Showin' Some LOVE To Mom

Here’s what we did for our Mother’s Day craftivity…. it was a quick project due to a ridiculous amount of testing! Yikes! It has been a crazy week…. I for sure will do some serious R&R this weekend! This was a total PINTEREST inspired Mother’s Day Craft, borrowed from KareWares…. I would seriously sink without Pinterest! HA!

Check it out……

Here is a couple of other things we worked on many moons ago… well at least it seems that way! The end of the year has really caught up to me super duper FAST!

TIME AFTER TIME

Here are some of my Firsties workin' on some "TIME" activities from their Math Centers.

Miss. Schaefer and I took advantage of some gorgeous Texas weather and taught out Firsties “HOW TO” actually draw clocks and place the numbers in the correct place. I have to admit the clocks were lookin’ a little crazy with numbers all bunched up on one side so we put an end to that FAST!

Using a DICE APP on the IPADS & ITOUCH was a super fun way for my FIRSTIES to practice their Math Facts!

Baby Chicks in the HOUSE!!!

We were on a roll this past week…the first of our 14 baby chicks hatched on Tuesday! My sweeties were so very thrilled to love on these baby chicks…I don’t blame them… they are so STINKIN’

Caaauute!!

Earth Day ….so a MILLION moons ago! Totally borrowed Cara’s cutsie idea! I just love her! Make sure to check her BLOG out over at The "First Grade Parade"!

Well sweet FOLKS have a SUPER relaxin’ weekend and a very “Happy Mother’s Day” to all the AMAZING mamas out there! Until I "Blog" again this lil' mama is OUTIE!

Get Your

TEACH ON!!!

A Journey Like NO Other

 Today has to be one of the saddest days of the year. It’s my STUDENT Teacher’s last day (tears & a big o’l 1^st Grade sad face)!

Miss. Schaefer has been such a HUGE asset and addition to our little school family! I have LOVED every moment we have spent together! She’s going to be a ROCK STAR TEACHER one day!!!! 

Here's a couple of pictures I wanted to share with y'all.

I put together a little basket and a couple of homemade gifts. One is a picture frame made into a "To Do" list for her desk (PINTEREST inspired)! The other one is my absolute FAV it's a "School Family Tree" the leaves are made from each of our Firstie Dual student's thumb prints. She fell in LOVE with it!!!!

A keepsake I hope she will treasure throughout her teaching career. Miss. Schaefer for sure has left her thumb print forever in our hearts! 

MES will miss you Miss. Schaefer!!

Part 2 of Thinking Maps Gone Wild!

Okay folks here are MES grades 3-5 and how FABULOUSY they are using thinking Maps…

I just love how 3rd grade has really used the maps in teaching writing! Thank you to Ms. Allen and Mrs. Moeller for sharing your student's work. I really LOVE all the beautiful writing on your bulletin boards!

Here's  a look at what Mrs. Baca's 3rd Grade Bilingual class has been up to with Thinking Maps! Beautiful work!!!! 

4th & 5th Grade are ROCKIN' the MAPS fo sho! Here are some great ideas using Thinking Maps in Science and Math!

Another great idea for a reference wall....Thank You Ms. Ruppert for sharing!

We also have a FABULOUS Art teacher who incorporates as many Thinking Maps in his lessons as possible! There is some absolutely beautiful art work created by our students. Mr. Ramirez has done an amazing job with using Thinking Maps to teach his art concepts! Check it out......

I want to thank Mrs. Hyland, Mrs. Benney, Ms. Ruppert and Mrs. Vandertulip for sharing their ideas with us! I really do work with an AMAZING, creative, fun and caring staff! I TRULY LOVE comin' to work everyday!!!

I hope that sharing the maps with y'all helps to inspire tryin' some of these ideas in your own schools or classrooms!

So to all my fellow teachers in the BLOGY world.... continue to get your TEACH ON!!!

Thinking Maps GONE WILD!!!

So the other day I was strollin’ down our school's hallways and had a “light bulb” moment! I was going to BLOG about our campus and all the AMAZING Thinking Maps posted all over our beautiful hallways!

So the next morning I went all over the school asking permission of my fabulous teacher friends, if I could share their ideas and Thinking Maps on my blog. They were more than happy to say “yes” and help out! I was also very honored to know that many of them follow my BLOG!!!

 We became a “THINKING MAP” school last year! We sorta BANNED worksheets on our campus! Authentic student work is essential to our students educational development.

We only get 2 REAMS of paper every 9wks! YES, only 2! It was a hard adjustment but we have managed the challenge!

We have many creative teachers on our campus and it really helps to see what everyone else is doing! Taking a stroll around campus is very inspiring and puts that beat back in your heart for the love of teaching!

I am a HUGE FAN of THINKING MAPS!!!! I love everything about them! We use our consumables in our maps so they are utilized as well but in THINKING MAP style!

Seriously, I love the AWESOME teachers I work with! It’s an honor to be a part of our MES staff!

1st up:

 Kinder Dual Language- Mrs. Haynes and Mrs. Castro are a "Dynamic Dual Team"!!!

The Spanish side of Kinder Dual:

 Mrs. Castro is a fun and loving teacher! I admire her dedication to making sure our students get a good introduction to the Spanish culture. I love to run across the hall on Fridays @10:00 a.m. to show off our SALSA moves! She has the kiddos up and dancin' even the shy lil' boys doin' their salsa moves! HA! LOVE IT!

Ms. De Groote is an AMAZING writing teacher!!! No really "AMAZING" still doesn't really describe her enough.... she's a ROCK*STAR writing teacher!

She taught KINDER for the first time this year and she has done a FAB job with those Kinderoos! I am in AWE every time I check out their work! LOVE her! She has mad skills and patience!

