Teaching Mrs. Lazenby

Recent happenings...

2012-01-04T19:19:00.000-08:00

Character words up for Social Studies, not too interesting. :/
Our Map to track our USA Postcard Exchange. We have LOT more postcards to get to, but it is hard to fit the time in!!!
Group Sparkle Points! My kiddies LOVE this!! The groups can earn points throughout the week and the group with the most points on Friday gets a prize! :)
Power word poster! Very handy!

Division anchor chart that the kids can remove the words and the put them in the correct place..
Anyone played this game? I just got it in the mail today! Looks like it is a good one! Basically clock dominoes!

I got this pencil sharpener for Christmas and I LOVE IT!!!! It works great, plus has a 10 year warranty...
Even better, when the pencil is sharp the light turns blue!!!!!!

Our Class Rocks Jar! Again my friend Mandy Flanders made this for me! Anything crafty she can do for me! We earn rocks for compliments, no names in the book, everyone doing their homework, etc.... When it is full we get a prize!!! Check her out at, https://www.facebook.com/flandysfancycreations

These nifty posters came from The Teacher Wife! I purchased it this morning and have already done three activities from it! It has 58 pages of lots of goodies! Check it out here...
Another item from the pack! :)

And these OH so cute bookmarks that I'm giving the kiddies tomorrow! :)

The blank canvas?

2012-01-04T18:18:00.000-08:00

Here are the pictures of my NEW classroom as I worked on it! I was very lucky that I was given a week in my room before I got kids. On the phone, the day I was told I had to move, it was explained that I would start teaching on Monday! I don't know what I would have done then!
Back of the room, I now have a table and more chairs back there...

My own sink and counter tops! Whoop Whoop!

Rolling Shelf

Making a library

I got a brand new Promethean board as I was setting up my room.

Making my standards and calendar wall...

The entry..

Instructional bulletin board and student computers

The standards board now..

More Classroom photos...

2012-01-04T17:55:00.000-08:00

Good ol' anchor chart for division! :)
I couldn't get my kiddies motivated for AR, but this was attempt one. However, right before the break I just started snapping and saying come on guys and cheering a LOT more that we are doing really well with AR now! Any WHO the principal set our goal for 80 points and they students get to move their owls around to the moons. This picture was prior to the snapping, in the next picture you can see that only ONE student was up on the wall!!!

One student, pitiful! Now they are mostly at 20 and 15 points. I have one at 35! Yippie!

Instructional bulletin board with rocks/minerals and government.

Key math words, another anchor chart! :)

Can I get an AMEN?

2012-01-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I am so glad that it is 2012 because that means that this school year is almost over. It means that this roller coaster isn't on that first big drop anymore. It means that I have a moment to breathe and update everyone about life.

For those of you who didn't read on September 16 I was informed that it would be my last day at my school and I was being moved to a new school. I also had to be there on Monday, which made things even more crazier! So I packed up and unloaded at home and then on Monday loaded back up for the new school. I was moved from fifth grade science to third grade all subjects. There were three third glad classes and mine would make four. So I had to take these three different classes and make them my own. Basically, I felt as though I was drowning and that instead of people throwing a life savor they dumped more water on my head!

Anyway, I slowly got used to the fact that I was a third grade teacher. I will say that teaching all the subjects is a real headache and that is probably my least favorite part! When I taught science I lived and breathed science. I focused on one thing and did it well. Now I have four subjects that I want to do my best in and there isn't enough time to even prepare. My new school is nice and the students are not bad at all. However, I really just haven't caught a break..

...That is until now! :) Somehow at this moment I'm breathing and I THINK I'm ahead of what I should be doing! I hope to maintain this peaceful mood as I continue on throughout the school year.

I apologize that things are few and far between, but I really don't have much to share. Reason being? Well I'm begging, borrowing, and stealing and not really creating anything of my own! My next post will be strictly pictures and you will see all the great things that I have found via Google and BLOG LAND! I appreciate everyone's willingness to share and post things for free and even on Teachers Pay Teachers! I've spent more money than I have made, but you're making this a lot easier!

I hope that everyone else can find a little piece this school year. I know that it is tough, but enjoy the ride! <3

What a Crazy RIDE!!

2011-10-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have neglected this blog long enough. I need to update everyone on my current situation. A few weeks ago I was a happy 5th grade Science teacher. It was my second year at the school and I had the same kids, things were going VERY smoothly. We were informed that two of our teachers would have to be moved due to numbers. After some fighting and many phone calls, I was informed on Friday at 1:30 that I started at a new school on Monday morning. I was unable to tell the kids and I had to keep teaching until 3:00. It was difficult and I cried and the kids were VERY confused! However, I share the news with them that afternoon and they cried with me. It made me feel really good that they would miss me, but I was sad that I just to up and leave. I packed up my room that afternoon/evening and went to my new EARLY school on Monday. I am now a third grade teacher and I teach ALL the subjects.

Here I am a couple of weeks in and the school is wonderful, staff, parents, and students.. However, I feel as if I'm drowning in a sea of work. I can't catch up and things keep coming to me.. I will definitely be looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas Break!! Maybe then I can catch a break. I am still very thankful to have a job, but moving once school as already started is not ANYTHING I would recommend to anyone!

I need to update on my class and what is going on, but I'm not sure what is going on! Lol. When I figure it out, I will be back! I love blogging and finding new ideas for my kiddies, but there just isn't enough time in a day!!!

Fifth Grade is a BLAST

2011-09-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

Wow, I know that I'm slacking on this blog. I really do apologize. My hubby and I bought a house and we were without the internet for a week and some days. I also am busy back at work with my students! Our blog is being updated more regularlly if you want to check it out, www.lazenbyclass.blogspot.com.

We are currently wrapping up our cells and microorganism unit. This weekend I will try my hardest to sit and write a blog along with share some of our materials! Enjoy your week! :)

Few and Far Between

2011-08-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

Well I just got home from my FIRST week back of my SECOND year teaching. It has definitely been a LONG week! It is very hard to get back into the swing of waking up early, staying on your feet, and using the bathroom once (IF YOU'RE LUCKY TWICE) a day! However, I like 5th grade. :)

Our numbers are low, but I'm not going to speak negative into my life as my friend Debra would say!

We've been busy with an introduction to fifth grade science. I think the kids have had a pretty good time. They were introduced to our classroom blog yesterday and I have some updates there. I need to update a little more, but I think it will be a HUGE success within our classroom.

Check us out at... http://lazenbyclass.blogspot.com/

I'm ready!!

