If you're a teacher and you're not following Fall Into First's blog... then you're missing out. The blog has tons of free and creative downloads (obviously geared towards first grade) plus downloads that you can buy for pretty cheap. There's complete math units that align with the new Common Core Standards. Instead of wasting your energy and time... you should totally invest in the math units rather than re-creating the "wheel". The blogger, Angie has her masters in Education Technology so her downloads are THE cutest printables ever! She has awesome ideas with her 7 years of experience. Follow her!!
Link: Fall Into First
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Full Moon
I never "believed" in the full moon until I was student teaching last year. One day, I was talking to my mentor saying, "these kids are crazy! Why are they so 'off' today?" She told me it was because of the full moon. I didn't believe her at first... are you serious? Just because there's a full moon doesn't mean you act like a psycho. She told me that she was going to see if I said the same thing on the next full moon. Sure enough, the kids were weirdos!
After my student teaching experience, I am now a firm "believer" in the full moon. It's so weird to see the difference between a full moon day and a regular day. The only word I can think to describe how they are is "wild monkeys". No joke. You pick them up from recess and it's like the volume is turned up, they're running around with their arms going crazy, and you can't even hear words... just screeching. Inside the classroom, they're off task, loud, mean to one another, moody... the list goes on. And yes, this isn't the only day that they're like this... many other factors play into how the day goes... holidays, weather, school events, but on full moon day... it's a different kind of weird.
Planning for a full moon day:
I'm not saying, "don't do anything productive", but plan on "not being productive" that day. You'll spend most of your day re-focusing the class than getting anything done. I usually like to have a lot of independent writing or partner work that day. Using online resources is another helpful way to keep their attention or planning rotations where the student computers are a station.
There's no way to fully prevent the kiddos from acting like crazies on a full moon day, but I listed some helpful online resources plus the link to a full moon calendar :) Awwhooo!!! (werewolf howl) Enjoy!
Full Moon Calendar
Tumble Books - This website reads stories aloud with animations. At the end are quizzes, book reports, and games.
Brain Pop - This website has a variety of cool, educational videos. They're animated and kid-friendly. There are lesson ideas, activities, games, and a bunch more resources to use with the video.
After my student teaching experience, I am now a firm "believer" in the full moon. It's so weird to see the difference between a full moon day and a regular day. The only word I can think to describe how they are is "wild monkeys". No joke. You pick them up from recess and it's like the volume is turned up, they're running around with their arms going crazy, and you can't even hear words... just screeching. Inside the classroom, they're off task, loud, mean to one another, moody... the list goes on. And yes, this isn't the only day that they're like this... many other factors play into how the day goes... holidays, weather, school events, but on full moon day... it's a different kind of weird.
Planning for a full moon day:
I'm not saying, "don't do anything productive", but plan on "not being productive" that day. You'll spend most of your day re-focusing the class than getting anything done. I usually like to have a lot of independent writing or partner work that day. Using online resources is another helpful way to keep their attention or planning rotations where the student computers are a station.
There's no way to fully prevent the kiddos from acting like crazies on a full moon day, but I listed some helpful online resources plus the link to a full moon calendar :) Awwhooo!!! (werewolf howl) Enjoy!
Full Moon Calendar
Tumble Books - This website reads stories aloud with animations. At the end are quizzes, book reports, and games.
Brain Pop - This website has a variety of cool, educational videos. They're animated and kid-friendly. There are lesson ideas, activities, games, and a bunch more resources to use with the video.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Happy New Year!
For New Year's Eve, 2 other couples, Ryan, and I went to a big party at the Montelucia. The Montelucia is a nice resort in Scottsdale. Tickets were $75 per person. We had a great night, but it wasn't worth that much money.
Hoping your New Year's Eve was a blast and that you have a joyous year ahead!
Hoping your New Year's Eve was a blast and that you have a joyous year ahead!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Body Combat
Yes it sounds like a war zone title or something but it's really a mixed martial arts kickboxing aerobics class.
I go to Fitness Works and this is the only gym I know of that has Les Mills group fitness which offers classes like Body Combat, Body Pump (weights), Body Attack (high intensity cardio), Body Flow (Yoga), and Body Jam (dance aerobics).
I try to go to Combat as much as I can, but sometimes my hectic schedule conflicts.
Exercising, especially kickboxing, is my way of releasing built up stress with work. Exercise even when you're tired and feeling lazy or frustrated. It gets your mind off of all that's going on.
When I can't find time to do Combat, I'll run at a high school near my house. I don't even listen to music when I run. I love the sound of silence since it's noisy around me all day long.
Exercising is the one thing I do for myself. What's 1 hour a day? I work from 6-8... What's 15 hours compared to 14 hours? And when everyone is sitting on the couch and eating... I'm out getting tough ;)
Fitness Works Link
Les Mills Link
I go to Fitness Works and this is the only gym I know of that has Les Mills group fitness which offers classes like Body Combat, Body Pump (weights), Body Attack (high intensity cardio), Body Flow (Yoga), and Body Jam (dance aerobics).
