Memories and Words of Advice to Start the Year

You guessed it, the 2016-2017 school year has officially started. As I looked forward to welcoming a new batch of first graders I also scanned the hallways for those familiar faces from last year. I couldn't wait to hear about their summer adventures and their hopes for the upcoming year. As I met my new little kiddos I remembered all of the fond memories and advice last year's group left for this year's group. Enjoy the awesomeness that was my last group.

Here's to another great year!

Tackling my Super Improver Wall

Hey there! Let me tell you, I have been a busy bee today. Not only did I get to the park for a little while but I've managed to do breakfast and lunch (my busy friends know how hard it can be to fit multiple meals into a day), laundry and a TpT item! I am so proud of myself today for tackling my Super Improver Wall cards.

So what is a Super Improver Wall (SIW) anways??? Good question! It's a bulletin display of different levels and comes from the great minds behind Whole Brain Teaching (WBT). Students move up the levels as they show improvement on their goals. This isn't a reward system but more like a gaming system. Think about it...When you play a video game you don't get a reward when you beat a level, you simply get to go up to the next level. This works the same way with one catch. There is a photo opporotunity at levels 5 and 6. (I got this idea from the wonderful Mrs. Shipley) Student's goals are academic and behaviorally based. So in order to move up through the levels they must be showing improvement behaviorally and academically! Some people choose to give their levels different names like "Learner, Rockstar, Genius" etc. I chose to stick with simple levels.

 I also made some student cards to go along with it. Students will use these cards as they move through the levels. I plan to print them off in the color of the level they are on. Then as students show progress on their goals they'll get to cross off one of the 10 owls at the bottom of the cards.

Once all 10 owls are crossed off they get to take that card home and will move to the next level. Those that reach level 10 get a slightly fancier card that will be printed in color!

I am super excited to jump into Whole Brain Teaching. If you are as excited as I am and would like to grab these owl themed resources click on the picture below to head to my TpT store and grab them up! The level cards and student cards are both editable! Just make sure you've downloaded the mentioned KG font (Which you can do for free!)

Happy shopping and enjoy your Thursday evening ya'll!

Summer Update - Fun trips, fun gadgets, and a FUN new app!

Where has the summer gone? We are nearing the end of July and it seems like it was just yesterday we were beginning summer and I was getting ready for Summer Camp. As you can see from my lack of blogging I've been a busy bee working on other items. So here's a quick update with all of the FUNderful (See what I did there? fun + wonderful) points of my summer thus far.

1. FUN TRIPS
While I haven't really gotten a chance to travel this summer I was able to get back home for a little bubble fun this weekend. I met up with a best friend and we rocked the Bubble Run at the KC speedway! I've done Color Runs, an Electric Run, and now a Bubble Run and this was definitely a run(walk) we'll be doing again!

I have also just scheduled a visit to Salt Lake City, UT for their ComiCon!!! Chris Evans is going to be there and I will be getting up close and personal :)

2. FUN GADGETS
If you are like me you are constantly on your phone. From school email, personal email, Facebook, Instagram, games, pictures, Periscope (read below), music and more, my poor phone was struggling to keep up. Getting tired of the constant reminder I was almost out of storage.....I slumped into Verizon and skipped out with a new phone, Vivofit, and a tablet. Let's say Verizon won me over with a package I couldn't pass up. So while I am rocking away on my new phone (with a beautiful new case) my kids can use my new tablet for AR tests, rewards, and photography for the blog!

      

3. FUN APP!
Here is my favorite part of this summer. I took the leap and got on the Periscope app after seeing all my fellow teachers post about it on Instagram after the TpT Vegas event. Well let me tell you "I. AM. HOOKED!" This app lets you connect with others, watch live streaming videos from them or post your own, and comment to interact. So far I've followed and connected with a ton of different teachers in different grades across the country. I've posted a few short scopes (videos) but I have watched at least 10x that many scopes. I've gotten ideas for WBT teaching which inspired a book purchase as well as ideas for center management. I can't wait to see what new things I learn through the use of this app!

 

 

Center management tips from Elementary Shenanigans

Great tips from Angie @ Lucky Little Learners

Here's to my FUNtastic summer. I hope that you are enjoying yours as well. Don't forget to hope on to Periscope and give me a follow. I promise to follow back!

