Favorite Pins Friday

I am have been meaning to participate in this linky party for some time now, but I have a SERIOUS lazy bone condition this summer!

However, I have decided to get my behind off the couch and do this party right.

Plus, if you are one of my Pinterest followers, you know I just love this site...

Here are my *favorites* from the week...

Favorite TEACHING related pins

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My district is neck deep in the Marzano Evaluation System and there are several elements that a teacher must hit in to order to prove themselves Innovative (even in KINDERGARTEN!!!) I really love this "Ticket Out the Door" poster created by Jessica Heeren. It is simple, beautiful and blue!

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I absolutely love this anchor chart for partner reading made by Kimberly Shannon.

This will be perfect for when I introduce Read to Someone and a superb reference for the rest of the year. Simple and colorful!

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For the past few years, I have had several students on the spectrum. Now, I have never been trained on how to effectively teach students with Autism and it has really been a sort of trial and error for me as a teacher. This pin takes you to this great website, "Living Well With Autism." There are a ton of resources that are helpful when teaching students with ASD.

My favorite FOODIE pins

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My goodness these look delicious! I could eat the whole plate. Of course, I'd have to find a suitable GF substitute for myself but that wouldn't stop me from making the real deal for my family. YUM!

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This Lava Flow drink looks like the perfect summer concoction.

Get YO DRINK ON!

My favorite FASHION pins

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This outfit looks like the perfect southern Florida teaching combo to me. I could definitely pull this off, not anytime soon, though...

Let me tell you, I. Miss. Shopping! 

Love the incoming kiddo, but maternity clothes shopping sucks. Especially when I just get bigger and bigger, bleck!

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Since I can't really enjoy fashion for myself, I have this cutie-pie find for my little man. Wish I could knit this adorable outfit (if you can call it that!) found on Etsy.

My favorite PRINTABLE pin...

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I just LOVE these parent print-outs made by Jodi at Fun in First blog. They are the perfect way to provide helpful information without overwhelming a parent. Love it!

My favorite FUNNY pins

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His little bug-eyed face cracks me up every time I look at it!

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Leave it to Buzz Feed to provide another list that leaves me in stitches!

Number 5 and 10 are so thoughtful and, of course, I love number 2 because, you know, nothing is more fun than playing with your kids like you do your animals!

My favorite HOME DECOR pins

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This looks really cool and I am sure my husband would be all over it, but I would always worry that the TV was going to fall and kill me in my sleep!

I can't tell you how happy I was when my wittle projector was hooked up in my classroom and they removed that HUGE SCARY television that was mounted on my wall. It hung right over my teacher desk and I was always afraid it would fall on me!

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This bar area screams ANDI. Love the color and all the beachy accessories. I'm such a Florida girl!

My favorite Baby pins

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I just love this birth announcement. So simple and precious. I can't wait for my little man!

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Putting baby to sleep and establishing a sleep pattern has me up all night! I am a nervous wreck about doing the wrong thing with baby Max. Any helpful tips would be much appreciated! I want a good sleeper! Every year, I have to deal with a classroom full of kids who do not get a good night's sleep and I see the damage that is done by it. Makes me sad and nervous!

Well, that's all folks.

Click here to follow me on Pinterest.

Thanks Cara for this fabulous Linky Party!

*~* Currently - JULY *~*

Oh Boy is right! I haven't visited this old blog in so long my computer didn't recognize me.

My pregnant brain cannot handle what's going on around me.

Case in point, I left a whole class at school when we went on our last field trip. I left a poor first grade class and their teacher at school on a field trip to the local POOL. Totally, forgot them!

Thank god, the teacher was a smart cookie and quickly got a school bus to come get her class. 

I said, "What idiot put me in charge???"

Anyway, Farley has her monthly "Currently" up early and I see that there are already 60 + responses. Y'all don't have much to do this Saturday. I guess neither do I, hahaha!

Well, here is my little contribution:

*I live in south Florida and it is hot. Hot - I tell ya! Pool feels great though :)

*Scott and I have been working extra hard to convert our office into a nursery and we did a ton this week. Got the room painted and cleaned. We bought and assembled a dresser/changing table and a crib. Right now, we are working on two big shelving units. I feel so much better now that my little munchkin has a place of his own.

*My school was assigned summer reading homework to go along with our evaluation system. I still haven't picked up both books. I NEED to get them and get crack-a-lacking!

*I'm only in my second trimester but I have had trouble sleeping for a while now. I can not get comfortable! So a massage would be so nice. :)

*This one is self-explanatory. Working air conditioning for a Florida driver is a must. So, this not having any air conditioning really stinks!

*My blogging tip is based off of all of the blogs that I love. They are interesting, always evolving, and fair to the reader. My favorite websites from before the blogging age were so wonderful and helpful to me. I learned so much from them (like Beth Newingham's site and Jessica Meacham.) Where I live, my school district hasn't exactly provided the most progressive feats in education, so these sites were like mecca for me. I wouldn't be the teacher I am without their knowledge and love for sharing.

