tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9610778456611835322024-03-05T18:52:37.270-08:00Diary of a Fifth Grade TeacherMiss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-57398449156185189082012-08-21T22:13:00.000-07:002012-08-21T22:14:02.287-07:00Must-Haves & Tech-Tip<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There is less than a week until school starts and just thinking about it makes my head spin. Since today was the first day I could get into my class, I'm feeling a bit frazzled. With most of the decor for my room in place, I decided to tackle the closets, which have been the bane of my existence for the past five years. Looks like I'll be there every day this week.. bye, bye summer!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On to the real reason for the post, it's Teacher Week! <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As if I needed more of a reason to be attached to my laptop.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I get so many fabulous ideas from you all and I am a list-making fool this week! So many great ideas to try out! So many fab things to buy! In true procrastinator fashion, I have left too many things to be done this week so I am piggy backing Monday & Tuesday's post. Sadly, tomorrow's classroom reveal won't be ready until at least the weekend. I'll just have to drool over your rooms until then!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My must-haves in the classroom are simple...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let's be serious... this is on everyone's list. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Although according to the </span><a href="http://blog.fooducate.com/2010/01/03/three-reasons-to-rethink-that-diet-coke-youre-about-to-drink/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">source</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> of the image, it's not such a great idea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They obviously are not teachers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img height="250" id="il_fi" src="http://mereditharnold.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/flairfeltpens.jpeg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="330" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Duh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://www.enasco.com/prod/images/products/B6/AC046400l.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These are my fave for making anchor charts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I love the color choices and stock up when they go on sale!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img alt="" height="323" id="fancybox-img" src="http://www.erincondren.com/store/images/images_big/TLP1101.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have upgraded to the Erin Condren Planner this year! Watch out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hopefully it will be here soon!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Finally, my teacher binder is my bible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">{Sorry, no pic!}</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I am re-vamping it and it will be better than ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'll definitely share it when it's finished! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ok, on to my Tech-Tip Tuesday. I wish I had more to share but there's not much technology available in my room, with the exception of a few things..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="204" data-width="247" height="330" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQNxO3rd-DpU7uCnBs4OaRjF7AdCj2hToW7KjnaE2xdpbJ_IGm" style="height: 204px; width: 247px;" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This machine has drastically changed the way I teach. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I use it for everything from showing the nooks and crannies of a sedimentary rock to showing off student work to enlarging text for read alouds. Yes, we read aloud constantly in fifth grade and this machine helps make it work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This website is my new favorite math site:</span></div>
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<a href="http://xtra%20math/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Xtra Math</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My students can go on to practice their multiplication facts from school or home and I receive email updates with their progress. It is beyond student friendly and the best part? It is FREE! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also just begged my principal via email, with links and selling points, for an interactive white board or a </span><a href="http://www.mimio.com/en-NA.aspx"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mimio</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> {which is portable!!} and I'm hoping that there is some money in the budget. My life would seriously be complete. </span></div>
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Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-54931563961228659612012-08-10T09:00:00.000-07:002012-08-10T09:00:04.616-07:00Back to School Shopping<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You know it's summer when the only blog posts have been Currently link ups! This summer has been a whirlwind that has included some major events such as raising our new puppy and honeymooning in the Dominican Republic. It really hasn't included any talk of school. Like, not even a little bit. I haven't even talked to my TBFF's much. Teacher BFF's, according to my students. I'm kind of contemplating a big change, that I'm really not ready to talk much about on the blog, but it has explained my absence even before the summer started. I'm hoping that I will receive some sort of guidance in one direction or another and that I can get back into the swing of things soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, I recently experienced that first night of laying awake in bed with a million thoughts running through my head that need to be checked off the list for the upcoming school year, as well as the looming deadline for unchecked items from the summer list. We don't go back for another three weeks but I started trying to get back in the groove today. I hit up Staples and the Dollar Tree with my lists, and the miracle of all miracles happened.. I didn't buy a thing. Strangely enough, I then went into TJMaxx and walked out with more cash than I had when I went in, after returning a few items and um, not buying a thing. Seriously, I then stopped at CVS to pick up a script and it was free. The stars aligned or something because this never happens. Obviously, I then went into Panera and proceeded to spend $15 on soup and a sandwich. Eh, I guess you win some and lose some.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ok, my point is coming. Usually when I go out to buy school supplies, I spend the remaining portion of my summer savings and load up my living room and then my classroom with goodies. Then I try to convince my husband that I <em>really need</em> hot pink post-its with zebra trim because it makes me a better teacher. Sound familiar? :) Well, something went terribly wrong this year.. <strong>Staples changed their teacher discount policy. </strong>I'll give you a minute to let that sink in, if necessary....... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I heard the rumors but didn't believe them. Did you know this?? Ok.. old policy = teacher limit of extreme deals (1 cent filler paper, 10 cent folder, etc.) is 25 versus the two or five or whatever low number they choose. New policy = regular low limit of extreme deals and the remaining amount, up to 25, that you paid full sale price for (99 cents instead of 1 cent.. um, huge difference!) you get back in Staples Rewards, which is essentially a gift card to Staples in the amount that you spent. Sounds lovely, right? Yeah, well it takes about 5 weeks and comes in your email. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, I don't know about you, but I certainly appreciate only spending 25 cents on 25 packs of filler paper for my 25 students who usually come to school without it even though it's on their list. I definitely appreciate someone helping me out a bit when I'm buying school supplies for children that are not my own. I don't get it. I told the very nice man (seriously, he was so nice that he almost had me loading up on Staples Rewards) that I just didn't understand and he said, "yeah, it turns most people off". Um, ya think? Why do I want to come back in 5 weeks to pick out full price items? Then, I'll end up seeing star shaped Post-its or damask filing folders and spend even more money. That's if I even see the Rewards coupon in my inbox. In early September, my personal email is swamped and I usually have what I need to start the year, because you know, it already started and all. I'm onto you Staples. I just may adding to my Walmart list, where they price match, and apparently have delicious steaks, too. Well, according to the commercials.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Really, though, it's off to Target next. You all know what happens when we go to Target. Ugh! I need time to mourn the loss of Staples but Target never lets me down :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What are you going to do? Are you still loading up on filler paper this week? Should I go back? I'm so torn. Especially because it smelled SO good in Staples today. Fresh notebooks, new pencils, and Post-its, oh my!</span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-72252960496119964342012-08-07T22:45:00.001-07:002012-08-07T22:45:29.853-07:00August Currently<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love this link-up! Obviously, since it's the only time I've posted this summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I missed out on July because I was a crazy lady trying to get ready for our trip but I like Farley's new rule of 3. Go to the two blogs before you and the one after and comment. LOVE it! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's huge because I didn't realize how small my font was!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ok, my B2S must haves are all things I have on my list for the year that I still need<em>.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1. I'm pretty sure that Post-It chart paper will save my life. Nothing like being able to move those anchor charts all over the room!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2. Flair pens are my fave! I'm not into Sharpies the way that a lot of teachers are but I <em>loove</em> Flair pens. Maybe this is weird, too, but our math workbooks have kind of greasy paper and the Flair pens write so smoothly on them when I'm correcting!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">3. Since we now use our gorgeous new coffee maker that we received for our wedding, at home, my Keurig is coming to school with me! Even though I don't have a sink in my room, I will make it work. I have to lay off the Diet Coke. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Is it Fall, yet? I am so over the summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Go play! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><center><a href="</span><a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/%22%3E%3Cimg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/"><img</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> border="0" src="</span><a href="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/ladybugteacher/new%20album/farleybutton.png%22/%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/center"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/ladybugteacher/new%20album/farleybutton.png"/></a></center</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">></span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-54267855444011184272012-06-08T16:12:00.002-07:002012-06-08T16:12:40.117-07:00June Currently<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am one week out until summer break and I am dog tired. I've never used that expression before but I'm pretty sure it means what I'm feeling. Everything is just go, go, go! and I'm definitely ready to start yelling stop, stop, stop! I have zero energy for just about anything but I did find time to plop myself down on the couch and link up with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Farley</a> for the <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2012/06/spirit-monkey-like-tag-and-currently.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2Fjtmhg+%28Oh%27+Boy+4th+Grade%29" target="_blank">June Currently</a>. I wish my brain was functioning enough to write about the fun stuff we are up to in class, but just thinking about my day today makes me want to take a nap. One more week... I think I can, I think I can...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thankfully there is almost always a light at the end of the tunnel and I will definitely be sitting poolside with a cold drink in my hand, most likely with an umbrella in it, in <strong>Punta Cana, Dominican Republic</strong> in FIVE WEEKS!! We had to wait for the summer to go on our honeymoon, such is the life of a teacher, and the hubby surprised me with a trip to DR. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">10 days of beach side nothingness, sprinkled with ziplining, exotic snorkeling, and catamaran cruise. SO worth the wait.</span></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-60423970925821708632012-05-10T06:36:00.001-07:002012-05-10T08:21:52.502-07:00Update! & 99 Reasons Teachers Rock!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In fear of breaking the law, we asked the student to bring the bird eggs back home and return them to their nest in the backyard. We told him to have his parents help him because we couldn't do anything for him. I hope that they make it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Funny story... we were working in class yesterday and we heard birds chirping very loudly. I stopped and looked towards the windows because it almost sounded like they were in the room with us and the kids said, "It must be the baby birds!! They made it! They made it!" Too sweet!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">ps. I just have to share this... <a href="http://www.teachhub.com/99-reasons-teachers-rock" target="_blank">99 Reasons Teachers Rock!</a></span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-53854931618877560802012-05-08T06:34:00.000-07:002012-05-08T06:34:27.846-07:00Teacher Appreciation Day gift? It's for the birds.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ok, ok. I know it has been forever since I posted. The sheer craziness that has been my life has left no time to blog. It's really the saddest darn thing. I LOVE blogging and I LOVE my new friends made through blogging. I feel like a part of me has been missing! I swear I have lots to update you on and that is coming soon, but for now.. I need your help!