Wish List Wednesday!

So I’ve spent countless hours in Staples, Office Depot, Walmart, varios teacher stores, etc. this week and the kid in me couldn’t help but make a wish list in my head of all the things I wast and need for a successful school year! I’ve dubbed this day “Wish List Wednesday!”

My non-teacher peeps are always asking, “Why do you have to spend so much money on school stuff? Don’t you get to write that off on your taxes? Why do you need so many pens and sticky notes?” Simple answer, “Believe me, I just neeeeeeeeed these things!”

So, on to the list…

1. THIS particular pencil sharpener in all 4 corners of my room!

It can be found at www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com. This little machine is awesome. It sharpens to a perfect point, is quiet, and I could just go on and on. I owned a red one but you already know what happened. The kids did their best to dismantle it.

2. My favorite...FLAIR pens by Paper Mate... 

This is a “must-do” for every teacher I know...they come in so many colors and they don’t bleed...that’s it...the end! They’re known to grow legs and walk off your desk into a student’s binder or your co-worker's purse, they’re super sneaky. Haha! And they’re on the wish list because I can never have enough of them or item number 3 on my list.

3. Sharpies!!!!! (In at least 100 colors)

Can you think of one bad thing to say about Sharpies? Seriously...I’ll wait…

4. Scentsy!

I know everyone has a Scentsy but I need this Longhorn edition. Of course I’ve had one in my classroom for at least 5 years, but, like my sharpener, the kids broke it. “Missss...I just walked past your desk and it committed suicide and fell and broke into a zillion tiny pieces!” The custodian is still giving me the side eye for all the wax that left a stain on the royal blue school grade carpet. Sigh…

5. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes! In BULK! Just trust me when I say these things will save a life...and they leave the room smelling like the kids have done some serious Spring cleaning!

6. This may seem weird but I actually do more than wish for a clean organized room, most days. I talk, walk, rant, pace, I've even had to chase down a couple runners, one in his skivvies...and at the end of the day I like to make sure I’ve consumed at least a gallon of water. I’d probably die without my favorite Tervis Tumbler!

And I have this exact one!

I know, I know...it’s such a simple list but all these things makes this teacher so happy. Happy Wednesday peeps!

So ready to go back to school...kinda...a little...not really!

I haven’t been around in a while...blah, blah, blah! Now that that’s out of the way, it’s time for me to blog (read rant, whine, complain, etc.)

I’ve worked at my “new” school unscatehd for two school years and I think it suits me, for the most part. So much so that I’m longing to get into my classroom to clean, decorate, make seating charts, create cool bulletin boards, buy tons of supplies, make copies, and hug all my new baby eagles!

Wait--what? Did I just say that? Why do I go through this every summer? I survived summer school (barely), I had 7 full days of rest and relaxation in the beautiful island nation of Jamaica, I’ve grown mold on my backside from being the world’s laziest human being for a couple of weeks, I’ve eaten everything in sight, because I have to keep my svelte 200+ pounds teacher figure up, and now all I can fixate on is “Back to School” sales, memes, blogs, pins, and the like. Sigh...I’ve taken to trolling my friends’ FB posts to see who will be the lucky winner of “I’m correcting your poor grammar in my head!” like it’s a sport. (J/k, but only a little.)

So, I suppose this burst of faux energy is a good thing, right? I mean, outside of penning these few words, I haven’t actually done diddly but I’ve got some amazing ideas...in my head. And thanks to modern technology, I have some outstanding pics in my phone of what I’m imagining my next classroom will look like, although there are maybe too many themes to combine, but I won’t shy away from the challenge!

Alas, I have a few more weeks of dodging calls/texts from former students and their parents who want to be friends (am I the only one with this issue?) and eating ice cream for breakfast. August 17th is D-Day...enjoy your few final weeks of summer...

Density lab...kinda...well, mostly!

So I'm teaching Science (and Math) this year and my goal is to be great at it and give the students lots of hands on experiences. The only problem is that I'm dealing with limited resources. Everyone knows teachers have super powers but not so super budgets.

Our first Science unit is all about matter. This particular "lab" was a follow up to learning about density or an item's mass divided by its volume. I didn't do the full blown version of this lab as seen on Pinterest and other websites (http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/density-tower-magic-with-science)...I improvised and I think my little scientists learned a great deal...I have pics of them writing down their observations as the final piece...

