tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28016424442575184722024-03-05T12:31:16.816-08:00-Ramblings of a Fifth Grade TeacherMrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-55492145611762147032018-07-16T20:02:00.001-07:002018-07-16T20:43:54.079-07:00 A View from the PorchJuly...the month of rejuvenation and the fresh promise of a year filled with Pinteresty quality bulletin boards and lesson plans usually dashed quickly with the reality of too much to do and not enough time.<img alt="" id="id_f177_21d_ad6c_f4e9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fTbY-8_DbvOpqWZp7BsM_ihpFUIOembKZ4-M47fIVmJ4SLWPvJrANbZ7Xy73Sg00OguEr_Tf1KPij0p8piCePA_DaYvpsHBtACveMPjfvIuBMwVL2VPCxB-GEq3qW6stCM42_7CSTwA/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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I always find myself experiencing the same sort of summer situation. I have grand plans of turning my home into a Better Homes and Garden house in just the first 2 weeks of summer, followed by 8 weeks of peaceful sunrise coffee on the porch swing. The reality has been 6 weeks of laundry (there are only 3 of us!?!), a backyard that our dogs and son have claimed Lord of the Flies style, and a <a href="https://pin.it/aqsntejh6c542h" id="id_3511_e43_7c04_f04b">Summer Food Pinterest board</a> that has never been tried. Anyone else experience this phenomenon? </div>
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This year I am determined to overcome it somewhat, both personally and professionally. I have already jumped into the classroom, my Erin Condren planner is ordered, and vacation activities are happening between cleaning the house. I also will <strike>wrestle the backyard back into shape </strike> slow down and drink some coffee or Mom Juice...it just might be on the front porch instead. #dontseeitdonthavetodealwithit </div>
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Happy Summer Everyone! </div>
<img alt="" id="id_4f1f_591d_4d4b_cfe4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-60Lkr2QxM2a35uXbMCyQbk43U7-j2XfOoQieRKedPF055d2dWiFBu0uj5Y2lGjncXugiVYZInGqoyMbw1XuyezBZ4I7OgG94Y5GSfbjea-fMuSyHW364FHicgoRTJFoCbb5jIUShlw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 393px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Possibilities! Potential!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_85a8_baac_4b7d_7d97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBqNXARaiU_YFsPMJ0b3fR9x16ugQtZ1lXCf-ATOEc3A818hugfrbg4t9QCiucIHtsZasRIBjDz_ZDdxBswR7a-TdIDQt0z6WLUIputD6Q_G26F4InLC1mT31GDE7wh0Y_QNZG322Iy4/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Love these garage doors! Our school is amazing!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_1ba8_88bb_407e_9749" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvAbiaba_7gLrmVi1hVjRUu3sulOGKFPLtI3HsDIRO7XLV3t0A9ZtUIzWFwlgHpljk6svNqW_n889vKFwN7YXGwKyXnq-hffxs8wucy_DibS7lkihhDjnzDDYotP636Qwj8fgxrxkrZ4/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<br />Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-35337195291122466012017-02-23T19:02:00.000-08:002017-02-23T19:02:26.265-08:00Blogging like I Diet It seems that I blog with the same intensity as I diet; focused and determined until... Oh! A donut! Just as I keep restarting that <strike>diet</strike> healthy lifestyle, I randomly decide I should blog again. This year I moved to a somewhat controversial new school. We are a 5/6 school, and I have found my passion for teaching renewed as I am surrounded by educators that are as crazy as I am. Being part of a team of 10 energetic 5th grade teachers just makes my heart full, and the ideas flowing! I can't wait to share high-energy, hands-on learning over the next weeks.<br />
Until then, a shout-out to the fab 12 and our captain o'captain, but especially my Team Big Horn ladies that would rather hang out and talk shop with me instead of get home safe from the winter storm. ❤️ Here's to pushing each other to do our best and then some!Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-9493049661393566902015-04-26T11:42:00.002-07:002015-04-26T11:42:38.289-07:00Spring Reflections and a Fast Food Experience I have spent the last 2 weeks thinking to myself, "OK, you wanted to blog again, so what do you have to share that is actually interesting?" Thoughts have run the gambit from sharing a spring lesson or creating a new organizer for my account at Teacherspayteachers.com to reposting a favorite blog post from a few years ago...then it hit me what I should write while spending over an hour waiting for food at a fast (umm...cough.cough) food restaurant. Perhaps I should go back as and paint a bit of a picture about that evening.<br />
Imagine having an actual evening off: no meetings, no papers to grade, house clean, laundry done. No, I can't imagine that either, but I was choosing that evening to ignore all of those things that needed to be completed. The husband was at an umpiring training, so the kiddo and I decided to do a little grocery shopping and go to dinner. He and I love sushi, so I was picturing a fun evening of paying money for a restaurant to plate food that they didn't cook. Instead, someone decided he "weally weally" wanted a cheese burger from a restaurant that rhymes with Phonic. <br />
Thus began our dinner adventure. We tried 3 different parking stalls before we actually made contact with a human from behind the red button. During the hour wait for food, we played the game of counting how many cars gave up and left before us. (For those that are holding their breathe waiting to know what that number was: 24. Yes, 24 cars gave up before us. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!) I spent much of the time trying to convince the kid to go somewhere else and he spent much of the time convincing me that the wait was worth it. In honesty, it was nice to just sit and visit with him. My reflecting on the whole issue, and how it has anything to do with education...I promise there is a connection, came towards the end. <br />
At one point the manager came on the speaker and was very panicked. He was sharing that he is a good manager, and it was their technology that let them down that night. Always willing to be helpful (or bossy) my child was shouting at me to tell him to breath in and count to 10. (Now just to convince that same kid to do it when HE is having a meltdown.) When the manager finally stopped, I convinced him that we were still waiting and looking forward to dinner. Food finally arrived and lucky us...it wasn't even what we ordered. (If you were the one who ordered the corn-dog, I'm sorry, but finders keepers...) Taking a deep breathe myself, we took the food and ate at home. <br />
It seems to me that we, as educators, could learn a lot from the struggles of this restaurant manager. . <br />
1.) Just like this manager, we are also in a customer service career. Instead of quality fries and a soda, we are trying our hardest to provide a quality education. We are trying to grow leaders and life-long learners. We are trying to light the passion of education in an atmosphere of testing and politics. Now, I truly believe that this manager was trying his best, but problems defeated his goal that day. I also truly believe that we have stumbling blocks each day, but as teachers, we do not have the right to let our goals be defeated by outside circumstance. That is where being a flexible teacher can turn any moment into a successful learning time. Any teacher worth their salt has a Plan B,C, D, and E in the back of their mind. (This is where I want to shout out a thanks that I don not have to write out all of those extra lesson plans though...yikes!!) I think I have just stumbled upon a new blog topic for later. I'd love to hear from everyone how they adapt to those road-bumps in the daily education road.<br />
2.) As L and I were sitting in the parking lot, I could see the staff working really hard to rectify the issues. I also know that there was a lot of behind the scenes work happening. It is what makes this restaurant usually work. Placing this in the education setting, I know that we work really hard to constantly adapt and grow and learn as a staff. I've seen and watched my amazing co-workers work 20 plus extra hours each week, taking professional development because we want to-not have to, and I know we are always reflecting on how to improve. My question though is if others see that? Just as customers sometimes just see "distracted waitor" or "they forgot the straw", what do parents and outsiders see the school system doing for their child (or for their tax monies.) Are we showing them how much we care and are striving for excellence in the classroom, but also for each individual student? <br />
3.) By the end of the year, we all start reflecting on what goals we met, and what we want to work on the next year. This reminds me of our order at the restaurant. We ordered 2 burgers, 2 shakes, and some tater-tots to share. We ended up with 1 burger, 1 corn-dog, 2 different shakes, and some french fries. I'll tell you what, that corn-dog was good. I don't think I've ever had a year where all of my goals came out exactly, but sometimes those "orders" that don't go as pictured can end up being some of the best learning. I have to say, that I love spring time reflections. I love seeing how far my classroom kiddos have come, and each year of experience that I gain, I realize it is OK to acknowledge the things that need improvement. In fact, once this post is finished, I will be starting my reflection process for the end of this year and the start of next. By that, I mean I will be pinning ideas on Pinterest and not doing laundry. :D<br />
Not sure that this post went where I had planned, but I guess that was the underlying theme of the post. So no matter if you ordered a cheeseburger or a corn-dog, I hope your week in the classroom meets the goals you are striving towards. <br />
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Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-22818687963537562672015-04-08T19:56:00.001-07:002015-04-08T19:56:26.146-07:00Following My Heart and Coming Home<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> It has been 3 years. 3 years?? Really?? Surely I just stepped away for a few minutes...maybe a couple days...but not 3 years? I'm not sure what happened. Life got busy and I just meant to step away for a little bit. I needed to stop and enjoy a cup of coffee, smell the flowers, and take a mini vacation. In reality, I think I just ended up working harder and longer, gulping massive cups of bad coffee, and the only flowers have been dandelions picked by the cutest little man.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> A quick recap for anyone that has patiently stuck with me: I've now looped up to 6th grade for this year, my little guy is 1 part Dennis the Menace and 1 part Momma's Boy, I have a <strike>few</strike> lot more grey hair (reread recap. :D ), my weight has increased, but don't worry-I have stretchy pants. (OK, the weight needs to go down, but that's a different post.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The last few months I've been having these fleeting thoughts, in between lesson planning and meetings, that something is missing. Something that was dear to my heart was absent, and then it hit me. I have actually been going to bed at a decent time and haven't done any late night ramblings. I've missed it. I've missed my blogger buddies. I've missed sharing my ideas on this big ol'Internet. Guess that means it is time to follow my heart and come home to my blog. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I have lots of ideas stored up to share, and I can't wait. Soon. For now though, it feels good just to be rambling and reintroducing myself. </span><br />
