Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week 2014 - WHO

I have linked up with Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week 2014.  Today we are pondering "Who am I"  :o) Sounds like a pretty deep question - who am I? 

I am  33 year old mom of 5.  Cheyenne is 17, Zoe is 14, Freedom is 13, Abby is 8 and Asher is 6.  Four girls and a boy.  We wrapped up our kid years well.  I have been married this year for 15 years - although it hardly feels like 15 years have passed already.  It has been quite a journey, with some bumps along the way but I believe that we are better and stronger for them

 I grew up in a family of 5 - My mom, my younger but not littler brother, me and my maternal Grandparents.  My Mom is one of my best friends and I see the evidence of my grandparents influence in everything I do.  I am blessed.  Both of my Grandparents have gone home to be with Jesus - but I still think about them all the time.  I often think to myself "I should Grandma and ask her how much cornstarch to use," or something along those lines before I realize I can't do that anymore.

I love God, I love my church and I love my school. I have been attending Springs for 15 years.  It was actually my husband that prayed the Sinner's Prayer with me.  I did a 360 degree change that day and I am so thankful for the amazing things Jesus has one in my life!! I teach at our church's private school - Springs Christian Academy.  I started my full time teaching by teaching Grade One - it was a great place to start!  I adored that class. Last year and in the year coming up I am the Grade 7 Math and Science teacher.  Last year I got to teach Freedom and Zoe.  It was kind of neat to play Mom and teacher for a year.  I also coach Grade 8 girls volleyball and head up our middle years Science Challenge.  I am stoked to be doing both again this year! I also volunteer in G-force which is youth group for Grades 2 to 6 on Wednesday with my oldest daughter, NURV - our 12 to 18 youth on Friday, and on Sunday in the PreK, K, and Grade One room. 

 I spend most of my time with my family.  I love them, and the fact that they have learned to deal with my colorful and unique personality. We are famous for our "car selfies". I work with a great group of co-workers and have been blessed to find some kindred spirits in their midst. In life I have seen many friends come and go but there are those people who you connect with so deeply and meaningfully that although you grow up, move on, move out, and change you never really truly leave them.  Amanda was my best friend since grade school (we ate Hawaiian pizza pops in her basement while playing Final Fantasy III the first time I went over to her house) and we always manage to pick up where we left off regardless of the miles between us.


I love to read.  I devour books in hours and cannot be without a book in my purse, on my desk, or anywhere else I go.  They are literally taking over my house.  I also love a good cup of coffee,  warm blanket, and the great outdoors.  We bought our house for the yard which overlooks a wheat field.  I love to sit and stare out into the distance with a bright blue sky over head and the golden wheat stretched out before me. It is so peaceful.  I love storms - loud, windy storms.  I write poetry, love to sign, am addicted to music, and cannot focus on a single task.  I am always multitasking.  Right now I am blogging, writing my to-do list, and listening to a video for a science unit I m creating.  I love hiking and taking "nature" pictures.


Before heading off today make sure to check out some of the other amazing teachers who have linked up or if you have a blog pop over to Blog Hoppin and let us get to know you!

Thrifty Shopping and some pinspiration....

Today me and the chillun dropped Zoe off at the mall and decided to go check a few stores to see what prices on runners looked like.  I managed to find Abby some great purple runners at Target and to top it off they were 70% off!  I only paid $10 for them.  I love when that happens. Sadly the dollar bins were so picked over they were virtually empty.

While we were perusing the aisles of Giant Tiger I came across these cute colorful canvas chairs and some owl binders and notebooks that were on clearance. I needed the chairs for my group work table and the binders/notebooks are going to the new home of my assessment and data tracking paperwork.  One of the journals is my “to do” list.  I am filling it with goals, lessons to prepare, and ideas for things I want to create for my room.  I also snagged some jars for my supply shelf and a cute owl piggy bank for out classroom “inner city” collection.

For instance:

The No Name boards were made by Lisa Porter and I definitely need something this year.  I had folders last year but since the no name papers were not visible they were often overlooked. I am also hoping this will keep me more accountable to my two days and too late rule :0).

