this! I have read about blogger meet ups for some time and have always been a little green with envy - but now there is one here in my area! I can't wait!
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