December Currently!

I literally haven't blogged in FOREVER, so why not get in the spirit with a Currently from Oh Boy 4th Grade!? Without further ado here it is!

I think my currently is pretty self explanatory! My New Years resolution should be to be better about blogging. My school year has been  changed a lot from last year, but that's another story! I'll do a update post about all the fun things that have been going on in my class! Yes...my CLASS...I actually have my own core group this year. It's not my own classroom, but it's closer! 

Stay Classy, 

<3 The Classy Teacher 

Here's the Scoop!

Well, once again it's be quite some time since I've blogged! We are in the final count down until summer vacation, here in New York! YAY! In order to keep the eye on the prize and see that the end is near (for both the teachers and the kids!) I created a cute count down bulletin board.

I started at 30 days left of school, but we are finally down to only 10 DAYS!!! I made triangles out of brown construction paper for the cones and then cut out circles on brown, white, & pink construction paper (and numbered them of course!). I then cut the letters out to say, "Here's the Scoop!"  I take down an ice cream scoop every day when school is finished! I honestly think the teachers like it more than the students! :D

Since my Fourth grade students are finished with their Journeys lessons for the year I decided to do some writing with them. We have been working on doing some persuasive writing on how to get your teacher to let you have a day with no work! They have come up with some great arguments, but they needed help organizing their thoughts. I decided to do "Oreo Writing." Oreo writing is when you write your "hook" first then your Opinion, your Reason, your Example, and the. Finally restate your Opinion. It is helpful for my students to back up their argument and reason.

We're still working on the writings but we decided to have an Oreo party! They all got to bring a friend into my room and eat lunch with me, then we had Oreos, ice cream, and milk! It was tons of fun to be able to have a few fun, relaxing moments with these kiddos. <3 

The next couple of weeks will be fun! The Building Level Team (BLT) that I'm on has planned a 

theme week, which is "ZOOming into Summer." We have a zoo mobile come from a local zoo, The Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton, New York. We are having an animal print day, a day to bring your 

favorite zoo stuffed animal in, and an activity day where you rotate int he classrooms in your grade level-1. room has crafts, the next has board games, and then a zoo movie in the last one. It should be a lot of fun...some chaos, but fun!  And of course we have a field days with all sorts of games and water activities. It sure does help the end of the year go by quickly! 

Oh and my middle schoolers are done on the 16th, so I think I can say that I successfully survived 8th grade!!! Woot! Woot! 

Stay Classy,

<3 The Classy Teacher

April Currently

I'm late again with my Currently, but I figure that it's better late than never! This week has just been sooooo crazy busy that it was impossible to get on my blog! Without further ado you here's my Currently from Farley! You can check here out at  Oh Boy 4th Grade! :)

I think this is pretty self-explanatory....I'm ready for SPRING BREAK! It starts April 11th at 3:05! :) ....One more week one more week one more week one more week one more week one more week.... I'm going to see family in North Carolina! I honestly think I just need a break!


Stay Classy
<3 The Classy Teacher

Sunshine Blogger Award

Thank you If You Give a Teacher a Treat for nominating me for The Sunshine Blogger Award! :) 

 

 

 

The rules of the Sunshine Blogger Award are:

1.  Post 11 random facts about yourself.

2.  Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.

3. Nominate 11 bloggers you think bring sunshine to the world.

4. Make up 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

 

11 Random Facts About Me:

#1 My favorite color is pink, but I wear a lot of black. 

#2 I HATE onions. I mean LOATH them! 

#3 I went to Europe to play soccer my senior year of high school. 

#4 I used to be a snowboard instructor. That's actually how I met my boyfriend who is also a snowboard instructor. :) 

#5 Once I start reading I love it, but I have to force myself to sit down and actually do it.

#6 I love to sleep in! Even if I'm not sleeping I just love to lay in bed! 