Check out Farley's blog and don't forget to follow the rule of three.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Currently ~ MAY

If I thought my blogging was bad before, it is bloody terrible now!

BUT I have a good reason - I swear.

I am super happy to be participating in this month's Currently

(especially since I was a total slacker and missed it last month!)

Here is my Currently for the glorious month of May:

Listening: I'm having a difficult time not watching Grimm on Tuesday nights, so I saved it for tonight. I just love this show.

Loving: The month of May is always jam-packed with social events at school and in my personal life. And although it is also a crazy hectic time of year as far as paperwork is concerned, I am so jazzed to go out and hang with my buddies. This week, my teamie, Kelly and I are throwing a "Gender Reveal" party for our K's and Firsties. I am so excited.

So, my good reason for not blogging is because I am pregnant.

I know, I can't believe it either. Scott and I call "him/her" our little gift.

Plus, I have had morning, afternoon, and night sickness for what seems like forever.

This has been the first week that I haven't fallen asleep right after school or gotten sick. I am pretty stoked about feeling better.

Scott and I waited to tell anyone about the baby until I was past my twelve week mark. That was the hardest secret to keep especially from my parents. Then, after we made the formal announcement, I started to grow. I thought I had a little bit longer before I'd start to show, but boy was I SO wrong. Maternity pants are my best friends right now! The kids rub on my belly so much that I don't even notice any more. 

Our students have been really cute and funny about the baby. They rub on my belly and talk to it. One little Kinder stood about a foot away and screamed at my belly. Not too subtle. The day we told our students that I was going to have a baby one of the first graders asked me if my husband knew about it. Hee-hee! And yesterday, I literally caught one of them running and jumping over the furniture. Which was not the first time I've caught him doing that or that he has been told to walk in the classroom. The other students were freaking out and yelled at him that he could have killed the baby. Then, another student pronounced, "He wouldn't have killed the baby. The baby would just move to her back." I about died laughing.

The kids are very opinionated about the gender and the name of my baby, so it will be loads of fun to have it documented for all to see (and for me to keep.)

Which leads me to my next topic - Thinking: Seriously, I have had a huge list of things to do for months now, and I am so exhausted that I've had to prioritize my time. As much as I LOVE my blog, unfortunately, it doesn't rank high on my list right now. Sorry y'all!

Wanting: This one is pretty obvious. I thought I would be really bummed about not getting my daily soda but it really hasn't been that bad. Plus, I have a ferocious  appetite for water. Just can't get enough. Which isn't always a good thing because I have to go to the restroom a million times a day and throughout the night!

Needing: Stickers - For our gender reveal party, I really wanted to give them stickers to wear and now I am on the search for some that aren't too expensive. I know if I was as creative as many of you out there, I could probably make them myself. That may just have to happen if I can't find them at a store. Which will be really lame, I'm sure.

Summer Bucket List: Numero Uno on this list is to deconstruct our office and turn it into a nursery. Bye, bye sweet office! Hello kiddo bedroom! First, I need to find new places to put everything that is currently in the office. Really it was an office/craft room, so there is a TON of stuff in it. We are going to have to be creative. I have absolutely no time to think about this right now, so I have to wait until school is out. 

Once we get that settled, I would really like to get my hands on our new reading series (if we get it before school begins.) Then, I'd like to have a good chunk of my maternity lesson plans sketched out, too. If there is any time left over after all of that (and any money left over) we'd like to have a mini vacation before school starts and the baby comes.

There's my MAY Currently.

Thanks, Farley!

Adding Bloglovin'

I'm claiming my blog on Bloglovin' since Google Reader will be gone in July. 

So sad :(

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Also, since I'm actually posting, can anyone give me any information about the SAT 10?

 We were just told we will be administering this test to our Kinders and Firsties at the end of April.

 I'd love to know how long it is, how many sections, and what is being tested (preferably in reading - since that is what I teach!)

Thanks! 

Miss you all and hopefully I'll get to blog more soon...

March Currently - Lucky Edition

This is an exciting day.

I have something to share!!!!

Thank you Farley and your Currently Linky Party!

Here is my March Edition 2013:

First of all, thinking of things I like/love/hate that begin with the letter /A/ was really challenging!

Of course, I could think of plenty of stuff that began with other letters, however my /A/ submissions are a S-T-R-E-T-C-H! 

1) Like: Acrobatics - Watching anyone twist and turn their bodies in mysterious and unusual ways has always been a fascination of mine. I think it may attribute to the fact that my mom wouldn't let me take gymnastics as a child.

2) Love: Abstract Thinking - When your world is consumed with Kinders and Firsties, you are extremely pleased to hear replies that are not of the norm. Luckily, kids say the darndest things. It's my job to help them make shape of those ideas and ideals. As Albert Einstein says: "Imagination is more important than Knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

3) Hate: Ants - Any homeowner that has had an ant problem can attest to this one. Grrrrrrrr!

Also, if you haven't heard the goats screaming, you need to ... FAST!

Here's the clip:

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Only 60 more days left of school for me!!!!!!!!