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On this fine morning of Teacher Appreciation Day, in the midst of pre-MCAS chaos, one of my darlings handed me a tupperware container. What surprise could be in this container, you are wondering. That would be this...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Those are five baby bird eggs, from God knows where. He told me that his house was having renovations done and the nest was pulled apart and abandoned and he took the eggs in. Apparently, he thought his science teacher would know what to do. Well, she doesn't. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not only do I have no idea what to do with these eggs, I have no idea what kind of eggs they are, where to put them, how to keep them warm, and what the heck I will do if they really hatch. I have already researched if there is somewhere I can bring them and I'm not having much luck. I know that you aren't even supposed to have wild eggs without a permit but I really have no clue what to do. I teach in the city and bringing the container out to the recess yard on a cold, rainy morning just feels worse than trying to keep them warm while I figure out what to do next. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Right now I have tissues covering them because we tried a heat lamp from the iguana in sixth grade and that was too hot. What would you do??? Where do I bring them??? Help!</span></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-11904104691691602932012-03-21T19:17:00.000-07:002012-03-21T19:17:48.678-07:00What I'm Loving Wednesday!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm linking up with Jamie at <a href="http://www.littledaisymay.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">This Kind of Love</a> for one of my favorite link-ups... <a href="http://www.littledaisymay.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-im-loving-wednesday_21.html" target="_blank">What I'm Loving Wednesday</a>! Teacher Edition! (I made up the Teacher Edition part. Although, sweet Jamie is a teacher, too!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh8NYq3GPsQIz_tu8gR_4n1Gx2sPK56vXy214Q3VbgL16HfLfNN8gwTE79AcAGD41_R_uo88UDpGieHMiy1-z9WcxlLbtovIRvRvCKK5av-IfgQXGVlc6jYCM8RUGc76GNPw5qHTOw2U/s1600/WILW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh8NYq3GPsQIz_tu8gR_4n1Gx2sPK56vXy214Q3VbgL16HfLfNN8gwTE79AcAGD41_R_uo88UDpGieHMiy1-z9WcxlLbtovIRvRvCKK5av-IfgQXGVlc6jYCM8RUGc76GNPw5qHTOw2U/s320/WILW.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Here's what I'm loving today...</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I should first say that <strong>I'm loving that I am updating my blog today</strong>!!! I've missed you all! I definitely have a poor track record of blogging when I'm super busy but <strong>I'm loving that you're still blogging when I'm not</strong> and that leaves me with an abundance of spring things on everyone's blogs!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I'm loving that today was the final day for state-testing</strong> and I have had 100% attendance both days and my kiddos worked SO very hard! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="232" data-width="218" height="232" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxccA0kS5dnG-lgRsBAY-KhaWZWfL8VTQws3Wgj7fPcvSwdN_kbA" style="height: 232px; width: 218px;" width="218" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">{<a href="http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/clip/quiet.html" target="_blank">via</a>}</span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I am loving this <strike>spring </strike> summer weather</strong>!! 80 in BOSTON in MARCH! Bring. it. on.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdWuIWd7OGxrpOB5eJmEVfIOe95RDKAZXQ8GqmSj36rYeCQKGuWv0fKv67L3eTtUdDs3Q8Vl1bmOSfH7g0DVWfRHVN2IZmd1wmRBzasjLuqld9DoNeGUwGRz1q2f0lDJMSC2Up2xd6eY/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdWuIWd7OGxrpOB5eJmEVfIOe95RDKAZXQ8GqmSj36rYeCQKGuWv0fKv67L3eTtUdDs3Q8Vl1bmOSfH7g0DVWfRHVN2IZmd1wmRBzasjLuqld9DoNeGUwGRz1q2f0lDJMSC2Up2xd6eY/s320/photo.PNG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I am loving my professor,</strong> and that she has decided that the majority of our work should be completed in class! Such a different vibe than my last two classes. I can breathe again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I'm loving that we will begin working in small groups next week</strong>! It is so hard to teach in leveled groups with only one teacher, but I need to bring it back!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I'm loving my sweet class</strong>! They are hard-working, motivated, kind, funny, caring... the list just goes on. I just love them all too much for words and I am already dreading having to say goodbye to them in just a few months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What are you loving today? Go link up with Jamie to share!</span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-53884220653101240942012-01-16T14:25:00.000-08:002012-01-16T14:31:06.471-08:00A Day in My Shoes<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am linking up with one of my favorites, Katie from </span><a href="http://missklohnsclassroom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Adventures in Sixth Grade</span></a>,<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> for her first linky party! You know I can't turn down a good linky! This one is to share what a day in our classrooms look like. I can't wait to see what everybody else is doing when they're not blog-stalking!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is how it works...<br />
1. Right click and save the button below to put in your post. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. Share a typical day in your classroom. You can share as little or as much as you would like.<br />
3. Go back to Katie's blog and </span><a href="http://missklohnsclassroom.blogspot.com/2012/01/link-up-for-day-in-my-shoes.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">link up</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.<br />
4. Visit the other links to see what a day is like in their class!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVObwo-KTmVHB3TWkTTGGQ6jQyC12tNRu6Q_wnYfqhoVdNE6uqI1MuZ-tAwiTPhAgneGEKMVB8TNfKEC9u7-tqiA-kie4c2RDWw_HkujIDkQAwGM5vUjEKahFlebT8s5IiRT8rgkoF_8xI/s1600/adayinmyshoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_9e6and="2" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVObwo-KTmVHB3TWkTTGGQ6jQyC12tNRu6Q_wnYfqhoVdNE6uqI1MuZ-tAwiTPhAgneGEKMVB8TNfKEC9u7-tqiA-kie4c2RDWw_HkujIDkQAwGM5vUjEKahFlebT8s5IiRT8rgkoF_8xI/s400/adayinmyshoes.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A couple things you should know about my day:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1.) I teach at an extended day school and our teaching time is extended by 1.5 hours, which means the actual school day is from 7:45-3:30.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2.) We are on a 4-day rotating schedule but this is kind of a blend of days because our schedule was changed this week for Grades 6-8 midterms. We had 8am exploratory every day this week and were with kids from 9-3:30, with only lunch to break up our day; exhausting!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5:00am - My alarms (I set two on my alarm clock & two on my phone because for some reason, I never hit snooze, I just shut them off) go off. Those are my warnings. I turn them off until the last one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5:20/5:30-6:15am - Shower, get ready, check the traffic, make lunch, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">6:15am - I head out the door and pray for no traffic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7:00-7:15am - I arrive to school. There's always traffic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7:15-7:45am - My cafeteria duty begins. I had the crazy idea over the summer to take a position as a morning monitor (part of our extended day funding). The extra money will be nice in July, when I'm not getting paid, but I didn't realize how noisy and smelly it gets in there, especially when it's raining or snowing. I really don't mind it too much because I like interacting with the kids and work with a fab colleague in there, but it is a loud way to start my day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7:45am - I pick up my students outside in their line and head to our homeroom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7:50-8:05 - Homeroom - The kids settle in, do their lunch count, I take attendance and make my coffee, greet my kiddos, listen to their stories they want to share, and get them ready to be out the door for our first class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">8:05 - 9:05- First period Math - The students come in, get out their homework, copy the objective from the board, and begin their Headline Story, which is their "Do Now" or warmup activity, in their binders. My homework checker (a student) goes around and checks the homework - this is a lifesaver because SOMETHING always needs my attention when they first arrive. I'm usually checking emails and finishing what didn't get finished during homeroom. We then review homework, review the Headline Story, and get started on the lesson. Our lessons are very scripted and I have to follow the outline in the book. This week, we are graphing coordinates on a grid. Once the lesson is completed, the students work independently in their workbooks and I circulate to help out. At the end of the period, which is always dangerously close to the time that we start independent work, the students write down their homework, pack up, and switch classes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">9:10 - 10:10 - Second period Math - Same as first period. Whichever group ends up not being my homeroom group, is way chattier and lessons always feel more rushed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">10:15-10:30 - Recess - I have duty on Thursday, Friday, and every other Wednesday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">10:35-11:20 - "Reading Workshop" - This is our middle school intervention block. It isn't actually a workshop format but the school calls it this. 10 of my students leave for ELL and 2-3 for reading/math intervention. This leaves me with 12 kids, so there is "no teaching allowed" during this block. The students remaining read independently and track their reading in their library logs. This is the runner-up for least favorite block of the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">11:20 - 11:50 - Math/ELA Enrichment - After reducing our Math/ELA time to make more time for Social Studies and Science, we ended up with the same amount of weekly SS & Sci, and extra Math & ELA. No idea how that worked out because my schedule proposal wasn't considered. I alternate classes (the block happens twice a week, so I see each group once) and we usually play the math games that go along with the chapter I am teaching at the time. This week we were working on our 2012 resolution maps, which I will have up here sometime this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">11:55-12:25 - Lunch. By the time I drop the kids off to the caf, check my mail, and get back to my room, it is never enough time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">12:30-1:00 - Writing Workshop - I don't teach writing so my students get a mini-lesson during their ELA block and the independent portion happens back in their homerooms. We rotate during this block so that the ELA teacher can check in with both groups and not just the homeroom all the time. This is my least favorite block of the day and when Diet Coke starts flowing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1:05-2:05 - Exploratory - For the first twenty minutes (again.. drop off, check mailbox, nonsense) I barely have enough time to check my emails, forget planning or sitting down to grade papers. I have 50 students and the curriculum is too much in fifth grade to get anything accomplished in this amount of time. I usually try, though. I also photocopy, set up for science, return emails, drink diet coke, make phone calls, blah, blah, blah. The second half is a mandatory team meeting with my grade level team. 98% of the time this is a major waste of a prep period. We mostly complain, listen to others complain, go to endless data meetings then never have time to look at the data again, or hear about students that we don't see. The fifth grade is split up so that each teacher has 50 students, so sometimes when names are brought up at meetings, it's not even your own student. I do like being able to check in with my colleagues but this doesn't seem like the most efficient way to do it. We have one day to ourselves, which usually means that I can get a set of tests corrected during the school day. If I'm lucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2:10-3:10 - Science - I teach two science blocks and the kids rotate. Two days they have SS & two days they have Sci. We start with the objective and then go right into two-column interactive notes. Sometimes they partner read and make their own, sometimes I give them a starter question or prompt and they finish it, sometimes we do a lab in a two-column format, sometimes it's just whole group teaching with activities to break it up. I should probably do a post on my interactive notebook format. I love science at this age!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3:10-3:30 - Write down HW, pack up, check agenda books (& checklists for some), kids go home at 3:30.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3:30-4:30 - I'm usually here until at LEAST 4:30 doing the usual - prep, plan, copy, email, repeat. Sometimes I get to pee for the first time all day but usually wait until I get home. This time is making up for my missed prep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5:30 - I get home & finally get to pee. Then I make dinner & Mr. P cleans up :), hang with Mr. P, snuggle with my cat, blog-stalk, wedding plan, correct papers, read for grad classes, repeat. Depending on the night, I either have Weight Watchers (that reminds me I need to check in for my 2012 resolutions!) or our small group bible study.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I try to get to bed at a decent hour, but I am such a night owl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I hope I'm not too "complainy". I DESPISE my schedule this year because it just doesn't work. There is too much time where kids are working independently on something that doesn't correleate to what I teach and not enough time spent on what I do teach. I am only actively teaching for 3 hours a day (anyone notice that?) and no one seemed to be too concerned with that when I brought it up to admin. We've already changed our schedule once this year and I think it's worse than what we started with.