Our world travel unit continues...

We have now "visited" Mexico, Sweden, England, France and Italy. We are presently visiting Australia and then we will be off to our last country...Germany. As we have traveled we have made many things to help us remember our travels. We have read books, made flags for each country, tried many different foods, worked in special books that integrate math, literacy and social studies. We have participated in many special activities.

 

We had ham baguettes when we visited France. Kelly and I ate many of these during our stay in and around Paris.

     

    

We are already planning for our next unit... Winter and Penguins. I made this snowman game to use during small groups and as a literacy center extension.  Click on the link below to check it out!

Snowman Literacy Game

I am so proud to announce that Kelly Parrott is now a Nationally Board Certified Teacher! I don’t think I have ever been prouder of anyone in my life. What a journey it was! J I loved supporting her through the process and having one of the most independent people I know rely on me for encouragement and guidance. I loved seeing the realness of the process by watching Kelly evolve as a teacher. She was already so great and how neat it was to watch a master teacher grow even more. WOW! It was amazing.

The “National Board Process” is so different for each person. Regardless of who you are, it is stressful, demanding and time-consuming. If you truly invest in the process, you will grow beyond your wildest dreams. I will never go back to the PERSON I was before National Board. I say person because it didn’t just change my teaching, it changed me. I am now deeply reflective and constantly analyze my life to make improvements in all areas. It is true, I still fall short in so many areas but I am a constant work in progress. Kelly has grown so much in the areas of reflection and writing. It is awesome to look back at where she was a year ago and then look at her today. She has become refined in so many ways. There were many sacrifices along the way but I would make them all again to witness her success. Through her experience, I grew even more. I am so grateful for that opportunity. Our friendship has changed since National Board... and I can honestly say that I never saw that coming. Today, I can tell you that we are more like family than ever before because of the road we have traveled together. National Board Certification is not for the weak or easily overwhelmed. It is for the committed and the determined. It is for teachers who KNOW they have room to grow and change for the better... who want to further develop as educators and people.

Congratulations Kelly... Welcome to the NBCT family! You are an AMAZING teacher! I am so proud of you!! J

Top of the day to ya lads and ladies! J

Our students have been enjoying all of our adventures around the world and especially our stop in England this past week! We read all about Paddington Bear (and even sent him off for a trip of his own to England with a parent). We enjoyed Paddington’s favorite food... marmalade sandwiches for snack on Thursday.

Marmalade Sandwiches were a HUGE HIT! J

On Friday, we celebrated the English tradition of Afternoon Tea with Our SMART Community. It was amazing! We enjoyed tarts, tea, wassail, cucumber sandwiches, tea biscuits, mini cakes and scones with jam. The children absolutely loved it! Mrs. Parrott and I purchased china tea cups so we can make this an annual event! Our little lads and ladies were all dressed up for the occasion!

 

Kindergarten... where memories are made!

(Mrs. Parrott and I loved it as much as our students! It brought back such happy memories of our trip to England... and Afternoon Tea @ Harrod's!)

Welcome Gage... we have waited a long time to meet you! :)

Have you ever loved someone you had never met? Our SMART Community has loved a student that most of the students have never met... but we all finally met him last week. Some made cards, some drew pictures and all signed a banner for him. We had waited to add that new student to our community since school started and we have had his picture by the SMART board since August. We are so thrilled to have Gage with us!! Hooray! Welcome to SMART Community Gage... where you have been loved since the beginning! J

Cowboy Day!!

YEE HAW!!!

After learning about the farm, fall and visiting Livesay Farms in Porter, Oklahoma… we decided the students would love the opportunity to dress up in their knowledge! Farmers and cowboys came to school last week... we had SO much fun which included a cowboy picnic, cowboy games and some yummy s’mores for snack! It was a great day and I am certain our students will remember it FOREVER! J

Fall Math Journals!

I am so excited to share my Fall Math Journal with you! It is an approach to math that I strongly believe in because it is literacy-based and visual! Click on the pic below to check it out!

This is my example on the SMART board!

Here are some student examples! J

Down on the Farm

We have been learning all about farm and many new vocabulary words like irrigation and combine... we had some fun along the way making these barns! They were adapted from an original idea by TLC Art. When I asked the students what they have learned, I was thrilled with all they understand and remember!