September Currently...

I can't wait to hear the First Lady speak.  I feel like she is a great speaker, and a good role model for all girls.

It's only the third full week of school, but I am pleased as punch that it's already 1 down, 3 to go.

Next week, I will be conducting my second teacher training for my job as technology integration teacher.  In the previous session we covered classroom management in rooms filled with technology.  This time, I think I'm going to cover inquiry-based learning.  I would really love any suggestions!

Who is with me on this weather thing?  SW Missouri has been a firey inferno of awful.  Granted, on the days that it rained from Hurricane Isaac we went out of town, to dry old OKC.  I'm looking forward to the weekend forecast, two days in the 70s will heal this heart.

Anyone else running out of time before running out of tasks?  If you're not, any good time management tips??

I'm eagerly awaiting the Apple news conference next week, hoping for the launch of the new iPhone, I always upgrade as soon as new stuff comes out.  SUPER BAD HABIT!  Another bad habit?  Pinterest. Bad in a good way though.  I spend my entire life too much time seeking out pictures of awesome stuff.  I feel like I've become a better teacher thanks to this great site.  Books, what teacher doesn't love books?  Currently, I'm in the midst of reading 5 different books.  Perhaps that's why I'm not getting any of them done.  That and Pinterest. :-/

Back at it?

I can't believe that I haven't posted anything in over a month.  Sorry to all my fans (ha!).  What a crazy month it has been.  I've had flipped classroom meetings, technology integrations meetings, mentor meetings, school-wide retreat, PBIS meetings, my best friend's wedding reception, our 1st annual neighborhood block party, the list goes on and on!  On top of it all, I had a classroom to prepare ad kiddos to plan for.  Rather than dwelling on all the requirements, I'm going to focus on showing off my space as part of Swimming Into Second's Linky Party.

We were able to get back into our school on August 2, my classroom was a total disaster area.  I had packed up all of my stuff, in a very precarious way--obviously.  So that the floors could be waxed.

It became progressively worse...

Until finally, the day of Open House, I shoved the last of my things away in my cabinets and put on my happy face.  Here is the "final" product.

Welcome to Room 504!

I did an Americana/Election-ish theme, kind of.

A peek in from the door.

On the right side of this picture is my Science/Social Studies featured reads shelf.  I bought it at the school auction, needless to say my custodian wasn't happy to see it, but I LOVE it.  It's double sided, once side will feature books for my current social studies unit, the other will have current science unit books.

Over view of the classroom.

Storage areas, the blue cabinets have my teacher books.  The white cabinets have supplies and textbooks that I don't use.  The wheely carts have math supplies, and games.  You can also see my clip chart, and my lunch check in.

Left side of the room.  The white cart is my iPod lab.  The orange board is my Math Focus Wall.  

Then on my white board, I have my Learning Targets.  You can pick those up at my TPT store.

Right side of the room.  My writing process pocket chart (the pencil) will have reference materials in it that students can use throughout the writing process.  The white bulletin board is focused on writing.

Library and reading area.  The big bulletin board (actually a piece of insulating foam from Lowe's for $12!!) is my reading focus board.  Brought the couch out from storage.  Love that thing.

Teacher area with small group table.  I finally got them to take out my useless desk.

I have 21 precious 5th graders who have filled my classroom with laughter and learning for the past three weeks.  More to come on that soon.  Hope you've enjoyed the tour!

~Heather

Monday Made It

This Monday Made It is one of the only things that keeps me focused on getting tasks accomplished this summer!  Thank you for that 4th Grade Frolics!  Anywho... This week I'll be "showcasing" (makes it sound good, doesn't it?) my welcome bags.  They are based off of Serenade in Second Grade's welcome bags that I posted about two weeks ago.

Here is how mine turned out.

 The little bag came from the dollar aisle at Target (man do I love that place!)  They were actually on clearance so I got 2 for .50.  The flags were also on clearance 3 for .50.  It was a good day!  I included the flag and designed the welcome note to go with my election themed classroom.  You can get a copy of the note by clicking below.

Second, I went ahead and created a TeacherPayTeachers store yesterday.  I'm not sure that I will be creative enough to make thousands of dollars, but it is a good motivator to create fun things and share them.  You can find it by clicking below.

Anyway, school is looming over me, and we have a house full of teacher things that need to be prepped for the move to school.  So, until next time!

~Heather

MIA, I know... Exciting News!

Sorry that I've been away, I know that I have so many faithful followers who cry every time they login and I don't have a new blog... NOT.  Sorry, I had a 90s child moment just then.  Anyway, things have been moving swiftly the last two weeks.  We are a mere 21 days from going back to school and I have so much on my plate.  


First, I found out that I will be receiving a lab of iPod touches to help provide an equitable technology environment for my students as I flip my class this year. It will look a little something like this:

I've been working hard to decide which lessons will be the most beneficial to flip.  I recently completed the Flipped Classroom Pathway on the website Sophia.org.  I created this tutorial to practice my skills.  (If you take the time to watch it, be prepared- there is a speaking error AND I know it).

