My Teaching Spirit

How to Eat Fried Worms Literature Circle Packet

2011-11-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

How To Eat Fried Worms

By Thomas Rockwell

I just uploaded a new Reading Response / Literature Circle Packet onto TPT and TB stores. This is a 27 page packet that helps to supplement your How To Eat Fried Worms novel study.

Check it out:

Teacher's Notebook

TeachersPayTeachers

First two readers to leave a comment receive a free copy of this packet! Be sure to leave your email address so I know where to send it!

Enjoy!

Literary Device and Figurative Language Posters Revised

2011-10-09T06:05:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

After several requests for added terms, I have revised and updated my Literary Devices Posters! These posters now contain...

1. Alliteration
2. Simile
3. Metaphor
4. Onomatopoeia
5. Hyperbole
6. Personification
7. Synonym
8. Antonym
9. Homophone
10. Idiom

Let me know if there is anything else I can create or add to these posters!

Enjoy!

Literary Devices PDF

Mystery Genre Vocabulary Posters

2011-09-27T06:10:00.000-07:00

Mystery Genre Vocabulary Posters

I made these posters to go along with our study of the mystery genre and thought I would share them! They cover the vocabulary that students would possibly come across when

reading something from the mystery genre.

Mystery Genre Vocabulary Posters

Enjoy!

A Crafty Bookmark Idea...

2011-07-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

I found this while surfing the web this morning. How cute are these bookmarks? They seem simple enough to make... jumbo paper clips and ribbon. These would make good back to school gifts or holiday gifts for the kids.

Here is the link to the original blog article that I found these from:

Paperclip Bookmarks

Remember to vote for Guided-Math on the Really Good Blog Contest (under the specialty category... here)! You can vote once a day!

Happy 4th of July and Happy Crafting!

Giveaway at Guided-Math

2011-07-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

My Guided-Math blog has reached 200 followers!! In order to celebrate, I am hosting a giveaway. Head on over there to enter in a math game giveaway!

See you there!

Writing and Technology - Little Bird Tales

2011-06-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

My friend just sent me the link to this website and I knew immediately I had to share!

The name of the website is called, Little Bird Tales. The website allows your students to illustrate and narrate their story online. You can either upload pictures the student has drawn or they can use their online paint program. Students add the text to the pages and then record page by page them reading the story.

The website has a short video on the main page that gives you a great overview of how to use the website. Check it out!

This is a great way to share published pieces with parents and can serve as a digital writing portfolio of sorts. Parents can also use this at home to help support their child's writing.

I am definitely doing to plan on integrating this into my writing next year!

Edu Glogster

2011-06-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

This past school year I happened to stumble upon this website. Glogster

After browsing the website and playing around with it, I couldn't wait to introduce it to my third and fourth graders. That week I showed them how to login and create their own Online Multimedia Posters.

Teachers can sign up for their own free account. Under your account, you can create a separate login for each of your students. Each student gets their own username and password.

With a short demo, students grasped how to use the website pretty quickly. Before I knew it they were creating glogs like crazy. They even logged on at home to create some of their own fun Glogs. At first my goal was for them to create fun ones so they can get used to the features and learn how to add things. Once they had it down, they I was able to assign them specific projects to create. As teacher you have access to view all your students glogs and leave messages for them.

The possibilities are endless of what students can create. They can add videos, sound, animation and text to their poster. Students can use it to create a poster on any topic you are studying, or if your students are anything like mine, they will want to create endless posters on the topic of Justin Bieber.

When you go to the website, make sure to sign up under the edu.glogster. It is the educational platform for Glogster. http://edu.glogster.com

Here is an example of one that is showcased on their website, done by a student.

Enjoy!

One of those moments...

2011-05-31T14:55:00.000-07:00

I had one of those almost crying moments today.

I was giving a goldfish snack to my two lowest students today, both who I love dearly. They are my third graders, both of whom were basically non-readers, level A, at the beginning of the school year. I now have them reading a level G, which is a huge gain considering they both are LD. I took a moment and stopped pouring the goldfish to let them know how proud of them I was.

I said, "Do you know how proud I am of you this school year? I am so proud of all the work you have done and how much you have learned this year."

*Almost cue tears. I had to stop myself and just smile at them because my heart was about to burst with a shower of tears.

The one looks at me and says, "Can you write to let my mom know this?"

I said, "Of course, I would be very happy to."

Good news is that I am looping with my third graders next year as I do another 3/4 split. So I will have the honor of having these two again next year. :)

Mother Eagle Webcam

2011-03-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

I am sending along this link today of a live webcam featuring a mother eagle sitting on her nest. I showed this to my class today. They all were glued to the screen and squealed in delight as the mother got up to reposition her eggs and settle back down again. The male eagle will come in to sit on the nest to give the mother a rest from time to time. The eggs are scheduled to hatch in April. I am sure we will be checking in on her quite frequently.

Enjoy!

Click for Eagle Webcam

http://biggeekdad.com/2011/03/decorah-eagles-webcam/

Guided Math- A New Blog

2011-03-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

I have decided to move over my Guided Math content to its own blog. This way I can easily dedicate more space towards sharing in a nice easy to read format.

See you there!

http://guided-math.blogspot.com/

"You and your shiny red apples!"

2011-03-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

After three days of state testing, this video gave me a much needed laugh... Enjoy!

"You and your shiny red apples!"

Literary Device - Figurative Language Posters

2011-02-20T08:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Weekend Everyone! It is pouring rain here, which is melting that two feet of snow we got a couple weeks ago. Can you say, "Bye Bye Snow"!

Ok, so I admit, I started a facebook page. Not to strut my stuff but as a way to get the word out of things I want to share with everyone. Think of it as a better way to be connected.

My Teaching Spirit Facebook

Today I am asking you to "like" my facebook page. In return you can follow the link to download a set of 7 Literary Device Posters. The posters cover, onomatopoeia, metaphor, simile, hyperbole, alliteration, and personification. Here is an example of some of the posters that I have created. I hope you enjoy and can use them!

You can find the download of the posters here...

Literary Device / Figurative Language Posters

Books for Boys (or Girls) Who Love Diary of a Wimpy Kid

2011-02-06T14:50:00.000-08:00

I don't think it is safe to say that The Diary of Wimpy Kid is starting to phase out. With every new edition comes the sweep of "Wimpy" hysteria. I have kids who only want to check out the Diary books at the library, despite them always being on hold.

I am a firm believer in letting kids reading books that they love. If I had a lengthy novel put in front of me, as an adult, would that turn me onto reading more? NOPE! Let's face it, I like to read magazines and the occasional chic lit. Why would a kid be any different?

I had a parent that was concerned about her son's lack of reading enjoyment. However, this kid loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid, he eat, slept and breathed it (almost :) I told the mother that we are going to let him run with it for as long as he wants and then we will do the bait and switch, get him hooked on other series.

The idea is that the kid is reading, it may be the same series and characters, but the key is that this kid is reading, gaining fluency, sight word recognition. So we went forth and did just what my plan called for. I slowly introduced "other" books, sometimes with a little eyebrow raised, lip curled, not sure if I want to read this type of look. I started with graphic novels because they are similar to the Diary series, pictures followed by a narrative. Less intimidating. We are now half way through the school year and well, I now have this kid hooked on "other" books. I just gave him one book after another with the main theme of chocolate, Chocolate Fever, The Chocolate Touch and Robert and the Chocolate Worms. He read every one, in a matter of a couple days, loving each one. I hope to continue to foster this new found love for "other" books. I know he will always love and cherish his Diary of a Wimpy Kid but now I know he has started his love for reading.

I am attaching my list of books that boys or girls, who love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Enjoy!

Reading Logs for You...

2011-02-03T06:06:00.000-08:00

I have a set of four weekly reading logs that are free to download on TeachersPayTeachers. Check them out...

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Weekly-Reading-Log-for-Students-Variety-of-4

Also be sure to check out the Thursday Roundup at the TPT Blog. They highlight a number of TPT sellers!

http://tchr2tchr.blogspot.com/

You Are Just Like My Mother...

2011-02-03T06:03:00.000-08:00

The other day I was telling one of my girls not to give away her orange to someone else. I said that she should save it for snack and that it was good for her, gives you nutrients. Here is the little under the breath rant that followed.

"You sound just like my mother. I leave the house to get away from her and then I come here and it's like seeing her all over again!"

Turn Over Ten- Guided Math Card Game

2011-01-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

This is the first card game I teach my students at the beginning of the school year, before we begin and practice our guided math card station. Year after year, this has been a class favorite. On choice day, this is the game 9 times out of 10 they choose to play.

This game is great for primary and even some intermediate. It helps to reinforce sums of 10. This game is similar to memory or match. Students make pairs by adding the two numbers together to get a sum of 10.

Turn Over Ten

Materials: one deck of cards - aces to ten

take out the jack, queen and king

Objective: To make pairs that equal 10

The ace will stand for a zero in this game.

1. Shuffle the cards.

2. Lay out cards, four rows, five in each row, face down.

3. Place the other cards in a draw pile, face down off to the side.

4. Students take turns flipping over two cards. Student can make a match if the two cards make ten when added together.

This one was a 7 and a 3. MATCH!

For example: 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 6 and 4, you get the idea...

5. If a match has been made, the student gets to keep those cards.

6. Replace the cards with the cards from the draw pile.

7. Keep on playing until all matches have been made.

8. The student with the most cards in the end wins.

Here are the printable instructions through Google Docs:

Superman's Glasses...

2011-01-04T17:46:00.000-08:00

One of my dear little boys walks in this morning with Clark Kent like black rimmed glasses. They were huge but remarkably stayed on his face quite well. He has never worn glasses before and well I wasn't quite sure if these were real or not.

I didn't say anything for a good part of the morning, wanted to see what he would do. Well wouldn't you believe it, those little (or shall I say big) glasses turned my little guy into superman! For the first time this whole school year, he took a book out when he first walked in and started reading!!!! What!!!!! Did I need to get my eyes checked, was he really reading?

Later in the morning I casually mentioned his new glasses. "Are they real?" "Yep," he says.

Now curiosity really has me, they can't be real. After lunch, during his math group, I coyly ask him if I can try out his glasses, see how they look on me.

They weren't real, just really fake. I never said anything because if Superman's glasses are going to get him to read AND take notes during math group, he can wear them all he wants.

The best part was one of my girls asking him if his glasses were for looking or seeing.

Keeping the Tooth Fairy in Business...

2010-12-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

My day started with one of my girls showing me her, hanging by the thread, very loose tooth. Of which I immediately shuttered and made a dramatic, "Oh my! That is so gross!" face.

I told her just to take a good hold of it and yank it. Five minutes later she comes to me with it out. She was so proud that she had just lost her tooth. She told me, like every five minutes for two hours. She just couldn't believe it, it just came out. It was quite cute.

In the meanwhile, another little boy shows me his loose tooth. I remark on how it will probably come out soon too. Well, little did I know an hour later, it came out.

In the meanwhile (again), another girl shows me her loose tooth. Literally, five minutes later, guess who has a tooth out!

I then look about the room to see like half the class furiously wiggling their loose teeth. I had to laugh, it was a race to set the all time, teeth loosing record for one class in a day.

I hope the tooth fairy comes and gives them a great surprise tonight. :)

A Mad Scientist...

2010-10-26T16:11:00.000-07:00

"Teacher, aren't scientists and doctors the same thing"

"Well, sometimes they can do the same thing, but they really are two different things."

"Well don't they both help people?"

"Sometimes." I tried to explain what the role of a scientist was and how that there are many different types of scientists.

One boy chimes in, "They blow up houses."

*Insert confused look here and then light bulb going off look as I realized this kid probably has only seen cartoons of scientists, most of whom do blow up their houses. Before long my poor mislead class was shouting out all that they knew about scientists.

"And they had crazy white hair!"

"And moustaches!"

Someday in the future I will have to schedule a talk on what a real scientist does... and looks like. :)

All The Single Ladies...

2010-10-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

I had a group of girls swarmed around my desk as I was checking their papers. One happened to notice that I had a few leftover chocolate kisses in my candy jar from a project we did earlier in the week.

"Ohhh, teacher, you have chocolate on your desk."

"Yes I do but I am not going to eat them."

"Oh yah, teacher is allergic to chocolate"

"And perfume!" Chimed in another.

"Yep, I'm allergic to chocolate and perfume."

"Don't forget apples!" another one shouts.

"Yes apples too. and grass, and tree, and pollen and ragweed and dogs and cat and more."

"What GRASS?!? How can you be allergic to grass?!? You like live on grass."

This is the point where one of my smart little darlings says to me, "Oh you probably have your husband mow the lawn while you stay inside then."

"She isn't married, remember. Right teacher? You aren't married?"

"Yes, thanks for reminding me."

"Yah, she is a single lady. She is single and parties!"