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Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-1467986105835131472012-08-20T22:03:00.002-07:002012-08-20T22:03:41.219-07:00Mounds of Laundry but an Organized ClassroomYou know when you are driving, and your car starts to make weird sounds? My computer did that today, and now it won't turn on. Sigh. Technology...it is great. Thankfully I have one of my bestie's netbook, that I need to return, but for tonight it is becoming my blog station. <br />
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I am so excited to say that I am finished with my room! We won't mention that my house looks like the toddler threw a kiddy rager, the yard is starting to look like the house is abandoned, and I truly considered taking all the dirty laundry along with the clothes scattered here and there and having a big bon fire. Seriously...does anyone have a match??<br />
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Oh well, at least this teacher has a color matching classroom. My child doesn't have diapers, but my room matches! LOL! Here goes....(imagine a curtain being lifted and gasps of awe and delight from the audience.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RDAU_RrbT-AYAFoFnE3s29QhUigB92HQ3Evo6ex6DxfwtKmpMkOEBYpGVWO7dPdntDJVcC4PNyXpIAgGmgfooQEsVULuRWPPXA8mjOwVyntlD_6NRkvJsaZyqH-PfMad5nOUFH6rYQk/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RDAU_RrbT-AYAFoFnE3s29QhUigB92HQ3Evo6ex6DxfwtKmpMkOEBYpGVWO7dPdntDJVcC4PNyXpIAgGmgfooQEsVULuRWPPXA8mjOwVyntlD_6NRkvJsaZyqH-PfMad5nOUFH6rYQk/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used to think my little bulletin board was great until...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I now have an interactive wall! Calendar, Learning Goals, Exit Slips, and Questions<br />
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This first wall I am using to help the students set and see the goals and to use exit slips to check for questions, miscues, etc. The "Why" bulletin board is something I am very excited to try. It was one of those 3 am ideas. I always have students with so many great questions from their reading as they are tracking their thoughts, exploring Science and Social Studies, or as we have group discussion; we don't always have time to find the answers. This year, students can write their question down on a post it, then towards the end of the week they can grab their question, or someone elses, and go research and explore those lingering questions. Hoping it works as well in real life as it does in my brain!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWXoIX1L8rEcR9BE58QDPv59b3RIPKvfxe2Brobp20_p6UtvyhPCS39dgnUzO21v0Ph1TGkamJEtYP5-KeLoaElq0EYgTV56AWLzpg2SAr_ToqqBFE52f81C5LfwdgyDmqVQfFIvHWs8/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWXoIX1L8rEcR9BE58QDPv59b3RIPKvfxe2Brobp20_p6UtvyhPCS39dgnUzO21v0Ph1TGkamJEtYP5-KeLoaElq0EYgTV56AWLzpg2SAr_ToqqBFE52f81C5LfwdgyDmqVQfFIvHWs8/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back corner before...I used to have our workshop rug in this corner, along with...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZI40goS-SCS6jNdxNAUH3rDO_wkk00JO0lmwUHERBVgwkQmcbStZk8q1pBmMxXpesr-jdCpB1zcQQd2XaUHz8cLKxKi7nHeTKxfcdPGd6hOObXJBVo4o_R4P_hxmHfSoGeHVBy9gKGE/s1600/photo+(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZI40goS-SCS6jNdxNAUH3rDO_wkk00JO0lmwUHERBVgwkQmcbStZk8q1pBmMxXpesr-jdCpB1zcQQd2XaUHz8cLKxKi7nHeTKxfcdPGd6hOObXJBVo4o_R4P_hxmHfSoGeHVBy9gKGE/s1600/photo+(16).JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this ugly yellow shelf. (It used to be cute, I promise.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheP_3mWnLrT_6RBHW-pMb6FGiSOaUFwR_Lvbl8qQGsitSPPT3rjuGWzoB8U-OjRr49_q24Is4NiGglEPUdArnbRV8aowdeRSbmNUECjBq1jtSTWYhYEmDYQQ-RWxp49pkT0ujUgLpaSq0/s1600/photo+(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheP_3mWnLrT_6RBHW-pMb6FGiSOaUFwR_Lvbl8qQGsitSPPT3rjuGWzoB8U-OjRr49_q24Is4NiGglEPUdArnbRV8aowdeRSbmNUECjBq1jtSTWYhYEmDYQQ-RWxp49pkT0ujUgLpaSq0/s1600/photo+(17).JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I now have a CAFE inspired CRAFT area. The CRAFT posters<br />
are a Freebie from <a href="http://www.ladybugsteacherfiles.com/2012/03/cafe-actually-craft-board.html" target="_blank"> LadyBug's Teacher Files</a>.</td></tr>
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Finally, remember that table of <strike>junk</strike> useful supplies.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj693VOYSrxi35mtRjGYKk_9Wt26XWbPhPOILz7icVZQuwiu5KWaqLxn-0r-xl9lBKHGTDKNkKBKmmt7Z97NlAdclBykFe-TY11f-iDvUm4gc5C-VuryRE73vuiiqU-LX-f4D9OW0r_u3s/s1600/photo+(19).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj693VOYSrxi35mtRjGYKk_9Wt26XWbPhPOILz7icVZQuwiu5KWaqLxn-0r-xl9lBKHGTDKNkKBKmmt7Z97NlAdclBykFe-TY11f-iDvUm4gc5C-VuryRE73vuiiqU-LX-f4D9OW0r_u3s/s1600/photo+(19).JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is now a writing/personal space/conferring/basket holding area. <br />
Notice my coffee pot in the back. Sigh, have I mentioned I like coffee??<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know I shared my desk, but I added labels on the file cabinet (thanks Dad!),<br />
a great lamp, decorated an old kitchen utensil holder, and hung curtains! Whoo-who! I am finished! Well, actually I have another window that needs curtains...so close...so close...</td></tr>
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The bad news is that now I have no excuse not to clean my own house. However, the laundry bonfire still might happen. S'mores anyone?<br />
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Don't forget to enter into my <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/08/custom-made-freebie-and-starbucks-card.html" target="_blank">Starbucks/Organizer Giveaway</a>. You have until August 28, and I have to say that the odds are good. </h4>
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Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-10141326246876101262012-08-18T22:22:00.002-07:002012-08-19T07:00:59.909-07:00Custom Made Freebie and Starbucks Card: A Procrastinators End of Summer Give Away<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I've sat at this computer typing and deleting...typing and deleting. My sarcastic wit has deserted me, and left in its place is a caffeine deprived blogger. However, I am enjoying one of my most favorite places in the world, the Big Horn Mountains, with some great family, so I guess that makes up for my lack of <strike>snarky and highly humorous </strike>intellectually stimulating comments today. </div>
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To ask forgiveness for this dry and boring post, I am teaming up with <a href="http://www.lifesjourneyscrapbooking.blogspot.com/2012/08/amazing-planner-project.html" target="_blank">Life's Journey Scrapbooking</a> to do a giveaway for all my teacher and non-teacher bloggy buddies! Drum roll please...We are going to give 1 lucky person a....</div>
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$10 Starbucks card </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I even promise not to use the $$ that is on the card!</td></tr>
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and 2 lucky winners will receive....oh I can hear all of the deep breathes as everyone gears up in anticipation.....<br />
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Custom made Accordion Folders!! </div>
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(Ok, I thought about naming them the "Cute and Crafty Lifeline of Organization for Teachers and All Others Dohickey Thing-A-Maging Must Have Tool of Sucess", but decided I might get tired...or confused...when repeating it.)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZ9rptMi2Nvgd9ne8tzIqwaugja-rJh85l8BUOpcC18dgwnaqkG2ne_pC3s0YVYtDsu5E9218NQ5-TvU2UZoDLrhTbbzq3P6Zj0i_pJqYRIKeuymj_zYFs2vEMxsRg5XdQfrXkaN5fRU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZ9rptMi2Nvgd9ne8tzIqwaugja-rJh85l8BUOpcC18dgwnaqkG2ne_pC3s0YVYtDsu5E9218NQ5-TvU2UZoDLrhTbbzq3P6Zj0i_pJqYRIKeuymj_zYFs2vEMxsRg5XdQfrXkaN5fRU/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Outside of my Folder: Step 1 of Operation Organization! The front is under the plastic, so it won't get ruin when you reach across your desk and spill coffee..noth that I have ever done that!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpEIqr86oDl_EC6WRffktXDDV8RPIM_bNaPD016MD6UJ0ePJWjoGPZZMbMPk7nzGrOfEK1W8hG7w6g7q1-LbAPRe4004y1iX3JAY608yV-WHoxKaqNsJkHz6sQ18uguc2kc6xH_fn9sA/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpEIqr86oDl_EC6WRffktXDDV8RPIM_bNaPD016MD6UJ0ePJWjoGPZZMbMPk7nzGrOfEK1W8hG7w6g7q1-LbAPRe4004y1iX3JAY608yV-WHoxKaqNsJkHz6sQ18uguc2kc6xH_fn9sA/s320/2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine includes a calendar, spiral notebook and pocket to store <strike>stuff </strike>candy hidden from students or the toddler. Sorry, wine, coffee, or energy drinks won't fit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUYwm15cL8taDLTXzBZQa6FoCHmUbXo_1GLrvcOOujtQx4iwoT8ru04VVbgIvcia0pzOMnFUIH3UAPjfuTlB0J5-lEBNCjQHdNxKGaTq0u3H2izg3fBiGLYwWuVLFS-VOqOgZXKf9zJs/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUYwm15cL8taDLTXzBZQa6FoCHmUbXo_1GLrvcOOujtQx4iwoT8ru04VVbgIvcia0pzOMnFUIH3UAPjfuTlB0J5-lEBNCjQHdNxKGaTq0u3H2izg3fBiGLYwWuVLFS-VOqOgZXKf9zJs/s320/3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are you impressed yet? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9BxFXxNBV_q2k6Sn0ewHkxbRozMFq5ttHrYcNsUudOv8YwnWwG7tJQs3xX08a5P5IjQkXhgMCKfvhXEfR6upKtlAgLWRaT-vae3LCAthRj-8zx7m5-GeTeynOLIIrdJzY99cvGrcUNE/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9BxFXxNBV_q2k6Sn0ewHkxbRozMFq5ttHrYcNsUudOv8YwnWwG7tJQs3xX08a5P5IjQkXhgMCKfvhXEfR6upKtlAgLWRaT-vae3LCAthRj-8zx7m5-GeTeynOLIIrdJzY99cvGrcUNE/s320/4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am going to use mine to store<br />
parent notes and messages until I can get them filed. <br />
What would you used this for?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQv7_xn9HOFeh01fr25_FQAh_uK04cTHIfowtHY9NLoh3AgbCrsyLVALG3HY5Y_TJxCcB6GGDJxIsLXNRWdQ8Y1BgSEzFltHq8HklimdUnZ0ybjTI-QGTrGYwRyBHOq8wlKFdayxjK8I/s1600/a1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQv7_xn9HOFeh01fr25_FQAh_uK04cTHIfowtHY9NLoh3AgbCrsyLVALG3HY5Y_TJxCcB6GGDJxIsLXNRWdQ8Y1BgSEzFltHq8HklimdUnZ0ybjTI-QGTrGYwRyBHOq8wlKFdayxjK8I/s320/a1.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a super cute example my friend Crystal made for her daughter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAotsoeFYPTdmhc35KzzCIwn6FlagN43N58bkWhFZETVJ27rE7taFq5-yLCT1gcgjrFvlB0zqAtSX2YIUoT5YfoB3RN-oD-0bDICA5ZCaIDuPlNpbo_Jr0OY6ffdlQdrx-0SpUPwuUshM/s1600/a2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAotsoeFYPTdmhc35KzzCIwn6FlagN43N58bkWhFZETVJ27rE7taFq5-yLCT1gcgjrFvlB0zqAtSX2YIUoT5YfoB3RN-oD-0bDICA5ZCaIDuPlNpbo_Jr0OY6ffdlQdrx-0SpUPwuUshM/s320/a2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you guess what her daughter loves?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BGZ0AkF1ybbqRWLGLyajHW4jd5qMPx9J4yZqKzUfIXOumofN2aBRL-Npo-pPdFEX6HuGelCUYEwmSnvG-lYXXtoUxx3Ge8lzwucm74QvWL5Hef-bNTaF2nenaJQQ6TR2f1HxeXWOY9g/s1600/a3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BGZ0AkF1ybbqRWLGLyajHW4jd5qMPx9J4yZqKzUfIXOumofN2aBRL-Npo-pPdFEX6HuGelCUYEwmSnvG-lYXXtoUxx3Ge8lzwucm74QvWL5Hef-bNTaF2nenaJQQ6TR2f1HxeXWOY9g/s320/a3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organize, photos, document, or store!</td></tr>
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These folders are adorable and can be used as a planner, organizer, or to hide the candy bars from the children. See? Multi use! The 2 folder winners will get to pick color and/or theme and will receive a 1-of-a-kind file made by moi. Now who needs Prada or Coach when you can have a Mrs. M original?
