Math Madness

To get our students to memorize their basic math facts, we created a school wide event called math madness. Each month we had a goal per grade level. Each Friday we did timed 3 minute math drills. (basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and we charted the kids. If by March they made it through they went to a basketball game during the school day (March Madness, MATH MADNESS). They students got to pick whether to play ball, be a cheerleader or sell concessions. They each had tickets to buy three items from concessions. Throughout the year when they met the goal administration staff would come in at the end of the month and give each child a basketball (small glow in the dark) to the kids that met the goal.  The ran in with a boom box blaring music! The kids would get up and dance and hoop and holler! It was awesome! On the night of the Math Madness game, we had a staff basketball game. This was for the parents and students to come and see.  The clip you see here is the half time show. We had so much fun and the kids had no idea this was going to happen. Total surprise to everyone including the staff! Look at the expressions on their faces. They knew we were going to do a show just didn't know what! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXYPEFJ95Ao

O'Slug

Well, it was an interesting day! First thing this morning a student found a slug (okay I think this thing is a snail of some sort) in his desk. Yes, right there in the pencil indentation.  Gross! Found many a things in students' desks and believe it or not many critters included but never ever have I found a slug in a desk.  Almost beats the time a student brought in her "pet". It was a roach she found in the kitchen and she was transporting it around in the front zipper of her bookbag. I told her I was sure the momma roach was missing the baby roach and we needed it to be set free outside. Never a dull moment.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day slipped up on me this year. I have an idea of plants, decorated pots but looking for poems or a good way to incorporate poetry with the plant. My students are working on poetry this week, CC 2.4, and doing an outstanding job so yesterday I thought, MOTHER'S DAY POEMS! Anyone out there have a good idea on that? I have some thoughts but would love to gather some ideas! I have the pots, tulip bulbs (I know, I know I need to plant now! But in my defense the bulbs are already starting to grow through the bag!) but in need of some poems or ideas of how to generate some sweet poems for mom. I am thinking similes to flowers? What do you think? I will post some pics once we make them!

Kathy Green Day

It was a very exciting day yesterday around my school! One of our 5th grade teachers was nominated by a student's parent on the Live with Kelly and Michael (is it bad that I really didn't know she had a new host full time and had to think it through that this is really the Regis and Kelly Show?) for the best teacher in the Nation!! She made the top five and the cameras were at school yesterday following her around! We all wore green! The whole school! It was awesome!! I am so very excited for her she is an amazing teacher and an awesome person. Kathy is traveling to NYC on the 27th and then the show airs on April 30. Be sure you guys watch and vote for Kathy Green from SC. We are a title one school and we really deserve the recognition for the hard work we do there. I hope she wins!

Our writing assignment for the day was to write from a character's perspective.........you know put yourself in someone else's shoes. So instead of writing from the perspective of Mean Jean the Recess Queen or some other book character I asked my 2nd graders to put themselves in the shoes of Kathy Green! How did she feel last night? What did she do this morning? What did she say to the cameras?
So stinkin' funny! They did a great job. My favorite ones said things like...........'I was nervous. I didn't sleep a wink! I rewrote my lesson plans over and over. I prayed my students would behave. I brushed my teeth 20 times.' I gave them to Kathy at the end of the day and she said she is going to give them to the Live show and they may want to use them as promo for that week of the air date! How exciting!!! I can't wait to tell my class!!

Bulletin Board

I am really trying to be good at this blogging thing but I so far I stink! I am going to get better! I promise! Okay so Live with Kelly and Michael will be at my school tomorrow morning and I needed to put up a new bulletin board anyway so did my last board of the year. (Yes, the camera crew will be there for a 5th grade teacher who had a student's parent nominate her for the best teacher in the nation! Very exciting! Her name is Mrs. Green so we are all wearing green tomorrow) Maybe my bulletin board will make the show! LOL!! Anyway, the board. The students wrote Pourquio stories (why stories) and they turned out so stinkin' cute! They wrote, peer edited, teacher conference then typed their stories. They also made tongue depressor animals to match the stories. Very cute! My very hunky husband jumped on the band wagon and got very excited about my idea to make a BIG snake to put on the board. POURQUIO TALES. The snake is a clothes dryer hose sprayed yellow. My hubby painted red diamond on the "back" and the head was made from pantyhose. Yes, an old pair of black pantyhose. We took a wire hanger opened it into a V and stuffed it with newspaper. My adorable husband hit it with some yellow spray paint, a little black in the mouth, yellow half circle eyes and a red center. Turned out awesome! Not that hard but looks amazing and 3D. Love it! Gotta be one of my favorite boards! The first board of the year was my "I moustache I question" board. I have included a picture of that one too. Very cute as well and the kids loved walking around doing the surveys. Hope you can use the bulletin board ideas. Happy stapling! :)