Rodeo, Dr. Seuss, and Science Project (update)

This past week we had rodeo break...it is like having Thanksgiving in February!  The kiddos and I went to school Monday to Wednesday and then we get Thursday and Friday off...for the rodeo of course (shhh! I've never been to the rodeo!)

 Wednesday was something else!  Let me tell you...I had one puker (he didn't make it to the trash can) and then shortly after I had another (he did make it to the trash can).  The morning was slow and kids were leaving school left and right.  At lunchtime it was sunny and fifty minutes later...it started snowing and in southern AZ that is a BIG deal!  Here is a picture of our playground.

I did take the kiddos out...who wouldn't...they were beyond ecstatic!  I am pretty sure none of them had ever seen snow falling!

 Dr. Seuss' birthday is on Saturday!   We have been celebrating all week by reading his books and learning about him. On Friday we are going to do this fun activity...I am sooooo excited for it and can't wait to show you the results!

These are the books we are reading.  Check out how they are laid on the table...nope not me...the kiddos did it.  Aren't they sweet?  It is apparent to me that they respect Dr. Seuss very much :)



Here is my science project update.....we won FIRST place just like I hoped (here)...and the project is going up to the next level and will be presented at the SARSEF (Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair).  I am super excited for my kiddos!  They were aksing me if any of my classes had ever won first place and I said, "Nope!  You are the first and you did such as awesome job!"  They were beaming!  I love my class this year!

Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss!  Apple on everyone!

The Science Fair and Valentine's Day

 Every year we have the science fair.  It seems to be the only time that I am able to fit in a genuine complete scientific type lesson.  The kids LOVE it!  This year we wondered about chips and if they are healthy for us.  I  gathered some of their favorite kinds of chips and one that I knew wouldn't be as greasy just to balance out their oh-so-healthy choices. We crushed the chips and put some on one inch graph paper for a week.  The paper absorbed the oil and we counted the squares to see which chip has the most.  Let me tell you...the chips have been off the papers for half a week and the oil is STILL spreading!  Grossness! The finished project will be placed in the hallway tomorrow...I secretly would like to win first place.  That would be awesome for my class!  When we were wrapping up our project one of my students was very distraught.  I asked him what was wrong and he was just holding his head in his hands and groaning.  He said, "But Cheetos are so good! I don't want to eat healthy chips!"

 

Valentine's day is coming!  Are you ready?  I tell my hubby that I would rather spend time with him than anything else and I surely don't need any more candy because I get TONS from my students!  Do you get loads of candy from your students?  I don't know how they figured out how much I like chocolate and sugary stuff!  I am giving my kiddos a heart shaped crayon and a book (it is also Love of Reading week).

 I hope the rest of your week is great!  Apple on!

TBA Friday Freebie and Currently

I haven't blogged since December...eek.  I have been missing my blog and all the fabulous ideas that have inspired me from fellow teacher bloggers but for this first post back I'm going to keep it short and sweet.  I have a new freebie that has to do with nouns, verbs and adjectives in my TpT store for Valentine's Day...click the picture below to get yours!

Thanks Farley!

Apple on!

Like a Kid on Christmas Eve...

Like many of you out there I can't even express with words what I have been feeling lately.  I can express what I believe.  Those who lost their lives are with our Heavenly Father.  They are safe and happy and they will see their families again someday.

I am not sure of the original source of this picture.  Since Friday it has gone viral and I can't find the source.

I woke up Saturday morning with a heavy heart and also a fever.  I haven't been able to see my babes this week due to strep.  The first medication I took hasn't worked but the doctor prescribed something else and I am REALLY hoping to be able to be well enough and not contagious by tomorrow night.  That would mean I could see my kiddos on their last day before break.  Tomorrow night will be like Christmas Eve for me!  I am crossing my fingers, eyes, and toes and praying that this med will kick this strep's butt.
 

As promised possibly two weeks ago...sorry :(  I better not make any more promises!  I have added my Magic/ Bossy/ Silent E packet and powerpoint to my TpT store.  Check it out HERE.  When I teach bossy E I use this apron and the kids get to help with the powerpoint by wearing the apron and using the pointer that I use.  They LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  They love being bossy to that other vowel!  They shake their fingers and say, "Bossy e makes the vowel say its name!"