HA, yes the life of a single teacher, party party party. More like cuddle in bed, catch up on your DVRd shows and order out party party! :)

DonorsChoose... Beyond Generous....

2010-10-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

This week I got a DonorsChoose project funded. After finding out my funding I wrote a short, sincere note to the donors. Here is the letter I got back from the donor...

Ms. M, You are very welcome, and I know all too well being an RN that organization and teaching organizational skills to students produces a foundation for an excellent and successful work habit. I sincerely hope that the money helps you and your students greatly. After reading about your project, it really made me think about how even the smallest of essentials can really make the difference in the day-to-day activities of a classroom. I have the utmost respect for you Ms. M for what you do as a teacher. The responsibilities that are placed on you not only as an educator, but as a role model, a counselor, and a friend to your students, are great and most of the time remain over-looked. The students in your classroom must be very proud of you to know they have a teacher that cares for them so very much. Good luck and KEEP ON TEACHING!

Tattling vs. Getting Out of Trouble...

2010-09-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

We had a counselor from the nearby crisis center come in and talk to each class about bullying last week. It was a really good presentation, letting the kids know when to seek help and how to determine what is bullying.

In the beginning he asked the kids if they knew what a crisis center was. One little girl raises her hand and says, "It's a place where people go to learn their manners." I had to chuckle a bit, even the counselor did. He told her that wasn't all entirely wrong.

One part of his presentation covers the difference between tattling to get someone in trouble and tattling to get someone out of trouble. So yesterday I had my little miss come up to me to say something about her math group, I usually can tell in the first two words if this is for sure tattling. So I stopped her and asked if she was going to tattle. She says, "No! It's just that they made a mess and then so in so said this and then they didn't clean it up." There was more to that story... Still tattling, I stop her again and question her.

Little Miss comes back at me, "But I am telling you to get them OUT of trouble."

I had to chuckle and shake my head. I sent her on her way. Heck, she actually listened and remembered what the counselor had said, I couldn't argue with that right there and then.

Note to self- next lesson on tattling must include examples of what it means to get someone out of trouble and to get someone in trouble.

In Rememberance...

2010-09-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I learned that a second grader at my school last year passed away from a long battle of brain cancer. He was diagnosed before he even started kindergarten and it eventually spread. Last year was a very hard, painful year for him. He fought hard and if there is anything that gives me comfort now, it is that he is no longer in pain and can run free.
I just wanted to take a moment and remember him and give out my thoughts to his family, his teachers and all his friends. He will be missed.

My Fashion Consultants...

2010-09-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

"Oh teacher, you brushed your hair today." said my little one as I walked around the classroom this morning.

Excuse me? Now if this isn't quite the backhanded comment. I tried to proceed lightly but became really curious as to what she thought my hair looked like every other day.

"What? Why? You think I never brush my hair? What does my hair normally look like?"

Luckily someone shouted out the fact that I used a straight iron on it, making it really straight. I have naturally curly hair, which I regularly do straighten but not flat iron. This past week I have been leaving it curly, so the look of absolute straight hair must of thrown her through a loop.

Then I wore my colorful Puma shoes today. See the post... Cool Kicks to see my colorful sneakers. Literally right in the middle of the lesson my dear student comes up and stands in front of me and announces she likes my shoes. Thanks I appreciate it, can you please go back and sit down now, please? :)

My Little United Nations...

2010-09-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

One aspect I love about my class this year is that it is majorly diverse in different cultures. Here is a rundown as to what backgrounds I have this year:

African American
Filipino
Indian
Russian
Polish
Mexican
Italian
Korean
Australian
Chinese

When I chose my new blog template, little did I know that my class this year would resemble the kids at the top of my blog page!

The Rules of Fighting...

2010-09-14T17:11:00.000-07:00

"Teacher?"

"Yes?"

"Do you fight?"

"Umm... no I never fight. You really shouldn't fight ever. Is that why your eye is hurting you. Did you get into a fight, did they get you in the eye?" As she was complaining about her eye hurting a few minutes earlier.

"No! I always win!" she says with a shake of her head and hips.

"What?!? You fight? Sweetie, it is not good to fight! Why are you fighting?"

"But we have rules, like you can't hit or bite."

Imagine me wide eyed and mouth open!

"Well I hope scratching and pinching is on that list too."

"Teacher. It's just pretend real fighting. But I always win."

Ummm... ok.... I think....

But yet again this is from the same girl who told me an hour later that she is a model and that she is moving and that she had to drag the toilet out of her house because she broke it.

Why is it...

2010-09-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

Why is it the moment you get wind of one of your students having pink eye or lice, your eye begins to feel funny or your head starts to itch?

No more than two seconds after I sent a student to the nurse for having a suspicious looking eye, my eye starts to feel funny.

I know... it's all in my head.

Luckily, the feeling only lasted for like ten minutes. Phew!!!

Let's hope the kid has just an eye that is pink, not pink eye.

It's The Best, It's Really Cool...

2010-09-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

This year marks seven years since I started an end of the day tradition. Each day, right before the end of the day bell rings, when the kids are lined up, I start a chant. I discovered this chant through Dr. Jean and no matter what grade I've taught (1st-4th), every grade level has loved it. This chant is a great way to end the day and lead the kids out. I find that no matter what day we've had, it helps to lift spirits and cleanse the day.

I chant a line and the kids repeat. It goes a little something like this...

Say... We are in Miss ___'s Room!
(we are in Miss ___'s room)
She taught us this little tune!
(she taught us this little tune)
Reading, Writing, Arithmetic!
(reading, writing, arithmetic)
We can do them fantastic!
(we can do them fantastic)
___ ____ is our school!
( ___ ___ is our school)
It's the best, it's really cool!
(it's the best, it's really cool)
We are super, yes we are!
(we are super, yes we are)
Look out world here comes a star!
(look out world here comes a star)

*Last year I started to add this little bit at the end*

Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Moe
(Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Moe)
Come on Kids, Let's Go!!
(come on Miss ___, Let's Go)

and with that my 25 little soldiers march right out the door with smiles on their faces and a chant stuck in their head. :)

The Hardest Transition of All...

2010-09-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

Transition is a word we hear often in the world of education. How we get students from one subject to the next, how we get them to calm down after lunch, getting them back to the lesson after they have discovered that it is raining outside, going from the bathroom to the classroom... and so on and so forth.

What about us teachers? The hardest transition of all is going back to work after two and a half months off. Don't get me wrong here. I am very, very grateful to be in a profession where I can recharge my batteries for an extended amount of time. It seems the older I get the harder that transition gets. Getting up, getting ready, getting to school... just being awake, full of energy and spirit, being on our feet most of the day and don't forget those burning thighs after doing a thousand squats to get down to the student desk level. Here are a few other transition favorites... getting legs and thigh skin accustomed to bumping into the corner of desks and chairs again, can we say, 'Hello bruises!", the noise level, responding to my last name or teacher, and training my bladder to hold it for hours on end.

I realize this transition takes time. I know that in a week or two that I will get back into the swing of things and feel like my "normal" teacher self.

I hope everyone is off to a great start this school year and I hope it continues to be great!

The Kindness of Others...

2010-08-19T16:38:00.000-07:00

My new classroom has tile. This is the first time that I will not have carpet, so off I went to find a large enough area rug/carpet for my meeting area. I went to six different stores to find one that was cheap enough, as I know you can pay an arm and a leg for an area rug. Walmart, 3 different home improvement stores, Costco, and another home store had the pleasure of seeing me. I priced everything out and found one at the home improvement store, the kind on the roll, that they cut to size for you, but didn't get it just yet. On the way home, while thinking about which is the best option, I decide to stop at a local, small business carpet store.
I walk into the store to be quickly greeted, by probably the owner. I explained to him that I needed a remnant, no bigger than like 10 by 8, for my classroom.

"What?!? You have to buy that yourself?"

"Ummm, yes I do."

He leads me to the remnant area and the first one he shows me, I know that it is the perfect one, a plush grey and it is 10 x 8!

"How much is that one?"

He kind of has that pained look in his eye. Now I know how much that one would run at all the other stores, so I was expecting something around $70-$80.

"Well it costs $60."

Then he pauses. More pained looks.

"Ok, if you can pay cash I will give it to you for $40."

What? That big rug for only $40! The small little one I got at Walmart was $15 and an 1/8th of that size!

"Sold!"

Then he fills out the receipt for me and decides that he isn't going to charge me tax!

He stated a couple times how crazy it is we have to buy all these things with our own money. HA, I think I am use to it by now.

For me $40 was a bargain for a big carpet piece. I posted my story on PT and now other teachers are checking out there local carpet stores. One even got hers for free (I am not jealous, still way happy with my carpet). It just goes to show the kindness of others.

Wow, What a Workout...

2010-08-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

I had two cars (well SUV and mini-van) full of boxes I had to bring to my new school today. Now these boxes contained my most precious classroom materials, my classroom library. I think it was something like 30 boxes? They were incredibly heavy!

I loaded them up onto the flatbed, stacked them two boxes high, so 16 boxes each trip. I am one of those who doesn't take several trips to unload the car full of groceries, I grab as many as I can hold and in as few trip as possible. So naturally, loading up boxes on a flatbed isn't going to be all different.

Well now, it doesn't look like it but the sidewalk leading to the front door is on a slight hill. You should have seen me, just to get the cart started I had to lean my whole body into it. It looked like I was doing wind sprints! The hardest hurdle was getting the cart over the doorway bump. Once I did that it was smooth sailing.

So I did three trips of boxes and then had two shelving units. I should mention that I did this almost by myself. Can you say tired right now? I didn't even attempt to unpack those boxes today, just sat at my desk, and worked on unpacking my desk boxes. I'll tackle those tomorrow.

I wonder if I'll feel it in my calves later tonight... maybe I can institute a new after school exercise program for the staff, flatbed wind sprints. Hmmm, on second thought maybe not!

That Time of Year...

2010-08-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yes folks, it is that time of the year. The time where we wake up in the middle of the night in a sweat and hope that what you just dreamed will not come true. It's the annual back to school nightmare.

I had my first one just recently. In my dream I went to go see my new classroom to find out they switched me to 6th grade but no one told me. I was like, umm no, I can't teach 6th, I prepared for 3rd and 4th. On the upside, in my dream they gave me a classroom that was double the size.

Now this was a pretty tame back to school nightmare compared to some in the past.

My favorite was the time I dreamed they put a pre-school classroom right next to mine. All I could hear all day was yelling and screaming (not saying that is what preschool is all about, just a dream). In real life my old room had an empty room next door for six years so I had nothing to worry about right? So, I go to set up my classroom in August only to find out they were going to use the room as a Kindergarten centers room! WHAT! My dream had come true, sort of.

Have you had your back to school nightmare yet?

A Few Random Thoughts...

2010-07-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

* I finished, The Book Whisperer, a full write up is coming soon!

* I secured the domain rights to my new website. I am going to work on it like a mad woman before school starts. I will reveal it shortly!! Too exciting!!!

*Have you seen this one yet? I bought one a year ago and LOVE it!

I don't laminate a lot but my school either always has a broken laminator or we are out of lamination film or someone leaves it on over the weekend and the whole thing melts down (wasn't me). So whenever I need something laminated, I can never do it! There are things that I have to laminate, such as materials that go into my math or Daily 5 stations. This little laminator takes care of those things. I didn't know they existed until PT friends kindly showed me the way.

Also I read about a little tip, if your lamination from your school machine is coming undone, run it through this one, it supposedly will take care of it for and close it right back up. You can also buy laminating pouches at Sam's Club for a pretty good price.

*I went to the teacher store, LakeShore Learning, the other day. I nearly cried in the middle of the store because walking into a teacher store signals the end of summer break. I went because I had a coupon that expired and needed to use it. I then had to remind myself I still have until August 23rd, so not to panic yet. I'll do that next week, when I plan on stepping foot into my new school that I am transferring to, and see how much unpacking and room getting ready that I have to do. *sigh*

A Little Summer Reading...

2010-07-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

The neighbor rang my doorbell today to inform me that a package had been delivered to my front door. One I had been expecting and waiting for... It was my copy of, Donalyn Miller’s book, The Book Whisperer; Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child. I am looking forward to reading this one!

I think the number one concern/question that I get from parents of my boy students is, "My son hates to read. How can I get him interested?"

I think this is a tough one to answer. For some boys it is finding the one thing they are interested in and run with it whether it is fiction or non-fiction. However, this not always does it. As much as I would love to get them interested in reading, I at the same time don't want to frustrate them or turn them off to reading by forcing them to read. It's like making them eat some sort of disgusting vegetable. You know it's good for them but just getting them to do it is a struggle.

And in came Graphic Novels... My boy book savior!

At the beginning of the last school year I had a box delivered to my classroom. I was owed some books from teaching summer school (took two years to get it) but it finally arrived. To my great surprise the box was filled with a variety of graphic novels. Something I really did not have in my library just yet.