#7 I love to workout...I love to sweat and the feeling afterwards! Give me a challenge and I will do my very best to accomplish it. 

#8 I'm still very good friends with at least 3 people I went to pre-school with.

#9 I used to ride horses regularly and was part of an organization called Pony Club for about 8 years. I will say that it was not my favorite thing in the world to do, but I suppose I'm happy I did it. 

#10 I can shop till I drop

#11 I have an obsession with accessories....Coach purses, Thirty-One gifts bags, scarves, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, headbands, hair clips...it's a problem...a serious problem!

Lindsay's 11 Questions for me to Answer

#1 How long have you been a teacher? I graduated in Dec. 2010, but have 2 1/2 years of teaching experience plus some subbing, but this is my first year in this position.

#2 What grades have you taught? Pre-k, K, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 8 These include student teaching, summer school, special ed, and regular ed.

#3 How many students do you have in your class? What was the highest and lowest number's you've had?I think the highest was 26 when I student taught in 6th grade, but right now I have about 15 kids I provide services to.

#4 Do you have a classroom theme? What is it? Yup! Polka Dots & Cupcakes!

#5 What is the most expensive items you've purchased on TpT? Why did you buy it?I'm poor and usually only use the free ones :-/ I always want to buy some though!

#6 If you could invent one thing to make the school day easier, what would it be?

Oh man, this is a loaded question! Maybe something that would tell me what some of my students were thinking or were upset about, so I didn't have to guess while I'm in the middle of dealing with their complete meltdown. Yeah it would have to a huge invention! 

Okay enough about school!

#7 What could you not go a day without...okay...three things?Coffee, a shower, sleep

#8 What is your favorite store to shop in? There are so many! Coach, Banana Republic, Gap, J Crew, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, American Eagle-really I can find something just about anywhere! :)

#9 What is your favorite restaurant to eat at? Hmmm I enjoy the local pub in my town! I really can't think of my favorite!

#10 Mac or PC?Mac

#11 What is your favorite recipes to make for dinner?

I've been pretty into burgers lately, but I can't wait to be able to grill and have grilled veggies! :) 

 

Now it's my turn to nominate 11 bloggers! I'm new to this blogging thing, so bear with me! :) 

1. Mrs. Laffin's Laughs

2. The Teacher's Desk 6

3. Miss White's Classroom

4. Special Teacher for Special Kids

5. The Sassy Sub

6. A Cupcake for the Teacher

7. Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans

8. Sprinkled in Second

9. Miss Lamonts Class

10. I Teach. What's your super power?

11. Mrs. 3rd Grade

 

Okay now for my 11 questions:

#1 When are you totally relaxed?

#2 How do you lesson plan? Lesson plan book (paper & pen) or Electronically?

#3 What is your favorite part of your school day?

#4 What is your favorite grade to teach?

#5 Tablet or computer?

#6 What is the one thing you can't live without in your classroom?

#7 How late do you stay after school?

#8 What is you typical lunch like? Do you bring or buy and what is it usually?

#9 If you could visit anywhere in the world where would it be?

#10 What is your favorite quote?

#11 What's your biggest pet peeve?

I hope everyone joins in sunshine fun! :) 

Five for Friday:::March 28th

I'm really enjoying these 5 for Friadys with Doodle Bugs Teaching. You can link up with her here.

So here are 5 random things from this week! :)

 We were working on compound words in 3rd grade. Here we were matching up the two separate words that make a word on it's own. I'll be honest I got this for free off of TpT last year, but don't have the information on who made it. I'll try to get it and give that person credit! I love this activity, especially since I love everything to do with CUPCAKES!

 I really messed my shin up on Monday at kettlebells. Yup I'm proud of it-it makes me feel tough! Basically we were doing burpees and because I think I'm awesome (insert sarcasm) I was doing box jumps at the end of each burpee and.....well around 30 or 35 I just lot it. Yup I fell. Yup I kept going! I feel like this picture doesn't capture the full warrior wound. It was pretty swollen and such, but hey what are ya gonna do? Wait-this is a teaching blog...not a fitness blog!