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You can get up to 5 chances to win, and those that are blog experts can already guess how. </div>
1.) Go check out my buddy at <a href="http://www.lifesjourneyscrapbooking.blogspot.com/2012/08/amazing-planner-project.html" target="_blank">Life's Journey Scrapbooking</a> and make a comment on her current post. Make sure to let her know you found her through me.<br />
2.) Follow her publicly. (She has some great ideas!)<br />
3.) Leave a comment on my blog about how you would use the folder or your favorite coffee drink. :D Don't forget to leave your email and that you have or already...<br />
4.) Follow me publicly.<br />
5.) Post a link to this blog post on your blog, and let me know by sharing that in your comment. (It is almost midnight and I am not about to being to figure out how to use the linky tools. Next time...)<br />
6.)...Hey, it's my blog, I can add an extra chance if I want! 6.) I take bribes. The bigger, the better. Just saying.<br />
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I will alert and announce winners on August 28, which is the first day that our kiddos come back to school. Good luck all!<br />
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P.S. I am sharing 2 more photos of my color cordinated classroom. It's getting there...slowly...and very expensively...If you missed my first picture and classroom ideas, <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/08/great-expectations-organizing-classroom.html" target="_blank">check it out</a>!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one time this year, my desk will be this clean!</td></tr>
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I am off to enjoy the last few days of summer!</div>
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<span id=":7j"><span id=":62">Good night all!</span></span></div>
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Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-76521604659163118792012-08-07T18:47:00.001-07:002012-08-07T18:48:06.660-07:00Great Expectations: Organizing a Classroom, Educational Filler Links, and a Broken Budget! Smug: (V) The feeling of superiority the night before going into your classroom, knowing that you are going to 1.)Complete a room full of bulletin boards, 2.) Move furniture, 3.) Empty summer boxes, 4.) Create Open House letters, gifts, etc, 5.) Create a new curriculum map (because hey, you are feeling superior so why not reinvent the wheel), 6.) Send ALL the projects to graphics, 7.) Have everything completed for not just the first day, but for the first 2 weeks of school, and knowing that you will do it in just 5 hours, and a whole 3 weeks before school starts. <br />
(Jeez, that wasn't a long and grammatically incorrect sentence, was it?!?)<br />
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Uh Duh: (V) The reality check that you are absolutely crazy to think that said plan will actually happen.<br />
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Yep, you would think after all these years, I would have a firm grasp on reality. I obviously didn't; I'm blaming the lack of coffee that day. However, I am very excited to post the pictures of what I did get accomplished. Everyone needs to promise to not ask what I spent to make it happen...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj61wjd1qc2kMkW-aDVo8M0VwzxlmBi_SvtJe6mdALNWeSgeYDe_2LbYZlPR60ZXEj7jLuW02GW5dyGlRKj34KnO-7V-3C_6-MHPn9klIANFrrUoizpXrY2loaHU_UtnKD2MBKGKICT-E/s1600/PreDesk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj61wjd1qc2kMkW-aDVo8M0VwzxlmBi_SvtJe6mdALNWeSgeYDe_2LbYZlPR60ZXEj7jLuW02GW5dyGlRKj34KnO-7V-3C_6-MHPn9klIANFrrUoizpXrY2loaHU_UtnKD2MBKGKICT-E/s1600/PreDesk.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you guess the colors I picked this year? First year doing a color theme...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaDRWUG1en8ZfCa9gUqkDRXSPQWpnHK2feQ9cV2qDZP4xEtgaq8C8amZPAqW4PVxmgwX-C7XRxPKnzuDFN1ySfiSk0-6uisdoI7IK2vS1COXUBY0-EZ8RQwiXPhLM84NrZSISXAYkolY/s1600/nook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaDRWUG1en8ZfCa9gUqkDRXSPQWpnHK2feQ9cV2qDZP4xEtgaq8C8amZPAqW4PVxmgwX-C7XRxPKnzuDFN1ySfiSk0-6uisdoI7IK2vS1COXUBY0-EZ8RQwiXPhLM84NrZSISXAYkolY/s1600/nook.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same location as the first picture, but what a difference! I know I would curl up and read a good book there. If I wasn't afraid that I'd never get up, I just might!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoZeHGzuxwOqqEBGmXhZRrW8inAfqsXI4FkDD6FbtVfgmP_qjDXEpOAx5a_bMzvJVW4HTUL8BEVeZhrj3SWOi10VDkPkrk14IwrCo1HXyDaMevpum7w3eBcqlMfY8Pp3TkAAui9xpa5c/s1600/desks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoZeHGzuxwOqqEBGmXhZRrW8inAfqsXI4FkDD6FbtVfgmP_qjDXEpOAx5a_bMzvJVW4HTUL8BEVeZhrj3SWOi10VDkPkrk14IwrCo1HXyDaMevpum7w3eBcqlMfY8Pp3TkAAui9xpa5c/s1600/desks.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting to look like a room. Sigh, lots of bulletin boards left to go...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AsQ4hURDeL94vyQCstnACwQSV1z72o_huMUd0WrHBwy8EZLG5X75_j5mk5Ok-xnqrlz01rJ2DvMrLfVY56LNixG9A9SmARMpTrG_jV68eixYM-T_DNEM7h8_UTFy0ZJUaQpRxJTBoMc/s1600/after+desk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AsQ4hURDeL94vyQCstnACwQSV1z72o_huMUd0WrHBwy8EZLG5X75_j5mk5Ok-xnqrlz01rJ2DvMrLfVY56LNixG9A9SmARMpTrG_jV68eixYM-T_DNEM7h8_UTFy0ZJUaQpRxJTBoMc/s1600/after+desk.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Umm, let's pretend that this was a before picture and not the one that I snapped before walking out of the room.</td></tr>
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Now I know I mentioned sharing some super tech links, but <a href="http://3-6%20free%20resources/" target="_blank">3-6 Free Resources</a> is having a great sharing linky that talks about brain breaks, or those educational time fillers, so I thought I'd share three of my favorite ideas. <br />
1.) We keep a Jenga game going in the corner of the room. The Jenga pieces have division facts on them. If the student gets the problem right, he or she gets to keep the piece for their team. Game over when it topples or they draw the Gotcha piece. <br />
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2.) Timed ball toss. 1 small ball or stuffed animal (we used an Angry Birds that I found in the dog toy section). Our rules are that it can't be dropped, can't be passed around the same table, everyone plays, and no overhand. We do a baseline on our time, then the kids keep a graph with the times. Once in a while we analyze performance, possible changes, teamwork, etc. Fun and Math rolled into one!<br />
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3.) Logic Puzzles and Division Wraps- Kiddos ALWAY have access to either of those items.<br />
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Well, now that I am <strike>completely done </strike>not close to finishing my room, but still feeling smug that I went in several weeks before, I am going to go enjoy a quiet house. The hubby took our Little Man to watch his first mutton bustin' so I am going to have a <strike>glass</strike> bottle of wine and do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Good night all!<br />
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<br />Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-55822109246069452112012-07-18T21:18:00.000-07:002012-07-18T21:20:07.903-07:00Time Zones, Housekeeping, and a Differentiated Instruction Conference: Excuses for not Blogging So I feel that I should preface this post with the information that I have a really good reason for not blogging steadily the last few<strike> weeks</strike> months. I have been a <strike>world</strike> US traveler the last 3 weeks, and truly didn't want the crazies (no, I'm not talking about us crazy educators..) knowing that I was away from my humble abode. Seriously, someone might have stolen my milk and kool-aid stained couch or the desktop computer from 1862 or my stylish mom jeans or...<br />
I do have to say that I have been SO excited to share my trips with my fellow bloggy people though! In the last 3 weeks I have traveled from my sweet home of Wyoming to Washington DC for an NEA assembly (which was amazing for this new delegate!) back to Wyoming for 1 day ( yes only 1day- gee, no time to clean the house that day) then I was off to Vegas with Hubby, Kiddo, and 3 amazing teacher friends for the Differentiated Instruction conference. L.O.V.E.D. it!! Got to meet Stephanie Harvey, and am super excited to see her again next week at a local reading conference. (Yes, my name is Mrs. M and I roll with the Stephanie Harveys of the world. Don't you wish you were me?) For those that are unfamiliar with Ms. Harvey, among other educational supports, she has written several books, including <u>Strategies that Work</u>. Google her..I hope to be her, umm like her, when I grow up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhqgO4-iLIl_SMNZzVJQ9xtfHPN54AT1UB5rY19UUX1FDL2EO1D84ZltQSKXBQiXVwbb4MVjyAxZ5kphCv_5vVwObP-4OSGn8P1VSfnTbiYuLcwrdb6QDYOYtK0o9smHpH_yec4W072g/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhqgO4-iLIl_SMNZzVJQ9xtfHPN54AT1UB5rY19UUX1FDL2EO1D84ZltQSKXBQiXVwbb4MVjyAxZ5kphCv_5vVwObP-4OSGn8P1VSfnTbiYuLcwrdb6QDYOYtK0o9smHpH_yec4W072g/s320/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crystal aka the new Mrs., myself (yes, I'm actually dressed up!), Stephanie Harvey, Brandie BBG the Softball Diva , and our "I teach every grade" Sheila!</td></tr>
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Wait...did anyone else go to either of those events? Let me know!!</div>
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Since I just spent a week listening to some great teachers speaking about everything from DI to technology, to sponges and warm-ups to poverty and beyond, I thought I'd share some ideas that they gave us throughout this next week. Wish I could claim these, because they are wonderful. Tonight I'll stick with some classroom management/ brain break/positives, because seriously, clapping a pattern is SOOOO 2011.<br />
1.) To the tune of Who Let the Dog's Out... "Who did a good job? You! You! You! You! You! Who did a good job? You! You! You! You! You!" (Haha-don't blame me when that is stuck in your head!!)<br />
2.) Voice Chorus- As you raise/lower your hand students make a higher or lower pitched "ahhh" sound. Challenge them by splitting the group in half and "directing" using both hands.<br />
3.) To allow time for thinkers to think, and blurters a chance to blurt instead of burst; simple count down from 5 silently with fingers.<br />
4.) Keep in mind, " When our bottoms go numb, our brains get dumb." LOL!<br />
5.) When someone does a "Great Job" turn one hand into a cheese grater and the other into cheese then make those motions. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow I will share some, ok a lot, of technology sites for the classroom. Disclaimer: some of these sites will force you to spend less time on Pinterest. <span style="background-color: white;">Now that I'm back in the real world, away from hotels, big cities, and long days of meetings, I have come to realize 1 important thing....there is no maid or room service where I live. Sigh. Can you guess what I'm going to be doing after I publish this post...yup, you got it. Ignoring the laundry...still...and the dust bunnies...ahh, aren't they cute...and going to play with, umm professionally analyze, these sites for tomorrows blog post. I'll leave off tonight with some pictures of what we accomplished after the meetings...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK0phZoAHjQbcdr41ScA6xs964q-C_GlD4aFKFuP1c_aky6T_8DkyNFO6q8IcnD-CPJXesb_H7wcuqbOT_89qKU45UwEJG2BA2UtH8SuKwLW_n0a41rTb_2C2F9V1CkNoBSu6tuwc9Ok/s1600/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK0phZoAHjQbcdr41ScA6xs964q-C_GlD4aFKFuP1c_aky6T_8DkyNFO6q8IcnD-CPJXesb_H7wcuqbOT_89qKU45UwEJG2BA2UtH8SuKwLW_n0a41rTb_2C2F9V1CkNoBSu6tuwc9Ok/s200/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baysocks game with far away family <br />
