Picture Perfect Science

I just finished a two day institute on Math, Science, Technology and Engineering at the MathScience Innovation Center in Richmond, Virginia. Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry were presenters at this conference. They are the authors of these books...
1- Picture Pefect Science
2- More Picture Perfect Science
3- Teaching Science through Trade Books


I had an opportunity to look through all the books and they are all amazing! I even purchased two of them and I don't even teach science! I teach Social Studies to two classes and my partner teaches the science. But as you know, I love to integrate childrens literature into my lessons, so this is a great way for me to reinforce our science standards through my reading lessons. They give you a lower and upper elementary book option (or use them both), a detailed lesson plan, and the cutest reproducibles!

They actually modeled a few of their lessons during the keynote address and their breakout sessions. The first activity they did was called Loco Beans. It used the book Lucas and His Loco Beans and we completed an investigation with Mexican Jumping Beans. Then they did a lesson on magnets with That Magnetic Dog. The lesson called Turtle Hurdles was the best. They used the books Turtle Bay and Turtle, Turtle Watch Out. They incorporated reading strategies during the read aloud (questioning, synthesizing), then we played a turtle survival game, we identified natural and human events that harm and help turtles.

My partner (the one who actually teachings science) bought the Picture Perfect Science book and I bought the other two. If I had to recommend just one book, it would be... Teaching Science with Trade Books. It comes with 50 lessons on how to use 100 childrens books to teach 1- Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science 2- Physical Science 3- Life Science 4- Earth and Space Science. You may be able to find these books cheaper on Amazon or other various sites.

So... what's your favorite book to teach science with?

Organization: Teacher Supply Toolbox

Another Pinterest inspired idea... I got the directions from Mrs. Rojas's blog. She lays out step by step directions for making a toolbox for yourself. This one is for a teammate who I love dearly (she's always cooking me up something good!) but needs a little help with organization. I gave it to her yesterday and she was THRILLED. You buy the 22 drawer Stack-On organizers in Lowe's for about $17. I found some scrapbook paper in my collection that I thought matched the toolbox. I created the supply names in a word document using CK Retro Block. I cut out the labels and glued them to the pieces of scrapbook paper. To create your own labels you would need 14 labels that are H 1.38" x W 2.00" and 8 labels that are H 2.12" x W 4.25". Then attached the pieces of scrapbook paper to the inside of the drawer using Scotch Double Stick Tape.

I ended up going back to buy another one for myself but I bought some black spray paint that you can use on plastic. I found some cute green/pink/black scrapbook paper at Hobby Lobby for my labels. When it's finished I'll be sure to post pictures. If you want more ideas you can google "teacher toolbox lowes" and look at the images. There are some real cute ones out there.

So do you think you'll make one for yourself?

Wedding Planning

As many of you know I got engaged on Valentine's Day. We have set a date of December 1, 2012. I've been knee deep in wedding planning! I've purchased a couple of things... the sand ceremony kit, cake cutting set, save the date cards, photo wedding guestbook, oh and my WEDDING DRESS! So between wedding planning and teaching 3rd grade for the first time (which means gearing up for state standardized testing) I've been absolutely swamped! I'm on Spring Break this week. I've spent the entire day today in the bed, my iron has dropped dangerously low so I don't have the energy to do much of anything right now. But I do have a school bag full of papers to grade and plans to write waiting on me when I do conjure up the energy to get some work done. Only 44 more school days left until summer vacation... but who's counting!

God is Faithful!

As of 2-14-12 I am officially engaged! My boyfriend Javaid (pronounced David with a J) asked me to marry him. He made reservations at a local seafood restaurant for Valentine's Day. We ate dinner. After dinner he pulls out a poem "J is for the Joy you bring me, E is for the excitement..." By this time I'm cracking up laughing at the thought of him writing an acrostic poem using my name and it reminded me of when I was 13 and my friends did the same thing when I was moving away. After he got through the poem he handed me a BuildaBear that had a Tuxedo on it and the hand said "press here." So I pressed the hand and he had recorded his voice asking me to marry him. Then he pulled out the ring and of course I said yes! Javaid and I had been dating 15 months to the day and let's just say that's a long time when you're "doing it the right way, God's way." So we haven't set a date yet but I was thinking about a December wedding. God has answered my prayers once again and I look forward to worshipping him through my marriage.

