Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Grant Writing Success!

This past school year, Myself along with the APS grant writing team wrote a technology grant. We wrote them in hopes of having 18 ipads funded. We sent them to our local Representatives and our Senator. We sent three grant. If all of them were funded we would have 18 ipads. Before school was out I got word from Representative Rich that he would love to fund our AATI grant!! I am still talking to Senator Scofield about funding the project. The grant writing team is very excited about the six ipads we have coming our way. We are going to put the on a cart so teachers can wheel them in their room  and use them in a center or at small group. We will have to split them between first and second grade. Also, My sweet parents heard me talking about how great an Ipad would be for my classroom. They surprised me last week with my own personal one. I have great parents!!! We hope to get the six Ipads at the beginning of the year.

I can't believe it is almost August!! I have been working in my room a lot, but  I still have a ways to go.

Here are some updated pictures to show my progress!!


My Personal IPad!!


 I used my back counter for a writing/listening station

I love teachers pay teachers!


Picture taken from my door. It is coming together!



Monday, July 16, 2012

My First Award

I am very excited! I was awarded the Liebster Blog Award by Brigid from Brigid's Daily Lesson Log! It makes me happy to know that there are other teachers out there that support me and that take a peek at my blog. Go over and check out Brigid's website and her good ideas.



This award highlights blogs that have under 200 followers.
Here are the rules:
1. Copy and paste this award on your blog.
2. Thank the giver and link back to them.
3. Reveal 5 other bloggers and let them know by commenting on their blog


Here are the 3 bloggers I am awarding today




Sorry guys I could only think of three. Most of the blogs I follow have a lot more than 200 followers!






Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Changing it up...

This whole week I have been very busy in my classroom. It takes a small Army to get  classroom together. Just ask my Husband,  he is part of that Army. He built some AWESOME pallet bookshelves for my room. I am in love with them and they look great in my classroom library. I had decided to keep the polka dot theme from last year and throw in some owls and the chevron pattern. Our teacher work days are August 13-17. I am hoping to be done with my classroom then so that week in August I can work on beginning of school orientation and activities. Here are some updated pictures from my room. It is coming together :)



This was before my library was completed
Love the bookshelves though

New piece I picked up for just $80.00!
I love the chevron pattern

New Focus Wall 
Learned the trick to use paper plates :)




Saturday, July 7, 2012

New School Year

Now that  July Fourth has passed, I feel it is time for me to get busy in my classroom. I have decided to use on owl theme in my classroom this year. I have been able to find many things that are owl themed. Also, I have found Pinterest to be very helpful in the creative ideas department. I have not done a lot in my classsroom yet, but I have been working at home on different projects. Here are a few pictures of things I have gathered and some projects I am working on. I can't wait for my owl classroom to come together.

A friend made this for me. It will hang outside of my room

Working on a stool to have at our meeting area

 Here is what the finished project will look like

Use pizza pans to display who is in what station each day

Here is the inspiration for the project.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Field Day

We had an awesome time at Field day! The kids loved the Olympic theme. We were all very tired at the end of the day though. I think the kids loved the water games the best. I even got a little wet myself. Here are some pictures from our Field day.

Team Canada

Passing the Hula Hoop while holding hands. It was kinda hard

It was time to get dizzy!!

Her face says it all... WE HAD FUN!

Playing on the Playground


We've got spirit yes we do!!

Filling a bucket with water using a sponge. They loved this one.


Always exploring nature....


We were wore out by the end of the day!












Friday, May 11, 2012

Projects coming out of my Ears....

Wow! These last few weeks are going to be stressful. Today we did our Mother's Day Project and worked on our Grouchy Ladybugs. For our Mother's Day Project, I went to Dollar Tree and got some colorful plates. I let the students decorate one and then sprayed in with Mod Podge. We also completed a Mother's Day Packet. I found the packet on Pinterest (my Best Friend).

For our Grouchy Ladybug project we read the story and then watched a little video on Youtube. We then wrote about things that make us grouchy. They turned out pretty cute and made for something good to put  on our classroom door. Now if I can just make it through next Tuesday. That is our field day and we are doing an Olympic theme. Our country is Canada. I am going to be spending my weekend painting red maple leaves on 18 shirts. (Don't be too jealous) After Tuesday I will share pictures from our field day.




Our Classroom Door


Making our Mother's Day Project



This has been a Wonderful Tool 






Friday, May 4, 2012

Courage Carnival

We had a wonderful time at the the Carnival. I think my kids favorite part was getting to meet Zoey though. She is in preschool here and she has a type of brian cancer. We got to watch a video about Zoey and we wanted to do our part to help raise money in her name. We loved getting to dunk Coach Walker and see him get wet! Here are some pictures from the carnival. You might notice that the quality of my pictures are better. that is because my awesome husband got me a Nikon D3000 for my Birthday. 

My sweet girls

Coach Walker about to get wet!

Face painting was fun


This is Zoey

Enjoying the Carnival