Hey all! Today I am presenting at the Little Apple Tech Fest put on our school district. For my presentation I explained some blogger basics as well as blogging tips. I then tasked my session participants with creating this post in groups, partners, or individually. They had to post about something they've learned, something they are looking forward to, or some piece of tech to share.. Here goes!

We learned how to start our own classroom blogs.  It is important to watermark pics to link back to your blog and also to go get parent permission to post.  We are excited to start teaching our students how to become bloggers!

Hi Friends!
Blogging as a classroom community connection is AMAZING!!  Kids + Teacher = Parental Involvement!  :)

Interested Educators! Little Apple Tech Fest is a great way for educators to engage in learning. Ms. Messick is successful at sharing the blogging process with educators!!  Lets Go Blog!! 

Today we've learned a lot so far! We learned the basics of how to make a blog. We need to come up with a creative title and then just learn as we go...

Today we learned about Blogging. The first step is to decide your purpose. Step number two, get parent permission. The third step is to figure out how to get students involved. Can't wait to create my own and get parents and students alike excited about my class!!

The great thing about blogging is it allows for flexibility. It gives both individuals and groups a voice and allows everyone to be part of the action. Remember to make it interesting, fun, and label as you go along.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! We have wonderful & exciting news. Today we were introduced to a fun site called Blogger. This site will help bring students together to work on their social skills through blogging & photographs. We look forward to blogging with our students. Check on us when you can!

How great did they do?!?!?! I am so glad to see so many educators interested in blogging. I can't wait to follow the blogs they will create!
 

Wrapping up 2015

Can it really be the end of the year? How is that even possible? It seems like just the other day I was getting my classroom ready and now we are almost half way through the year. You can't see my face but it constantly changing from shock, to disbelief, to a smile of happiness. While I can't believe this year is almost over I can say that it is ending well. I have a great group of kids who I can't wait to get back to and we've been able to accomplish some amazing things. So as I think about what happened in 2015 and what is yet to come in 2016 I thought I'd share some final thoughts and do a wrap-up blog style!

Earlier in the year I heard of a fabulous opportunity from A+ Images, Inc. They were giving teacher bloggers the opportunity to design and receive a FREE t-shirt to promote their blog. I couldn't pass up this opportunity. I originally planned to wear this shirt each time the class was going to have a blog day but due to some dress code changes at my school that will no longer be possible. insert major sad face and dramatic fake crying I haven't yet come up with a solution to this problem but I am working on it. I will, however, get to wear it at our district's tech fest in February where I'll be presenting on classroom blogs. So there's a win!

Back to the shirt. I go to design it exactly how I wanted. It arrived pretty quickly. While it was exactly how I wanted (color, design, size of logo, etc) there were a couple negatives (terrible vinegar smell, two stains/discolorations). I found out that the smell was normal and once I washed it, the shirt was fine. There is still a slight discoloration in the middle but the shirt is other wise perfect. I would definitely recommend using A+ Images. They are very teacher friendly and when I had questions and concerns they were helpful and extremely responsive. Here's to finding more ways to wear this shirt!

I've made it through another semester! I repeat, I'VE MADE IT THROUGH ANOTHER SEMESTER! That means one more year of required course work and then I'll compile my portfolio. This wasn't an exceptionally challenging semester but it did contain a few curve balls. Projects are kind of hard to complete when your students don't remain consistent. My professors, however, were exceptional. I've joked about the College of Education buildings that K-State has. It's not new news that teacher's don't make a ton of money so when it comes to donations back to the university, well, I know they aren't raking in millions. While the building might not have the highest tech it does have some of the highest quality professors. My professors this semester were involved and interesting. They kept me engaged and I learned a ridiculous amount. Here's to the next year being just as engaging and educational!

Usually the second semester marks a time of change in classrooms. This year, however, I think we are pretty set. There isn't a ton I want to change routine/procedure wise. Groups will remain the same as we changed before break. We were in the middle of units so there won't be any big changes there either. So why did I even make this a section on the blog today? Because the changes I'm really going to focus on when we return are the ones in my students. I of course want them to keep learning but I don't want it all to be academic. I want to give them more opportunities to explore. I want them to grow as individuals. I want them to be comfortable with themselves and see their possibility. This isn't anything new to my class. It's more of an intentional focus now. A little change never hurt, for long, right?

This year, this semester especially, I really grew as a teacher. I learned that I'm a little fiester than I thought I was. I learned that everyone needs guidance and some times I needed it more than I liked to admit. I encountered situations both with parents, adminstrators, and colleagues that I didn't forsee. Each of these situations pushed me as an individual but more importantly as an educator. I really came to understand myself and my teaching. I became more confident in my ways but also more reflective. I truly do this because I love teaching students while pushing them to be the best well-rounded individual students they can. I can only hope the next year will bring as much growth in myself as I expect to see in my students.

So let's finish the year on a strong note. Not only is the year winding down but so is my Winter Break and for maybe the first year ever, I'm not sad about it. I can't wait to see my students, get back in our groove and make some amazing memories.

Here's to a blessed ending to your 2015 and an amazing start to your 2016

Step Inside My Room - A Classroom Reveal

It's done! It's done! It's done! Our classroom is finally set up and students have arrived. You know what that means......time to get busy, get learning, and makes some messes! So before that all starts lets take a look at what the space should look like :) To do so, I've joined up with Ashley Schroeder over at Schroeder Shenanigans in 2nd as well as Angie over at Lucky Little Learners to link up because just like at the beginning of August, #2getherwearebetter !!!!

So let's jump into our classroom!

The hallway and outside of a classroom is the first space that students, family, and staff see. It needs to be encouraging, welcoming, and functional. Welcome to our class!

Here's a quick view of our classroom bulletin boards. I fully believe that bulletin boards should be educational and functional. They must go beyond simply being cute. If students and teachers can't benefit from their use then what's the point? For a more in-depth look at our classroom bulletin boards take a look back at our August post here.

We LOVE centers in our class. Between daily literacy centers and a rotation of math centers weekly we are constantly rotating through our activities. Students have designated areas for center materials, center order, and center groups. While reading centers locations are designated by material locations, our math center locations are designated by hanging shapes from the ceiling.Tip #1 for center management: color coding! Reading is yellow and math is blue! Check out our blue center location shapes, math tubs, and we'll even have blue math folders next week!

Organization is key. Somebody important said that once, right? Does organized chaos qualify? When walking in you may quickly scan and see chaos but believe, we know exactly what we are doing, where we are supposed to be, and how to get our materials!

 After our school went through construction and renovation, our classroom lost it's closet doors. Not only did this mean that we had to get creative with our storage (no one likes looking at things crammed in closets) but we also lost a ton of display space. This year we are using every nook and cranny of our wall and whiteboard. From focus walls, yearly information, Whole Brain Teaching materials and class motivators, our walls are packed full of knowledge and tools!

Last but not least......Welcome to my little corner of the world! Where I stock treats, cram resources, and make magic! It's a work in progress. I mean, can a teacher ever have enough resources or ideas? ;)

Thanks for taking the journey through our room! Be sure to check out the link-up and tour some other awesome classrooms! Welcome back to school everyone! Let's make this year AWESOME!