Wordless Wednesday: Incentive Prizes

It's Wednesday! That means it's time to join Miss DeCarbo for her weekly Wordless Wednesday linky party.

Do you use incentive prizes in your classroom?
My kids LOVE their punch cards, brag tags, and goodie jar!
This system has made such a DIFFERENCE with homework/test habits.

This past week my sixers ALL received a 95% or better on their weekly Spelling Test. WOW, was I ever surprised and PROUD! They are such SMARTIES! In celebration, they each received a brag tag and a package of SMARTIES! You can download a free set of Spelling Smartie Brag Tags HERE.... just in case your kiddos are SMARTIES, too!

Don't forget that tomorrow is Thursday! Get those Throwback posts, pics, and pins ready to post!

Wordless/Worksheet Wednesday 7.2.14

Wednesday has become my favorite blogging day of the week. I really enjoy sharing in two linkies held weekly on Wednesday. First is Wordless Wednesday hosted by Miss DeCarbo of Sugar and Spice and the second is Worksheet Wednesday hosted by The Teaching Tribune.

I'm cheating a little bit for Wordless Wednesday this week since I posted the same pic yesterday, but I really am excited! Besides having a cool, new Teacher T-Shirt to wear, I took my first selfie! LOL!

How many of you have taken a selfie?

How many of you would LOVE to have a t-shirt like this?

If you like this t-shirt, be sure to stop by THIS POST to enter a giveaway for your choice of Teacher T-Shirts. You have until July 8, 2014, to enter.

The worksheet that I am sharing this week is really a bit more of a brainstorming sheet or pre-writing organizer.

A "take three" can be a fun filler activity, or it can be used to spur creativity. I've had students be more focused in their responses by asking them to write alliterative phrases or similes in the boxes...... the possibilities are limitless. If you'd like a copy of this year's back-to-school "take three," you can download it HERE or by clicking on the pic. HERE is the link to last year's back-to-school "Take Three" if you'd like a different version.

Don't forget... tomorrow is the day! Are you ready?

Wordless Wednesday: Book Fair

Do you buy a lot of books at your school book fair? What kinds of books do you purchase?

Be sure to stop by Miss DeCarbo's blog to join in the fun of Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday: Field Trips

Where do you go for field trips?

Be sure to stop by Miss DeCarbo's blog, Sugar and Spice, to see more Wordless Wednesday posts.

Wordless Wednesday: Science Investigations

I know... I'm cheating a bit. I'm suppose to share ONE photo... it is just ONE photo collage, right?

What are some fun science investigations you have done with your students?

Be sure to stop by Miss DeCarbo's blog, Sugar and Spice, to see all the awesome Wordless Wednesday posts. This linky has quickly become my favorite of the week!

Wordless Wednesday: Fun Art Projects

So lovin' this linky hosted by Miss DeCarbo of Sugar and Spice!

What kinds of fun art projects do you do with your students?

What's Happenin' Wednesday? Sunshine Award

I was delighted and honored when I received this nice message from Kimberlee over at 2 Fulbright Hugs.

I wanted to nominate you for the Sunshine Blogger Award, as you add a touch of sunshine to the world of teacher blogging - thank you SO much!!

I am very happy to accept Kinberlee's nomination.

The rules of the Sunshine Blogger Award are:


1. Post 11 random facts about yourself


2. Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you


3. Nominate 11 bloggers you think bring sunshine to the world


4. Make up 11 questions for your nominations to answer.

11 Random Facts about Myself
1. I've been teaching for more than half my life... this is year 33, yikes!
2. I'm a mom to two beautiful feline fur babies, Daisy Mae and Lulie.
3. I LOVE music, all kinds, and play several instruments: flute, oboe, recorder, guitar, banjo, lap dulcimer, and piano (just learning this one).
4. My favorite color is green.
5. I am sorely addicted to blogging and making activities for my classroom on my computer, especially games such as ZAP!, SCOOT, or I HAVE, WHO HAS?.
6. I HATE to wash dishes (I wish I had a dish washer) and have been known to not wash dishes until I run out of clean ones to use.
7. I am a clothes hog. One of something is not enough... think the same shirt in four different colors. I've been working on this one.
8. I LOVE to use picture books to teach Language Arts skills to my middle schoolers.
9. I am addicted toNetflix... I am a series binge watcher.
10. I have lived in the same house for 52 years.
11. I have a wicked sense of humor, love to tease, and have been called the master of practical jokes.

Kimberlee's 11 Questions
1. If you were the principal of your school, what is one change you would make and why?

I would change my schedule. Because I teach sixth grade in a K-12 school we are truly in the middle. Sometimes I have to be aligned with the high school schedule which throws off the elementary schedule. It can be a scheduling nightmare and I feel guilty since it's my class that causes it.

2. What is your favorite teaching tool in your classroom? 

My favorite teaching tool would have to be task cards. They are so versatile and my kiddos, even my eighth graders, love them. We do a variety of activities with them from Scoot and Scatter to assessments.