I gave each group of 2-4 students a tiny clear cup and even tiny-er cups of liquids with varying densities...I really enjoyed all the ooohs and aaaahs!

Here are a few pics!

Students discussing and writing their observations...

A view from above...check out our fancy lab tables aka empty student desks...

Hmmmm...what's going on in this tiny cup?

Looks like a lava lamp...

The liquids settling by density: honey, corn syrup, water, vegetable oil, lemon juice, vinegar...

These are the items the students added to their liquids: wine cork, rotini, button, bead, black bean, wooden block...

Fractions!!!!

I need ideas...that is all!

Cheese...and WHINE

Boring!

 This just in: My students are HORRIBLE poor readers and writers!!! So, I had to go back to basics and start with the 4 kinds of sentences. Ugh...BORING!!!

But...THIS sentence is EPIC!!!

One week down...182 days to goooooo!

I survived the first week of school and (as of Friday at 3:20) all the children were still intact and injury free! Whew!

So far, the students are great little bundles of curious joy. They are definitely a mixed bag intellectually but they are hard workers and very trainable. I have no complaints...well...maybe one...who the heck thinks it's a good idea for 5th graders to NOT have recess after lunch? We go from lunch back to class and have recess from 3-3:20...DUMB! Alas, I adore my little OWLs and it's going to be a fantastic year!

I had to start with the basics for Math...I got an amazing resource from 4mulafun! to teach place value. I think I actually tricked my students into learning on Friday. 

I also enticed them with the promise of treats afterwards. We used Skittles Math Pebbles to show how multiplication is easy if you look at is as making or repeating groups of numbers!

AND...I didn't catch anyone sneaking a bite, but we all had sticky fingers after about 10 minutes of speed drills :0)

3 x 11=???

3 x 3=???

9????

Currently...September!

Is it really September? No, really?

Thanks to Megan from Oh' Boy 4th Grade for helping me reflect...

My favorite part is the section at the bottom with the heart...because this summer has been all about loving, accepting and forgiving myself...and being AWESOME, of course :0)

Shout outs!!!

I received 3 deliveries yesterday! All 3 packages are for my students so I think I must treat myself to some retail therapy this weekend...I digress.

The first package contained all my OWL flair, including my teacher bag and poster. VistaPrint did a really good job... I guess I'll forgive their constant email reminders (for a minute there it felt like we were in an "it's complicated" relationship!)

Next I received the most amazing pencil sharpener on the planet! No, seriously...it's beyond words...it's small and unassuming, quick, and, BEST OF ALL, quiet!!! I sharpened one pencil and I was so intrigued that I finished the entire pack. I used some cheap pencils from the OneSpot at Targét and they passed the test. I'm going to try it out with my 5th graders and see how well it holds up...

My last delivery was a cute book called "Summer in the City!" It's authored by Kathleen Wainwright. It is very engaging, energizing and a dose of cuteness overload!

Texting your classes…

I’m sooo exhausted after cleaning out my new classroom today…whew! I shall not go down that road though…at least not until I can show pictures of my completed labor.  

For now, I’m pondering how I’ll incorporate more relevant technology into my classroom, I keep seeing “Remind101”

After a Googling it, I discovered that I there are a few “safe” group messaging apps for teachers...apparently I'm way behind. I think I’m going to give it a whirl. Most of them are free to educators. (Apps of this kind are used to send group messages without revealing your phone number.) 

The students and parents can subscribe to your group and you can email or text updates and blasts as needed. It would be cool to see words of encouragement from your FAVORITE before those big assessments also. I foresee it being more user friendly & instant than a class website, which I have no immediate interest in…

I’m curious as to whether any of my peeps have tried group texting…here’s a link for your enjoyment!

Toodles…

One Word...TEACHER-GASM!

It's starting...the back to school shopping is starting...one cent sales, tax free weekend, glue sticks, sharpies, flairs, post-its, pencils, tape, scented markers, composition books, wide ruled paper...Oh-Em-Jesus! I'm hyped up...or high on glue sticks...either way, I love this time of year!!!

This is just the beginning...happy shopping!