Monday Meet Up

Well, I have been working hard to make the most of my vacation. It just started! I taught a college for kids class last week, so I am finally on break. It is fun to get to know other blogger teachers out there! Can't wait to meet some of you as I read your posts. Thanks to The Teaching Tribune for this fun linky!


Here is a little bit about me...background, school, family life!

I have quite an extensive to do list. I want to make the most of every day. I am helping my oldest daughter paint and fix up some used and gently loved furniture. I was hoping that every Monday I could show you on Monday Made It, but time flies when the DIY list is so big. I am truly inspired by you amazing teachers out there that have me pushing myself...both making new products and working on things around the house.

On my list this summer, is to build my knowledge of science and how I can add to our FOSS science kits. This weekend, I took a one credit class at the Energy Fair in Wisconsin. It was amazing! I walked away with a ton of information. From composting to sustainability, seed saving to solar energy in the classroom, it truly was a learning experience. I even won a prize!

The energy fair was held in a big open field near Central WI energy center

Look what I won! Over a $50 kit...I felt SO lucky! Can't wait to test it out with my son!

Bought these cool solar bug kits from Brown Dog Gadgets. He gave me a zillion new ideas to try this next year!

Learned about vermicomposting and how to make worm tea! This is how we can package our own castings! 

Our power company had an educator session on solar energy...this activity was fun. Can you get a sunburn when the sun isn't out? Can solar energy work through materials? Inspiring!

Went to a ton of vendor sites. I got my neck measured for issues. See all the red? I had a migraine that day. I am a mess!

Just a little about me here in Wisconsin! Glad you stopped by! Enjoy your summer and I hope you get some of your bucket list items checked off! I need an adventure with my family...any ideas on a budget?

Kahoot!

What a great find this evening! Kahoot is a great way to get our kiddos actively engaged using any device along with a smartboard or even a projector. You can create discussions, surveys, and quizzes and use the results for formative assessment! The site provides step by step directions, videos, results and so much more. Have you found any great apps lately? Do share!



                           Kahoot!

Tuesday Linky...Let's Read

It's Tuesday, my friends. Time for some summer reading. I am linking up today Mrs. Jump's Class to talk about books.



I have some great professional books to read this summer, and some I don't even want to crack the cover on, but as a science teacher, this book has some great ideas that use the NGSS science standards that I noticed right away that I could use and even modify to make it work within my hour classes.


This book, shows the reader the framework for the new standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessments as well as common core connections. There are a ton of great lesson plan ideas from physical science and sound, to life science with decomposers. There are some great literacy tie ins and ideas on how to engage our students in the classroom through engaging, exploring, explaining, elaborating, and evaluating. There are set objectives and core ideas that lead the reader to an easy, organized way to deal with crosscutting concepts and engineering practices and then some.

Assessment ideas...

Common Core Connections, too!

One of the lessons it models is about decomposers or worms. We vermicompost, so lessons on worms work well for all of my kiddos k-5. This summer, I am working on creating some activity sheets to go along with the ideas in this book. Our district uses FOSS so these lessons fit right into the core kids that we use. The performance tasks are great along with questions and answers about worms to give any teacher a great background into the topic. Some great books I suggest are:

One of my summer reading adventures. Can't wait to figure out more ways to integrate this book into my science classroom! Happy reading!

Made It Monday...Vacation Finally!

Okay, so vacation officially started today, but I am teaching a week's worth of college for kids at our local university. I am teaching a STEM coarse in Roller Coaster Science. I have a great group of 8 kids each session. Today, we worked on building up our vocabulary, working as a team to build paper plate roller coasters, and earning money using our new words, finishing our recording sheets, and working as a team. That "money" will be used to purchase items at our store. Lots of great math to tie into the science of roller coasters. Thanks to Tara, at 4th Grade Frolics for this week's fun Monday Made It!


Here is what we made today in class...

Here is what they made today...

Paper plates, blocks, tape, scissors, a cup, and a marble!

This group used their paper to create a tunnel...great engineering!

Gotta love how they used bumpers to create friction!

The Python!

My son was in a baseball tournament all weekend after a looooonnnggggg week of school, so I didn't get to make any products which was my goal. Next week maybe, but for Made it #2...my son made his very first tournament win! What a great Father's Day Gift. He made it happen! His team did a great job working together!

My little buddy is the one in the red cap...back row!

This Monday made it was our one little painting project this last week. It isn't much, but we really wanted to tackle a little something each week. This next week, though the dresser! 

Before...an ugly gold vase ready to paint outside. 

The finished product...blue to match my daughter's new apartment bedroom...with a touch of peacock feathers!

Next week's Monday Made It goal...a new product, inspiration from an Energy Class, and a finished dresser!

  

Monday Made It: Fixing Up The Place

Now, that school is almost over, I start making a bucket list of everything I want to do this summer. Some of them are for my little classroom that I was able to get this year, instead of science on a cart or science in the library. I am very happy that my principal found me a little space to call my own. It isn't much, but this summer I want to figure out a way for  my room to look a bit more magical...scientific...sensational.