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am SO excited to see what everyone's day looks like!! Maybe I can use it to help me convince the powers to change our schedule! </span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-16046860697461382952012-01-10T16:41:00.000-08:002012-01-10T16:41:14.477-08:00Currently January<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm linking up with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Farley</a> for <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2012/01/currently-more.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2Fjtmhg+%28Oh%27+Boy+4th+Grade%29" target="_blank">Currently January</a> & you should too!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jmRvz9SFEUkFC5OqUMA58C3afoMQcukCPL9w0kUQfKGN1rMdK6tYiWQPY757gk3V9-K1teRsVjQmEOwctldAYvwrxs-C3pLCe1rB8FhRcZDzKklzGjB52pPDfsquc5-OSvizJvoe3PU/s1600/currently+jan+updated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jmRvz9SFEUkFC5OqUMA58C3afoMQcukCPL9w0kUQfKGN1rMdK6tYiWQPY757gk3V9-K1teRsVjQmEOwctldAYvwrxs-C3pLCe1rB8FhRcZDzKklzGjB52pPDfsquc5-OSvizJvoe3PU/s640/currently+jan+updated.jpg" width="475" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="right" style="text-align: center;"></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-28597193301258673432012-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:002012-01-09T11:35:12.317-08:00Fun for Fifth, too!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Y'all know </span><a href="http://www.crazyforfifth.blogspot.com/2011/12/middle-high-school-blog-party.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">how I feel</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> about the lack of upper/middle school blogs and resources. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let's not go there again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With that said, I was literally jumping up out of my seat to grab my debit card when I saw </span><a href="http://gingersnapstreatsforteachers.blogspot.com/2012/01/5th-grade-common-core-vocabulary.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">these cuties</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> from </span><a href="http://gingersnapstreatsforteachers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ginger Snaps</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. Super adorable, yet cool enough for fifth grade math vocabulary cards AND they line up with the Common Core?? Shut the front door! Seriously, they are so fun. You've got to get over to Ginger's store and get some of these! She's already done second, third, and fifth. It's like she knew I was getting bored with my Word Wall. I can't wait to set mine up this week!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L3lKxFAcTIsp61IPk-YkGsDK80HVLKGx0WaHer89dxapa7drrQF0pY6a4OJ1jE78o0pXL9b_6Gd7ZJbb-LZ4TGBx1FhZSUiesz5Nh9FfaS_mgEFpxN5UpjpmKY16FHoySB6WixoSVh0/s1600/3rd+Vocab+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" closure_uid_fniqk2="2" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L3lKxFAcTIsp61IPk-YkGsDK80HVLKGx0WaHer89dxapa7drrQF0pY6a4OJ1jE78o0pXL9b_6Gd7ZJbb-LZ4TGBx1FhZSUiesz5Nh9FfaS_mgEFpxN5UpjpmKY16FHoySB6WixoSVh0/s320/3rd+Vocab+1.PNG" width="320" /></span></a></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-86105521729277980462012-01-07T21:59:00.000-08:002012-01-07T22:10:47.616-08:00Here we go!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Okay, it's Week #1 of Jodi at </span><a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Clutter-Free Classroom</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">'s attempt to de-clutter the classrooms of America's finest. Brave woman that Jodi! I'm surprised she can even handle looking at all of the clutter! :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am so excited to participate in this project because my room is really hurtin' this year. This summer, I moved my desk, round table, and big rolling bookshelf, rearranged my computers, and added a library with seating and a rug. I didn't realize how much I relied on the space I had before because it's a little tight now and I find that it's just easier to drop a pile on my desk than to squeeze between something to put something away. My plan is always to put it where it goes when the kids leave but for the first time ever, I started just piling it on my desk. I'm not at my desk often so it seemed like a good piling place. Nope. Not good. My brain hurts when I look at it, which is usually at 3:30 when I'm ready to collapse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694617018073461954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsI1PCMbLQSxZVCF7cH74m1a9AD0mJ2ut5q-LznZM4p0pZzQ8z-cIqFRtq16-D3TeFDIjO6WLbLShVyCgHUH-qbmb6M7ebDaheF4njSfER86IYEcLaZOTDTLYNvnbOYzzyIduBrv_X2yW9/s400/1CFCP.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 360px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 369px;" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am getting queasy just thinking of uploading this pictures because it is so embarassing. It's happening though because I've made some really big attempts to stay organized and it is just not working this year. I'm hoping that making these cringe-worthy pictures public, checking out other teachers' classrooms (and hopefully breathing a sigh of relief that we are all in this clutter together), and hearing from you, will give me ideas and inspiration to make some much needed changes. Here we go!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm starting with the half of my closet that IS completely organized. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mostly so that you won't think I'm a hot mess. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These bins are organized by item and labeled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sidenote: All shelves are in closed closets.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrLmAVv92jmtDYg2hJHx2OPp94O6Cr0NkLDG3zQoQl6wuJxM6EzDPkjRZigxlsG57UuUpFgkEq5LeSfW1NMkRVzgsqiwzEWOrhRbk0wJHuOiUVSekHntmU2X0r4l1LI1lJGo-1Anzu5M/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrLmAVv92jmtDYg2hJHx2OPp94O6Cr0NkLDG3zQoQl6wuJxM6EzDPkjRZigxlsG57UuUpFgkEq5LeSfW1NMkRVzgsqiwzEWOrhRbk0wJHuOiUVSekHntmU2X0r4l1LI1lJGo-1Anzu5M/s320/IMG_0564.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is the top part of the same closet. A slightly different look to it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The majority are books that were left behind by the previous teacher.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is also where I store extra binders, notebooks, and folders for the kids.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The whole top shelf is multiple class sets of novels.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My first two years at this school, I used them all. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now I don't use any of them.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp730OqrYOVorF9pc15XIcYP7Zz8spcrwMUAEHQND58wWAGewuFB3dTxG_7OuTOCSBSsPHyFWw_8ZzmIEcc-CkSDQGLCQumbQXNd61k3_5f_5k3muAUK_Pj2nylM6FX2G-Ha27zdHt88/s1600/IMG_0566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp730OqrYOVorF9pc15XIcYP7Zz8spcrwMUAEHQND58wWAGewuFB3dTxG_7OuTOCSBSsPHyFWw_8ZzmIEcc-CkSDQGLCQumbQXNd61k3_5f_5k3muAUK_Pj2nylM6FX2G-Ha27zdHt88/s320/IMG_0566.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Brace yourself. Or close your eyes. Things are taking a turn for the worst.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the tall closet...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The left side is where I'm supposed to store my jacket & personal items.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But once I saw a mouse jump up inside of it and that was the end of that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The bottom has plastic grocery bags and empty baskets.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And a bunch of backpacks my mom scored for 97 cents each.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The bag hanging on the hanger is plastic cutlery and paper goods. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If it's hanging on the hanger, the mouse can't get touch it. Right?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The rest of the shelves are labeled and mostly everything matches the label.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mostly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The bottom two shelves are for math supplies.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The very bottom shelf is geoboards - too many geoboards,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">unifix cubes, calculators, and mega flashcards.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With the exception of the geoboards, I use everything else.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've never touched the geoboards. Except when I got rid of 50.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpLn6dQsvQcctA16BEUhmpCq-enCG2glmLJgl68YnFJd-37lGxAJ0M027nkSLlDkaYZBljc5h4eoEPB5Nc6TIqPeCLc8aaafYUoNROR_e0XsVth4CQ-lU8WYvfZmlGLZ2sOx2UocBN08/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpLn6dQsvQcctA16BEUhmpCq-enCG2glmLJgl68YnFJd-37lGxAJ0M027nkSLlDkaYZBljc5h4eoEPB5Nc6TIqPeCLc8aaafYUoNROR_e0XsVth4CQ-lU8WYvfZmlGLZ2sOx2UocBN08/s320/IMG_0567.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This shelf isn't as bad as it looks. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The yellow crate is released MCAS questions organized by standard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Behind that is 2 of the sets of teaching manuals I got for our math program.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I still have 1 set at home, 1 on my teaching table, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and gave 1 to the SpEd teacher.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are science kits next to books. Not math stuff.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This was just the only place that they all fit standing up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I use the flashcards and game cards in the basket, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">but I could totally use a better system. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZUl5DkujaPJOsInP1gb8I7yP5KsV72riUs1sI3_ZP2b-KbAl8N1S8j42jBMceNK1gzJX-v-kVAe5X5vvbYe0_BXIfA9O9iT9QKAA34CVYzSMatie5CpacnSFFyz9TMJagScowQEwiOM/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZUl5DkujaPJOsInP1gb8I7yP5KsV72riUs1sI3_ZP2b-KbAl8N1S8j42jBMceNK1gzJX-v-kVAe5X5vvbYe0_BXIfA9O9iT9QKAA34CVYzSMatie5CpacnSFFyz9TMJagScowQEwiOM/s320/IMG_0568.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next two shelves are dedicated to science materials.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The labeled bins are about the only organization in here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I use the colored buckets and random papers on top for labs, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">so those come in and out all the time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Behind everything is about 30 beakers. For what, I don't know.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I use 6 of them. For 1 unit. We have about 500 in our supply closet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't even have a sink.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkyBQTpoyJwJw_AlS9sN5qBQWXnFRKZNxS2LYk7NkcgYZu9r1yfH-W78DFdGxcQl6G7YmNwAcTNScy3WHYeNykCO8frg4e_1C13UJYZt_yA98GZXD7uvA7LonCQd775ItrP6G-LaphFg/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkyBQTpoyJwJw_AlS9sN5qBQWXnFRKZNxS2LYk7NkcgYZu9r1yfH-W78DFdGxcQl6G7YmNwAcTNScy3WHYeNykCO8frg4e_1C13UJYZt_yA98GZXD7uvA7LonCQd775ItrP6G-LaphFg/s320/IMG_0569.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This shelf is mostly what I use for lab demonstrations.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And more beakers, obviously. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also keep my supply of pond scum in here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I haven't used the pond scum in a few years but I just couldn't part with it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My friend has been collecting baby food jars for me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These are some of the collection. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(more on that project later)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, and you're right if you think you see the top of an overhead projector. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I got my document viewer, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that thing is just lucky it didn't see the trash first.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_E1Iu1hodsw-PCUVyxDwnNKJgqENFckNNK8zPJANmSgMfMdIpOfhXh0AXN_OnFsNUvpryyWqQn3UxxU8HIosGMr6fndE6DXEDTIg6X1hyphenhyphen_xart5sWuE926WpeLP98Qc2yBD-tko5HZxo/s1600/IMG_0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_E1Iu1hodsw-PCUVyxDwnNKJgqENFckNNK8zPJANmSgMfMdIpOfhXh0AXN_OnFsNUvpryyWqQn3UxxU8HIosGMr6fndE6DXEDTIg6X1hyphenhyphen_xart5sWuE926WpeLP98Qc2yBD-tko5HZxo/s320/IMG_0570.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This shelf is where I keep cleaning supplies and extra tissues, sanitizer, etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Clearly, my stock is low.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also keep a sweet collection of VHS tapes here, too.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The previous teacher left those and I was told not to get rid of them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't have a VCR.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s1dyJ8b_Lqmn19GLEn53BArkhJbI_Nje2ZGYm05N5JcGXHEsXXYAlrXJVoaHka_gn3ksK57GmympxmfuVa1IF1h0PCBlIe0wlVxV2MiXMochXdf5de8Zy8u1nQxqKmkEVmU_AJuHBQE/s1600/IMG_0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s1dyJ8b_Lqmn19GLEn53BArkhJbI_Nje2ZGYm05N5JcGXHEsXXYAlrXJVoaHka_gn3ksK57GmympxmfuVa1IF1h0PCBlIe0wlVxV2MiXMochXdf5de8Zy8u1nQxqKmkEVmU_AJuHBQE/s320/IMG_0571.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Disclaimer 1: My desk really never used to look like this.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I moved my room around, I removed some storage from my desk.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also moved all of my supplies in my desk drawer.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That left a completely clear desk top. Obviously that didn't work.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Disclaimer 2: This picture was taken the first day back after break.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was in the middle of a serious assembly line to correct 100 tests.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Remind me again why I put essay questions on the unit tests??</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is truly the worst it's ever been.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I may have thrown up in my mouth a little bit while taking this picture.