2011-07-29T18:48:00.001-07:00

Well after today I have decided that I am ready for the kids! My room is pretty much set up, just have to make/purchase some things this weekend.

Here are the finishing touches...

My desk. I'm going to buy something cute to put on the other side this weekend. :) Not sure what though.

The kids computers and my new HALL PASSES hanging on the wall!! Check them out at Oriental Trading....

Another view of my desk area/front of room.

The side wall. The first black area will be a desk calendar, then standards and essential questions, notes for section we're talking about, and word wall.

Still haven't gotten that front desk fixed, but eventually it will and be placed in row! :)

Pile of posters, from previous picture... I need to bring my poster bag to store these in, but keep forgetting.

These are my Georgia Performance Standards for the entire year.

What do I do when I'm done? You can choose this stuff!

Eventually my desk will be in groups and I will have 6 of them. In the middle of the groups they will have a caddy with the large eraser, pencil sharpener, and extra pencils. I hope this works out!!

Science stuff waiting to be used! :)

Inside my cabinet, somewhat organized. I can definitely live with this! This is the top two shelves.

These are the bottom two.

This is actually the middle shelf

My computer. Check out my USB man from Office Depot! :)

From the back of the room.

Behind my desk...

I hope that you enjoyed your tour! :)

Update on the room..

2011-07-27T19:06:00.001-07:00

Well today it seems that I took two steps (maybe 50 steps) back! The previous 5th grade Science teacher unloaded all of her stuff into my room. I was busy cleaning out my file cabinet and closet that I didn't even touch what she brought in. So here are pictures of my new found mess...

My desk, blah!! In front of it are the resource tubs that came with the science book.

Science stuff that was given to me by previous teacher on my table...
And on my front row of desks! :)

This is the contents of my file cabinet that I am throwing away! Still doesn't look like I did much though!

Ohh, something that my other 5th grade teachers did was put paper up in the "used to be windows" on the wall. It made the posters that I had there last year pop. The custodians helped me out today and put the paper and border up! :)

I'll be there tomorrow morning and spend the rest of the day! I HOPE that I can finish, but we'll see!

Working in the CLASSROOM!!

2011-07-26T21:20:00.000-07:00

I couldn't take it! I HAD to visit my classroom today! :) I didn't get TOO much accomplished because I helped a friend who will be starting her first year teaching in Pre-K. Her room was a WRECK and DIRTY, so we organized and cleaned.

Anywho, here are pictures of what I did in my room today!

This is the front of my room, very blah! :)

The back of my room, very CROWDED!!!

This is a new to me desk. My one from last year was dangerously falling a part as well as had sharp edges. So I was given a nice metal desk. I was checking the drawers and noticed the bottom left hand drawer kept dropping chalk from it when opened. So I removed the drawer and THIS is what I saw! LoL. I grabbed a glove and cleaned this out ASAP. There were 1 million pieces of broken white chalk, small number cards, and Macho Man Randy Savage! :)

THE AFTER! :)

Ignore the desk that is up front, it is being fixed because it is missing a screw or two... I like to start out my year in rows, but by the second week I will change to small groups!

My desk area. :)
Wasted space? I was going to put my table back here, but I do experiments on the table and sit on it ALL the time. So if I did that then everyone would have to look to the right! Eventually when I change to groups the table is in the middle of the room. So this should be fine for now.
The table.

Behind my desk. Last year I had my desk in the SAME place the entire year because of my computer plug in. However, I am getting a SMALL computer desk this year and will have my computer off my desk. I think that this will work for now.

Other exciting news?

I finished my Noise-O-Meter

I also made my lottery tickets, but I forgot to take a picture. So I will do that in the NEXT post! :)

OH AND THE MOST EXCITING NEWS???? I TOTALLY WON A GIVEAWAY! WHAT DID I WIN? OH JUST A LAMINATOR!!! :) YES, MY VERY OWN LAMINATOR! I CANNOT WAIT TO GET IT!!! THANK YOU AGAIN FIRST GRADE FRAME OF MIND!!

Lastly, shout out to the hubby for his birthday! I love him very much!

I took him to the Boll Weevil Cafe in Augusta. Which is very quaint and by the river. Our favorite part about this place is the DESSERT!! My hubs said he wanted chocolate cake, I mean "GOOD CHOCOLATE CAKE" See below for SLICE! Yes a SLICE of the Perfect Chocolate Cake!

He was SUPER excited!!

This is the AFTER! We both shared this slice and COULD NOT finish it! Lucky for him he got to bring it home! :)

Sorry for the rambling y'all! :)

Google. Reader

2011-07-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

ALL my blogs that I was following on Google Reader disappeared yesterday. Did this happen to anyone else? Do you know how I can retrieve them??

Randomness

2011-07-18T13:33:00.001-07:00

I am all about some randomness, so I wanted to share some things that was going on for me.

1. First, my project was funded with Donors Choose! I am VERY excited and I CANNOT wait to share these tubs with my kids!!!

2. I just printed my lottery tickets (found on Simply 2nd Resources) I have to cut them out tonight and then I will start putting them together tomorrow!

3. My friend Lisa and I went to the BRITNEY SPEARS CONCERT in Atlanta last night! I am still so excited! I have always been obsessed with Brit!

4. I will also be making a Noise-O-Meter this week.

5. I am also not sure what grade or subjects I will be teaching next year, but I go back on August 1 and will HOPEFULLY find out that day!! :/ School starts on August 8.

6. I am also planning to use WHOLE BRAIN TEACHING this year, so I am studying up on that! :)

7. I'm completely excited about things going on! We're even in the process of buying a new house! We would close on August 19th, if we get it. Does that make me crazy?

Language Arts

2011-07-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

As much as I enjoy only teaching one subject, sometimes I wish I taught others because of all the neat things that I find or hear about. For instance the Daily 5 sounds great and the book everyone was reading called the Book Whisperer made me jealous, too!

Another great thing I wanted to share with you is Grammar Jammar!!! My cousin's friend created this after trying to teach her third grade students rules about grammar! It started out as a drama and eventually turned into this SUPER DVD!!! You can go read the reviews and other information for yourself at www.grammarjammar.com.

Trailer: Grammar Jammar from James Hedrick on Vimeo.