My boys ate them up last year! Even my boys who previously showed no interest, started to read.

I had two boys who were sneaking reading during a spelling test. I would look over and there they were quickly putting the book down, as if I didn’t see it. Now these were two boys, who at the beginning of the year, wouldn’t be caught dead reading.

I am hoping this book will further give me some answers on how I can instill the love of reading in every child, not just my reluctant boy readers. I will be sure to give a review when I am finished reading. Don’t worry, it won’t take long.

P.S. I want to thank my PT friends for highly recommending this book. Reading is my next task after making crate seats, plexiglass art, and of course back to school supply shopping. I am not even going to mention VistaPrint.

Guided Math - The First Days

2010-07-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Let me say this first and foremost... The first several weeks are critical in correctly teaching students the procedures and expectations for guided math. Not following through or cutting corners can lead to frustration and guided math failure. As most teachers know the key to a good system is practice, practice, practice. As with your literacy stations-centers; you wouldn't just sent kids to the station and say, "Have fun!" You teach and practice what is expected of them, for weeks.

Typically I introduce guided math the very first day of school. I gather the kids around and say that they are about to experience math different than what they might have in the past. (as I am the only teacher in my school who has done it, have since converted a couple teachers)

I briefly describe what the guided math block of time will look like.
- You will be in math groups. Groups might change over the course of the school year.
- Each math time you will rotate through 4 stations.
-You will spend about 15-20 minutes at each station.
- You have a different task to accomplish at each station. I then explain each one; card station, game station, independent work station, and lesson with me.

At this point I only introduce one station at a time. I usually start with the card station because the games are easy to teach and easy to model correct behaviors. Here is what a typical introduction would look like.

"Students today we are going to learn our very first station! Today we will be practicing the math card station. Remember this is the station where you get to play card games that help you with your math skills. I will tell you what card game to play each day. One day a week I will let you have free choice!"

I label the top of a piece chart paper : MATH CARD STATION

I then make a T chart. Labeling one side, Student and the other side Teacher.

"Boys and girls let's take a look at this chart. I thought we could start by brainstorming some good things that you would expect to see from your classmates when they are at the card station."

Students start the list:
1. Take Turns
2. Play Fairly
3. Clean Up All Materials
4. Put Back All Materials Where They Belong
5. Get Started Right Away
6. Work Quietly
7. Play The WHOLE Time

Notice that I tend to use positive statements, not statements that begin with Don't or Never. These are just a few staple statements that I want to include on my chart. Students can usually think of a couple other important good behaviors.

"Now, these are things that you are doing when you are working. Let's take a look at the other side of the chart. Notice that it says, Teacher. Who can raise their hand and answer this question? Your job is to play cards following all these rules. What do you think is my job while you are doing this?"

Students usually can guess this one right away (ok, depending on the grade level :)

"That's right, I am working with students. So boys and girls, let's put on this side; Working with groups or individual students."

"And guess what? That is what my main job is the whole time. If you keep up your job, then I can do my job." (I sometimes go into the whole interruption speech, what happens to the poor kids I have to stop teaching because I have to go tell you to stop your bad behavior.)

"So now we are going to have three students model what they think working at the card station would look like. "

I give a verbal overview to those three students as to what they are going to do first. Go get the cards, go to the designated card playing area, get started right away, play nicely, clean up and return materials when I say stop.

I then have those students give a short (no more than 2 min) overview of what the whole process looks like. The go and pretend they are at that station. I then call, "Ok, card station is over." (or whatever system you use to indicate it is switch time or the end of math).

The students come back to the group. We look at our chart. I go down the list calling out each behavior. Students give me a thumbs up or thumbs down to show if the group demonstrated that behavior.

Next is the fun part. Choose a few students to show the wrong way. Yes, I do show the wrong way, because every year a student demonstrates something the kids might not recognize as the wrong way. I ask this group to go wild, be noisy, toss the cards, don't get started right away, and don't clean up. The kids have a blast (obviously :) Showing this one. I then again signal for them to come back, and we go over the chart, but this time we all give thumbs down.

Now most importantly, you need to follow up with another group showing the correct way again. "Boys and girls, I need three more volunteers who can show the last group how the real card station should be done. Who thinks they can do it?"

At the end of all this I then introduce their first math card game. Something simple, very easy to play and to teach. I then give students a chance to work with a partner or two and show me how they all can practice the good behaviors on our chart.

This sequence goes on for several days. So the next day, this is what it looks like in short review...

-Gather kids, ask them if they remember what some good things are that we should see when we are at the math card station.
-Review chart and get any that they may have overlooked
-Have group model, good, bad and then good again.
-Show new card game
-Have students practice

Yes, this does take a good chunk of time and will each math time until you are ready to begin stations. I follow this same format when I introduce all four stations. At the end all four stations will have its own chart that can be shown somewhere in the room for student reference.

Now when you are ready go begin introducing the math game station. I usually do a quick review of expected behaviors at the card station and then introduce the game station.

The next day same thing.

A few days in, I will split the time between practicing card and then game. Really you set the time on this one, how long you want them to play and practice the games (10 mins max to begin with I would say, build your time stamina).

I know some of you are thinking where does fitting in the actual math manual lessons work when introducing stations. I teach the lesson first, then do the practice of the stations.

This is just a guideline on how to get it started. A lot of you have your own ways and tips and tricks you have learned throughout the years. Use it! Do what works for you, but remember like I said at the top, guided math will not be successful unless you take the time to teach behavior and model them over and over again.

To see the full series of posts on guided math go here:
http://myteachingspirit.blogspot.com/p/guided-math.html

What I have been up to...

2010-07-04T07:38:00.000-07:00

Well, a little bit of nothing! I know, really nothing. Lazy summer days, some sunshine, some rain, and well training a new puppy. Yep, I got a puppy two weeks ago because who wants to spend their summer vacation training a new puppy? Me!

His name is Jack, here are some stats on him...
-chihuahua mix
-15 weeks old
-came from a rescue organization, so I can officially call him a rescue dog
-loves my dog Coco
-is in the biting, nipping stage right now
-loves to cuddle and loves to seek out trouble
-is 5.2 lbs as of last Wednesday for his rabies shot

Here he is...

He found a leaf and was showing me.

He is long like a dachshund (maybe his other mix side of him?)

Guided Math Games

2010-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Math Games:

I think the key is to have enough games so that the kids do not get bored at this station. It is important to also have a variety of math skills for them to practice. I try to supply games that fit in with our current math topic, although sometimes that is easier said than done.

You can rotate the game each day you have math stations or rotate the game once a week. I personally rotate the game each day. I think it leads to less boredom, which leads to less off task behavior. At the beginning of the math stations I will announce which game is open for that day. Sometimes I may say, "Today you may play any addition/subtraction game or multiplication." I choose a math theme and they can have a choice within that theme. It is a good idea to have a posted list of every game that is available for kids to choose and which math category it goes under. Once a week I have Choice day. During this day students may choose what game they want to play.

Now as most teachers know, you cannot just let the kids start the math game station without setting rules, guidelines and practicing correct station behaviors. You also have to teach the kids how to play the games. I will have a post that highlights how I set this up at the beginning of the year (link to follow).

Starting up a math game station does not mean you have to go out and spent a lot of money on games. In fact there are a lot of math games you can create yourself using simple materials such as dice. Here are some links to some great math dice games. There is enough here to teach quite a few different games. This is something that I would teach at the beginning of the school year. They are quick, simple games to learn and play.

Math Dice Games

Marilyn Burns Math Dice Games

More Dice Games

Here are some links to different math dice you can purchase for relatively low prices through Amazon. Also remember to check Ebay, sometimes you can get great deals there.

MATH DICE

Think Fun Math Dice

CLASSROOM DICE SET

Sequence Dice

Farkle The Classic Dice-Rolling, Risk-Taking Game

Set of 5 Dice - 6 Sided Math Operators - White and Blue

My math game station consists of mainly math board games. Over the last several years I have acquired quite a variety of different board games. I have been very fortunate to receive several grants to purchase math materials through DonorsChoose. I have also used classroom money and dipped into just a little bit into my own pocket to purchase games.

One year, when I did dip into my own pocket, I invested in Frog Math. They have a variety of different levels and one box set comes with numerous math category game cards. Check it out...

Frog Math Game Set

Also LakeShore Learning has a great variety of math games. DonorsChoose uses LakeShore as one of their vendors, so I was able to get my math games through LakeShore.

LakeShore Learning

Of course students have their tried and true favorites...

The Allowance Game: The kids can't get enough of this game!! Every year, it is a hands down class favorite. During choice day, students always choose this one. Of course I have two of these on hand. I was very fortunate to find one at a garage sale on summer! You can also find this for cheaper through LakeShore Learning.

I added this one this school year and it quickly became a favorite. Are you familiar with the original version of Sequence? If so, this is just like the original version, however it has addition and subtraction problems for the kids to solve. They put their chips down on the answer. I would also highly recommend getting the original sequence as a choice for math game station. Remember that math is also under the realm of logic, Sequence is great for building logic skills.

Another game that fits under the logic category. I usually make this one available during free choice day.

Dice games are the easiest math games to set up. Dice games are great because you can teach games that focus on basic fact skills.

Here are several images of other games that I have in my classroom.

Guided Math Game Resource Books

2010-06-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

One of my most frequented posts on my blog is about how I run Guided Math. See original post here...

Guided Math an Introduction

I am quite excited as this means that guided math is catching on or at the least more people want to learn about how to do guided math in their classroom. After several years of perfecting guided math in my classroom, I thought I would share how I set up guided math and some resources that I use to help set up the stations.

I thought I would share with you today some of my favorite resource books that I use for creating math card games and games that help support my guided math stations. Click on any of the books to find out more information about it.

This first book is called, Mega-Fun Card Game Math by Karol Yeatts. It has a variety of different math card games that highlight skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, place value, decimals, geometry and more. The games are easy to teach and the kids enjoy them. This is more suited for the stated grade range 3-5. Typically all you need is a standard deck of cards to play.

This second book is the primary addition of the Mega-Fun Card Game Math by Karol Yeatts. It features more basic card games to help primary students in grades 1-3. Again it features card games that build skills such as place value, addition, subtraction and more.

25 Super Cool Math Board Games has easy to make math board games that are suitable for grades 3-6. These are games you can make and put in your math game station. I would make a few of each type of game. That way you can keep the kids in the math game station in smaller playing groups, like 2 or 3 playing one game.

Math Games to Master Basic Skills is another reproducible math game board book. It has games such as bingo, tic tac toe, go fish, and checkers. Again, make several copies of each game, therefore less students playing on the same game board.

Here is the addition and subtraction version of the book above.

And now the Fraction and Decimal version...

And the time and money addition...

And of course I have to include the ever popular Evan Moor- Take it To Your Seat Math Centers. I have included all different grade levels here. These books are great because you don't have to make copies, just tear out and laminate if need be.

All Done... With a Few Scrapes and Bruises...

2010-06-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

Well, Friday was my last day at what I can now call my old school. The kids last day was Thursday. We had our tearful goodbyes, they hugged me until I couldn't breathe, even a couple of the boys. I promised to come back and visit and that I would never forget them.

Friday was a teacher attendance day. The building is being renovated, so all teachers had to pack up their rooms, which was no easy task. I was done, which led me to this story I am about to tell.

Our school has a courtyard in the middle of our building. It could be a real pretty, serene place, but for years I have said that what it actually needs is a controlled burn. No one takes care of it. There is one beautiful tree, protected from the elements, keeps it leaves the longest during the fall and blooms early. Otherwise it is a jumble of weeks and nasty grass with old wooden tables and benches. About a month ago a mother duck decided to visit our courtyard. I promptly went out there scaring her away, knowing she was scoping out a place to make home for her and her babies. I did this a couple times, it worked, she never returned, or so I thought.

Monday, there she is, first time I had seen her in a month, with 9 baby ducklings! Sneaky bugger! They are all too cute, fluffy, little things with no way out. So we call the local wildlife rescue, who was no help. "Just open the door and lead them through the hallway to outside." Easier said than done.

So come Friday, I am ready, I set forth a plan to get these baby ducks and momma to safety. I recruited others to help.

I am going to spare you all the juicy baby duck saving details, a play by play...