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd8ah-4d125kNI_5HLQ5aC546Pd9hS2dQs7KHRH4E1mMhX0sE4yY6qfx_YP0h5_Eh04l84fJbyhmDb2gFRqkXPC2PjsunlIPQIdMaXkHfUbbmBbtMRiZW-jEdVGM11_GyAR4JdaEHDQ4/s1600/IMG_0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd8ah-4d125kNI_5HLQ5aC546Pd9hS2dQs7KHRH4E1mMhX0sE4yY6qfx_YP0h5_Eh04l84fJbyhmDb2gFRqkXPC2PjsunlIPQIdMaXkHfUbbmBbtMRiZW-jEdVGM11_GyAR4JdaEHDQ4/s320/IMG_0572.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is my computer table, which isn't too bad.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Except my phone rings ALL. DAY. LONG.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am constantly writing down notes and then they are left there in a pile.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwLvgQwqMvNQbwcFajK0wdQ34IIUFs_5k6RDNyerOyoGnnk5-ZXxruiMVoh0iH_GIHDrt3rQUkyB9VkTKTksF_K9vnAl7QUnQf20bUg9XCXiwWKswau1yCZTLFDkMDhk_8Su6x-l0T6E/s1600/IMG_0510+EDIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwLvgQwqMvNQbwcFajK0wdQ34IIUFs_5k6RDNyerOyoGnnk5-ZXxruiMVoh0iH_GIHDrt3rQUkyB9VkTKTksF_K9vnAl7QUnQf20bUg9XCXiwWKswau1yCZTLFDkMDhk_8Su6x-l0T6E/s320/IMG_0510+EDIT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is the other side of my computer table.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I usually have my copies for the day here. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also keep my teaching book and notebook open here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We had just finished a project, hence the additional craft supplies.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How do you store your daily supplies?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlxukGmZR7bPID8F78uNFD-0ACHDnt1tjRajDpqgAJRgfEEwr9-P0TA3sISGjrYOhCa6uhY-pzhJ8rJUhFWRSNeHVyOu-yl7CB6kUsCS76_rsEC4G3jk7kETxGhSZmqKENAZVhwIf2jY/s1600/IMG_0519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlxukGmZR7bPID8F78uNFD-0ACHDnt1tjRajDpqgAJRgfEEwr9-P0TA3sISGjrYOhCa6uhY-pzhJ8rJUhFWRSNeHVyOu-yl7CB6kUsCS76_rsEC4G3jk7kETxGhSZmqKENAZVhwIf2jY/s1600/IMG_0519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlxukGmZR7bPID8F78uNFD-0ACHDnt1tjRajDpqgAJRgfEEwr9-P0TA3sISGjrYOhCa6uhY-pzhJ8rJUhFWRSNeHVyOu-yl7CB6kUsCS76_rsEC4G3jk7kETxGhSZmqKENAZVhwIf2jY/s320/IMG_0519.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is my library area, which is pretty functional.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Except that I got a delivery of science supplies at an inappropriate time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where else was I supposed to put them on short notice?!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtA0ucXbf7eRJweRvosCovCLCd5-kM7QFk5Yty6sEW3PwO9m4jr6wGAeXfO_ReCX4zlivFof1WJXgih5wRWs7MmmrtPpcA7Jnzucc_pwlirYD0ZX2bu3Js9tc7W_dewSjrnZs9TsqX5uk/s1600/IMG_0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtA0ucXbf7eRJweRvosCovCLCd5-kM7QFk5Yty6sEW3PwO9m4jr6wGAeXfO_ReCX4zlivFof1WJXgih5wRWs7MmmrtPpcA7Jnzucc_pwlirYD0ZX2bu3Js9tc7W_dewSjrnZs9TsqX5uk/s320/IMG_0515.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My back counter could definitely be more functional.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It served as a hot cocoa station the Friday before break.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It usually just has baskets on it with whiteboards, clipboards, erasers, etc.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can also see the bottom of the unused overhead projector.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It makes for a nice way to display the pumpkin person, no? (Thanks Jodi!)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4ICpGrcf_vzzKkzOniC_w966GJG_nR0brqGDsztd4Dp3vaPP4FhxvqOAuiMql9WRwre_wVkdABQbaObaKItPjL0UhM130S6kzTRT7FL9h0C4ggxJkEQpJsyMw_O1gLw_HKHfvWVYl1o/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4ICpGrcf_vzzKkzOniC_w966GJG_nR0brqGDsztd4Dp3vaPP4FhxvqOAuiMql9WRwre_wVkdABQbaObaKItPjL0UhM130S6kzTRT7FL9h0C4ggxJkEQpJsyMw_O1gLw_HKHfvWVYl1o/s320/IMG_0516.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This place is behind my desk and is okay.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The plant just needed to be temporarily moved during break.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The drawers are labeled by day and I tried to store daily supplies here.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I really didn't like that for some reason. Any other ideas???</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">More beakers! Hah! I use these to water the plants. No sink, remember?</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_40W8zZt_hWKV6MCsF_GNw5RRP_B80JOpTLB0tjgFjG7y2ay7EF8I3l5KWCHMjyEC24pZq2UwR-LpUlIcDJfsYa0gBXc-IXyMLsUu7zyUXi0tqFnclC_mSaKt-Ejm7mkxaBg3glXBVM/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_40W8zZt_hWKV6MCsF_GNw5RRP_B80JOpTLB0tjgFjG7y2ay7EF8I3l5KWCHMjyEC24pZq2UwR-LpUlIcDJfsYa0gBXc-IXyMLsUu7zyUXi0tqFnclC_mSaKt-Ejm7mkxaBg3glXBVM/s320/IMG_0521.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is where my science bins go. Above an 8 foot tall closet.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is about as practical as keeping them in the middle of my rug.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm 5'1. When I try to get them down, it's a sight.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The boxes are unused math manipulatives.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They're unused because they're foam.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">FOAM manipulatives for kids to share? No, thanks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I want to make a curtain to cover this. I'm still brainstorming how.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZr9UAoHX9m7egqOuh8nBPEfmNY7FKFvrHGeZGZNHvC59-64nCujiayRw6y7L9JMYuS3K3oRmA12OKODvNCLpA2nZQCHgrphtKnYxVJlL01cMk-O5wjQDUQfTWwV_8r0P4ede5y8v7sI/s1600/IMG_0522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZr9UAoHX9m7egqOuh8nBPEfmNY7FKFvrHGeZGZNHvC59-64nCujiayRw6y7L9JMYuS3K3oRmA12OKODvNCLpA2nZQCHgrphtKnYxVJlL01cMk-O5wjQDUQfTWwV_8r0P4ede5y8v7sI/s320/IMG_0522.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This little gem just happened. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I used to have a TV on a rolling cart in my room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It did not have a VCR, DVD player, or even a remote that worked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was to make up for the fact that my classroom is the only room in the school that doesn't have one installed on the ceiling.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After 5 years and 3 uses, my complaints were finally heard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was in the middle of teaching when I got a phone call (duh).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">to please send it down to the library.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Uh, right now? Yes, right now, please.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So now you're looking at a pile of student projects and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">anchor charts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I use these when I'm introducing a new project or unit.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, and a couple of random bulletin board supplies.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They're all homeless.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTz2L1jIQx1MPFUu80iWUjxpU35yulPj8dN0cl-fmZLmK2pd9vAQkJv-q5xhAW262oOT8PG1j8Gt12UPhwTn2j7xMfTjJutqxwdFIggAT5vnkYVyvofwzMYnBRLFzANIGDEonYEbfKeN4/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTz2L1jIQx1MPFUu80iWUjxpU35yulPj8dN0cl-fmZLmK2pd9vAQkJv-q5xhAW262oOT8PG1j8Gt12UPhwTn2j7xMfTjJutqxwdFIggAT5vnkYVyvofwzMYnBRLFzANIGDEonYEbfKeN4/s320/IMG_0514.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I forgot to take a panoramic room shot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But you're probably not reading anymore and didn't notice.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Apparently in an attempt to cover up my clutter I became very long-winded.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I can't wait to get started. Go <a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/2012/01/show-us-your-clutter-linky-party-week-1.html" target="_blank">link up</a> to join in on the fun!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And if you have ideas for me, tell me!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Just be nice. :)</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-68328233266632198322012-01-06T21:58:00.000-08:002012-01-06T21:58:25.500-08:00Versatile Blogger Award!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can't believe that it's already Friday and that I had to wait until Mr. P went to bed to catch up on Teen Mom & All-American Muslim. I had so much fun sitting in my pj's, drinking my coffee WHILE it was still hot, catching up on my DVR in peace, and blog-hopping every morning last week. I guess all good things must come to an end! This week was L-O-N-G and I was glad that came to an end too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am so flattered and grateful that these fabulous ladies - Michelle at <a href="http://makingitasamiddleschoolteacher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Making It As a Middle School Teacher</a>, Jena at <a href="http://mrsphillipsiscaughtinthemiddle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Caught In The Middle</a>, and Heather at <a href="http://looseshoelaces.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Loose Shoelaces</a> awarded ME the Versatile Blogger Award! First of all, I am surprised that people are even reading my blog. Now they're giving me awards and recommending my blog to others, too! Y'all are too sweet! I have really loved getting to "know" more upper elementary and middle school teachers and highly recommend that you check out their blogs.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIYZv9c8joE/TwG9N96qPPI/AAAAAAAAASI/neCE0jEBL-s/s1600/blog-award.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_dfcunv="20" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIYZv9c8joE/TwG9N96qPPI/AAAAAAAAASI/neCE0jEBL-s/s320/blog-award.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I searched all over my newly discovered blogs and old favorites for ladies that have not received this award and I was totally out of luck. I am just going to graciously accept the award and I will be sure to share new finds and favorites as they pop up. If you newly discover my blog, be sure to become a follower or leave a comment so that I can newly discover yours. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">{Do these awards remind anyone else of the chain letters that were all the rage in the 90's?}</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I hope everyone had a fantabulous first week back!!</span></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-69881137015033826012011-12-30T22:19:00.000-08:002011-12-30T22:25:37.384-08:00Middle & High School Blog Party<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When Kristen from </span><a href="http://secondarysolutionsblog.com/2011/12/middle-and-high-school-new-year-blog-party-please-link-up-and-share/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Secondary Solutions</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> told me about the middle & high school blog party, I was all in. When I first started blogging, I was feeling a bit left out. There are SO many adorable blogs for K-3 teachers but what about the middle school teachers?? It's bad enough that we have to deal with the hormonal changes but now we can't get any love in blogland? I couldn't deal. I was having a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRTkCHE1sS4" target="_blank">Veruca Salt</a> moment. I did neglect my blog for a long time and I blame that entirely on grad school, but I can also say that part of it was due to the fact that I was having a serious identity crisis. I wanted to teach first grade, too! {Ok, it wasn't that serious, but still!} I LOVE fifth grade and all the perks... less boogers, more independence, but show me the blogs!! While there are wayyy more upper elementary/middle school blogs around now than there were even 6 months ago, I love finding more. I'm linking up with <a href="http://secondarysolutionsblog.com/2011/12/middle-and-high-school-new-year-blog-party-please-link-up-and-share/" target="_blank">Secondary Solutions</a> and you should too. And if you stop by from the party, please leave a comment or become a follower so that I can check out your blog. We need to stick together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also can't get enough of the linky parties this week and since this is my third in four days, I decided to partipate in Jodi from <a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-i-spent-my-winter-vacation-linky.html" target="_blank">Clutter-Free Classroom</a>'s "How I spent my winter vacation" party on my <a href="http://www.lifelovedinner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">personal blog</a>, since I didn't spend it doing school stuff. If the parties keep coming, I'm going to need some more time off.</span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-436864093334879192011-12-30T12:00:00.000-08:002011-12-30T12:00:04.087-08:002012 Resolutions<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another linky party?? Nuh-uh! Today I'm linking up with </span><a href="http://www.ateacherstreasure.com/2011/12/linky-party-new-year-resolutions.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A Teacher's Treasure</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> for the 2012 Resolutions linky party! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Here are the rules:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1. Copy and paste the image below to your post & link it to the <a href="http://www.ateacherstreasure.com/2011/12/linky-party-new-year-resolutions.html" target="_blank">party</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2. Make sure you include both personal and professional goals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">3. No more than 3-5 goals for each.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhTotvaAYja39HbVuW_4qyprxUlquprudbBkgxwQcxZD3r3n-XYrmI7Xm_8Hsxdh7_GuF6coxayKFHiItMny9haMfmWa2yP_ukXCfeDw4tHyNBpIBH42y3yn15l1p4fZI_N9aehr5goM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-12-27+at+11.58.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" closure_uid_h4ow6="3" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhTotvaAYja39HbVuW_4qyprxUlquprudbBkgxwQcxZD3r3n-XYrmI7Xm_8Hsxdh7_GuF6coxayKFHiItMny9haMfmWa2yP_ukXCfeDw4tHyNBpIBH42y3yn15l1p4fZI_N9aehr5goM/s320/Screen+Shot+2011-12-27+at+11.58.03+AM.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the past, resolutions have never been my thing. I hardly ever make them and when I do, I don't keep them. Isn't that how it's supposed to go, though? Anyhow, I'm just not a fan. First off, the time to make a serious goal and stick to it should not be after a week of <strike>being a total sloth</strike> relaxing during break. It should also not be when there are layers of clothes to cover up in, when it's pitch black when I leave for work and come home making me not want to do anything except be on the couch with my laptop/Nook, or when there are marathons of Teen Mom, Real Housewives, or Jersey Shore on.