FunTimes

The girls love sitting on the mantle. Adeline decided to join in the fun!

Abby and Ellie going on a magic carpet ride.

Adeline is becoming a Papa's girl.

Adeline and I have regular snuggle times. 

Ellie loves the piano!

She is such a happy girl!

Auntie Liz got some coos and smiles from Adeline.

This little cutie loves smiling and ceiling fans.

Ellie loves her Papa!

Guess who lost a tooth? Abby has had a loose tooth for a few weeks. It finally came out tonight.

Liz sent this cute picture of Izzy this morning.  It was Wacky Tacky Wednesday at her school.

Technology in My Classroom

I've been taking an iPad in the Classroom course.  I created QR codes for our vocabulary words and then my students used the QR reader on the iPads to scan the definition and pictures and match them up with the vocabulary words for a vocabulary quiz.  My students enjoyed taking the quiz!

We are using the iPads as often as we can in class.  Sushi Monster (a free app) reviews math facts.

We are also practicing our cursive writing skills.

Third graders love to use technology.

We have a program called FASTT (Fluency and Automaticity through Systematic Teaching through Technology) Math.  It is individualized and the student have FASTT Facts they work on.  When they have mastered those facts, they move to the next level.  I can even print out reports to share with parents so they can see what facts their child is having difficulty with.  The students go on the program each day for about 10-15 minutes.  They practice their facts and then they can play a game. 

Many of my students have made amazing progress with their math facts.

What's Happening Around Our House?

Irises are blooming

I love the beautiful purple color.

The plants are growing

Abby and Ellie love swinging!

Our Young Women's Camp Clinic was a success.  The girls planned the food. They had to use two different ways of cooking. They made Pizza Rolls on a stick and also Peach Cobbler. The food was yummy. We also were able to complete all the first aid certification the girls need before they go to camp.

 

 

Abby and Izzy have been creating skits and plays for us to watch.

Ellie is so glad Papa brought so many boxes into the living room.  She moves the empty boxes around, stacks them up, and knocks them down. 

Abby likes to curl up in the boxes.

Abby and Ellie enjoy sitting on the mantle. 

 

Crazy Busy Time!

This is a crazy busy month! I am taking two courses this month, iPads in the Classroom on Wednesdays from 3:30 - 6:30, and Foundations of Co-Teaching on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30.  We knew it would be crazy, but I think the courses will be good and help me to continue to grow and become a better teacher.  I am surviving. One more Wednesday class and two more Thursday classes.

It is also the end of the school year so there is all of the end of the year testing, finishing up projects,  etc.  I will survive.  I could not do this with out my amazing, wonderful, supportive husband, Gary!

Just to add a little more fun to the already busy month, our ward boundaries changed and 97% of the people in our ward received new callings (church jobs).  I used to teach the 7-8 year olds in Primary.  I am now the second counselor in the Young Women's program.  So in addition to Sunday meetings, I have Wednesday night activities weekly, Saturday activities sometimes, and Girl's Camp in the summer. I will not be able to go to camp this year because I'll be in Indiana visiting family.  I work with the Beehives (12-13 year olds). 

 

Since Gary goes to bed early because of his early mornings for work, we don't really see each other from Tuesday evening until Thursday evening.  On my first late Wednesday night, I found this note on the kitchen counter.  I always take a glass of water upstairs at night, Gary took my water up for me.  I have had a note each Wednesday night :-)

We had Career Day at school.  Pinch, the mascot for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, was a "hit" with my students.  The Blue Crabs run reading nights for students and Pinch comes out to the schools to kick off the program.  At Career Day, they were telling the students about the many different careers that are needed to support the team.

For Teacher Appreciation one of my students gave me Han Solo and Chewbaca to add to my collection of Star Wars characters.

A former student made cupcakes for me and decorated them himself.  His mom, teaches with me.

 

 

We made Mother's Day cards at school.

At first Ellie was afraid of Abby's little pink lizard. Then she got brave.  She picked up her little "iPod", pressed the button to play a song,

turned to the lizard, and said, "Shall we dance?" Then she danced with the lizard - so cute!

Abby had her ballet recital.  We surprised her with flowers.  As we walked to the car, she said, "I had no idea I was going to get flowers!"

Izzy enjoyed watching Abby in her recital.

Ellie was excited to see that Papa bought a big bag of "lollipop - pops"

 

The girls settled in to relax with Papa - they each have a lollipop - pop.  

Gary bought me beautiful hanging baskets of flowers for the porch. 

The yard is green again!

Tony and Gary made dinner for us on Mother's Day - grilled chicken and veggies - YUM!

Now to start another busy week!

Busy Day

Today I taught school, attended an iPad in the Classroom  class from 3:30 - 6:30, went to Young Women's where we planned our Girls Camp clinic, I drove Izzy home, stopped by Target to pick up milk and bananas, and finally arrived home around 9:30. 

I was looking forward to getting home because the built in units were delivered today. Of course they were delivered on the day I get home late.  

The living room

The arched entry isn't finished yet

It is all coming together though.

Later we will put a fireplace in the middle.

 

Bookshelves

Tony stopped by to see Amos yesterday and check on the progress of the bookshelves and the entryway halltree unit. 

It is almost ready. 

As of now, the plan is to install the units next week. Check back for further updates. 

May the Fourth

A little Star Wars fun!

Field Trip

Our third grade traveled to Washington DC today.  It's about an hour and a half drive - without traffic.

For this trip we had a lot of parent chaperones.  The Ocean exhibit is a favorite.

The kids were amazed at the length of the giant squid and then they read that it was a juvenile!

There are so many interesting things to see and interactive displays for the children to explore.

One special exhibit was underwater photography.  It was an amazing display.

My students were really excited about this display because we had read an article about an underwater photographer earlier this week.  

The elephant in the rotunda is always a crowded area. 

Some of the students were disappointed that the dinosaur exhibit closed on Sunday for a remodel. It is set to open in 2019. We did some math and my students were surprised that they would be 14 when the exhibit reopens.

The gems and minerals exhibit is another favorite.  The students were surprised at how many people were crowding around trying to see the Hope Diamond.

I thought the Egypt exhibit was small.  I've been to Egypt and visited the Cairo Museum, so it was underwhelming for me but my students enjoyed it.  

Other favorite exhibits were Insects - sponsored by Orkin, the history of man, and mammals. 

The students were well behaved and had a great time, everyone arrived at our departure area on time,we didn't get stuck in Friday afternoon traffic and all of my students were picked up on time (we arrived at school more than an hour after dismissal so parents had to pick up their children after we got back to the school). I call that a success!