-Momma duck flew into the building after opening the door. She was in the building, baby ducks dispersed throughout the courtyard. Except two that ran into the building, down the hallway into the conference room, I dove to get one.
-Collected all the baby ducks (except one that hid very well outside)
-Led momma through the hallways, as I held onto the box of the chirping babies.
-Momma flies away as she gets outside, she flies overhead watching her babies in the box, in my hands.
-Let the babies go in the field, momma is circling but never comes to get them
-Search for last baby unsuccessful until someone goes and gets one the babies in the field and uses it as a lure for momma and the other duckling... successful.
-So now we have two baby ducks, momma on our school roof, looking down on the courtyard still.
-Send a search and rescue party for the baby ducks in the field
-A fellow teacher has a brilliant plan for he and I to go up onto the roof and show momma duck we have her babies in the box
-So of course I took every opportunity to go up onto the school roof. Here we are, ducklings in the box, wind knocks the box over, babies run towards momma, momma starts running for the edge of the roof, I am screaming, "Oh my god they are going to jump!!" We both take off running towards the edge of the roof, dive in time to save and capture the two ducklings, back in the box they go.
-Second brilliant plan, momma duck is on the ground looking up at the roof, below is a bunch of bushes. Fellow teacher decided lets drop the box off the roof, it will softly land on the bushes, the babies will get out and mom will get them. Well, OK?...
-Here goes the box, gently lands on the bushes (we weren't really that far up, one story), box doesn't tip over but with some effort, the babies get out and run towards momma
-That was until someone from below screams my name, baby ducks halt and hide in a bush

We left it at that, mom hung around the bushes, we figured she knew they were there and then hopefully go back to the field for the rest of her babies.

I walked away with a scraped knee and some bruises from making two dives for a baby duck. All this on my last day at the school I have loved working in for the last six years. It was quite the memory. Now if momma ever comes back next year, don't call me.

Style...

2010-05-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

Mr. Charming was wearing track pants today. I don't know why but he had one leg of the pants tucked into his white tube sock for most of the day.

After deciding I had enough of looking at his pants that way I questioned him on his style.

"Mr. Charming, why is your pant leg tucked into your sock?"

"Ummm, I don't know."

"Maybe you should take it out. Make it look like the other one."

Of which he does, didn't take much to persuade him.

As he was turning around to walk away I tell him, "There now you look all handsome."

He turns around and says, "I always look handsome."

"Ok... Wow... I guess you do."

A Flash of Thoughts...

2010-05-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

You know when they say right before you think your going to die, your life flashes before your eyes? Well, I had one of those experiences today. Ok, not the near death experience, but an instant flash of run away thoughts brought on by pure panic. The whole thing only seriously lasted a couple seconds, but I was amazed as to the amount of thoughts that ran through this brain of mine.

One of my boys was absent today. It is a weekly or bi-weekly occurrence, so nothing new there. At the end of the day, bell rang, kids gone, his mom comes to my room. She does this on occasion, no problem. She had to ask me a question.

Then she turns to me and says, "So where is he"

Now cue, that thought flash...

Thinking...
-Where, what do you mean where
-Joking right
-What he was absent
-Does she realize this
-Oh god he came to school
-He never made it to school
-Crap he is missing
-How am I going to tell her
-Call the cops

I'm surprise at this point she never noticed the panic stricken look spread across my face as I thought all this and more in less than ten seconds.

She then turns to me, "Where does he sit?"

You got to be kidding me, she meant where is his seat! I had a small moment of relief as I realized how crazy my brain just went and that she did realize that he wasn't in school but home sick.

Those crazy brains of ours!

I Appreciate You Because....

2010-05-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

Our PTO handed out Certificate of Appreciation certificates to all the students for teacher appreciation week. Here are some that I got back...

1. You are lots of fun

2. You let us play the Wii System

3. You make me giggle!!

4. You let us do anything we want and also teach cool things and your the most coolest and funniest teacher in the universe.

5. You are always in a good mood.

6. You show us new things everyday that helps us be a good students and you treat us with love and respect.

7. You teach very good! and you are really nice.

8. You are Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9. You are so funny and good for our class.

10. You made 4th grade seem so easy but once in a while a challenge. I liked that a lot!

11. You are really funny and cool. You were the greatest teacher I ever had. I'll miss you.

Funky Hat Day...

2010-05-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

"Teacher why aren't you wearing your funky hat?" one of my little darlings asks me this week (obviously on funky hat day).

"Well, I don't even own a hat. I had nothing to wear today."

Girl -"I can see that you did funky hair day though!"

"What?!?"

For the record my hair wasn't crazy, I had left it as my natural curl that day, which the kids are not used to.

The One With Hooters...

2010-05-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

Little Miss comes in on Monday and says, "Teacher I went to the city for four days."

"Oh wow, how fun, what did you do there for four days?"

"We prayed."

"You prayed for four days?"

"Yep."

"What did you pray about?"

"My grandma and grandpa died."

"Oh no, so sorry, when did they die?"

"A long time ago."

She pauses and thinks.... "Then we went to Hooters!"

Apparently it wasn't praying all weekend.

The One With The Field Trip...

2010-05-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

We went on a field trip this week to see a performance to see Mr. Slim Goodbody, which is about your body and making healthy choices.

At one point volunteers were called up to show how they use their muscles. The catch is that their friends had to volunteer someone, so the class points and shouts for Mr. Thingy to volunteer, of which he then got chosen. As he was going up, I kind of stopped him to ask what he was going to do. I was suspicious, but he ran past my stopping him and ran up stage excited, along with the other ten kids chosen from the audience.

So kids start going, showing flips and bends and what not. I notice Mr. Thingy has gone to the back of the line, then he is hiding behind the kids in line. I'm feeling bad for him because I don't think he knew what he was in for. So all the kids go, it is his turn, he is shaking his head no. The guy says ok what are you doing for us?

Mr. Thingy yells out, "I didn't want to come up here, they made me come up here!"

Oh no. Here is goes. I slightly feel bad for the kid, this is in front of a very large theatre auditorium.

Mr. Goodbody tries to get him to do something. Mr. Thingy refuses and then thankfully walked off stage.

So he comes down to our seats then proceeds to yell (yes yell) at ME! "I told you I didn't want to go up there!"

What?!? I didn't volunteer him at all. In fact I tried to stop him. I know he was probably embarrassed. Now cue the part where all the teachers from other schools turn around and look at me. I just hope they are giving me their sympathy looks and stares.

Needless to say, it was a good, short field trip. The last one of the year, the last one I will ever have to go on with Mr. Thingy (as much as I love him).

A Good Excuse...

2010-04-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

Today was Earth Day.

Today I had a pretty bad, annoying headache in the morning.

Today I had an excuse as to why we were keeping the classroom lights off. We worked by the light of my two japanese lantern lights and sunlight. The overhead lights were killing my eyes.

The kids thought we were keeping lights off in honor of Earth day, which was true, I was planning on doing this, but it just so happened to work out on the day I had a pain in the you know what headache.

It was also a good excuse to play Planet Earth off of UnitedStreaming during the morning.

Luckily, after lunch I turned for the better, just in time for the oh so joyous walk-a-thon. I stayed put and punched cards as the kids walked by (hey I had a total excuse for not walking).

My Shoulders Feel a Bit Lighter...

2010-04-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

A huge, huge weight has been lifted! I can breathe now, the hives are going away, as I have finally accepted an offer at another school! It is done, the decision is final!

Let me do a little review:

1. District in financial turmoil
2. Was displaced from my building (even though I have been teaching for eight years)
3. Waited for the vacancy lists to come out (the vacancies were created by the lay off of 1,000 teachers, years 1-5)
4. Mulled over which schools to interview at
5. Did 7 interviews in less than two weeks
6. Had principals telling me under the table they wanted me (stressed me out to no end)
7. Mulled over which school was the best for me
8. Went back and forth on my decision
9. Decided to stick with my first gut reaction when I finished all the interviews
10. Waited all day for my call from HR to come to say which schools have placed offers
11. And FINALLY.... Got an offer from EVERY single school I interviewed at!

I can only say thank goodness I had sat down before hand to figure out which school I really thought was best for me.

I am now looking forward to my future, as I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I think in the long run this is going to be a good career move for me. So now I can go back to being non-stressed, happy me!

The Moustache Talk....

2010-04-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

Ahh, you have to love Mr. Charming. He was sitting at the classroom computer today, another boy was on the computer next to him. Mr. Charming looks over at him and says, "Hey you're growing a moustache! I have one too!"

I was at my desk for the moment, the computers are right in front of my desk. So I peek over at the two of them having this conversation. I said, "Seriously? A moustache?"

Of which Mr. Charming replies, "Yep, I have one you just can't see it because I'm black." So he has an invisible moustache, that is camouflaged by his skin. I took a closer look, no moustache.

He continues on with this moustache conversation with his friend, insisting he has one.

So later on in the day we were at spring pictures. Mr. Charming was commenting on how he didn't want the picture lady to touch his hair, of which he has a pretty much shaved head, very little short hairs.

So I said to him, "Mr. Charming, you barely have hair on your head, they are not going to touch it. Although, they might want to comb that moustache you are growing there."

The kids in line next to him, all turn around to see his invisible moustache. I had to gently let him down that he really did not have hair, but not to worry because you will soon and when it grows in you will know!

The Stress...

2010-04-10T10:14:00.000-07:00

The last several weeks have been the most stressful, longest weeks of my life. As I have written before, I am being displaced from my building and have to transfer to another school in the district. This means I had to interview at all the schools that I was interested in. In a week and a half time frame I had seven interviews! Six different schools, one school with two rounds of interviews.

I have to say I am actually good at interviewing. I don't really get nervous too much and am able to answer the questions. I always tell my student teachers that while interviewing you need to have personality. If you don't have it, practice, and make it up. Luckily I think I have a natural personality.

So that being said, I now have to decide how I would rank the schools. If I were to get an offer from certain schools, which ones would I choose and why. It has been a very long, hard decision as all schools had something unique, something that made them great, but I have to follow my gut instinct and intuition as to which one is best for me.

Wednesday we find out which schools I get offers from. I then get to choose which school I want. Some under the table whispers have been going on and I already know that I am getting an offer from 4 out of 6 schools, with the possibility of a fifth one. It is flattering to say the least, but incredibly overwhelming. I truly feel bad for the schools that are not going to get me. Now not because they can't have me as a teacher, but that they get their hopes up and then I have to crush them.

So I shall wait another several days and then I think I can breathe!

The Google April Fool...

2010-04-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

Two of my boys were at the computers during their Word Work Daily 5 time today. They happened upon the Google website. Here is the conversation between the two.

"Topeka??"

"Hey, it says Topeka!"

"Where's the Google?"

"What's a Topeka?"

"Teacher, why does it say Topeka?"

Me - "Well, it's supposed to be an April Fools joke from Google."

"I don't get it."

Me -"Topeka is a city in Kansas."

"That's not funny."

"It's just a joke boys."

I wasn't about to go into the whole background of the joke but man did it really stump them. They stared at the Topeka logo for a few minutes trying to figure it out.

Very luckily that was the height of my April Fool's jokes today. I survived another April Fool's!

My Day in Review...

2010-03-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

I have a Mr. Charming.

I have a Mr. Thingy.

Well now I have a new Mr. in town... Mr. Gentleman

Mr. Gentleman held the door for me today. What fourth grade boy does that? Oh wait... it happened at the beginning of the school year when one of the boys in the other fourth grade class wanted to get out of his class and transfer to mine. He thought that if he sucked up to me that his wish would be granted. As if I have to power to do that.

But back to Mr. Gentleman. I have door duty and was opening the door for the fourth graders, greeting them. He was the last to come in, I held the first set of doors open and then for the second set of doors, instead of just walking and pushing the door open as he went in, he swings around and holds the door, letting me go through first.

It really was one of those, "Oh my god kid, who are you?" moments. :)

Then later today I was explaining to the class that I had to leave a tad bit early to make it to another school for an interview. Of which my class is fully aware of my being displaced situation. Of course this announcement has a few of my kids, who don't clue in as quickly as some of the others, saying,

"What you are leaving us right now?!?"

I explained no, I will be your teacher the rest of this school year. As I was walking around the room Mr. Gentleman stops me and says, "Don't worry you are going to get the job." He was very serious, making me love him all the more today. In fact as much words of encouragement I have been getting from friends and staff about interviewing, this was the one that touched my heart the most.

Two Words...

2010-03-23T12:12:00.001-07:00

Spring Break!

The Great Ink Debate...

2010-03-18T05:06:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing I am good at, it's the stare down.

It's like a scene from an old cowboy movie. Eyes squinting, staring intensely, you can almost see the dust devils flying by.

I pulled Mr. Thingy into the hall first thing in the morning and gave him my famous stare down. I calmly asked what happened to the ink being taken off my desk.

"I swear I didn't do it!"

"It just magically walked off my desk."

"Yes."

"I have two witnesses that say you took it."

"I swear I didn't!"

"I can stand here all day until you tell me the truth." (insert stare down scene here)

"Then, I guess we are going to stand here all day!"

Awwww snap! What?!? Are you kidding me? Another famous, did he just really say that moment!

Stare down doesn't work on Mr. Thingy, need new plan. Pretty sure it will work when his mother does it; she emailed me back last night to say she is having a chat with him. Disappearing ink, well disappeared forever.