Here are some examples of how Thinking Maps are being used in 1^st grade

I usually give my Spelling Test in TREE MAP style....love it!

Thank you to my 1st grade team for sharing! Mrs.Vernon,  Mrs. Robbins, Mrs. White and Mrs. McDonald are a stellar group to work with!

I am seriously crushin' on our 2nd grade team! They are go getters fo sho!! They take Thinking Maps to a whole new level! FABULOUS work and creativity going on in the RED hall!

THANK YOU to Ms. Wolff, Ms. Cunningham, Ms. Parsons, Mrs. Vetter and Mrs. Smith!

Y'all are ROCKIN' it!!!

I love how they created a Q-Club (Quality Work Club)! ONLY quality work goes on the outside board. The students also get a lil' party at the end of the 9wks. if they have been on the Q-Club board so many times! How AWESOME is that....a great way to set expectations!

OH.MY.WORD!

Mrs. Vetter is the QUEEN of Thinking Maps! How cool is this... a Tree Map Display on her wall of all the Math concepts taught and vocabulary! It's beautiful....wish y'all could see it in person!

Here's the same concept with Phonics. Each spelling rule taught is displayed here for future reference!

WOWZERS!!! LOVE IT!!!

Mrs. Smith has a great station in her rotation using Thinking Maps! What a brilliant idea!

Excellent way to build vocabulary...CAAAUUUTE!

Love how they are using our consumables in their Maps.... nothing goes to waste! Remember we only get 2 reams of paper per 9 wks! Creativity peeps! HA!

Oh, Mr. Howell! He's the TALLest guy on our campus... a.k.a. Mr. Principal! The nicest, sweetest man ever BUT he means business! He and our fabulous AP have lead us into many new traditions this year. They have a grand vision for Morningside and I love where we are headed! Amen for GREAT leaders! No, I am not kissing up... it's the truth & they deserves some PROPS too!

It's late and I am behind on gettin' this post up....I will get grades 3-5 posted tomorrow and our Art teacher has some cool projects with Thinking Maps! Until then BLOGY world...get your TEACH ON! 

2nd Annual Dual Language/Bilingual Family Night!

I just LOVE this time of year! We have started many great traditions at MES…. one of them being Dual Language Family Night. It’s been a POTLUCK style type of tradition…. many DELISH dishes brought in by our wonderful parents and teachers. We have our students perform a song in both English and Spanish and this year we added door prizes and a really cool PowerPoint of all the GREAT happenings in DUAL!  

The Dual teachers are in charge of all the decorating…. can you guess who ran with it this year? Yup….ME and my fabulous student teacher!! We made our traditional Bilingual partner placemats. This year our 3^rd grade bilingual class made our beautiful paper flowers! Caauute!!

We loved spending quality family time together and we enjoyed watching the children perform. It was such a moving experience for all!

I love having a part in this magical place called Morningside!!!

Fraction Frenzy:

Hiya folks! I finally MADE time to share a little of what we have been up to these last few weeks. T-Ball and Softball is in full swing at Casa de Hubble and needless to say I can’t seem to find any extra time to do anything else…. except to PINTEREST (verb?)! HA! It’s easy with an APP in tow!

My Firsties have been workin’ hard on Fractions this week so here are a couple of things we have been workin’ on.

CHECK IT OUT: 

Fractions Thinking Maps Style-

Fractions in Spanish:

Small Group Activities:

Paper Folds turned into FRACTIONS. Our kiddos LOVE to work on the IPad and ITouch. I found some really great Fraction Apps! I love how they dig workin’ on my white board making their own fractions! It makes me all gitty on the inside! AAAHHHHH!

Fractions with a Chocolate Chip Cookie:

This darlin’ "Fraction Craftivity" isn’t my own creation. I totally borrowed it from Ms. Leslie Ann over at the caaautest little blog “Life in First Grade”! I did however created my FIRST PDF file to share with this activity. My Firsties also shared a REAL chocolate chip cookie with their friends based off their “Fraction Craftivity”…. they thought it was the coolest thing ever! PLEASE feel free to download my FIRST ever item to share! Yay! ME!

LET ME KNOW IF IT ISN'T WORKIN' PLEEEAAASSSEEE!

FREE Download HERE!

WOWZERS!!

What a Nice Surprise! “TOP 10 AWARD”

Sorry folks, I’ve been MIA! We’ve had lots going on at school…as I’m sure we all do! All I want to do lately when I get home is SLEEP! Thank goodness it’s almost Spring Break…I plan to catch up on my domestic duties!

On to BIGGER & BETTER things…THANK YOU to Krista over at The Second Grade Superkids! Krista just recently awarded me with the TOP 10 AWARD I am over the moon EXCITED!!!

I LOVE the world of BLOGGING!!!

Here is MY TOP 10….Please Check them out!

1.   

         Reagan at Tunstall’s Teaching Tidbits

 Candis at I Teach Dual Language 

 Susana V. at Fun-Key Spanish For First Grade 

 Lidia at Kinder Latino 

 Marsha at A Differentiated Kindergarten  

 Sheri at 1st Grade Rocks 

 Erika at The Honey Bunch 

 Jen at The Teacher's Cauldron 

 Deanne at First Grade and Fabulous 

 Nicole at Teaching With Style 

You are sure to find many FABULOUS ideas at any one of these blogs! They are ROCKIN' teachers! 

I would like to share with y'all the "Permission to Pin" from my blog. Pinterest has changed my life in many ways! Beg, Borrow, or Steal you have my permission to PIN AWAY! Sharing is CARING (I agree Krista)! We all have busy lives...work smarter not harder!