LASTLY, I wanted to share with you all that my project was selected for MATCH FUNDING on Donors Choose! It says that if I were to raise half the money that Lakeshore will most likely fund the rest!! Please help us get these tubs! My students would LOVE them!! I only need $204 for the matching funding!! http://www.donorschoose.org/amberlazenby

Feel free to share it with bloggers, friends and family- whomever! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!! :)

**UPDATE! MY PROJECT WAS FULLY FUNDED TODAY!!!!! I'M SOO STINKIN' EXCITED! :)

Dr. Seuss Biography

2011-07-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I was informed awhile back that there was a typo in my FREE Dr. Seuss brochure. I finally located the original file so that I could make corrections.

78 people downloaded it, so I am hoping that you were one of them! Click here for the corrected version!!

Thanks so much!!

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!

2011-07-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

Thank you to EVERYONE who entered my giveaway!! I am so happy that you all follow my bloggy and even considered me a worthy one to follow! :)

I did the random generator and the winner is....

Congrats to...

Mrs. Eberhart you are the lucky winner of a $15 gift card to TARGET!!! I'm sure that will help you with those good ol' dollar deals!! Please send me your address. My email is amberlazenby@gmail.com

BTW, I'm now close to 100 followers so you know what that would mean! ;)

Check this out!!

2011-07-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

Guess who has been shopping? Well, I am always shopping so that is no surprise.

I have hit those Target bins and purchased EVERYTHING that has already been blogged. I have also hit the Dollar Tree for those fold-able crates, but I also found something else!!!!

Are you ready???

I got these for $1, which is .50 for each!! It is a pencil sharpener and eraser in one!! These two things are something my students always need and will be GREAT as a gift on the first day of school!! Bad thing? They only had 14 packs. Which is enough for my homeroom, but not enough for ALL of the kids I teach. So I am definitely keeping my eyes open for more of these!!

Here is a picture of my bag all packed and ready to be emptied into my classroom, if only I could get in...

Oh, I forgot I got theses glasses at Hobby Lobby for $2 (VBS sale section). I know my kids will love these in the treat box!

Don't forget about my giveaway. I will be picking a winner this evening!!! :)

Discipline System

2011-07-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

I am so glad that I am getting so many followers to my bloggy! I feel soooo special! :) It also makes me go YAY because I'm able to put out a question and know that someone is going to read it and possibly help solve my problems! :)

So what is the deal you ask? Well last year was my first year teaching. I taught fourth grade science to four different classes. I will admit that it was the BIGGEST challenge of my life. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed teaching. However, I was overwhelmed to say the least.

There were three other fourth grade teachers with me. My idea was to have the same classroom rules and to implement the same reward system. Maybe like tickets from the teachers and then cashing them in with homeroom teacher on a certain day. However, the other teachers chose to do their own system.

I assume that this year I will be in the same boat, but wanted to try something that would work for each class and would not cost me an arm and leg. I ended up doing a sticker card for each student (70) and when they received 10 stickers they went to the prize box or candy box. Needless to say I went through a lot of index cards, stickers, candy, and treasure box prizes.

I know that some of my followers are departmentalized and can help me. What methods do you use in your classroom? I followed the Classroom Management linky party, but I didn't see anything about the specific case. Although I got some AWESOME things from y'all!

However, creating a pocket chart, clothes pin chart, or anything of that nature for 70 kids is tough to keep up with. I will say that at my school an individual discipline system is needed, not based on how the WHOLE class does! (Which I do that on top of individual).

So there you go faithful followers, bloggy friends, and teachers...

Please help, offer advice, or just smile and nod! ;)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway either!! It ends on the 12th!!

My VERY first LINKY party

2011-07-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

I'm joining my very fist linky party!! Yay!!!! Click above to join!

Don't forget about my giveaway either!!!

Giveaways and such...

2011-07-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot to say HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY on my last post! I guess I was so excited to share with you what I learned during my gifted endorsement classes that is slipped my mind that today was a holiday, that and the hubby was working and I was home with the dog...

Anyways! I wanted to share some exciting news with you all! First I have recently won 2!!! Giveaways!

The first one that I one was ...

I won this from an AWESOME illustrator named Elizabeth Dulemba. If you click her name that is her link to her website. She has a blog that she posts very regularly including free coloring pages!! This is actually her friends book that she offered as a giveaway! I cannot wait to receive it! From what I have heard and read, it is super book!!

The other giveaway that I won was from the Teaching Blog Addict Blog!!!

I am very excited to win this because I am responsible for teaching a short RTI Math period in the mornings. I think that this will fit quite nicely within that time! Last year many of my students struggled with their times tables so this will be great!!

Another thing that I am SUPER excited about is the postcard exchange!

I am on the look out for some cute Augusta, Georgia postcards for my class. I know that my students will be super excited about this!! They are currently looking for a few more states to complete the 50 state exchange! If you see your state below then click on the picture to link back to Primary Graffiti's blog who is helping organize this.

Lastly, what I wanted to post for the night was a THANK you for following my blog. I know that I started at the end of the school year and I haven't really been posting. However, I promise that once I am set back on "school mode" my posts will be more regular. I am even going to create a classroom blog this year!!!

So for those that currently follow, and those that will soon follow- I am hosting my 50 (plus) follower giveaway!! You could win a $15 gift card to my most "favoritest" store!
How can you win?? Complete the following for ONE entry each! Make sure you comment for EACH thing that is completed!! That is a total of 8 chances!!!

1. Follow my blog.
2. Follow my slowly, but surely TpT store!
3. Blog about my giveaway! (send me the link)
4. Shout it out on facebook! (send me the link)
5. Put my super cute blog button on your bloggy roll!!
6. Tell me what you ALWAYS do on the first day of school, I don't mean like fill out information cards. I want something good! :)
7. SEE BELOW FOR NEW ADDITION!!! :)

You will have until July 12, 2011 to get this done!

Thank you again for following me! :)

Happy Fourth of July!

****Totally adding one more way to enter!! I have a lot of FREE items on my TpT store!! If you download one of them and provide feedback I would be greatly appreciative and would allow you to have 2 entries!!!!!***

Summer Blues..

2011-07-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

Wow, I cannot believe that summer is ending in less than a month! I feel like only last week I was packing up my classroom and bringing projects home to be completed.
Unfortunately, I haven't completed ANY of those projects. When I left for the summer my principal was still unsure of my placement. It is either fourth grade social studies and science, fifth grade social studies and science, OR fifth grade science! I haven't done any planning because I want to plan things for the correct subject. Maybe next week I can start getting a rough idea for all of them?

Anyways, as from my last post about the gifted endorsement I got lots of views. I'm glad that there are people out there that are still interested in the gifted children. During my class I found that most people were taking the class because it was electives for them. However, I took the class because I am totally interested in reaching my gifted students better.

