Friday Fast 5 Catch-Up

It's that time! Here's 5 quick recaps of what we have done in our class recently....I'm even throwing in a picture of me.

That's right.....that IS a packet of ketchup. If you didn't read the title and immediately think of ketchup I bet you will next time. This picture will pop into your mind every time you read catch-up now. You're welcome! Now let's get to work!

Each month we introduce a new author to our class. This author becomes a close friend as the month goes along. We start to see similarities in their writing and illustrating techniques. We also get to become close friends with the characters.

Last month we focused on Bill Martin Jr. This month we are becoming fast friends with Eric Carle and his wonderful colors!

One of my favorite ways to review our math concepts with my kiddos is to break out the flashlights, turn the lights off, and hunt for our problems. We are still using the school math curriculum but printing the questions off and hiding them around the room is a lot more interesting than working from a book.

The kiddos had a blast. They worked well with their partners, managed the flashlights and navigating the room well, and the discussions I heard about the problems warmed my heart. We will definitely be reviewing by flashlight again this year!

Does this really even need explaining? GoNoodle brain breaks are the best kind! My kids already have their favorites: Slo-Motion Machine (Koo Koo Kanga Roo), Milkshake (Koo Koo Kanga Roo), and Don't Read Like a Robot (Blazer Fresh)

Watch us in action!

Comment below you favorite GoNoodle brain break! We'd love to try it out!

 We have started our first science unit and we are investigating Sound. I am loving the way our updated FOSS curriculum is set-up. Each investigation part is driven by a focus question that students then try and solve. This unit on sound has taught us that sound is caused by vibrations. We've also gotten a chance to explore different sound sources.

We finished off this week doing a little listening outside in our learning garden to figure out what sounds we could hear outside. We then discussed what the sources of those sounds could be. Thanks to the Kansas weather for cooperating with us! :)

https://theglobalreadaloud.com/

Last but not least, we began our journey with the Global Read Aloud. This is my first time joining this initiative but I can tell you I am hooked. If you are wanting more information be sure to clock on the header to visit the website. My kids are loving the idea of kids and classes all over the world reading the same books. After we read the specified chapters this week, groups discussed the guided questions. Check out our answers.

Q1. Why doesn't Sophie leave the window when she sees something strange?

Q2. Why doesn't Sophie wake the other children?

Q3. What were Sophie's first impressions of the giant?

Q4. What is one character trait you would give Sophie?

Q4. What is one character trait you would give Sophie?

Be sure to follow along with our journey, as well as readers around the world, as we explore this story. If you're on Twitter, follow the hastags #GRABFG and #BGFslowchat to join in the fun!

As you can see, we've had an awesome start to our year! Be sure to check-in and let us know how your start has been. We love getting comments!

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

Fast Four: WBT, Hide-N-Seek, and GoNoodle

Hey there all! Man has this been a great week and it's only Tuesday! How often can we say that? Hopefully, very often. At least that has been the case this year. My kiddos are rocking with their use of WBT, our activities, and their responsibilities. Because they have been absolute ROCKSTARS this week, I thought I'd quickly share four of the joys so far. Keep an eye out as this will hopefully be a new section of post this year (Fast Four)!

1. GoNoodle!
"Hey Class!" Hey What? "Are you ready?" For what?.....For some awesome brain breaks, that's what! If you haven't jumped over to GoNoodle you are missing out. We love doing their videos for quick little breaks. With each video our champ gets closer to moving up a level. We only need one more video and we get to head to the transmogrifer! It's always a hooting and hollering good time as our champ grows!

2. Hide-N-Seek
Everyone loves the game. How fun would it be to use this game while learning? That's exactly what we did. For our last math unit over number bonds I created a review activity before our test. I took pictures and material from our series, Math in Focus, and created 16 different question cards. I then hid these around the room while the class waited outside. Pairs were then tasked with 1) finding the cards 2) working together to create the number bond 3)switching roles. The kids had a blast and to make it better.......wait for it.....we did it in the dark and used flashlights!!!! Cue the teamwork and awesomeness!

3. WBT Connection
We have really been working on using our Whole Brain Teaching strategies, tools, and gestures. The students have been rockstars with using the correct responses, following the examples, and trying. That last part is the most important. This isn't just a passing trend. This really is something we are all working on and the students really are trying. For an added bonus I showed a video from the wonderful Mrs. Shipley who has offered me a ton of guidance and support through this journey. The video showed her teaching about sentences with her past kindergartners. Small world....that's exactly what we are learning about now! Students found similarities and differences and then we practiced our gestures!

4. WBT Gestures!
After we reviewed our writing gestures and watched other students using gestures we decided to practice. As an added challenge I gave the presenters the tasks of calling the attention of the class as well as leading them in their example. These are only a few of the amazing examples we had today! Notice they are not only presenting, but also leading their class (who are all mirroring them) and using gestures! Proud teacher moment right here! *insert teary eyes and goofy smile*

They amaze me every day. Here's hoping you are having an amazing week too! 

Let the Challenge Begin!

As summer camp continues I find myself with tons of extra time. My afternoon grad class has finished leaving my afternoons completely open. If you are like me, unstructured time is both a gift and a curse. There are tons of things I could be doing......

Getting in some shopping!

Working out (this is clearly an old picture)

Napping (I've enjoyed this since birth)

Checking out new sites!

Instead I find myself sitting and watching tv. With amazing shows like Game of Thrones to catch up on and applications such as DVR and Netflix I can quickly see my summer could fly by as I waste my time. Soooooo with that being said this is me kicking my own butt into gear. I have joined the TPT Sellers challenge. For the next four weeks I will be tackling a different challenge. I am hoping this will spark some new ideas, get me to complete my long list of projects I have put off creating and doing as well as grab some more followers. Here are my beginning stats:

Here's hoping those numbers move by the end of this challenge. Big thanks to Third in Hollywood for the challenge. So sit back and watch me work or join in the challenge yourself.

Here's to a FANTABULOUS next four weeks, lots of school projects, and if I'm really good a little extra

Winter Break = A Break, Right?

IT'S WINTER BREAK!

Can you tell I'm a little excited? Winter Break is all about resting, family, Netflix and naps! Teachers aren't the only ones who crave the break. My kiddos were super antsy before we let out and I am sure that this break did most of them some good. I know it's done loads for my sanity, which benefits us all doesn't it?

If you are a teacher you've probably heard this before, "Why do you need so many breaks? You have so much time off!" You also realize the huge misconception here. There is no real time off. There are constantly things to get ready, new ideas to try, and changes to make. Be honest, we're all addicted to Pinterest and teacher blogs, right?  Also, I don't know about your school district but ours requires that we put in a full day's work during the break. Of course, I could put in a whole week and still have more that could be done. Today I decided to start chipping away at those 8 hours.....Let's just say I didn't get very far.

As I sat at my desk I started making a to-do list. Looking around my classroom the list continued to grow. From changing the calendar to switching the seats, my work is definitely piling up. Now did I tackle that list? Did I chop it in half? Did I cross even one thing off? No! I packed up my bag and brought some work home. This is my break and if I have to work, why not do as much as I can from my couch.....while watching Netflix :)

So here I sit.....on my couch....watching movies......with a couch full of work. I know I have to go back and tackle my list. It'll be there tomorrow. I'll be there too :)

Here's to sweats, Netflix, and squeezing every last minute of relaxation out of this break!

P.S.

Teachers: What does your Break to-do list include?

Parents: What do you enjoy most about breaks?