If one good thing came out of this, Mr. Thingy was nearly SILENT the whole morning as a result of pouting. It was a glorious morning!

Where to Begin...

2010-03-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

I don't think there is a word to describe how today was for me.

I'm just going to have to explain it.

My day started off with my lovely student, Mr. Thingy, spraying me with invisible ink, all over the front of my pink shirt.

"But it is a joke, it is fake, it's a trick!"

15 minutes later the ink finally disappeared and dried. Mr. Thingy was on my naughty, you are getting written up, you can't do that to your teacher list.

I took the bottle away and put it on my desk, guess what was missing at the end of the day, taken off my desk. Big chat with him tomorrow.

My day ended with craft club, which I organize and run, with a few volunteers. I had 50 students, 20 of them being kindergarten. It was an hour of complete made chaos, we made rainsticks.

I can say that today I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the vacancy list for in district reassignment. These are the jobs that I can interview for, being that I am a displaced teacher. The list never made it to our building today, hopefully tomorrow! Then I have to call the schools and set up interviews. Can you see my spring break now, probably going to be full of interviews. BTW, it has been 8 years since my last interview. I know my crap and I'm actually good at interviewing, but still and interview is an interview.

Tomorrow is St. Pat's Day! YAY, more chaos! Hopefully not. I got the kids some Irish Soda bread and Green River, YUM!

Thank You to the Kid Who Pulled the Fire Alarm...

2010-03-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the kid who pulled the fire alarm during lunch today. Without you my lunch would not have been extended an extra 20 minutes. Granted I did have to go outside during part of my lunch and supervise all your friend, but I was done with lunch and then was gifted with 20 extra minutes!

Thank you to the kid who pulled the fire alarm as my afternoon was shorter and flew by due to that 20 extra minutes of lunch.

Thank you to the kid who pulled the fire alarm, you chose the right time, not during testing on day 5 of state testing.

and lastly,

Thank you to the kid who pulled the fire alarm, you must have known my day wouldn't have been complete without seeing the hot fireman all over the building.

Tales From Test Land...

2010-03-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

Day 2 Testing

1. I give the kids gum to chew while taking the test, supposed to stimulate brain power or something like that. The kids just think it's cool. One boy was finished with his test and was having trouble sitting still for the remainder of the time. At one point he looks at me, sticks out his green gum and mouths to me, "It tastes like salad." Thanks for letting me know.

2. My Thingy decided to take a little siesta during the middle of the test. I look over to see him slouched in his chair, legs stretched out, arms folded across his chest, his head back, chomping on his gum, eyes closed. I actually watched in for a bit because honestly, it was quite a funny sight. I thought ok, maybe he needs a slight brain break, he still had plenty of time to finish. After like two minutes he comes back to life, looks at me, and I mouth to him, get to work. Of which he does.

Oh The Places They Go...

2010-03-02T17:11:00.000-08:00

I've had a student telling me for weeks that he was going to South Dakota for the weekend. I kept on telling him, "Are you sure this weekend?" because South Dakota is like half way across the country from us. So each week he would come and say again, "I think we are going to South Dakota this weekend."

So he was gone yesterday and I asked him today, "Were you sick yesterday?"

"Nope, I didn't go to sleep until like 4 a.m."

"Wow, why did you do that?"

"I went to South Dakota this weekend."

"What! Seriously?"

"Yep, we went to Mount Rushmore and saw the Crazy Horse Memorial. Then we came home."

Now this kid does not lie. Apparently, he really did go for just a weekend. Drove 14 hours there and then back, with a couple night stay while on the road.

I think this was really cool that the family just packed the kids up and goes off to see things. He said his father wants his kids to see the country. Makes me want to pack up my things and just leave right now, but reality sets in, day 2 state testing tomorrow! Crap, there goes my plan!

And Here We Go...

2010-03-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

Day One of state testing done... 6 more days and 7 more tests to go!

It is amazing as to what directions the kids don't follow. My instructions were clear. Stay in your seats when you are done. You may not move out of your seat until I say so. When you are done you may read a book or sit there, nothing else.

Of course, I had three kids come up to me with their booklets when they were done. I just give that little friendly smile and crazy eye look that says, "Ummm, what do you think you are doing?"

I had one girl taking break by sitting back and sipping on her water bottle and two kids decide that when the were finished to eat their snack. None of this makes me mad but just a shake of the head, chuckle, wondering what else I can catch them doing.

My favorite was when a hand went up and the girl asked me what she can do with her dirty tissue.

I will give them some slack, this was day one. I think by the end of the eight tests, they will get the hang of this.

Perfect Example...

2010-02-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

I was teaching the kids the word taunt today. I asked for two volunteers to come up and act out what the word means. I had them go out in the hall and talk for a second on what they were going to say.

Mr. Thingy took this moment to kind of loudly whisper to me that he thinks that one of the boys out in the hall is wearing a baby onesie.

What? Imagine confused, this is so way out of context, not appropriate look on my face.

He continues to support it with evidence. He apparently says he can see it underneath his shirt.

I'm then telling him to stop, which he does, and we move on to the lesson.

Until we reach then end of talking about the word taunt.

He has to remark that he never taunts anyone.

"Ummm, you just did by making fun of someone else just a few minutes ago."

"Oh, yah. I guess I did."

Geesh.

Did He Really Just Say That...

2010-02-17T17:39:00.000-08:00

This has to be mentioned, I can't believe that I almost forgot about this incident that happened at the school dance last week.

We had a family valentine's dance last week. The girls were terribly cute in their dresses and dads in their suits and well boys were boys.

Everything was great... until the teacher dance competition. Now, I am all for getting out there and dancing, no problem there.

So they play The Twist, so I am out there twisting it, giving it all I got, having a blast. The kids danced with me and followed my every move.

The dance ends and they line the teachers up, I have to mention there were only three of us, and we all were pretty good. They have the kids cheer for us, one by one, of course we all had ear splitting screams. The kids start chanting, "All three win... All three win!"

So our principal gets over the microphone and says, "Well ladies, after that dancing you might want to consider quiting your day jobs!"

Silence...

Umm, did he just really say that?

I turn to my teacher friend next to me and say, well he already took care of that this week.

The third teacher has a look of horror on her face, "Is he saying we should get night jobs as strippers!?!"

I was slightly shocked but cracking up at the same time. I don't think the guy knew what he was saying.

Needless to say, the next day parents who were at the dance were quickly spreading that the principal told his three teachers to go get night jobs! Oh lord! Someone save me!

In the end all three of us did win, we all three are getting a half day off. Our principal is coming in to sub for us. I think I will choose my hardest morning as payback!

What If We Were The Ones on Wheatie Boxes...

2010-02-16T15:13:00.000-08:00

One the way to work I was listening to a morning radio talk show talk about how the NBA has lost something like $400 million or billion (can't remember which one) in revenue since the economy went bad. They were explaining that they are losing money partly because they have to pay out the players contracts.

I got to thinking about how much players make.

Then I got to thinking, what if we, being teachers, were the ones who made the big bucks? If they treated us like celebrities?

I can see it now, little kids wanting the newest edition of Wheaties, with their favorite teacher on the front. We could have trading cards and Nike endorsements. Workplaces would start recruiting during college for the best of the best. If we didn't perform we would be traded to a non-teaching position. Bench warmers.

Luckily, my ride to school is not long, my brain could of gone far with this one :) I can dream right?

Rough Week...

2010-02-15T14:23:00.000-08:00

All I can say is that last week was a rough one! On Tuesday, five minutes BEFORE the kids entered the classroom, I was informed by our principal that three positions are being cut from our school. They cut teachers by seniority, I am third from the bottom. So this means I will have to transfer schools for next school year.

Good news is that I am guaranteed a job for next year.

Bad news is that I have to leave a school that I am not done serving yet.

I never thought that eight years in I would be in this position. I was RIF'd my first year teaching and thought I would be done with it but nope!

Luckily I only had my kids for the first fifteen minutes before I sent them off to specials. They came into my room and I couldn't look at them, I was on the verge of crying. I know some kids were looking at me thinking what was up, but I held it together just in time to drop them off and get back to my classroom and then have a meltdown.

I was told not to tell anyone because he still had another teacher to tell. I told him to wait to do it, unlike what happened to me! So I was all alone no one to talk to bawling in my room.

Eventually I ventured to my friend the librarian who only had to look at me and guess what happened.

Everyday is a different emotion. One day I want to spit in someones face another day I am sick to my stomach. I won't find out for two months what the outcome will be, where I be teaching and what grade.

The only thing I can do is buckle up, hope that this will be a good career move for me, and go for the ride.

Ummm... did I mention that we had a snowstorm, an earthquake, and a dog who ended up in major surgery due to two torn tendons last week too? HA Yah, I told you it was a rough week.

Who Needs a Roomba?...

2010-02-08T14:30:00.001-08:00

Pencil shaving dropping incidents have been quite popular lately.

A couple times in the past couple weeks I've had students look up at me with that oppss look as I look down to see the pile of pencil shavings scattered around their feet.

Luckily my neighbor teacher has one of those crumb sweepers in her classroom. So the first time it happened I quickly went next door to borrow it.

The whole class stopped and watched as I pushed it across the floor. It was like a big dinosaur had entered the room, an alien had landed, or I had dyed my hair orange. They all stopped and stared at this thing and watched me sweep up the shavings until every last shaving was swept away.

"Wow, a vacuum with no electricity!"

"How does it do that?"

I was laughing at their amazement of something that would work without electricity. Our next pencil shaving incident had students begging to go get the electric-less vacuum.

What I Really Want Is...

2010-02-05T15:36:00.000-08:00

Mr. Charming was munching away on some goldfish crackers during after school tutoring.

He turns to me and says, "You want a goldfish?"

"No, I would like to go home though."

"Yah me too, but we can't always get what we want!"

Point taken.

In the Land of Kool-Aid...

2010-02-04T17:53:00.000-08:00

Today I introduced our new fiction writing unit courtesy of Being a Writer. The book for today's lesson was Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. It is a great story of a young girl growing up, telling about her family, making believe she can fly.

One part of the story tells of how on summer nights the families in the apartment building would go up to the rooftop at night and have parties. The book mentions what the families would bring... including beer.

Ok, there goes Mr. Thingy.

"What?!? Did you say beer? Why would they have beer?"

Mind you he is shouting this out. I am giving my evil eye look, eyebrow raised, let's move on look, but in all reality this is Mr. Thingy, he can't move on until his questions are answered.

So calmly I say, "Well sometimes when adults and families get together for neighborhood parties, there might be some beer."

"Do you have beer then?"

Oh God! "No." which is true and with that I was able to move on and finish the story.

Until... we reach the comprehension party of the lesson.

"So boys and girls, in this story there are some parts that can happen in real life and some parts that are make-believe. Who can give me some examples from the story of something that can happen in real life."

Mr. Thingy... "Someone can bring beer to a party."

Oh The Places You Can Go...

2010-02-03T18:57:00.000-08:00

I just finished grading papers, which normally is a chore but tonight was a different experience. I laughed my way through grading papers.

For today's social studies lesson students had to write three simple sentences on which place in the Southwest they would like to visit. They had to choose based off the collage of pictures shown on the overhead.

I thought I would share some of my favorites...

1. I like to goto the gancne to go fishing at there. But that mitgh be people ther and you can klate rogths ther and thne mitg be fagole. That yoie I wonet to go ther an it mitgn be butofall. (it was the butofall that had me in tears, that is a new version of beautiful that I have never seen, btw he wants to see the Grand Canyon (gancne).

2. The place I want to visit is Dallas. I want to go to Dallas because the Dallas Cowboys play there. What I want to see in Dallas is the Dallas cowboys play against another team.

3. I would want to go to dallas because one of my favorite football teams is there. Also I would like to make new friends or famos people.

4. I want to see in Dallas is native americans houses.

Oh I love my kids, good laugh for a Wednesday night. I also made a mental note to schedule a geography vocabulary lesson. Apparently, the country south of the United States in the Rio Grande River.

Cool Kicks...

2010-01-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

I had just finished reading our chapter book out loud today when all of a sudden I find my foot pulled up into the air and being held. Luckily, I was sitting down.

Yah, Mr. Charming, lifted my foot, shoe, up and held it examining my new shoes. He was turning my foot around, looking at my shoe from all angles. I was like, ok, can I have my foot back now.

I wore my new shoes today, which the kids were in love with, new Puma's that are pink, purple, blue, and have neon laces. Mr. Charming took a liking to them, apparently. :)

The girls were overly impressed with these new shoes I wore this week...

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home."

What Do You Like More...

2010-01-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

As the kids were lining up to leave today I happened to mention that I was getting my teeth cleaned right after school.

One girl says, "I hate the dentist! Every time I go they have to pull a tooth!"

Me, "Well, maybe you shouldn't eat so much candy."

"I love candy too much!"

"Well, what do you like more your teeth or candy?"

