Class

I have learned a lot from this class.  I just wish I could remember exactly how to use everything.  I really wanted to create a pivot table with the purpose of forming my small groups, but I couldn't get it to work for me.  I will keep working with it, and maybe I will be successful.  Thank you Vickey for all you did for the clas.

Lunch date

Today I had a lunch date with one of my good friends who retired from teaching last year.  Not only did we get to catch up, but we still discussed things about teaching.  It is so awesome to have coworkers that become your life long friends!  I have learned so many things from her over the years.

Clickers

Last year I received student response systems to use in my class.  They were pretty cool, and the students loved using them.  They looked like BIG cell phones, and the students thought they were "big stuff" using them.  This year we got a new teaching unit, so clickers were ordered for her.  When hers came in, the other 5th grade teachers were jealous because she got the upgraded version, and they looked like little blackberries.  We talked with out administrator and told her we would be willing to give ours to 3rd grade teachers and train them how to use our clickers, if we could get the updated version.  It worked out in our favor because she was already planning on purchasing them for third grade.   I now have the upgraded version in my room, and the kids are even more excited.  We are now using them for all kinds of things.  For example, I now give my spelling tests using them...they text the words to me....no more paper/pencil tests!!!

Kindergarten teaches save me

I found this really cool writing activity on Pinterest that I wanted to do with my students.  It involved paint...which I never do with 5th graders.  I thought I had some paint in my closet, but was wrong.  So, I called a kindergarten coworker and asked to borrow some paint.  I got what I needed and the activity was a success!   A few days later at our class Christmas party, my students were busy making their gingerbread houses.  As we went to clean things up, a thought entered my head...."How are they going to carry these on the bus?"  I called another kindergarten teacher and asked her how her students carried theirs home.  She informed me I needed gallon size bags...which I did not have.  Luckily, she had enough for my class!  I learned that week that kindergarten teachers have EVERYTHING in their classrooms!

Painting

Painting with 5th graders is a scary thought....that's why I don't usually do it.  However, I found a cute writing idea on Pinterest that I wanted to do.  My students were to draw a strand of lights with their pencil, then they would use paint to make the light bulbs with their fingertips.  After that they were to draw a picture and from it, create a story.  The easiest way to do this without making a mess was to pull a few students at a time to the table while the others worked on something else....or so I thought!  One of the paint containers was brand new, so I had to unscrew the lid to open it...which I did....and then the top lid needed to be closed...which I did NOT!  As I attempted to shake up the bottle, the top lid came open and paint went flying everywhere!  I just froze!  The students immediately started getting paper towels to clean up the mess, and then one student very loudly screamed, "It's in your HAIR"!  It was true....paint was all over my shirt and pants and lots of it was in my hair.  Good thing it was washable.  I managed to clean myself up, and we finished our papers, but I probably won't be painting for a VERY long time.

Election Day

This is a little late, but I wanted to share.  For the election this year, my class along with Amy O'Dell's class conducted a mock election.  We had students register to vote, make rosters, and decorate voting booths.  Every child in 5th grade had an opportunity to vote and were given "I voted" stickers.  The kids had fun and so did I.  I posted pictures...I hope you can see them.

Happy Thanksgiving

The last week and a half has been crazy.  I enjoy having a day off work so much, but I hate when I have to spend it sick:(.  I woke up last Monday with the worst sore throat ever!  Turns out it was strep.  I was out of work all week except Friday.  I finally started feeling better on Saturday.
I enjoyed spending time with my husband's family for Thanksgiving.  The time together and the great food was just what I needed.  I spent the day after Thanksgiving putting up my Christmas tree.  I put it up while my 16 month old was napping....hoping he would not notice it when he woke up.  Boy was I WRONG....I am going to have to move it to the kitchen before it ends up in the floor....lol.