hoping to see Long-Lost Nephew Play Ball!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9nZ7LRfIfdG9TPL2eDbyhR_g8NMNA2irCUlwps_ZIEAPgpdgRJ3C3sP4r-TgraWopUG57MrncLks83kWLGtHrZiASiR_0_K-WAJU_7P59OaypUayo3J8HQgAmom7PSi9ClDcX2SNcqE/s1600/photo+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9nZ7LRfIfdG9TPL2eDbyhR_g8NMNA2irCUlwps_ZIEAPgpdgRJ3C3sP4r-TgraWopUG57MrncLks83kWLGtHrZiASiR_0_K-WAJU_7P59OaypUayo3J8HQgAmom7PSi9ClDcX2SNcqE/s200/photo+%25289%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th Of July in DC-Amazing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9gdd2QpHN6M8joaGkHkbTyzabLS9sU8-e4v0dl3rmB17tCD5Ft-NA4gZdQdnm_4vHTLsrEzV0Sek1LrGLEAZekExj_f7USDFe1prI7i9IlwMULU7qvTh5faTd0C7seRzY8v6dBAFsNQ/s1600/photo+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9gdd2QpHN6M8joaGkHkbTyzabLS9sU8-e4v0dl3rmB17tCD5Ft-NA4gZdQdnm_4vHTLsrEzV0Sek1LrGLEAZekExj_f7USDFe1prI7i9IlwMULU7qvTh5faTd0C7seRzY8v6dBAFsNQ/s200/photo+%252810%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For my fellow Wyoming delegates:<br />
"We Have Badgers!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNZcbkbKr9UsZgU-RkxRDmU7Vc0Tx0LHTyifjrYF4JFmxo6Nvc1EyazXKqka3JDAJdvcmbDcyjcLgMQ1PbTB9Orf9ZlMZB2hmlrXDsXs_fYQxb8svJDEyH4uZ26k1EtfE6v_FV50VTfw/s1600/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNZcbkbKr9UsZgU-RkxRDmU7Vc0Tx0LHTyifjrYF4JFmxo6Nvc1EyazXKqka3JDAJdvcmbDcyjcLgMQ1PbTB9Orf9ZlMZB2hmlrXDsXs_fYQxb8svJDEyH4uZ26k1EtfE6v_FV50VTfw/s200/photo+%25288%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmm, I wonder if my toddler decorated<br />
couch would look good in this house?<br />
Happy to be touring our Nation's Capital<br />
4th of July Week!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL8ht_C0IEo2py6nC2PLxEBq3LCp1HRrD5gkVQYpDPrg06_qLKk7Mp4iubFkz-pD5U5Z9yocIr2qRsb_yyth5D1Nkdi91b13Ha_pS1v0zKoyroaxQa8EnwIqbRia1wLFnXU-dMO7DyHg/s1600/photo+%252811%2529-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL8ht_C0IEo2py6nC2PLxEBq3LCp1HRrD5gkVQYpDPrg06_qLKk7Mp4iubFkz-pD5U5Z9yocIr2qRsb_yyth5D1Nkdi91b13Ha_pS1v0zKoyroaxQa8EnwIqbRia1wLFnXU-dMO7DyHg/s200/photo+%252811%2529-001.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoy the a/c at Hausbrauhaus!<br />
Oye, Oye, Oye!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpknbg9qWMW9pFgAWG7NkwND0zthESz0SncCGAtpdf6xiSb5FO7wqKTCVniw8VpIwMlXy9EhS447IFHGpx8mi8SWS0pZ9gn5ZnXgf2NC6MYOvRGfiteS3H20TW4-_qlhJVRr8Jq8YfSLQ/s1600/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpknbg9qWMW9pFgAWG7NkwND0zthESz0SncCGAtpdf6xiSb5FO7wqKTCVniw8VpIwMlXy9EhS447IFHGpx8mi8SWS0pZ9gn5ZnXgf2NC6MYOvRGfiteS3H20TW4-_qlhJVRr8Jq8YfSLQ/s200/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We swam..a lot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1p5lSy5IGUiEJBLdgN9X4_GCJ2nlO9tWETx0t__yoSGMlaQcoKAPAihSWeZHbATWxShjxdAQpjanEeXiQnFBGgr8SgARg4xEh0IdtDNFnljzAPt5j7uYEV2eESvG4bjm8VYzW1F4ewA/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1p5lSy5IGUiEJBLdgN9X4_GCJ2nlO9tWETx0t__yoSGMlaQcoKAPAihSWeZHbATWxShjxdAQpjanEeXiQnFBGgr8SgARg4xEh0IdtDNFnljzAPt5j7uYEV2eESvG4bjm8VYzW1F4ewA/s200/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We learned teamwork and<br />
collaboration this week! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OMN9mQOvmg3vos-CLyz30Al8YiZjsfCxCcuK-jLpzrayJCaJm_8bQxDGolX8K5XaP-Qjn84cri-hXbyapPQZixdexV638oAHAdt1jKHBkE3_2w86wqUPdAtlHkdhhdTCK1HhZNLfh30/s1600/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OMN9mQOvmg3vos-CLyz30Al8YiZjsfCxCcuK-jLpzrayJCaJm_8bQxDGolX8K5XaP-Qjn84cri-hXbyapPQZixdexV638oAHAdt1jKHBkE3_2w86wqUPdAtlHkdhhdTCK1HhZNLfh30/s200/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention we swam?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoHyn5V3PWxkM-n__-ITKkkdAOkrPxtBaVNVhPTvZlL3Zr1cZFIR4Ua98TZfabqBzokeRoRti8_bsybB7kbJldwEmV_sEMpjp3bGI5NWmYILaToPnJBCqvPUpEC0h_G7hMTXT22nSXek/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoHyn5V3PWxkM-n__-ITKkkdAOkrPxtBaVNVhPTvZlL3Zr1cZFIR4Ua98TZfabqBzokeRoRti8_bsybB7kbJldwEmV_sEMpjp3bGI5NWmYILaToPnJBCqvPUpEC0h_G7hMTXT22nSXek/s200/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to Fly!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V2GWlPrjcuegRgwqGwrSBRJ7kJgH5Q2r4cofUfjg1iXzHZoeO_b3FW2tU05RpdGn5AZwwcN3tBHqVoIGlFpWQi1RIevVt3Hk1nS19U9IfRwe5VdQUMgNLXh6x73Q0MCEHxtV5bV00mg/s1600/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V2GWlPrjcuegRgwqGwrSBRJ7kJgH5Q2r4cofUfjg1iXzHZoeO_b3FW2tU05RpdGn5AZwwcN3tBHqVoIGlFpWQi1RIevVt3Hk1nS19U9IfRwe5VdQUMgNLXh6x73Q0MCEHxtV5bV00mg/s320/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I felt after almost 3 weeks of meetings<br />
and 3 different time zones! Yikes!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-39863353806067899062012-06-30T11:30:00.001-07:002012-08-18T22:47:11.095-07:00A Summer in PicturesOk, I feel like a student who doesn't have her homework.<br />
Teacher, "Why haven't you blogged any high quality educator thoughts, tips, freebies, and ideas Young Lady?"<br />
Me: "Umm, I was sick? Aliens abducted my brain? The dog ate my..Umm..USB cord?...I ran out of coffee??!?"<br />
Ok, truth be told, it truly was the aliens. I've put in a lost and found ad, but no luck yet. <br />
It has been a crazy and busy summer, so I thought I'd do this post in pictures.<br />
<br />
A Rambling through Pics....<br />
(I am doing this post on my iPhone, and it won't let me put captions under the pics, so as a resourceful teacher..and someone who doesn't want to retype... I created a caption list. I would say that I'll go back and fix it...but that would be a big fat whopper!! )<br />
1. Water line broke down the street, but no worries! Little Man has his frog boots and diaper on to fix the water!<br />
2. Desert from the most amazing dinner at Cuban Libre this summer. (Notice my pics seem to be about coffee and sweets? Geez, why don't my pants fit??!?)<br />
3. Porch swing, coffee, ahhhh!<br />
4. Designing scrapbook pages for Life's Journey Scrapbooking<br />
5. Little Man shooting a 3D target: Bam bam bam!<br />
6. High quality public education: an amazing group of educators that met in Washington DC.<br />
7. Enough Said!<br />
8. Have I mentioned I heart coffee?<br />
9. Ok, so I don't have a picture, but I'm sure you have heard about all the wildfires in Wyoming, Colorado, etc. Well, it seems like our state is on fire, and I am so very proud of my sister, whom is a firefighter. She has spent the last 21 days fighting fires in 2 states. She is now home safe and sound as of today! So many homes and communities have been devastated, so please keep our states, firefighters, and families in your thoughts.<br />
<br />
Well, I have procrastinated, I mean blogged long enough so good night all, and I hope your summer is worthy of many picture memories!<br />
<br />
Have a great week, and enjoy your weekend blog friends!!<br />
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Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-54641722933594436102012-06-21T22:21:00.001-07:002012-06-21T22:21:02.322-07:00Linky and Summer SickiesJust a quick linky-uppy with Confessions of a Teaching Junkie; go check out her wonderful ideas. As for myself, I am on week 2 of bronchitis so it is off to bed for me. Cough, hack, hack, cough, cough!<br />
Http://confessionsofateachingjunkie.blogspot.com (sorry, I am on my iPhone and it isn't letting my add hyperlinks! Promise to fix in the am)<br />
Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-19952251805767258272012-06-08T21:55:00.003-07:002012-06-08T21:55:54.517-07:0049 Shades of Mauve: One Teacher's Summer Adventures<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I'm baaaccckkk!! Summer is in full swing here, and like most teachers, I'm lounging around eating bon-bons and lazing the summer away. Yea, not so much. My goal this summer was to get through my to-do list quickly..let's say 3 days to do the 9 months of work that hasn't happened...seems reasonable. For all those that are on the edge of their seats with anticipation of what I will be accomplishing this summer, here it is. I have also included a few revisions</div>
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Mrs. M's To-Do List</h2>
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1.) Drink a complete latte without having to stop and grade papers, write lessons, or do anything besides focus on the liquid gold in the coffee mug.</div>
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2.) <strike>Teach the 2 year old to read at a 3rd grade reading level</strike>...ummm, read <u>The Three Little Pigs</u> for the umpteenth time.</div>
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3.) <strike>Organize every room in my house to look like a show house</strike>....Pick up enough of the junk so that I can drink at least 1 cup of joe in peace.</div>
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4.) <strike>Read and Create from every pin I've saved on Pinterest</strike>...Maybe start 1 project from Pinterest.</div>
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5.) <strike>Create original projects to post onto Pinterest</strike>....Never mind, see To-Do #1.</div>
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6.) <strike>Potty Train Said 2 year old in 48 hours or less</strike>...Again, never mind. Again, see To-Do #1.</div>
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7.) <strike>Solve World Peace</strike>...Again, well, you know which To-Do to see.</div>
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8.) Design a Brilliant Accumulation of Activities from District Curriculum tied with the amazing ideas of my fellow bloggers and pinners...Still planning on that one...just need to finish that coffee first.</div>
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9.) Run Every Day...after the coffee.</div>
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10.) Enjoy full days with my little man...no changes needed!</div>
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11.) Clean and Paint our deck...Completed, but with 50 Shades of Mauve</div>
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Yes, that is correct, I said 50 Shades of Mauve! Now, we all know about that naughty page turner that has made good (and bad) news lately, well my story is <strike>just as</strike> not near as exciting or thrilling, nor is my hubby a Mr. Grey. However, Mr."Not Grey" M and I spent the last two days trying to paint our deck. Not to mention several days sanding and sanding and sanding and... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My nemasis and my friend this week!</td></tr>
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Many dollars later, we cam<strike></strike>e home with a dark red with lovely brown tones paint to match what we already have on the deck. We stirred, poured, and started to paint...and you guessed it...our lovely deck paint was mauve. Yes mauve as in the hot color choice for grandmothers and bathrooms everywhere in 1982. </div>
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We went back to the big box store that rhymes with mows, and spend almost 2 hours waiting for someone to help us and fix this color. You did not read wrong, 2 hours...2 hours...2 hours. We ended up with...a darker shade of mauve. See, it told you it was 50 shades of mauve. Oh well, the deck looks nice and is more of a burgundy red (ahem purplish-red) then a barn red, but at least we aren't waiting at the paint counter anymore. </div>