"Candy."

Favorite Moment of the Day...

2010-01-19T15:27:00.000-08:00

My favorite moment of the day today was when I was sitting down cleaning off my overhead from the lesson we just did when Mr. Charming comes up and puts his arm around my shoulder and leans his head into mine and says,

"How's it going my friend?"

I said, "Hi, Mr. Charming! How are you?"

"You know what?"

"What"

"I am going to my friend's house and we are going to play Halo. I have no idea what it is but we are going to have sooo much fun!"

"Umm, I think you are a bit young to play Halo."

"Oh, but we are going to have lots of fun anyway!"

And all through this he has me on one side and his new friend on the other side, his arms wrapped around our two shoulders. Life couldn't get better for him at that moment, he was all wrapped up in happiness.

Proud Moment...

2010-01-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

This week, my fourth grader, beat out all other classroom representatives to win the school spelling bee!!!! This is the first level of the Scripts Spelling Bee we all see on tv.

Our school bee was during their lunch hour, I got to see the beginning of it but had to go back to the room after lunch. It wasn't until like 40 minutes later she can walking in to announce she had won!

I was slightly shocked as I knew she had some really stiff competition, especially in fifth and sixth grade. I was almost speechless as I gave her a big hug and had tears in my eyes. All I could say was how proud I was of her.

And let me tell you this, she did it all while quite sick. She had been out the day before, came back for the spelling bee, then was out almost the rest of the week with a virus.

And... upon reviewing the taping of the spelling bee, our librarian, who is in charge of the spelling bee said that my girl was the only one who you could visibly see she was rooting and hoping for the other contestants as the spelled each word correctly.

The next level is the district level, very stiff competition, but I know she will do her best and I will be there rooting her on, as one of her biggest fans!

What Happiness Means...

2010-01-05T15:06:00.000-08:00

I think "ironic" is my theme lately. It seems whenever I talk about a subject, it always comes around to find me a couple days later.

Monday we returned to school. A little sluggish in the morning but was excited to see my kids again.

I had laid out everything I needed to teach before I left for break but still had to go through and see what I really was doing.

I took a glance at our writing lesson for the day but really did not pay attention to what the content/wording of the lesson really was until I had started.

Ends up the kids had to create a poem based off the tag line... Ideas for Feeling Happy! I had to chuckle since this is something I am living by and thought ok, let's see what my kids can come up with.

This is what I love about teaching...

Every once in a while kids give me a reminder on how simple life can be. To not worry about the big stuff but focus on the small things. Next time I am having one of those days I'm going to take the advice of what my students brainstormed for being happy...

Ideas for Feeling Happy

1. Jumping up and down (I think I would look a bit silly doing this but ok, maybe in the privacy of my own home)
2. Chasing after my sisters (have one younger sister, next time we are together I will make sure to chase her)
3. Playing football (does watching count)
4. Eating cheesy lasagna (definite option) and finally....
5. Listening to the rat-a-tat-tat of my shoes dancing (obviously one of my more gifted students came up with this one)

The Taylor Swift of Teaching...

2010-01-05T15:00:00.001-08:00

Yes folks, today I was compared to Taylor Swift, not sure in what way though!

I am walking down the hall and a former parent of mine stops me and says, "You remind me so much of Taylor Swift."

I go on like, yah, I know we're the same height, we both have blond hair, tall, slender, etc. I was really flattered that she would compare me to someone with really good looks.

The mom goes on to say, "She is talented and you are so talented. I just love her."

Damn thought for a moment there I could grab all the good looks comparison and run with it.

But I'll take a Taylor Swift comparison anyday, although remember Taylor Swift is like me not vice versa, I was around 11 years before she even came into the world. :)

No, It Gets Deeper as You Go...

2010-01-04T17:38:00.000-08:00

I was trying to explain the beach and ocean today to a student who has never been. I don't think I was very successful, at all.

He was reading a book about sharks and was asking me how to say the word squeamish and then wanted to know what it meant. He was sharing his insights and questions about sharks with me when he stated he would never go in the ocean because it might suck him under. I had asked if he had ever been. No.

I said to him, well you can just go in up to your knees then. He gives me quite the quizzical look. So I tried to explain that the further you go into the ocean the deeper it gets. I said you walk along the ground until the water is too high.

Still a deeply confused look. I said, look sweety, the ocean is not like the pool, you don't just jump in and it is over your head. You walk into it. The water starts off very shallow and gets deeper and deeper. I used hand movements to demonstrate the water moving up.

Nadda. Nothing.

I think he will just have to experience the ocean for himself before I think I can ever explain it to him. I found it a losing battle after a good several minutes trying to explain it.

A Happy New Year...

2010-01-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

I for one am not a resolution type of person. If I want to change something, I just go for it and do it. Like the time I gave up fast food for two years. Gasp, yes I was able to do it, it was hard but it started off to see how long I could go as a personal bet.

For the past few months, I don't know something about turning a new age bracket, I feel way more at peace with who I am and where life has taken me. So I started to really live happy. I am a pretty happy person to begin with (not all the time, there are those days that everyone has to have). However, I have decided to not get upset over the things I cannot control and to see the positive side of things. So far this has been great, I really do feel a difference in day to day things. I am carrying this into the new year, with the hopes that life will give back in return.

A conversation I had with someone not to long ago revolved around getting along with others. I had said to this person, "You know, you might not agree with their personality, and you don't have to, but the key is to find the right thing in that person, that will help you cope with having to work with them." In a building you do not have to be friends with everyone, heck I don't want to be friends with everyone. I don't need to eat lunch with them or stop by their classroom for a little chat. However, that being said I find that just a little hi and a smile, in the morning is enough and can go a long way.

I hope everyone has a great 2010, I hope it is the best ever!

Happy Winter...

2009-12-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

Ahh, the sounds of winter break!

No kids asking, "Is it lunch yet?" No bells ringing eight times a day. No morning announcements. No electric pencil sharpeners.

All I hear is the sound of the snow melting off my roof, snowplows (after 14 inches of snow Saturday), my dog occasionally barking out back door, and the constant murmur of the tv.

Gotta love winter break!

I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Merry Everything and Happy Always!

Loaded Question..

2009-12-17T15:08:00.000-08:00

Today was a very tired day not just for me but my kids as well. Majority of them could barely stay awake today, a whole bunch of tired faces stared back at me most of the day.

As I sat down to read a story, one of the girls was yawning. I said to her I was tired today too. I then told the class, "You know how to tell when I am tired?"

Girl- "Your hair is a mess?"

Me- "What?!? My hair is not a mess!"

Boy- "You have bags under your eyes?"

Me- "What?!? I do not have bags under my eyes!

Kids- "Well what then?"

Me - "I lose my voice, it is very crackly when I talk!"

Kids- "Ohhh, yah!"

Note to self- never ask a loaded question again!

Awww...

2009-12-16T15:12:00.001-08:00

My girls were telling me today that one of my boys told them he bought a present for one of the girls. Awwww, too cute! He hasn't given it to her yet. He is such a cool, neat, kind kid. I never expected this little crush though.

I was sitting next to the girl, who is receiving this gift, and said, "You know he is such a gentlemen."

The girls agreed.

We are putting on some Reader's Theater plays on Friday and this particular boy was very brave enough to play Prince Cicada in a version of Cinderella (Spiderella). He is the only boy in this play. In one part he gets down on his knee and asks Spiderella to marry him (which is not being played by the girl he is giving a gift too).

Stories like this today warm my heart in this cold weather. I hope he grows up to be just as nice and charming as he is today!

Tales from Third Grade...

2009-12-15T14:31:00.000-08:00

This one comes to us from one of the third grade classrooms today.

The class was working on a spelling lesson. They were convinced that baby was spelled babby. The teacher assured them it was not.

One boy then asks the teacher, "Well what about the other type of baby?"

She looks at him, quite confused and asks him to clarify what he means.

He replies, "You know like, "Yo baby what's goin on?"

Prediciting the Week Ahead...

2009-12-14T05:10:00.001-08:00

I think this is going to be a cosmo week.

The term cosmo year started four years ago when my teaching partner had a class that drove her to drink. She had many cosmos that year, hence the term Cosmo year. Four years later we now use the term as in, "This was a cosmo day!" or "Arghh, this has been a cosmo week."

So off I go, about to start the day! Five more days to go!

Hysterical Laughter...

2009-12-12T16:01:00.001-08:00

Are there moments when you are teaching when something the kids do or say or how they react to things are soooo funny that you can't help but to laugh to the point you cry? Happens occasionally, but yesterday was a doozy, despite my trying to plow through.

I am currently reading the book, "Sign of the Beaver." I just started reading the book but the kids seem to be into the story so far. Yesterday I reach the part where the main character Matt gets rescued by the Indians (Native Americans, whatever is PC). They were describing the dress the Indians wore, lion clothes etc. You get the gist here. There were little chuckles but I kept of moving. As I am reading I can see around the book the kids looking at each other, smiling, quietly giggling. I keep reading until I can't ignore what is going on, of course I have no clue.

I stop reading to ask what is so funny. They all look at each other and say, "No you tell her." "NO you tell." "I can't say it."

At this point I am like, someone please just tell me here! They are laughing more and more. Finally one girl, "We're laughing at the thongs." What?, apparently when they were describing the moccassions in the story they say how it was made of leather with thongs that tie up around the legs. Ok, I have to admit from a kids visualization point, I can only imagine what they thought those shoes looked like to them.

Ok, that was it, here they go... Thongs. Of which, Mr. Thingy jumps up and has to announce his BROTHER has one. I am telling him to take a seat, I don't want to hear it. but of course Mr. Thingy can't hold it in, it is killing him to not shout out the story. Even with my evil eye look, he can't stop. At this point the class is in hysterical laughter.

It was one of those moments where everyone needed a minute to recoup and then I was kind of able to move on.

Never Ever....

2009-11-30T15:10:00.001-08:00

As a lesson to you all, never ever slowly say the word horse in front of your students, especially those street smart students. I knew what I was saying as it was coming out but couldn't send the signal from my brain to my mouth fast enough.

Also, note to self, when a kid comes up to you and asks,
"Why is your hair golden?"
"Because I have blonde hair, sweety."
"Then why do you have some dark on top also?"

It is time to get your roots done! It's not even bad, like a bright blonde to a darker blonde, but man I made that appointment as soon as I got home today!

What a welcome back from Thanksgiving break. Gotta love it!

Being Creative...

2009-11-27T06:01:00.000-08:00

I didn't get enough turkey yesterday. I actually went home feeling a bit hungry. I know how could that happen on Thanksgiving? I was very fortunate to go to my aunt and uncle's house along with twenty other guests. I still believe there is nothing better than mom's Thanksgiving dinner.

This year I have decided to make a holiday gift for each of my students. Crazy, I know. I went to Walmart and bought all the plain .95 cent clipboards they had. The checkout lady had to ask what I needed 16 of them for (I was short 4, need to hit up another Walmart)

Here is what I am going to do... I am going to take the plain clipboard and personalize it by stenciling each students' name onto their own clipboard with paint markers. It is actually really easy to do. At the bottom I put their name and then I did some kind of design along the edges of the board. They look really cute, which I will post a pic when I get a change. Time wise to complete one board is about five minutes, of course I am a fast worker, so that time could vary.

At less than one dollar per student, this is a great gift that will last them for years.

Oh Thank Goodness...

2009-11-24T15:10:00.000-08:00

I have the week off!!! YEAH for Thanksgiving!!!! Last week was conferences, I obviously survived. Actually, they were very smooth and uneventful, almost boring. (Yikes, did I just say that?)

I think time off comes just at the right point. You know that point where your head is about to spin off? Where you feel that if you don't have a day off you are going to just drop? This break was very well timed. Now one week off, three crazy weeks, and then two weeks off! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Well, Duh!!...

2009-11-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

My kids have to give monthly speeches on given topics. I usually have one to two students presenting their speech each day.

So yesterday one of my boys goes up starts to give his speech, starts talking about Vegetarians. Now in my head I am thinking, ok what topic did he choose? I start the list in my head of what they could choose from, but none of the topics matched his speech on vegetarians. He continues to talk about how they don't eat meat, etc.

At the end of his speech I kindly ask, "What topic did you choose for this month?" I was very curious as to what he was going to say. He gives me a look and before he can speak, several of my students turn to me and say, "Veteran's Day!" Said in a way, that was like, come on now teacher, what planet do you live on? Duh!

The four topics they could choose from were: 1. Discover memories, 2. Talk about three colleges, 3. Discover a constellation, and 4. Discover Veteran's Day, what are veterans and why is the day important.

Veteran's, Vegetarians, what's the difference? Now my kids probably think Veteran's Day is a day to celebrate vegetarians!

Can I Get a Massage for my Massage...

2009-11-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

I don't know how I could have forgotten this one...

