Five for Friday

This week has been nuts... absolutely nuts.  Two weeks until the end of the trimester, there were so many things to wrap up...

...and then this happened.  My youngest had a croup attack the other night which caused us to pull out the nebulizer.  It's a yearly thing - every fall and winter we have the humidifier and this going almost every night.  Anything to fight the attacks!  He's scared of it when he's awake, so at night I do the pass over.  It works though and I usually get a chance to sit and watch a show on Netflix. :) #littlethings

We are finishing up our Native Californian and Island of the Blue Dolphins units. This week we finished up our 5 paragraph informational booklets on our specific tribes. Today we read the chapter in Island that describes her visiting the cave with the drawings from her ancestors... so our Friday art project was to create our own Native American Symbol Drawings.  Using google images, the kids told their own story through pictures.  They then had to share the stories with each other.  So much fun!  

With the end of September it was also time to change desks.  We change them around on the last day of every month.  We are now sitting in this arrangement.  Basically one row that wraps around, no one sitting in front of someone else which lets this teacher be able to see everyone very clearly.  There is also a lot of floor space which helps with all the group work that we complete.  LOVE this arrangement!

Another thing that we completed on Wednesday was our Monthly Grammar Coloring Sheet.  Overall, the kids did a great job! #proudteacher

Hope you had a great week! 

Five for Friday

Five for Friday!  This week the blog has been really quiet and for good reasons.  I've barely been home!  So today before I head out the door again, I wanted to jump in and share a little about what I've been up to this past week.

1

The teachers at school decided to have a paint night.  I've never done anything like that before, but I'm so happy that I went out of my comfort zone and attended.  One of the parents from school is an artist, she kicked off our Art Docent program at school for the kids, and she graciously donated her time to teach 6 teachers how to paint.

2

This week I've been at the CA NGSS Early Implementers conference.  It's been eye opening to say the least.  Not exactly what I expected, but in a good way.  I've been learning about the new standards, etc.  Every day they give us a functional gift... a seat cushion, a water bottle, a tshirt, a magnifying glass, a prism... I have loved my science swag!  I better make mention (since I know they read the blog), that my Mom, Dad, Sister, and Husband have been wonderful taking care of the boys as I've been gone for 10 hours a day.  Best present knowing that family comes through when the going gets tough!    

3

One night this week my oldest decided he wanted to try creating his own teacher resources in order to  (get this), "Help other kids learn how to understand what they read."  Yep, my kid.  He did it all himself.  Borders, cover image, text boxes, tables, clip art, planning it out beforehand on paper, etc.  So proud!  He wants to add more pages before I show you the end product.

4

Like I mentioned - this week has been filled with science - experiments and what not.  

...and yesterday I spent the entire day in a Sacramento church first listening to a pipe organ, and then learning about sound and light waves in a community room.  It was interesting!  

 5

I also wanted to share that my 2 Donors Choose projects were funded this summer.  I'm so happy!  Thank you so much to the donors that helped my class.  I really appreciate you!  

Have a great day! 

5 for Friday

Another Friday... I only have 1 more week of summer until I have to switch on my school brain and actually think!  I wanted to link up with Doodlebugs to let you know what made this week extra special. :)  

Last week I was still away at the conference, so I didn't have a chance to post this picture.  I LOVE my new shirt A+ images.  Thank you!  In case you didn't know, A+ images makes quite a few teacher shirts, including custom designs.  I have a few other teacher shirts that I love to wear during the school year (from their website TeacherShirts.com).  I also picked up some matching shirts "I Teach 4th - What's your superpower?" for my grade level team during the conference at their table in the Expo.  It just made it extra fun to have my blog logo on one, it was easy for people to see.  Thank you so much!

I signed up for the Periscope app.  I haven't posted anything yet, but could see myself doing stuff during the school year.  It's been fun watching friends and people I admire post videos.  Just wish that it didn't drain my phone battery so much.  Are you on Periscope?  What kind of posts do you enjoy the most? 

I decided to be brave and post a picture of myself around at the different social media places.  Since I like to be behind the camera it was a little unnerving, but not as scary as I had thought.  For future reference I do NOT live on a farm, though my picture makes me think of farm fresh...  :)

This past week my little blog hit a milestone (at least a milestone for me).  1,000,000 page views! 1 MILLION stops over the past 3 years.  Thank you.  :)  

I've also been trying to get things a little updated on the blog/FB/TPT lately.  Maybe you noticed the little bar at the top of the page?  I would love an email address so I can start to send freebies to my email followers.  I promise I won't do anything with it other than send you freebies and helpful info.   

Well, that's it for now.  I have been busy getting ready to head back to school - so please stop by next Monday to see all my projects.  :)  

Five for Friday: I Survived the Week! (Giveaway)

Linking up with Doodlebugs for yet another Five for Friday!  Slow down summer... 5 weeks are over!!!  I knew this past week was going to be a rough one.  I'm a teacher on summer break... yet I worked harder this week than I have in a long time. 