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Tip for the day-if you do go to get home improvement supplies this summer, such as say...paint, bring along a latte, it'll make it much less painful! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, my 2 year old can <br />
read a tape measure and<br />
uses equivalent fractions...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Best Part of MY Summer Vacation</td></tr>
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What are the other blogger, in bloggy land doing this summer? I hope your summer is filled with fun, family, and at least a little relaxation! </div>
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I wanted to share a great review game that we did our last days of school, but right now I'm busy working on completing <strike>all</strike> at least 1 of my to-do list, but I promise to share next time. Which, I also promise will be sooner rather than later. </div>
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Night all!</h4>Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-28901401652111760642012-05-20T16:19:00.000-07:002012-05-20T16:19:55.718-07:00Pick Your Own Ending- A Graphic Organizer and A Conclusion to a Crazy Week Tonight's post is going to be short and sweet...but you'll have to choose the plot of this post. If you want a happy ending, turn to page 6. For a mysterious disappearance, turn to page 12....<br />
Okay, so you can't actually turn my blog's pages, but you can FINALLY download your own graphic organizer to help your students create their own Choose Your Own Adventure story. (Or as I call them: <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Choose-the-Story-Pick-Your-Own-Ending-Graphic-Organizer" target="_blank">A Pick Your Own Ending</a> story) Yes, that is correct! Our basement is once again a basement, not a wading pool; my laundry is done..sort of; and our yard is ground squirrel free...I wish! No matter, I had time today and just put the finishing touches on my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ramblingfifthgradeteacher" target="_blank">TeachersPayTeachers store</a> and wanted to share this graphic organizer with you today. In fact, I have it on sale just for my blog friends until Wednesday, which is the day we SHOULD be done with these adventures in my classroom! <br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ramblingfifthgradeteacher" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkvK1thyphenhyphenBSn2k7KMOQKm15vT-931vlnP71LZlk5Qx9cpFAzuLH84B53HYeYGKb9IbpHlzCpDpUxiquJK2SP7d7KwTtwuC2vkK_2E2W0waZdor-nT9MhuVPcX1yn4ZMvslo6-h7Ig95Zw/s200/Pick+Ending+b.bmp" title="Pick Your Own Ending:The Graphic Organizer" width="152" /></a></div>
I have had previous classes write these stories before, but the process can be confusing and complex. I created this <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Choose-the-Story-Pick-Your-Own-Ending-Graphic-Organizer" target="_blank">graphic organizer</a>, using color-coding to help make the process easier. The end result is a story with a possible 6 different ending on a total of 11 pages. Can you imagine the pride of your students as they share these masterpieces? <br />
We are currently doing that in my classroom this week. I grouped the students in teams of four based on genre preference. This year we had a range of students wanting to write sci-fi, mystery, realistic fiction, and a horror story. (The horror story involved parents and prom...oh the Horror! : D) The stories are written as a group or in teams except each student does one section individually so that I have <strike>yet</strike> another writing piece to assess the 6 Traits. <br />
This week I am looking forward to reading their creative and imaginative stories, including a "realistic fiction" that has evolved into an elite team of teenage spies whom have been given the mission to invade Nazi Germany. Can't wait to hear of the Pick Your Own Ending stories that your students create, should you choose this adventure in writing!Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-23485486662076501962012-05-15T22:35:00.000-07:002012-05-15T22:35:03.213-07:00Baby Rodents, A Flooded Basement, and Another Linky Party: All Part of Plan B<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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My goals this evening were the following...1.) Stop and Breathe 2.) Love on the toddler 3.) Blog about the AMAZING Choose Your Own Adventure stories my students are writing. (And sharing the graphic organizer for it.) <br />
However, life happens. Remember <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-animals-were-harmed-during-this-blog.html" target="_blank">my story about the mice eating all, yes ALL, the wires in my car</a>? Well, tonight I came home from an exec. board meeting and this is what I found on my front lawn...<span id="goog_1987422961"></span><span id="goog_1987422962"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSu7mtGbLIN3HmtOoGALioaNQGL1a5VdQIZcFpNAzaJ7vELddINFVre9RKwyjTNitm2zEZHKD-NuZi2tfXHTuJu8TpxvTKfbK1uCGT4a0mnQKdM3HCH5KIb0wHCvvmg10WEFJBsGW4EU/s1600/Rodent3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSu7mtGbLIN3HmtOoGALioaNQGL1a5VdQIZcFpNAzaJ7vELddINFVre9RKwyjTNitm2zEZHKD-NuZi2tfXHTuJu8TpxvTKfbK1uCGT4a0mnQKdM3HCH5KIb0wHCvvmg10WEFJBsGW4EU/s200/Rodent3.jpg" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cWCnew1yL8Vwyg_VKkN1_tETcaR6oxKrXBWa9K3eDBw9FLjDyU_gSMUouMstB5EW765MHgIBeWNAdytA0RZdhqWz92SC_MK6e5npn-PJe8NUB2OcJ6xFl-GqqzitLr8jo98kNmow6KA/s1600/Rodent1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cWCnew1yL8Vwyg_VKkN1_tETcaR6oxKrXBWa9K3eDBw9FLjDyU_gSMUouMstB5EW765MHgIBeWNAdytA0RZdhqWz92SC_MK6e5npn-PJe8NUB2OcJ6xFl-GqqzitLr8jo98kNmow6KA/s200/Rodent1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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...baby ground squirrels that were being born as we watched. There were 6 babies total that were hanging out on our grass. We never did see the momma, but the babies were curious of my husband's iPhone that I had shoved near them. Now part of me is absolutely cringing at the thought of more of these critters causing havoc in my yard and the field, but geez...they are babies!! Everybody say, "Ahhh! How cute!!" </div>
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I'm guessing we were a sight to see also. I'm lying on the ground with the camera, Little Man is sitting on my back yelling at them to "Come 'ere now!", and my husband is watching with a shovel in his hands...</div>
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Wait! A shovel you ask? Oh yes, the other special treat that I came home to tonight...a flooded basement! Yup, our front sprinkler box leaked and turned part of our basement into a kiddy pool. Luckily the hubs is good with tools, and I can use a mop and carpet cleaner like a pro. Needless to say, the Choose Your Own Adventure graphic organizer<strike> is still not done</strike> will have to wait. However, plan B is a fun...</div>
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Linky Party with </div>
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She is hosting her 1st linky (way to go!!) and it is such a great idea! The topic for tonight's linky is..<br />
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<a href="http://amber-polk.blogspot.com/2012/05/and-another-one-bites-dust.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" closure_uid_sufw8d="3" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSKVIwHJK0tnXY-nM-NbbfwXVMA9UhzAwm-NhfDL3UPHlhSy-jZwlrjE8m4bYUCVMXgCBkIb8n2ZQ0V0eaiKDhMs2Dx9GN68Cw6i8gdG4RUsVi0EY-lrrQ1288ZxSM2FqoNWrJt_W9x0/s200/linky.PNG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Here goes...</div>
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3 Amazing Things that Happened this School Year</h3>
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1.) My students aka Maylians are A.W.E.S.O.M.E!</div>
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2.) I love Foldables! Math, Reading, Social Studies...I love Foldables!</div>
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3.) <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/04/biography-bottle-buddy-pics.html" target="_blank">The Biography Bottle Buddies</a> my Maylians created, along with their wax museum turned me into a proud Momma teacher! Did I mention my students are awesome?!?</div>
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Can I do more? We had so many wonderful activities, people, and events this year!</div>
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3 Not-So-Amazing Things that Happened at School this Year</h3>
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1.) I need a secretary! I can only see the top of my desk every other week...or so...</div>
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2.) Not enough time to focus on "non-core curriculum". Sigh.</div>
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3.) Multiple new curriculum programs plus a more intensive GVC made for a stressful learning curve for myself. </div>
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It is always amazing how trivial problems from the beginning become by the end of the school year. I can honestly say that I will miss my Maylians, and if their parents would approve, I'd retain them in my classroom just to be selfish and keep these super kiddos! (Don't worry, I <strike>probably </strike>won't do it...)</div>
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Ok, time to go check on how the carpet is drying, and possibly get a few minutes sleep before the start of another exciting day. Stay tuned for the CYOAs I keep promising! I will get them posted...in between the ground squirrels, swimming basements, and end-of-the-school-year excitment! Good night!</div>Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-22397928413290164772012-05-06T20:46:00.001-07:002012-05-06T20:57:55.163-07:00School Children vs. Family Children: A Teacher's Responsibilities<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Just like the many other dedicated teachers around the country, I spend many hours planning, plotting, and creating a wide variety of lessons and activities that are geared to engage, teach, and inspire students to want to learn. (And I'm always thrilled when at least 1 or 2 of those ideas meet that goal! LOL!) Well, this weekend I wanted to show you the amazing classroom idea I had...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am loving my purple and salmony orange wreath that I made today! Sometimes I even impress myself! (Note: the adult male in my household was NOT as impressed with said wreath, nor was he as impressed<br />
with his wife's super hero powers to craft, chat, and child watch at the same time. Hmmm.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you believe that Mrs. Anderson <br />
wasn't super happy with this wreath?<br />
Really?? It is absolutely ADORABLE<br />
and feminine with paper flowers. Just what <br />
the 4th grade teacher and mom of 4, <br />
yes 4!! boys needs at her house!</td></tr>
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OK, OK, you caught me! No classroom idea on today's post. After spending every Sunday since September in my classroom: then coming home and working longer, I played hooky from my no-pay Sunday job to create monogram wreaths with two of my favorite people! Brandie and Tammy are both amazing teachers in our district, and I had a great time creating with them. <br />