In this class I learned that all students are gifted "at certain times and under certain circumstances."

(COPIED FROM http://www.gigers.com/matthias/gifted/three_rings.html)

This is Renzulli's Three Ring Concept, which my professor focused on for two weeks. Where all three circles overlap would represent someone that is gifted. This model can be used within subjects, sports, and hobbies. With these rings on average about 20% of the population is gifted. I really identified with Renzulli and plan on using a lot of his techniques within my class next year.

Another thing that fascinated me was the different models available for teaching ALL students. This link takes you to the NAEG CENTER FOR GIFTED EDUCATION AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT. You will find a lot of helpful information including models that could help you within the classroom.

A model that I used and tweaked to fit my needs was the Curry Samara Model

I'm hoping that you can click on these and it will be bigger. If anyone is interested I can email you the unit plan. It is for fourth grade Ecosystems. What I liked about the model is this is a WHOLE unit. It covers all the standards for the ecosystem and you can just glance down to see EVERYTHING that will be covered. The topics that are to the right are more advanced for your gifted students and the ones on the left are your average lessons. So all students can work their way up to the "gifted" side!

I also have information on the Maker Matrix and the Levels of Service Approach, if you're interested.

I really did learn a lot and cannot wait to apply it to my classroom.

I'll end this SUPER long post with these other few things that I created for class.

The first is the difference between acceleration and enrichment.

And this was one of the first items I created during the class. It Curriculum differentiation is broken into four parts. Content, Process, Product and Environment. This illustrates the difference between them.

Gifted Endorsement

2011-06-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks I have been in class taking classes to get my gifted endorsement. I'm not completely done because I have three assignments that are to be turned in this week, which I should be working on...

Anywho, I wanted to share with you some videos that we watched in class. Anyone that has an interest take a looksie!

This is a video that was shared regarding teachers imposing their views on students.

This is a LONG video about what schools are doing to children. Very informational and has some chuckles!!

Now this video is VERY near and dear to my heart. I actually started crying. We were discussing using simulations in the classroom and the professor shared this video with us.

I will share more from my class once I finish all the assignments.

I also am eager to get started for planning next year, but haven't had time. I will do that next week! Thank you to all those that continue to share your ideas throughout the summer.

Something that I am VERY interested in reading about is behavior management. I will teach in a departmentalized again and was wondering what system do all your teacher use? Last year we did not have a grade level plan, but I am pushing again for one!

Thanks and happy summer!!

OHHH and 7 more followers and I will be having a giveaway!!! :)

Button, Button, Who got a button??

2011-06-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

Howdy Howdy... I am enjoying my summer vacation, but I am sort of bored. I haven't started on anything for school next year only because I don't know EXACTLY where I will be. There is talk of moving up to fifth grade, but nothing is official.

In the mean time I am taking Masters classes. I leave next week for a week long class in Columbia, SC to get my gifted endorsement! Yayness!!

On another note I got a button!!! Thank you very much Mrs. M!! I love it!! Yippie!!

WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!!

2011-06-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

Well she really didn't win a chicken dinner, but I do have a winner of my Ron Clark giveaway.

Which was my new bloggy buddy that said,

Congrats to you Fern!! Send your address to amberlazenby@gmail.com and I will get your book in the mail!! Yippie to giveaways!! :)

Thank you to all those that participated!

Another giveaway will be done when I reach 50 followers!!!! :)

Teachers Pay Teachers

2011-05-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

So I created a Teachers Pay Teachers Account! I think I only have two items for sale and the rest of the items are FREE!!!! So you should definitely head over here, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amber-Lazenby, to check them out.

Can someone please tell me how to add a button to my page linking my TpT?

Also, don't forget about my contest! Click here for that posting!!

Happy MEMORIAL DAY! :)

Making Memories!!

2011-05-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

Three days before our last day I did a fun activity with the kids using a sheet I found from one of my bloggy friends, that again I am not sure who!! (Let me know, so that I can tag them!)

Each student was giving a piece of paper that said One thing I like about (insert their name) is... and it was passed around the room. I told the students that they could only write something POSITIVE, which they all ended up doing very well with.

I also was able to pass around mine during each class and wanted to share with you what the students wrote. I will go ahead and tell you that I got all teary eyed!!!

One thing I like about Mrs. Lazenby is...
1. You are always sharing and teaching us things.
2. You give us things and you are nice!
3. You are the greatest teacher who taught science!
4. How you give us things
5. how you always give us second chances (FROM ONE OF THE "BAD" KIDS, how could I not hug him after that?)
6. How you're the best teacher ever
7. Your the funniest teacher ever in history, love ya!
(TOTALLY SKIPPED THE NUMBER 8, but hey I only taught science! ;))
9. I like you cause you a teacher.
10. You are very nice and the greatest teacher in the whooooooole wide world.
11. I like you, you are nice, you are the best teacher I ever had.
12. Your my best teacher ever!!
13. Your clothes.
14. How nice and always honest.
15. That you are really nice and you have a good since of humor.
16. That you are the best teacher ever, I am gonna miss you.
17. She fun and smart woman.
18. She greatest teacher ever
19. You are a good science teacher ever!
20. Your way of making something fun!
21. You are my favorite science teacher ever!
22. I like the way you told me when I was bad and good.
23. Your a good teacher
24. She's a very wonderful and nice teaching in the world.
25. I liked your personality.
26. You're a fun teacher.
27. I like your kindness and science!
28. Nice and beautiful.
29. She is fun
30. That she is the best teacher I ever had and I will never forget you!!
31. One thing I like about Miss Lazenby is her cool experiments.
32. You are an awesome science teacher.
33. Everything about you!
34. Everything!! (BFF)
25. What I like about you is that you are the best teacher.
38. I like that you giave me a chance to be good. And that you took the time with me. I'll miss you the most of the teachers!
39. One thing I like about you is that you teach me science.
40. I like your smile and laugh, but most of all I like that me and you like pink!
41. I like your teaching.
42. I like that you always make us laughing.
43. One thing I like about Mrs. Lazenby is her funny, nice personality.
44. You're sweet.
45. You are the nicest teacher!
46. I like the way she makes us laugh
47. You are the best teacher in the world and funny!
48. That she does fun stuff to motivate us.
49. I like about her is she is funny and sings lovely.
50. Mrs. Lazenby is a very beautiful teacher
51. I like your signing, dancing, teaching, and clothes.
52. You ar ethe funniest teacher on the planet! Rock and "role"
53. The awesome teacher in the world
54. YOu are the fun teacher in the school
55. I like you, you are beautiful.

