Let me first say I LOVE MY JOB! I LOVE TEACHING KIDDOS!!!!!! I live it and breath it. In one conversation I can talk up some fun educational programs. I love my days with the kids, teaching, listening, all that sappy stuff. I love cordinating volunteers, guest speakers, finding weird things (like cuban tarantulas) to bring in to peak the kids' interest. I love long chapter books with aweful movies to make kids love reading better. I love poetry, silly poetry, rhymeee poetry, ocean poetry, scary poetry, shape poetry, poetry by boys (cause it has flair), and gut holding hilarious poetry. I lLOVE seeing the spark when a kid realizes for the first time, that we ARE learning about the WORLD around us. Past, present and future. I love seeing kids problem solve in class and for the world. I cherish those moments when they take an idea like writing persuasive letters and take the initiative to write to leaders and companies. I love getting the kids to realize for the first time.... the little, mean, and weird things are important in life, like bugs, bees, sharks, snakes, bacteria, germs and microscopic things. I savor those magical moments when children find things related to topics and discover something new under a microscope, when what they believed was... is actually _____. I'm embarassed when people read or fix my grammar, because I'm a thinker and talker and grammar is NOT my strongest area. I can admit my weakness and move on. I hope the kids learn their weakness and adjust to become stronger and continue to add to their strengths ________________ totally lost my train of thought. Okay, my train is off its' track entirely.... I'm derailed somewhere in freaking Arkansas...........
I love NICE teachers that will brainstorm, think and create inspiring things for kids. There are so many awesome teachers out there!!!!! I think teachers have an influence on their surrounding kids, even when they don't directly teach them. I think teacher assistants, office staff and everyone else reach and teach in all the areas we miss on a large scale. Every teacher has something awesome to bring to the table!
I firmly believe parents are our biggest ally and supporter. Without a supportive parent, children _________. (you can fill in your own opinion) I think great parents can take any school day and turn it into learning situation. Parents are the greatest partner a teacher can have and can reach kids on a level we cannot. I think the hardest thing a parent can do is send thier child to a public, private, charter, whatever school, because you do not know what their day was like, but have to figure it out and continue to mold your child to be the strong person you hope for them.
I support the public school system at its fullest and know every thing has kinks and flaws. I also support everyone's way of teaching and educating their child in whatever choice they make for thier kid. I very much dislike people who think their way is the only right way and are not open to change or they do everything perfect. Sorry, if you are one of those people, please don't leave a comment, because I would hate for my 4 large great danes and tortoise to take a big crap in your yard tonight! Train off track again.... sorry. I love all the opportunities that (any) school has to offer.
BUT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It might just be ME.......................... ( I love dots)
I can't find ONE reason to put an 8 or 9 year old through a 4 hour test twice. I get we 'need' to standardize our kids, tell them to think outside the box then test them in a box, but when I sit with someone's child for four long silent hours with silent breaks and silent lunch (because we cannot break testing security). They try hard all year and do their best then are subjected to a 58 question reading test, math, math, science, etc. I get middle and high schooly maybe ( honestly, I can't say, haven't taught it, like others who have done it all) Let's take a ten year old child, kid, crumb snatcher, whatever you want to call that sweet child of someone. They are in 5th grade. Maybe they don't pass, reading, math, math, and science. They have to painfully work thier hearts and butts off a second round to meet state standards? That's 8 days of testing a 10 year old.... YIKES. I seriously want to be a whistle blower and start making changes. However, it takes a majority to take a stand and create change. I am just one person... and not at the top of the state totem pole or poll.
Finally,
I love my job... really.
I don't think I have ever taken a 4 hour test in college or any where...
Are we getting our kids college ready, or should we focus on creative thinking, project building, and complex things...
I love science olympiad, science fair and math fair... because kids wonder, plan, think, change, write, research, discover....
I know I sound ridiculous.... Just had to say it.
I will probably feel better tomorrow. I just had to test for four hours. Kinda crummy:( We are on to bigger, better and FUNNNNNNNER *** things tomorrow.... incase any of my kids read this:) Wait... that's against policy to be friends with a kid. HA!~ Tara
Jobs for Writing Workshop
Writer's Workshop
JOBS
~ Tara
Computer Wall Makeover
I know it's not glamorous. However, it is very functional. We have two dry erase boards with a bunch of scribble all over them telling kids how to get to particular sites we have to use during intervention, reading and math blocks at school. Instead of scribble, here is a chart that identifies steps on where to go specifically. Hopefully the front board will be accommodating 21st century computer skills in the kid's/teacher's free time. I'll post the forms on my homepage so county buddies can use or country buddies can tweak! Or you can message me and I'll get them to you asap. Have a great week teacher people!
New Green Word UPCYCLE!