We call it our <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/02/permission-to-pin-fanatics-post-about.html" target="_blank">Pinterest Day</a> and we try to do it once a month...and in the year that we've tried we've managed...twice. Did I mention spending Sundays at school?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. BBG aka the Softball Diva's <br />
AMAZING Black, White, <br />
and Hot Pink Wreath! WOW!</td></tr>
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Now, you may be wondering why I titled my post the way that I did. I felt that it was an important reflection that while I may joke about the extra hours I spend devoted to my classroom children, and I do consider them a gift that their parents have shared with me for the year, those school related extra hours are my choice. I want to be the best teacher possible, and that means putting in the time. However this weekend, I also made the important choice to make all daylight hours about family and friends. Home projects with the hubby, playing " 'atter up" with the toddler, snuggling, family time, and crafting with friends came first this weekend. As we become overwhelmed with end of the year testing, projects, and the thoughts of having to let go of our school children, remember to enjoy your springtime with both classroom families and home families! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, it is time to "Close the door" on tonight's post. My weekend of family is over, and the night of prepping for a wonderful week at school is about to commence. (I am creating a version of the Hungry Games, aka the Maylian Games, that doesn't involve killing but does involve reading strategies<em>....I could make SO many sarcastic comments right now, but I won't</em>... I know that as I am finishing blogging and starting to do school work, both crafty teacher friends: along with many other teachers, are also hard at work creating, reflecting, and agonizing over how to help their classroom children. Good luck and have a GREAT week! </span></td></tr>
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</div>Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-74215997107299584262012-05-01T19:48:00.001-07:002012-05-01T19:48:44.433-07:00Coffee, and Gift Cards, and Lessons Plans: Oh My! I just finished a great day today! (OK, who am I kidding? I have hours of grading, house stuff, important <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/02/permission-to-pin-fanatics-post-about.html" target="_blank">Pinterest pins to repin</a>...) Each month I have a pizza night at one of our local Pizza Huts for my students and parents. It has been such a WONDERFUL opportunity to get to know the families without the pressure of school issues, projects, grades, etc. Tonight we had our largest turn out, and I am sad that we only have 1 left! Does anyone else do a non school activity? I'd love to hear about it! <br />
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This post isn't to talk pizza though. I am typing to share that as a contributor to 3-6 Free Resources, I am participating in a HUGE, did I mention HUGE, <a href="http://3-6freeresources.blogspot.com/2012/05/mayday-giveaway.html" target="_blank">MayDay Giveaway</a>!<br /><a href="http://3-6freeresources.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/3-6%20Free%20Resources/btn1.png" /></a></div>
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My contribution? Starbucks of course! Ten smackaroos to purchase your favorite coffee beverage!!<img height="112" src="http://cultofmac.cultofmaccom.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/starbucks-coffee.jpg" width="200" /> </div>
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Ahh! Liquid Heaven! </div>
I was talking to one of my favorite Starbucks Baristas today, and I came up with the idea that we need to create a tab of Starbucks that dissolves under your tongue for those morning...ummm today...where the caffeine can't kick in soon enough. What do you think? I'd buy it! (I'm picturing it packaged like a roll of mints...hmmm...I might be on to something....)<br />
Well, tonight's ramble wasn't about any of the AMAZING things we are doing in my classroom, but it was a SUPER supper evening with students and families, and ended with an <a href="http://3-6freeresources.blogspot.com/2012/05/mayday-giveaway.html" target="_blank">ENORMOUS giveaway</a>. So what are you waiting for? Go register right now!Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-22012474798604726122012-04-24T05:51:00.000-07:002012-04-24T05:51:14.134-07:00Guest Blog: A Hurried Rambling from a Happy RamblerGood morning! I love spring mornings when the wind ISN'T blowing, blue skies, flowers on trees, and lovely allergies. Well, not loving the allergies these days...What I am loving is that today, I am the Featured Guest Blogger at <a href="http://thinkwonderteach.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Think, Wonder, and Teach</a>! <br />
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She has such a great blog that has a wonderful mix of humor and practical classroom ideas! Go check her out and of course, check out my <a href="http://thinkwonderteach.blogspot.com/2012/04/guest-ramblings-of-5th-grade-teacher.html" target="_blank">Rambling post</a> on her blog today. (I'm doing the happy dance this morning! Which of course my students and family members know looks more like a person who stuck her fingers in an outlet, but I'm happy dancing nonetheless.)</div>
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Mrs. M</div>Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-75138605645253963912012-04-22T18:11:00.000-07:002012-04-22T18:11:39.629-07:00Math Fact Tower Collapse and Dirty Socks: Ramblings of a Teacher with No Clean Laundry Happy Sunday! This post is going to hopefully be a useful idea for your classroom; it will however, also be short and sweet because the sun is shining and it's warm outside....OK, actually the sun is starting to set, the wind is blowing a bit (in Wyoming just a bit means a slow 10-20mph), I have no laundry for any member of our household, and I need snuggle time with my baby boy. <br />
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Here is an activity that you can use for any subject. Using the game where you stack wood pieces then try to pull them out until it collapses, (not sure of how to address copyright/etc...help please!), you can create a fun practice time. <br />
I wrote division fact problems through 12 on each piece, except 4 which say "They're Mine!" and "Gotcha!" <br />
Students can work individually, with partners, or as teams, trying to answer as many of the problems before the tower collapses. <br />
If a student pulls a "They're Mine!" piece, they have 3 seconds a problem to answer the opposing team's, or person of their choice's, wood pieces. All correct they get to take, the wrong or too long to answer pieces the first team doesn't lose. (I know, awkward sentence, but seriously folks..no laundry means no socks and no..well, you know.)<br />
"Gotcha" can mean game over or lose a turn-teacher choice.<br />
Game is over when tower falls or a "Gotcha" is pulled. <br />
I have used this game for math facts, vocabulary review, test prep, team building (getting to know you at the beginning of the year), DOL style practice, etc. The sky is the limit on what you can do with that amazing collapsible game. <br />
Short, sweet, hopefully helpful, and probably filled with typos, but tonight is what it is...and it is time to log off. Enjoy a WONDERFUL week at school! I know I will! <br />
<br />Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-28118043137298252592012-04-16T17:35:00.003-07:002012-04-16T17:35:58.456-07:00Biography Bottle Buddy Pics <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/04/spring-time-flu-and-wonderful-blog.html" target="_blank">NyQuil has been taken,</a> and it is almost time to stretch out on the couch and watch the Rockies play. However, I wanted to show you some of the AMAZING pictures of the bottle buddies my students created this year. I posted previously about the <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/03/spring-break-envy-and-biography-bottle.html" target="_blank">biography presentation and bottle buddies</a>. I also have the <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Living-Biography-and-Bottle-Buddy-Rubric" target="_blank">directions and rubric FREE on teacherspayteachers.com</a> (I always feel like a used car salesman when typing that!)<br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Living-Biography-and-Bottle-Buddy-Rubric" target="_blank"><img border="0" closure_uid_whnx8d="7" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzsnZ5E5XYdlpIPQKjy3e3F6e5XR0rgDZKQJb9_KcV2UxWMqvsr_bdCrixrChAmNfoeR0FdPFHs7al4UqTjwht9hhumd0XxPr_Nm0YNpWZReSogqdmcUZlT1lrXUVMhDjp81jouuk9c4/s320/Bio+Buddy+Rubric.JPG" width="303" /></a><br />
This was the first year that I added the bottle buddies as part of the project and it was a HUGE success. I also had the students do a wax museum for the school, and I have to say, I felt like a proud momma as I watched every student do a phenominal job of it. I did have to laugh when by the end there were some complaints about how tired they were of repeating the same information over and over. Hmmm. Not even going to go there. :OD<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie Curie, Helen Keller, Rosie the Riveter, and Harriet Tubman</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4HaV2P4blwA2ch2IICHWcd6Aka-JQxhCClnLbADL0RBZUjf2evvcStADQCSXisG_7zGlmZzY_RNMvwGJzUKXrpQzuoHBLJ2zVv8QTAHGCYn0blvpkY7G2R_XtP7Nwfkv4lalqIyscXM/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4HaV2P4blwA2ch2IICHWcd6Aka-JQxhCClnLbADL0RBZUjf2evvcStADQCSXisG_7zGlmZzY_RNMvwGJzUKXrpQzuoHBLJ2zVv8QTAHGCYn0blvpkY7G2R_XtP7Nwfkv4lalqIyscXM/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie Curie has a battery pack so that the radium actually glows! Super creativity!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRXTp1Ut5LAwkySUwyP43mwwbkNNgxCWpF8isJy1KtUJKJpFCuT9nLsDqQaKbKZnLWIMeJRK6HHV9rIVH3QQDbY-21tMx0_qc9NlKfTBbQ5ranDv9rjbkAulYgduER3KsJX-r5kDyvJ0/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRXTp1Ut5LAwkySUwyP43mwwbkNNgxCWpF8isJy1KtUJKJpFCuT9nLsDqQaKbKZnLWIMeJRK6HHV9rIVH3QQDbY-21tMx0_qc9NlKfTBbQ5ranDv9rjbkAulYgduER3KsJX-r5kDyvJ0/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting Bull and Geronimo also came to visit our classroom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke15j7xx_HO1pUHc5NYC-0JPfGd8sTZEl8UY4OCmB2cAPa19FR1CHcb7g9jVOmw2wx9K0JJiJKTA9idHJqJHK6Jxs43hRxTOesEZNikVuNAUeBiZkq_HketxhpGj2sv9eNs0ghDl0yTA/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke15j7xx_HO1pUHc5NYC-0JPfGd8sTZEl8UY4OCmB2cAPa19FR1CHcb7g9jVOmw2wx9K0JJiJKTA9idHJqJHK6Jxs43hRxTOesEZNikVuNAUeBiZkq_HketxhpGj2sv9eNs0ghDl0yTA/s320/DSC_0073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were in the presence of Paul Revere, Ponce De Leon, JFK, Abe Lincoln, and Ben Franklin</td></tr>
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Once again, I want to say how proud I am of my "Maylians"! You truly made this 5th grade teacher proud. Not to mention, you set the bar high for the next assignment....(insert evil laughter!)Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-88279901145596211712012-04-16T15:32:00.000-07:002012-04-16T15:32:14.393-07:00Spring Time Flu and a Wonderful Blog Surprise It is officially 2:47pm where I live and I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I am just rolling out of bed. Well, I am just rolling out of bed for the 2nd time today. One of the many darlings at school, or adults at the meeting I attended all weekend, or that lovely person with dirty hands at some store shared the flu with me. Thank you. Thank you very much. I don't know about other teachers, but there is nothing better then feeling rotten and having the pleasure of going into work for an hour plus to get ready for a sub. (Noooo, not one ounce of sarcasm in this post today!) <br />