 CSE meetings! They all went pretty smoothly! The first one of the day did run a little long, because we had a lock down in the middle of it and weren't allowed to leave the conference room! Talk about awkward! Our school has random drug dogs come into the middle and high school. This is basically just to make sure kids don't have anything they shouldn't and to keep them guessing as to when it will be! We really only have it once or twice a year...trust me...our school is pretty darn nice and we want to keep it that way!

 Colonial Day!-Okay I really can't take too much credit for this, but I did help the fourth grade students that I work with write their essays! :) The task was to find a job of a person who lived in colonial times and write a 2 paragraph essay telling about what they did, what they needed, and other facts they learned. Then they had to make a sign for their job and dress up in colonial clothing. Parents and younger students come in and see everyone's project. They set it up as if it's a museum ad all their props and reports are on display. It's pretty neat and I'm VERY proud of my kiddos and all the hard work they put into it! {Feeling Warm & Fuzzy}

Our town had a St. Patrick's Day parade this past weekend! Yeah, we do it the Saturday after St. Patrick's day. Not sure why-tradition I suppose!

Here are a few pictures from it:

Here is another Special Ed. teacher that I teach with! :) We were crayons for Halloween! Yes, I have a shamrock headband on! :) 

Remember when the bus garage turned a bus into Thomas.....well they turned one into Percy for this parade! How awesome is that?!?!

I hope you all had a wonderful week! I'm gearing up for ELA state test next week! Woohoo!



Stay Classy
 <3 The Classy Teacher

1st Five for Friday!!!!!!!!

I've never done a Five for Friday, so in my attempt in making up for my neglectful-ness I'm going to give it a whirl! You can  link up withDoodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! :)

I wore a unicorn necklace today. Judge me...go for...I think it's awesome and I can get away with it, because of my job! Just another perk! :)

We wrote on the table with dry-erase markers to practice our spelling words and finding vcv words. My students thought this was pretty awesome! It was the first time I had done it with them! :)

One of my third grade students is making major improvements! He's done an awesome job with reading and answering questions! And I mean AWESOME! I'm pretty proud of him! He even told me he would work with me again next year! Hey- I'll take that compliment!

I've only gone to kettlebells 3 times this week. It's killing me, because I'll admit it....I ate horribly this past weekend and need to get back on track!

I've been writing and revising IEPs this past week. It can be a struggle in deciding what services to give and to take away, it's a tough judgement call for some of my students. I don't want to take away services that are helping them be successful. Anyways, my annual review meetings begin next week! Fun fun! Any tips are welcome! :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Stay classy
<3 The Classy Teacher

It's been quite some time...

I know I have really been slacking with writing on my blog...I guess I haven't been feeling overly inspired lately. I'm going to blame the weather!?!

We have been prepping for the state tests here in NY. They are in 2 weeks! It's hard to believe that they are here already! My students are about as prepared as they are going to be! For a lot of them just sitting there for a long period of time is the biggest struggle. So basically a lot of the things I have been doing have not been overly FUN! I better start thinking of something special for the kiddos when those tests are all finished!

In the mean time here are a few things I created for one of my student's who has a very difficult time in the classroom. I have walked into her classroom to find her under her desk, crawled up in the fetal position in front of my room, having multiple break downs during the day, and down right refusal to work. I thought that maybe the classroom setting was just over stimulating, so I made these break cards. She can just hand her teacher the break cards and go do what she needs to do.

I also had her in my 3rd grade class last year and created a checklist so she would get SOMETHING done during the day, so I decided to make another one for her this year. The teacher just has to write what she has to do that day and then she gets a prize at the end of the day IF she completes it. Sometimes she gets a prize and other days she doesn't. Many times the things on the list are as simple as follow along in math without getting upset and getting packed up to go home within 12 minutes. I laminated it so it can be changed daily!