Here are a few old Similac and Enfamil containers UPCYCLED! This new green word defines the process of reusing an old product to make a new product. Terracycle online upcycles drink pouches, glue sticks, solo cups, make up containers, the list goes on. A small pack of scrapbook paper makes these containers literally pennies to make. Just a little time.
I use the top can for friend bucket fillers. The idea came from Christina Bainbridge. Check out her materials on Bucket fillers. She's awesome. :)
Sleepless nights in Southport
And my 18month old baby is sleeping. How is this right?
So,
Did you know I LOVE integrating all subjects/arts with my classroom?
Yep,
Now you do.
Here is a great site for global projects you can do and share with other teachers across our great nation.
http://www.jenuinetech.com/calendar.htm
Steps:
1. First read about the project and make sure you are willing to commit to completing and sharing your information.
2. Register your class: FREE
3. COmplete the AMAZING learning project with your kids.
4. Turn in your data.
5. Review your results and results other classes came up with your children.
6. Ooops, don't forget to take pictures of .... fun learning.
I have registered my class for the awesome art project. Our class will work on one large picture that will complete a mural with 14 other classes. What a fun ART project huh? They also have fun MATH, READING, and WRITING projects.
Click on the link to find out more about the projects and rules.
So,
Did you know I LOVE integrating all subjects/arts with my classroom?
Yep,
Now you do.
Here is a great site for global projects you can do and share with other teachers across our great nation.
http://www.jenuinetech.com/calendar.htm
Steps:
1. First read about the project and make sure you are willing to commit to completing and sharing your information.
2. Register your class: FREE
3. COmplete the AMAZING learning project with your kids.
4. Turn in your data.
5. Review your results and results other classes came up with your children.
6. Ooops, don't forget to take pictures of .... fun learning.
I have registered my class for the awesome art project. Our class will work on one large picture that will complete a mural with 14 other classes. What a fun ART project huh? They also have fun MATH, READING, and WRITING projects.
Click on the link to find out more about the projects and rules.
Sunshine Award
So....
There is a sweet little teacher
Her name is Amanda
She is from Texas
And....
She has this awesome blog
But she follows MINE
She has the sweetest comments
And....
Makes teachers feel great about what they DO!
Thanks Amanda!
First of all, I have like....hmmm, less than 20 followers. Not a problem for me. Why? Because I wanted to blog for three reasons:
1. I wanted to comment on other teachers' great ideas.
2. It looked like a challenge (and I'm a dummy, like I really have the time)
3. My teacher friend in Florida told me it's the best professional development EVER! And she was right!
Okay FOUR
4. I like sharing.
I like sharing so much. If you come in my room for something, you normally leave with a LOT more, unless, like my team teachers, you can say ENOUGH Tara! And when an idea hits me..... LOOK out! I get jacked up worse than a college kid pulling double classes with double espressos... times 10.
Sorry******************** Hamster wheel is way off track.
Amanda was so kind to nominate me for this Sunshine Award. ME. Awww. I sometimes feel guilty for not being able to keep up with some other teachers. However, your sweet comments and emails are so encouraging and delightful to read. A huge thank you to a spectacular teacher AMANDA and her blog for nominating me. Thanks. You can check out what an awesome blog looks like by hopping over to The Teaching Thief.
There is a sweet little teacher
Her name is Amanda
She is from Texas
And....
She has this awesome blog
But she follows MINE
She has the sweetest comments
And....
Makes teachers feel great about what they DO!
Thanks Amanda!
First of all, I have like....hmmm, less than 20 followers. Not a problem for me. Why? Because I wanted to blog for three reasons:
1. I wanted to comment on other teachers' great ideas.
3. My teacher friend in Florida told me it's the best professional development EVER! And she was right!
Okay FOUR
4. I like sharing.
I like sharing so much. If you come in my room for something, you normally leave with a LOT more, unless, like my team teachers, you can say ENOUGH Tara! And when an idea hits me..... LOOK out! I get jacked up worse than a college kid pulling double classes with double espressos... times 10.
Sorry******************** Hamster wheel is way off track.
Amanda was so kind to nominate me for this Sunshine Award. ME. Awww. I sometimes feel guilty for not being able to keep up with some other teachers. However, your sweet comments and emails are so encouraging and delightful to read. A huge thank you to a spectacular teacher AMANDA and her blog for nominating me. Thanks. You can check out what an awesome blog looks like by hopping over to The Teaching Thief.
Donor's Choose
Hello Blog Friends~
I have submitted and received approval for three fitness ball chairs on Donor's Choose. If you have extra cash just floating around and you want to help a kid (and a teacher) out, please consider donating to our classroom. You can view the entire project details at http://www.donorschoose.org/tcumbee . Thanks for taking the time to read this. ~ Tara
~ Hi again,
After thinking last night, I thought to myself... 'Self, you did not tell them about these fitness balls. Don't you think they would like to understand the reasoning behind this erroneous idea?'
So here is some of the research I came across in order to try to help my wiggly students. I wish I would have had fitness ball chairs as a child.
