8 years and Counting

Yesterday marked the end of my eighth year of teaching (all in second grade).  I promised myself I was not going to be sad since it had not been an easy year. That was easier said than done.
We had a fun week, full of special events (puzzles, favorite songs, show-and-tell, picnic, end of year memory book, pictures wearing Mexican hats, last class picture, awards and a present from me). 
I really do speak from the heart those last five minutes while giving them my last speech.  I always beg them not to let anyone take their dreams away.. no matter how hard it is to reach them. That is when I always loose the "strong teacher image" everyone has of me. I had to pause a few times and take deep breaths.  I received some amazing hugs and great compliments about our year together. While lining up for dismissal, one of my girls said "Thank you for an amazing year"... and that is what brings me back to teaching each and every day. I am getting teary again :(
Beginning Monday, we have a week of meetings and time to work in our rooms to get them ready for Meet the Teacher this Thursday. Hopefully I get my new class list and begin labeling everything! I have a thing for labels :) Since I work in a year round school, my peers begin the new school year July 9th. I go on break for 2 weeks and 2 day. Woohooo!!!
We are planning on being here  for a week or so.  
I visited Disney World for my 21st birthday (long time ago) with my best friend and my then boyfriend A.K.A hubby. 5 years ago, we took my son before he started kindergarten. We stayed in an all inclusive resort, ate Mickey Mouse waflles every day, and surrounded ourselves with all the magic... boy style.
This time is my daughter's first time, right before she enters kindergarten, along with my mother who is visiting from Mexico City for two months.  I am super excited to do the girly version this time!
We are trying to do this the 'cheap way'.   We are driving and staying off Disney property. Any tips?

Animal Research

This week we were able to publish our animal research projects.   The kids really enjoyed that!  I was thrilled to see how excited they continue to be, even though we have 5 days left!

I have to confess... These reflections were my favorite part.  The kids will read, learn, discover... but the power of reflecting about their work and learning is far more important (in my opinion).  If I can have them reflect on their learning goals... the sky is the limit!  What do you guys think?

You can find the Animal Research project here.

Father's Day Project

The kids LOVED making these photo albums filled with things about their dads!

After drawing a beautiful portrait, we included a page about:
- Dad's favorite sport (to play or to watch)
- Dad's favorite things to wear
- Favorite thing to do together
- Things dad knows about
- One thing I could give dad
- Best advice received from dad
- The one thing that makes him extra special

I asked them to bring photos from home.  The kiddos who did not get any photographs, drew pictures.

 Happy Father's Day!

Mother's Day Gifts and Favorite Read Alouds

We finished our Mother's Day presents yesterday. Next week... I promise to have a productive week :)
I went to Michael's and got some 2" key chains. The kids drew a teeny tiny portrait of their moms (front) and a cute You hold the key to my heart (back). 

Our final beauties looked like this:

We also did some writing after they completed a mom's questionnaire... wrote some sentences...drew another portrait and voila'.

Run! Ms. Nelson's Got the Camera and is hosting her first linky party. Come and share your favorite read alouds!

Here are some of mine :)  

My kids L-O-V-E when I read any of the Skippy JonJones books.  I get to use my 'real' Mexican accent and they tell me I sound "grrreat!  

7 weeks to go!

Do you Woozle?

Math is my thing.  The one thing I wish I could teach all day, every day.  I love writing and reading too, but math is my thing.

The county I work for, has a math department that provides tons of professional development. This idea came from them.  I just added a few things here and there to make it fit my style.
Organizing data using a three set Venn diagram  is an easy task since I learned this new trick :)

I used:

3 Venn diagrams, 3 copies of the Woozles (different colors) and tons of modeling.

We made a chart with possible attributes to sort our data (Woozles).

I modeled how to choose three attributes. We used laminated Wozzle cards and the kids came up to the whiteboard (I really want a smartboard!!!) to tape them. They were sure to check that each Wozzle was placed in the correct spot.

Then kids worked in teams of 4-5 members.  Each team had a pile of Woozles to work with.  They decided what attributes to use for their poster and got busy taking turns/voting for the attributes they wanted, choosing who was cutting them, choosing who was gluing...

We created statements that described our data. The kids created statements for their posters too.

Each team created a poster including their statement cards.

                                          

Woozles are always a big hit!!

Oh Yes!  Math is my thing.