59/365 Sunday Donuts

58/365 Test Study

How to prepare for CSAP (Colorado Student Assessment Program) is a BIG question, and there are many answers - depending on who you ask. For me the answer is an INQUIRY STUDY of the test genre. My students have done some GREAT thinking about tests and I know they will be successful on CSAP because they will be FERVENT test takers and they BELIEVE in themselves.

57/365 Special Binder

Every month we have a Pride Assembly at my school. We honor those students who are "Wall of Fame" students and also those who have made great improvement. Today I honored one of my students. Her binder (see photo) has helped her reach GREATNESS!!

56/365 Manitowoc

The next time you get a soda from the drink machine... check to see if there is a Manitowoc Ice Machine attached. :) Those machines and Manitowoc have a special place in my heart.

55/365 Warming Up

My daughter has begun thinking (and warming up) for summer swim team.

54/365 Supplies

Ear infections are no fun.

53/365 Good Times

Today was a Good Times day! Great way to end a surprisingly nice Monday.

52/365 Laundry

The washer is fixed (after a week) and I found myself being excited about doing laundry.

51/365 Attending Colearning @ HOME

Here is my conference seat for Colearning! I'm so thankful for live streaming!

50/365 Warm. Happy. Fireplace.

It began to snow again at the end of our school day. I now am home and enjoying a warm fire in the fireplace.

49/365 Workshop-Responsibilities

After spending a day observing a PEBC lab classroom - I came back and checked in with my class about our responsibilities during reading workshop. The students wrote down all their thinking on the board (see photo). I'm definitely an advocate for the workshop model and have seen a ton of reading and writing being done in my class EVERY day.

PS - A few students distracted me while I was trying to write responsibilities. They had a good laugh at how I spelled it. I use my lack of spelling prowess to model that it is the thought that counts.

48/365 Little Writer

My son (in Kindergarten) is growing as a writer! I loved watching him plan and write his Valentine's Day paragraph today.

47/365 NCAR Trip

We took our 5th graders to NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) today. I learned that I. M. Pei designed the building. Wish I could work in a building designed by I. M.!

46/365 Grading Intervention Needed

OK... I'm guilty! I need an intervention... I hate grading! I LOVE my job, but I need to NOT let the papers pile up. Any advice is welcomed. :)

45/365 The Inside of our Washer

I'm so thankful for my DAD! He is always there when something needs fixing. I learn so much from him. Today I saw the inside of our washing machine!

44/365 More... Girl Scout Cookies

ReEnna and I worked a cookie booth sale today for her troop. From this experience I confidently say that my daughter will NOT be in sales when she grows up.

43/365 Embedded Technology

This Inspiration Web was shared with a few of my co-workers who attended my embedded technology session today. Preparing for this session was a GREAT learning experience. I noticed that I take for granted the technology that I use throughout my day. Just like when I come back from vacation and the mountains look HUGE... my use of technology looked huge as I spent a few days really paying attention. I'm thankful for having the opportunity to reflect, share and grow with my co-workers.

42/365 Roller Skating

The roller skating tradition continues... we do this every year (in lieu of Valentines Parties)!

I fully enjoy watching the expressions of 5th & 6th grade students seeing their teacher (ME) skating!

41/365 Happy Hydrant

40/365 Embedded Technology

Laptop cart that is embedded into our coat rack. :)

39/365 Cold & Snow

I was a bit surprised by the cold and snow yesterday and today. It made for a true "Monday" with an inside day and no sun shining.

38/365 Cube Car

I'm a bit jealous of my friend Shelia... she bought a new Nissan Cube.

37/365 Girl Scout Cookies

Sorting Girl Scout Cookies... Fun Fun Fun!

36/365 Thinking Day

Tonight my daughter is participating in Thinking Day with her Girl Scout troop. They learned about Greece and are sharing this information with other troops. I was able to help the girls have the "toga" look by cutting up a large round tablecloth I found at Goodwill. Took me back to my days in the costume shop @ Doane.

35/365 Grammar

Our grammar inquiry study is going wonderfully! Today I asked the students (they were in small groups) to code some text and I was amazed that they were ALL engaged for 45 minutes!!

34/365 IWB

My twitter learning community has kept me thinking about how I use my Interactive White Board (Smartboard). It is a great learning tool and I've been very mindful about keeping students interacting with the board every day. In this photo they are sorting their words from their word study (Words Their Way).

33/365 Feedback

One of the things that I struggle with as a teacher is giving timely and meaningful feedback to my students. Thanks to post-it-notes... I have a reminder and I know that it really needs to be a focus EVERY week, but I'm behind on some grading so feedback is top priority this week.

32/365 New Month

So far the calendar isn't too full...