OMG! Science Kits Are So Much Fun

Just broke out a new science kit...Force and Motion.  It was amazing.  The best part is we completed a week long unit with all projects and only one worksheet, the assessment.  It included activities for literacy, math, art, science, and social studies connections.  We completed an activity across almost every content area.  We also made a class book (and you know how I love those!!).  Here is a picture of one of our marble runs that we did as we discussed push, pull, friction, gravity, and acceleration.

 Students learned vocabulary, we did classroom experiments with ramps marbles and cars, then they created their own marble run using various materials available.  It was amazing watching them make turns, bumps, and tunnels for the marbles.  They also had to decide how much of an incline their ramp needed to be to keep the marble on the track.  Very proud of them!!

Update on New Year's Goals:

• Increase sight word recognition--improving...I made sight word Bingo cards specific to each child; leveled so they can move up when mastered
• Increase fluency--still working on this, too early to tell
• Increase number sense--we have worked super hard this week...been using centers to count objects to 10, add single digit numbers to 10 with manipulatives, and focusing on reading number 11-30
• Increase FUN--Absolutely!!!

Remember my book that I am reading to keep focused on why I do what I do (and how to do it)?  Still referencing Todd Whitaker's What Great Teachers Do Differently.  

1. Why Look Great?
2. It's People, Not Programs
3. The Power of Expectations
4. Prevention Versus Revenge
5. High Expectations--for Whom?
6. Who Is the Variable?
7. Ten Days out of Ten
8. The Teacher Is the Filter
9. Don't Need to Repair--Always Do Repair
10. Ability to Ignore
11. Random or Plandom?
12. Base Every Decision of the Best People
13. In Every Situation, Ask Who Is Most Comfortable and Who Is Least Comfortable
14. What About Those Darn Standardized Tests?
15. Make It Cool to Care
16. Clarifying Your Core

Looking at Chapter 2--we are constantly getting new programs, discarding old ones, etc, etc, etc.  How come great teachers have success with whatever program they are teaching and ineffective teachers struggle with whatever program they are teaching?  According to the book it's because its about the people not the programs.  Great teachers find success in whatever classroom they teach in, whatever students are on their roster, and with whatever resources they have.  Another key phrase in the chapter is:  It's not what you do, it's how you do it.  Classroom management and relationships are very important.  Praise and rewards work well, but it's how appropriately and effectively you do it.  

Just food for thought!!  Loving my job this week!!

 

New Year--New Goals

New Year's Resolutions...Do you have them?  At home or at school or both?  I think about having them at home, even pinned a few ideas on Pinterest.  But how many people really keep their goals until December 31?  I would bet the average person loses sight of their goals by March 1st.  At school, however, I always have goals.  The only difference is they usually run from August 1st through July 1st.  I get one month to readjust for the new year.  HAHAHA!!

Here's my goals for home this year...and how am I going to do it.

• Increase savings.  My plan--52 Week Savings Plan
• Increase healthy eating habits.  My plan--Healthy Snacks and portion control.
• Increase exercise.  My plan--Workout Plan

My goals for the rest of the school year:

• Increase sight word recognition
• Increase fluency
• Increase number sense
• Increase FUN

Wondering how I am going to do that?  Me too!!  Really, I have a plan.  First I had to revisit some of my readings, such as Todd Whitaker's What Great Teachers Do Differently.  If you have never read this book, the chapter headings say enough.

1. Why Look Great?
2. It's People, Not Programs
3. The Power of Expectations
4. Prevention Versus Revenge
5. High Expectations--for Whom?
6. Who Is the Variable?
7. Ten Days out of Ten
8. The Teacher Is the Filter
9. Don't Need to Repair--Always Do Repair
10. Ability to Ignore
11. Random or Plandom?
12. Base Every Decision of the Best People
13. In Every Situation, Ask Who Is Most Comfortable and Who Is Lease Comfortable
14. What About Those Darn Standardized Tests?
15. Make It Cool to Care
16. Clarifying Your Core

Chapters 2-15 are the 14 Things That Matter Most.  The one I am focusing on the most right now is Chapter 14.  Standardized tests are important, but most important is teaching missing skills.  I am focusing on the real issue of student learning.  I have changed my schedule and created centers and groups.   My focus is literacy.  Starting with sight words and fluency through small group direct instruction, listening centers, and guided sight words centers.  I will keep you posted on how that turns out!  I am giving it 3 solid weeks and reevaluating my plan.  The second chapter I am revisiting is chapter 12.  With all of the changes in our building, it is a great reminder to make decision based on great teaching!!

Just a little reminder of how important planning and thinking is every day, even during breaks.  Yes, relaxation is good, but I relax better when I have everything planned!  Happy New Year!

1st Quarter Blues

Is it true?  It can't be?  1st quarter already nearing the end????  It seems like you spend so much of first quarter setting the path for the rest of the year...and you should too, BUT then it comes time for the first quarter grade reports and I am wondering how I am going to fill them in.  Grade cards have changed so much this year.  I feel like I will be winging it this time around.  Never mind that I feel like I am not ready to grade on much of my units, especially in Social Studies.  Writing and reading are so much easier to grade.  I spend most of my time on this and work samples are readily available.  Oh well, gotta do what I gotta do.

