It's Getting Hot in Herre...

Hey everyone! Hope you are having a wonderful week!! We are having a GREAT week of learning!

This week in science we are talking about heat and how heat can change things..ohhh ahhhh so exciting! The students broke into groups and had to come up with an idea on how to melt an ice cube using things from the classroom. They had to apply heat...they did a great job. One group however..forgot to put their materials on their paper and when it was time for them to do the project..this is what they looked like! Two little boys staring into a red solo cup! I really don't know how MANY times I told them..make sure you have ALL your materials listed, please list all the things you need, hey guys don't forget to put your materials...I even told them they were SOL if they forgot..not even thinking about what the words to that mean and of course someone asked "what does that mean" My reply- sure out of luck! That was a close one!! You ever have those teaching moments and you are like crap I just said or did that! That was mine for the week! Oh well!

Here are the rest of the kiddos and their ideas. We had kids who thought paper would melt it fast. We had kids who thought putting it under the lamp would work. We had kids who thought their hands were super hot like fire and would melt it (they were weenies and could only hold it for 2 seconds). We had one group who thought water would work..they were very excited to see their idea was the fastest!!!

Back to this picture...CRACKED US ALL UP!! Poor boys..really should have listened..one boy said "man well this is gonna take for ever!! Yes Yes it is!!!

Have a great week!!

Tessa

Anybody there!?

So...we have been in school for 2 weeks now...and I can't get a blog post up to save my life!! We have been running in circles now for two weeks. AND to top it all off I got a NASTY and I mean NASTY sinus infection! I have never had one and I really don't ever want one again. 

Anyway...so this is what I have learned..fourth grade is NO joke. It's good, but the content for me is a new adventure. I can rock blends, letter sounds, and how to read. I feel like I am learning right along with the kids. I feel like somedays I have NO IDEA WHAT THE HECK I AM DOING! It's ok, next year I will look back at this a laugh!!

 

Here are some math games we have been working on to help learn our decimals

I MISS small groups. This was one of my favorite times when I taught Kinder and second, so I am trying to figure out how to fit in into our day. Last Friday we played decimal games for extra practice and the kids LOVED it! They are begging me to fit this into our daily routine..might have to take out recess again...hahaha not really.

We played a card game where the kids drew two cards and created a decimal. The first set was to the tenths place and the second set was to the hundredths place.

The next game was "Go Fish". For the kids to have a match they had to have a decimal and the word form. They loved the classic bingo..decimal style. The caller read the decimal in word form and they had to find it in digits. The last game was old fashion matching game. Like I said they loved it!!

Look at this..minds were blown this week

This was ONE of the models we used to show the value of a decimal...I have never seen it this way but it was a great tool!! Plus as I was teaching this lesson..guess who strolls in..my principal. Ok confession time...I HATE people in my classroom! It's a long story why i don't ..but I don't. And this was one of those days where it could either go good or the kids would look at me like I was a freaking alien and they have no idea what I was talking about. GREAT!! So I hear my door open and my kids look and stare at the door. My heart starts racing cause all my kids are in the room so I knew who it was...I nearly pooped my pants..and I started sweating in places I didn't know I could. She stays..comes up to me when we are done...and y'all not kidding..pats my back and says WOW! Ok I nearly pooped my pants again!! It was all good..my first time as a 4th grade teacher and it was a WOW!! 

AND GUESS WHAT ELSE... our futon came in!!!

 The kids {LOVE} it! We have time to read and sometimes we turn off the main light and flip on  all of our lamps  and they push, walk their way to it!! 90% of the time it's my boys sitting down to read!

One last thing! Our Donor's Choose Project was FULLY FUNDED!! I am beyond BLESSED for people donating to us. The kids are over the moon excited and I can't wait to have all those NEW books in our classroom. Man, just so so grateful!!

Thanks for reading and I hope I can better than once every two weeks for a post!!

Tessa

Can a girl just get a recess break!?

We went back to work on Wednesday! We still have a full week of inservice with a meet the teacher thrown in there. We work with some great people..really we do. I don't know of another district that has a breakfast for ALL employees to celebrate a new school year. Such a blessing.
Anyway...on Friday we had a 1/2 day for a work day...which turns out really to be 2 hours cause it's Friday afternoon and isn't there a rule..thou shalt not work later than three on Friday ever!!
We spent almost two hours planning our schedule which get this DOESN'T have a spot for recess....what tha what!! Yup..it's a sad day when we can't fit recess in!! I'm going back on Monday and by golly I'm shoving recess in somewhere!!!

