Ever wanted to donate to a charity or a cause and didn't because you were not exactly sure who your money would help or what it would be spent on? If those causes were education related, Donors Choose is the answer! Thousands of teachers have projects listed from every state. Everything is for their classroom. The teachers never see money and are only given the supplies that are listed in their project, so there is no fear of your hard earned money being used for anything but these amazing projects.
I, of course, have projects up and ready to be funded. One is for picture books to use in the classroom. Not just for my students to read, but for me to teach with. Starting any unit with a good book is sure to capture the attention of my 6 and 7 year olds. The other is for iPods in the classroom. I have a link at upper right hand side of this blog... it goes to my giving page. You just donate to it and the money goes to my projects.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! Donors Choose is hosting a matching campaign from March 12-19. If you donate between these dates they will match whatever you donate! All you need is the matching code... which they haven't released yet. But as soon as they do, I will let everyone know so you can get double your impact for your donation.
If helping out a classroom and students wasn't enough, you also get a tax break. Every donation is tax deductible. Everyone wins! So, give $5, $10, $500...ha. It would be amazing to have both of my projects funded in the double matching week. I think we can do it!!!!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tattle Box
This post was here, and now it is gone. The only thing left was the comments, title, and labels. How strange is that? I was writing about my tattle box. I have one in the classroom so the kids can write down all their tattles. Basically in all my ramblings, I said that this is the best way to keep the kids from interrupting the class for tattling and have them practice writing all while feeling like they are still being heard. Here's a picture of my tattle box.
The kids each have a pad of paper in their desks so they can write down what they need to tattle about. They are only allowed to put tattles in the box when we line up. The box is conveniently located on a shelf just by the door.
If anyone has the original post in an email, please let me know! I will repost. I can not remember all of my witty remarks from the first time around.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Valentine's Day!
For the Halloween party I served the food too soon. For the Winter party we had too many tasks to accomplish them all. I think now I have it figured out. One project, one Valentine's work book, and food served the last 15 minutes of the party. I only let 5 kids pass out cards at a time, so it worked well. I actually came through with my maze idea! I love when I think of something and I actually do it.
The kids LOVED them - a lot more then I thought they would.
Their project was to make a book for their parents (or grandparents, or aunts, or uncles, whomever they preferred) The front title was "I Love You" by: Student Name.
The book had between 2 and 6 pages. Each page said "I love you because..." and then they finished the sentence.
Normally I would have had them do more on their own, but I just did a sentence starter so we could get it done in the amount of time allotted and it would still be cute.
One of my little girls made this adorable valentine box for me to collect all my valentine's in.
Oh, and on a Teacher of the Year note... our amazing custodian put up my pole for me so I have a designated parking spot. So excited :-)
Happy Valentine's Day to all!
The kids LOVED them - a lot more then I thought they would.
Their project was to make a book for their parents (or grandparents, or aunts, or uncles, whomever they preferred) The front title was "I Love You" by: Student Name.
The book had between 2 and 6 pages. Each page said "I love you because..." and then they finished the sentence.
Normally I would have had them do more on their own, but I just did a sentence starter so we could get it done in the amount of time allotted and it would still be cute.
One of my little girls made this adorable valentine box for me to collect all my valentine's in.
Oh, and on a Teacher of the Year note... our amazing custodian put up my pole for me so I have a designated parking spot. So excited :-)
Happy Valentine's Day to all!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tornadoes and Teacher of the Year!
This morning we had a gathering and I was awarded Teacher of the Year! I'm so amazed and humbled! I have awesome colleagues, so to know that they think I am great is just the best feeling.
We also had a short day for the kiddos and the teachers were off to Professional Development. We have been learning about storms all week so today we focused on tornadoes and made some tornadoes with our big buddies (a third grade class down the hall). The students thought this was the best! It's so easy too. I bought a case of the cheap bottled water (since you have to fill the bottles with water anyway...). I tore the labels off and gave one bottle to each student. We put in a few squirts of dish soap and some glitter. I found the best idea for adding the glitter - just wet a pencil in water, stick it in the glitter, then put it in the bottle of water. The glitter washes off into the bottle. Simple, clean, no mess - and the perfect amount. The buddies had a great time shaking the bottle and finding the best way to make a tornado. We found that it is easiest to see if you turn the bottle cap side down and shake it very fast like a maraca as opposed to swirling or spinning the bottle. I failed to bring my iPad to school today so no pictures of all the fun. Maybe next time.
Still, here is a link to a great video with some visuals on how to make the tornado (including the pencil in glitter trick) Click on the picture below.
We also had a short day for the kiddos and the teachers were off to Professional Development. We have been learning about storms all week so today we focused on tornadoes and made some tornadoes with our big buddies (a third grade class down the hall). The students thought this was the best! It's so easy too. I bought a case of the cheap bottled water (since you have to fill the bottles with water anyway...). I tore the labels off and gave one bottle to each student. We put in a few squirts of dish soap and some glitter. I found the best idea for adding the glitter - just wet a pencil in water, stick it in the glitter, then put it in the bottle of water. The glitter washes off into the bottle. Simple, clean, no mess - and the perfect amount. The buddies had a great time shaking the bottle and finding the best way to make a tornado. We found that it is easiest to see if you turn the bottle cap side down and shake it very fast like a maraca as opposed to swirling or spinning the bottle. I failed to bring my iPad to school today so no pictures of all the fun. Maybe next time.
Still, here is a link to a great video with some visuals on how to make the tornado (including the pencil in glitter trick) Click on the picture below.
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