Still Celebrating...and Planning!

 

 

 

So...it's that time of year when you are getting ready for back-to-school!  Supplies are being purchased, classrooms are being readied, and those calendars for the upcoming school year are being handed out!  I like to fill in my planner right away so I at least FEEL like I am organized and on the ball! (If only!!!!)

 

 

So here is the 2016 Yearly Planner and Calendar!

Free for a limited time!

 

 

 

Just print it, 3-hole punch it, and stick in a binder!

 

 

 

Oh...and if you need the rest of 2015,

click HERE for last year's planner!

 

Happy Planning!

 



Live Cams Are A Great Addition To Your Classroom!

This summer flew by...as all summers do!  I tried my absolute best to ensure that everything my own kiddos learned last year would remain fresh in their little brains over their three months off.  We did Math facts, practiced sight words, read books, and practiced tying our shoes!  All of which was usually met with the moans and groans of my children who would much rather be outside riding bikes and swimming!  However, there was one amazing learning experience that kept us intrigued and attentive this summer. 

My kids LOVED watching the live animal cams!

Click the picture above!

There are lots of different animals to view live...bees, polar bears, whales, and more!  But our favorite seemed to be the salmon and the bears in Alaska! 

Check it out and see what is your favorite!

I know I will showing this in my classroom this year! 

Welcome Back!

http://explore.org/

Valentine's Day Freebies

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching so I thought I would share some of my favorite Valentine's Day Printables!

This is what I do each year with the kiddos so they have something to hold their class valentines.  

All you need is the printables provided (click on the picture for link) and a paper sack!

This can be used for any grade level as I have done it with Kindergarten and 4th grade and both age groups loved it.

Another cute activity to send home with kiddos to give their parents is this kangaroo.

Have them write a love letter to their parents and stick in the pocket.  They can also write chore cards to stick in the pockets.  I did this with Kindergarten, but a blank heart could make it easily adaptable to upper grade levels.  Click on the picture above for a link to printables!

Finally, for my class I give them a little coupon for 5 problems off an assignment.  They must attach to their homework. 

Enjoy!

Our Family Fav Toys

Our family got some fun new toys this Christmas season and in holidays past.  Here are some of our favorite learning toys that can be played with at home or in the classroom!  These have been tested and approved by my own kiddos!  (and they can be tough critics!)

 

 

First up...and probably our #1 favorite...is our Snap Circuits!

This is the set we have...

It comes with a book that gives step by step instructions on how to create awesome circuits.  This is my 8 year old daughter doing it all by herself and getting my 1 year old son involved as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up...our Learning Resources Gear Set.

We have the Light and Actions Set, however there are many different sets to choose from.

Again, my 8 year old can pretty much put the gears together on her own.  Sometimes she will ask for adult help because it can be challenging...but isn't the challenging part the best part?!?!?  How else do they learn???

 

 

Our set comes with an electric gear turner which my son absolutely LOVES!

Not all the sets do include this...so if you are planning to purchase...do your homework!

Our next favorite thing is our Laser Maze Game.

My 11 year old daughter actually prefers playing by herself and just making laser beams even though the game is met to be competitive between more players. 

   The idea is to get the laser beam to reach your target using a series of mirrored angles.  It is hard to see the beam in the pictures, but the piece with the red button on top is where the beam comes from and she is directing it to her target pieces below. 

Finally, our last favorite toy is the Lego Fusion.

 

The idea is to build a Lego home, take a picture with your iPad, and it uploads and becomes a virtual reality.

 

All they need to do is download the Lego fusion app, snap a picture (the app gives you hints), and play!

 

 

If I had all the funds I could ever hope for...I would buy each of these in bundles for the 4th graders in my room!  They would make AWESOME centers!  But for now, we settle for playing them in our home!

 

 

 

 

 

For our Friday Flash Freebie, let's ring in the New Year FROZEN style! 

 

 

 

This is a fun and easy prep writing craftivity...Perfect for New Year's Goals and Resolutions!!

 Students will write an essay on their goals for the year using the quote, "It's time to see what I can do to test the limits and break through" as a reflection. This Unit has student templates to fill in as they go through the writing process to get their final published piece perfect!

 

 Also included are templates that can be copied to make your very own "self-portrait" Elsa or Kristoff holding your essay!

Everything you need is included so prep is as easy as making some copies!

Common Core Aligned

 

Enjoy!



The Busy Teacher and Mom Planner & a Friday Flash FREEBIE

I love teaching and spend every minute of the school day in "teacher mode".  But then 4:00 rolls around...and it's back to "mom mode".  That's when a new kind of craziness erupts.  It's not the craziness that can occur during a 4th grade Science experiment.  It's the craziness that occurs when you have 4 kids ranging in ages 1 to 11 packed into a mini van and  feeding them after school snacks while you are in route to the 5 year old's gymnastic class and checking the 8 year old's Math homework at the stop light.  Yep...this happens to me quite frequently.  What's my main goal during these times?  To remain calm and organized. :)

I have used many planners over the past few years...and have found something I didn't like about each and every one of them.  So, I created my own.  

I purchased this Mead notebook from Staples.  It is really more of a binder than a notebook but is not bulky like a binder.  It fits in my purse! (It's a large purse...but it does fit!)

I use the front pocket folder for important papers that need immediate attention.

Then I put in the pages of my planner.

The next pocket folder is for my kid's school papers.

Then I have a pocket folder for the kid's sports papers and a separate pocket folder for my grocery lists.

The organizational possibilities are endless, but this is what works for me at this moment.

To download my 2015 Planner FREEBIE, click on the picture below.

Enjoy!

Today's Flash Freebie is a set of Triangles and Angles Task Cards.

This is a set of Task Cards suitable for 4th, 5th, 6th Grade Math. Students measure the angles of a triangle and name the triangle as either acute, right, or obtuse. (There are equilateral triangles too!)

I printed and laminated off several sets to be used as a Math center in my room. That is one option. 

You could print off enough sets for every student, pairs of students, or even small groups of students.

You could also use as an assessment tool.

Common Core Aligned for 4th Grade.

Included is a recording sheet and an answer key!

To download this FREEBIE, click on the picture below!