My School Tribe

I have been a little a lot MIA this week

because I have been having a SUPER time

with these people. 

Our theme at school for the past few years has been The Energy Bus,

but this year we are going to The Leader in Me.

We are going to focus on how each child has SUPER powers,

and then using those powers to be a leader.

I am very excited about what this year holds.

There is really no order to these pictures.

I just wanted to share my fabulous school tribe with my blog tribe!

Thanks to Belinda, from Third Grade to the Edge, for most of these pictures due to her and the selfie stick!

Third Grade Team

Working on our Placemat Consensus activity - what do we see the Leader in Me looking like in our school.

Talking about the Placemat Consensus project - what we want The Leader in Me to look like.

Another picture of our FABULOUS third grade team!

Teamwork at it's finest - working to get the rubber band off the cup!

We went ALL over the school searching for Superheroes only to find someone had taken some of them.
This is our confused face!

LOVE these people!

More teambuilding activities

I had the honor of presenting 3 different mini lessons during our PD time together.

One of the lessons I presented along with two other FANTASTIC teachers, was a lesson on anchor charts in the reading classroom.  We talked specifically about Accountable Talk during this time.  Then, the teachers were able to create a chart to use in their rooms.

ALL of these people play an important part of my tribe.

I am so glad our leaders decided for our PD to be together, so we can learn, grow, and share together in the same room at the same time.

I am extremely thankful for this group of ladies - 

my third grade team...

and my partner teacher, Kim.

We accept each other.

We help each other.

We support each other.

We can be crazy with each other.

This year is going to be the best for so many reasons!!!

Shifting Your Lens

I am a camera person.

I really have it attached to my hip.

My children use to love it.

Now, they hate it - at least the 13 year old does.

When people talk about cameras, photos, lens,

I listen!!

I may not understand EVERYTHING they are saying, but I listen because I want to learn.

I want to be a better photographer.

I want to better my product.

So, when attending a training for my new role as Reading Curriculum Coach,

the presenter mentioned we needed to 

shift our lens.

She had my attention.

The whole presentation was about our method of evaluating teachers - the TEAM method.

I was very interested in where she was going with this!

Where do I, as a teacher, need to shift my lens?

I need to shift my lens from what the teacher is doing to what the student is doing.

Mind blowing isn't it...

As I prepare for a lesson, I need to make sure I am preparing for what actions and behaviors my students should be displaying.

Does this mean I am not in the picture anymore?

NO!!!!

My actions and behaviors should prompt them.

There has to be a balance between what both the teacher and student are doing.

I just love this!!!

Isn't this why so many of us became teachers?

We wanted to motivate our students to go out and do what we have taught.

What better way to do that than to be right there with them, 

guiding them, 

encouraging them,

supporting them,

celebrating with them.

Now, why am I writing about this?

Next week, I am going to be presenting this idea at part of our PD at school.

My topics are:

Standards & Objectives

Problem Solving

Some of the other areas that will be discussed are:

Expectations

Managing Student Behavior

Presenting Instructional Content

Lesson Structure & Pacing

Activities & Materials

Academic Feedback

Grouping

Thinking

Problem Solving

What are your thoughts on any of these topics? 

Have you heard of this?

What do you do?

Any ideas?

I will be posting later this week about my topics for sure, and possibly others.

I would love to hear what you have to say...

Not in Vegas

I am new to this whole blogging, Instagram, Twitter, TPT world -

as far as a teacher is concerned.

I have had a family blog for 6 plus years.

I have had a personal Instagram for close to 4 years.

I have even had a personal Twitter for a few years.

NOTHING holds a candle to this world of teachers on social media, and I act like I am surprised at this.

I should not be.

For years, teachers have had to have each others' backs because no one else would.

For as long as I have known teachers (all my life), they have craved being around each other, seeing what everyone is doing, and wanting the latest and greatest teacher stuff.

Am I overwhelmed?  YES!

Am I in WAY over my head?  Probably so!

Am I glad I took the plunge? For sure!

With all that said, there was no way I was going to Vegas this year for the TPT conference -

for MANY reasons.