10 Commandments to Working in a Hostile Environment

I absolutly love this book! It is written by T.D. Jakes. Every Christian should read it!  Unfortunately I've worked in many "hostile" environments and the stress that comes along with that coupled with the stress of teaching period, sent me over the edge. A friend of mine in another school recommended I read this book. I read it a couple of years ago and it changed my life.The commandments are as follows...

1- Know that you are anointed for the job position that you hold.
This is one that I struggled with for a long time. God has truly blessed me with creativity and talent. But since I am a minority I've heard too many times "she only got the job because she's black". In the four schools I've taught in, I've heard it at at least three of them. After reading this book I realized that God had blessed me with what it takes to teach children and those qualities had gotten me the job... not my skin color.

2- Don't expect to be appreciated.
Teachers are already underappreciated as it is... this allowed me to refocus my energy into what my calling was and stopped dwelling on the fact that I live in a society where teachers are undervalued.

3- Embrace opportunties for change.
This was huge for me... I thought I would DIE a second grade teacher... but here I am in the fourth school of my career teaching third grade.

4- Do the job well while remembering the vision.

5- Don;t let the environment get inside of you.
I have to remember that "greater is he that is in me, then he that is in the world." 1John4:4

6- Increase your capacity to work with difficult personalities.
Lord knows I've had plently of opportunities to do this! And I must say, the more tolerance I have for people like this, the better I feel inside.

7- Where you are is not where you're going.

8- Achieve optimal results with minimal confusion.

9- Do not pledge alligence to cliques and groups.
This is huge! With my newest teaching assignment I have chosen to seperate myself from the negativity that can come with cliques. This is why I do NOT eat in the teacher's lounge at school and try to keep socializing about nonwork related items to a minimum.

10- Always keep your song near you.
I took this literally... I have a collection of inspirational and gospel music in my classroom. Before school, during lunch and resource and after school I love to listen to my music.

Don't get me wrong... I'm cordial with everyone and I can laugh and joke with the best of them. But at the end of the day I have to remember my purpose and my purpose is to teach those children to the best of my ability and I don't have for anything that is going to interfere with that.

Valentine's Day Scrapbook

I got this idea online a couple of years ago and finally was able to do it with my class last year. I took five pieces of construction paper (white, purple, pink, red, white) one stack for each child and bound them together on the binding machine. First I had each child decorate their scrapbook cover anyway they wanted. Then I gave each child a sheet of valentine headers copied on green construction paper. The students cut apart the headers and glued one header on each page. Then the students read through their cards and taped/glued them on the page where they thought they belonged. At the end they had a nice cute scrapbook to go home and show their parents!

cover of scrapbook

inside of scrapbook

inside of scrapbook

students working

students working

What do your students do with their Valentine Cards?

Reading Marathon

This is another idea taken from a 4th grade teacher at my previous school and I love it! It's called a "Reading Marathon" and the students love it!

Materials: (for each child)
-white paper, folded into 6 sections- plain printer paper or white construction paper will do
-leveled text
-crayons, colored pencils, pencil

Time: about 90 minutes

Pass out a book(should be the child's independent level) and a sheet of folded paper to each child. Students may use books that they are currently reading. Explain that they will be participating in a Reading Marathon. Students should  complete each section in the time alloted.

10 minutes: Section 1- Make a new cover for you book. Color the cover, be sure to include the title and author.

10 minutes: students reading silently.

10 minutes: Section 2- Write three important details about your favorite character. Draw and color a picture of the character.

10 minutes: students reading silently

10 minutes: Section 3- Write a quick summary of the book part you just read.

10 minutes: Section 4- Draw a visualization from the book. Write a sentence explaining your visualization.

10 minutes: students reading silently

10 minutes: Section 5- Write 3 questions you've had about the book so far.

10 minutes: Section 6- Draw a picture and write a sentence about your book's setting.

I've done this a couple of times and I've been impressed with the results. I will try and figure out a "nonfiction reading marathon."