More Shoes!

Here are three other shoes I have painted recently. The first pair (Wildcats) I did for myself. The second pair (Rangers) I did for my friend Caitlyn, and the third pair (UNT) I did for my friend Michelle. I am having a lot of fun painting these so hopefully there will be more to come! :)

Rangers Shoes!

Needless to say I haven't posted in a LONGGGGG time. BUT---now that it's summer...maybe I will have a life. I will catch you up on what's all going on in our lives soon, but for now...here is a project that I did today for Misty. Painted Rangers "Toms." Hope you like them! Go Rangers!

Operation Vocabulary

Eventually I will post about what Matt and I are up to, but as you can see from my posts school is pretty much on my mind 24/7. Test season is in full gear and I'm doing everything I can to get my kids ready. This is a little chart I made with a chant that a few of my co-workers and I came up with. It seems silly, but it helps! We hold our nose when we are saying "A Skunk Stinks Daily" and then we make ducks wings when we are saying "My Penguin Doesn't Quack."    Enjoy :)

New Bulletin Board

Here is the new bulletin board Kristin (a.k.a. my sister-in-law) help me put up outside my room. Hopefully the kids will come back from Spring Break referesed and ready to 'Rock-It" through the STAARS!!! :)

P.S. The colors are much better in person! This was taken with my iPhone. The paper on the rocket and the border is sparkly :)

3rd Grade Math- Anchor Charts/Posters

WARNING: If you are not a teacher, you probably won't care about this post!

Most of you know that this is my first year teaching. I have made MANY anchor charts and posters this year. I am on Pinterest all the time looking for new ideas--and believe me...there are a LOT of great ideas on there. The other day it hit me that I've been looking for everyone elses ideas, without sharing any of my own. Since I do have a blog, I thought I would share on here some of the anchor charts and posters that we've made. These all hang on the wall in my classroom.  If you're a teacher, I hope this gives you some new ideas! Hopefully I will post more often about lessons, ideas I have, and things that I am teaching in my room. Enjoy! :)

 I taught this song to my kiddos at the beginning of the year. It was a song that the previous 3rd Grade Math teacher used and I LOVED it!  (To the tune of the Addams Family)

The first picture is a rap that we learned for Rounding. The kids LOVE it! I see them singing it all the time when they are working on a problem. This second poster is a visual I made to keep on my wall. When the kids hear a word like estimate, round, etc. we all make a siren noise so they can clue in on how to solve the problem.

We did three different brace maps to represent three different ways to do multiplication problems.

2 by 1 Digit Multiplication Tree Map

Division Bubble Map (I didn't really use the bubble map in the right format..since you are only supposed to use describing words, but I think that this is a good way to display a LOT of information in a fun way!)

This is the method we used for learning money.

Subtraction- If the bottom number is bigger---then borrow from your neighbor!

Fractions---Probably my favorite thing to teach!

Understanding the increments of an inch on a ruler was so hard for my kids to learn. We do a chant where we make the fraction with our hands. We say 1/4 1/2 3/4 whole! This kinethestic movement helped a TON when we transitioned from fractions to measurement.

Introduction to Measurement

Measurement Anchor Chart - excuse the sloppiness!

Perimeter Anchor Chart

Area Anchor Chart

Here are two pictures (side by side) of the wall in my room. I only shared my Math charts and posters in this post, but I do have thing hung up on my wall for science and social studies since I teach those too. As you can see it is a little busy...but they will definitely be helpful as we are starting to drill skills to get ready for the STAAR test! Eeeekkk!

I hope you enjoyed looking at some of these posters! I implore any teachers out there to also share what you are doing so we can all make a fun, productive learning environment for our kids!

Resolutions

Yes, I do have a few resolutions for the new year...but they are things that I believe I can ACTUALLY commit to. They are not very specific like "I will lose 20 pounds" or "I will read my Bible for 45 min. a day." I am making them more general/realistic because these are not only things that I want to do in 2012...but things that I want to continue to improve on the rest of my life.  I am going to post them on here in hopes that it will keep me more accountable.

1. Improve my Faith and relationship with God by spending more time in his word and in prayer.
2. Give, Love, and Serve everyday.
3. Be a better wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, etc.
4. Live a healthier lifestyle--both mentally and physically (which means joining a gym, worrying less, and trusting more).
5. Be a better teacher and Christian example to my students and co-workers.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! God Bless!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This was our Christmas card for this year.
Thanks Kim for taking our picture! You're awesome! :)