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">However, this year, <a href="http://www.ateacherstreasure.com/" target="_blank">Mrs. Zrihen</a> will be keeping me accountable and finding a way to check in on me monthly. That makes me a little nervous so I'm going to try to be serious.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Here are my resolutions:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Personal:</span></em></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Continue to work with my small group from church to read and better understand the bible so that I can be a better Christian.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Finalize the last of my wedding planning and take a deep breath. It will all get done and the end result is that I will be promoted to Mrs. P in April :)</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">GET HEALTHY! I don't <em>just</em> want to lose weight. I want to eat better and move more. I want to try Zumba and figure out some other ways to work out without wanting to poke my eye out. (While this is a totally popular resolution, I've never made it before)</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Focus on making my blog(s) better. Both have been neglected and considering how much I learn from my blog friends, I need to keep up with this thing!</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Professional</span></em></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Start math groups. I used to do small groups during math but it is SO hard with only one teacher for four groups. My kids' abilities are so spread out this year that I have to level their work in some way. I need something that isn't going to make me crazy so please send any and all math group ideas this way!!</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Complete 4-5 more graduate courses by the end of 2012. I neeeeeeeeeeeeeed to finish my Master's ASAP!</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Work smarter, not harder! I have to focus on my wedding, my soon-to-be husband, and my personal life by spending less time working on "school stuff". Sometimes, whatever isn't done at the end of the day will just have to wait until tomorrow.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Be more positive at work. Let's just say that, with the exception of the kids, the environment I work in is not the most desirable. I need to find a way to brush it off and focus on me and what I do with the kiddos.</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Happy (almost) 2012!</span></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-69119162830966223882011-12-28T20:48:00.000-08:002011-12-28T20:48:21.892-08:0011 in 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm linking up with <a href="http://ateenytinyteacher.blogspot.com/2011/12/11-in-11.html" target="_blank">A Teeny Tiny Teacher</a> for the 11 in 11 linky party, because I can't get enough of sitting on my couch and blog-stalking. In my defense, I have been getting a lot of wedding planning done this week... and some of it I actually got dressed for. It has been WAY too long since I've given this 'lil blog the attention it deserves and this is WAY too fun! </span></div><br />
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<br />
<center style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://http//ateenytinyteacher.blogspot.com/2011/12/11-in-11.html/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/darlingstar/Publication1.png" /></a></center><center> </center><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><center></center><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>11. Favorite movie</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It would have to be The Help. It seems to be the thing to turn books into movies and usually the directors really mess them up. I think The Help was done fabulously. It had me laughing and crying and wanting to read the book all over again!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img height="274" id="il_fi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHo9hkEqwEH82KsrVLtTNGlx69tvdArokWSHpRQVmyRYtrN1s7MQc2MXQpIw" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="184" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>10. Favorite TV Series</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This would have to be The Biggest Loser. We had to DVR every episode this past season and probably the upcoming season because that's when our small group meets, but we can't get it started fast enough on Wednesdays to catch up. It's not the same without Jillian but I have the biggest crush on Dolvett, so it's okay. If only I was that motivated to get up off my butt!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><img class="rg_i" data-sz="f" height="187" name="vmZUh4_aTNco7M:" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="cursor: move; margin: -3px 0px 0px;" unselectable="on" width="140" /></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rest assured, I also still LOVE Real Housewives of NJ and Teen Mom 1 & 2. Oh! And Sister Wives and All-American Muslim - seriously.. LOVE those shows! Is this too much TV?? Do I have a problem?? Don't answer that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>9. Favorite restaurant</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's a tie.. I LOVE Bisuteki, a Japanese hibachi place. SO. GOOD. I also LOVE Mexico Lindo. They have a mariachi band on Wednesday nights and the food is authentic and delicious.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePcXABzEbVmUisIFOpkgt253N_sN7jWVSc7oPsRtG3Rwqt_RwzdYYP8s_v2_V3pOhi7V0w668hVoanXGB0kzQ4MvUZBDWQen5_SDQ8Mxukei6YSpWxR1ou-W6-86QmVrUhc7yD2HSLT0/s1600/sombrero2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePcXABzEbVmUisIFOpkgt253N_sN7jWVSc7oPsRtG3Rwqt_RwzdYYP8s_v2_V3pOhi7V0w668hVoanXGB0kzQ4MvUZBDWQen5_SDQ8Mxukei6YSpWxR1ou-W6-86QmVrUhc7yD2HSLT0/s320/sombrero2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">{Our birthday dinner a couple of years back}</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>8. Favorite new thing you tried</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I started going to a new church this year and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was basically given the choice as a child to make my own decisions regarding my religion and I have finally found what feels like home. Through this church, I have taken two courses about Christianity, as well as our pre-marriage course. We have also met some incredible friends here and have really enjoyed exploring our faith with friends who have similar morals. We have also decided to get married here in April and it is my favorite thing about our wedding. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>7. Favorite gift you received</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I feel so spoiled because all of my favorite things have been gifts but this is one of my newest favorites. :)</span><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQSy1QEZAYc_hEqAoSX-AjXmivFXnUf7-8uQ6G8rJ-hVGuTMYXUvjQjFKsRd_fX3TBYH2Zi6KGSsL438YWD_IGTMmi7pcv17B3WUXgAIe79xVR74HBbAWNI9ZFh0Y8ASGEDCmy8a4Kig/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQSy1QEZAYc_hEqAoSX-AjXmivFXnUf7-8uQ6G8rJ-hVGuTMYXUvjQjFKsRd_fX3TBYH2Zi6KGSsL438YWD_IGTMmi7pcv17B3WUXgAIe79xVR74HBbAWNI9ZFh0Y8ASGEDCmy8a4Kig/s320/IMG_0427.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My cousin/MOH (above in the sombrero) got it for me for my birthday to use on my wedding day (which is four months from today! ahhh!) and I just couldn't stop looking at it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>6. Favorite thing you pinned</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now if I went through this, I would be here for another two days. It's bad enough that I am not being productive what-so-ever today <strike>or yesterday</strike> so I'm just going to include my link and you can decide! </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/sarahp12/" target="_blank">Follow me!</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>5. Favorite blog post</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My blog is not super new but it has been super neglected. I had so many great things drafted but I'm not sure you want to read about Halloween activities in January. I'm going to go with my most popular post... <a href="http://crazyforfifth.blogspot.com/2011/09/grab-yo-bags-its-on.html" target="_blank">Grab 'yo bags!</a> I'm also sooo nosy & loved seeing what was in everyone's bags!</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>4. Favorite accomplishments</strong></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Earning 4.0's in my two grad classes this semester. Maintaining two classes while teaching at an extended day school and planning a wedding is enough to kill someone. It was almost me so if I saw anything lower than a 4.0 when I checked my grades, I was going to lose my mind!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>3. Favorite picture</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another tie.. my BFF's from college at KW's wedding.. Fab4 is still going strong!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWFxEfE66Xr6z3fhN-1yoBsRR2LAqKrFezYXRXLbV_a_PYQjAn9ht7s2LdzdaJdmBOS-09SlJJQ24bsxmeK8WXeYHixU4D5YM-dVnM2lA_fUHOJ5PCYXnr-ueEgej2dUqAhY85A0knqs/s1600/fab4+kw+rehearsal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWFxEfE66Xr6z3fhN-1yoBsRR2LAqKrFezYXRXLbV_a_PYQjAn9ht7s2LdzdaJdmBOS-09SlJJQ24bsxmeK8WXeYHixU4D5YM-dVnM2lA_fUHOJ5PCYXnr-ueEgej2dUqAhY85A0knqs/s320/fab4+kw+rehearsal.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My crazy, sweet, hilarious niece! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwerFCO3GQK5sezFRBRb1hhmDyQr8eAJ30CPf0KWXES8KgeVkOih6ODBgseX6TapHHhfRvYHM3spHHUlYyb6wi78RcqhDWxrf4F-besm76bCs3Imvw8fOJejLcl3xYR7IOec8FsaBvXI/s1600/DSC05198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwerFCO3GQK5sezFRBRb1hhmDyQr8eAJ30CPf0KWXES8KgeVkOih6ODBgseX6TapHHhfRvYHM3spHHUlYyb6wi78RcqhDWxrf4F-besm76bCs3Imvw8fOJejLcl3xYR7IOec8FsaBvXI/s320/DSC05198.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am borderline papparazzi with this girl and we were out to eat when she said, "Hey, Auntie! Take a picture of this!" and then proceeded to make the following face.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDqp1VJtuEAI7alMFLDJ9yL2CO4VvLCRX8f2q9MCBvVdUTB5nRd4Tugj4XSzXJfv3LcnPU5CsU9xkh6s-ar-Ll1Lkxsea5tGrZo7ZHr8eLuI0zX0iVl56Ld3qBpD1FQ1iajqNdCkyZlA/s1600/DSC06264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDqp1VJtuEAI7alMFLDJ9yL2CO4VvLCRX8f2q9MCBvVdUTB5nRd4Tugj4XSzXJfv3LcnPU5CsU9xkh6s-ar-Ll1Lkxsea5tGrZo7ZHr8eLuI0zX0iVl56Ld3qBpD1FQ1iajqNdCkyZlA/s320/DSC06264.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, I could go on for days!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>2. Favorite memory</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mr. P and I bought our first house last year and I have really loved making memories together in our new home. We have lived here for about a year and a half now and I love everything from the home improvement projects, decorating for holidays, and hosting parties, to having dinner together and talking about our day. I love coming home and I am looking forward to many more years together in our house!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>1. Goal for 2012</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Stay tuned for my next post when I link up with Mrs. Zrihen at <a href="http://www.ateacherstreasure.com/" target="_blank">A Teacher's Treasure</a> for her 2012 Resolutions linky party!</span></div></span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-34245679015358477922011-12-27T15:00:00.000-08:002011-12-27T15:25:00.142-08:00Liebster Award<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As my blog grows, I continue to get more and more excited as the amount of followers gets larger and more importantly, when I hear how my teaching has helped others. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw that Heather at <a href="http://looseshoelaces.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Loose Shoelaces</a> awarded me with the Liebster Award! It's my first blog award and I am not only excited to receive it but also to share some of my favorite blogs with all of you. You have also got to check out Heather's blog. <br />
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<center><a href="http://www.looseshoelaces.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt=" " src="http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m509/hnmoffitt/button.png" /></a><br/></center><br />
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It is funny and adorable and best of all, she also teaches fifth grade! "Big kid" blogs are hard to come by and I am glad I found hers!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykSmJs1Q84qcwsu2OGhqqCgp47bpYpzvBdgMwSDYRqFHs_8s9NaSgvb9MP506ykdZPvb3SVWH-mDoQE3-5WAAFqzhOj06E4iqwRXIbAxKtSyi0fUHbprBGv4ByLt5LVsHWvzLiUe02K0/s1600/liebster+blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykSmJs1Q84qcwsu2OGhqqCgp47bpYpzvBdgMwSDYRqFHs_8s9NaSgvb9MP506ykdZPvb3SVWH-mDoQE3-5WAAFqzhOj06E4iqwRXIbAxKtSyi0fUHbprBGv4ByLt5LVsHWvzLiUe02K0/s1600/liebster+blog.png" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The goal of the award is to spotlight up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers. The rules are:</span></b></div><ol style="font-family: inherit;"><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">copy and paste the award on your blog </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">thank the giver and link back to them </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">hope that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You have got to go check out these blogs:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1. <a href="http://cardigansandcurriculum.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cardigans and Curriculum</a> - Casey is fabulous fifth grade teacher (love it!) with great, practical ideas for older kiddos that could easily be modified for younger kids. I love checking out her anchor charts! I'm also pretty sure that we could be friends in real life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2. <a href="http://msnoren.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Life as a Fifth Grade Teacher</a> - </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lindsay is another fab fifth grade teacher! She does some pretty great stuff with her kiddos including <a href="http://msnoren.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-be-trashy-reader-yeah-you-read.html" target="_blank">trash picking</a> and <a href="http://msnoren.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-make-your-old-halloween-costumes.html" target="_blank">dressing up</a> to improve her students' reading and writing. It would be so much fun to teach with Lindsay. </span><br />