I'm really excited about this flipping thing.  I read Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day.  It was an honest look at using technology to reach your students.  I really enjoyed it, and suggest it to anyone who is curious about the concept.  I hope that I do a good job implementing it and that I can encourage others in my district and out there (yes, I mean you!) to use the model.

Second, I found out that I will be a facilitator for our technology in the classroom program.  It is called eTEC (that stands for Eagles Thinking, Educating, and Communicating).  I will have a cohort of 5 teachers that I will be training to use technology in their classrooms.  It's a 50 hour a year training commitment for them, and about double that for me, but I am thrilled to have this opportunity. My biggest fear about having technology in my classroom is that I will fall behind in the ever-changing world, but now that I have this opportunity, it's even more of a reason to stay relevant and current.  I like that the program is developed by our district.  The program I went through was prescribed, and we didn't have much flexibility in what kinds of training we wanted, so it wasn't always timely.  I can be as timely as the teachers need in this program.  So excited!

Anyway, I will try and post my Made It Monday that I promised last time I posted (welcome bags).  Just wanted to share my exciting news!  Until next time...

~Heather

Award Nomination!

I'm currently in Texas babysitting my nephews (Wy is almost 4 and Z is 1 and a half).  They are a handful,  but it has been fun.  I was going to try and post another Made It Monday, but it just didn't happen.  However, I will share that at the Pinterest party on Saturday I prepared welcome bags like these:

I'll be sure to share the result when I get back to Missouri.

Anyway, I checked my email this evening, and was surprised to see a comment from Read and Black and Learning All Over saying that she had nominated me for

First of all, I must say I'm super excited to know that people have actually read my blog.  Secondly, I feel like this means that I might actually have people who are interested in seeing future posts as well- SCORE!  So, without further adieu here are the seven rules for this award:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you!

2. Include a link to their site.  -- See above

3. Include the award image in your post. -- Ditto

4. Give 7 random facts about yourself.

5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award.

6. When nominating, include a link to their site.

7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  Thank you VERY much for nominating me Heather, and spreading the word about my blog.  I hope that it is indeed worthy. :-)

2.  Read and Black and Learning All Over 

3. See above :-)

4.

--I have a degree in middle school education and never intended to teach elementary school- EVER!  Luckily I have enjoyed nearly every second of all of the teaching experiences I've had over the past 6 years.

--I can't ask or be asked a question, even mostly rhetorical, without having an impossible to resist impulse to try and find the answer on my iPhone.

--Speaking of iPhone, I am severely addicted to Apple products.  Even though I have an iPhone, MacBook, iPad, and iMac, I am still looking forward to the rumored iPad Mini supposedly coming out in the fall.

--I have a brother that is going to be in the same grade that I teach this year.  While I work in a different district than the one he attends, it's still weird to think that the little baby that was born when I was 19 is the same age as all these wild children I have in my classroom.

--The BF and I really don't have a desire to have children of our own (sorry mom).  Maybe this will change, but babysitting the nephews this week really reminds me how nice it is when you can "return" kids after having them for awhile.

--Another addiction confession: TETRIS. I play WAY too much for my own good.  I love http://www.freetetris.org/game.php.

--I went to The Container Store for the first time yesterday-- OMG heaven.

5. Wow this is a lot of blogs to nominate!  Here are just a few of the blogs that I read, and thought I should share (though I'm sure many of them are well known and have received this award before--numerous times).  I also tried to link to ones that aren't mostly people trying to sell stuff from their TpT store (though I do love the heads up on great products!)

  

   

 

Thanks again to those who have read my blog.  I hope to have some really great stuff to share in the near future.  I've been reading a book classroom flipping, and I've been buying stuff to support my first semester theme (election/patriotic).  Until next time..

~Heather

July's Currently

Being a total blog stalker for the last year, I am fairly excited to actually participate in my first "Currently" hosted by Farley at Oh'Boy 4th Grade.  It's hard to believe that it's already July, but here we go!

Has anyone else read Because of Mr. Terupt?  I love the way Rob Buyea describes the students.  I'm looking forward to some of the reflections we can do with this book.  Be sure to hook up with the July Currently!

Made It Monday

Since the Linky Party started, I've been eagerly awaiting pictures of everyone's creations with 4th Grade Frolics' Monday Made It, so today I thought I would join in!

Last year, after reading a blog post about it, I bought my tool organizer in hopes of turning it into one of those spectacular "Teacher Toolboxes".  You know the ones that I'm talking about: 

However, thanks to the hectic nature of my school year last year I just had some drawers that were haphazardly filled by former students one summer day.  There were no labels, therefore I found myself pulling out five drawers before I found what I wanted.  Finally, I bit the bullet and sat down and devoted a day to it.  I found school themed scrapbook paper at Michael's and used stickers that I had laying around (mostly from the Target $1 bins).  After creating the labels I used my handy-dandy home laminator to make the labels as sturdy as possible.  Afterward, my teacher assistant boyfriend hot glued on the labels.  All said and done, the results are as follows.  Very excited about not having to pull out tons of drawers before finding what I need!

I'm going to a Pinterest party on Saturday, I can't wait to create something new for next Monday!