One:  VBS - Arts and Crafts Teacher for Preschool

I loved this years theme of Mount Everest.  This was my "classroom" this past week at night.  Snowflakes hanging everywhere.  We had igloos that transitioned the kids through the rooms.  It's one thing to have 32 fourth graders focus for the 6 hours I have them, it was a challenge to maintain focus for the dozen 3-6 year olds I had for 15 minutes each.  Painting almost every night, bubbles everywhere, it was so much fun!  The AC decided to quit during this extra hot week, so it was a little warm, but thankfully we had a fan to keep us company.  

Two: 21 Day Fix

I decided it was time for me to get real about making good choices.  Too much Diet Coke and treats this past month... it was time to jump back on the wagon.  I'm loving this eating plan!  I am using the free (purple) 21 Day Fit Tracker app to help me keep track of what I'm eating.  Really happy with the results so far!

Three: Getting Ready for Vegas

I didn't go to Vegas last year, and then I drove my friends that went crazy... so I'm beyond excited about next week.  It's starting to feel real, I've been printing out my boarding pass, and name tags... pulled out my suitcase and have been trying to figure out what to wear...  Only a few more days until I get to physically meet some of my best blogging friends!  

Four: Friend Time!

This past week my school has been selling fireworks to raise money.  Yesterday (and today) I spent time hanging out with these lovely ladies in a hot firework cage and holding a sign on the corner.  It was our grade level's turn to sell, we're trying to raise money for next year's big field trip.  I absolutely thank God for these women, it's so wonderful to be able to work with people you call your friends.  

 Five:  Big Week on FB

My FB page reached 3,300 likes!  Feeling loved over there too, I wanted to have a shopping spree giveaway.  Tomorrow night I'll choose a random winner.  The giveaway is over on FB, so please go enter!

Have a great day!

5 for Friday - Summer Version

Week 4 of vacation is over...  WAAAHHH!  I'm having a hard time that my summer is halfway over.  Linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching to share 5 happy things from this past week.  

One: Late Father's Day Celebration

My entire life Dad has been the one that is behind the camera.  Now he gets to be in front of it with his new selfie stick.  It's the little things people!  

Two:  Donors Choose!

A week ago I submitted 2 projects over at Donors Choose.  My Scholastic project was funded in one week.  I'm so thankful!  I have another project, It's Okay to Wiggle, that I still need help with.  $87 to go!  I'm trying to get 7 Wobble Cushions that will help my students with focus issues.  Can you help?  If you donate, please email me with your Donors Choose user name, and I'll send you a thank you present! 

Three: Target Craziness!

I have big feet.  I blame my boys for them as they grew 1/2 size during each of my pregnancies and never shrunk.  I also know that I can hardly ever find shoes in my size in the stores.  So to find so many options of Sketchers Sports (most comfortable shoe ever) for 50% off, I was definitely in my happy place!  I only bought 2 pair, but still!!!

Four: Dollar Bowling

Our local Bowling Alley hosts Dollar Days.  We took the boys this past Wednesday and my youngest bowled for the first time.  It was absolutely hilarious.  I can say that because I'm their mom, my boys really have no skills at this point in time.  Someday they might join a league, but it was my family that kept the employee running down the lane to fix all the issues.  2 of them threw the ball into the gutter, even with the rails up.  2 of them also caused the ball to just completely stop on the roll down the lane - just stopped completing in the middle...  It was so funny and embarrassing at the same time.  

Five: She Reads Truth

I didn't know about She Reads Truth before June 1st.  I'm so glad that I saw people posting pictures over on IG.  It's a daily devotional, this month is all about Women of the Old Testament.  I'm learning so much, many different views on the same scriptures I have read over the years.  Just wanted to share if you are looking for something to read this summer.  

Have a great day!

Five for Friday: A Bunch of Randomness

Five for Friday with DoodleBugs?  Sure!

ONE:  Solar Lantern

My oldest is going on his first backpacking camping trip this weekend - leaving in approx. 55 minutes with his Boy Scout Troop.  This time around he has to carry not only his backpack, but also all his food for the weekend, plus his patrol tarp & big water jug, AND his walking stick.  I can barely carry it all, and he's only 11.  When they were going over the reminders last night, they were mentioning about the possibility of bears, definitely to wear a mosquito headnet, and other odds & ends... I kept thinking that I was sending my baby off to be eaten alive.  Most likely he will come back acting even older and less like my little boy.

TWO - My Class Conference Binder

Well my binder has been cleaned out yet again.  This was the best thing I put in a binder a few years ago... just 32 binder dividers - one section per kid, with classroom numbers that can be used from year to year.  I just stick binder paper in the sections as the year progresses and I need more room.  Keeps everything organized.

THREE - Black Out Curtains

My sons have this thing of waking up before God himself wants anyone out of bed.  Every summer we say that we need to get black out curtains to "pretend" it's still the middle of the night, and we finally put them up in their rooms.  It is pitch black in them in the middle of the day.  This mama can sleep in a while longer...

FOUR - Adhesive Ribbon

I picked up the value 24 pack of these ribbons at Michaels and have been having fun prettying up my home and next year's lesson planner.  Life is good with ribbon!

FIVE - Reading to Read

I've been reading both fiction and nonfiction so far this summer.  Staying up way too late until my eyes can't see straight.  It's been wonderful!  What are you reading these days?

Hope you have had a great week!