Moving, Freebies, and Some Randomness

  

Check out this week's Five for Friday linky!

1

Gourmet Cook - I don't want to brag, but I am a bit of a gourmet cook as evidenced by the pic below.

My Newest Creation - Grilled Cheese and Pickle Sandwich -YUMMY!

See, I told you I was a gourmet cook!  If you would like to be a gourmet cook just like me, check out my affiliate link below to get the Orgreen Flip Jack Pan.  This is also great for making gourmet pancakes!  (FYI - I like it better than other products since it completely closes making it less likely for me to make a mess when I flip it over.)

Only about a minute on each side to make the perfect grilled cheese!

                                                                                   

2

Kids Say... - The setting - Summer School Student Breakfast
       Student: "I will divide my bagel into half see you each get a piece."
       Me:  "If you divide into four pieces, that's called fourths.  You each get 1/4 of the bagel."  -                           Proceeds to demonstrate why this is true.
       Student:  "Wait!  That's fractions.  How could you try to teach math right now?  It's breakfast."

I am such a mean teacher trying to sneak learning in whenever possible.

3

Fifth Grade - Are you a Fifth Grade Reading Teacher using Scott Foresman Reading Street?  If so, check out Red Kayak, the first story in the series for a complete reading and spelling packet.  Click the pic below to check it out.

4

Annual Make and Take - Today is the annual Make and Take of some of my teacher friends.  I have tons of projects I want to make today.  Let's see how many actually get done.

                                       

5

Packing my Bags - I am packing my bags and getting ready to move to a new blog address.  Don't worry!  The layout and everything will still be the same.  I am just changing to an address that matches the name.  Everything here will remain the same so you can come back and reference any of your favorite posts.

Please click the picture to check out my new site.  There, you will see a post for a freebie!  Check it out soon, because it won't last long!  I can't wait to see you there!

Five for Friday with Some Freebies

  

Check out this week's Five for Friday linky!

1

Summer School - First week of summer school is done!  Only 3 more weeks to go!

                                                                                   

2

Ideas Box - Are you looking for ways to teach engineering concepts to your students?  Check out the Ideas Box post I wrote earlier this week by clicking HERE.

You, too, can get all these things Free!

3

Rewards with QR Codes - If you checked out my Read-a-thon blog post, I mentioned that I used QR codes to reward my students.  This week, I finally finished the product so everyone can use them. Click HERE to get your FREEBIE! I also put them in the Google Drive of Freebies.

4

Summer PD's - I taught a fun Make and Take PD in my district on Tuesday.  Next week I am teaching a Reading PD.  I also signed up to attend a lot of PD's too.  Isn't summer supposed to be relaxing?

5

Happy Birthday Grandma - Today is my Grandma's 93rd birthday!  We are having a surprise birthday lunch for her.  I can't wait!

My grandma would probably kill me if she saw this!

The Ideas Box

Have you heard about the Ideas Box?  Awesome sauce!

Let me start at the beginning...Just over a month ago, I was asked to check out and share my experience with this box.  (Read all the way through to find out how you can get your own box free!)

So, what is it?  It's a box filled with materials to teach engineering to students in grades 4-6 (although I was able to modify a few things for my third graders).

Here's what comes inside of it!

Did I mention that it's FREE!!!!!!

First of all, just getting any box makes me feel like it's Christmas.  I love opening goodies!  The box contains posters, teacher's guide with reproducibles, and a Dyson Air Multiplier.

Confession - I am not going to lie, I stuck my arm through the middle of the air multiplier just because I could.  (I am not the only one; many other people did too!)

Here's a peak at some of the things we did.

Students drew what they thought an engineer looked like.

Many of my students were unfamiliar with the terms engineer and designer.  (Note to self: make sure to work on science vocabulary with students.)  We started the unit with some pre-lessons to make sure the students understood these concepts.  I thought it was incredible that when my students drew pictures of what they thought an engineer looked like, many drew adult versions of themselves.  How cool is that?

Another activity my students completed was finding pluses, minuses, and interesting parts of different products.  I loved how they were really thinking through their answers.  This helped them develop their critical thinking skills.