Unfortunately not all of our students were present the last week of school, but this was still a fun activity!!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

2011-05-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

So I have decided that I wanted to CELEBRATE my first year of teaching being over, and the fact that I STILL HAVE A JOB in this tough economy! Plus, I would like to increase my followers! So I am giving away a book that I read before my first week of teaching started!

If you haven't read this book then you SHOULD!! It has the 55 Essential Rules that everyone should know, adults included! I TRIED very hard to teach my fourth graders manners. Some of them learned, but some of them thought I was crazy. One kid told me her mother told her never to say. "I'm sorry" because she would admit that she is a SORRY person. WHAT IN THE WORLD????

Anyways, for the giveaway of a BRAND NEW copy of The Essential 55 by Ron Clark you can gain entries by the following...

1. Follow my blog (or let me know you already follow it)

2. BLOG about my giveaway, which will give you TWO entries (submit two comments when you complete this one.)

3. Tell me a RULE that you think ALL students should know when it comes to manners.

I will select a winner Wednesday June 1, 2011, which should give me time to figure out the random generator thingy! ;)

Good luck to everyone!! And thank you in advance!

***NEW WAY TO ENTER! I JUST CREATED MY TPT ACCOUNT. IF YOU FOLLOW ME, THEN YOU CAN EARN AN EXTRA ENTRY!!! YAY, THANKS FOR THE IDEA JULIE!

School's Out For The Summer!!

2011-05-27T10:26:00.001-07:00

I survived my first year of teaching, can you believe that?

I never knew that teaching was so difficult, but so rewarding! I have so MANY plans for the summer that I am sitting here on my SECOND day of summer break with NOTHING accomplished!

I did want to share with my fellow blog buddies that use a Promethean Board within their classroom something WAY cool!! On Wednesday our county had a Professional Learning Day that teachers could sign up for several different classes to learn new skills. One of the classes I went to was on the Promethean Board, which focused on the Promethean Planet website. We also got to visit the Promethean Bus, which was SUPER!

The other part of the class, about the website, was taught by Andrew Ryff who helps with the development of the Promethean Planet website. He went over some things I already knew, such as downloading flip charts and sorting through the files. However, I never clicked anywhere else on the site. So if you're like me- check out the Teacher Feature, which can be found under professional development or click here http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en-us/professional-development/teacher-feature/ a teacher is featured (forgot how often) with a bio, recording of using the Promethean board and then the flip chart she/he created! It is awesome to see others using the board, and how they utilize it!! The featured teacher at the moment is the 12th grade English teacher!!

Also, there are groups that you can join and even create to collaborate with your school, district, or whomever you wish. A group that Andrew created was called Activities in a Flash, which features flash activities that can be downloaded and used on your board! He welcomes all uses to join, you just have to request. So PLEASE go join this group under the community tab and user groups, or click here http://community.prometheanplanet.com/en/user_groups/flash-activities/default.aspx

After taking a look at this group I have found SEVERAL things that I can use for fun and games, but for classroom management too! For instance, a traffic light that you can just click to change the color. I plan to utilize this for my noise control next year. A score keeper to keep up with group points! A group spinner to select groups, a random number generator to select students for special privileges, and even a stopwatch to time students during clean up.

So I guess technically I have started planning and I haven't wasted two days completely, right?

CRCT Rewards

2011-05-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend I spent my time thinking about what I can could that would be special for the kids that passed the CRCT. Other teachers are giving a monetary prize, but I cannot afford that.

So I went and bought bubbles at Walmart. The packs of 8 are on sale for $3. I created a bubble label that reads, "You BLEW me away on the Science CRCT! Congrats! Love, Mrs. Lazenby" I tied these bubbles to each container and I cannot wait to give it to the kids tomorrow!

For those that did not pass I am giving them a small piece of candy. For those that exceeded the CRCT I have a certificate for them, too.

Light

2011-05-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

After the CRCT students thought that they were done, but we still had light and sound to talk about. I knew that I needed to keep on with doing things hands on to keep them interested. So here we are doing an experiment about reflection.

I gave students a mirror and asked them to draw a shape on a piece of paper. We then talked about the line of symmetry and how to find it. When students found it on their shapes they drew a small circle inside. We knew that only one side had a circle, so if we were seeing the circle in the mirror it was a reflection. We talked about how the reflection appeared, which was backwards.

I then found this really neat sheet from United Streaming online and gave it to each student. It was a maze, but you had to complete it only by looking in the mirror.

Here are students completing the mirror maze. They thought this was SOO FUN!

We finished up our light and sound unit by making a book about them. Students tried to draw mirror images inside, which again they thought was fun!

I'm glad we ended our science lessons on a high note!

Next week we will finish our KWL chart that we did the first day of class...
K: What we KNEW already about Science
W: What we WANT to learn!
And the L will of course be what we LEARNED!

We will also write letters to upcoming fourth grade students about Mrs. Lazenby's class.

Can't wait...

End of the Year!

2011-05-14T19:57:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe that this is the LAST week of my FIRST year of teaching! It has been an experience, that is for sure! However, with the bad came the good! I cannot imagine things being any different. Next year I will know what to expect! This summer I will plan, plan, and plan!!!

Besides I am WAY PROUD OF MY LITTLE BOOGERS!!! On Friday we got the results back from our CRCT. My Scientist did AWESOME! 75% of them PASSED!! The 25% was made up of 17 students, 3 of them are SPED and 3 of them missed a passing grade by ONE QUESTION!!!

It didn't hit me until we went into a meeting on Friday afternoon and was given this graph. I cried!

(First column all students, second is third grade, third is fourth grade, and last is 5th grade.)

My students did NOT get to have a science review because I was helping the reading teacher for three weeks. And we only spent ONE day talking about Light and Sound! However, we were still able to accomplish this!

Another proud moment was when I found out one my kids only missed ONE question on the entire science section of the CRCT. I am making a special reward for him now. However, I was wondering what others do for students that passed state testing?

Our honor's day is on Wednesday and I have lots of goodies for the students. One is a class picture for each student, our school does not take them. I did this for EACH fourth grade class. I also got these AWESOME candy bar wrappers made!

My friend Mandy makes these and are very reasonably priced! If you are interested just leave me a message and I can send you her information! She is currently making them to raise money for a mission trip she is going on in June. I was happy to help her, and LOVED what I received in return! ;)

(I just wrapped all 70 of these tonight and this is the outcome!)