I am taking ideas if anyone has them on what would  make an exciting science room. I have some bee hives that I want to get hung on a branch for starters, as well as make over my dumpster diving chair and other found treasures. So this linky is perfect for me. It will get me motivated to get 'er done and post my progress. The other portion of my bucket list has to do with helping my daughter get ready for her first apartment. I can't wait to show you some of our furniture make overs as they get made over.

Thanks to Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for helping me complete some of my summer bucket list items!

I can't believe this transformation. I found some fabric that we were going to use for a project and let's just say I am working on a tight budget, so this free chair and already purchased fabric was a great combination.

Gross stains...yuck! I washed and scoured first people!

Not to shabby!

Another one of those bucket list items that I really wanted to make sure I made before the school year was out was one of those organized supply boxes that I have been seeing all over the internet. When I moved in to my new little space, I kind of threw things in drawers and now that things are winding down I want to figure out how to consolidate those items so I can actually find things. Our school budget is way down, so the items that I have accumulated need to come out of hiding and stored. This is what I was able to make. Not perfect, but again it hopefully will help me organize, unify my space, and get me motivated to do more. 

I have to finish the bottom, but I am not quite sure what to put in there yet! I am working on the pink files...gotta file or pitch!

Now, for a project my daughter and I were working on this week, too. I really am pushing to get one furniture project done per week. This week, was the kitchen chair project. She will have a tiny spot for a table and two chairs. These were our old chairs and the funky, updated chairs any college student could be proud of.

before...

After! A stylish twist! 

Only One You!

I love books! I love taking a picture book and sharing it in science class. I love making connections to learning. Thanks to Mrs. Jump's Class Blog her linky is a great way to talk about books! I found this great book that I am using in Science to tie our garden into our students' self esteem.

I have the book Only One You by Linda Kranz.

This book, my friends is all about being your own person. The parents in the book at one point share... “Blend in when you need to. Stand out when you have the chance,” and, “Find your own way. You don’t have to follow the crowd.”

They also share... that it is okay to be unique and to follow your dreams. What a powerful message to give our students.
Here is a link to some Only One You Lesson Ideas. Another fun idea comes from Create Art With Me.

I went to Lake Michigan during spring break in the bitter cold to collect some rock beauties! Can't wait to do this project this summer with my community connections groups. I already used some of the rocks with my after school class as they made painted rock veggie markers.

My little troopers helping me pick rocks...Winter Coats during spring break...brrrr!

Currently June

I can not believe how busy May was. It was a blurrrr. This last weekend, my husband his assistant baseball coach hosted a three day youth baseball tournament. Funny, how being married to the coach gets you automatically signed up to be a major part of food, organizing of volunteers, and so much more. Currently, it is now JUNE!!!! I am a few days late and a dollar or so short. What else is new... My busy platter is getting a bit emptier as we wind down the busiest month of our year...good ol' May. See ya! Thanks to Farley and her blog...Oh' Boy 4th Grade I am currently enjoying some quiet time to check out some great blogs and add my to the mix.

So I have to share something...many years ago, I was nominated for the Disney Teacher of the Year Award. Yes, little ol' me here in Wisconsin. I was doing a great deal of work with my students that was unique and different...simulations, plays, and working hand in hand to teach citizenship. We did a great deal to help the Veterans and I even won the VFW Teacher of the Year. I go accommodations from our district and even won the Governor's Humanities Award. I am proud of what I did to help my students. That year...another teacher was up for that award. Maybe, you have heard of him...Ron Clark. Well, he went on to have a movie made about him...wrote some amazing books...and I pale in comparison. Do I still try to make a difference...of course. I lost my way there for a few years. Teaching wasn't the same. I stepped away from the regular classroom and starting teaching science to over 400 k-5 students. I found the passion again. Our school garden has helped me grow as a teacher! 

Cheryl at Primary Graffiti reminded me of that teacher that beat me out. I was inspired by her post. I went that day to check out his books at the library. I started reading the first book...The Essential 55. I finished it in one day. I am now on page 96 of The End of Molasses Classes. I have cried over 7 times...inspiring. I am motivated and ready to plan some great things for next year. I hope to inspire my colleagues by challenging them to read his books this summer. I will invite them to a book talk to share what we could do next school year~ I can make a difference!

As I work my way through the list...I think about the extra jobs I am doing this summer to pay my own child back...college for kids (roller coaster science)...Community Connections (gardening on Wednesdays!)...summer science institute (improving science lessons using NGSS and more...) All ways to make a few extra bucks, but also keep myself focused on kids and learning!   A win, win! 

As for my bucket list...

I have a wonderful cousin, Kathy, that lives near St. Louis. She wants us to visit and stay with her...free room and board. Lots of great summer fun things to do and cheap. Sorry...gotta pay my kid back.

Kathy and I in Minneapolis watching her daughter roller derby!

I really want to finish the Ron Clark books before summer even starts...which is next Friday. I think I can pull that one off. Then, onto thinking up some great ideas to motivate my com padres. 

Last, but not least...my sister and brother-in-law want us to meet in Milwaukee for a Brewer game. I can't believe how hard it is to find one day this summer where all 6 of my family members can do something together. We can do it. I think....

Thanks for stopping by. I am currently getting sleepy.