Hope you all had a great weekend...can't wait to show meet the teacher things, first week things, and my new schedule WITH a freaking recess break!!!!

Classroom Tour

This is my home away from home. This is also my third room to completely RE-DO since I've been at my school in Texas! I am SO SO tired of remodeling my classroom!

I {love} looking at other classrooms! We are all so different and so creative and it is just cool to see.

Don't forget to click the pic below and hop over to blog hoppin' and see all of the wonderful classrooms!!

This is my classroom...oooohhhhh....ahhhhhhh!!!

Ok here is the 4-1-1 on rm 16! Before I came in it was all paneling like 70's paneling! I knew I had to paint it. I love bright colors but not bright primary colors. So I painted robin egg blue, mint, and coral. I do love it and when you walk it it's bright but calming...does that make ANY sense!?

This is my word wall area. I loved how this turned out. It makes me happy happy happy! And you know what else is exciting...you see that sad area below my word wall space...well don't worry friends cause the best chevron futon will be taking up that spot!! It should be in next week and I can not wait!!

See...it's going to be perfect..and I am gonna scotch guard the CRAP out of that thing!!

This is our cubbies and sink area. Each kid has a tub in their cubby where they will hold "stuff"...I really don't know what but I'm sure there will be lots of "stuff"!! The ABC picture is from my MIL. I love it! It's one of a kind and I just am grateful she painted it for me! 

This is our main teaching area with my smartboard. The smartboard is a great teaching tool. I just can't wait to think what the technology will be like in years to come. If you notice there is a little glow around my board. I took tulle and wrapped it around Christmas lights. We plug it in when the lights are off and it creates great ambiance..for learning!! It only took 4 episodes of Real House Wives New Jersey and 3 Pretty Little Liars to finish...no lie you will not complete in an afternoon friends!!! 

This is my desk area. For those that know me know this will be the cleanest it will look til next school year. I spend most of my time at my table for guided reading but everyone needs a cute teacher desk!!

I spend so much time here too! I {adore} guided reading time. I feel this is one of the most important times to help reading and then the rest of the kids are doing Daily 5! 

Speaking of Daily 5..this is how I am going to keep track of what the kids are doing. They will stick a popsicle stick in the pocket and I will be able to tell what the student is doing! 

This is our library area! Like I have said before we are in desperate need of books. Those bright color boxes will hold the books that we have now BUT we need MORE!! That is why I did the donors choose program and I am praying people will donate to help us out!  If you are interested please pray out about it and click here!

Well that's it! Thank for stopping by!!

Teacher Week 2013 Link up

Ok first MAJOR link up for the whole week!! Lets hope I can remember!!!

I am linking up with Blog Hoppin' for this amazing get to know you time!! Just click on the picture below to meet so many more amazing teachers!!!

And incase you are interested this is the schedule this week!!

Ok now let's talk about me

1. I love Jesus- My mission is to serve him and better the kingdom

This verse lives in my heart  Matthew 16:24-26  I must take up my cross daily and follow him.

2.This man has my heart!!

This is my husband! This December will be 12 years. We were high school sweet hearts and were married right out of high school. I remember so many people thinking how crazy we were, or dumb, or she has to be pregnant. We LOVED each other and we knew God created us to be together. We didn't want to wait so we got married! He is the hardest working man I know. He has the biggest heart and I just love him so so much. I am so lucky to spend the rest of my life with him!!

3. I have two adorable kids!!

See I told you!! My sweet girl is 9 but looks like she should be in 8th grade. She is TALL! She can thank her daddy for that!!! She has the sweetest heart and is such an amazing girl!! The little guy is 4. He keeps his momma on her toes. He has such a loud personality. It's funny to see. 