As a class we also voted on classroom awards for each student, which I printed and laminated those certificates. Students will be receiving them after the school honor's day. I sent this invitation home to parents, I HOPE THAT SOME COME!!!

What are some things that teachers do for OLDER students at the end of the year?

Yearbook

2011-05-07T22:24:00.000-07:00

My school doesn't have a yearbook, so I was wanting to do something for the kids to still remember their fourth grade year. I saw on another blog (and I'm sorry I don't remember which one) she had created one for her second graders. I attempted tonight to do a similar type thing. I hope this link works!

What do you think? The mascot for our school is a bee, which is the same clip art you see throughout the book.

Mother's Day

2011-05-07T21:23:00.001-07:00

I wasn't planning on doing anything for Mother's Day (I know bad teacher!), but on Friday it was Field Day and we were wrapping up our lesson on Light. That morning I decided that I should do something because most of my students would not have any other place to create something.

So I found these two awesome ideas, one from a friend at my school and the other from Anna Brantley's blog Crazy In First Grade. We also made cards from construction paper. Here are a few pictures...

Cutting out the coupon book from Anna Brantley!
Nifty flowers in a flower pot! ;)

I teach four classes and in my LAST class of the day a student made the funniest card that I couldn't stop laughing.

100th Day Of Schol

2011-05-07T20:58:00.001-07:00

I am a procrastinator when it comes to uploading my pictures. Tonight I sat down and put them all on the computer so I can begin to create a picture slide show for my classroom honor's day.

For the 100th day of school I wasn't planning anything special because my fourth graders were not really excited. I had purchased them all pencils and we were going to reflect on our 100 journal entries. However, my school stated that we needed to have something out on the wall for the 100th day of school parade.

My quickie idea, you ask? I gave each student a piece of paper and told them to write and draw their most favorite lesson from science so far. As students were complete I taped them to the wall in the shape of 100! and a smiley face! It turned out perfectly and students really enjoyed this activity! Here is a picture of our work.

Organization

2011-05-07T19:14:00.001-07:00

I would consider myself to be OCD about organization, but you wouldn't be able to tell this if you came to my house. However, in my classroom I try to have a place for everything. These past few days I have spent my time doing just that with some AWESOME labels from an AWESOME blogger, more on that in a minute!

However, before I became a teacher I still went to yard sales and bought ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I could for my future classroom. This gray thing below is one of my finds and I paid $5. The outside is made from wood while the inside a cardboard. My plans were to give each student a mailbox to store papers in. It didn't work that way because I teach 70 (well now 67) fourth graders. So I found other uses for it.
On the top left side is labels for each homeroom. Papers that we are currently working on are stored there. To the right are our red folders that go home every Tuesday sorted by class. In the middle are papers ready for those red folders and then paper storage. This has came in very handy even if I didn't use it as the way I intended. Thank goodness for yard sales!

Back to those labels. I follow a blog by Anna Brantley who created these VERY cute labels and they were FREE!! I asked her for the information so I could make more and she gave me the type of font, but said she would make them! And she did!! So I am totally sending all my friends to Crazy For First Grade for these labels and other awesome ideas!

Two Valentine's Days ago (actually day after V-day) I bought this super cute box of cookies for $1. He was too cute to resist. I actually threw away the cookies and kept the container for my future classroom. Now this lion proudly sits on my desk holding paperclips and the occasional rubber band. Everyone always ask if I made him, but I cannot take credit for that. Isn't he adorable?

The proof.
So as I said I am super organized and OCD about where things belong. In fact, I stay late everyday to make sure my desk is cleaned. One area that I cannot keep organized is this. It contains letters sent from the office that I haven't read just yet, my folder to put my items to be laminated in, my notebook for sending notes home, write up slips, and a few other items that I want near. Any suggestions on what to do with this? It really bothers me! And I promise I clean it ALLL the time!

Old Pictures

2011-05-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a minute, I know!! I have been slack and just blog stalking all those wonderful blogs I follow. I am definitely envious of their designs, lessons, and cute items! Over the summer I will be trying to create some of my own items, but geared for my upper elementary students! By the way, if you know of any blogs that I am NOT following that are awesome for upper grades, please suggest them.

I had a bunch of pictures saved and wanted to upload them and here I am doing that tonight.

Below is a picture of the balloons I came to work early to blow up for a lesson on sound. We talked about how sounds are produced because of vibrations and then held a balloon and felt the music being played. The students really enjoyed this visual. Of course my students related it back to the big speakers their parents have in the car and how they vibrate. Hey, at least they understood!!! :)
The next pictures are of the MANY items we created during our Solar System unit. Each class was responsible for creating TWO LARGE posters on two assigned planets. Then partners were assigned to create a poster advertising a PLANET FOR SALE. Lastly, a take home project was given to create a travel brochure for a a planet and why it should be visited. Our wall was covered and we received MANY compliments!!
Students were not allow the sell or advertise Earth, since we know more about it than any other planet.

The view from in front of our door! I was soo proud!
And this I couldn't help, but share. Students always have excuses as to why they did not do their homework. This parent sent a note stating the the dog literally ate his homework sheet! :)

What is the funniest excuse you've ever received for not having homework?

Accelerated Reader

2011-04-27T18:10:00.000-07:00

After a few months into my teaching career I started noticing that my students were lacking in the READING area. Although I am the Science teacher, I still encourage students to read daily!!! I asked the media specialist and the reading teacher at my school about Accelerated Reader and found out my school doesn't put emphasis into the program. Motivation for the students would have to come from within the classroom, which is different from ALL my field experiences/student teaching. Anyways, I needed to come up with something QUICK to get my students on the READING TRAIN.

The first thing I did was implemented a DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time for the last 15 minutes of our day. Not only do I have students reading, but I have time to get last minute papers signed and returned to go home.

The SECOND thing I did was make this poster. I wrote all my students names down and put a little square to write their points. I got the poster laminated and hung it up in my room. I update the points weekly and move the star post-it notes to the high ranking students. So that was a little motivation for my kids, a friendly competition. HOWEVER, that was NOT enough. So I thought back to one of my experiences and remembered a teacher had brown paper bags with each students name on it hanging above their heads on the ceiling. As students reached AR goals they received the prize that was in their bags! The contents were a SECRET and not to be shared with those who had not made their goals!

So here is what I came up with, since my ceilings are too high for me to reach, I tacked them above our board. (This is only half of the bags.) When students reach goals they receive the prizes and are to keep it a secret. The first prize was a sucker, bookmark, and pencil. The second prize is free cheesy bread from Little Caesars, a pack of gum, and a McDonald's toy.
To keep track of what "bag" the student is on, I just simply put a tally mark on the bottom as I hang it back up.

