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Resolution Rewind

Time for reflections with a fun linky with Adventures In Teaching. Kind of fun to reflect.


 How is everyone doing on those resolutions that we made back in January? As it goes... I saved my resolutions in draft form...I was working on them...really. So, I am copying and pasting what I had so far.  We shall take a look at how it's going:)

Goal 1: I am going back to a previous post... I want to start off the new year by creating stronger relationships with my kiddos. Seeing them only once a week is hard to do that. I started standing out in the hall after school to say goodbye and ask them what their plans are. I started giving more high fives at the door and reminding myself to give more "paws" out with a compliment to boot. I walked around even more than normal to give them a boost on checking to see if they understand what we are learning about. I am going to continue to memorize over 400 names of my students so that I can also call them by name and not have to look at their folder to figure it out. Wish me luck on this one, I am a face person, not a name person.. I think these little things will pay big in the end.

Goal 2: I am trying hard to find ways to help all of my students retain the information taught in my classroom. Vocabulary is huge and I am working on finding ways for my students to remember and retain their new words as well as remember the words they learned in past lessons. I am going to work on ticket out the door, and mini- quizes as well as cloze activities for them to place in their science notebooks. I also want to get posters in each room with the question of the day/big idea and notes. This hopefully will help, too. There are some great ideas out there, just need to follow through!

Goal 3: I am really going to focus on my blog and making new products that can help me in my own classroom and help others, too. I don't want to get down if my products don't sell or if I don't get new followers, I will stick with it because it will help me organize my own life and help my own classroom!

So, there it is folks. How am I doing? Well Goal 1...I have learned more names, giving more compliments out... and asking kids questions to get to know them and sharing a bit about me, too.

Goal 2...I have been making posters, checking out at the door, and close activities. I think I am doing pretty well with this one! Can always add more vocabulary and test prep ideas. I am working on this one next week.

Goal 3... I have added three major units: Roller Coaster Science, Angry BirdsValentine Heart Healthy Science and an Olympic Science stations that one  has been very successful. I just started my Roller Coaster unit after school and the kids love it! I am also starting my own Valentine lessons this week with my 4th graders! I have more up my sleeve, but I wanted 50 products this year and I am not even half way there. I better get going.

In a nut shell, my goals were pretty good. Glad I didn't goal set for exercising. I would have failed miserably! Happy February!

Meet the Teacher Monday


Torri,  over at The Junior Mad Scientist is linked up with Ordinary to Extraordinary Classroom! I love Torri! Not only does she follow me... love that!... she also has great ideas and teaches science just like me! So, to all of you... here's getting to know me!

Five things in my purse ...
1. Lots of old receipts...should really clean those out!
2.  My wallet
3.  Lip balm (eos rocks!) Love the mint one... light blue
4.  Got some coupons, I forget about them sometimes
5. A picture of my grandma... want her by me always


List 5 things you love about yourself...
1. I never ever think about this... ever... so... I love that I teach science now! Best job ever!
2. That I am a hard worker and want to make people happy
3. That I think I am a pretty good mom that has raised some great kids!
4. That I got a farm to school grant... never planted a garden before... but plants grew... kids love veggies now! I love to see them learn how to garden, too.
5. That I am a go getter and always willing to try new things... right away... let's do it.


5 things that keep me entertained...
1. My children
2. The Housewives of...
3. Blogging
4. Making new products...I too have a goal of 50 by the end of the year... see goals:)
5. I am not very social at times. My kids keep me so busy, but I love spending time with some new co-workers. It is nice to start to do things with adults. Changing schools is never easy.


5 things that attract you to the opposite sex...(or same sex...I don't discriminate...)
1. Hard work
2. Family values
3. Ability to plan for the future
4. Supportive
5. All those good things that still connects me to my husband after 20 years...


5 things to accomplish in 2014:
1. A school garden bigger than last year... and a home garden build with my family
2. I would love to meet up with Midwest bloggers to share ideas and learn the tricks of the trade
3. Over 50 TPT products... and the ability to earn enough to help my children with college funds
4. A stronger relationship with family and friends
5. This next school year...I will be evaluated on the new system... so an action plan to keep helping my students succeed on their assessments and gain knowledge of science:)


Thanks Torri. It will be great getting to know more of you as we keep blogging together!


Peek At My Week ...FOSS Friday

First things first... I was called at school this week. My son was playing football and he hit his head and blacked out. Rough game. So, thank goodness I post my lessons on Peek at My Week.  I was pretty ready to let someone look at them and know what to do. I have to plan my week today, so that I can be home with my son this week as he recuperates from a concussion. Now, it's time to plan for the week as I sit in the dark with my son.


Kindergarten:
Kindergartners will be learning more about science predictions by forecasting the weather. We will be watching the weather forecast on The Weather Channel... We will then play a forecasting game that I made with a dice(clouds on three sides, sunshine on three sides). I also made a tally sheet for the kinders to fill out. You can find this unit on my TPT store at Science Patterns and Cycles: Weather for Kindergarten. 

First Grade:
First graders will be taking a quiz on their vocabulary words: stable, unstable, counter weights, and  top heavy.  After the quiz: the students will be working on a circus act. The firsties will be getting a golf ball to balance on after we read the book Circus. Then, my kiddos will be creating a circus clown to make and take...