3. Tell about one student that holds a special place in your heart (I know we love them all, but choose one). 

One special student was a young man who was in seventh grade the first year that I started teaching. It was he that taught me how to play the guitar. We became fast friends! He passed away a few years ago from complications from MD. I think of him still, especially everytime I play my guitar which was once his.

4. What is your hobby?

Puttering... I putter on the computer, then I putter on the piano, then I putter with my fur babies, then I putter with Netflix, etc.. and begin again.

5. What do you feel is your strength in the classroom? 

My strength would have to be my knowledge of subject matter and ability/passion to impart it to my students.

6. What do you feel is your weakest area in the classroom?

Record Keeping... HATE IT!!!!!

7. What would be your one piece of advise for a beginning teacher?

Don't expect to always be successful... lessons fail. Be ready and willing to examine and criticize your work. More importantly be willing to improve!

8. Why did you become a teacher?

I have always had a drive to learn and I loved school from day one. I truly believe I was born to be a teacher. It is not my job or career; teaching is my vocation. 

9. What is one thing you would change about the educational system today? 

NO TESTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are better ways to determine if a student is learning.

10. What do you hope to accomplish this coming summer?

Take a professional development class. I'd love one on Excel or Publisher. Plus, I have loads of things to do with this old house I live in, chief among them the downstairs bathroom.

11. What is something you have too much/many of (in other words, what do you hoard)?

Paper and office supplies... I could supply Office Max! LOL!

My 11 Nominees
1. Joy in the Journey
2. Rosie's Rambles
3. Flapjack Educational Resources
4. Charlotte's Clips
5. Purple Palmetto's Porch
6. Southern Love of Teaching
7. Fit to Be Fourth
8. Crafting Connections with Deb
9. Polka Dot Lesson Plans
10. Teaching 5th in Georgia
11. Mrs. Spangler in the Middle

My 11 Questions for my Nominees
1. Describe your teaching style.
2. What is your favorite non-teaching thing to do?
3. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?
4. What are your three MOST favorite things?
5. If you could change anything about the school year calendar what would you change?
6. If you were a color, what color would you be?
7. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
8. What is your least favorite thing to do?
9. What started you blogging?
10. How did you choose your blog name?
11. Do you have a vice?

I'm so looking forward to reading my nominees responses!

On a NOT so sunny thought... Would you believe we had ANOTHER snow day today? This makes 13!!!! Never, never in all my 33 years of teaching have we had a winter like this. I am REALLY looking forward to spring sunshine and warmth!

What's Happenin' Wednesday?

A brand new, BEAUTIFUL, bloggy face-lift! 

I decided to treat myself and my little old blog to a new look for our upcoming blogiversary... stayed tuned... more about this later in the week!

Megan of A Bird in  Hand Designs did an amazing job with redesigning my blog. I am so pleased with her work. She is just terrific to work with. If you are in the market for a blog design, she's your go-to person!

Thanks bunches, Megan!

What's Happenin' Wednesday? Three in a Row... YIPPEE!

What's happenin' today? Three days of school in a row that's what! I can NOT tell you the last time that we were in school for three consecutive days. I think it was the second week in January, seriously!!!! It looks like tomorrow will be a fourth day. Maybe, just maybe we are turning the corner on this terrible weather in NE Ohio.

Something else that's happenin' is my sixers working with their second grade buddies. We have had a buddy activity planned for weeks and weeks. The best time for my sixers to meet and work with their second grade buddies during our busy week is Wednesday afternoon. We have not been in school on a Wednesday since, well, a long time!

Our buddies have been studying about penguins as part of an integrated Science/Language Arts unit. The second grade teacher had asked us to help her do a "fun" writing activity. I readily agreed and offered to find something "fun" yet filled with learning.

I discovered this FREE product on TpT and quickly downloaded it. Notice it's a craftivity;)

After sharing it with the second grade teacher, we decided it was a perfect fit for both of our classes. She would read aloud a nonfiction book about penguins that was in her class library. My sixers would guide her second graders in identifying the main idea and details by completing a simple graphic organizer. They then would write the information in second grade sentences (my sixers would serve as editors and coaches) on the cute penguin paper provided in the packet. Finally we would craft the penguins and display them for the other classes to enjoy.

It's been such a relief to get back into the swing of things, falling into that familiar routine. We have a scheduled day off this Friday and another on Monday. Normally I look forward to long weekends! I have to say that I almost wish that we were not taking the time off....ALMOST!

Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6

Lovin' Oh, How Pinteresting! BTS Edition

It's Wednesday so it's time for Oh, How Pinteresting at The Vintage Apple and What I'm Loving at Covered in Glitter and Glue.

This is a Back to School Edition...

I'm loving that Pinterest is now featuring Teacher Boards, one per grade level and specialty area.

Of course, I love the sixth grade board the most!



I love the many great teaching and back to school ideas floating around on Pinterest...








I love the terrific fall recipes I've been finding lately on Pinterest...






And I love the funny comics that have been posted on Pinterest...




And I love all things cats...




