July Currently...

So I am a few days late... but it's summer! Who follows deadlines in the summer?!?

Thanks to Farley for hosting this each month!

So I was basically totally unavailable during June in a very good way!

I was helping my parents move to Madison, WI for a week and a half, then I came home and moved myself (our house sold, YAY), now my little bro is visiting and tomorrow we are heading off to visit my parents again! It has been a whirlwind month, but a very fun one filled with family!

I have basically sworn off all school work until I return from my parents' in a little over a week. So I will see you all then! 

Have a great summer!

Teach On!

Rachel

Keep Calm and Teach On

Wordless Wednesday... Moving!

I have been awfully aloof lately... I realize, but I have a fabulous excuse!

We're moving! That's right, our house sold and we have to be out by the end of the month... now if our new house was only ready. :( Apartment life, here we come!

So go ahead and share... What is your worst moving experience? Classroom or home!

Teach On!

Rachel

Keep Calm and Teach On

Wordless Wednesday - Workshop Handouts!

I am joining Miss Decarbo from Sugar and Spice for her weekly Wordless Wednesday linky!

Workshop Handouts

I looooove workshops and conferences, but I am never sure what to do with the handouts! Do you have a great way of organizing them?

Teach On!

Rachel

Keep Calm and Teach On

New Favorite FUN Website! - Tuesday Art Linky

I'm linking up with Mel from Frog Spot for Tuesday Art because I have something I've really been wanting to share!!

So this is not exactly something I came up with... but it is sooo awesome, I had to share! My kiddos fell in love with this website! I wished I had found it earlier in the year! The site is Art for Kids Hub and it is so fun! They have "how to draw" lessons for anything and everything you can imagine. 

My kids' favorites were Olaf from Frozen

 and a Minion from Despicable Me.

 It really is a fab site made by what seems like the world's greatest dad. Check it out!

Teach On!

Rachel

Keep Calm and Teach On

Two for Tuesday!

What a fun linky! Thanks to The Teaching Tribune for hosting!

Here are my two products! Both are math related because I just looove teaching math!!

The first is a super-fun measurement and graphing activity! Bubble Gum Olympics! It was a great activity for the last week of school.

The next is my Math Rotations product. It includes everything you need to get started with Math Rotations. 

There you have it! Two $1.00 math products!! 

Make sure you check out my freebies while you are visiting my store!

Teach On!

Rachel

Keep Calm and Teach On

Monday Made It - Math Poster!

Today I am linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It!

I was inspired by Elementary AMC to make a "What's the Question" board recently, but I wanted to take it a step further! 

I started with the plain board (I plan on sprucing it up with some border once I get it to its permanent spot). First one to spot my mistake gets a virtual cookie. :)

Next came the Answer & Question pages:

After that I came up with a few other open ended questions that I often ask my student as a warm up or to add in their journals. 

The beauty of this poster is that you can write anything you want on it for your students to respond. I often use it as a "Exit Slip" board and have them answer one question as a quick assessment. This poster could carry across into other subjects as well!

I have made these into a free product on TPT. 

Teach On!

Rachel

Keep Calm and Teach On

June Currently!

June! Is it sad that I feel summer is already slipping away?!? I need to enjoy the moment a little more!

Thanks to Farley for hosting this fun linky! It's my first one!

Listening... I watched the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction with the hubs the other night and now I am totally on a Cat Stevens, Nirvana, Hall & Oats kick!

Loving... I just started reading The Women of Duck Commander and I love this family more with every page turn. I know lots of people have different opinions, but I love how open and real this family is about their faith.

Thinking... summer, summer, summer!!

Wanting... We are not going on a real vaca this summer but to visit my family (which is totally an awesome vaca, don't get me wrong). I really want to plan a short little fun something. Unfortunately, we are in OK and there aren't many awesome weekend getaways you can drive to from here. Maybe someone can help me get creative! I'd love a fun weekend with hubs!

Needing... Anyone want to buy a house??? ;)

Summer Bucket List... I need to learn how to read and treadmill at the same time... that would really help me out!

Happy summer everybody!

Teach On!

Rachel

Keep Calm and Teach On

What Worked.... and What Didn't

I love that Stephanie from Teaching in Room 6 decided to share this linky! It is a perfect reflection for the end of the year!

Teaching in Room 6

What Worked

****************************************************************************** Math Rotations This was my first full year of math rotation implementation and it went so smoothly! We went over behavior expectations at the beginning of the year and practiced each rotation together. This really helped classroom management. My students soared in math this year and it was definitely their favorite part of every day!

Remind101 I used the service, Remind101 to keep in contact with my parents this year. It was soooo easy and the communication was so clear and constant! I had a teacher's kiddo in my classroom this year and she is planning on using it with her parents next year because she loved it so much as a parent! I just put all the info on the screen during Meet the Teacher at the beginning of the year and wala.... easy communication all year!



Teacher Toolkit

I do not have a teacher desk in my room. It takes up so much precious space. I have a table for my computer and then I use my horseshoe table when I really need to spread out. With the absence of a desk I did not have a spot for my everyday supplies. Enter the teacher toolbox. I am sure you have seen it all over Pinterest, but if you haven't bought into it here is your push.... do it! I had everything at my fingertips and I did not have to waste space with a big ol' desk! Oh and did I mention that it is cute? Love cute!

What Didn't

****************************************************************************** Writer's Workshop We started the year so strong with Writer's Workshop. We were integrating our grammar, free writing, working through the process... it was great! Then something happened, and writing got pushed to the back burner. I have do idea how, it was not a conscious decision on my part, but it did happen and next year I will not let it happen again. I have bought some resources and have big plans to be even more prepared and ready.

Parent Communication Blunder - Website So I went all techie this year and started a class website for the first time... gasp! Since I had this beautiful website, I didn't need to send home a weekly newsletter right? Wrong! I so dropped the ball in keeping up with the website and I could really tell a difference in parent communication and involvement when my poor parents weren't getting that weekly update. So next year I am even more determined with my classroom website... it will happen... but I am also going to do the weekly newsletter to send home. I thought I could also put it on my website.  I love reflecting because I know I can improve every year. Next year I will be better than this year! Teach On! Rachel

Five for Friday Linky Party

Today is my first official, nothing to do, no where to be, day of summer! So what do I do? Make plans with everybody and fill my day with a pedicure, cook outs, and dinner with friends. But isn't that what summer is about? Here are my five for a SUMMER Friday!

Drinking coffee out of a regular mug and not a travel mug. Oh the little things. ;)

Summer reading for pleasure...

Summer reading for school...

Pedicure! I'm thinking something like this...

from Pinterest

Lastly... cook out! I am making Apple Salad Snickers Salad. Here are the ingredients. 

Your mouth is watering already... I know it. :)

I'm really getting into the whole Instagram thing... a tad behind, I know... but I need some new followers and I would love if you would follow me! So I'll make a deal... follow me and I'll follow you right back!

Teach On!

Rachel