The file folder system is from the ReMarkable Home.  I love this idea but I am going to use it to hold bell ringers and extra mark assignments t the front of the class so they are accessible to everyone without a lot of shuffling around and in a way that they should be able to keep fairly organized.  My system last year was a flop.  Oh well, we live and we learn.
 I am not sure where the Instagram door is from it was on google images and the link was broken.  I am going to use quotes from my favorite books, pastors and the bible.  I am stoked about that one! I will probably include some of my antijoke chicken memes and Calvin and Hobbes cartoons.

The Strive Board was from Lenora Krugle.  I am not going to use the word strive on it, but I love the idea of the board itself. I had made this “bulletin board” last year and didn’t really like it so I was looking for a new way to use that space. 

I updated some new things in my store as well. Keep your eyes open over the new week or so for a few freebies, an huge Ecosystem Unit, and some organizing projects I have been working on.

Working on it Wednesday

I seriously cannot wrap my head around how fast summer has gone!  Only 3 weeks left before school starts, well more like 2 ½. We have beached, burned, slept, hiked, swam and camped. Here are a few highlights of our summer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank God we still have some time left to make some more memories :o)  This is especially pressing to me since Cheyenne is turning 18 this year and going to be off to University soon.  18!!!  I am the mother of someone who is going to be 18. I am not nearly old enough.

 

Since it is Working on it Wednesday I thought I would jump on board. I have been working on the same thing now for about 3 weeks.  I teach four main units in science Ecosystems, The Earth’s Crust and The Dynamic Earth, Structures and Forces, and Solutions and Mixtures.  With my degree in Geology and Physical Geography the Earth science units were the first ones I tackled.  I was not very happy with my Ecosystem unit so I have been revamping and redoing everything I taught last year to flow more smoothly.  I had bits and pieces that I bought last year, gathered from my teaching experiences, and were left for me by the previous teacher.

So far I am really enjoying the revamp.  I got to get a little deeper into some of the concepts and ideas that I didn’t have much on last year and make sure the unit is much more linear.  I included some great new hands on activities and group learning projects.  I am excited about getting to teach it to a group of new 7’s.

Here is sneak peek:

These are the vocabulary cards along with the Blooms taxonomy page.  I like to make sure that throughout the unit I have made sure to challenge my 7's learning not just in superficial ways but in ways that allow them to make meaningful connections and can apply what we have learned to new situations and experiences.

 
The unit itself is a collection of projects, student handouts, teaching suggestions with critical background information and important links, hands on activities and a ton of other great resources.

That is the importance of Biodiversity simulation activity, and the Mount St. Helen's Ecosystem Mural Project.  The mural project was one of my last classes favorite activities.  It is one of the best activities I had that allows them to show the interconnectedness of the topics we cover and how they understand the "big ideas".

It is still a work in progress.  Within the bigger units I have been creating mini units like this Water Cycle mini unit which is still in progress.  It includes Water Cycle Idol, learning pages, a poster or 3D project and a few other fun learning experiences:

This means that each topic is also available for purchase on their own – one of them is already uploaded to TPT.  I thought it was pretty awesome, I had an extraordinary amount of fun working on the infographic poster.  Check it out… it was my 20 page Photosynthesis is Fun mini unit.  It includes:

-11x 17 Photosynthesis Infographic Poster
-Notes on energy flow in an ecosystem with review questions
-A look at energy pyramids and the importance of producers
-Lesson Notes on Photosynthesis and review questions
-Chlorophyll Chromatography and Skittles Photosynthesis Labs with review questions
-Crossword Puzzle
-Final Project - Multiple Choices for differentiation
-All applicable answer keys

 

The final unit when it is all done should be about 130 pages or so.  I will keeping an eye out for someone who wants to receive a free copy in return for a proof read.  My old proof reader retired.

 Check back in a few days for a limited time free download of the water cycle mini unit – only a few rough edges to smooth out. 

Meet the Teacher!