Now on to better thoughts!  I just went to a CPI conference on Enhancing Verbal Skills.  It was fantastic!  I learned so much and validated even more of what I know.  It's almost frightening how much power just our verbal skills have when dealing with students.  We have the power to de-escalate or escalate any given situation at any time.  It is going to be exciting sharing this new information with staff.  I just can't wait.  Some of my favorite phrases I heard this week were:

Be quick to listen and slow to speak when intervening in a crisis.
You think you know what I said.  But what you don't know is, what I said is not what I meant.
Crisis reveals character...ours!


Just some food for thought!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

The first weeks of school are always so busy.  Meetings, planning, meet the teacher night, curriculum night, professional development...the list goes on and on.  To top it off, I am out in the back this weekend.  Last training must of did me under.  Bummer.  So much to do today and so little done.  Guess it will have to wait.

So the best part of school so far--Daily 5 and departmentalizing our classes.  I absolutely love being able to focus on Reading, Writing, and Social Studies this year K-5.  I began using Daily 5 and love it! The kids seem to enjoy the opportunity to choose their own learning for that day.  Here are some links to my favorite resources:
        Daily 5 Rubric
        Daily 5 Posters--I use western theme but they have a huge selection of free themes available.
        Favorite back to school bulletin board.
        Pen Pals with my Joplin friends.
       
Hopefully I can get back to blogging every Sunday starting next weekend.  Have a super fun week, I know we will :)

Looking Good, Feeling Great!

The start of the year is always so exciting.  The transformation from blah to spectacular is amazing.  New carpet has been a blessing to help decrease sound.  Students are loving the new schedule of rotating teachers for specific subjects.  I am loving teaching reading, writing, and social studies only.  I enjoyed math and science, but it is sooooo nice being able to focus on fewer subjects and digging deeper in those areas.  I don't feel nearly as stretched.

For some reason I am unable to add photos of the before and after transformation, but trust me...quite a difference.

Best Pinterest idea I have used so far this year...new student packets.  I prepared two of them, just didn't expect to have to use them the second week of school.  Normally students aren't placed in a district program so soon, but we have had some transfers from other districts.  Glad I was prepared. Thanks for the idea!!

This year, I am looking forward to starting Pen Pals with some friends from Joplin.  I hope the kids enjoy this as much as I am going to.  I will keep you posted on how this goes.

Today's TPT find was daily behavior sheets hourly and by subject.   We have made some significant changes in our elementary classrooms this year.  I am hoping these help those teachers with our most needy kiddos.  They are completely editable and best of all...FREE!

Hope you all have a fantastic year.  So far it is starting of great for us :)

Back to School---Finally!

So every year I read a little from Harry Wong's The First Days of School.  When I read fictional books I always start at the last two pages and then back to the beginning.  Weird, right?  When I read informational texts I always start at the contents and beginning of the book.  I guess that's why I have never made it to the last chapter of this book.  This year I just happened to open it to page 290.  It classifies teachers into three categories...protective people, maintenance people, and enhancement people.  Long definition short:

       1.  Protective people:  form groups (that they deny) and sit in the back of    meetings complaining.
       2.  Maintenance people:  form cliques (that they do no recognize) and always seek sympathy for just making it through the day.
       3.  Enhancement people:  form groups (that they acknowledge and usually give a name to, support group, etc) who contribute to the quality of their own life and organization.

How fitting is this for the start of our new school year with all of the changes???  After reading this I am so glad to be able to say the I am an enhancement person...always trying to learn new things and make changes for the betterment of student success.

I hope if you have this book, you take it out and see how you are going to impact your school this year.  80% will be protective and maintenance while only 20% of staff will be enhancement.

Getting excited...only a few more days until back to school!

Don't get me wrong...I have really enjoyed my break.  BUT I am also very excited to get back to school.  Way too expensive to be off having this much fun!
                    Summer Bucket List:
                    Vacation with hubby--Lake Michigan, Chicago, and Red Bud
                    Branson with Emili--lots of shopping and of course, Dixie Stampede
                    Evening out on the pontoon at Blue Springs Lake
                    Pool party at a dear friends with lots of other friends
                    Cookout with awesome co-workers
                    Sleeping in...believe it or not!
                    Collaborating with my best friend
                    Collaborating with my teaching partner
                    Painting my daughter's room (finally!!)

Mardel's shopping was a blast with all my teacher friends.  For the first time ever I spent less than everyone else.  Whoo-hoo :)  Got a few wanted (not needed) items for my room.  It was nice just browsing and looking for wants instead of needs.

Got my Back to School Ideas board on Pinterest.  75 new ideas to incorporate for the new year.  I am really excited about focusing on reading, writing, and social studies.  Also excited for our Data Teams next year.  I see the opportunity for so much growth this coming year.  Lots of change, but change is good :)