End of the Year Survival Tips

I don't know about you, but I am getting excited about the end of the year! Right now, we have about 25 days and I feel like I'm counting down to Christmas! This pic says it all...

Cute, right?  I have to stick this on my door so that every day I walk in, I am reminded to keep CALM!  We are all at the time of the year where we are squeezing in units, grading piles of papers, and just wishing the Memorial Day holiday would arrive quickly!  Trust me, I hear 'ya!  The main goal I have in mind, however, is to keep my students having fun while they're counting down the days.  Here are some tips for surviving the end of the school year...

I try to follow this survival list every year so we can all end the year in a fantastic way!  Normally, I wouldn't want to mix up the routines too much as students need routines to stay focused.  At the end of the year, however, they need you to surprise them a bit and keep their attention.  Predictability= BORING in May/June.  As far as technology goes, many books can be read online and magazines like Scholastic News have interactive components on the computer.  Try to use these as much as possible.  If you can't locate books online, then make a list of links and fun sites to explore with your students.  They will really appreciate it and it makes learning FUN (see number 5!)  Class books are a fave of mine because students can't stop reading them!  Also, you can add them to your class library for other classes to use in years to come!  To make them, simply have students create an entry on a topic you have studied or you can add a poem they have written, etc.  Put them all together in a folder with brads, decorate the cover, and voila!  A class book is made!  Goal setting is another important component of the end of the year.  Remember, the year is not over, yet!  Have students set 2-3 small goals a day and check back before dismissal to see if they've reached them.  If not, have them apply today's goal to tomorrow!  This keeps everyone motivated.  Class goals are awesome as well!  Finally, have fun!  Although you are getting tired and the students are getting restless, you will only have them for less than a month!  Remind yourself to make the most of every day!  Soon enough, you will be parked on the couch eating ice cream in your jammies and watching reruns of Oprah! 

 

If you are in need of something to keep your students busy for the last week or so of school, check out my newest resource by clicking the pic below.  For $5, you can keep them occupied and send them home with an AMAZING memory book!  If you wouldn't mind, don't forget to leave that all-important feedback so I can make resources that fit YOUR NEEDS! 

That's it for now!  I have the rest of Mother's Day to go celebrate!  Talk to you soon!!!

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Good Times!

This has been such a great week!  My students and I have been working really hard to get ready for the MSA or Maryland State Assessment!  Our big days will be two days this week (and they're calling for S.N.O.W.) and two days the following week.  First up is reading followed by math and science will come in April!  Right now, my pretty classroom is barren and empty. :(  Almost all of my posters came down so I will be doing a little decorating after the MSA is over.  I'm thinking I'll do a fun theme to take us through graduation! One area that my students were struggling with was adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.  To help them, I created a game using two dice.   Basically, students toss the dice to create a fraction and then do the same again to create another one.  They add the two together (by creating like denominators) and record their answer!  We played this game for DAYS!  Get your free copy by clicking on the game below.

To make it more challenging, add a third die to the mix and have students roll three numbers.  One becomes the whole number (write in front of the fraction on the sheet) and the other becomes the fraction.  My advice is to meet with each group as they play to clarify any misunderstandings.

 

My little guy, Sebastian, was also having a great week in Kindergarten!  It was the 100th Day of School and we celebrated by making a Shape Shirt!  He wore it all day until he came home with his colorful 100th Day hat and Fruit Loop Necklace.  He HAD to change into the tie-dyed shirt we made earlier in the week!  He may have even slept in that outfit! LOL!

 
Seb had lots of fun doing 100th Day Activities while mommy was busy creating her AWARD-WINNING (YES, I AM BRAGGING) door!  I think it's truly what brought our B'more Ravens their BIG WIN!!!  I will never forget our AMAZING assembly and the awesome Ravens Ice Scraper I won!  I got to use it the very same week and I hope we get some more snow this week.  For a powder-hound like me, there can NEVER be enough snow!  Here is a pic in case y'all get inspired to decorate your classroom door anytime soon.  By the way, the amazing feathers were fashioned by my very own fifth graders!  LOVE YOU GUYS!

I finished off all of that fun by reading my favorite Dr. Seuss story to the Kindergartners at my school!  Sebastian was thrilled that mommy was the guest reader and the other kids couldn't wait to listen to, "Sebastian's mom".  I think when they get to fifth grade and I'm their teacher, they will still call me that!  Below is a link to the book I read which had them in stitches!  It is Sebastian's favorite nighttime read-aloud!

Have a fun week!  If you're doing testing, best of luck!  Let us know how you celebrated!

 

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Weather, Weather!

In fifth grade, my students have been learning about weather and how forecasts are made. Luckily, we know someone who is an expert on this topic who was willing to spend an hour with us yesterday. Our fifth graders got a surprise visit from Tom Tasselmyer, our local weatherman on the news! Needless to say, the students were ecstatic and so were we! He showed us so many weather instruments and how they are used. (I even learned a few things.)

Here is Mr. Tasselmyer speaking to us in the fifth grade suite.  By the way, we are really excited about the Baltimore Ravens going to the AFC Championship Game!  Notice all of the purple in the pic?

 

Here, he shows us a barometer and how air pressure is measured by the air pressing down on the liquid.

This is a Galileo thermometer and the temperature reading is hanging like a charm from little colored glass pieces inside the tube.  The glass spheres are suspended in water and the one that floats closest to the bottom is the current temperature!

He showed us a weather balloon and told us that these are attached to a box (below) and launched around the world at 12am and 12pm in Greenwich, England.  When they go too far up into the Earth's atmosphere, the balloon pops and a parachute comes out of the attached box.  They then fall to Earth for collection!  Because of the parachute, no one will get bonked in the head at recess! :)

Inside of this box is a barometer, a thermometer, a hygrometer and more!  The piece on the bottom emits a signal that transfers the weather data to meteorologists around the world.

The last part of the presentation demonstrated how a green screen works in the television studio.  Students were amazed to watch when Mr. Tasselmyer placed an image over the green screen and it turned into a weather map.  They were even more astonished when he put on a green tie and jacket and the only thing we could see was his head floating on the weather map!  Anything green will turn into the image on the screen.

 

If your students are interested in the weather, check out a unit I made by clicking on the image below!  If you get the chance, have your students write to the local weatherman or woman in your area and have them come visit for an extra special treat!

 

In our Houghton Mifflin reading series, we read about Warren Faidley, the famous storm chaser.  The students enjoyed learning about his trips around the United States in search of weather.  Below, I have included a video of Warren Faidley's pictures that I found on You Tube.  We also watched his documentary that was featured on The Weather Channel.  

 

This is the link to the beginning of his documentary.

http://youtu.be/35Fa0NBcNqQ

 

Here are some weather books I just happen to love! 

  

 

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