Getting ideas for next year!

One of my coworkers has 4 different seating arrangements posted for the kids. I think I'm going to try this next year!









The science teacher's room!


Love his desk!


Have to have this!


And this! Ha! I'm going to work on my plans and room after vacation! I can't wait to teach 7th grade math!

Children's Museum of Oak Ridge

On Sunday, we went to my niece's birthday party at the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge.  C and A loved it.  There are lots of hands-on displays they could interact with and play.  Of course, they loved the water works room the best.  They kinda of had a water fight.  Ha!  Allie loved the huge doll house, also.  I only took pictures with my iphone.  Happy 3rd birthday Emma!  We love you!

May the Fourth Be With You!

Today at school, we celebrated "May the Fourth Be With You".  Some kids thought it was nerdy; others loved it.  Ha!  Some of the teachers wore their Star Wars shirts.  In my team, we all showed a different Star Wars movie and discussed government and mythology.  Ha!  One student showed up with a Storm Trooper costume.  That was pretty neat!

C made the middle school bulletin board

I was walking to the school library and saw students looking at her bulletin board.  The librarian had put pictures of the students reading on it.  I stopped and was looking - and spotted C with another teacher's kid.  Ha!  They had gone to the book fair after school one day.  They were reading books lying on bean bags.  C was excited because they are little elementary kids and made the middle school bulletin board.  Ha! 

Let's play fraction, decimal, and percent ball!

This past Friday, my 8th graders had so much fun.  I think I had the most, though!  I got this activity from a coworker.  It can be adapted for lower grades. 
Step 1:  Divide you paper into 4 rows vertically labeled: name, fraction, decimal, and percent.  Divide your paper into 20 rows horizontally (or however many students are in the class.)
Step 2: Every child writes every student's name down including their own name.  We went around the room, and I wrote the names on the Smart board with them. 
Step 3:  Have each child draw a number from a basket.  I wrote different numbers on each paper from 3 - 15.  The number they draw is the number of chances they have to throw the ball at the garbage can.
Step 4:  Each child steps up to line and throws the ball the number they have drawn.  If Allie draws 5, she throws the ball 5 times  - the denominator in the fraction.  The number of times she hits the garbage can is the numerator in the fraction. 
Step 5:  Each child records Allie's answers and changes the fraction into a decimal and percent.
Some students were very competitive.  Some were a little shy, but really enjoyed it.  I will upload a picture tomorrow.  I think it explains it better.  I tend to ramble!  Ha!

Survey Says . . .

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Survey Says Linky

I love reading other blogs and getting new ideas.  I saw this on another blog and decided to link up.


Here goes...

1. Are you married, do you have a bf, or are you flying free as a single lady/man?
Married to a wonderful man named Eric.  We have been married for 11 years.  We met at a wedding - yes he was the best man and I was a bridesmaid.

2. Where did you grow up?

In a very small town in Tennessee

3. Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what is his/her name?

Yes, a terrior mix named Buddy.

4. What is a favorite tv show you are embarrassed to admit to watching?
I love Dancing with the Stars and Dance Moms.  I used to dance when I was little, so these shows bring back such great memories.

5. Are you a saver or a spender?
I hate to say it, but I am a spender.  I am working on it.

6. What is your favorite children's book?
Junie B Jones series.  I love them all.

7. Were you the class clown, teacher's pet, or neither?
I was the teacher's pet.  I was quiet and wanted to please.  I am still a pleaser to this day.  Which makes life tough sometimes.

8. Who is your favorite athletic team?
Tennessee Volunteers.  I did love the Colts, but since Peyton left, I guess I will try Denver.  Ha!

9. Where did you go on your last REALLY fun vacation?
I love going to any beaches.  Last year, we went on a family vacation to the beach.  We had great weather and met lots of nice people.

10. Who is your favorite actor? Actress?
I don't really have one.  I do love going to movies, though.

11. Tell about the last time you cried because you were happy.
The day I had my last evaluation for this year.  It went really well, and I had been waiting to get it over for so long.  So I cried like a baby.

12. What is your favorite season?
Fall-I love football season, Halloween, the leaves falling, and my birthday is in October.

13. What is your biggest regret?

That I spent so much time in the tanning bed when I was younger.

14. What food do you just NOT like at all?
Any kind of seafood.  My husband loves it all.  I have tried and tried it.  I just don't like the texture of seafood.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST FOR MY TEACHER BLOG....

15. Who was your most memorable teacher, and why?
My high school math teacher.  She was one tough lady, but she was a great teacher. She explained math concepts so well.   I learned to love math, and that is why I love to teach math today.

Love and Logic

     To say this has been a difficult year is an understatement.  I love teaching, but I was moved to 8th grade.  I had some of these students last year, but the whole grade is known for their crazy stunts.  In my 14 years of teaching, I have never seen a group that I couldn't trust like this group.  That being said, there are a LOT of great students that get overlooked.  My coworker gave me this book "Love and Logic."  She said this book has changed the way she teaches and looks at life.  I have read one book and am on the second book.  It is eye opening.
     At my school, we are suppose to all have the same rules and consequences.  Which does not work.  Love and Logic is against this concept.  Teachers are individual and so very different.  What one teacher thinks is horrible behavior - another teacher could think that's not so bad.  So when the students are not punished the same, the teachers kinda get mad at each other.  Love and Logic believes that" misbehavior will be handled with natural and logical consequences.  Misbehavior will be viewed as an opportunity for individual problem solving and preparation for the real world."
Love and Logic believes in "rules that are few with just a few overriding tenets rather that a list of specific rules.  Equal is not always fair.  Consequences will be designed to the individual student at that time."
One good point I also found was that if you didn't know what punishment to give at that time - wait and consult other teachers before you give out the punishment.  Instead of reacting out of anger, cool down, and get advice from others.  I have seen my coworker do this many times.  She will say,"  I'm going to have to punish you for this behavior.  I will deal with you later.  Try not to worry about it." 
I laugh every time.  The student is usually speechless.  It also gives the student the notion that you should worry about it. 
I'm also using this on my own children.  My son is an overachiever.  He gets very upset over his grades.  He is only in 4th grade, but he is in the advance classes.  Friday he was having a math test.  On the way to school, he was getting more and more upset over this math test. Normally, I would tell him - you have a math test every Friday.  You will survive."  Mornings are not my best.  Ha! This time,   I told him - "If he anyone could do this test, he could.  He is smart and prepared.  If you try your best, and don't get an A - that's ok.  I will not be mad."
I am also going to be giving choices to students and my own children.  I can't wait to see how the rest of my year goes.  I am so excited to try this out - especially with "certain" students.