Kid Bloggin' Wednesday: The Field Trip

We were going on a field trip. We watched The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. We got to see people performing in costumes. We saw the Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle. We rode on a school bus. It was really fun. The bus was bumpy. On the bus we got to sit by our friends. There was a light on the bus when it was going.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar:

• It turned into a butterfly.
• The hungry caterpillar ate through a lot of food.
• The hungry caterpillar ate through one apple and two pears and it ate through three plums.
• It ate through five oranges.

The Little Cloud

• The Little Cloud was always left behind.
• The Little Cloud turned into a shark.
• The cloud is pretty!
• The cloud turned into other kinds of stuff.
• The little cloud was so funny because he turned into a sheep, an airplane, and a shark.
• Two big clouds said, "Little Cloud, Little Cloud, come back!" and then he came back and it rained.

The Mixed-Up Chameleon

• The chameleon had a lot of parts of the other animal parts.
• The chameleon turned different colors.
• The mixed-up chameleon was brown on the tree.
• The mixed-up lizard wished for all the animals parts but then he realized he couldn't get the fly then he wished to be himself again.
• When it was on the rose it turned red.

We saw a rainbow at the end. It was pretty and had lots of colors.  We lost the bus.

Kid Bloggin' Wednesday: Friday Blog

Listening Center

This is the Listening Center

• We like it.
• We listen to books.
• It is funny.
• It is pretty.
• Every day when we switch we listen to it. You have to push number two and you get to listen to number two story.
• We can read those books.

Number Balances

 These are our number balances.

• The number balances are so awesome.
• They help us with math.
• They help us with numbers.
• They are so awesome because we like them.
• They help us with numbers and how to make them by helping us with the biggest number.
• The person who has one picks it first.
• We put tags on them.
• They are in math centers.

Proud Wall

 This is the Proud Wall.

• People put lots of colors in them.
• People did hard work.
• There are peoples papers on them.
• If they're so colorful we hang them up.
• We put lots of detail in them.
• We have to put our names on them.
• If you don't put your name on it, it goes on the No Name Work wall.

Our Book Buddies Classroom

It's our book buddies classroom.

• Their classroom is nice and clean.
• The book buddies read to us.
• The book buddies are nice.
• They are so awesome.
• They listen to us reading.
• Some times book buddies read to us and some times we read to our book buddies. 

 This is our math centers.

• They help us with numbers.
• It is fun.
• They help us building numbers.
• We learn stuff in them.
• It helps us with math.
• We play.
• They help us read.
• We like them.
• They help us learn.
• They have different things in them.
• There is a math puzzle in one of them.
• They have cool games in them.

From Miss Messick: Normally I do not alter their pictures or text. This post I had to alter one of their photos. I talked with the group before I touched their picture and explained the reason why. They were very understanding as we had to have photo releases for their pictures on DonorsChoose.org.

Kansas Teacher of the Year: And the winner is.....

I posted earlier that I received the great honor of being nominated by my school for the Teacher of the Year. I was then selected, along with Dr. Casey Ewy, to represent my school district. The next step in the process was for us to submit our paperwork and compete to represent our region. Yesterday we went to the Region 1 Kansas Teacher of the Year Luncheon that was held in Salina, KS.

Luncheon Brochure

All of the nominees were recognized. There were 15 elementary teachers and 18 secondary teachers. As we walked up to receive our certificates they read a short bio which included key information from our packets and parts of our recommendation letters. The whole environment was one I can't quite explain. It was inspiring. Listening to the accomplisments and passions of these fellow educators really helped me to reflect on my own teaching and ponder my future aspirations.

My recognition as a nominee with the Deputy and Interim Commissioners

Once all of the educators were recognized they announced the 3 elementary semi-finalists then the Region 1 elementary finalist as well as the three secondary semi-finalists and the secondary finalists. I am proud to say that both myself and Casey were announced as semi-finalists for our respective areas! I can still remember the shock on my tables face as they announced my name! It was a great honor full of excitement, nerves, and awe.

Region 1 Elementary Semi-Finalist

As I went my back to my seat my heart was pounding. Then they announced the Region 1 finalist. <insert dramatic pause and everyone holding their breath> The name was not mine. While it would have been an honor to be selected I can happily say that this process has already made me a better teacher. The work that is yet to come for me as a semi-finalist will only improve my teaching methods, strategies, and activities that much more. In getting prepared for this event I wrote a speech in case I was selected. While I didn't get to give it there, I thought maybe I could give it here.

I'd first like to thank the Kansas Department of Education. Not only do you put on amazing programs that bring educators together but you've created a program that benefits every educator involved. No matter how far a nominee makes it in this process they'll come out with a better understanding of themselves, their philosophy, and their beliefs. I'd also like to thank Security Benefit for sponsoring this program as well as helping me personally with my retirement so that I'll be prepared when that happens in 26 short years.

Next, I'd like to thank my family, friends, and colleagues (many of whom I call my second family). All of you have helped to lift me up and guide me to today. When I was feeling run over and championed by my students you gave me encouragement so we both felt successful. When I cried no knowing how I was gonig to get my room ready in time you hugged me and let me in on a secret, "They'll only know you're not ready if you let them know. They won't know you have 5 more posters to hang and 2 more tubs to organize.". And when I am drowning in tech requests you simply smile and remind me I'll do fine as you slip out of my room.

