Thursday, December 04, 2014

Catching up on some events so far this year...


Our first field trip this year was to the Mythbusters Exhibit at the Fort Worth Science Museum.  The kids had a great time exploring some myths and busting them! They even did an experiment with a parent- what a good sport!


This is our "Sock" it to drugs from Red Ribbon Week.



 The class loved working on their Native American tribes to share thier learning with the rest of the class.  They made artifacts to show how thier tribed lived.  I was impressed with all they did!





We have Chromebooks this year (we share with another class).  I am loving the ability to use a computer for so many different tasks and they are too!


We have visited the science lab many times already this year- this is just a snapshot of some of the learning taking place.


We love our buddy time and for this day we helped them measure pumpkins and complete a sink or float activity.  Everyone had a grand time!



Sunday, September 28, 2014

Run for the Rings


Run for the Rings is one of my favorite traditions we do at our school.  I love hearing from the students what true character means.  This ceremony gives me hope for all the potential that awaits us this school year.  It is a day of joining together for the love of learning!





Thursday, September 25, 2014

Known for... and a treat!

Yesterday while reading wonder, we came to the chapter titled "Known for" in which August talks about what he is known for.  I used that as an opportunity for students to write about what they are known for.  I loved reading their thoughts on themselves- I highly suggest this activity even if you are not reading the book.



A student of mine made me some beautiful gluten free cookies!!! I loved them and perhaps, maybe I ate them all too!!



Sunday, September 14, 2014

They Clapped...Twice

I am already having so much fun with my new class this year.  They are full of compassion and respect for one another.  Friday, this past week, as I was reading a book aloud to the them they clapped...out loud...all together...in unison...to cheer for a character in the book WONDER.  They did this, not once, but twice!  I wanted to cry right then and there! If you haven't read this book- you are really missing out and need to read it.  If you have read this book, then they clapped in the middle of the book while reading Jack's point of view.  I am so proud of my class that they get it! They not only  get it, but they cheer for others for standing up to the right thing.  I am in awe and love of this class!!!

Monday, September 01, 2014

Week 1


We started the first day off by coloring seperate sheets of paper that had drawing all ready on it.  I let the students decide where they wanted to sit and then they could start coloring their picture.  I told them they had to color the whole thing, there should not be any white space left.  They all did this without question.  Once we were done I explained that we all entered this room on our own, but we would leave this room part of a bigger picture.  They then had to figure out where their picture went in the bigger picture.  It took some time and communication, but they did it!


Our Class Mural


We then played the dice rules game.  I gave each table some dice and told them to start playing.  Some were confused and some started just making up their own game.  I then walked around and watched them play.  I would remind them they are to add/sub/multi and this caused serious confusion.  I then brought them back to whole group and asked them if they understood what I was asking them to do- they all said no.  We talked about what that felt like, to be confuse and frustrated.  I asked that they remember that feeling and understand why it is important that we have procedures and rules, so we know exactly what to do.  I then had them work in groups and come up with our classroom prodecures for walking in class in the morning, brain breaks outside, cafeteria and recess, and ending our day.

Brain Break Outside Procedures
End of the Day Procedures

Cafeteria Procedures

Morning Procedures

Hallway Procedures


Recess Procedures
 This week we also decorated our locker with a cool name design, acted out a day at school with drama cards, learned about our new chromebooks, a fun fourth day in fourth grade activity, and did some learning style tests.  It was a great week back to school and I am excited for this year!!

Friday, August 22, 2014

Our PTO/PIC is Awesome!!



We were provided a luncheon at our school today.  We had yummy food (can't go wrong with Olive Garden) and they gave everyone a lunch box to start of the year as well. I thought that was so very thoughtful!! We all put our names in for a drawing and I won!!! I won this awesome centerpiece that is full of school supplies- my favorite!! We are very well taken care of at my school :)

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Meet the Teacher

I just met all my sweet students for the year and I am excited!  It is going to be a great year full of fun and learning!  I just have to contain my excitement until Tuesday morning!


Beautiful flowers from a student on Meet the Teacher night! I love them!


Another sweet student brought me emoticon cookies ;)  I had to share them with other teacher friends because I can not eat gluten, but they said the cookies were yummy!!!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

School Year 2014-2015

I am so excited to be starting another school year at the Academy at Nola  Dunn in 4th grade! I have a great team and can't wait to meet my great class.  What makes this year really special is that I have several students whom I taught kindergarten and 1st grade.  This will be the third year that I will have had the honor to teach them! How lucky and blessed I am!!

To ensure that everyone stays in contact with me and makes sure they know what is going on in our classroom I have set up a variety of ways to keep in touch.  I have attached a flyer that contains all that information- check it out!

How to stay in touch with our classroom?


I can't wait to get this year started!!

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Teacher Retreat- Painting Fun

I am trying my best to wrap my brain around going back to school.  I am so thankful that we have a teacher's retreat to start this whole back to school process.  It is a gentle way to start the push that the new school year brings.  This year I had the honor of sharing my love for technology.  I love technology and am constantly amazed at all there is to do and see.  My favorite things to learn this summer were on coding and Google Lit. trips.  I can't wait to use them in the classroom! Until then I wanted to share some of the cool stuff my school did for some team building.  We had a painting party! Almost all the teachers were there and we all painted together.  I was supposed to help teach but ended up mainly painting-oops! 


My Final Painting
The Teachers of Painting


My Fourth Grade Team

Sunday, August 03, 2014

Technology Conference

I had the privilege of going to a technology conference.  The information I learned is invaluable.  I have put it all on a flyer to organize my thoughts.  Check it out!

Tots for Technology Conference 2014

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Have a Sunshine Day!

We teachers often have to look out for each other.  One teacher decided to do that by linking up teachers from all over and allowing them to get to know each other.  They then send out a gift to their buddy based on the theme of the month.  This past theme was sending sunshine. I love what my partner sent me! I love getting packages in the mail! The one who started it all is Lessons With Coffee.  She is super amazing- if you don't know her, go check her out!