Meet The Teacher {LINKY}

I spend a lot of time -  ESPECIALLY at this time of year – looking for new and innovative ways to improve my teaching, and my job as a teacher to my own kids at home so I can support the work teachers put into my little (and big) ones all day long.  I jump from blog to blog and covet ideas like a shopaholic does shoes and handbags.  I came across this linky party over at Falling into First and decided to jump on the old proverbial bandwagon.

 

 

So a little bit about me:

My name is Erica Hildebrand and I am going into my 3^rd year of teaching.  My first year I taught some pretty stinkin’ cute Firsties. I jumped up to Grade 7 last year and will continue there this year.  I teach Math and Science.  I also teach bible to two Grade 7 classes and two Grade 8 classes.

I have been married for 15 years this December and have 5 amazing kids, I may a bit biased – four girls Cheyenne (17), Zoe (14), Freedom (13), Abby (8), and  one little man Asher (6).

 

 

So now for the fun part.

 

 

 THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Gel pens and pretty journals, owls on absolutely everything, Clash of Clans (it’s a guilty pleasure), Walking Dead, Supernatural, a good cup of coffee, tons of music but namely Kings of Leon, BVB, The 1975, Hillsong worship, Jesus, long walks in the evening, fluffy white clouds and bright blue skies, BOOKS.  I have hundreds of books and I love each one, even the poorly written and lame ones.

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

A meteorologist.  I wanted to chase tornadoes most of my life but there was WAY too much advanced math involved.  I have a degree in geology and physical geography and would love to maybe someday do some field work in morphology.  That sounded way geekier than I expected LOL.

 

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

Driven. Dedicated. Multitasker.
 

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

 

“Please stand and wave vigorously I am much more likely to choose you to answer my questions...said no teacher EVER!!"
 

 

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

Misha Collins.  I have a feeling it would be a party to remember! He should probably bring Jenson and Jared so he feels a little more at home.

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

 

Peculiar is as Peculiar Does

 Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

 

Flight/strength.  Never have to pay to take my LARGE family on a vacation again.

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

 

Words, in my humble opinion, are the most inexhaustible source of magic we have. – Dumbledore.
 

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

This would change day to day – but today it would be Back Down South by Kings of Leon or Chocolate by the 1975.
 

 Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

 

Both, unfortunately for my body. I like to stay up until 3 or 4 a.m. so I feel like I have had enough time to accomplish everything I feel like I should. But early morning, in the still and quiet as the sun peeks over the horizon is just as tempting.  I am lucky I naturally need very little sleep.

 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

 

If I had to pick an elementary resource it would be my {Friday Fun} Science mega pack.  In Grade 1 we always spent Fridays doing a full day activity that focused on a science skill, math, literacy, and one BIG IDEA.  They were some of our best teaching moments in my grade one class. It really showed me how much little minds can grasp and hold onto if we give them chances to challenge what they know in a way that connects with their experiences.

 

My favorite grade 7 resource is The Dynamic Earth. It has a ton of hands on learning, teaching pages and suggestions, and I finally got to use my geology degree on something other than a thesis paper.

 

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 

I used to scrapbook for a living.  At that time my “babies” were little, I was at home and it was a great way to pay for the supplies I was using so they never came out of our budget and have a little extra spending money. I LOVE working with mixed media and photography – and it is something I miss often.

.

 

Now pop on over to Falling into First and check out the other amazing teacher authors who are taking part of this linky party.

Meet The Teacher {LINKY}

I spend a lot of time -  ESPECIALLY at this time of year – looking for new and innovative ways to improve my teaching, and my job as a teacher to my own kids at home so I can support the work teachers put into my little (and big) ones all day long.  I jump from blog to blog and covet ideas like a shopaholic does shoes and handbags.  I came across this linky party over at Falling into First and decided to jump on the old proverbial bandwagon.

 

My name is Erica Hildebrand and I am going into my 3^rd year of teaching.  My first year I taught some pretty stinkin’ cute Firsties. I jumped up to Grade 7 last year and will continue there this year.  I teach Math and Science.  I also teach bible to two Grade 7 classes and two Grade 8 classes.

I have been married for 15 years this December and have 5 amazing kids, I may a bit biased – four girls Cheyenne (17), Zoe (14), Freedom (13), Abby (8), and  one little man Asher (6).