Last week it was arranged for a chiropractor's office to come into the building to give 15 minute massages to the staff.

So I go in to get my massage, sit down in that chair thingy (sitting forward, face down in that hole chair). The girl starts to work on me, then proceeds to tell me that I am really tight. Umm, yah I'm a teacher. No seriously, I've always had really tight neck, shoulder muscles. So she keeps on working the muscles. At one point I open my eyes to see her actually leaning her whole body to get enough pressure to stretch the muscle. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't relaxing. It was a workout for me and I was the one sitting!

She finishes, they try to sell me on the chiropractor. I say thanks, it was great and leave. I am walking down the hall and run into two teachers, who stop and had to inform me that my neck and shoulders were beat red. I get back to the room, check my mirror, sure enough looked like I had a really bad sunburn. They kids were all asking me how it was, if they worked my back.

Everyone had to stop and comment how red I was. Can I get a massage for my massage?

Bravo Bravo....

2009-11-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

Do your kids give you a round of applause when you finish reading a book?

Mine do, every time. I can read a sentence and they would give me an applause. I chuckle inside every time. I have to admit, I love reading stories. I get so into the characters and make up voices.

The other day I was reading a short passage from the book, Childtimes, which is a memoir/biography. The name of the short piece was, "Hot Rolls." It takes place in the south and the author was trying writing about Sunday morning breakfast. I brought out my southern drawl accent. I had the kids so engrossed in the story, they were eating out of my hands. They were slightly leaned in, nodding their heads as I read along. It was the best.

Another book this week was, "Why Do Chickens Cross the Road?" In this book there are two chickens who are trying to figure out what animal they are. I imagine them both being pretty dumb. My accent for the female chicken ended up sounding like that lady from the SNL skit that Cheri Oteri did. You know the older, drunk, medicated, prescription addicted, crazy lady.

You just have to have some fun once in a while.

My Top Three...

2009-10-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

I am listing her my top three favorite quotes of the week...

#3- The third grade class was working on compound words this week. They were struggling with the concept, thinking that you can put any two words together. One boy raises his hand, thinks he finally has one... "Boytoy!"

#2- In my own class yesterday, little miss, calls me over to the window, we have view of the first grade entrance. School had just began and kids were still coming into the building.
She is literally shouting, "Look they can't get out! They are stuck! They are trying but they are stuck!"
I go over there to find out what she is talking about.
She says, "Look the humans are stuck!"
I look at her and said, "Did you just say humans?" Thinking I had heard her wrong.
"Yes."
"Honey, the humans would be people."

#1- Top quote of the week comes from the sixth grade classroom. A boy goes up to the teachers and while pulling and jiggling the skin beneath his elbow, asks what this is called.
Before she can answer, one of the other boys says, "Oh that's called foreskin!"

Who Ever Smelt It...

2009-10-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have ever had a class quite like this one. Everyday, yes everyday, several times a day, I have to deal with farts. If someone is not farting, they are smelling it, if not smelling it, they are covering their noses, if not covering their noses, they are making fart noises, if not making fart noises, they are commenting on something sounding like a fart.

And boy, if you are in the middle of lesson and someone smells one, you are never, I repeat, never going to get those kids back for the rest of the lesson. Now, I have to admit, someone has a problem with bad gas in the room. Of course they all blame each other.

In other news, the fire alarm went off today, as a result of someone in the staff lounge burning their burrito in the microwave. Good thing we have had three drills in the past two weeks. We exited the building, in the cold rain, with no coats. The high today was like 45, I felt bad for them. Luckily we were able to get back in quickly. Is it Friday yet?

A Week in Review...

2009-10-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

Yikes... Dare I even say this? I MeMimi, turned 30 this week, it was my golden birthday! I know some of you are thinking, 30 been there done that! I actually don't care about the number (that's what I tell myself) :)

I didn't technically announce my birthday to the kids, but it's on the birthday chart so there was no way escaping that one. Actually, they were incredibly kind and brought me presents; body soaps, lotions, sprays (do I smell here, are they trying to tell me something? HA) One boy gave me a notepad and a pen set, he wrapped it in bounty paper towel, which I thought was terribly adorable.

He says, "You know what you can do with it?"
Me, "Write notes in it?"
Him,"Nope, write the names of the naughty kids."

Mr. Thingy (see post Never Dull...) is obsessed with Michael Jackson songs lately. He sings all the time. During math group he asked me if I knew any songs. Well of course I do, then was forced to sing parts of every song I could think of. How does he suck me in every tine and manage to get me off course?

We had two fire drills this week. It seems every year they actually alarm that goes off gets louder and louder. It's hard to tell the kids not to cover their ears, when I am so tempted to.

This year classes can receive compliments from staff, they record them down.
After the drill, on the way back to the classroom, one of my little misses tells the teacher next door, "Mrs. J, I was very impressed at how great your students were during the fire drill. I am giving them a compliment."

Good for her for trying, but compliments can only be given from adults. I am thourougly loving my kids more and more each day.

Crazy Person on the Loose...

2009-09-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was quite the eventful day. A couple days ago a guy being transported to one of our local courthouses escaped. Long story short about him, he stole the gun, took the car and well, went away.

I get to school yesterday and was talking about it with another teacher, who was telling me that they spotted the guy that morning about 2? miles from where our school is at. So neighboring school districts started to call a "soft" lockdown meaning no one can enter or leave school. Well seconds after that conversation, our secretary makes an announcement that all kids need to line up inside (kind of like a rainy day).

My kids, lined up outside my door were all riled up about a killer being on the loose. I had to set them straight on that one and put an end to the gossip being spread around.

One of my girls says she got a call from the district this morning informing parents of our lockdown today, this is even before school started. Well no one told me about it! I check my email, the district website, no word. Hummm, think of that, the classroom teacher being told of a school lockdown???

We start our day normal, about ten minutes after school starts we go down the hallway to put in our change in for our fundraiser, when a staff memeber comes by to say they just announced a lockdown. Now let me tell you what LOCKDOWN means, it means, get to your room or nearest room, shut off the lights, lock your door, close the blinds, and hide in the corner. Of which at that time everyone takes off with their kids, does what they are supposed to do and hides in the corner.

I was just preparing the kids in the corner for the long haul, since lockdowns can happen for hours. Five minutes later a message over the PA systems comes on, "This lockdown is the type where no one can enter or leave the building." At that was that. The teacher next door and I (through our drive through window) were throughly confused, what were we supposed to do now?

Ok, now another thing. When you are in lockdown... THAT IS NOT THE SIGNAL to release us! The police have to come and let you out. How do I know that someone is not holding a gun to her head making her say it. So being the good teacher I am, stayed in the corner. Teacher next door calls the office on her cell phone. We waited until a staff memeber came banging on the door, which I still know not to go there, but I knew the situation and knew that they made a lockdown mistake.

All in all, I was proud of our building for following procedures, mad at everyone else (district) wise for lack of communication regarding a "prelimary" lockdown, which I think is a term they made up just yesterday, we have never been trained on a "soft" or "preliminary" lockdown. Way to go staff, everyone else, get your act together! Had this been real, we would have been in trouble!

Never Dull...

2009-09-16T14:38:00.001-07:00

One of my boys comes up to me today and asks me to read his story.

As he was standing next to me, he starts wriggling around, like he has to go to the bathroom.

I look at him and ask, "Is everything ok there?"

He looks at me and says, "Yah, it's just sometimes when I sit too long, my thingy gets stuck to my thingy."

I almost died! Turned back to him, "Thanks for telling me."

Him, "Hey you asked!"

Another one today was from one of my girls who had sprained her ankle. She tells me that she doesn't need crunches to walk.

Smooth Sailing...

2009-09-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

This school year has gone pretty smooth so far. I really like the kids and I think they like me. You know how young kids are, every year the teacher they have is their favorite teacher. One of my new boys says, "You are my favorite teacher ever." It's only been 8 days of school so far.

You know I was just thinking that I skipped my annual bad headache on the first morning of school this year. Every year on the first day of school I wake up with a bad headache, I skipped it this year.

Several years back I had just moved into my new house the weekend before school began (bad idea, never do that). The night before school I fell asleep just fine. I awoke to a big storm outside probably a little after 1 in the morning. Fell back asleep, woke up an hour later because I had lost power, then got a headache, then my smoke detectors decided to take turns beeping once a minute. (Hey I just moved in, how was I to know the batteries were low?) Needless to say, by 5:00 a.m. I couldn't take it anymore, I called my parent's house, asked how to get the car out of the garage, packed my stuff up and drove to their house. Still had a headache, and was barely alive for the first day of school. I will never forget that start to the school year.

Well Gee Thanks...

2009-09-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

I was standing outside doing my opening the fourth grade doors duty, the bell had just rung, so I was waiting for the kids to come around the corner of the building to enter.

The first kid to come around was one of my girls and she was running to the door. I say to her, "Good, looks like someone is excited to come to school today!"

She replies, "I come to school to leave school."

Well gee thanks, that's great to hear. :)

If You Find This Note...

2009-08-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

As I do every year, I was cleaning and organizing my book in my classroom library. (Have I ever mentioned that I have well over 2,000 books?) Yah, no small task cleaning that! It was quite a treasure hunt finding all sorts of things the kids stuff in the book baskets; pencils, erasers, pretzel bits, dead bugs, crumpled up paper...

I was straightning my Goosebumps book box when I noticed a small note taped to the side of the box. It says, "If you are reading this you have almost found the time capsule. To find it look to the left between the two book cases."

So I look between the two cases, nothing. I move further to the left, look from the top, down to the floor and there is a box. I had to reach down and over to get it. I look inside to find a note, saying Congratulations you have found the time capsule! Inside the box were pencils, drawings, two dollars, some knick-knacks and an electronic 20 questions game.

I was laughing so hard, it was so clever and fun to find! I put all the contents neatly back and placed the time capsule back in it's resting spot. Let's see if anyone in my class this year can find it.

(I actually knew that there was a time capsule put into the library, a group of boys told me they did it at the end of last year, it did take two days of organizing the library to finally find it though.) You gotta love kids!

Staring Into Space...

2009-08-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

That is what I am doing right now (well besides writing this :)

Today was our first day of school! I was really ready and excited for school to begin, my room was all set, my plans were made. It was an overall good day. Good news is that I have four kids on my list who moved over the summer, so I only have 20 right now! Score one for me!

They were quiet today, which is nice but at the same time I love when the kids are comfortable with me and their personalities show through. Today was full of careful answers and blank stares. I really like my class. Just one or two big personalities.

The first day is always incredibly exhausting for me. I feel bad but I am missing our back to school party tonight at school. I am so tired that I tend to stare off into space and can't form complete sentences, which would not be a good first impression for meeting parents tonight. I usually go to everything our school has planned, so I think I can slide on this one.

I look forward to tomorrow and the rest of the year. Let's hope things remain as smooth as things went today!

Here We Go Again...

2009-08-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is our first official start date. Teachers start tomorrow, students start on Wednesday. I am rather excited. I think I a ready. Ready for new challenges, ready to meet and fall in love with a new set of kids, ready to implement new ideas, just ready.

I get my class list tomorrow, cross fingers that still is in the admin plans to give us our lists. There was nothing like the year we got our lists the morning school began! Yikes! I have to say I really don't care what kids I get (I just need a rough number of how many). You can give me anything. I think the key to teaching any type of kid is to get to know their personality, whether you like it or not. You have nine months with these kids. That is a long time to be bitter and in a sour mood over a clash in personalities.

We are beginning our school year with a whole district meeting staring Ralph Fletcher, which by far beats every single other beginning of the year meeting we have ever had. Although, I was a lucky one to be able to attend a Ralph Fletcher seminar this summer. I am thinking I am going to hear some familiar things tomorrow.

So, here's to hoping for a great school year; one full of fun, learning, and great memories.

And So It Begins...

2009-08-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today was my first meeting of the school year. Not a biggie but we have plenty to talk about. We start work in one week. Do you hear me? ONE WEEK! Ok, I know some of you have started already, so I can't complain.

I can't say that the summer went by fast, nor slow, it was just right. I think I am always ready to go back. Each year I do get a little bit of panic, like I can't remember what I am supposed to do or how to teach. I know it will all be ok, I can't help to feel that way every year.

Now I am completely and utterly going to jinx myself for saying this, but I have yet to have a back to school nightmare. Usually I have a slew of them by now. Kind of weird here! (Knock on Wood)

My room is getting there in terms of being ready. I have some housecleaning stuff to finish and then I can begin the planning and prepping for the first day.

I hope everyone who is back at school already had a good beginning and for those about to start good luck! :)

When I Was in Fourth....

2009-08-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

Late at night, when I just switch the t.v. off, I lie there, doing my best thinking. I don't know why but that is the time when random thoughts come through my head. You would think that I would have trouble falling asleep, but no I fall asleep just fine. Last night I was recalling when I was a fourth grader. I think some of my best remembrances come from fourth grade.