Here is a video we watched that showed a circus performance of balance beauty... The kids were mystified!


Our balancing clown pattern...
                        balancing clown pattern
Second Grade:
Our second graders are finishing up their solids and liquids unit. Time for...what is between liquids and solids? Oobleck and toothpaste! I put oobleck in a baggie for them to feel. I show them at the end how to make it at home. I read Bartholomew and the Oobleck to start off our time after we review solids and liquids and words to describe them. I then ask what about toothpaste? Solid or liquid. From there... If you would like a copy of my sheets, click and print:) Oobleck Sheet  and Toothpaste Sheet . Hope that helps!

Third Grade:
Round two of the Water Cycle. Students will be watching Bill Nye the Science Guy and the Water Cycle. They will need to answer questions as they go.
 

The students will then create a Water Cycle Poster to explain the water cycle. Here is free water cycle poster project that I made for my kiddos...enjoy!
The Water Cycle Poster Project and Rubric  FREE THIS WEEK! Get your copy today!

 They will continue to work on he activity in their homerooms. The make and take of the day comes from Pinterest... at GirlStart.

Fourth Graders:
Coordination Stations my friends. FOSS at its finest. The kiddos love the challenge. I am working with a small group of students to reteach ligaments and tendons while the others are writing and illustrating what they already know about ligaments and tendons. We will then take a 3 question quiz.   Students will then learn about the nervous system after reading a short passage with a partner.


We will then work on 4 activities that could work as stations. The first is the FOSS lesson on coordination (hand/eye). The students then can play...catch my finger.... tennis ball drop drill... and hand slap. (one person has palms up and one with palms down of the other. The bottom hands must try to slap the top hands).  Before the kiddos are done, they will write in their science notebooks what coordination means and how the nervous system works.

Fifth Graders:
Fifth graders will be following the salt concentration lessons from FOSS as they put the soft drink lesson, George's Marvelous Medicine Lemonade, and salt concentration together. Next week, the quiz. The students will get a study guide to help them connect the vocabulary with the lesson. Here is the sheet they will use...


Roller Coaster STEM Unit

The thing is...my daughter had a car accident over winter break, and now it is time to get a "new" used one. Propane in WI is over $5 a gallon and yikes that bill was over $1000. So, mama has to get another job. We have an after school program that gets our kiddos another 2 hours of school. Our focus is to design activities that provide them with CORE lessons: reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. I created a three week unit based on KNEX kits we have based on roller coasters. I can't wait until it starts next week. We have an engineer coming to start the unit off, having our kiddos see their potential and know that they can do anything if they put that extra effort into it. I also am working on the next sessions unit...cardboard arcade. Stay tuned. 

Check out the roller coaster unit on TPT. You can use this great STEM unit for your classroom, too.
 Keeping it rolling as my son is home today.

Valentine's In Science

We are learning about the human body, so what better time then the present to include some heart healthy learning. Here is what I made for my classroom teachers to use next week... Find it on my TPT site...Valentine Heart Healthy Stations





It's Currently February!

February has already been very busy! We started off at a 5th grade boys' basketball tournament, followed by driving our son to a birthday party, going out on a date with my husband out to eat (alone), then coming home to a messy house, my girls were in hot water...followed by my attempt to "catch up" on blog life. So currently...Oh' boy fourth grade is hosting a currently February! That Farley rocks!


LISTENING... to a quiet house is sure nice after a day of boys' basketball.

LOVING... that my lessons that I started on Friday...my day of of my five day week... went so well. The kinders love shadows and puppets! Firsties love Mirette and their try at a tight rope...2nds loved the What's the Matter With Frosty activities....3rds loved the water cycle lesson with songs, demos, and games...4ths showed me they really understood ligaments and tendons and playing a game of indoor soccer with leg models helped after a week of indoor recess (and counting!)...fifths are preparing to make George's Marvelous Medicine (homemade lemonade, a great mixtures and solutions activity, taste testing and all!)

THINKING...we had an in-service this past Friday and Monday. We are looking at the new way to be assessed, SLO's and SMART goals...yikes. A lot to take in. I have been teaching 22 years and am soooo lucky to be teaching science...I love it, but to set a goal with a percent when I only see my kiddos once a week for an hour makes me nervous. Has anyone created any for science yet?

WANTING AND NEEDING... my almost 19 year old to come home next weekend for her birthday...however, my husband and I are also celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary out of town, before she arrives home. I can't wait to have all 6 of our family members around the table! What a gift for dear ole' mom!

My truths, I am not certified to teach kindergarten, however I "facilitate" their lessons. I actually love those little buggers! They are sponges! I also am nervous for the future of my children and for the kiddos I teach. Education is a bit scary right now. However...my fib...I love science and with all of the testing right now, I don't really want to go back to a regular ed classroom. I love that my students can't wait for science each week and they fight for the PBIS extra science class with me! It is good to be loved by so many wonderful students k-5!

Happy Super Bowl Day!

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY SALE

I am throwing a SUPER BOWL SALE on my TPT site! All of my products are 20% off today! So take a little time out from watching the game and stop on by to see the great items you can get on sale!


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