Unfortunately, we did not have time to complete everything in the box.  There were so much to do and so little time.  The end of the year goes by way too fast.  (I guess that's a good thing!)  Next year, I need to request this box earlier in the year.

So how can you get your own box?

The Dyson Foundation will ship this box for your classroom completely FREE of charge!  Click here to get more information.  They send you everything in the pic on the top of the page.  All you need to do is return the Dyson Air Multiplier using the box everything came in as well as the postage paid shipping sticker.  

The only problem with this box was that I couldn't keep the Dyson Air Multiplier!  That sucker is seriously cool!  I want one of my own!

Five for Friday: Math, Donors Choose, Storage, and More

  

Today will be interesting.  It's our - student - teacher for the day.  This is the reward our prinicpal came up with to get students to try their best on the PARCC test.  I can't wait to see what she has in store.  Happy Five for Friday!

1

Mathapalooza - I mentioned earlier this week having a Mathapalooza with my students.  It was amazing!  Click here to read about our day and get some freebies as well!

Here's a sneak peek...

                                                                                   

2

The Heat is On - This week was HOT!  My air conditioner at school is broken and we are on the second floor.  Every step up the stairs is miserable.

This was the thermometer in our classroom at the start of the day on Wednesday.  I never think of looking at the end of the day.  It would be too depressing!

                                         

3

Guided Reading Containers - I showed off the seats my dad made for my guided reading table.  I am finally using them for storage.

I figured since they are for guided reading, I should just store anything and everything I may need for groups.  So far, I have a dictionary, dry erase board, and a supplies kit in each one.

My supplies kits contain 2 dry erase makers, a highlighter, eraser for the dry erase board, mechanical pencil, post-it notes, index cards with highlighting tape (reusable this way), Wiki-stix, scissors, and a Popsicle stick with a googly eye on top.  I will put a glue stick in when we get back.  This should make life much easier when having groups!

4

Donors Choose Tip - I just posted a new project!  I am definitely in the mindset for next school year since this is the focus of my project.  Click here to check out my project.

On to the tip.  My project is already funded half-way because of Partner Funding Opportunities. When you get on this page, you click on your state.  They will let you know what opportunities are in your area.  If you word your project based on these, you may qualify for some or all of your funding.
I always check this before adding a new project.  Because of this, many of my projects have been funded!  For the project I created, all I need was to add a certain phrase to my essay.  I didn't change any of the materials I need/want.  You will be amazed how much this helps!

5

Reilly Visited - My old student, Reilly, came back for another visit.  He brought pizza for my students and played games with them on the playground.  The kids loved having him there!  

This summer he is planning on writing another children's book and is looking to me for ideas.  I need help!  Anyone have any great ideas for a children's book?

This is his book he wrote.  Check it out!  

Mathapalooza

Next week, I am planning on having a Read-a-thon with my students.  We have been talking about it all week.  My students have been getting excited but have asked if we will have a day where we could do math all day.  Today was that day - Mathapalooza!

Here are some of the highlights of our day.

Beat the Teacher Timed Tests - Throughout the day I would tell my students it was timed test time. Each time they would cheer, because I would race them on their facts.  Anyone who beat me won an eraser from my new toy - my gumball machine.

I found this at the Dollar Store and filled it with mini erasers.  It's a little tough with to get the erasers out, but I love it!

Brain Breaks - We got up and moved around with some multiplication power points.  Click here to get your own for free.

Outdoors Math Scoot - I had each student write a math question on anything they learned this year. They had to be able to answer it too!  As they finished, I checked their work, gave them a number, and wrote the questions/answers on a master scoot seat.  (I found a free sheet on TPT.)  We then went to the playground and my students wrote their questions and number in chalk. Once they wrote their questions, they got their own scoot sheet and answered all the questions.

My students have already asked if we can do this tomorrow!

TIP - Use giant outdoor chalk instead of classroom chalk.

Partner Math Game Review - I divided my students into partners and gave them math flash cards and generic game board.  They used dice and game pieces to play their games.