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<center><a href="http://msnoren.blogspot.com/"
target="_blank" title=""><br />
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9fCAGn60Zng/TkMJT91VfgI/AAAAAAAAAIM/7wnkl9Do7h0/s1600/button.jpg"
alt="Alternative Name" /></a></center><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">3. <a href="http://messyjofu.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Life is Better Messy Anyway!</a> - I love reading Jordan's blog for many reasons, but I really love that it combines two of my favorite things.. cooking and teaching. Jordan teaches fifth grade (say it ain't so!) and I love seeing the great things she does with her kiddos like this <a href="http://messyjofu.blogspot.com/2011/12/over-moon.html" target="_blank">outer space</a> activity. Anything that involves toilet paper AND cookies is a total win/win for fifth graders; I can't wait to try it with my kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">4. <a href="http://joyin6th.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Finding JOY in 6th Grade</a> - Can I just say how much I love Kim?! She is a frequent visitor to my blog and always has something lovely and encouraging to say. Kim teaches sixth grade and has loads of activities that are perfect for the upper elementary grades. I always love reading Kim's blog & I'm sure you will, too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">5. <a href="http://fasttimesofamiddleschoolmathteacher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fast Times of a Middle School Math Teacher</a> - Liz is a middle school math teacher and I just discovered her blog. Not only do I love finding upper elementary blogs but I love finding math & science middle school blogs because they are the minority in blogland. Liz just posted a great <a href="http://fasttimesofamiddleschoolmathteacher.blogspot.com/2011/12/mind-maps-why-had-i-never-heard-of.html" target="_blank">mind mapping</a> activity that I can't wait to try and I am totally stealing her <a href="http://fasttimesofamiddleschoolmathteacher.blogspot.com/2011/12/group-work-wednesday-group-names.html" target="_blank">group names</a> idea. </span><br />
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<center><a border="0" href="http://fasttimesofamiddleschoolmathteacher.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DWvrws4K9kapJdGBGKfswfTF3_8Bkr9nAd8_N7nxmhW1XR1oDj2NX0_EXdO-E6ZrMHap_FBSrhsCDiDpWLLqK-QXN_9zzC8USwougPFiDh2XgrpqaESSqBWtMDWx9j4DPTt-TdOkLVw/s115/fasttimes5.jpg"/></a></center><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It was hard to pick just five but many others already have over 200 followers. Check these girls out; you won't be sorry!</span></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-33544793037588330272011-12-18T21:24:00.000-08:002011-12-18T21:25:29.228-08:00Currently December<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm linking up with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Farley</a> for Currently December! This is my first Currently link-up and I swear, right when I think I have run out of ways to procrastinate... I find some more! Love it! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOaBzTJI05O59Xqy5c-dqFPtRWzCXi888fHHJoswC3hVPDY_bSQdEzZWqkTN2_OSgeu4EYAvKf54zC55Q-0yh5drBXgTImtLEdAqOqdB3ibR-RCypxIRR7hyphenhyphennIfSxqo6-eUZq81z0TV8/s1600/december+currently" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOaBzTJI05O59Xqy5c-dqFPtRWzCXi888fHHJoswC3hVPDY_bSQdEzZWqkTN2_OSgeu4EYAvKf54zC55Q-0yh5drBXgTImtLEdAqOqdB3ibR-RCypxIRR7hyphenhyphennIfSxqo6-eUZq81z0TV8/s640/december+currently" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyhoo, it's off to bed for this gal! I've got 5 more days of school to get through before break. Yup, that's 1-2-3-4-5. If you don't hear from me in the next week, it means I've jingled myself all the way into a straight jacket! Ahhhhh!! :)</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-41066682807237477092011-12-16T13:42:00.000-08:002011-12-16T13:42:55.682-08:00Secret Snowflake & American Heroes<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have been busy, busy, busy and I am ready to collapse! I wish we could say that we've been busy making holiday crafts as visions of sugarplums dance in our heads, but that hasn't been the case. My school is pretty laid back about the holidays and my students celebrate many different holidays around this time. While most celebrate Christmas, I have a pretty good mix of students that are no longer enchanted by the magic of St. Nick squeezing his way through their chimneys. Some are just "too cool", some are secret believers or are unsure about the whole thing, but then others are all "riiiggghhhht. Santa's coming." Instead we have been busy learning about strategies to multiply large numbers and wrapping up our electricity unit. Since <strike>apparently corporal punishment for teachers is allowed</strike> we are in school for one more week, I have some crafty goodness lined up for next week - naturally, all lined up with the standards :) For you poor souls that will be spreading holiday cheer through a teaching manual (like me) and need some fun ideas for activities for older kids... here's what we'll be up to...</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.75in 0pt -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NQel6TId5W9bjnSbmBHnBb0sSnhoKFLIPCjbP_aZLWA/edit" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"The Secret Snowflake"</span></a>- my students are SOOOOOOO excited about this! We randomly picked names, just like a Secret Santa or what have you, and we are working on homemade gifts for the selected "snowflake". I work in a low-income school where many of the students don't have too much to give, so I emphasized that the gift should not be store-bought and should be unique, just as each snowflake is unique. They were hooked! I can't wait to see the final products on Friday. That's right... Friday. (We're here until 3:30, incase you were wondering.) Here is the letter that I sent home if you're interested. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsMzrlsSJMmniWlb2cHmgegNv5ngnL-aL7h9UPd2Kqpa7gdI1fnLybRR57KLO5BVULXvsiSxYSRxElpP1bAZTwxNwZS2AdK0-FdZuD1r7Rbs1JmBafZKB2lawBk6HG9Pf7xnfUayhbD8/s1600/secret+snowflake+letter.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsMzrlsSJMmniWlb2cHmgegNv5ngnL-aL7h9UPd2Kqpa7gdI1fnLybRR57KLO5BVULXvsiSxYSRxElpP1bAZTwxNwZS2AdK0-FdZuD1r7Rbs1JmBafZKB2lawBk6HG9Pf7xnfUayhbD8/s640/secret+snowflake+letter.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Prime & Composite Peppermints - We are following suit with <a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2010/12/tis-season.html" target="_blank">Cara</a> and <a href="http://aseriesof3rdgradeevents.blogspot.com/2011/12/peppermint-fact-families.html" target="_blank">Patti</a> and making some peppermint candies to display our math facts. Although, I decided to put a twist :) on it and we will be factoring prime and composite numbers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Gingerbread Houses - We somehow found ourselves in a door decorating contest with another fifth grade class and a sixth grade class. We are turning our door into a gingerbread house and we literally just started it today because the competition began to really heat up in our hallway. I am also debating decorating gingerbread houses two days before break. We have a 9:00 prep period that day, which means that from 10-3:30 (with the exception of 30 minute lunch) the kids are with me all day. I don't teach writing so I am trying to come up with something to tie the houses in with math. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Coordinate Grid Stockings - As we begin our graphing unit, we plot coordinates on a grid and it will turn out to be a Christmas stocking. We color & decorate them and hang them up when we're done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We don't have too many cute activities in fifth grade but the kids are excited because there will be glitter involved and that almost never happens. I hope to have lots of pictures to share next week :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Oh & we have been collecting items for soldiers in Afghanistan and our first package is going out in the mail today! The letters that the kids have been writing are precious!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrB3QwMXWmodMxJOPNVGPlmvHpH_lvJV7fWSAdHJNA4u2O7wrW7vmIlYQrjauMP5xlktCNxmmaEz1BsNW-2iJ7UFklmjqmueUxgIMy-Qj9dXSgf7UoPL4PQ99XYzZa1HEvkQYxAPo3fo/s1600/soldier+package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrB3QwMXWmodMxJOPNVGPlmvHpH_lvJV7fWSAdHJNA4u2O7wrW7vmIlYQrjauMP5xlktCNxmmaEz1BsNW-2iJ7UFklmjqmueUxgIMy-Qj9dXSgf7UoPL4PQ99XYzZa1HEvkQYxAPo3fo/s320/soldier+package.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-21272606694479647412011-12-08T18:42:00.000-08:002011-12-08T18:42:15.410-08:00I teach...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am still baffled at the amount of time that has passed since my last post. I feel like the world is moving around me at lightning speed while I sit at my kitchen table buried in piles of papers as the soft glow of Halloween lights falls on my shoulders.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjJpxKcsPzVvY8S1mSu3ZoTgNpOK1K4KR2Ph8eE2SIdu_MfGPW1yZ-AoRJ7bqtqU2UZFXX_L5ViK2M7K8LQQ5g6XeUkWyWI7AZhQI9HXhZJrAiIdUrpJBI4LFzGRaA9Y-3Z5zROLtNKQ/s1600/DSC06254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjJpxKcsPzVvY8S1mSu3ZoTgNpOK1K4KR2Ph8eE2SIdu_MfGPW1yZ-AoRJ7bqtqU2UZFXX_L5ViK2M7K8LQQ5g6XeUkWyWI7AZhQI9HXhZJrAiIdUrpJBI4LFzGRaA9Y-3Z5zROLtNKQ/s320/DSC06254.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">No joke. I put my Halloween decorations away when I took out my Christmas decorations. Don't worry, we didn't host Thanksgiving. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyways, I just wanted to pop in and say hello! I miss you all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I decided that this weekend instead of using Facebook for my mental break between papers, I am blogging. :) I'm sure I will need lots of breaks since my professor is somewhat loco and is STILL assigning work even though she already sent out the final exam and our 8-10 page research paper is due two days later. Pray that I finish it all this weekend!! I want my life & blog back!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A friend sent me this today (thank heavens for Pinterest!) and it couldn't be more motivating!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQqv3hvWANWMTIBbL0IiP4ZTHgrDmfIxvvmMF1n6gDi1i9xaUXeYbRNZxRqN87jApW5n5Ltj4g4DimK7zkRi52NwmmpYgRdhqifPpEoi3JN4rvidKQF_hq_fbkn48wJGi7k2Y-CpfutI/s1600/superpower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQqv3hvWANWMTIBbL0IiP4ZTHgrDmfIxvvmMF1n6gDi1i9xaUXeYbRNZxRqN87jApW5n5Ltj4g4DimK7zkRi52NwmmpYgRdhqifPpEoi3JN4rvidKQF_hq_fbkn48wJGi7k2Y-CpfutI/s1600/superpower.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy {almost} Friday!!</span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-29006327573157394872011-11-05T07:46:00.000-07:002011-11-05T07:46:47.518-07:00I'm alive!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, blogging world, how I have missed thee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am alive!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't know about anyone else, but going from total freedom over the summer to school lockdown in the fall, is a killer for me. It also doesn't help that I am taking two onling grad classes and planning a wedding. I underestimated how much time was involved with being a student again and online is not my thing when it comes to classes. I can spend hours on Facebook, Blogger, Pinterest (oh.my.word), and going through my Google Reader, but this online coursework is for the birds. It is SO time consuming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also need to know.. <span style="color: purple;">how long is everyone's prep period at school??</span> I teach at an extended school day so I am teaching from 7:45-3:30 and my prep ends up being about 20 minutes each day. Ridiculous, right?!? Ok, so the block is really an hour but we have a mandatory "team meeting" everyday for half of it, which would be wonderful if we actually used it for common planning, rather than for meetings and complaining. By the time I drop the kiddos off to their exploratory class, check my mailbox, and (if I'm lucky) run to the bathroom, I'm left with about 10-20 minutes. I have 50 students. That's 50 tests, 50 homework assignments, 50 notebooks to check, depending on the day. Of the 50 students, 15 are ELL, 5 are on IEP's, 3 on 504's, and we have 3 are in the middle of testing to check for a learning disability. I'm lucky if I get through 5 papers or check my email in this time. <span style="color: purple;">Is this normal??</span> I end up bringing all of this work home and fifth grade work takes a LONG time to grade. I am just lucky that I have been teaching the same curriculum for 5 years and our curriculums are super scripted, so planning doesn't take me all that long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I wish I thought to take a picture, but last Sunday my living room was a perfect snapshot of my life. Grad school books on the end table with a stack of pens and highlighters on top, school bag on the couch with uncorrected tests pulled out, laptop open on the couch, printer in the middle of the living room, and wedding Save the Dates in stacks according to what they needed (stamp, label, etc). My dining room table still had the decorations from the Halloween party that we hosted <em>the previous weekend</em>. If you can imagine anything else in that chaos, I had professional development the day before and yes, it was on a Saturday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anyone have any tips, advice, words of encouragement?? ..because if I'm being honest, I'm a bit burnt out and it's only November. I will say that my class is absolutely darling and they are a wonderful break from the chaos. Today my plan is to not leave my dining room table until I am completely caught up in these classes. And yes, I have finally cleaned up the party debris. :) I've just left a few key decorations out for Halloween, which I know is over but due the serious snowstorm we had last weekend, trick or treating was post-poned until Sunday, so we are still celebrating in these parts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have SO missed reading all of your blogs and connecting with you! Please know that every night before I go to bed, I read a post or two on my Nook. You are my de-stressing outlet and source of inspiration. I was also SO excited to see my new followers! Welcome! I promise, I'm not usually this much of a rambler.. or this delinquent in my postings.