A Peek at my Week

Today I'm linking up with Jennifer from Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for "A Peek at my Week."

Monday:

TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) Training.

8-3.

Day one.

Tuesday:

TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) Training.

8-3.

Day two.

Wednesday:

TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) Training.

8-3.

Day three.

Thursday:

DAY ONE OF SUMMER VACATION!

Friday:

DAY TWO OF SUMMER VACATION!

...And probably going into school to work on my new classroom before summer school begins.

Five for Friday

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching this week for Five For Friday! 

My last day with students was Tuesday this week! We had conference days on Wednesday and Thursday, and I signed up for a different conference today, which was all about the new Social Studies framework. It was a very productive week! Next week, I have TCI training, which stands for Therapeutic Crisis Interventions. It's three days! So...I'm not really sure when my summer vacation begins!

I've blogged about how I'm switching from fourth to second grade next year, but that also means I had to pack up my classroom and move! When everyone else had some classroom time during our conference days, I had hallway time. All of my stuff was piled high outside my new classroom!

Has anyone ever used Mountain Math? I've talked about this before and I am OH SO EXCITED because I ordered the CCLS version of spiral review for my second graders AND IT CAME TODAY!!!

Oh, and getting a new classroom and new grade level has turned into buying tons of new stuff for that classroom. I am on a spending spree! Bookshelves, throw rugs, and I'm re-covering all of my pillows. Black and white polka dots, and bursts of yellow!

Who else is psyched for summer?

Oh, I have a 20% off my entire TpT store going on until Monday. Happy summer!

Pack your bags...We're out of here!

A few conference days left and we are DONE for summer!!! WOOHOO!!!

***Lucy's face is always sad looking. She actually didn't hate her suitcase ride.

Tried It Tuesday

Let's link up with Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday!

TECHNOLOGY TUESDAY!

I recently began experimenting with some fun technology! Although I am a younger teacher, technology is not always my thing. It seems to stop working at just the right moment, always. But here are a few cool apps/sites I found that even I can figure out!!!

1. Canva

Make super cool posters and visuals!

2. Pic Collage

I downloaded this app to my iPhone and it's pretty sweet. I need more time to experiment with it, but making collages from my kiddo pictures and puppy pictures is fun!

A Peek at my Week

Today I'm linking up with Jennifer from Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for "A Peek at my Week."

Monday:

Class Slideshow Day!

I spent all weekend making my class slideshow! So, on Monday, we will have an awards ceremony and then watch the class slideshow and share some memories! I'm psyched.

Tuesday:

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

'Nuf said.

Wednesday:

Conference Day!

We are doing a K-2 overview of the ELA modules in the morning, and a workshop on the Daily Five in the afternoon. I'm the only teacher in my school to use the Daily Five, but it's totally going to change next year since I'm moving from fourth to second!

Thursday:

Second Conference Day!

For me, this day will be filled with PACKING!!!

Moving classrooms is tough work! I'm SOOOOOO excited to change up my decor and organize! Well, you know, in theory. By the end of Thursday I'm going to be sweaty and gross and wishing I weren't moving, I'm sure!

Friday:

Although Friday should be my first day of summer, I signed up for a workshop on the Social Studies framework. So, I will be in school from 8-3. When does summer start again?

Positive Thinking Thursday

I am linking up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for 

Positive Thinking Thursday! 

"Sometimes it's good to start over."

The Julian Chapter by RJ Palacio

I'm reading this continuation of Wonder for my class currently, and it is giving us information from the bully's perspective from one of our favorite read alouds this year. Wonder is about Auggie, a boy who was born with severe facial disfigurement and was homeschooled until fifth grade, when he begins attending Beecher Prep. Auggie makes friends, but is also tormented by the school bully, Julian. Each chunk of the book is told from a different perspective, and the kiddos loved it. In Wonder, Julian did not have a perspective. The Julian Chapter is his point of view, and, although it starts in a negative manner, the conclusion is really quite beautiful. We are enjoying this text immensely!

Wordless Wednesday

I'm linking up with Christine from "Sugar and Spice," for a Wordless Wednesday linky party! It is time for Wordless Wednesday!

Has anyone ever tried Mountain Language? 

I'm interested...but it's expensive!

Monday Made It

Today I'll be linking up with Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics. It's time for a Monday Made It!
                   

See those two pink tables with the white tops?

This is a Made It I did years ago, but they are still lasting and I still looooove them!!!!!

So, what's special about those tables?

WHITEBOARD PAINT!!!

I painted the tops of those tables and a few others in my classroom with whiteboard paint. Kiddos use Expo markers and write on them during Daily Five and Math Centers. It's great! The fourth graders love using Expo markers, think it's cool that they can write on tables, and it saves paper.

A Peek at my Week

Today I'm linking up with Jennifer from Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for "A Peek at my Week."

Monday:

Track and Field Day!

The fourth graders learn about the events in track and field as their final unit in gym class. They have qualified in certain events and compete in their events on Monday!

Tuesday:

We're having an ice cream party today! 

I have our balloons hanging from the ceiling and the kiddos pop one every day to reveal how many days of school are left and what our special count down treat will be! Today is ice cream! 

We'll eat outside and chat about memories of fourth grade. But probably my spunky boys will remember the farts and the kid who puked on the floor in the classroom that one time.

Wednesday:

I have a CSE meeting. It drives me crazy to be out of the classroom in June...mostly because my students are naughty and mischievous as summer gets closer! I feel terrible for the sub because I'm sure it isn't easy!