And lastly, but certainly not the last on my mind, I'd like to thank God. He's gotten me through all of those nights praying for tomorrow to go better, field trips to run smoothly, and for students not to devastate the sub.

When I first heard I needed to prepare something to say today my initial response was, "Say what?". This quickly turned to rambling and mild panic. As I gave it more thought I realized I should just talk about what I know and that's my kids.

While I may not have given birth to any children yet I can say I've claimed about 140 of them at some point in my teaching career. This year there are 21 of them imparticular that I am able to give some extra lovin' to. What is it I ultimately want them to take away from my class? Of course, I want them to learn the content standards and all of the skills that accompany their mastery and application. I also want them to grow to be the best little people they can. This means learning how to navigate life.

Last night I sat on my couch discussing my day with my mom. I was telling her about one of my students and the phrase I've begun using with him as well as the rest of my class. I tell him, "Help yourself before you help someone else. Save yourself before you save someone else." For any of you that have ever flown this should sound very familiar. My mom looked at me stunned and said something along the lines of, "Ashley! It's a good thing he is helping. In real life if that happened we'd probably save the other person first." So I explained, that's okay in some situations. My goal is to get this student, as well as the others, to look at their situation. Obviously there are going to be times where helping someone else isn't detrimental yourself but there are times where it is okay to take care of your needs first and that's not a bad thing. I want my students to learn the difference. I want them to want to help others but I want them to know when their helping can hurt.

They've got so much to learn but they are resilient and can handle much more than we, as adults, give them credit for. My class this year is proof of that. We've only been in school 18 days and they've learned 6 reading centers, 9 math centers, procedures and routines for all of our core subjects AND each other's name which is a big deal in 1st grade. They've picked up that in order to do a brain break their minds have to earn it and they are working their hardest.

They amaze me every day with their with, kindness, and quirks. I hope they can say the same about me. We disagree and some times they don't like their consequences but we also shake out our wiggles, learn to be ninjas and how to stomp like a dino. I know they'll learn lots this year. Some of it will be academic and some of it will be relational. If they leave first grade feeling loved I'll know I succeeded. After all they might not always remember what we say but they'll always remember how we make them feel. Here's to making them feel intelligent, silly, accepted and loved. Definitely loved.

This process has been eye opening. I am thankful for the support I had at the luncheon. I know that this is a huge accomplishment. I've only been teaching 6 years and already I've had so much awakened inside of me. I can't wait to see what the rest of this year brings. I'm sure my kiddos will continue to make the rest of this year a surprising, fun-filled, rowdy learning experience!

My Mama!

Here's to classroom visits, growing my education, and educating others.

P.S. Sorry about the extremely long post. High-five to you for making it to the end!

Kid Bloggin' Wednesday

• -The school is red.
• The school is big.
•  The school is made out of bricks.
• It has lots of books in it.
• It has a gym in it.
• It has kids in it.
• We have a board in our school and it's big and we can write about it because it's large.
• We learn in our school.
• We have a playground and we play on it.

This is our computer center.

• It is beautiful.
• We like to play on it.
• It's fun.
• It teaches us.
• We play games on it.
• It helps us read.

 This is a picture of our door.

• It has our names on it.
• It has blue paper.
• It is beautiful.
• It is very colorful.
• Since we read a book about Chrysanthemum and her name was too long and people made fun of her.
• It was about Chrysanthemum and everyone was making fun of her and her teacher said that her name would scarecly fit on a name tag.
• We learned each other's names. 

This is a picture of our ABC center.

• We built some words.
• It helps us with ABCs.
• We write the words.
• It helps us learn.
• It is fun.

This is a picture of Number One Man and Girl.

• It is a number one kid.
• It helps us with math.
• It helps us with numbers.
• It is colorful.
• We made it in Math Enrichment.

How to Survive Testing: The DIBELS Edition

Testing: the time of year when regular schedules are interrupted, routines are broken, and students brains are picked over. That time of year has started for our school. This means Dolch word tests, beginning of the year assessments and of course the DIBELS! In our school, first grade teachers get to test our own students. Here are a couple of tips for surviving.

Tip #1:  You must find a comfy little space since you'll be there for an extended period of time. This little book room was my home for two days. It's cozy and quiet but more importantly, it was right across from my room. This really cut down on the travel time when switching students. The chairs are student size so I always bring my chair in. My bottom needs to be in a comfortable chair.

Our Little Book Room

Tip #2:  Find a timer you enjoy the sound of. Don't get me wrong, the little classic timers work well but I cannot stand that beep more than a few times. I love using my iPad. I can change the sound and I can control the volume. I also like that it counts down in a way that I can see the time running out in my peripheral while I'm looking at my students. I have it set to "boing". It doesn't seem to have distracted the kids and they know what the sound means now.

iPad Timer

iPad Sound for the Timer

Tip #3:  Treats! When you are testing all day, no matter what kind of assessment, you must have treats. Not only does this help ease your stress but it helps when colleagues stop by to ask questions, plan, or for a brain break of their own. I always keep treats handy and I make sure that my colleagues know they are always welcome in my room whether I am in it or not. Treats are never something you keep to yourself.

Treats: drinks, donuts and candy

Here's to finishing assessments, comfy digs, and great results!

P.S
Teachers: What are your testing must-haves?
Parents: How do you help your students during their testing times?