</span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-33559292877874043762011-10-05T16:00:00.000-07:002011-10-05T17:18:25.762-07:00A Peek in My Planbook: Frayer Model Vocabulary<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm linking up with Jodi at <a href="http://www.clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/">Clutter-Free Classroom</a> for "A Peek in My Planbook" linky party. This is something that I introduced last week during my Math/ELA enrichment block and I will continue introducing new vocabulary strategies over the next few weeks.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWlzrs9Rn0-iKJlAvKqnXluS0PhEojzmFA7bKyHJOuzHuhCwHbwk3o13rS-H_DVG-IvYgWtqpLtu2vVDRHl0ABN4fbj4g-i4HWFfdI_YzcZuTSCRQLiX7bog3LJ4B6oFgkhT6IXEbQFM/s320/weekinreviewlinky.jpg" width="320" /></div></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our math curriculum, <em>Think Math!, </em>has a ton of vocabulary but not so much reading. While I think the math is easier to understand when it's not buried under tons of written explanation, I find that the vocabulary is not supported very well on its own. I really don't like having the kids copy the words and definition in their notebooks but when there are 20+ vocab words each chapter, it's hard to figure out what else to do. I decided to make math vocabulary a focus this year, starting with my word wall (which has since been updated with a snazzy new border).</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5XIb0We4dfv630mwMoReRmlRFXyVQQ1iFtQqho7XTOXGcTCyXwWNzJpeJrZXC5oyE3mmxI4y7GvXL8tutW1Hatuh_m_v_C2AbLBXq2iZECFAG3d-qZ228tfL5DUiX4ebbyGk8_7U9Q4/s1600/DSC05864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5XIb0We4dfv630mwMoReRmlRFXyVQQ1iFtQqho7XTOXGcTCyXwWNzJpeJrZXC5oyE3mmxI4y7GvXL8tutW1Hatuh_m_v_C2AbLBXq2iZECFAG3d-qZ228tfL5DUiX4ebbyGk8_7U9Q4/s320/DSC05864.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Although, three weeks into activating the word wall, I am already looking for more ways to make it more interactive. Stay tuned for what I am working on :)</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As part of my new vocabulary focus, I have been using our enrichment block to introduce some of the vocabulary strategies/concepts from a recent workshop I took, such as semantic feature analysis, semantic mapping, scaling, and the frayer model.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The kids were already using something similar to the frayer model in English Language Arts and after discovering how much they are <em>loving</em> it, I've decided to use it in Science, as well. Here's how our vocabulary lesson went down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">No matter how tedious, I always start the chapter by providing the list of words and having the students create a 3-column chart that contains the word, definition, and a picture/example of the word. This way the students learn the definition and have a foundation of the words they are working with. Before the lesson, I always discuss the words that are new the lesson, and I highlight the words in our daily objective on the board and in their binders. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl3D0BpwTLLQiMSUTEeLKHKn94Zze0jIWH_7Lah20UrDSayEEnnDmEPGvZeHz4beN6dWbBE_ZxSajA1QuLVAfUl1veYDpg99prBlujsl02zu258Z7WmG6uTVdZAzQYgidEktR10seejI/s1600/objectives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl3D0BpwTLLQiMSUTEeLKHKn94Zze0jIWH_7Lah20UrDSayEEnnDmEPGvZeHz4beN6dWbBE_ZxSajA1QuLVAfUl1veYDpg99prBlujsl02zu258Z7WmG6uTVdZAzQYgidEktR10seejI/s320/objectives.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">During the lesson, whenever possible, I use a different color marker to show off a vocabulary word, as it is presented, and encourage the kids to do the same, which also fosters good note taking skills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This time, after the students became acclimated with the words, which was about 3/4 of the way through the chapter, I split the class into six groups of four and they each came up with a list of the six most challenging words in the chapter. Most kids were choosing the same words and once all of the words were written down, we voted on the top six. Then, each group was responsible for creating a frayer model, together, for their word. This happened over a couple of days during our 30 minute enrichment block. First, they created their model. Then, they edited with their group. Finally, we edited as a class with their models displayed on the document viewer {love, love, love my Elmo!}.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is what some of their drafts looked like.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPDHp8rvIuKTPLMzY-unN8ihDTqUYOhK06mwy0-rUH4ptLwoiOiwrabzkQr4vnY3RTJkpHrDl5l4Zx2G02n8FVq-8M6Wy8oF8mPx_FfanKQToclJPLQFLQdpKgbISN4bjxdPRibH8tq8/s1600/DSC06025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPDHp8rvIuKTPLMzY-unN8ihDTqUYOhK06mwy0-rUH4ptLwoiOiwrabzkQr4vnY3RTJkpHrDl5l4Zx2G02n8FVq-8M6Wy8oF8mPx_FfanKQToclJPLQFLQdpKgbISN4bjxdPRibH8tq8/s320/DSC06025.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCdBGx3US1NjaH6F_f08aAYmoDXCsmCloCxE3izEQhhqzgu3yVdL0ofb5oX2bL4HpFNX2zlKZGvigGRN_Jh4xhOnLYVCsJ2i3nqYqzPB8RzOYAiMw29N_zHcFMUfrn1V6XbwalU2rQiE/s1600/DSC06026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCdBGx3US1NjaH6F_f08aAYmoDXCsmCloCxE3izEQhhqzgu3yVdL0ofb5oX2bL4HpFNX2zlKZGvigGRN_Jh4xhOnLYVCsJ2i3nqYqzPB8RzOYAiMw29N_zHcFMUfrn1V6XbwalU2rQiE/s320/DSC06026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="left"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">When I tell you that they seriously loved this activity, I'm not kidding. During the next enrichment block when I told them to get out their frayer models, some of the kids actually cheered. I think this is just a more fun way for them to understand the language and they love working in groups. Any excuse to be able to talk and work! :)</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Here are their final products..</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinV2mFpytAe1OEUx24N1hjDd7-u9S1lOAfBrvlpxzJ20dZmzCIgXLVO-EQYqamlHWbvFH3s6AkNFjLaGsf_zq2d13lIz9sDEpv60IwZi3aMIp2YWqfbNwHHTlf3oBE2Ukm9bnaKilIBDY/s1600/DSC06018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinV2mFpytAe1OEUx24N1hjDd7-u9S1lOAfBrvlpxzJ20dZmzCIgXLVO-EQYqamlHWbvFH3s6AkNFjLaGsf_zq2d13lIz9sDEpv60IwZi3aMIp2YWqfbNwHHTlf3oBE2Ukm9bnaKilIBDY/s320/DSC06018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWeQkdC8uY3UDAWUlQBawvJ4Jv-WnwDcuv2FpK64-_LkWXn8RUqkFtyl8EqO3i4n7wlAAKeXWoSqT62Hn4plyItlHI9qrRnF0owIGcWFcqJ679ezLIT2yTYtFnBGfMSA47gIi5CBHJLg/s1600/DSC06022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWeQkdC8uY3UDAWUlQBawvJ4Jv-WnwDcuv2FpK64-_LkWXn8RUqkFtyl8EqO3i4n7wlAAKeXWoSqT62Hn4plyItlHI9qrRnF0owIGcWFcqJ679ezLIT2yTYtFnBGfMSA47gIi5CBHJLg/s320/DSC06022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHckmDq5bfMgvRFut6AqfRbtGWTuKAzoVHyJf8rP7Q2tWFbkFU0QM29j-VWEcJ4XlgGzSn_4HKGf_9KvFvU6T590hDM7vPHV5-htm3IRNAp2mN3zxVIClOABYcqgQUwKxdnyEISgx6WXU/s1600/DSC06021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHckmDq5bfMgvRFut6AqfRbtGWTuKAzoVHyJf8rP7Q2tWFbkFU0QM29j-VWEcJ4XlgGzSn_4HKGf_9KvFvU6T590hDM7vPHV5-htm3IRNAp2mN3zxVIClOABYcqgQUwKxdnyEISgx6WXU/s320/DSC06021.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfktlKpMMzKM3nWtclWzEOZAPiWpX_oneUtwm8jDD1bdForkE5oPGul8RXPM74RyJch4hx8o3VUN_91wK_52xPMBDIQmKc9Ge26ozxJXVtVvaC9Wi_Bf0he0opz7Utj-e8FT1uE5vBfI/s1600/DSC06020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfktlKpMMzKM3nWtclWzEOZAPiWpX_oneUtwm8jDD1bdForkE5oPGul8RXPM74RyJch4hx8o3VUN_91wK_52xPMBDIQmKc9Ge26ozxJXVtVvaC9Wi_Bf0he0opz7Utj-e8FT1uE5vBfI/s320/DSC06020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqivvb_Va9X5C0SUYGRl54NO6VOQrn6ltc56Kw_PYYp1JFL3YYocs3D6CO-Daqn02NxgTaNpGc6uWKIuSgQVvzWE0aAy03ein6aFpGz_wzwX9BO6yDzjdbcYkgvd3fS4VowQSXlLGl0iY/s1600/DSC06023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqivvb_Va9X5C0SUYGRl54NO6VOQrn6ltc56Kw_PYYp1JFL3YYocs3D6CO-Daqn02NxgTaNpGc6uWKIuSgQVvzWE0aAy03ein6aFpGz_wzwX9BO6yDzjdbcYkgvd3fS4VowQSXlLGl0iY/s320/DSC06023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQc5cy8mv8O7ZRFZarrE_Qu3f3Sa-0ph4v9AOeX4QxT4b1rKFbZc66F0TutZjd2o-qHkhETdUkEu4x2SULAyOzMrQw2VU20tB4Vq6ZlIU-mHwO5p3_KeSx8ZgAiFk7RuNbW7v_fTtEAs/s1600/DSC06019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQc5cy8mv8O7ZRFZarrE_Qu3f3Sa-0ph4v9AOeX4QxT4b1rKFbZc66F0TutZjd2o-qHkhETdUkEu4x2SULAyOzMrQw2VU20tB4Vq6ZlIU-mHwO5p3_KeSx8ZgAiFk7RuNbW7v_fTtEAs/s320/DSC06019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm also loving how they are now an active part of the room.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbooSk2tPPoNfZF6NC2tpP5DHzx5OKIaexI9fWccQyxiKIu-tYb_ZO3tQnGq54hoLkBPPHEvYNOzG-ZNwpKkhlWhCArnqHi0LSCNuGZxeGIVDQzRVUphx5k4PMk5TBOe7nhojAx9EzzU/s1600/posters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbooSk2tPPoNfZF6NC2tpP5DHzx5OKIaexI9fWccQyxiKIu-tYb_ZO3tQnGq54hoLkBPPHEvYNOzG-ZNwpKkhlWhCArnqHi0LSCNuGZxeGIVDQzRVUphx5k4PMk5TBOe7nhojAx9EzzU/s320/posters.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This week we're working on the Chapter 2 challenge words. I also introduced a vocabulary preview chart that the kids are really enjoying. As part of our Magnetism review, we will also be making semantic maps of our science vocabulary. Come back next week to see how it all turned out! Rich vocabulary is everywhere in grade 5!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-15132794295063866042011-10-03T15:30:00.000-07:002011-10-03T15:30:48.972-07:00Where I'm From<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This project is one of my all time favorites. I love writing "Where I'm From" poems in the first month or two of school because it is a great way to learn more about your students but also to challenge them in their writing. This project was inspired by Jen at <a href="http://jenteacherslife.blogspot.com/search?q=where+i%27m+from">A Teacher's Life</a> but is originally based on the poem <a href="http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html">"Where I'm From"</a> by George Ella Lyon. This is her poem.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I am from clothespins, <br />
from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride. <br />
I am from the dirt under the back porch.<br />
(Black, glistening, <br />
it tasted like beets.) <br />
I am from the forsythia bush<br />
the Dutch elm<br />
whose long-gone limbs I remember<br />
as if they were my own. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm from fudge and eyeglasses, <br />
from Imogene and Alafair. <br />
I'm from the know-it-alls<br />
and the pass-it-ons, <br />
from Perk up! and Pipe down! <br />
I'm from He restoreth my soul<br />
with a cottonball lamb<br />
and ten verses I can say myself. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch, <br />
fried corn and strong coffee. <br />
From the finger my grandfather lost <br />
to the auger, <br />
the eye my father shut to keep his sight. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Under my bed was a dress box<br />
spilling old pictures, <br />
a sift of lost faces<br />
to drift beneath my dreams. <br />
I am from those moments--<br />
snapped before I budded --<br />
leaf-fall from the family tree</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">First, I share the audio of the poem by George Ella Lyon that is on her website, as I display the written version with the document viewer. After the kids hear it and read it, I ask them questions about the poem, such as.. What is it about? Who are the people, places, and things, mentioned in the poem? What is the theme of the poem? Can you make a self-to-text connection? We also discuss the language used and how it enhances the poem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then, I share poems that previous students wrote. This brings the poem back to their level since the original is a bit too much for most of my students. The poems lead to rich conversation about poetry, language, writing about personal experiences, and how those personal experiences shape who we are and what we write. Many of my students have such wonderful stories to tell, some heart-breaking and some that make your heart just burst with love. It is through this poem that I really learn the most about my students. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Next, the students brainstorm all of the most important people, places, and things to them in one of two formats. They can either create a list with sublists or they can make a web, using words and pictures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then, I provide students with <a href="http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm">this template</a>. I'm not where the original came from because I've found the same template floating around the web for a few years now. I go over the template with them, explaining the parts they have trouble understanding and providing examples. The students then work on filling out the template, using their brainstorms to guide them.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl87bHIBOZv4ANrthFAVz8zzLBlEUpMANaYAT2LH4svoN_porwbx-J2NyOcvHeGPo4PyDObnU-ovEOhCjeeQxvSr7HyteoYaR5wyZrKhNzt62O7LcqljtMwbSYfKvJ3TqhgLa5J9IzPw/s1600/DSC06033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl87bHIBOZv4ANrthFAVz8zzLBlEUpMANaYAT2LH4svoN_porwbx-J2NyOcvHeGPo4PyDObnU-ovEOhCjeeQxvSr7HyteoYaR5wyZrKhNzt62O7LcqljtMwbSYfKvJ3TqhgLa5J9IzPw/s320/DSC06033.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then, the students move their writing to a piece of paper, adding any additional details that support their writing and they self-edit using a thesaurus.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAo5z8DxGdMNTp4F4F9lv7ztyl4Fzs9iNml1ihwJh9KoYbfJhP8K9Qe1cY2Wzu56j6demO2_qeFtOlre04U0G2Ivj4nTUMfqKFLkZuyGgUFghwFPp8Oki9S2pGw_Fg_eFJX-sYTrvewE4/s1600/DSC06032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAo5z8DxGdMNTp4F4F9lv7ztyl4Fzs9iNml1ihwJh9KoYbfJhP8K9Qe1cY2Wzu56j6demO2_qeFtOlre04U0G2Ivj4nTUMfqKFLkZuyGgUFghwFPp8Oki9S2pGw_Fg_eFJX-sYTrvewE4/s320/DSC06032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Finally, the students complete a final draft. We usually type our final drafts, but this year, my computers are <em>still</em> not working. Oh, well! Another opportunity for them to practice their handwriting.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMpTmqslXS53C4-kjLN4dnWJ9yewbWUah5_4ceP92shvGjH49ATRCcei9lRjkHFSDHATFsaLTLJRCLdV4u3V2Gml6jpYn_OnA_WPwZIPpcwfjFHHAxBAXITOpx-A8qoRSpJY5q5q8nzk/s1600/DSC06031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMpTmqslXS53C4-kjLN4dnWJ9yewbWUah5_4ceP92shvGjH49ATRCcei9lRjkHFSDHATFsaLTLJRCLdV4u3V2Gml6jpYn_OnA_WPwZIPpcwfjFHHAxBAXITOpx-A8qoRSpJY5q5q8nzk/s320/DSC06031.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This student is one of my rockstars. This type of writing comes naturally, as you can see from the last line in her poem, <em>"I am from creativity".</em> I encourage them to think of one word that sums up their poem or defines them as a person. I see wonderful endings... I am from love, hope, faith, their country or city of origin, fashion, friendship, an emotion, their favorite subject, and the list goes on. Here is another example.