Tying shoes - with style!

Me (Jill) again, 

a friend pinned the coolest thing and I'm addicted!

AND what luck, it's tying shoes - HA! That's a must post, Isn't it?

I teach kindergarten and I'm not super fond of tying shoes.  I get grossed out with all the germs, especially since it's on the way to lunch when I realize all of the laces flying everywhere. Blech!  My frequent answer is "Put the laces in your socks".

One year, I even bought Y-ties for the whole class - they didn't get the hint :(

At open house, I share the rule I had for my own kids when they were young: 

School shoes were velcro until you learn to tie. Period.

I would not make the teacher tie shoes. 

But, oh my son knew that tie shoes were...FASTER! He had soccer cleats so he was sure of it. Even being a not-so-coordinated lefty, 

(sorry lefties - fine motor, not so great, being a lefty in soccer - awesome)

the boy learned to tie to "earn" tie sneakers for school. 

(Girl had more options, but she too found it important to learn to tie)

Still, in my class - the laces flop everywhere, argh.

But NOW...

enter:

from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbaHxsilsKI

HOLY-COW-OLY!!!!!

I see untied shoes - I say "may I tie that for you"

even to adults - HA shh, just a few

So go and tie shoes.  It takes a little practice and it's easier to go faster than slower!

Ha, I'm still chuckling I posted about tying shoes :)

Good thing Andi loves me, odd humor and all..

Enjoy and Happy Friday~

Jill

Healthy Hearts

Hi there!

Andi’s sister, Jill, visiting again. 

(Thanks Andi  for letting me visit - xoxox)

We had a fun time on Valentine’s Day learning about our Heart.  This is late for Valentine’s but it can be used anytime to teach about how the heart works. If your school participates in Jump Rope for Heart, this lesson would fit right in.

My school likes to do grade level “festival-type” days for special occasions or culminating activities to a big theme study. We have 4-5 classes per grade level.  We cycle them through each teacher for 20 -30 minutes and each class is a different activity.  Same stuff we could have done at centers, but this way you are only in charge of one activity, its fun and kids keep moving so less time to get in trouble especially on a chocolate filled holiday.

My station was Healthy Hearts.  We learned about how the heart works and then we role played how the heart works and then we “real played” to work our heart.  We do ask for parent volunteers so there are some helping hands around (I lucked out with a nurse on board, several parents were lost at first, but then said how much they learned and had fun!) Here is the Overview Activity Sheet.

As each group entered we met at the rug and watched the following videos:

School house rock (yay, SHR can always save the day)

and then this cutie from Sciencewithme.com

Then I divided them into smaller groups.  Boys went outside my back door.  Girls went out the front. In Florida, many of our schools have outside walkways like a plaza or strip mall. Anyways, it gave us more room to play so it’s all good.

I gave the parent’s a volunteer instruction sheet and a “cheat sheet” of how to set up the kids for the role play.

I made the hats with craft foam sheets.  I cut into 2” x 18” strips.  I used  1”x 3”  strips of sticky back foam to link a hair rubber bad to each end of the foam.  Easy fit for all of the kids and was CHEAP -yay! Added the picture of lungs OR body OR one of the 4 chambers of the heart. (yup, those pics are at school, will update later)

I made “blood cells” with a sheet of blue craft foam and a sheet of “sticky back” red craft foam and then cut out circles around 4” in diameter.

The kids had fun with the role play. They put the hats on and pumped the blood through the heart and to and from the lungs and body.  Everyone had a sound effect too.  I’ll let you guess the part:

<<inhale>>  <<pum-pump>>  <<nom-nom>>  <<pum-pump>>> repeat…

At first we circulated one blood cell, and then we added a few more. 

Then we acted out a slow resting heart rate and then an active heart rate- the best part!

We borrowed stethoscopes from the PE teacher to listen to our hearts (it’s easier to hear your friend’s rather than your own).  The learned the parts of the stethoscope, how it works and then where to find the heart (left side).  They listened to a resting heart.  Then did some exercise and listened again - BA-BOOM - It was a fun morning!

Later in the day when we delivered our valentine’s cards....

we watched Dental Health Stories – Ha!   

Didn’t think Valentine’s day could be filled with so much science and health – huh??! 

Here’s the link  if you’d like to purchase the Healthy Heart activity – cheap - $1

OR leave a nice comment with your email and I will send it you :)

Just an exciting note of one of my other “products”  

~ My Science Fair project “Pendulum Swing” 

won first at my school fair AND… First at our county’s regional fair. Yippee

**Have to give a shout-out to my cutie patootie presenters 

Nicky and Coleton for being AWESOME!  (and when I say awesome, I mean, both are super shy and didn’t even want to go, as in almost bailed…aagggccckkkk, but they showed up AND ROCKED it!  I am so proud of them!!

I know I am one of the few odd birds who actually likes science fair….

Well, Happy Belated Valentine’s Day to all.  

I am now ready to enjoy my President’s Day! Hope you have a great one too!

~Jill