Spark Student Motivation {September 14th}

I hope everyone has had an amazing week! I sure have! It’s a beautiful Saturday and while I’m spending my morning getting my hair fried, dyed, and laid to the side :-), I thought I’d link up with Joanne over at Head Over Heels for Teaching for her Spark Student Motivation Linky Party!

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I’ve previously shared what a Vistaprint fan I am. And I firmly believe that building relationships with students and their family is just as important as teaching the content. So in this post I’m showing the blending of the two.

Once a week I send home postcards to parents of my awesome students! The postcard just lets parents know that I see the hard work their children put in on a daily basis and I appreciate their support!

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You should see how excited the kids are the day after their parents get a card. They work even harder! And my kids already work HARD!

How many of you are Vistaprint fans? What neat ways do you use their products in your classroom?

And don’t forget to head over to Joanne’s link up and discover some other awesome ideas!

Until the next time,

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Throwback Thursday – The Global Read Aloud {August 8th}

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It’s Throwback Thursday with First Grade Parade! As I begin to plan for a new school year, the Global Read Aloud is at the top of my to-do list. So, in support, today’s Throwback Thursday will be from last years post about why I’m joining the Global Read Aloud.

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Originally posted July 22, 2012

I love to read. As a child, I was fussed at frequently because I was reading when I should be doing something else. In high school I jumped at the chance to take AP English but didn’t even contemplate taking AP Calculus. Before texting and driving – I was reading and driving….yes, I admit it! Then I found out about audiobooks and gave Cracker Barrell a great deal of my business until my local library caught up. Because of my love of reading, I find it unfathomable that there are children in this world who don’t like to read.

Last year, my class participated in a book read with classes out of Mississippi and North Carolina. They loved it! They enjoyed the idea of using Edmodo to respond to other students’ posts in another state. Add to that a Skype experience and I had to beg them not to read ahead – but they did it anyway!

So why the Global Read Aloud? Instead of just two other classes, we will be reading this book with approximately 100 other classes – all over the world! Multiple opportunities to Skype and use Edmodo (which the children love) as well as get the students excited about READING!

This year, the Global Read Aloud will be reading Charlotte’s Web (for younger children) and The One and Only Ivan (for older students). Excited – heck yeah I am! I devoured The One and Only Ivan in a day with tears streaming down my eyes as I finished (and yes, before you ask I’m a HUGE crybaby) and am still wondering how I’m going to get through it since there isn’t an audiobook available yet.

Have I piqued your interest yet? I hope I have. If so check out the Global Read Aloud Blog and Wiki. Also, you can follow information on twitter by using the hastag #glread12.

Hope to see you soon!

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2013 GRA Information:

Website: http://www.globalreadaloud.com
Wiki: http://globalreadaloud.wikispaces.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReadAloud
Twitter hash tag: #glread13

Books
Eric Carle Author Study – ideal for primary grades
Marty McGuire by Kate Messner – ideal for 1st through 3rd
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper – ideal for 4th and up (can go as high as you want)
Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach – Middle School and High School although I will be reading it with my 5th graders

Dates
Starts September 30th and finishes November 8th, 2013

Until the next time,

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Tried It Tuesday {August 6th}

I’m linking up with Fouth Grade Flipper for her Tried It Tuesday.

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I implemented Interactive Student Notebooks (ISN) last year with my students. My Social Studies partner does them as well. Although glue, colored pencils, and scissors are a part of their supply list, we frequently had students who did not have them. We both had backups, but never enough and we’d lose class time waiting for the supplies to be passed around. 🙁 We also had a small problem with those supplies going missing…..*gasp*!

This year we plan to have a class set of supplies, but how will we keep up with them. In blog perusing, I got this awesome idea from Erin over at I’m Lovin’ Lit! She wraps duck tape around her supplies. LOVE IT! Read more about Erin’s ISN posts here.

When I started looking for duct tape I saw that they had a Spider-Man version. If they had a Spider-Man version, they definitely should have a Wonder Woman version, right? WRONG! How can they NOT have Wonder Woman??? But, I got over it and voila!

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Scissors on deck! 🙂

Until the next time,

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It’s Currently Time!

This has been one of my best school years ever! I’ve worked with an A – MA – ZING group of kids and been offered some FABULOUS opportunities! I work with the hardest group of women anywhere and an AWESOME staff! Blessed…..just blessed I tell you! Normally, we’re out of school by now, but we are 2 half days away from saying “Have a great summer!” to these babies with one more day to closing out the school year for us adults. But with it being June, it’s also time for a new Currently linky party! 🙂

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Like I said earlier, time has flown by so quickly, I can’t believe it’s June already! But like one of my blogging sheroes, Kim over in Finding Joy in 6thh, said, my mind is already racing ahead to the start of the next school year.

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DD’s last day of school was last Tuesday (she goes to school in a different school district), and she’s been with Nana and Papa ever since……being spoiled rotten! Going to pick up that sweetie later today to get ready for summer camp. Since she’s gone it’s been remarkably silent. You’d be amazed at how many “Mama can I…..?” I hear on the weekend….well, maybe not…..

I am so excited about the new opportunities that have come my way! 🙂 First I was stoked about being a part of an e-learning committee, which then morphed into being a part of a 1:1 mobile device project, which then morphed into being an instructor in the graduate course…..unbelievable! It’s amazing where we’re headed technology wise…..five years ago nothing like this was even on the edge of my mind….

After the last conference I attended, I decided that I was going to start stretching professionally outside my school district. My proposal was accepted and I’ll be presenting at the Upstate Technology Conference in July. I also found out that our district tech coordinator wants us to present at the State Technology Conference in October! Whoop!

About a month ago, my mom asked me if I wanted to attend our sorority conference in Canada this year. Of course! I hadn’t even mentioned it, because I didn’t think it was an option. That has morphed into me presenting at the conference….wow!

Although the school year is ending, things will keep rolling right along for me! Graduate course, 2 Common Core workshops, Leadership, and the Tech Conference….plus…..planning for our 6th grade transition camp (for rising 6th graders) and next year…..Whowza!

My fridge is empty and I know the hubs is hungry….cause I’m hungry….but I don’t wanna get outta this bed….ugggghhhh!

My vacation must faves? Tech gear (iPhone, iPad, computer) is a must (my brain never shuts off!), family and friends (we have the best time together!), and fitness gear (bought a fit bit to keep me on track). I’ve got a lot planned this summer….and I’m going to enjoy every single bit of it!

Click on Farley’s pic above to find the post and link up. Make sure you follow her rule of three, comment on the two before and one after yours!

Until the next time!

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