Recently our new principal gave us a dream come true. Our entire staff got new iPads. Now the search is on for apps. I am a big fan of freebies. Haha. What teacher does not like a free app. Now if I find an extraordinary app for .99 I will take the plunge.
These apps are kid tested , so far bug free, and common core friendly:
These apps are for elementary age students. I teach 5th grade and they have approved of them. The favorite is math zombies.
We begin cells this week, so I am anxious to see if it is helpful. Kids like to play with it and the amebia app but the true test is the quiz! Not shown is the socrative app. LOVE it. Online quiz app that grades and emails you a spread sheet.
My students using our Crome lab and taking a quiz on socrative! They love it. One young lady is testing it out on her tablet. Works great. I am very excited about our district using BYOD this year. I am taking full advantage of this everyday.
This is a year of last. Today was our last parents weekend. My daughter will be graduating in December from Clemson University. We are so proud of her. I have relived my college days through her and once again they come to an end all to quick. My advice to her was Stay In School. Lol. We all have to grow up, but we miss our years of young fun, no worries, and college football.
I am not sure if we will still attend games, but it has been a nice long run. I have been attending homes games since 1978. It is a family tradition. My dad still attends. So I am sure I will see a few more games in my time.
We are in full swing and starting experiments. Students are enjoying planning and executing the scientific method.
But my planning is very time consuming. With common core for Math and trying to help students adjust, it is very stressful. I am very fortunate to have sweet kids, loving dogs, and an amazing family.
It is nice to come home and relax with a cup of coffee before more planning and research. With this peaceful backyard I can get much accomplished. I can see great things happening this year.
As I sit at my desk Friday reflecting over my week, I feel very blessed. I have great ladies on my hall to work with this year, a wonderful new principal that treats me as a professional and a soothing classroom to work. I am excited to welcome my new students. I am working on my roll, writing name tags, and praying over each child. I have a sense of peace this year. Monday morning will come early but this is going to be a great year!
I hope all teachers and students treasure this year and what it holds for us.
Today was our shopping day. We started our little road trip at Starbucks. Then off to South Park Mall. We had a fantastic time. The shops are amazing and such a wide variety. We were pleasantly surprised to find a Lilly store. We always feel so at home in any Lilly store we find.
My dream store was here as well. Who wouldn't want to go to Hermes. If I ever win the lottery, this store is mine.
Tory Burch is always nice to pick up a pair of earrings, necklace or look for that perfect bag. Kate Spade has the cutest bracelets and shoes. Our day was full of little surprises.
The fun quirky store, The Container Store was a great place to find many many things to get you organized. That was way too fun.
ISo excited to be taking a day to go shopping with my daughter. Doing some last semester in college shopping. Looking for special buys is always fun.
Of course on our list is a stop by Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer and Hermes. The sacrifices a mother makes for her daughter is what brings joy to my heart.
This is from our last shopping trip in charleston. Wonder what we will find?
Do you remember the days of pencils, paper, and worksheets? Those days are gone. In keeping up with today's standards, our district has adopted a "Bring your own device to school" policy. This is a great idea, but what about the student with no device. My students need devices!
My students are the sweetest children. They are from a rural community. Many come from a one parent family and are trying their best for their children. We are a Title l school. We are very good at being resourceful. This year we are struggling with budget cuts and trying to adopt common core standards. As we ask students to bring their on electronic devices, this will put a strain on our parents to accommodate. Our district is providing every class with a lap top. I'd like to provide them the opportunity to take a device home.
With common core advancing on our state rapidly, technology is a key component in making students successful. I am trying the concept of a flipped classroom. This is where students view the lesson at home, and then I can spend class time practicing the skill. Many times students get home and forget the skill and cannot practice it, or worse; practice it wrong. With QR codes, I can give them feedback and the skill they need at home with just a click. By allowing students to take a device home, they all are on an even playing field. I am giving them equal opportunities by requesting two mini iPads and two covers to protect them. These mini iPads can easily be rotated among the students and taken home when needed.