However, I did get an amazing nap in that didn't include a husband, toddler, or dogs kicking and stepping on me. When I woke up, I grabbed my handy dandy Kindle Fire and found 2 wonderful blog surprises! The first is that I was the winner of a test prep freebie from Elizabeth at Fun in 4B. <br />
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<a href="http://funin4b.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Fun in Room 4B" src="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i366/dreamlikemagic/blogs/button-145.png" title="http://funin4B.blogspot.com" /></a></div>
That is awesome! I am the person that could be the ONLY one in a raffle...and still not win. I am so glad to have found her blog; we cocontribute to <a href="http://3-6freeresources.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">3-6 Free Resources</a>. Check out Elizabeth's blog if you haven't already! <br />
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The 2nd big surprise was that I have been tagged by Teresa at the fabulous Confessions of a Teaching Junkie. </div>
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Now, I know for some of you amazing bloggers that these tag games are old news, and from your blogs you are a little out of breath from all the running during tag. But for this fairly newbie blogger, I am excited! I love games and I have been sitting on the sidelines thinking to myself, "Pick me! Pick me! I'll play!" </div>
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<u>Here are the rules:</u></div>
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* Post these rules</div>
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* Answer the 10 questions that the tagger posted for you</div>
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* Create 10 questions of your own to ask the people that you're about to tag</div>
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* Tag 10 people and link them with your post ( and let them know they've been tagged!)</div>
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So, here we go...</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is your biggest classroom pet peeve?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Students or adults packing up when a presenter, another student, or myself is still talking. Seriously, the bell has not rung people! :D </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you could be anywhere else right now, where would you be? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Someplace tropical…sigh…</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where is somewhere you have always wanted to go, but have never been?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Australia…should I keep going??</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who’s your HERO?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>I know I should say one of the many amazing people past and present who have positively contributed to society, but I’d say my son. He is 2 ½ years old and was born 10 weeks early. He was only 2 pounds 12 ounces and spent the first two months of his amazing life in the NICU with machines beeping and cords and wires poked and prodded into different body parts. He is a determined, active, and independent toddler now and I am so proud of him. Last year he was one of the Wyoming Ambassadors for the March of Dimes. He is my hero!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What teacher reading have you done most recently? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Currently, I am reading <u>The Book Whisperer</u> by Donalyn Miller and <u>The End of Molasses Classes</u> by Ron Clark. Every day I thumb through <u>Strategies that Work</u> by Stephanie Harvey. (Just found out today that I’ll be attending a conference this summer where Stephanie Harvey is presenting…and just a minute ago found out that there is another summer institute to attend with Stephanie Harvey as the main presenter...can’t wait!)</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What famous person would you most like to have dinner with and why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>I’m stealing this answer from another blogger, but I’d love to have dinner with my “famous” blogger buddies because if you guys are as amazing as your blogs, I’d be a better teacher from learning from all of you. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you could be the principal for one day at your school, what change would you make?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>No way. Nope. Not happening. I wouldn’t want her job for 1 second with the pressures coming down the pike. Keep me in my classroom with my kiddos, my head down, and my focus of the students’ needs and educations. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is your favorite type of cookie?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Duh…any that has sugar in them!</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is the best gift that you have received from a student?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>A former student came up to me and told me that when he graduates, I will be the teacher he asks to come to his graduation. That made me tear up and was shared with me while I was secretly contemplating if I could truly handle and thrive in the current stresses of education. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How many more days of school do you have until summer break?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Not counting because we have WWAAAYYY too many things to accomplish! Seriously; no joke. Yikes! I need months!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong> </strong>Ok, I know I need to pick 10 people and add my own questions, but I've already had stop and rest twice while writing this section. Time for NyQuil and more sleep for this Rambling Fifth Grade Teacher. I promise to finish and actually blog ideas instead of Linkys and Tags. Night All!</span></div>
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.Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-38057986849418291972012-04-07T18:24:00.000-07:002012-04-07T18:24:23.795-07:00Here Linky Linky! Here Linky Linky!: A "Positive and Currently" type of Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Managed to finish lesson plans, create neccesary documents for said lesson plans, cleaned Little Man's <strike>chicken coop</strike> bedroom, watching some Rockies baseball..all this means is that I have time to do a little Linky-Uppy. (Two posts in one day; and both before dark-WOW!)</div>
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Linky Party 1 is such a great idea! Let's share the positives that happen in our classroom. We know that there are lots of them...despite the negativity of outside sources! I'm cheating a bit because we are just finishing up spring break so I'm sharing a pre during and post spring break positive. What positives have been happening in your classroom?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGZ-XPvMeDgvrKirYic4EROkRzpJMUlGHWeI3ZI8PrrRADiqpEdM7D-i3p9MN4N9PXKkpiSpuoglBrREcOD1bxa9gviw93Dl7g_QySTYww2AdTXzpnx4_Jzpq_WtJW_CghziP4P6dfJ0/s1600/Positive+Linky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGZ-XPvMeDgvrKirYic4EROkRzpJMUlGHWeI3ZI8PrrRADiqpEdM7D-i3p9MN4N9PXKkpiSpuoglBrREcOD1bxa9gviw93Dl7g_QySTYww2AdTXzpnx4_Jzpq_WtJW_CghziP4P6dfJ0/s320/Positive+Linky.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://confessionsofateachingjunkie.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-went-right-today-linky-party.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Confessions of a Teaching Junkie</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> Go check it out! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">BTW: </span><span style="font-size: small;">Wondering where I got the idea for my blog title today? My Little Man is currently outside looking for the Easter "Rabbit". I was watching him wander the yard, hitting his leg to get the bunny that was in the yard to come to him. In his own words, "Eas'er Dambit! Come 'ere Dambit!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Linky 2 is Just as Positive, and one I've started to look forward to each month! </span><a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2012/04/fb-currently-april-nautical-yummy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2Fjtmhg+%28Oh%27+Boy+4th+Grade%29" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Farley's blog at Oh' Boy 4th Grade</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> is always a fun blog that I enjoy everytime she posts. She is funny, and I can only aspire to her wit! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMs8ecFPMBRpkhh9U8j4cCAbDxc5BLgriZUUPsdky7CIBgK1ZzczbWiZQlRLA1nrCjocq_ULiXrLTi1YtdFAz951zhO0eRnfmKZP87bBQdeECeEz-wfzKrz2rLdS94EroVsJyvoBcVV4/s1600/currently.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMs8ecFPMBRpkhh9U8j4cCAbDxc5BLgriZUUPsdky7CIBgK1ZzczbWiZQlRLA1nrCjocq_ULiXrLTi1YtdFAz951zhO0eRnfmKZP87bBQdeECeEz-wfzKrz2rLdS94EroVsJyvoBcVV4/s400/currently.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-33749162144002597922012-04-07T11:21:00.000-07:002012-04-07T11:21:00.546-07:00"Sometimes You're the Windshield, Sometimes You're the Bug": An Unitentional Linky Party Miss and A Geometry Clubhouse Does anyone remember the country song with the line, "Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes your the bug...sometimes you're the Louisville Slugger, sometimes you're the ball..." Well, last week I was not the windshield, nor was I the Louisville Slugger. (Tammy- that quote is for you!) My Maylians are always top notch, however, it was a rough and crazy week. Let's just say that the staff knows there was a record set! Now though, after a week off I am ready to inspire, facilitate, and enrich my students' knowledge. (This usually involves some amazing <strike>seizure like</strike> dance moves, <strike>not so</strike> funny jokes, and lots of coffee-on my part, not the kids! Don't worry parents; no caffeine was used in the enriching of your child's education!) I am sad to say that I missed out on several fun linky parties, but I really needed to step away from the computer for the week. <br />
I don't know about everyone else, but in our district we finished the state assessment, however we have our district assessment looming closer. Add to the mix that we have massive amounts of curriculum still to follow, and that leaves me with...renewed energy that this last quarter the students are going to use the skills we have learned in a variety of real life type situations. (Ok, so it really leaves me with a bit of a stress headache, but I needed a lead-in...work with me people!)<br />
I grew up with parents that are both master teachers, plus my dad does a variety of construction projects as his teacher stress relief. This week I am channeling my dad's skills (and I'm not too shabby with a hammer and power tools myself) and the students will be creating 3D clubhouses out of cardboard. My Maylians have to create a floor plan, get it approved, then they can build from their plans. Geometry, number operations, and problem solving will be afoot in my afternoon math group!<br />
