Sunday, December 9, 2012

You have to check out the giveaway over on Finding JOY in 6th Grade's blog.....

Click the link below to head on over and see the process. 


 joyin6th Homepage

Monday, December 3, 2012

WOW, WooooHooooooo!! I just got nominated for my first award.



  Thank you to    AnchoredIn3rdGrade    for the nomination. 

The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. It is to show new bloggers that they are appreciated, and to help spread the word about new blogs.

 There are some rules that go along with it...
1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
4. Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post.
5. No tag back.

 Okay, then. Let's get started.

11 Random Things About Me
1. I'm completely addicted to Vampire Diaries. I'm watching season 3 on Netflix now.
2. I love music. I sing when no one is around.
3. I'm so proud of myself for sticking to my weightloss program. I've dumped 25 pounds since May. Slow and steady wins the race.
4. I love my jobs. Teaching challenges me and keeps me on my toes. Scentsy keeps me smelling great and that is my connection to meeting new people.
5. I spent years playing a MMORPG called Everquest 2. All of my friends were online, and I spent years disconnecting from real friends. I'm working on connecting back to life and the people that I would like to be friends with.
6. I love games. It is really easy for me to spend hours playing and not know how long I've been playing.
7. It takes me forever to compose e-mails because I don't want to sound blunt.
8. If I weren't a teacher, I would have tons of tats and piercings. I stay conservative for my job.
9. I have 3 dogs, 1 bird, and tons of fish.
10. I want to run more than I get to. I often choose other things than running.
11. I would love to be a zookeeper. I have a fascination for the hippos.

Anchored in 3rd Grade's questions for me:

1. What's your favorite song? I love mMMMMMMMaddness right now. 
2. What's one thing you wish you could give up?Insecurities. 
3. What's the next book you think I should read? Vampire's Academy Series. I was completely addicted.
4. Who inspired you to become a teacher? My aunt. I was her cadet teacher in high school. I never thought that I would like to teach, but I have absolutely fallen in love with my job. 
5. What's your favorite app and WHY? FACEBOOK- I admit that I'm addicted. 
6. What is your favorite go-to snack? Carbs in general. I have a weakness for anything sweet and carb filled.
7. What is in your top left desk drawer? JUNK. I need some new organizational skills. 
8. What's the funniest or most embarrassing thing to happen to you? There are so many. I get embarrassed really easily as I often act before I think. I try so hard, but often end up laughing at myself or totally embarrassed. 
9. What time do you go to bed at night? 10ish
10. Do you wake up by beeping alarm, music, or what? Music and Derek yelling for me to get up. Snooze about 4 times.
11. What's your favorite thing about teaching? Change. I always learn new ways to help kids be successful. I constantly search for new ideas and ways to teach things. I don't like keeping things the same. 

11 Questions for the People I nominate:
1. What is your favorite band?
2. If you could do anything in life with no limitations, what would you do?
3. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and who would you take with you?
4. What is the best moment that you have had as a teacher?
5. What is your pet peeve?
6. What is your favorite movie?
7. If you had to eat one thing every day for life what would it be?
8. What time do you wake up?
9. What is/will be the name of your first born?
10. What did you have for breakfast today?
11. Would you choose teaching if given the chance to go back and do it all over again?

11 Blogs that I love:

1. http://www.creatingbrainwrinkles.blogspot.com/

2. 


3. 
The High Tech Teacher
4. ScienceTeachingJunkie
5. Photobucket 
6. Science, Etc.>
7. Pretty Please
8. http://coffeecupsandlessonplans.blogspot.com/
9. 
10. SixthGradeSparkle>
11. http://4mulafun.blogspot.com/

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Some Blogs I'm following....

Some Blogs I'm following....

I just found a few new blogs that I'm starting to follow. I thought that I'd post them here so that others can check them out too.

Currently.....

Currently


I"m just starting out in this blogging path. One of the things I've seen in the blogs that I've been following is the monthly Currently. I love it, so I'm adding it for my first blog posts today. Here is my first Currently by Farley.

Using Math Videos in the Classroom


I began hearing about flipping your classroom from a teacher in my district. She told me that it could be expensive and time consuming, but raved about the results she was seeing with students. 

I knew nothing about the topic of a Flipped Classroom, so I started researching. It has become the answer to many of my biggest educational doubts and time concerns. Through making the math videos, my students are able to go at their own pace to learn the math content by the test date. I have seen students blossom into learners that realize what they need to do to become successful at mastering math skills. 

I've started with baby steps by making the math videos for the lessons that I am currently teaching. These videos are in no way professional. They are very informal of me explaining the steps to solving the math problems in the lesson and learning the content. You'll hear my daughter, husband, and animals in the background from time to time. Here is an example:


Currently, kids are loving the math videos. They feel like they are in charge of their learning and don't have to wait for a mini-lesson when they are ready to move on. Kids that realize that they don't have the concept ask clarifying questions and ask for more examples to help them understand, but ultimately kids are feeling more responsible for what they are learning. They are focusing on mastering the math concepts instead of just getting the math lesson done. They love not having to do the bookwork if they can show mastery of the lessons and skills.