And YES a list...
1. Students are able to make small movements to stay focused on the task.
2. Students are able to have better posture at their seat.
3. All students can have their feet touching the floor, allowing them to have better circulation in their legs.
4. Squishier than a hard chair. (That's my idea, but I'm sure the consensus.)
Finally
5. I don't hear chairs from fidgety kids scooting, scraping, scratching the floor as we learn.
So~
You may be interested in fitness ball chairs for your class. I'd love to hear how it goes. I'll let you know WHEN we get ours. :) Have fun teaching~ Tara
http://ergonomenon.com/ergonomics-articles/fitness-ball-seats-in-classrooms-keeps-kids-focused/
http://ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=1612
http://www.kare11.com/life/community/schools/education/education_article.aspx?storyid=134314
Finding Nemo
Yesterday, my friend and I used several video clips from Nemo to help students think about the moral or lesson to a story. This can be difficult with third graders, so we used a movie they were very familiar with, Nemo. We use the following clips and had the students decide an overall moral they could apply to themselves. It was quite impressive to see how their thinking changed from very concrete to more in depth later on. Then as a class we decided which would be a good overall moral to the whole movie. This works well in order to, YES, prep them for EOG testing. The questions might ask students the moral of paragraph # or the moral to the whole story. Click on the links to go directly to the video. I hope you enjoy.
Nemo touches the boat against his fathers orders and is caught by a scuba diver.
Nemo touches the boat against his fathers orders and is caught by a scuba diver.
Most of the kiddos could guess the obvious moral; You should obey your parents. However a few others guessed be careful who you hang out with or don't listen to your friends if they are trying to get you to do something you don't want to do.
Marlin is upset because he has lost the mask and hope of getting his son back.
One of the kids actually said the moral was to keep swimming. Hmmmm. A little more work still ahead of us. Some of the other guesses:
Friends can cheer you up.
Friends can give you inspiration.
Friends can let you down.
There are so many clips to also use:
Bruce the shark: morals, don't judge people by how they look, stay focused on your goal, or you don't have to listen to your friends if you don't agree with them.
Crush lets squirt fly out of the EAC: Crushes reaction is to chill and see what little man can do.
Morals: Some kids can rise to the occasion, relax
There are so many more...
Well party people, I have an 18month old who is not sleeping through the night. So, I bid thee adieu. ~ Tara
Library Project Pass to Help Kids Stay focused
Click on this link to go to my webpage for the PDF. Sorry, I really dislike google docs. I'm not so talented at learning technology on my own. Decorating cakes either for that matter.
I hope to be back in the blog world after Science Olympiad. Chow~
Are You Ready for Some Football?!?!
I am sad we are not doing the contest. Yes, I griped and said, "I don't have time, don't have help, and we have to prepare kids for the EOGs." But we have always found a way. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO......
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL????
I wanted to decorate my door but didn't want to have to rip it down in January..... Thinking wheels went turning. My idea..... Football doors and a cute poem to help kids to remember their reading, math and learning strategies.
In third grade we use the runners strategies for reading passages. For the most part, we see a lot of success when kids apply these strategies. I am not a sports fan in ANY way. However, I love people who LOVE one team and root for them. I don't have a team so to speak of, but I love, love, love the ocean. So I guess I'm team Ariel. Hehehe
My Aunts in West Virginia root for three different teams. My Aunt Angel and her family are die hard Steelers fans. They have some pretty silly pictures to show for at games too. My YOUNGER Aunt Sarah is not a football fan but roots for the Ohio Bobcats to defy her husband who loves Marshall. So, I needed something my kids could relate to, I chose STEELERS. And they have an old song, "black and yellow" that the kids love.
You are thinking... I am some random chick. Maybe you can't think as fast as me. No, I am random.
I made a door in which I hope to elaborate different strategies to help us become successful. I highlighted the door in steelers colors. I also want to have some playoff energizers where they chant things to help them become successful with football exercises.
The idea is we can take different real jobs each day and quickly brainstorm things they might do to help them be successful. For example: A doctor wouldn't just start with medicine before checking weight, symptoms, small tests, xrays. A landscaper wouldn't start planting flowers before outlining where they want to border and plan. A construction company wouldn't begin building the house without plans, laying the foundation, etc. I hope the kids see the connection with being successful in life and anything they do.
I sincerely hope this has inspired you to find a small something your kids like to motivate them in class. I would love to hear some other sports ideas since, again, I am not a sports follower. :)
Ps: And, I am even more excited because my girlfriend teachers are going to do football doors too. Amy is going to do the New York Giants, but what can I say... she's a Yankees fan too. My friendy across the hall, Jen, is going to do our NC team, Panthers. I'll post new pictures when we get them up.
Pps: The Comic on the door says, Only you can prevent forest sharks with a great white flying through the forest... lol. Along with many others.
~Tara
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