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Here is a quick example of a floor plan for a clubhouse. (Yes, this is my clubhouse and yes, my students will do a MUCH better job on theirs!)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt8cs-1Vd9jkRpl7oYobx5EGJgX4eIynoptJw-UyRJreRLdD9G9_Fhs_GXfSmkN_5wCFpKSlPR898Cw0wrsXVD_89NO3uyZT65GD5m5DBNQkU1mfswhbt_Za2wjD4PLk0gbX2rDyBeK4/s1600/DSC_5231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt8cs-1Vd9jkRpl7oYobx5EGJgX4eIynoptJw-UyRJreRLdD9G9_Fhs_GXfSmkN_5wCFpKSlPR898Cw0wrsXVD_89NO3uyZT65GD5m5DBNQkU1mfswhbt_Za2wjD4PLk0gbX2rDyBeK4/s320/DSC_5231.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice I did not include any measurements...haha I am the teacher...haha I am on Spring Break...haha I threw this picture together quickly...oh, um.. I worked really hard on the floor plan...</td></tr>
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We only have a week, but with more time the students would also have to use local ads to figure cost to place a bid on the construction of their clubhouse. (Everyone sing from the tune from "Wizard of Oz".. "If I only had more time...) I am including a link to <a href="http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L651" target="_blank">the NCTM resource page</a> that is similar to what I do in my classroom because I do not have access to my files at this moment. They have included lesson plans, printouts, etc. I'll post our examples next weekend. I am excited to see what the kids plan. <br />
Well, my little darling is taking his "my chickies" to their permanent home at his grandpa's house. Which means, I need to get off the computer and pick up the toddler tornadoes path of destruction that I call our home. Have a great Saturday; and I hope to be on tomorrow to share my fun Vista Print Order and a Choose Your Own Adventure How to.. <br />
(Sometimes You're The Bug: Written by Mark Knopfler, Sung by Mary Chapin Carpenter)Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-88153573512202075492012-03-26T17:42:00.000-07:002012-03-26T17:48:39.480-07:00Spring Break Envy and a Biography Bottle Buddy<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I have to admit as I have been stalking all the amazing educator blogs that I am a bit jealous of all those that have had or are on spring break. We are still plugging away, but boy my kids are rock stars! Not only have they completed a wide variety of acronym labeled assessments, they haven’t let the amazing spring weather deter them….too much…from having a positive learning attitude! My positive learning attitude is hopefully displaying energetic, but that is due to major consumption of caffeine. (I asked for a direct coffee iv to the heart today, but she just laughed...umm, I wasn't joking...) Thankfully, break is in sight. Only 4 days…30 hours…1800 minutes…but who is counting? :D </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Interested in a unique way to have student’s present biography reports? How about a <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Living-Biography-and-Bottle-Buddy-Rubric" target="_blank">bottle buddy</a>? (No, I’m not talking about what we sometimes wish for as we grade, file massive amounts of paperwork, and deal with the ever increasing number of assessments…) I’m talking about a biography bottle buddy; think Austin Power’s Mini Me. I don't have any pictures yet, but Google, Bing, or Use a lifeline to check out the adorable examples on the web. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Using an empty bottle, foam craft ball, and an exciting amount of craft supplies, students will be creating a miniature replica of their famous person. Putting sand in the bottom of the bottle is a must to keep them standing. This is a fun addition to a rigorous curriculum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Living-Biography-and-Bottle-Buddy-Rubric" target="_blank">Click here for the free download of a parent letter and rubric</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> In addition to the biography buddy, my students will be doing </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> “A Living Biography". </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Each month, or so, depending on you guessed it, our assessments, my students work on a home project that correlates to our standards and GVC.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> In previous years they have done the presentation as a “Dead Famous American,” but I had many students interested in a variety of non-Americans. Who am I to stand in the way of learning? Especially student directed learning!</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am including the <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Living-Biography-and-Bottle-Buddy-Rubric" target="_blank">free download of the parent letter and rubric</a> explaining the projects and the rubric I created. Truthfully, my kiddos are a bit burned out, so I changed the writing portion from an expository essay to an acrostic poem. The expository essay would have been perfect as we have been working on accurately quoting, works sited, using evidence from text, etc. but my parents didn’t raise a dummy, and as I mentioned before… did I mention?…assessments….lots of them…no spring break….</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a final note, but just as exciting; I will be helping to contribute to <a href="http://3-6freeresources.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">3-6 Free Resources</a>. This is the great <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/03/so-much-for-early-night-just-have-to.html" target="_blank">new site with the cute coffee theme that I posted about last week</a> as I rambled late into the night. Come check out some wonderful ideas and free resources for 3-6 classrooms!</span></div>Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-3949970133800992002012-03-21T22:54:00.003-07:002012-03-21T22:58:23.915-07:00Coffee Ramblings of a Linky Party and Giveaway Well, so much for an early night! I just have to link up with 2 great blogs; both have 1 thing in common-my favorite morning beverage. I know after yet another late night I'm going to need some coffee. You know that I have coffee fever when my toddler starts shouting at my favorite local coffee drive-up barista, "My coffee! Want mmmyyyy coffeee!" No lie! Ask Kathy at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Coffee-Cabin/110002939020818" target="_blank">The Coffee Cabin</a>. Happened this morning in fact. I'm guessing it is also not a good sign when students start writing journal prompts about Mrs. M's magic morning coffee. Sigh...wish there was a delivery latte service right now...deep sigh...<br />
Moving on from that dwelling is a fun education blog with a coffee theme: <a href="http://3-6freeresources.blogspot.com/p/grade-5-blogs.html" target="_blank">3-6 Free Reources</a> is having a linky party to help alleviate the daily "grind" of teaching. Who can't use more super ideas?<br />
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<a href="http://3-6freeresources.blogspot.com/p/grade-5-blogs.html" target="_blank">Link up with 3-6 Free Resources: Split by Grade Levels</a></div>
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The second and last link tonight (and I promise final for at least well, 24 hours) is from <a href="http://thinkwonderteach.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-have-coffee.html" target="_blank">Think, Wonder, and Teach</a>. I met her through another linky party. See <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/03/ding-ding-ding-technology-boxing-match.html" target="_blank">exhibit A</a> for my "shocking" oops at that linky party. She is linked up with <a href="http://vasquezfrogs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies</a> to give away a $10 Starbucks card. Pick me! Pick me! I am tempted to put in fake links for this post so that others can't have a chance at the card because I want it. " My coffee card! Want mmmmyyyyyy coooofffeeeee card!!!"</div>
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<a href="http://thinkwonderteach.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-have-coffee.html" target="_blank">$10 Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway</a></div>
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I have now taken away another 2 hours of possible rest, but this blogging is well worth it! My friend Tammy is going to have to get me my coffee IV in the morning for sure. Night all!</div>
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<br />Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-75540428592925046492012-03-21T20:21:00.000-07:002012-03-21T20:21:43.722-07:00Ding, Ding, Ding: A Technology Boxing Match and a Linky Retry<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">This has been a week of fighting technology. Last week I had linked to <a href="http://vasquezfrogs.blogspot.com/2012/03/calling-all-3rd-4th-5th-grade-teacher.html">Lorraine's 3rd-5th Grade Linky party</a>, but half way through I heard a pop and sizzle...yes my CPU shorted out somehow. Guess it was one hot link! (I'm just thankful it wasn't the darn mouse that <a href="http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-animals-were-harmed-during-this-blog.html">chewed all the wires on my car</a>. Scroll to the bottom of the post to see that craziness!) Needless to say, I wasn't able to finish following the directions per her website. Now with a new CPU, new blog button (Yay me!!), and even a new blog design and header, I am trying to link again. Sigh...and I was so excited to be in the lower numbers to link. Oh well, 99-100 is a great link number!<br />
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<a href="http://vasquezfrogs.blogspot.com/2012/03/calling-all-3rd-4th-5th-grade-teacher.html">Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies- A Linky Party!</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well, since I have spent<strike> time that I should have been cleaning, doing laundry, playing with my little man, vegging on the couch</strike> a lot of time updating my blog and creating my blog button, I need to call it quits tonight. My husband just asked me if he needed to join my site for me to talk to him.....well, that is a thought and I'd love more followers! I promise to blog tomorrow with actual classroom ideas, ramblings, and hopefully a sense of humor tomorrow! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Let me know what you think of my new Grab Button and Blog Header. First six to comment (hey- I only have 6 followers!) will get a free download of a Biography Bottle Buddy parent letter and rubric. Just leave your email with your comment. I will be posting the actual idea and instructions tomorrow. </span><br />
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</tbody></table>Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2801642444257518472.post-67812158400107679362012-03-20T23:39:00.002-07:002012-03-20T23:39:43.664-07:00Blog Button Vs. Me Round 2 Ha! Yes, Ha! Little blog button with html code thought itself was funny and tricky! I showed it! Got it to work! (Yes! There are LOTS of exclamation marks tonight!!!) Now here is the sad thing....I decided I didn't like my button, so I pulled the button off of my blog until I could revamp it tomorrow. Stay tuned for tomorrow's unveiling of a blog button. <br />
As a side note, this means that the last hours of fighting the evil blog button meant that my stack of papers to grade didn't get graded...going to bed after midnight and up early in the morning to grade. The life of a teacher...Good night all!Mrs. Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654480997797574311noreply@blogger.com1