I try to go to Combat as much as I can, but sometimes my hectic schedule conflicts.
Exercising, especially kickboxing, is my way of releasing built up stress with work. Exercise even when you're tired and feeling lazy or frustrated. It gets your mind off of all that's going on.
When I can't find time to do Combat, I'll run at a high school near my house. I don't even listen to music when I run. I love the sound of silence since it's noisy around me all day long.
Exercising is the one thing I do for myself. What's 1 hour a day? I work from 6-8... What's 15 hours compared to 14 hours? And when everyone is sitting on the couch and eating... I'm out getting tough ;)
Fitness Works Link
Les Mills Link
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Pooch Problems
So my poor Scottish Terrier has Valley Fever :( but he's costing us a fortune! It all started on a Friday; he was acting a bit strange... No energy, no appetite, shivering, just blah and he had this crazy, hacking cough. So finally, EARLY Sunday morning, we make a trip to the Pet ER where they diagnose Kennel Cough which is an airborne disease. They prescribed him meds which he took for a couple days but I didn't see any change that he was getting better.
By Tuesday, I made an appointment with our doctor and they did bloodwork and X-rays for us to find out on Friday that he has Valley Fever (fungal infection that's found in desert regions; you get it from breathing in fungal particles from the soil; infection starts in the lungs). Valley Fever isn't contagious. Symptoms vary depending on the person or animal.
It's so sad to see him going through this :( but I'm considering pet insurance!
Here's a breakdown of our expenses as of Sunday, Decemer 18th:
Pet ER: $160
Vet: $450
Additional Prescriptions: $45
Prescription Food (since he lost his appetite): $60 for 28 cans (he eats 2 per day)
Pill Pockets (he hates pills): $16
GRAND TOTAL: $730 (give or take)
Geez Putter! I love you but holy smokes! Note to self: don't let your dog outside to sniff soil ;)
By Tuesday, I made an appointment with our doctor and they did bloodwork and X-rays for us to find out on Friday that he has Valley Fever (fungal infection that's found in desert regions; you get it from breathing in fungal particles from the soil; infection starts in the lungs). Valley Fever isn't contagious. Symptoms vary depending on the person or animal.
It's so sad to see him going through this :( but I'm considering pet insurance!
Here's a breakdown of our expenses as of Sunday, Decemer 18th:
Pet ER: $160
Vet: $450
Additional Prescriptions: $45
Prescription Food (since he lost his appetite): $60 for 28 cans (he eats 2 per day)
Pill Pockets (he hates pills): $16
GRAND TOTAL: $730 (give or take)
Geez Putter! I love you but holy smokes! Note to self: don't let your dog outside to sniff soil ;)
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Decisions, decisions
I was just talking to my aunt about decisions. Teachers make millions of decisions to conveniently conserve time. YES! I'm the one who tries to carry all the groceries I can without having to make 2 trips back out! What can I do while getting a glue stick for a student? File a paper... Pass this out, get this, grab that, scold him/her, type this. Honestly, my mind races a bajillion times faster than the average one. It's frustrating at times because it seems like I'm always stressed. I'm never relaxed which leads me to the conclusion: THIS IS WHY TEACHERS GET "BREAKS"! And even when we're on "breaks"... We're not relaxing... It's called "catching up on a few months of cleaning, errands, personal maintenance, SITTING and watching a TV show".
I love my job. I get to be with 22 comedians all day. I'm a role model. I'm my own "boss" in a sense. But when you have to adapt to 22 unique needs, it can be overwhelming.
If you ever need multi-tasking lessons, hit me up. I can help you make 100 time consuming decisions on your way to the bathroom in the morning ;)
I love my job. I get to be with 22 comedians all day. I'm a role model. I'm my own "boss" in a sense. But when you have to adapt to 22 unique needs, it can be overwhelming.
If you ever need multi-tasking lessons, hit me up. I can help you make 100 time consuming decisions on your way to the bathroom in the morning ;)
Monday, December 26, 2011
You know you are growing up when...
Your Christmas wish list changes from Barbies to CDs to clothes to... A food processor and Keurig coffee maker!
It's funny how your wants and needs change as life moves on. When you're young, you think about things that benefit yourself. When you're married, you think about things that benefit your spouse... And yourself. I'm sure WHEN we have children, I'll think about things that benefit them (I can wait for children though).
But fun stuff with my new "toys"! So excited to try 'em out :)
It's funny how your wants and needs change as life moves on. When you're young, you think about things that benefit yourself. When you're married, you think about things that benefit your spouse... And yourself. I'm sure WHEN we have children, I'll think about things that benefit them (I can wait for children though).
But fun stuff with my new "toys"! So excited to try 'em out :)
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