 

 

 THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Gel pens and pretty journals, owls on absolutely everything, Clash of Clans (it’s a guilty pleasure), Walking Dead, Supernatural, a good cup of coffee, tons of music but namely Kings of Leon, BVB, The 1975, Hillsong worship, Jesus, long walks in the evening, fluffy white clouds and bright blue skies, BOOKS.  I have hundreds of books and I love each one, even the poorly written and lame ones.

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

A meteorologist.  I wanted to chase tornadoes most of my life but there was WAY too much advanced math involved.  I have a degree in geology and physical geography and would love to maybe someday do some field work in morphology.  That sounded way geekier than I expected LOL.

 

 

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

Driven. Dedicated. Multitasker.
 

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

 

“Please stand and wave vigorously I am much more likely to choose you to answer my questions...said no teacher EVER!!"
 

 

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

 

Misha Collins.  I have a feeling it would be a party to remember! He should probably bring Jenson and Jared so he feels a little more at home.

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

 

Peculiar is as Peculiar Does

 Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

 

Flight/strength.  Never have to pay to take my LARGE family on a vacation again.

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

 

Words, in my humble opinion, are the most inexhaustible source of magic we have. – Dumbledore.
 

 

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

This would change day to day – but today it would be Back Down South by Kings of Leon or Chocolate by the 1975.
 

 Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

 

Both, unfortunately for my body. I like to stay up until 3 or 4 a.m. so I feel like I have had enough time to accomplish everything I feel like I should. But early morning, in the still and quiet as the sun peeks over the horizon is just as tempting.  I am lucky I naturally need very little sleep.

 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

 

If I had to pick an elementary resource it would be my {Friday Fun} Science mega pack.  In Grade 1 we always spent Fridays doing a full day activity that focused on a science skill, math, literacy, and one BIG IDEA.  They were some of our best teaching moments in my grade one class. It really showed me how much little minds can grasp and hold onto if we give them chances to challenge what they know in a way that connects with their experiences.

My favorite grade 7 resource is The Dynamic Earth. It has a ton of hands on learning, teaching pages and suggestions, and I finally got to use my geology degree on something other than a thesis paper.

 

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 

I used to scrapbook for a living.  At that time my “babies” were little, I was at home and it was a great way to pay for the supplies I was using so they never came out of our budget and have a little extra spending money. I LOVE working with mixed media and photography – and it is something I miss often.

.

 

Homework!

 Volcano projects for all!   

Math review for both 7a and 7b. :).  

 

Loving the Earth Sciences!

Finished and wrapped (er....zipped) up the second part of my Earth Science unit. 

 Our Dynamic Earth A unit on the forces that build and shape the earth: from Faults and Plates to Mountains, Volcanoes, and Earthquakes

28 PAGE TEACHER RESOURCE INCLUDES:

All applicable answer keys

All links included for videos

Links to images, resources, websites that will support your lessons inserted where you will need them for convenience.


Posters for Sandwich squish lab

Handouts for group activities – types of volcanoes, types of folds and faults

Teaching suggestions for lessons

Lab instructions including dialogue


22 PAGE STUDENT BOOKLET INCLUDES:


Rubric page

Questions for Plate tectonic video on YouTube

Plate tectonic activity page

Types of faults info and room for diagrams

Earthquake handouts and information on body and surface waves

Mountain information handout and cut and paste

Mapping Mountains Activity (requires an atlas) along with map

Mountain review questions and extension activity

Crossword to complete with Pacific Ring of Fire video from YouTube

Volcano information handout

Parts of a volcano definitions and hand drawn diagram to label

Types of volcanoes group activity and worksheet

Volcanic Eruptions Lab handout

Sandwich squish lab pages and rubrics


Unit project – Volcano Research Journal (including mapping activity, diagram, creative elements and a rubric to follow)

Includes Scientific Process and extension activities using Nelson Science and Technology Grade 7 text. The extension work is just that – an extension. It is not required to use the booklet or teacher resources.


Also included are the unit test, adapted test and a key for both.

This is the second portion of my Earth Science Unit. You can find the first one here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Earths-Crust-1044444