4.I have been teaching now for 9 years. I tried the whole stay at home mom thing and it wasn't for me. It was hard!!! So I have taught 1st, kinder, second, and now i will be in 4th!! YIKES 

5. We love to move. My husband is a golf course superintendent. He has been blessed in this area. He can turn any course and make it amazing..really don't know how he does it but he does!!! We have moved A LOT!! I don't mind it. We like new surroundings, people, and challenges. We have caught a lot of flack for this. Every move my sweet husband has made has been a promotion. It was good for our family. The question I get the most...Don't you want roots...As long as I have my family we are good. We are very open with our children and they love to move as much as we do!! We are currently going on year 3 here....

6. I love to read!! Anything by Karen Kingsbury is a must read. They are awesome!! I am currently reading this book!! It is wrecking me...I need to simplify! This quote got me "As I simplify, He is enough."

7. I am a new blogger. I haven't been doing this bog for a month yet and the feedback and love I have received has blown me away! I love it!

8. I am a craft-o-holic. I love to do crafts. I host a monthly craft night at my house. It is a blast!! My dream is to open a craft store in our small town. I'm working on it but it might be a little while before it gets started!!! (and we have to still be here!!!)

9. I hate to do laundry...I'm not really sure hate is a strong enough word for this job. My poor husband is always looking for things...oh well

10. I blush all the time. You can tell when I'm mad, embarrassed, flustered, shy, or whatever. It's the one thing that always give me away!!

Well thanks for reading along..tomorrow class tour!!

Monday Made it Homework

I hate homework. I know that's a very strong word but I hate it. I understand extra practice but really!? Well anyway..I was looking on the awesome blog world and I saw stalked Ladybug's Teacher Files and how she had a spot to turn in her homework. I loved this idea BUT I couldn't find the cute folders. I thought I could use this

to create a homework spot!! This is what I did! By no means is this cute but it's a time saver!!!

Like I have said before this year I am having a number system. I created this on the bottom part of a wall that I don't need and I think it fits great!! This will be easy for me to see the number that doesn't have a paper hanging. I'm hoping this will help with grading homework. Sorry for the LAME-O homework spot sign...that will be fixed very soon!!!

Anyway..link up with Tara for Monday Made it and look at all of the other fabulous things everyone is making!!!

Monday Made It

Hi!!

Linking up with Tara for another Monday Made it!!

Go check out all the awesome ideas!!!

This year I am trying the number system. I have seen great things from many teachers so I am very excited to try this..my only concern is that we have lots of movement...our kids don't have stable homes so I'm not sure how that will work..what do y'all do!?

I wanted a check in and check out system to add to our morning routine. So I took these....

And turned it into this....

I put it on the file cabinet RIGHT next to our door when we come in. I'm will have a person who will be in charge on telling me what numbers are AT HOME..Lame!!!  

Very simple but I'm hoping very affective!!

Ok this next one I made is a freebie on my TPT page...Let me tell you the story behind why I made this.  At our school we have the BEST and I mean BEST secretary! Well...we have this stupid thing we have to do every morning called Attendance! UGH how dare they!! I am the WORST at taking attendance cause there are rules...like you can only take it between these times...and once you click it it's marked in history FOR-EV-VA...  

So my sweet Imelda is looking for me all the time..and my class is the furthest away from the office! I told her just to call my phone...but AT LEAST 3 times a week she has to come find me! AND my BFF Teacher next door has a timer! Rumor has it that we will be written up this year if we miss the dreaded time...I'm freaking the freak out so I WILL take attendance on time this year! HA HA

So that's it. Very easy and I have all of the places I could think of to clip up there. So if she kind find me ...write me up baby!!!

Hope y'all link up!!!

Donor's Choose

Hey everyone!

We have been on a little vacay....boy am I tired! It was a last decision trip (my husband's assistant quit)!! BOO which means he won't get to go anywhere for a long while!!

Anyway...I worked on getting a Donor's Choose project ready on our trip! I LOVE this program..I have used it a couple of times and they are great to work with!! SUCH A BLESSING!!!

I am in need of books for the big kids. I had some I collected over my years of teaching but they are all lower level books that will not work. I am praying we get this project filled! 

What I find amazing is that people who don't know us donate...it always blows me away! 

My kids really do need these books. Some of these kids don't touch a book ALL summer! NOT cause they don't want to read but because they don't have any books OR can't show proof of residency to get a library card OR a car to get to the stinkin' library.  

Anyway...I thought I'd try this!!