My teacher friend, Belinda, and I have already said we are going next year.

I will probably find a reason not to go.

She will find a reason AND a way for us to go.

(See how we are good for each other!)

I have already found myself NOT wanting to check Instagram and Twitter this week because

of all the eating, shopping, learning and just being together that is going on in that world.

When I saw Kristen having a "I am not in Vegas" linky, I knew I had to join!

I needed to remind myself that this is not my season to go to Vegas.

What I am doing this week in small town USA is just as important as what is going on in Vegas.

So....

One day, I will join the millions of teachers (ok... maybe not millions but it sure seems like it!) of teachers in Vegas.

Until then....

Happy creating!

Happy selling!

Happy posting!

Happy to be right where I am!

TPT Seller's Challenge: Make Your Masterpiece

The latest TPT Seller's Challenge - which ends tomorrow (GASP!!!!) - 

has been hard for me this week.

I am sure it is because we have been out of town and in the middle of baseball

tournaments with my son.

I finally got it finished, but I don't know if I would call it a "masterpiece" yet.

Hopefully, you will see this one with a make over before too much longer.

I have always had a love for history that POURS into my classroom.

This year, I had students who loved it as much as I did.

When we read a biography on George Washington, they began devouring any presidential

biography I had, so I took that as an opportunity to teach some other important skills - 

using different types of text

note taking

placing notes in sequential order

composing introductory and conclusion paragraphs

writing a 5 paragraph informative essay

With this group of students, we also learned the valuable lesson of time management!

The students amazed me at how much they wanted to include in their essays.

I did not have this packet to help them during the time, but knew it was an activity I wanted to carry on in the following years when we studied this text.

That led to....

You can see the packet in my TPT store.

I hope this is something that can help your students as much as it did mine.

If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

Be sure to check out Ashley, Emily, Amber and Jen to see the other AMAZING masterpieces!

Monday Made It: July 6

It's Monday which means it is time to link up with 

4th Grade Frolics for

I only have one thing to add this past week and, again, it was non-school related.

I really am going to try to get back into school mode this week since next week I go back for 4 days of PD.

I really don't want to think about the fact that I go back to school in less than a month.

However, I have enjoyed my summer with my kiddos!

This Monday Made It has become a favorite of my kids, so without further delay...

Last year, we made Star-Spangled Spray Painted shirts for the 4th of July.

Since then, my 13 year old daughter has spray painted almost everything in sight!

This year, with the World Cup (which my 13 year old girl has faithfully watched) being around the 4th of July, we were FOR SURE spray painting!

Supplies We Used:

duct tape

Cricut machine

vinyl

white shirts, boxers, socks, etc.

spray paint

We used my Cricut to cut out letters and stars the kids wanted for their shirts.

We used duct tape for the stripes they wanted.

Both were easy to place on the shirts where they wanted them.

Once everything was in place on the shirt, we placed poster board between the shirts.

Then we took the shirts outside and spray painted the shirts how they wanted them to look.

The shirts don't take too long to dry.
Once they were dry, we put them straight into the washing machine on cold
and then dried them.
The paint has never come off and the shirts aren't rough either
(or my kiddos would not wear them).

Here are the finished shirts:

We love us some Alex Morgan!

The 13 year old has spray painted American flag boxers, another full flag shirt and socks!
Super easy.
Super patriotic!

Hope your Monday is full of crafting opportunities!

Coming Together with Classroom Improvements

I was visiting the Blessed Teacher today, and saw this link up

with Ashley and Angie called

#2getherwearebetter.

Each month on the second, they (and other teachers) come together to talk about things

we can all improve upon as teachers.  Since I am so new to all of this and need all the help I can get, I thought I would join in on the fun!

 What do I want to improve on in my classroom this year?

A lot!!!  I wish I could post pictures of my classroom, 

but I cannot get into my classroom until next week sometime.

Please bear with me throughout this with no pics.

Bulletin Boards

I have 3.

They are all different sizes.

Bulletin Board #1

I decided last year to not put up a calendar because I always forgot to change the calendar.

