Summer is over...for most of us!

Hi everyone!

Just an update from my life. Yes, it is time to go back to school, but I am taking child rearing leave during September and October this year. I had my second child, a son named Braxton Wilder, in July. He was 10 days late, so we didn't start off on the best foot. (Just kidding, but being 41 weeks pregnant was not cool in summer!) Anyway, I worked my butt off this summer, more than I ever have in my life, even after having Braxton, just so I could take a little extra time with him this fall. With a pandemic, I felt that it would be nice to let my school work out the kinks of scheduling and cleaning before I came back...plus I just needed more baby snuggles!

So, here I am, home with a toddler (Violet Harper is 2 and the best, most independent, smartest kid I've ever met) and a newborn. I'll also try to get back to blogging. But for now, some baby pictures to leave you with all the feels:

Why does my baby prefer dog toys?

Poor Lucy. My sweet bulldog puggle has this little human invading her territory. Although Violet has a sea of toys, she's started to prefer Lucy's toys, especially now that she can crawl all over. Violet will actually crawl over to where Lucy is chewing on a bone and take it! And Lucy just watches sadly! Lucy is SO patient and sweet with Violet! 

Maybe she's more tolerant now that Violet eats solids and tends to share with Lucy...

Does anyone else have sweet and funny baby-pet interactions to share?

Five for Friday

The day after our NYS ELA state assessment ended we set up a crime scene in the classroom! Kids really had a blast finding clues, recording evidence, and deciding what the evidence most likely meant. It was totally engaging and fun!

The crime scene materials came from The Engaging Station's TpT product. It had suggestions for how to set up your classroom and handouts for students to record their notes.

And here is some of the writing my students did the day after the NYS ELA assessment! On the third day of the test and the 9th written response question, I had some of my most talented writers telling me that they were tired of writing. Well, that all changed when they walked into our transformed classroom and determined that their lovely teacher was a suspect in a terrible crime! They really did jump right in and got excited about writing again!

Lucy has been a MUSH with all of the rainy weather we have had here in New York lately. She doesn't mind playing in mud puddles after the rain, but she really does NOT like walking in the rain. So...she sleeps. :)

With the NYS ELA assessments over, we have about a month until the NYS Math assessments, which my kids are sure will be a total blast because they love math. Definitely less anxiety there! We can do it!

Five for Friday

Our report cards are due on Friday and I am completely done!

YAY!!!

We basically took two potatoes and stuffed them with cheddar cheese and bacon.

No, it's not healthy. No, I probably was not supposed to put that much cheese on. BUT it was tasty!

This is the closest to a Pinterest success as I have ever had.

I became a Seesaw ambassador a few months ago and I'm putting on my first big workshop, where the entire focus is on Seesaw! I'm so excited and I've been preparing like crazy. Recently, I started using Seesaw Plus as a way to track student growth and it has been really amazing! I wish I had started this a long time ago.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Seesaw, it is a digital learning portfolio in which students track their growth and send their parents updates through an app. (Which kind of reminds me of a Facebook feed, but totally private and kid-friendly.)

Check it out!

I started using STEM bins from Teach Outside the Box recently as morning work and it has been SO MUCH FUN! We only have about 20 minutes for morning work, breakfast, and turning in homework before going to special each day, so instead of rushing the kids through a million things, they can pick a box and a card and start building! They can work independently or with a friend. Kids are excited to get into the classroom each day! The more we do this, eventually I will add the writing component.

How can we not end with Lucy?

It's snowing today, but earlier in the week we lost power due to high winds! I'd take snow and electricity over winds and darkness any day!

Five for Friday

I presented at the Association of Math Teachers in the Rochester Area yesterday! I talked all about how I run small group math, hands on lessons, center activities, and....LEGO!!! 

I really had a blast! I also got the opportunity to visit some other presentations. I learned about Google Classroom and Breakout EDU, which I have used in my own classroom and thoroughly enjoy. If you haven't tried Breakout EDU, check it out. I didn't realize they offer digital Breakout EDUs now, too! So cool for a 1:1 classroom or faculty meeting.

LEGO challenges PART 3!

LEGO challenges are going strong in our classroom. They go along perfectly with our STEAM push, which is outlined in our district's strategic action plan for continued success academically. STEAM is huge right now! Not only are my kids receiving STEAM instruction from our math specialist, they are also immersed in literature that goes along with this concept. Rosie Revere, Iggy Peck, and Ada Twist are our favorites right now.

Lucy seriously does this herself.

They're coming.

Two weeks until my third graders are taking the NYS ELA exams.

I'm nervous for them...but I'm excited for that to be done. It's just stressful for these little ones who haven't taken a three day long test ever! They're ready, though!

Happy late Five for Friday on a Sunday! 

I'm off to respond to 20 reader response journal letters for my little kiddos, after a 45 minute walk with Lucy in 10 degree weather!!! I'm ready to snuggle up in the warmth of the house!