I'm A Brave Teacher and We're Moving Classrooms!

Everyday I'm a brave teacher. There are some days and weeks that require so much more courage! This is one of those weeks that is amazing on many fronts, but the amount of "stuff" requires huge courage.

On Monday I found out my classroom was being moved. I was not blindsided. I volunteered, but I found out on Monday that we were moving within the week. We've already started the move to a bigger airier classroom, and it's lots of work. Friday is the official move desks, switch lockers, drag boxes, etc. I'm also continuing to teach and grade. And, oh, yeah, I'm having more dental work done tomorrow. Did I mention I'm doing a 3 year old pirate birthday party on Saturday?

It's nuts! I'm surprisingly calm and completely exhausted and it's only Wednesday night!

What are the lessons for me?

• 4th graders can get enthusiastic and ask about a million questions about anything!
• This experience, just like all the others, is not going to be perfect and smooth, it's OK.
• I'm not going to handle the experience or any other perfectly, and I'm still OK.
• I always have a choice to be positive or negative.
• The kindness and generosity of others is always amazing.
• I can let go of stuff to make room for more life.
• There is an end in sight to this very long week.
• I can always practice yoga off the mat--just breath!

I'm sure there are lots more, too, but I'm too brain dead to focus!

I am so a brave teacher with amazing students, and we're moving to Room 14!

What's up in your brave little corner of the universe?

Everyday Math Game Organization

For 5 years now I've tried to figure out how to store my Everyday Math games. I took lots of other people's ideas because they sounded smart and organized, but in the end none of them worked for me. This year I finally has a system that works fairly well for me and my students.

I got lots of the magazine boxes at IKEA. They're plain white. I just write the name of the game, and then I put the game sheets in that box. For some games I have laminated copies of the game sheets or boards. I also place the plain old copied papers in there. Next to the magazine boxes I have lots of little boxes with a pair of dice, a deck of math game cards, and beans for counters.

How do I know the system is working? Kids rarely interrupt me in my small teaching group to ask for directions!

What organizational tips do you have?

Make It Monday: Altoid Tin Upcycling

Welcome to Make It Monday!

When I have a little project that I've made or want to make, I will share them here on Mondays in the future.

Today I'm sharing an ongoing project in this ongoing series. I'm going to share different ways I'm using Altoid tins. I love these things! I shared my first project HERE last summer. I still really like my little box of affirmations.

I've been thinking what else I could do. If you like the box in the photos above, here's how to make your own:

You need: empty Altoid tin, your choice of tissue paper (torn into pieces the size of postage stamps), Mod Podge, a foam brush

1. Apply a layer of Mod Podge on the outside of tin
2. Begin applying layers of tissue paper. (I applied about 4-5 layers)
3. You're done with this part when you like the way it looks!
4. Use scraps of scrapbooking paper or colorful index cards
5. Write journaling prompts for yourself (or your students) on the cards.

Here were some of my prompts:
~What enchanted me today?
~What did I do today that could be enchanting?
~What could I do to feel more enchanted and magical?
~What did I do today that required courage?
~How would I like to enchant others today (or tomorrow)?
~Did I resist being enchanting or enchanted today?
~What do I observe right now in this moment?

I'm sure you can think of lots more that serve you!

I think this would also make a fun little gift--a blank book/journal, a pen (or set of pens) and a tin full of writing prompts! I know I would like to receive such a gift!


Another site with "manly" projects with Altoid tins is HERE. (Love these!)

What are you making these days?

It's All About Perspective

The universe is conspiring in my favor.

(It's conspiring in your favor, too--even if it doesn't seem like it right now!)

Enchantment: Week 3

Happy Friday, Brave People Everywhere!

This week I think the two things I've been most enchanted by are;

Quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

here and here and here is what I wrote last year

and some amazing blogs. (I'm not sure why I'm being so drawn to design blogs these days--hmmm)
kyla roma and life is a canvas (I love her new art journal prompts!) and curly girl and lesley myrick

oh, and I must not forget pirate party goodness. Here are some crazy pirate cakes--I don't know if I'm inspired or frightened. (Yep, we're having a pirate themed party for the soon to be 3 year old, Samuel)

I was also inspired by the brave teachers who came to the Play Day at my house!

What's enchanting you?

Handson Crayon Rock Cycle

Kids really like this science activity, and it's another low/no cost science lesson.

I first saw this activity here.

Here's what we did:

1. Invite kids to bring in old crayons.
2. Every kid selects 2 or 3 crayons, a plastic sandwich bag, and a pair of scissors.
3. Kids shave crayons with scissors. It takes a llllloooooooong time, but not thousands or millions of years! (The first day I demonstrate the process and kids shave crayons, and that's it for the 40 min. class)
4. To create sedimentary rock, students apply pressure with the heel of their shoe onto the shavings in the baggie.
5. To create metamorphic rock students heat hands with friction and press with hands against baggie.
6. To create igneous rock, shavings can be placed in foil and floated in hot water (this is what I do when I demonstrate) or to melt many crayons in a short amount of time, we use a hair dryer.

There are many different ways that students can record their experience and findings. We do this in our science notebooks. It's a winner. Enjoy!

What activities do your young scientists enjoy?

What science is working for you?

Enchantment: Week 2

It's been another enchanting week!

It was also the last week of the semester for my students, so I'm knee deep in wrapping up work and cleaning up stuff. And it was my birthday week, too!

Here are some enchantments:

~Having my birthday breakfast at The Enchanted Cafe. I was especially enchanted because they made Sam a kitty cat pancake, complete with chocolate whiskers.

~Fantastic free printables over at Kind Over Matter. I'm so often enchanted by KOM, but this was a must see on my birthday.

~Starting Body Renovation is equal parts enchanting and frightening--I know I'm going to see the good, bad and ugly and be more amazing for it!

~Here's a fun one--let yourself be enchanted: Unicorn name generator: Mine is Tulip Pretty Mane--I'm a little bossy and pretty as a picture!

~I was super enchanted by my families generosity for me birthday--a SUPER EXTRAORDINARY Chocolate Cheesecake made by my brother Tim and Adobe goodness from my Dad and Jon.

I'm so blessed! It is good to be me!

What's enchanting you this week?