I also thought that as a third grade teacher that space could be better utilized.

So, I have that board that I need to do something with that is productive.

Bulletin Board #2

This is a little bit larger.

In the past it has been a data board, a sweet words board, and a science topic board.

We don't have data boards any more. I use data notebooks for my kiddos.

The sweet words board did not go like I had planned - largely due to me!

We are going to be doing A LOT of writing this year and I had thought about using this as a writing board, but .....

Bulletin Board #3

This is the biggest board that is actually a covered corkboard.

This means I can't staple on it!!!!

So... since I can't staple on it, I have hot glued aluminum pizza pans to the board.

I attached clothespins with chef hats (my room is a cafe/bakery theme).

Each hat has a child's name on it and they can choose work of theirs to be displayed.

I really like this board, but am VERY open to changing it around if something else comes up!

I also have a wall that is covered with UGLY hospital green (do you picture it?) lockers!

I hope to be able to give each child their own locker this year.

In the past I have put 2 kids in a locker.

Leader in Me

Our school is reading/implementing The Leader in Me this year.  For the past two years, we have used The Energy Bus as our school kickoff program.  For two weeks, we focus on character education and what is expected from our kids.  This year, we are using The Leader in Me. I am a little hesitant because it is something new.  I also know myself and know I want to make it a year long thing - not just a first 2 weeks of school thing.

How can I do this?  Do you have any suggestions?  I want my classroom to be a place where the kids feel safe and know they can succeed at their own levels as well as to their own abilities.

I am sure there is a lot more I can say to this, but I hate that I don't have pictures!

Plus, after this post, I am even MORE overwhelmed than I was before - NOT GOOD!!

So, help a sister out! I will be around to visit others and see if I can help any of you!

I am so glad that I have found this community!

Currently: July

I cannot believe today is July 1st!!!!

In a little over a month - August 3rd, to be exact - my new set of

babies arrive in my room.

I can't believe it is almost here!

My goal is to enjoy July to the fullest potential - even the 5 days of inservice I have

coming during this month!

I am linking up with Farley again this month. 

That means I have been doing this blogging thing on a somewhat routine basis

for a month now!  YEA, me!!!!

More on that coming....

So currently, I am......

Listening - to Sports Center.  It's a staple at our house.  Usually at this point in the year we are focused on baseball - Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers (the hubs is from Texas).  However, this year, we are also focused on World Cup soccer.  My girl plays and loves soccer.  I know NOTHING, but have learned SOME over the last 9 years she has played.  We are enjoying the highlights from last night's game!

Loving - that we are headed to Nashville in a few days.  My BIL and SIL live in Nashville and we always head there for a great fireworks show and fantastic shopping.  The cousins love being together and it is a great way to get away!  A big bonus is I get to go to McKay's Book Store and LOAD up!!! I have $100+ in store credit that is burning a hole in my pocket! I am going to print off my Amazon wish lists and see what I can get!

Thinking - I am very overwhelmed with this new world of blogging, twittering, Instagramming and the like that I have become a part of this last month.  It is wonderful and I realize even more of things I need to be doing in order to be the teacher my kiddos deserve.  I also realize I can't compare myself to others.  I need to realize what I can do and what is the most important thing for me to do NOW - like writing those common assessments!

Wanting/Needing - a few extra weeks to my summer.  I sat down the other night and realized I really have only a few weeks left completely to myself.  I have a week coming up of inservice with my fantastic team.  I have a week I have set aside to work in my room while the kiddos are at camp.  It is slowly slipping away....

All Star - I have LOVED being a mom this summer.  My kids may not agree that I am an all-star mom at this moment, but I have really made an effort this summer to be present for them.  When they want to do something - we do it.  We have taken day trips. We have been to Sonic almost EVERY day this summer.  We have been swimming with friends.  We have had movie nights and sleepovers.  It has been a fantastic summer just being with them. I know I don't have many more summers with them, so I am enjoying this one to the fullest!

Be sure to check out what others are CURRENTLY doing and 

meet some great new friends!