Also here is my March Bulletin Board! I didn't want to do St. Patrick's Day, because it only last until the 17th, so I did Dr Seuss! Who doesn't LOVE Dr. Seuss? I found fun facts about him, printed pictures of some of his books, and printed a bunch of Dr. Seuss quotes. It is a pretty simple bulletin board, but I actually really enjoy it! :) 

And I thought I would share a few pictures from my fun weekend with a few of my cousins! My sister, cousin Pat, and little cousin Nora (Pat's daughter!) went down to see my cousin Lindsay and her family who lives in Virginia! We ended up going to Washington D.C.! It was so much fun! It even snowed while we were there!!

Lindsay and I :)

Heather (my sister), Me, Lindsay, & Pat at the Lincoln Memorial

Heather, Me, Lindsay, Nora, & Pat at the White House

I've always wanted to do a picture like this! :)

I made "princess crowns" with Nora and Addy (Lindsay's daughter)....they added the butterflies! It was super fun! :)

Nora and Addy eating ice pops in front of the Washington Monument

Stay Classy
<3 The Classy Teacher

January Currently and Christmas

Let's start with my January currently from Farley at Oh Boy 4th Grade! Go check her blog out! She has lots of cute ideas!

Listening: I love the movie Love Actually! There is just something about it that makes me watch it over and over again! :)

Loving: Yup...we're expecting a LOT of snow here in NY. I hope that we actually get it all! Here's a picture from my front porch. (That's my barn and pond:))

Thinking: Well I have some personal New Years Resolutions: 1- Save Money! Yup I spend A LOT and really do need to save. 2- Get in super awesome shape...like have a six pack! I'm in decent shape, but would like to get in even better.
I've been feeling like I need to make a teaching resolution and I think it's going to be to do more hands on and creative stuff with some of my kiddos. It's just so hard to cram everything into a half hour, but I'll try to make it work!

Wanting: As much as I love my job this break has been so Amazing! It's nice not to have to wake up at the crack of dawn!

Needing: MOTIVATION!! I really need to get things, like cleaning, done before I go back to school, but watching a movie just seems to be more fun! :)

Tradition:Every Christmas Eve we go to my cousins house where we play this Santa Steal game. So you bring a grab bag gift, put it in the middle, then you get a number. When it's your turn you can either steal someones gift who went before you or you can choose from the middle. Other that go after you can also steal your gift! It's tons of fun! Then we go to my neighbors house for a party. The whole neighborhood is there and there is a lot of food and drinks! The host always dresses up as Santa and hands presents out to the little kids! It's a blast!

Christmas:

Now I LOVE Christmas, but I was having a really hard time with it in school this year, because I don't have my own class to celebrate with. I ended up crashing a few class Christmas parties, but it just wasn't the same. I decided I would share some of the things I did with my class last year.

I actually got the whole third grade to do a Polar Express Day. We did a rotation through the rooms. First we read the book, next we made Christmas cards and did crafts (in my room), then we watched the movie, and had hot chocolate. I gave my students an ornament bell, book, and a pencil as a little gift.

Reading the book! Oh yeah and we had pajama day that day too!

Then we did crafts! It was a glorious glittery mess! :)

I had printed and cut out a Believe ticket for every student. They got it as they entered the room. It was pretty adorable as they were waving them in the air. Then we watched the movie! :)

The teachers also have a crazy festive holiday sweater day. Here I am with the music teacher, Kim!

I'm one of those crazy teachers with a million holiday accesories...especially headbands!

Our town has a holiday parade each year. The bus garage made one of their buses into Thomas and a truck into Frosty! Pretty neat!

I know the Christmas post is late, but the holidays were just too crazy! Hopefully it won't be this long before I post again! :)

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and the happiest New Year! <3

Stay Classy
<3 The Classy Teacher