Happy Back to School,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6

Wednesday: Lovin' It and Pinnin' It

It's my favorite day of the bloggy week, all because of...

 
Today I'm linking up with Covered with Glitter and Glue for What I'm Loving Wednesday and with The Vintage Apple for Oh How Pinteresting! Wednesday.

I am lovin' this last day of vacation! Yep, tomorrow will be my first day in the classroom. Mind you, this is an unofficial start to my school year. The official start is Staff/Faculty Report Day on the 19th, but my school year begins when I start working on my classroom and that's tomorrow! Actually, I can't wait to get started. I've got some really cute and useful things to decorate with this year and I'm anxious to get it going. Pictures promised for Snapshot Saturday this week!

I am also lovin' that I found a TON of really good, simple, and easy recipes on Pinterest this week. I love having my family over for dinner. During the summer it's easy to cook whatever I like. I'm home all day and can fuss. However, once school is in full-swing, it becomes difficult to cook unless it's made in the crockpot (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my crockpot). Here are just a few of the taste-tempting crockpot recipes I pinned this week.








Don't they sound yummy? I know... most of them are for chicken, but my family LOVES chicken! Can't wait to try them out.

Finally, I'm lovin' some giveaways! There have been some really awesome giveaways this summer and I've been the recipient of several wonderful products. My bloggy friend Heather at Peacocks and Penguins is kicking off a 300 Follower Celebration. Stop by for a chance to win some terrific teaching resources. She is giving away 4 different packages for a total of 25 prizes. WOWIE!

Happy Wednesday,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6

Lovin', Pinnin', and Playin' Games (a FREEBIE)

It's another tri-linky day. Today I'm linking up with Glitter and Glue for What I'm Loving Wednesday, with The Vintage Apple for Oh How Pinteresting!, and with The Teacher's Chair for the week long School Linky.

This Wednesday I am LOVIN' the weather in NE Ohio. We had struggled through excessive heat and excessive rain for most of June and early July. Now we are having EXCESSIVEly beautiful sunshine and moderate temps in the mid-70's. GORGEOUS!

I'm also lovin' the fact that I can now pin on the TpT collaborative boards on Pinterest. How fun is that! And speaking of pinning. I started three new boards this month, one for each of three books that I'll be using with my students during the first weeks of school: The Coffin Quilt by Ann Rinaldi, Underground by Jean Ferris, I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic by Lauren Tarshis. I've been collecting photos, videos, newspaper clippings, etc. and pinning them to my boards... everything in place for when I am working on lesson assignments, Power Points, Prezis, Sqworls, and instaGroks, and in the process I've been learning lots about Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the relationship of quilting to slavery, the passengers on the Titanic, and more... lovin' it!

Finally... Lovin' one of my all time favorite classroom games

EEEEEEEEEW!

A Whole Class Game to Review/Practice Science Vocabulary

Divide the class into 3-4 teams of nearly equal size.

Similar to Kaboom, Kerplop, Boom, or whatever you call this type of game, students randomly draw strips from a container, sight unseen, read the word on the strip, discuss the meaning with teammates, and then respond by stating the definition aloud. If the student is correct, the team keeps the strip. If the student is incorrect, the strip is returned to the container.

At the end of a specified amount of time, play stops and the team with the greatest number of strips is declared the winner.

But there’s a twist… Inside the container are several cards with the interjection EWWWWWWWW! on them. If a student draws this card, the team must return all of their strips to the container as well as the EEEEEEEEEW! card.

You can download a set of strips for vocabulary for The Five Kingdoms of Living Organisms EWWWWWWWW! by clicking HERE or on the graphic below.

Tips

·   Use a Pringle’s can for your container. Cover it with colorful paper and add a label with the game’s name on it. Better yet, design a label on your computer.

·   Make several sets of words for various concepts. Store them in envelopes/plastic bags on which the game and concept are written.

·   Using a word processing program, utilize the table feature to easily make strips.

·   Use this game idea for all subject areas but give it a different name. For example EEEEEEEEEEW! for Science, Kaboom for Language Arts, and Kerplop for Math.

Happy Wednesday,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6

Oh How Pinteresting, What I Love Wednesday!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Wednesdays! I get to blog about Pinterest and talk about things that I love... what could be better?

I'm really LOVIN' my new windows and air conditioning unit. I had a behemoth a/c unit stuck in my living room. It blocked the light, making it dingy and dark in there. This past week the old window unit was removed, a brand new window installed, and a portable a/c unit brought in... my clever contractor actually vented the new a/c unit through the wall so it's technically not portable. I also had a brand new kitchen window installed. The old window NEVER opened; this one does, and a wonderful breeze constantly blows through the kitchen... ah, heaven! And four new glass block windows were installed in the basement that let light and air through... no more musty smell!!!!!

And now for this Wednesday's pins... most of which are for decorating a classroom... the first one is something I made.

Isn't this cute?



Something I made this week to offer in my TpT Store...



And finally a couple just for fun...



What are you loving this week? What have you pinned? Don't forget to visit the fun linky parties at the top of this post.

Happy Wednesday,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6