This was definitely the motivation that MOST of my students needed to get those points up!

Discipline

2011-04-27T17:54:00.001-07:00

As a first year teacher discipline is the HARDEST to me.

One night I was up crying about the behavior of a few of my students. I began to Google ideas and found something called Rubber-band Discipline. I do apologize that I don't remember the site, but please note this is NOT an original idea from me.

How it works:

I start the morning (or beginning of each class) with six rubber bands on my right wrist. Anytime my STRONG WILLED student acts out I remove a rubber band, which is of course after giving him/her one warning, and place it on my left wrist. At the end of the class period if they have four rubber bands left they can receive a piece of candy.

The site suggested using silly bands, or different colored rubber bands for different students. Also if you have students all day (which I teach four different classes throughout the day), then you can utilize a schedule with the bands. Keep track after an hour or two how many are left and then add them up at the end of the day.

Results? Well of course these students are still not perfect, but this has offered them more of a motivation to do better. It also is a visual reminder when I am teaching I don't have to stop and say the student's name, just simply make eye contact and remove a band.

**SIDE NOTE: Check out the AWESOME giveaway I won!!!
I cannot wait to receive it! Thank you again Michelle from First Grade Best.

Calm Week

2011-04-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

Wow, I am bad this week with the whole bloggin' thing. I have been reading every ones and their exciting lessons and ideas, but haven't felt inspired. This week we've had our state testing, tomorrow is our last day and then we're off on Friday. We've really not done a whole lot because when we are done with the test it is lunch time. After lunch the kids get recess (which they NEVER get because it isn't in our schedule) and then our day is pretty much wasted. We have watched many Magic School Bus videos this week, which the kids love!

Anyways, tomorrow will be the same thing. Then this weekend my MOM is coming to visit from Arkansas. I am very excited about that!!

Today I went to the Dollar Tree to pick up some items for our party. While I was there I found these two items and wanted to share!

Check out these two sticky notes. One says Did you... The other says Remember to... These will be perfect to pass the students a quick note during quiet times. What are your ideas?
When I saw this book, I really wasn't sure if it was worth a $1. However, there are 32 pages of information all about space. It includes planets, constellations, and telescopes! Great resource for $1. They also had one called Government.

Alright I am done for the night. I was trying to work on end of the year awards, but am lacking the motivation. Next week I promise I will be better! Good night!

OHHH SIDE NOTE: ALL THESE FIRST GRADE BLOGS MAKE ME WANT TO TEACH FIRST GRADE! I LOVE ALL OF YOUR LESSONS AND IDEAS! I WISH I WERE AS CREATIVE AS YOU ALL!

Websites for Educators

2011-04-17T10:00:00.001-07:00

I recently finished a class for my Masters on Technology. Everyone that was in the class agreed that technology is not going away and that we as teachers must embrace all things computers. I have always been a computer junkie. In fact, I got my first computer when I was in the 7th grade. Since that time I have taught myself how to do certain things and am always finding new ways to use the computer. I've been fortunate enough to have a Promethean Board in my room this year! However, a month ago the light went out. I was without a board for three weeks and was miserable. I do not know how teachers taught before or even currently without one. (More power to you all!)

Anyways, the point of this blog was to share with you an awesome resource I found when I was in this class. It is called The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators. The people that came up with this book did a lot of research and found some great sites. Check the link out above for yourself, you will spend quite sometime going through all 83 pages!

On a side note, my computer BLEW up last night! I was on my desktop and it made a funny screeching noise and then POOOW, smoke shot out the back. The computer is only five years old, and I hope that it is only the power source. My friend is getting it tomorrow to see what he can do, or at least try and save some files for me! Let's cross our fingers!

**If the link above doesn't work for you, try this one.

What's The Matter?

2011-04-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

As I was preparing for my student teaching I had to create a learning center. I was preparing for a second grade classroom and was told I would be teaching a unit on MATTER! I was excited to try and attempt my first learning center. My attempt ended up doing pretty well! Check it out below!

On the right corner you will see the necklaces hanging up. Students will wear these when in this center for me to identify if they are out of place. The students will follow the directions on the board, which has them staring on the left and then right. The last step would be the center of the board, students would pull items from the basket and put them in the correct category.

This is the left side of the board. The first step is to match the definitions up with the correct words. Then you would check your answers by looking in the envelope attached at the bottom. **The board is covered in felt and the back of each item has a piece of velcro to allow for easy placement and removing!

This is what the left side looks like when completed.

The right side is next (see the cute necklaces). Students will pull characteristics out and match them with the correct state of matter. Then they would check their answers. This picture actually shows the right side already completed.

In the middle the students will put the correct items in the category and then fill out the handout with all the items listed from the board in their correct place. This would be turned into the teacher to check for understanding.

Here is the entire board completed. Enjoy!

Classroom Management

2011-04-16T12:09:00.000-07:00

I am first year teacher, as many of you already know. I teach fourth grade science to four different classes throughout the day. When I found out that I had gotten the job, I was excited! However, I started thinking about how to manage four different classes! The other teachers in my team wanted to handle their own discipline and not have a grade level system, which was even harder.

The first thing that I came up with, and still seems to be a hit was this...

I have five magnetic bees on the corner of my whiteboard. These bees represent the amount of links the class can earn daily. If majority of the class is off-task, not following directions, etc. then a bee comes down. However many bees are left at the end of the period is how many links they are awarded. The links are hung at the top of my whiteboard and whenever the chain touches the ground the WHOLE class is rewarded (candy, special treat, extra free time, homework passes, etc.).

The classes also like to compete with each other, who can touch the ground first, and now who can get the most treats before the year is up. This system has been very effective.

The bees came from Hobby Lobby in their wooden crafts section and I glued a magnet on the back. I chose bee's because that is my theme because of Lazenby, with the "by" pronounced as "BEE," get it? Hahaha!

I'm a Winner

2011-04-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, I have been super busy with things. However, I have some great things to share with you this weekend and will get to that tonight, or tomorrow. Right now I want to share with you some exciting news, which is I WON SOMETHING!! :)

Queen of the First Grade Jungle had a giveaway for a super cool book that I have never read before and also an exciting lesson from Sarah Cooley! I cannot wait to get both prizes because they look/sound exciting. It will be a great year end review from our Solar System Unit we did a few weeks ago.