My teacher's name was Mrs. Woods, she moonlighted as a real estate agent. She eventually (years after I finished fourth) left teaching to do real estate full time. One time she came to our house to advertise, give out flyers. I don't think she realized that she was in a neighborhood that housed her kids!

Every year I was put in the same class as Walter Horowitz, doesn't the name just give you a clue? I was the sweet, quiet girl, and well Walter was the opposite. They thought, year after year, that I would rub off on him. Walter thought the word bitchen wasn't a swear, despite me telling him repeatedly it was. He loved Gun's 'N Roses. Walter had come up with this big scheme to randomly steal the chalk off the chalkboard ledge when Mrs. Woods was not in the room. No one in the class knew but he and I. We had an empty desk in our group, so all the chalk went into there. Every time, Mrs. Woods would search around for the chalk, wouldn't think anything of it, and go get a new piece. This went on for weeks, finally one afternoon, after knowing she had put a new piece on the ledge, she suspected something. Our gig was up. I don't remember how it all transpired, but she was led to the "empty" desk. She opened it to find a HUGE mound of chalk. I still laugh to this day. She wasn't mad. Hey she now had an unlimited supply of chalk.

Our fourth grade science teacher was named Mr. Alexrod. In my mind he was older, probably not, but when you're in fourth and your teacher has grey/balding hair, you're old. He was a nerd to a T. He wore a huge pocket protector everyday and had a colossal collection of keys hanging from his belt loop. He loved to refer to the class as "peoples". "Ok peoples please take out your science books." (and yes, please read that with a Steve Erkel accent, because that was truly how he talked). One day the whole building lost power, we were in the middle of science class. Mr. Axelrod came to the rescue, out of the millions of keys he had, he pulls out a mini-flashlight, really mini. He flashes it around on us and says, (yes with a Steve Erkel accent) "Don't be alarmed kids, don't be alarmed." I think we just all sat there staring at him, because he was serious that the mini-flashlight was going to help, we were just all praying they would let us go home.

I had my first late assignment (or at least memorable ones) and made the honor roll for the first time in fourth grade. Our school didn't start honor roll until fourth, but I didn't achieve it until later in the school year. About mid-year I lost my homework folder. I look everywhere, my parents look everywhere, it was very unlike me. I had a lot of assignments that were due in that folder, which ended up being late/missing. I remember crying at my desk all during math. I was devastated that I didn't have the assignment that was due. Mrs. Woods kept giving me that look like, ok kid you can stop crying now. Walter Horowitz looks at me and says, "What, did you break a nail or something?1?"

In the spring my parents let me buy a trick calculator. You know the type that sprays water at you when you press a certain button. You know where this is going... I brought it to school to show off. I was or it was a hit! The kids were around me trying to see it when Mrs. Woods came up. She was clueless, took the calculator, pressed the button and yes was sprayed in her face. You know she never got mad, just took the calculator away for the rest of the day. I got it back at the end of the day.

I like to share these stories with my students, to remind them that I was once there age and in a way still can relate to what they are going through. Although, I do warn that I will notice if my chalk goes missing. :)

Guided Math...

2009-07-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

As a child I truly struggled with math. I HATED math, couldn't understand it, was never good at it. Oddly, now that I am a teacher, math is one of my favorite subjects to teach.

I started my teaching career teaching splits. I did a 1/2 split for two years followed by a 2/3 split for two years. The first year I taught I nearly had a breakdown. I was running back and forth between two grades. Teach a mini lesson to one group, get them working on their independent practice, run over the other grade, teach them, get them settled, go back to the other group, help them, run back to the other group. It was back and forth for over an hour. It was exhausting!

When I knew I was going back to a 1/2 split the next year, I had to search for a different, more effective way to teach math. After searching the internet I came across some teachers talking about math groups. There was and still is no real professional development books on how to teach math groups or on the subject of guided math (hmmm, can I see my future here, maybe?)

Even now as I teach a singular grade, I can't go back to teaching math whole group. The benefits of meeting with small groups are numerous. I get to really see if each student is understanding the lesson each day. Students cannot hide amongst the crowd. In a small group I am able to very quickly pick up on who gets it and who doesn't. My groups can be tailored to needs and I can do as basic or as challenging of a review/lesson. The second part of doing math groups is what they are doing when you are teaching small group. Well, they are practicing math using math card games and math games.

Here is description of how my grouping and lessons work...

10-15 min- Whole Class Lesson Introduction (would include Math Message and or review and a brief introduction of the days lesson)

15-20 min - Group Rotations

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
1-Guided Lesson -Math Game -Math Card -Individual
2-Individual -Guided Group -Math Game -Math Card
3-Math Cards -Individual -Group -Math Game
4-Math Game -Math Card -Individual -Group

Group Lessons- Meet at kidney table. I have a small white board next to the table to show work on, students love to "play teacher" and show the group what they know on the white board during group lessons. I also usually have individual whiteboards for each student for practice. The lesson will include continuation of days lesson and guided practice- usually follow along with Everyday Math Journal Practice Pages

Individual- Students complete Everyday Math Journal- Math Boxes and coordinating Practice Pages, Skill Link pages or individual worksheet practice. They may not leave this station unless all work is completed. They will have to stay at this station, the next rotation until completed.

Math Game- I have a variety of math board games, file folder games, etc. I got a lot through DonorsChoose donations. Somedays I tell students what they must play and other times I give a category, such as any multiplication game or any money game.

Math Cards- At the beginning of the year and throughout the year I teach students addition/sub/mult/div/place value card games. You can play with any standard deck. You can even purchase specific place value/fraction/money playing cards through LakeShore Learning, for a more specific skill game.

In the past I have forgone the beginning mini-lesson and just did straight small groups. Sometimes it depends on the day and the lesson that needs to be taught. Needless to say my math block never is shorter than 75 minutes, most times 90 minutes long.

We have been meeting with reading groups for years. The idea and concept of meeting with math groups is very hard for teachers to undertake. I think we will see an upcoming trend of teaching math groups, but I think it is a very long road ahead.

THE FIRST DAYS... HOW TO INTRODUCE GUIDED MATH

Let me say this first and foremost... The first several weeks are critical in correctly teaching students the procedures and expectations for guided math. Not following through or cutting corners can lead to frustration and guided math failure. As most teachers know the key to a good system is practice, practice, practice. As with your literacy stations-centers; you wouldn't just sent kids to the station and say, "Have fun!" You teach and practice what is expected of them, for weeks.

Typically I introduce guided math the very first day of school. I gather the kids around and say that they are about to experience math different than what they might have in the past. (as I am the only teacher in my school who has done it, have since converted a couple teachers)

I briefly describe what the guided math block of time will look like.
- You will be in math groups. Groups might change over the course of the school year.
- Each math time you will rotate through 4 stations.
-You will spend about 15-20 minutes at each station.- You have a different task to accomplish at each station. I then explain each one; card station, game station, independent work station, and lesson with me.

At this point I only introduce one station at a time. I usually start with the card station because they games are easy to teach and easy to model correct behaviors. Here is what a typical introduction would look like.

"Students today we are going to learn our very first station! Today we will be practicing the math card station. Remember this is the station where you get to play card games that help you out with your math skills. I will tell you what card game to play each day. One day a week I will let you have free choice!"
I label the top of a piece chart paper : MATH CARD STATION

I then make a T chart. Labeling one side, Student and the other side Teacher.

"Boys and girls let's take a look at this chart. I thought we could start by brainstorming some good things that you would expect to see from your classmates when they are at the card station."

Students start the list:
1. Take Turns
2. Play Fairly
3. Clean Up All Materials
4. Put Back All Materials Where They Belong
5. Get Started Right Away
6. Work Quietly
7. Play The WHOLE Time

Notice that I tend to use positive statements, not statements that begin with Don't or Never. These are just a few staple statements that I want to include on my chart. Students can usually think of a couple other important good behaviors.

"Now, these are things that you are doing when you are working. Let's take a look at the other side of the chart. Notice that it says, Teacher. Who can raise their hand and answer this question? Your job is to play cards following all these rules. What do you think is my job while you are doing this?"

Students usually can guess this one right away (ok, depending on the grade level :)

"That's right, I am working with students. So boys and girls, let's put on this side; Working with groups or individual students."

"And guess what? That is what my main job is the whole time. If you keep up your job, then I can do my job." (I sometimes go into the whole interruption speech, what happens to the poor kids I have to stop teaching because I have to go tell you to stop your bad behavior.)

"So now we are going to have three students model what they think working at the card station would look like. "

I give a verbal overview to those three students as to what they are going to do first. Go get the cards, go to the designated card playing area, get started right away, play nicely, clean up and return materials when I say stop.

I then have those students give a short (no more than 2 min) overview of what the whole process looks like. The go and pretend they are at that station. I then call, "Ok, card station is over." (or whatever system you use to indicate it is switch time or the end of math).

The students come back to the group. We look at our chart. I go down the list calling out each behavior. Students give me a thumbs up or thumbs down to show if the group demonstrated that behavior.

Next is the fun part. Choose a few students to show the wrong way. Yes, I do show the wrong way, because every year a student demonstrates something the kids might not recognize as the wrong way. I ask this group to go wild, be noisy, toss the cards, don't get started right away, and don't clean up. The kids have a blast (obviously :) Showing this one. I then again signal for them to come back, and we go over the chart, but this time we all give thumbs down.

Now most importantly, you need to follow up with another group showing the correct way again. "Boys and girls, I need three more volunteers who can show the last group how the real card station should be done. Who thinks they can do it?"

At the end of all this I then introduce their first math card game. Something simple, very easy to play and to teach. I then give students a chance to work with a partner or two and show me how they all can practice the good behaviors on our chart.

This sequence goes on for several days. So the next day, this is what it looks like in short review...

-Gather kids, ask them if they remember what some good things are that we should see when we are at the math card station.
-Review chart and get any that they may have overlooked
-Have group model, good, bad and then good again.
-Show new card game
-Have students practice

Yes, this does take a good chunk of time and will each math time until you are ready to begin stations. I follow this same format when I introduce all four stations. At the end all four stations will have its own chart that can be shown somewhere in the room for student reference.

Now when you are ready go begin introducing the math game station. I usually do a quick review of expected behaviors at the card station and then introduce the game station.

The next day same thing.

A few days in, I will split the time between practicing card and then game. Really you set the time on this one, how long you want them to play and practice the games (10 mins max to begin with I would say, build your time stamina).
I know some of you are thinking where does fitting in the actual math manual lessons work when introducing stations. I teach the lesson first, then do the practice of the stations.

This is just a guideline on how to get it started. A lot of you have your own ways and tips and tricks you have learned throughout the years. Use it! Do what works for you, but remember like I said at the top, guided math will not be successful unless you take the time to teach behavior and model them over and over again.

To see the full series of Guided Math posts check out this...
http://myteachingspirit.blogspot.com/p/guided-math.html

Edmodo and More...

2009-07-20T09:03:00.001-07:00

In a recent blog post by, So You Want to Teach, was a list of 25 free web apps for tech loving teacher. In that list was a website called Edmodo. http://www.edmodo.com

It kind of reminds me of facebook but for teacher, student, parent communication. You can post important dates, send out messages to everyone or individuals, enter grades, write down assignments, attach files (which may be good for those who also need an extra copy, they now would have a place to get it).

Each student/parent creates their own username. They don't have to even supply an email address or information to sign up. Just a first, last name and create a username and password. Each class has their own code and students cannot sign up unless they have that code.

I think I like it because students can go on and ask each other for help or parents can communicate with each other and I can respond back. I'm going to test run it for next year, see how it works, if parents/students like or use it.

*****So on a personal note... I have become a foster failure!!!! This summer I was really looking forward to fostering puppies. I usually only like to do very young puppies. Well I get a call, they said they have a young puppy, Chihuahua Dachshund, would I like to foster? Yes! I go to pick up the dog, it's not a puppy, but rather between 8-12 months. I take him home, first adoption show, he has someone interested in him. I call to set up a time for the adoption, they changed their mind. Meanwhile, he is so damn cute and adorable, very well behaved, and was instantly best friends with my own dog. You know what this means...

Take him to the adoption show yesterday, my mom comes along with me, about twenty minutes in I start crying in the middle of the store, I had to leave, I couldn't stand people looking at him. I left him with my mom, said my goodbyes to him (betting on he would get adopted). I cried the whole 30 mins home! It was a like a death in the family! I get a call a couple hours later, the two separate people interested in him never showed, he was coming home!!! He came home, I cried some more, and then had to make the decision to become a foster failure! I think he has found his forever home! Here he is....

I named him Cooper. He is a little thing still, only 12 pounds, a little skinny right now. I wasn't looking for him, he found me. The one pic is of him with my other dog Coco, who is a Chug (chihuahua pug).