This project is very important in today's standards. Who doesn't have a phone, iPod, or,tablet? All students need access to technology. Even our textbooks are digital today. I feel all students need to have access to all forms of information. With technology, all sources are in one place. It won't just help one child, but future generations to come. « hide
As mentioned in an earlier post, our school theme is light house of learning and leadership. I do buy store bought items, but it is always fun to add a personal touch when you make something. This year I painted this light house. It has tabs on it so,I can make it 3-D. It will go on my board our side my door to welcome and inspire students. The light coming from the top says " Let your light shine so other can see your great work".
This the board in progress...it is taking more work than anticipated, so I had to get help. My daughter has helped me since she was little. She very creative. A fishing net goes over the entire board. The light house on the left side so light shines out over top. I hope it will last the year.
I spent the past week planning for a new Math curriculum. I am very excited to implement what we planned. Now to find all the manipulative and supplies we will need. This calls for me to be creative.
our first module is place value. We need to order place value disk. The problem is cost. I did find a deal on eBay, but here is my creativity...
This is what I need. This is a set that will work for two students. So, 31.46 x 5 sets. Seeing a Dilemma here, I came up with this DIY project
I can get 7 different color and make my own. I have even found another seller that will sell them for 5.00 each color to save even more money.
How do you save money when it comes to your projects?
Little Lady in the South: A Night on the Town: My mom & I love to try new restaurants and have a girls night when my dads off fishing. We went to this new place called the Mason Jar...
The birth was announced via a formal press release issued by Kensington Palace, which stated that the duchess "was safely delivered of a son" at 4:24 p.m., local time, weighing 8 lbs., 6 oz.
ROYAL BABY: 10 THINGS TO KNOW. via CBSNEWS
Royal baby watch is in full effect, and Prince William and Kate's first child could be arriving any day now.
But until the little prince or princess decides to make an appearance, all the parents-to-be (and the media, and royal watchers around the world) can do is wait. And wait. And wait some more.
So, in anticipation of the royal birth, here are some facts compiled about this royal baby and the births of previous ones:
1. Prince William was the first would-be king to arrive in a hospital.
Both William and his brother, Prince Harry, were born in the private Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in London.
Their father, Prince Charles, was born at Buckingham Palace. His sister, Princess Anne, was born at Clarence House.
Queen Elizabeth II was born at her parent's then-home in Mayfair, London.
2. For previous royal births witnesses were common practice to verify the birth.
But the baby's father was not among them -- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was playing squash when Charles was born. Charles was the first royal to attend the birth of his children.
3. A number of public officials used to attend the royal births, including home secretaries.
Home Secretary Sir William Joynson-Hicks was present at the queen's birth in 1926. There were reportedly 42 eminent public figures called in to verify the birth of King James II's son James Francis Edward in 1688 at St James's Palace.
4. The royal baby will be third-in-line to Britain's throne, after Prince Charles and Prince William, regardless of whether it is a girl or a boy.
In April of this year, the U.K. changed its rights of succession, ending centuries of male primogeniture. The little prince or princess will push Prince Harry into fourth place in the line of succession.
5. The last time a still-serving monarch was alive at the birth of his or her great-grandchild in direct succession was 120 years ago.
That was the birth of Queen Victoria's great-grandson, the future Edward VIII, in 1894. He abdicated the throne in 1936.
6. The birth of Prince William and Kate's child will be announced via a bulletin that will be placed on an easel in front of Buckingham Palace.
It is custom for news of royal births and deaths to be attached to the railings of Buckingham Palace. William's was the first royal birth bulletin to be placed upon the easel.
The bulletin, which will state the baby's time of birth, gender and weight, will bear the Buckingham Palace letterhead and be signed by key medical staff. This will be the nation's first chance to find out if it is a boy or a girl.
7. Some economists expect the birth to boost the U.K. economy by $380 million.
8. The queen showed off royal babies William and Harry on the balcony at Buckingham Palace in front of huge crowds.
9. Of Britain's 40 sovereigns since 1066, just six have been queens.
According to Paddy Power, Alexandra was the favorite girls' name as of Friday morning, with 7/4 odds. Charlotte is the second-favorite, with odds of 5/1. As for boys' names, George has 5/1 odds, and James has 8/1.
The bookmaker is also taking bets on the baby's hair color, date of birth, weight, first word and -- no joke -- age at first nightclub visit photograph.