Thursday:

We have an awards ceremony today for the whole school. Should be interesting! I hope it isn't too hot...the fourth graders sit on the top of the bleachers and the end of June can get pretty sweaty and stinky!

Friday:

Performing Arts day!

Basically, the kiddos enjoy a day of the arts. It's always aligned to our art teacher's theme for the year, which was the railroad this year.

And each day this week I vow to clean a little bit of my piles of junk in my classroom! I'm changing rooms over the summer and I cannot move all of this junk with me! Time to cleanse!

Five For Friday

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching this week for Five For Friday! 

Each day, my class counts down the days until summer vacation by popping a balloon hanging from the ceiling in our classroom. The kiddos reveal a secret note inside the balloon with something fun and different planned for that day.

Today was a paper airplane competition!

I had one student teach the other kids how to make a basic paper airplane. I also printed some templates from online to use. We spent time making them, and then competed! It was a lot of fun!!!

Up next? Pizza Box Writing Portfolios!

We took our pictures this week for our portfolios! I got some pizza boxes from a local place and the kids paste their pictures to the top. Next, we select the published writing pieces from the year that we are most proud of. We made a table of contents based on a take out menu and it's pretty sweet.

Has anyone ever used Mountain Math? I really love it. I use it in fourth grade for review during centers. It's basically a flip chart. There is one handout that can be photocopied and goes with every page in the flip chart. I'm switching grade levels next year and this is one of the first items I knew I had to repurchase for my new second graders!

There is also a Mountain Math for ELA. I'm debating it for my Daily Five for second grade. 

Oh, and I recently discovered a blog that I am really into. My classroom is black and white polka dots with splashes of bright blue and pink. This lady has the polka dot thing going with yellow, and it inspired me to trade out the blues and pinks for bright yellows! I'm psyched. I'm switching classrooms (and grade levels) next year, so it gives me a chance to CLEANSE! And purge. And redecorate!!!

Positive Thinking Thursday

I am linking up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for 

Positive Thinking Thursday! 

My goodness. I read this quote and thought...it's my life right now.

I love my students. They really are the best. But they really are crazy. Especially in June. When we have less than ten days left until summer!!!

Anyway, I'm jealous if you're already enjoying your summer! I'm one of those people who lets out a massive sigh of relief the day after the last day, enjoy the first 2 days of summer, and then catch a bad case of the sadsies when I realize it really is over...

Tried It Tuesday

Let's link up with Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday!

My read aloud time is my FAVORITE time in my fourth grade classroom. We read Wonder by RJ Palacio this year and the class obviously enjoyed it! Which is why we were ECSTATIC to download the continuation of Wonder...the Julian Chapter!

The Julian Chapter is an e-book that we are reading on our class Kindle, currently. We started today and we are LOVING it!

For those of you who don't know, Wonder is the story of August Pullman, a boy born with severe facial disfigurement. In the book, he begins going to school with other kids for the first time in fifth grade. Julian is the bully in the text. In Wonder, many main characters have the opportunity to tell the story from their perspective, but Julian does not. Many fans of the text questioned the author about this, and she responded that Julian's perspective would be too negative and overpower Auggie's story. Welp, she has released his perspective...and here are my thoughts.

When I first started reading, it scared me. Because it WAS really negative. And I didn't want my boys to think that bullying is funny. But then we got to know Julian on a deeper level. And I really enjoyed his version of the story. I even cried. Okay, I cry at everything, so that's NBD.

Five For Friday

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching this week for Five For Friday! 

Well...we thought state testing was over. And then we participated in field testing today. Lovely. But NOW testing is over. Probably.

As our end of the year countdown extravaganza continues....and we pop a balloon each day and read the fun event for the day...today we discovered that our FUN COUNTDOWN EVENT was...

The Reading Marathon!

My students are not big fans of reading this year. 2/3 of my class  are boys...and they just don't get into the reading for pleasure idea. So, I was PLEASANTLY surprised when they cozied up in pajamas with their Reading Marathon trifolds (containing questions for our "checkpoints") and water bottles. It was an awesome day! Very relaxing...and I read a lot, too! A little with each kid and a little for myself. It's good to be a role model in the classroom!

I love the book Wonder by RJ Palacio. My last read aloud for the year, with our 13 days left, is the Julian chapter of Wonder! It's a special chapter written from Julian's perspective. For those of you who haven't read this book, Julian is the bully. He torments August, a boy who was born with severe facial disfigurement, and is going to regular school for the first time in fifth grade. The story is quite moving, and really teaches the kids empathy. 

Anyway, I was skeptical about hearing from the meanie pants, Julian. And I won't ruin it for anyone who wants to read it, but let's just say that I was moved by this final chapter. Like, to tears. It was emotional and lovely.

My class notoriously does not do well with substitutes. They love testing the limits. They love calling out subs for not doing things "the way Miss C. does it." And they like taking advantage of newbies in our classroom. Not nice. Anyway, as the year closes down, I have to be out of the classroom all day on Tuesday for state science test scoring. And so, our end of the year countdown balloon activity? A movie afternoon! I know, it's kind of letting the kids off the hook....but we read all day today! And Tuesday is...10 days until fourth grade graduation. So, movie afternoon it is.

In other news, I've recently requested a grade level change....just to shake things up! I'm switching to second grade next year! Any words of advice?