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_AnKKXZ5mX20ifE_KLUC01kGfj7L3gKIZkWpmMA54wUNLlYy_iGP07JyGArj79D97cSjzqIUQaBXqDFNCh0atI-QPvDaxBSXWkI24Zq6QGUBy_m4q7f7Ku5ZHFHmoQNk5asvgEvFPzY/s1600/DSC06036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_AnKKXZ5mX20ifE_KLUC01kGfj7L3gKIZkWpmMA54wUNLlYy_iGP07JyGArj79D97cSjzqIUQaBXqDFNCh0atI-QPvDaxBSXWkI24Zq6QGUBy_m4q7f7Ku5ZHFHmoQNk5asvgEvFPzY/s320/DSC06036.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you want to experience great writing, deep poetry, and rich discussion with your students, try this activity. While this activity is geared towards middle and high school students, it can certainly be modified for younger students. I can't wait to hang these up!</span></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-14122432663738287902011-10-02T06:52:00.000-07:002011-10-02T06:52:09.081-07:00All About Me T-Shirt<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How on earth is September already over??? I feel like I haven't even had a chance to catch my breath and now I have to change my calendar?! Good thing I love October. Crisp air, apple picking, pumpkin spice lattes, tall boots, chunky sweaters, Halloween, shall I continue?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyways, I wanted to share an activity that I did with my kiddos in the first week of school. I have a hard time finding 'back to school' activities that are cool enough for my middle schoolers. After some blog <strike>stalking</strike> therapy, I found a project that the kids <em>loved</em>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lindsay from <a href="http://msnoren.blogspot.com/">My Life as a Fifth Grade Teacher</a> had a <a href="http://msnoren.blogspot.com/2011/08/first-day-activity.html">great project</a> on her blog that was just right for my kiddos. It's perfect for those first few days that are super busy but also have too much lag time in between teaching procedures, but you could also do this for a book report or student of the week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I created a tshirt template by drawing one, or twenty-five, on poster board and gave the kids the template that was not cut out. I figured that they might hack up the tshirt if they weren't careful with the scissors and I <strike>am too OCD to let that happen</strike> wanted them to look nice when I hung them in the hallway. Each student had to come up with words and pictures that represented them and draw them on their tshirts. When they were finished, I cut them out and hung them in the hallways, using a clothesline and clothespins. LOVE this!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05FfV7VMtls5sKv2fD2LAVn-7yhebBw4M6TnCyt0X4gyvSkgQawXiZL3SZnZdHV6P1hizTCO5naqSPfPbXp_KRb-9ucam4ESBoQMdgKdA4enfzOGXHKmSx-YZh45v_YOPNGTyjwc9LnY/s1600/DSC05950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05FfV7VMtls5sKv2fD2LAVn-7yhebBw4M6TnCyt0X4gyvSkgQawXiZL3SZnZdHV6P1hizTCO5naqSPfPbXp_KRb-9ucam4ESBoQMdgKdA4enfzOGXHKmSx-YZh45v_YOPNGTyjwc9LnY/s320/DSC05950.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The only thing I would have done differently, is put up a light blue background, so that it looked like the sky. I already had green up and that's that!</span>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-38367332436684759642011-09-27T21:14:00.000-07:002011-09-28T07:03:17.462-07:00Grab 'yo bags! It's on!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Does anyone else think the Southwest Airlines bag commercials are hysterical?? Mr. P and I love to quote the commercial whenever we can fit it into conversation. A couple of years ago, we swore we saw the guy from the commercial at a local apple orchard. Just recently, when trying to decide where to go apple picking this year, I asked which orchard we were at that year and he said, "the one with the Southwest guy." We've officially lost it. Anyways, onto the real reason you're here...</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm linking up with Babbling Abby at <a href="http://theinspiredapple.blogspot.com/">The Inspired Apple</a> for the Inside My Bag Linky Party. Like Abby, and most teachers, I cycle through bags like nobody's business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My first year, I had a big ole' tote bag from the teacher's union. That thing got the boot because it really took a beating. Who gives a white bag to a teacher???</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The next year, I made this gem.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgjw4wS6YxVvA1lIrfOvdYjjLBcRk8F0ANxPuM9Q2jWEA0I6-r0Iau1qUtbGnayRHvmoGucf7sIJtn36lQO-3UKOFVzqk3gqP_3cPlKHXgPOdJLE2KgEADeJOnChPX6L1QFmGK2m8otg/s1600/DSC05985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgjw4wS6YxVvA1lIrfOvdYjjLBcRk8F0ANxPuM9Q2jWEA0I6-r0Iau1qUtbGnayRHvmoGucf7sIJtn36lQO-3UKOFVzqk3gqP_3cPlKHXgPOdJLE2KgEADeJOnChPX6L1QFmGK2m8otg/s320/DSC05985.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is Anna and yes, I made it. Not literally, but I designed it through Anna William; a small designer out of Newburyport, Ma, that lets you customize your own bag. I picked out the fabrics at a bag party and then decided where I wanted them to go and here she is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I loved this bag for many reasons. It's adorable, has lots of pockets inside, and zips closed, to name a few, but it was too big. I carried home <em>way</em> more than I needed to on a regular basis. I retired the bag for school use but I still use it for weekend getaways.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then I switched it up to this one...</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UAtRDQd_VJ7j9OliQzkPBbIpSXIhEO_oReGPpO1H4VzEKzk9x931Ug4dGDnyrAvtV3tfuGJqaaLE_mRzNZzzvOfXqaJ2iKkmb64V9rr_2Wf7u9NnlvRgoJaUV2-LLlFsy6a16MiaPU0/s1600/DSC05988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UAtRDQd_VJ7j9OliQzkPBbIpSXIhEO_oReGPpO1H4VzEKzk9x931Ug4dGDnyrAvtV3tfuGJqaaLE_mRzNZzzvOfXqaJ2iKkmb64V9rr_2Wf7u9NnlvRgoJaUV2-LLlFsy6a16MiaPU0/s320/DSC05988.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is a Harcourt School freebie from our math curriculum. I had the genius idea that if I used a clear bag, I would be more self conscious about shoving <strike>junk</strike> too many unneeded items in there. Hah! Too bad you can't see that behind that unopened calendar (another freebie) I have a water bottle, winter gloves, receipts, paystubs, pens, and a few highlighters, among other things. This bag is still sitting in my closet. I may need to grab the winter gloves, soon!<strike></strike></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This year, I couldn't pass up this $15 tote from Walmart.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt6U6hTw10M3wWNdGJuANCR6GPf5PclqcXMBgZrv6zgLzaaGEUKMR5c1N4jDASodzaiiDscBJlpbKbswaF_OZsBuCKyVmRoU3SzVp1KE-VMkV_WbPOTV5tENgKwFej3Eb8-81PTlh924/s1600/DSC05972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt6U6hTw10M3wWNdGJuANCR6GPf5PclqcXMBgZrv6zgLzaaGEUKMR5c1N4jDASodzaiiDscBJlpbKbswaF_OZsBuCKyVmRoU3SzVp1KE-VMkV_WbPOTV5tENgKwFej3Eb8-81PTlh924/s320/DSC05972.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She matches my classroom decor and is just the right size to bring home work, but not too much at a time. What a shame. Although, she is pretty narrow, so this is what I carried around this week. Hello, bag lady!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosb3bIhep1IK3ZeNwJAywXccUbv80Q1yEngheBdP687RzEimqDkEleU3DOMUofqDloQ9hZ2hnUzYcJsME2Zfr1yCrjsPkWa6mCZKHVJ69p6dAGMybatBj-MIQGIcf6j51OmjgxILHqmg/s1600/DSC05989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosb3bIhep1IK3ZeNwJAywXccUbv80Q1yEngheBdP687RzEimqDkEleU3DOMUofqDloQ9hZ2hnUzYcJsME2Zfr1yCrjsPkWa6mCZKHVJ69p6dAGMybatBj-MIQGIcf6j51OmjgxILHqmg/s320/DSC05989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's what's inside this pretty little thing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnNfqby6dq2ucySuaIYR7if0Fw1VcU1PYqKNMVKcV448KygwP8RsmcWd9Tvo6004EEkDQ1aZi0Rf6_uwgVjUwNZkcQt1qF0NNqAeq1NYiHA2_oMCUnbZTQZ4p56OKHB-yelXadWPTKY0/s1600/DSC05976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnNfqby6dq2ucySuaIYR7if0Fw1VcU1PYqKNMVKcV448KygwP8RsmcWd9Tvo6004EEkDQ1aZi0Rf6_uwgVjUwNZkcQt1qF0NNqAeq1NYiHA2_oMCUnbZTQZ4p56OKHB-yelXadWPTKY0/s320/DSC05976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">My <strike>bible</strike> day planner, notepad for list making :), post-its, classroom keys & flashdrive, notebook for grad school, clipboard with gradebook sheets that I need to enter online, manila folder with MCAS scores, and a packet of homework that I still need to finish correcting.</span><strike></strike></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8X6e11nb5QEtZx5zT0egfxrS237fH1fCMlRVP5d54gFp8up12cOJJU5hAKM5gBoSex6ymdqVe_noJExBfHXWVjPC6LoeLHhvOC81eZ-40xXfYLW-nMwsAnLgKfcgvLUExsXnw-QcUq_Q/s1600/DSC05981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8X6e11nb5QEtZx5zT0egfxrS237fH1fCMlRVP5d54gFp8up12cOJJU5hAKM5gBoSex6ymdqVe_noJExBfHXWVjPC6LoeLHhvOC81eZ-40xXfYLW-nMwsAnLgKfcgvLUExsXnw-QcUq_Q/s320/DSC05981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, and last week, the germies got me. Notice how the DayQuil is ripped open? I literally tore through the box to get some relief. Echinacea is my secret weapon. The tea is lovely and I take my Echinacea with Vitamin C in the morning, afternoon, and before bed, and I swear it cuts my sick time in half. Hand sanitizer is a must since my classroom does not have a sink!! I know, crazy, right?! My immune system is getting better each year but I still get sick in September and once during the winter.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I may or may not have all of my paystubs since school started, shoved in there.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">What's in your bag?? Go to Abby's <a href="http://theinspiredapple.blogspot.com/2011/09/inside-my-school-bag-linky-party.html">Inside my School Bag Linky Party</a> to play along!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-961077845661183532.post-25312917019451071872011-09-25T07:09:00.000-07:002011-09-25T07:09:01.055-07:00Great Read-Alouds<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have a confession. I am addicted to book shopping. The rush of adrenaline that I get when I walk into Barnes and Noble is indescribable. Oh, the smell of a new book! It's pure heaven! With that said, I made it in and out of Barnes and Noble today in record time.. 2 hours. Hah! I have a baby shower to go to and the girls hosting requested that instead of a card, we each bring a book and sign that instead. I <em>love</em> this idea! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Obviously, it took me for-ev-er to pick out a book because I spent a lot of time browsing for the perfect book. I didn't want a classic because I figured that everyone else would get one of those. I didn't want a "baby"book because, again, everyone else is sure to bring one of those to a baby shower. Plus, I kept thinking, what do you do when you receive multiple copies of the same book and people already signed the book and wrote a message in it?? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Picture me sitting on the floor in the kids section, devouring picture book after picture book. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I read all my faves, Corduroy, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Tar Beach, Stella Luna, No, David!, Dot, Ish, Thank you, Mr. Falker, Pirates Don't Change Diapers, Fancy Nancy, Make Way for Ducklings, Knuffle Bunny, and the list goes on. The couple does not know what they are having, so it was a bit more challenging but here's what I ended up with.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><img height="303" id="il_fi" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.thingamababy.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/18/pigeon.jpg&sa=X&ei=YTF_TrnUBIru0gGg0PH2Dw&ved=0CAoQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNEmsyhn3tnai7KEyvKNuO4N6jjxSw" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love, love, love Mo Willems. I discovered his books while I was taking a Children's Lit class as an undergrad. This book is too much fun and preschoolers just eat it up. He also has some more in this series, Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, and The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog are two more great ones. The little pigeon is so dang cute and when you use it as a read aloud, the kids love to shout out, NO!! the whole time. I hope they enjoy it as much as my kiddos did when I was teaching the younger grades. Plus, unless there are other teachers there or parents with preschool age children (which I don't think there are) there's a good chance that no one else picked up this book.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also couldn't resist this one..</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><img height="267" id="il_fi" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.sandboxworld.com/sandboxworldpix/forever_young.jpg&sa=X&ei=tTJ_TvWiL-rL0QGg_vn7Dw&ved=0CAkQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNHSvkGReCsS_jE1EoFMDndG22nYEg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">This book is literally just the lyrics from the song, Forever Young, with illustrations of it being performed in New York. The baby's parents are fans of his music and the baby's dad is from New York, so when I saw the adorable illustrations, I knew it had to be a part of this sweet baby's new book collection. Again, I think this is another one that no one else will get. (I have no idea why I was stressing so much about multiple books showing up at this shower!)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I couldn't resist picking up this book for my classroom..</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175056787l/474858.jpg&sa=X&ei=wzN_TuKoOcnv0gH4xI3yDw&ved=0CAoQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNFpd5_g9Zw_jNsVdB1MLMdNwUMIww" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="255" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">because I love David Shannon, I don't read aloud from pictures books enough to my kiddos now that I only teach math and science, and this book has a great lesson behind it for kids of any age. Jodi from <a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/">The Clutter Free Classroom</a> did a great project and adorable bulletin board with this book and I hope to do something similar. This will be a great read aloud now that we've started our anti-bullying program, Steps To Respect, because it is all about being yourself and not caring about what other people think about you.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It's amazing that I only walked out of there with 3 books. Although, my heart was aching thinking about how much I miss teaching the little ones. Strangely enough, whenever I picture a change in grade level, I always consider moving up, until I find myself sprawled out on the floor of the kids section of Barnes and Noble!</span></div>Miss Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00514858411901099765noreply@blogger.com3