Click here to find out more about game boards.

Today was a huge success!  I had one boy repeatedly ask my to pinch him because he wanted to make sure he wasn't dreaming.  Although tempted, I refrained!  Now, I really can't wait for the Read-a-thon!

Five for Friday: QR Codes, Podcasts, and More

  

I know it's technically Saturday,but oh well.  Better late than never!  Happy (late) Five for Friday!

1

QR Codes - I have become obsessed with creating/using QR Codes for my class.  They are so much fun and a different way of using technology in the classroom.  I created a free download on TPT for some stories from Storyline Online using QR Codes.  Click here for your free download.

You can also click here for this download in Google Drive as well as see some other freebies.

                                                                                        

2

Podcasts - Another new obsession is listening to Podcasts.  I know that I am behind the times in that this is new for me and they have been around for such a long time.  Some of my favorites include Ted Talks, Free Teacher PD, and Happier with Gretchen Rubin.  Anyone have any other recommendations?

                                         

3

Area and Perimeter - I taped the tiles in different ways around the classroom, so my students could practice area and perimeter.  

4

Fat Ass 5K - Last weekend, I mentioned doing this walk.  It's so much fun!  There was live music throughout including a singing Fat Elvis!  There was so much food like donuts, trail mix, giant marshmallows, etc.  Along the way you could get pushed in a wheelchair, take pictures with clowns, and more!  I highly recommend this walk.

My Sister, Brother-in-Law, and Mom

5

Friday the 13th - I thought it would be a horrible day yesterday - the date, my co-teacher was absent, and it was Special Person's Day at school.  Instead, it was really nice.  My favorite part of the day was having the students write about their favorite memories from the school year and illustrating them.  They got really creative  by adding 3D effects, folding their papers to crate books, and lots of other fun things.

One student drew this one.  His favorite memory was me teaching him.  He even wanted to draw my shirt as accurately as possible!  Too cute!

Five for Friday: Freebies, Reading Fun, Kahoot, and More

  

Happy Five for Friday!

1

"Wearable Work" - I was reading a blog on the Teacher Idea Factory.  She talked about making work that the students can wear.  Even though my students are older, I still loved the idea, so we tried it in class!

We made superhero capes that showed off their best sentences.  I wanted their sentences to be detailed.  We went through the question words to add these details.  They had to complete the work on a rough draft first.  I helped them edit their work.  Then they got poster paper.

My students got so into writing their sentences.  I planned on doing this in one day, but we had to carry it over into two days.  The engagement they had made it worth while.  As a bonus, my students were even able to relate what we worked on in class to a note that went home from the office.

Click here for a free copy of the rough draft paper my students filled out.  You will see the rough draft as well as the headings the students cut out for their posters.

                                                                                        

2

Kahoot! - I know that I wrote about this in the past.  I am revisiting it, because my students used it this week for a math review.  They love it!  This site is free for you to use.

Click here for teacher website.  This one allows teachers to either create their own game or use one that is already on the site.

Click here for the student website.  This is the one that students use for their answers.

                                         

3

Graffiti Board - I have wanted to try a graffiti board in the past but never got around to it.  Since we have been reading Sideways Stories From Wayside School, I thought I would finally get around to making one sooner.  

We wrote about our favorite characters, quotes, etc. from the book.  They were digging into the stories to find things to add to the poster.  I was just sad that I didn't try this sooner.

To make your own board, put a topic into the middle.  The students write thoughts/comments around the paper.

4

PARCC Testing - I know you are sick about hearing about this.  I am sick of talking about it!  I am officially done (with that test at least)!!!!!

How do you copy with the endless boredom of testing?  The teacher I tested with chose to stretch as he was running later in the day.  Since I am of the philosophy - Only run when chased! - I didn't understand it.  I preferred to walk laps around the double computer lab.  It made hitting my Fitbit goal a piece of cake!

5

Advice Needed - Lately my students seem so disrespectful of other people's property (mostly mine). Any advice on how you deal with this?  We are taking away things left and right, but nothing seems to help.  

Have a great weekend!