Monday, September 30, 2013

September SLANT box!!!




 
Click the picture below to sign up for the October Slant box!!!  I've already signed up.  I loved shopping for each item for Vera, and I also loved getting a box myself.
 


Thursday, September 26, 2013

3rd Grade Thursday!

Don't quote me on this.... but--
I am going to try to do a 3rd grade post every Thursday.
 
This week I want to talk a little bit about how I teach virtual.  Many of you have asked me about it, but until recently I couldn't really answer any questions because I was still learning!
 
It basically works like this..
You create a powerpoint to teach your standards.  You would create it just like in a brick and mortar classroom.  Instead of handing out a piece of paper or a worksheet at the end of your lesson, you give them a slide.  They have "tools" to write/draw on the slide/board to answer the questions and work out the problems.  I wear a headset with a mic.  I teach my lesson and talk to the kids just like in a classroom.  Instead they cannot see me-- we are all learning virtually!!!  It's really pretty awesome!  The kids have options to raise their hand, answer yes/no or abcd, etc.. 
 
Each Monday we do what's called a Monday Meeting.  I really like this because it gives you time to talk with the kids, introduce the vocabulary for the week, talk about the standards, do a student of the week, play a fun game, and get to know your kids.  So, I created a powerpoint for my 1st Monday Meeting.  I cannot offer it to you for free due to clipart and other activities that have copyright.  But, I wanted to show you what I do every day! 
 
Here are a few pictures from my Monday Meeting: 
 
This was my first week teaching my kiddos, So I wanted to introduce myself!
 
 
We always talk about our standards and go over the vocab for the week.  I created my vocab slides using pictures.  It not only helps me explain the word better, but it gives my students a visual.

 
 
 
We played a fun game called I spy! Have you heard of it?? JK!!



Finally, I wanted to do an educational activity before leaving our session.  This is my new favorite pack on tpt!!!  I bought the Reading Comprehension Bundle from Across the Hall in 2nd Grade.  This pack is awesome!  There are a ton of short passages and questions at the end.
 
Since I cannot give them a worksheet.. I simply create a slide for each student by taking a picture of the passage.  Are you wondering how in the world I did this... Google: the snipping tool.  If you do not have it downloaded on your computer.  Don't walk-- RUN (virtually) to download it now!!

I take a picture and insert it into my ppt and when they finish their work, I save it as a PDF and bam- I have evidence for their learning!  Pretty awesome!!!
 
Well, I hope you found this post interesting.  My learning curve right now is straight up.. So, please be patient with me if you ask any questions. 
 
PS- tomorrow is Friday!!!!
 


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Sign up Genius

Have you guys ever heard of Sign up Genius?!?  It's a website that anyone can use to create a sign-up sheet for FREE!!! Now, that I am teaching virtual, I have to find new and creative ways to communicate with my families.  Yes, I do make more phone calls, and yes I do email all the time!  However, this is a free and easy way to get your parents to sign up for conferences without having to harass them over the phone or through email. 
 
All you have to do is sign up for free, create the template you want, fill it in with time slots, add your parent emails and they will send the link for you!  It's as easy as that!  I already had a parent sign up the very next day!  When I was in the brick and mortar I used to have to send home at least 3-4 notes to get some parents to sign up!  This is so much easier!!!  I'm sure you will still have some parents who wait until the last minute, or some that will cancel (that's inevitable).  The website will also send a reminder to parents 1-2 days before their conference.  That way, in case I forget to send an email-- it does it for me!
 
Here's a picture of what my sign-up link looks like:
 
Click the icon below to sign up and get started for free!


Saturday, September 21, 2013

Apple Adjectives, Saturday Snapshots, and a Freebie!



 

1.
I mean-- c'mon!  Don't you just love that face!! She is getting waaaay to big!  Love spending time with her!
 
2.
Vera, your SLANT box will be on its way Monday!  I cannot wait for you to see all the treasures I found for you.  This was so much fun-- make sure to sign up for next month!!!
 
3.
I was CPR certified today.  I have such a sweet friend whose Dad teaches a class at Lipscomb.  She invited some of us to take the class for $4.  It was only the price of the card.  Normally, the class is like $96!!!! Score!  I feel so much more confident with my sweet girl and knowing what to do in an emergency.
 
4.
I was excited to receive my winning package from Ms. Nelson!
 
 
I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the weekend!
God Bless!!!


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Apple entry for your Science Journal









 
I added this apple activity to my Apples unit.  So, if you bought it last year- go download it again for free!!!
 
You can also find this activity and many other fun and engaging science entries in my Interactive Science Journals for Young Learners
 


Saturday, September 14, 2013

Rockin in my School Shoes Freebie!!!

 
I've noticed that many teachers just love Pete the cat!!!  Welp, even though I am not in K anymore, I still adore this funny cat!
 
 
So.................. I made this simple little page for you to use as morning work, discuss sentence structure, or whatever!
 
Click the picture to grab your freebie!!!
 
If you like this page, you can visit my TpT store here to check out many other thematic sentence building packs.  Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!!!


Friday, September 6, 2013

Five for Friday!

fiveforfriday2_thumb3
 
I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!
 
 


1.  My K12 Curriculum came in!!!  I should have taken a picture of everything before I unpacked it.  There had to of been like 25 boxes.  Don't worry, I consolidated them and put them in adorable storage bins from Target.
 



2.  I found this cutie at Wal-Mart!  It was like 99 cents or something.  Go grab ya one to play some fun games in your classroom!
 



3.  My sweet girl is 7 months old!  What?!?  Going waaaaaaay too fast!
 
SLANT Box Exchange
 
4.  I signed up for my first SLANT box and I'm so excited to start shopping.  Head over to Lessons with Coffee to check them out!
 
 
5.  SJ had her 6 month pictures a few weeks ago.  They turned out awesome!!!!  Love Jen Harvey Photography!
 
Happy Friday!!!
Don't forget to link up!
 
Doodle Bugs Teaching
 
 



Monday, September 2, 2013

September Currently!

I'm linking up with Farley for September's Currently!!!
 
Oh' boy fourth grade
 
 
Everything is pretty self-explanatory.. except the whole thinking part...  Yes, you read that right!  I will be teaching 3rd grade.  I'm doing it from home.  I was hired by K12 virtual academy to teach 3rd grade.  I'm excited about this new experience!  I cannot answer any questions about it, because I know nothing about it yet!! lol I have trainings all next week and I am incredibly excited to begin this new journey. 
 
I am getting my masters in instructional technology and it has helped open a few doors.  I know this is a God thing!  My husband and I took a big risk by me staying home.  I just knew if we trusted in his plan, whatever was best for our family would happen!
 
I didn't ask God for the job, but I asked him to make it clear what his plan was for me.  I heard about the opportunity and asked a girl (who teaches with K12) to email my resume.  I didn't seek them out, they called me!  It was clear then, that God had bigger plans for me! I don't know my schedule, and I'm sure it will be a big adjustment... But I wasn't ready to give up teaching completely.  I was hired to teach 3rd grade from the comfort of my own home.  I can't wait to begin this journey. 
 
I will continue creating activities for Kinders and Young Learners until I get a good grasp on the Common Core Standards for the big kids!  I hope you follow along my journey as I learn to teach virtually!!!
 
Have a wonderful "labor-free" day!