Moms, Motivation, Big News, & a Flash Freebie

Better late than never, right?

1

We are working on classifying animals this week. I fixed up my old Vertebrate Characteristics Booklet.



It is amazing what a little clip art can do! I just added this to my TpT store as a flash freebie. Check it out before the price increases!

2

Tuesday night I purchased this Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed Shape Book. I printed everything as soon as I got to school on Wednesday. I opted to have the students trace the patterns onto construction paper and cut them out. The finished products were bright and colorful.



We planted some flower seeds in our newspaper planters a few weeks ago.



I do not have a green thumb at all, so I was pleased that they had something living to being home!

3

Speaking of Mother’s Day, I am happy that we finally have hot water! There was a problem with the electrical panel that led to ordering a replacement part. Thursday after school we took the kids to the pool. It is a sad state of affairs when the pool shower is warmer than the home shower! I’ve enjoyed nice long, hot showers this weekend!

4

I’m linking this next one up with Joanne’s Student Motivation Saturday.

May can be rough. Thursday I added “bring beach towels” to the homework in the student planner. My class didn’t exactly know what “Beach Reading” meant, but they were excited!

(Graphics from http://frompond.blogspot.com)

Friday morning we took our books/e-readers, towels, and snacks outside for independent reading time.  It was quick, easy, and fun!

 5

Several weeks ago my principal sent me an email and asked me to stop by to talk about ideas for next year. The meeting went very well, and I’d been waiting for the all clear to share the news.

Next year I am going to teach technology and art for K-5. I am SO excited! 

I was at a conference earlier this year where I heard a presenter say that with the upcoming computer-based testing, the expectation is that students should be computer literate by second grade. A big focus in my new position will be making sure that our students are prepared to use the technology for the PARCC test.

I have taught third grade for ten years and I am excited about the change. I have been in the same classroom for nine years, so I am not looking forward to packing up and physically moving my classroom. I *might* have snuck in to my future room last week to start planning.

I have so many ideas. I am really looking forward to it! It is going to be a huge change!

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Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Five for Friday:April 20-something

I can’t remember if it is the 25th or the 26th. It was that kind of week!

1

I love Hope King’s iPoetry set! I used some new clip art and our fancy giant printer to create a sign. We are still adding to out Poetry Playlists, but I couldn’t wait to put them up in the hallway!

2

I used my same clip art to create patterns for iPads and iPods. We paired with a former student teacher of mine-turned 4th grade teacher down the hall for the Earth Day Door Decorating Contest.

I’d planned to put a couple of empty soda cans at the top, but I couldn’t find any.

We had fun with it!

3

This is the poster we made for my student teacher on her last day.

4

We also made books for her. The first was teaching tips and a little message and picture. The second was a book of “Me Poems” they wrote about Ms. Smith.


I have books like these from my own student teaching days. They are treasures!

5

On an almost non-school related note, I am so excited to get my haircut in the morning! I am having a lesson taped next week. The thought of watching back the tape with my hair the way it is was too much for me! I’m just getting a trim, but I am really looking forward to it.

Enjoy your weekend!