I guess the other exciting news to share with you, is that two days are complete with our CRCT (state testing) and we have three more to do. Most of my students are rushing and not checking their answers. Are there any tips, other than telling them?

I'll be back later for more updates and some pictures of how things are done in my classroom.

Here is a picture of my beautiful newspaper covered walls. ;)

2011-04-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

I love Mailbox Magazine, don't you? Here is a book that I made from templates from the magazine when doing one of my experiences in kindergarten.

I had the books already put together and students just had to complete simple tasks to finish it up. Overall, the lesson went well.

Here are two covers.

We used wiggly eyes to represent an egg. Students could glue the wiggly eye anywhere on the first page.

The second page required students to finish drawing their tadpoles tail.
The third page students drew the legs!

The last page students glued two wiggly eyes on their frog.

We ended our lesson by learning the Five Little Tadpole Song.

Five Little Tadpoles

Five little tadpoles swimming near the shore.
The first one said, “Let’s swim some more.”
The second one said, “Let’s rest awhile.”
The third one said, “Swimming makes me smile.”
The fourth one said, “My legs are growing long.”
The fifth one said, “I’m getting very strong.”
Five little tadpoles will soon be frogs.
They’ll jump from the water and sit on logs.

This song and others can be found at http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems59.html

Resource for book: The Mailbox: Kindergarten April/May 2003 issue

Reading other blogs...

2011-04-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

I noticed today that most of my time on the computer is spent reading other peoples blogs! I wonder if anyone has a system for reading blogs, or do they just sit and read constantly?

I also noticed that many blogs do contest to keep people interested. Like the blog below. She has a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card that ANYONE can enter. Click on the picture below to go directly to her giveaway.

Those people that read blogs, what keeps you interested and coming back? I love pictures!! Any blog that post pictures of the lessons, ideas, finds, or classroom I am totally hooked!

Check out this blog, and the other blogs I follow for fun ideas! Enjoy!

****Update, after posting this I read in a blog about www.google.com/reader all the blogs that I follow are on one page! Very awesome stuff!

Under Construction

2011-04-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Please excuse all the changes to the layout. I'm teaching myself how to make a pretty SWANKY blog. If you would be willing to help me, feel free to send me a message! :) Thanks! :)

Motivation...

2011-04-07T21:27:00.000-07:00

If you are a teacher in Georgia, then you know all about the CRCT!!! For those of you who are unfamiliar, it is our state standardized testing. It is a lengthy and rather intimidating test.

Anywho, my students were tired of hearing about this test and were not motivated to take it next week. That is until I stumbled upon Mr. E The Motivator!!! (I had his information all over my Facebook, but definitely felt a blog should be written.)

This super talented man from Atlanta, Georgia has recorded motivational songs about taking the CRCT. The songs are all to the tune of popular r&b songs that my students are VERY familiar with. Another great thing is that all these songs are FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! (insert Oprah voice here!)

My students enjoyed listening to Mr. E all last week, and will continue to listen to him throughout next week, too.

This man is a genius if you ask me.

EdHeads

2011-04-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

I am a fourth grade science teacher who LOVES using technology within my classroom. When I started teaching science I was worried about finding quality games that really enforced the standards, but allowed students to have fun too.

However, I found a TOTALLY AWESOME website! It is called Edheads. It is a free site full of interactive science games! My students played the Simple Machines and Weather game during our computer lab time. Now as a reward they are allowed to play on Edheads in the classroom. Their favorite is the Virtual Knee Surgery. The website offers lessons for the teacher to use prior to students playing the games, and for after the game to reinforce those skills.

Recently, I received an email from Edheads and wanted to share this with my friends. Below you can read the email and see that they are in need of some help! If you can help them in anyway, please do. I would really hate for something to happen to this free website. Thanks!

Hello! Thanks so much for subscribing to the Edheads
email list. We greatly appreciate you joining! We mostly
want to use this to let you know of upcoming things at
Edheads AND to find out what you want from us. Toward that
end, we have hired a marketing company to help us determine
who our users are and what they most want to see in future
activities. However, we need more people to sign up by the
end of April to make that worth our while. We need about
900 more teachers and about 600 more students, parents and
'other' to sign up. So please tell all your friends and
colleagues about us. If you are one of the fabulous
students that signed up, please take a moment to ask your
teacher to sign up - we really need him or her to share
their opinion at the end of this month! They can sign up
on our home page at www.edheads.org. Thanks for your help!

Also, we've run into a bit of a problem with our latest
activity "Stem Cell Heart Repair." We had a cardiologist
helping us, but he moved away from the hospital at which
he was working. So need a new cardiologist to help us by
sharing images from heart catheterizations. If you know of
a cardiologist that might be willing to help, please have
the doctor email us at edheads.org@gmail.com. Thanks again!

Gail Wheatley
Executive Director
Edheads

Edheads.org, P.O. Box 396, Hilliard, OH, 43026

Inspired

2011-04-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring Break to my fellow teachers around Augusta, Georgia. Can you believe that it is Thursday evening? Let us enjoy these next few days and relax our bodies. We need to be ready for our little ones next week!

I would like to welcome you to my inspiration blog. For those of you who know me, you know that I have blogged in the past. I was actually an avid blogger, but it was all about my personal life and things I was going through. I quit blogging because I got tired of writing about myself and having the same few people comment, no offense.

However, here I am again starting a blog about inspiration. You may scratch your head and ask inspiration for what, and I can only tell you "TEACHING!!!!" I am a first year teacher that has been inspired at the abundance of resources available. I love visiting other teacher's websites and blogs because it makes me giddy. I want to recreate almost EVERYTHING I see to utilize it in my classroom. I know that it is impossible to do so, but I can dream!

So, why do I need to make a blog about it? I can only hope that I can inspire another teacher one day. I've decided to post my ideas and activities that I think are/were helpful in my class and even post ideas I have seen on other sites. I would love to have a central place to send my teacher friends to see the things I have found from others. I am not here to "steal," only to centralize those ideas and concepts. Many of my friends have other things they enjoy, like gardening, scrapbooking, or watching television. My hobby is to surf the web for AWESOME ideas and try to recreate or "tweek" them to use in my class.

I also would like a place that my teacher friends can share their ideas with me. Many times I am at a loss of what to do because I think I have tried everything! I would love for a reader to say, "YOU SHOULD TRY THIS...."

I hope that you understand and that you continue to visit my blog. I will try to update frequently!! I want this to be a useful blog, not a boring read my diary type thing. :)

So sit back, scroll up, and start commenting! :)

This is as much your site as mine. Enjoy!