Penicillin on...I mean...apple on!!!

Honor and Remember

Currently, A Freebie, and Counting/ Segmenting Sounds

Thanks to Farely over at "Oh Boy Fourth Grade" for the festive December Currently.  I love the cute Christmas lights on it!  I also have my Friday Freebie waiting for you...click on the picture below to get yours...opps it's really Saturday but I had a hot date with the hubs so the freebie had to wait :)

I just put a set of 6 worksheets for counting and segmenting sounds...you can click on the picture above to get your set.  We have been working on magic, bossy, silent (so many names for a letter!) E in my walk to read class.  I have the lower group and while they are the sweetest kids on the planet it is definitely a challenge.  Getting phonics rules to stick in their little brains takes a massive amount of energy and creativity and maybe me acting like a nut once in a while.  I will share some pictures and other goodies with you that we have been doing in class with magic, bossy, silent E next week.  Happy weekend and apple on!

Liebster Blog Award

Hey everyone! I had an awesome Thanksgiving.  My only complaint is that there was not enough room in my stomach for all the yummy food and also I wanted more of a break!  I was nominated for The Liebster Award thanks to Jessica over at I {heart} Recess. The award is for newer bloggers who have less than 200 followers.  It will help me spread the word about my blog and help me get connected to new bloggers like me!

The Rules:

1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.

3. Create 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate.

4. Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and a link them in your post.

5. No tag back (but please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to you Liebster post so I can learn more about you)

 Random Facts About Me:

1. My kitchen has an apple theme.

2. I have owned more than a dozen cats (apparently they don't have nine lives)

3. My parents thought about naming me Bevelin.

4. I want to have six children and most people think I am crazy.

5. I love to scrapbook but don't have the time.

6. I love to try new recipes.

7. I hate eating leftovers.

8. I wish all first graders believed in Santa...December would be easier to get through that way.

9. My pet peeve is people who don't listen but I am not a good listener myself...I am working on that.

10. I enjoy James Bond movies more than your average chick flick.

11. I used to read more than I slept when I was 9 and 10 years old.

Questions by I {heart} Recess (Jessica)

1.  What is your dream job (other than teaching)?

Being a stay at home mom!  I will be someday! 

2.  What is one thing you wish you were better at?

 I so wish I was better at lesson planning.

3.  Do you have a hidden talent?  If so, explain.

I think my hidden talent (also a downfall in some cases) is finding the good in every single person/ student.

 4.  Do you have a TpT store? If yes, post the link :)

 My TpT Store :)

 5.  What do you fear?

Wide, open, dark spaces and fish

 6.  What is your favorite holiday tradition?

My husband's family (the whole family) has a white elephant gift exchange every year at Christmas time.  I LOVE attending and it is so much fun! 

7.  Who do you admire most and why?

I admire my dad because he works so hard and had has to change his teaching job dramatically but he never complains.  He always makes it the best for him and others. 

8.  What is your favorite subject or unit to teach?

I love teaching math!  I also love teaching or connecting teaching to anything that has to do with any holiday/ season.

 9.  How many students do you have in your class?

27 little firsties

 10.  Where is your favorite place to shop?

Target

11.  Who is your celebrity crush?

Orlando Bloom, Kyle Chandler, Daniel Craig

Questions to my Nominations:

1. What is your ideal class size?

2. How do you plan at your school...by yourself, with a team, ect.?

3. Do you watch movies with your students? If so, which ones?

4. What rewards do you provide for your students?

5.  What is your favorite thing about teaching/ being a teacher?

6. What technology do you find most useful in your classroom?

7. What do you wish you had more time for?

8. Where do you do most of your holiday shopping?

9. What is your favorite time of year to teach?

10. If you could pick one popular blog (with more than 1000 followers) which one is your favorite to read?

11. What provides you with the most comic relief?

Blogs I am nominating:

NO ONE! I looked for the better part of an hour and every blog I found (lots of cute new blogs) had already been nominated.  I worked on my questions before I realized I had no one to nominate so if you have read this whole post...thank you very much and please answer one question in a comment below.  I promise I'm not being lazy and to prove it I'll be back later this week with new products and hopefully a freebie in my TpT store.  Thanks for the blog love!  Apple on!