You can click the picture to go to our page!!

THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for looking!!

Y'all this is the cutest door...

OK!! I am in NO way taking any credit on this door.

This is the door of our AMAZING...and I mean amazing speech therapist Paty! I have only worked with her for two years and she blows me away! She is one of the smartest people I know! She works WONDERS with the kids!  I'm sure right now her cheeks are red!!! I just love her and well when she showed us her door I needed to show the world!! I'm in LOVE!! I will pass this door everyday and I will probably smile every time I walk by!! PATY!!! I LOVE THIS DOOR!!!

WOWZA...a blog award!!

Wow!!

I have been nominated by two amazing blogging friends! I am so stinkin' excited and very grateful!!

Thanks Jen from Teaching and Laughing
AND
Constance from Life with Ms. Learn

if y'all haven't checked out their blogs yet...go..now...stop all you are doing!!

To accept the nomination there are a few things I have to do:

1.  Link back to the blog that nominated me

2.  Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers

3. Answer the questions posted by my nominator

4.  Share 11 random facts about myself

5.  Create 11 questions for my nominees

6.  Contact my nominees to let them know I nominated them

SO I am nominating these awesome gals!!

1.Devona from Fourth Grade Eyes

2.Mrs. H from Just a Primary Girl

3. Courtney from Buttons and Bluebonnets

4. Lauren from The Sweetest Thing

5. Jessica from My Tales of a Fourth Grade Teacher

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I am VERY shy until I get to know you! Most people think I don't like them or I am stuck up...nope I'm just dying on the inside cause I want to run far far away!

2. I am a reader...LOVE LOVE LOVE to read...this summer I have read 10 books!! 

3. I have a passion for missions and kids

4. My favorite candy is Reeses. I would eat them EVERYDAY!!! Wait I do....

5. I am addicted to coke..I'm trying really really hard to stop but oh my goodness it's so hard.

6. I can quote almost every Friends episode..

7. We have all the Duck Dynasty episodes on our DVR

8. I am a craft junkie...I host a monthly craft night and it has been a blessing

9. I blush all the time..people just know what i am thinking by looking at my cheeks.

10. I am a crier...like I cry at EVERYTHING...my kids, a tv commercial, kind words, just sitting in my class...it's bad I might need some help!!

Ok these are the questions from Jen

1.       What grades have you taught and which is your favorite?

I student taught 1st grade, Kinder for 6 years, Second for 2 years, and now 4th!!

I LOVED Kinder 

2.       Why did you want to start a blog?

I started my blog to document my journey in 4th grade. It is something I am very excited about and can't wait to see how the year unfolds

3.       What would you be doing if you weren’t teaching?

Children's Ministry 

4.       What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

I am a vanilla kind of girl!!

5.       What’s your favorite subject to teach?

I love teaching Reading and my favorite time of day is Reading Groups!! 

6.       What is your favorite adult book?

ANYTHING by Karen Kingsbury...she is amazing! You should read one of her books!

7.       What is your favorite read aloud?

For the Kinders I loved Eric Carle and for my big kids we LOVED reading Magic Tree House 

8.       What’s your favorite part about summer?

Hanging out with my kiddos!

9.       What do you fear the most?

The world my kids or grandkids will grow up in. 

10.   Do you like change or are do you like to stay in your comfort zone?

Um...depends..My husband and I love to move we don't like to stay still very long BUT once I am in my comfort zone it is a struggle BUT I can get over it!!

11.   If you could teach any grade/subject, what would it be?

I love teaching I know I do not want to go any higher than 4th but if CRAFTS were a subject I would be all over that!!!

Questions from Constance

1. What was the most important book you have read to date and why?

WOW..hard!! I have loved Karen Kingsbury..she is a Christian Author and it always seems that God speaks to me through her books!! LOVE THEM

2. What is your favourite read aloud and why?

In Second Grade we loved reading Magic Tree house. The kids were so interested in them and it took them to a different place!

3. What is your favourite unit to teach and why?

I love SCIENCE...It creates a fun learning environment and the kids REALLY love it!

4. What is one item in your classroom that you could not live without?

My Mac Laptop!!  I left it at home one day and I was LOST 

5. If you could teach one extra curricular of your choice, what would it be? 

Arts and Crafts- that is one thing I miss about Kinder...oh don't worry 4th graders we will be doing Arts and Crafts!!

