Blog Hoppin Teacher Week 2014 - Wednesday and Thursday

Blog Hoppin Teacher Week 2014 - Wednesday and Thursday - A catch up!  Yesterday was  crazy day for me.  I spent the morning in my class.  It was not nearly as productive as I hoped it would be. 
 

The floors have not been waxed yet so I couldn't set up my class, my storage closet has all my furniture stored it in so I couldn't organize or make the science kits, and the photocopier jammed and a technician had to come out an fix it after I left.  LOL.  On the other hand I got to tidy up, water the plants, and rearrange my desk space.  So not totally without purpose. 

Just after lunch my daughter picked me up (I cannot believe she can drive alone..) and we made lunch for the kids and then did grocery shopping.  For a family off 7 this is a 3 hour investment.  I also stopped at Michaels and the dollar store to grab some supplies for a few of my organizational projects.

Ran home, put groceries away, cooked pizza (but ate pita chips and hummus because I HATE pizza) and ran to church to volunteer in G Force (Grade 1 to 6 youth group).  I love it there :o)

Came home, put on Twister with the hubby and worked on  few of my organizational projects and realized I forgot to buy my extra letters,  rivets,  and staples.  LOL!


I mentioned I  am working on some organizational projects right now.  Most are not done (as per my lackluster trip to the store where I forgot the finishing elements..sheesh).  This is  my Brain Break/Bell Ringer Organizer for the front of the class. I am also working on a weekly photocopy folder, no name magnetic wall boards, absent file folders, and then onto STUDENT DATA TRACKING. 

Some of my organizational elements will not change. I have an old desk with no top on it.  I flipped it around so the opening faced forward, staples a blanket to the top and added some pillows so it makes a nice seating area. 

Underneath I have six filing boxes.  One box for each grade/class I teach.  After each unit we clean binders out and the students have a labelled  folder where they keep their work from the year.  This makes binders cleaner, exam studying simpler, and finding NHI or lost homework quicker. The pink and black basket to the side is my Math Survivor bin.  It has folders for each of the weeks we are in school.  In each folder are 15 problem solving activities photocopied 7 times - one for each group, and the answer keys.  The binder in the back helps me track points and prizes. My classes favorite math class is Problem Solving Survivor Fridays.

So onto Thursday - WHEN!! My daily/weekly schedule is not set in stone yet.  My principal let me peek at it yesterday but my dept. head has to approve any changes.  However, Math is always taught in the morning when possible – while the kids are still alert and tuned in.  Bible is taught at the same time school wide – last year from 10:30 to 11:10.  I teach Health and Science in the afternoons.  Science is very hands on and I love to have it later in the day to get kids recharged, and honestly it is easier to do an end of the day cleanup this way too.

I have science laid out perfectly for me, but math remains open ended since each class starts at a different place.  I will complete my Math outline after I review where we need to start.  My year outline for science looks something like this:

Sept-Nov	Dec-Feb	Feb-April	Apr, May, June	June
Interactions Within Ecosystems	The Dynamic Earth and the Earth’s Crust	Forces and Structures	Mixtures and Solution	Exam Prep and Review

I have slowly been creating full downloadable units for each of them.  Interactions within Ecosystems, The Dynamic Earth and the Earth’s Crust are all in my TPT store.  I like to over-plan so making units makes my life easier.  They include all reproducibles, links, teaching suggestions, and instructions for labs, quizzes and reviews, posters, literally anything I need to teach each of these units.  I LURVE them. Forces and Structures should be up soon. 

 

Gimme 5 Blog Hop!!!

So as you may have already heard – Teachers Pay Teachers is having a ONE DAY SALE.  I am excited to say that EVERYTHING in my store – Early and Middle Years products alike - are 20% off ALL DAY August 20^{th -}!!

But to start the celebration a little early I am hosting a GIMME 5 BLOG HOP.  Me and a BUNCH of AMAZING bloggers {and facebookers} want to lavish you with prizes and goodies so GOOD LUCK!

To participate in my GIMME 5 I want you to comment below with the URLs of 5 products from my store that you would love to have and then tell me briefly how you would use them and leave me an email I can contact you at.   One lucky reader will win ALL FIVE products from my store and two runners up will win one product of their choice. Winners will be generated using a random # generator and winners will be posted and contacted before I go to bed tonight (the 19^th).

After you have entered my GIMME 5 check out the blogs below and check out their GIMME 5s for more chances to win and to do some pre-sale window shopping.

·         Pam Petralia at  http://mrspspecialties.blogspot.com/

·         Jolene Mathew and The Candy Class at http://thecandyclass.blogspot.com

·         Amy Mehallic at  http://thecoreofgrade4.blogspot.com/

·         Carol at  http://carolsteachinggarden.blogspot.com

·         Karen Hester at  http://littlesmarticleparticles.blogspot.com/

·         Terri Lester at  http://www.terrilester.blogspot.com

·         Tanesha at http://raisingrigorandreaders.blogspot.com/

·         Laura Schachter at http://differentiationstationcreations.blogspot.com/

·         Heidi Raki at http://www.rakisradresources.com

·         Chalk Box Tales at  http://chalkboxtales.blogspot.com/

·         Carol Polston  on her facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Chocolate-Teacher/263519420512410?ref=hl

·         Gloria Wittenberg at http://www.2scoopsofkindergarten.blogspot.com

·         Linda Post at http://theteacherspost.blogspot.com

·         Diane Wiens - One Teacher's Adventures at  http://oneteachersadventures.blogspot.ca

·         Cheryl at http://techieturtleteacher.blogspot.com

·         Lisette Edgar/Speech Sprouts Therapy at http://www.speechsproutstherapy.com/

Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week WHERE Tuesday

So today is Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week WHERE Tuesday. 

I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba; aptly knick named Winterpeg.  This year we still had some snow on the ground on the first day of June.  Ironically, we are the slurpee capital of the world.  I live just minutes outside the city, enough to be able to enjoy the silence and an expanse of golden fields outside my back window. Manitoba is prairies, fields, and slow rolling hills occasionally (most of them are terminal end moraines but let's not go there or I will get TOO EXCITED).

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I get to tell you about my amazing workplace.  I teach Grade 7 Math and Science at Springs Christian Academy.  We have two campuses; k to 6 and 7 to 12.  At the high school I have the room right beside the office and the photocopier but far away from the bathroom and staff room LOL.

Our foundation: SCA purposes to put Christ at the center of all that we do.  As a ministry of Springs Church, we embrace being spirit contemporary by teaching God’s Word in a relevant and easily understood manner, and by teaching our students to influence the marketplace with integrity and high standards. 

I have not been back into my room yet to set everything up since there is over two weeks left before school starts and they are putting the finishing touches on floors and walls.  So we will go with what I had going on last year and later I will update the new digs. I have a bunch of new things going in and up :o)

 

 

Make sure to pop over to Blog Hoppin and check out the rest of the WHERE Tuesday posts! Leave a comment and make someone's day :o)

 

Blog Hoppin Teacher Week - WHERE Tuesday

 



So today on Blog Hoppins Teacher week is WHERE Tuesday.  I get to tell you all about my amazing school.  As I mentioned

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.