TpT Sellers Challenge - Dare to Dream

This week we were all tasked to dream. Doesn't that sound so simple? Dream...... It's harder than you think. Often times our minds are so consumed with what needs to get done and what we haven't done yet that we don't actually take the time (or get the chance) to just dream. Now, I'm not talking about those dreams that come when you close your eyes and drift off to sleep. I've got plenty of those creative dreams. (movies, houses that turn into whales, helping ghosts escape....I could chat you up for days) I'm talking about those dreams for the future that you haven't told many, if any, others. Those dreams that you may be afraid to fully admit. Those dreams that you might not have even let yourself have. That was our challenge. So after some thoughtful reflection I came up with these 6.

teacher resources: I would love to be able to create meaningful activities that will benefit not just my kids but the kids in other teachers classrooms as well. Over the years I have gotten so many great ideas and resources from other teachers. I want to be able to give back and help other teachers as they have helped me.

#EdTech: I like to say that I am some what tech savvy but when it really comes down to it I am not truly using our schools tech to the best of my abilities. I want to push myself to truly go beyond tech as a center or as a some-time tool. I want my kids to be pushing their limits. I want the question in my class to be "What can't I do with technology?"

National Board: I am currently going through the process for National Board Certification. I have only done two components so far and already this process has helped me to reflect on my teaching. I truly want to have this certification, keep this certification, and help other teachers on their journey through this process.

SpEd: I started my journey to get my masters in SpEd last spring. Originally I wanted it for the information and for the bump on the pay scale. As I've gotten into more of the classes I've started opening myself to the possibility of leaving my "regular" classroom and heading to something a little more "special".

home owner: Rent. Rent. Rent. That's all I've done. All of the walls are the same rental property white which in fact is not white but an eggshell cream. I dream of the day when I have a place to truly call mine.

happy: Last, but certainly not least, I want to be happy. Don't we all? No worries about work or administration. No added stress besides our normal  issues. I want to be happy with what I'm doing, where I'm at, and who I am.

I challenge you to Dare to Dream. What are your dreams? While you're pondering, head on over to a couple other blogs and catch their dreams as well!

Dare to Dream --- Grab the image and fill out your own!

Fairwell to the Uppers

This week I said fairwell to teaching our upper grades in the mornings. It's only been two days but I already miss seeing them tackle through their challenging projects. It definitely took many of them by surprise. Nevertheless they continued to work together and with the help of the wonderful Miss Katlen and Mrs. Ortiz they were able to finish their engineering projects. Below you will find their masterpieces.

Tomorrow they move on to new science experiments. While I've still got work to do with the camp I have now turned my "teaching brain" over to preparing for the up coming school year. If I can pull off even a fourth of my current list I know my kids and I will have a blast. 

Until next time, here's to field trips, lists, and pool-time fun!

Bananas, Vacations, and More!

My how the summer is flying by! While I had planned on posting once a week that just didn't seem to happen. We started some new projects.. I had a vacation thrown in there and with getting everything ready for a week-long absence I completely overlooked updating you all with our wonderful pieces of work.

Two weeks ago my kiddos took on the tower challenge. They were tasked with building a tower that was at least 1 meter tall and could hold some weight. They were judged in three different categories: height (10 points possible), appearance (5 points possible), and weight (10 points possible). The students soon realized that the challenge was being able to fulfill those requirements when only given 30 straws, 50 paperclips, and masking tape. Students had three periods to work on it. Monday was used as a planning/building day. Judging took place the last ten minutes of the day on Friday. We had a little difficulty judging the weight but thanks to the brilliant minds of the students we came up with two different options. They could have a ziploc bag hung or a paper clip box sat on their structure. We then added pennies in groups of 5 until the structure could no longer handle it. After everything was said, done, and assigned point values the winners were selected and posted!

The Tower Challenge Winners!

Last week I went on a glorious vacation! It was a week worth of relaxing, beach time, puzzles, driving, sight seeing, and great company! There is no place like Cape Hatteras and I can't wait to go back.

Fresh crabs!

Photo Op with my mama!

While I was away enjoying all the beauty that Hatteras could offer, my kids were at school powering through another science experiment. Previously, they tried to both speed up and slow down the ripening/rotting processes of bananas. This time around there were just observing the rotting process brought on by the addition of yeast. They got to see how the bananas changed and even witness some chemical changes as the bananas produced gas in their bags.

I am now back from vacation and ready for my last week here. I'll be sad to be away from my kids in the mornings but they are getting a healthy dose of change and another great teacher. (Lucky them!) For this last week we are focusing on engineering. Groups have been switched around a little. They were then tasked with creating a K'Nex creature. Within their group they split the responsibliites. Architects are the only members allowed to look at the plans/instructions. It is their job to then go back to their groups and give the builders directions. Builders are the only members allowed to actually touch the materials. It has been an eye opening experience and today is only the first day. Students learned how important it is to give good directions and how criticcal it is to be able to follow these directions.

Day 1 Progress

Day 1 Progress

I am positive they will learn how to better work with each other. I am also positive they will finish these creatures.....eventually.  :)

Here's to a 4-day camp week filled with building, talking, listening, and working together!