6. Your favourite literary character. 

I like Jack and Annie from the Magic Tree House! I love the brother/sister duo and how they are curious and readers 

7. If you could move to another country, where would it be and why?

AUSTRALIA-hands down! I went there in HS and fell in love! They are so relaxed!

8. What is your favourite TV show to wind down to?

I love any of the Real Housewives....OR Duck Dynasty 

9. Your favourite cuisine.

I'm a steak and potato kind of gal!

10. If you could teach any grade level, what would it be?

I love teaching I know I do not want to go any higher than 4th but if CRAFTS were a subject I would be all over that!!!

11. What is or are your teaching goal(s) this year? 

To remember to TEACH children and not to a stupid test!!!

Ok these are the question I have picked for the AWESOME girlies to answer

1.What is your favorite teaching moment?

2.If you knew what you know now...what advice would you give yourself!?

3.What is your favorite book (teaching or not)?

4.What is your go to school snack?

5.What is the best gift you have ever received?

6.What is your go to item in the classroom?

7.What is your favorite quote?

8.What is your favorite place in your classroom?

9.What is your favorite blog you go to most?

10. What does your Friday look like after a long week of teaching!?

11. Where do you like to buy Teaching clothes!?

WOW!! Thanks once again!! 

What's that Sound!?

I don't know about you but I love teaching phonics. I don't know what it is, but it is fun seeing kids sounding out words and when they see a vowel combo or blend they KNOW it right away...weird I know but I still think it's cool!!!

Anyway...one of my former team members {tear} was saying how she wanted to do a phonics wall this year! GREAT IDEA!!! She is a Bilingual teacher and well this will just be perfect for her class. So I made her some cards!!

Y'all you can use these in so many different ways!!

The obvious way...a phonics word wall!

BUT...you can play games..you can do a matching game OR have kids draw a card and time them for 30 seconds and see how many words they can write OR give them a card and hunt through magazines for the sound OR you can play a version of I have who has....man there is so much you can do!

You can pick it up for a $1 at my TPT store! Ok side note...when I typed the amount this is what i heard..I got a dollar, I got a dollar, I got a dollar, hey hey hey hey....love the Little Rascals!!

Thanks for checking it out!!

Word Wall Love

I love Word Walls!!  Its a great teaching tool and you have so many fun games you can play!!

I am linking up for my first linky party...eeek so excited!!

I have waited so long to be brave enough to do this!!

Today I created a word wall for my new classroom
I will use it for vocabulary and common sight words for the bigger kids.
I made the chevron letters and have ribbon hanging down. We will have the
words on clothes pins and just clip them on!!!  It was very simple to do and
just made the wall POP!!! Hope you like!!

What!? I am teaching 4th grade!?

Hi!!
I am Tessa. I am very excited about making my first post to this blog!! I can't believe anyone would really want to read it!! CRAZY!!

Anyway...I am a new fourth grade teacher. YIKES!! I have always taught the little ones. I was a Kinder teacher in AZ for 6 years...then we moved to Texas and I taught second for 2. I thought teaching second was a stretch for me but NOW I am in fourth. OY!!!

When I found out I was moving to fourth I was devastated. I was mad, sad, offended, and I cried...for like 3 days. Yup like a little kid who didn't get her way.  I just couldn't believe it. Why would she move me!? I was rocking second grade..but you see the choice wasn't mine to make!

The start of the summer was rough. I was still mad and really tried to find ANY way I could to not go back. I pleaded with my hubby to find a new job ANYWHERE else...I was being that selfish...can you believe it.

As the summer went on God wrecked me! I'm not sure if you ever have had one of those moments but it was AWESOME! I didn't realize how ugly my heart was. I wasn't letting him in 100%. I was still living in the flesh and that my friends is not good. NOT GOOD AT ALL!!!

So I'm teaching fourth! I'm ok with it. I will do my best and have a great year. I created this blog for our journey. I'm sure there will be days where I want to rip my hair out! I know there will be days filled with lots of laughter. I know I will grow as a teacher. I will LOVE the stuffings out of those sweet kids.

 I just hope you might stay on this crazy train and see how it turns out!!