Happy Halloween!

It's October 31st, which means two things... 1) It's Halloween and 2) It's my BIRTHDAY!!!! I wrote about my school's Halloween celebration of Trick-or-Treating on our square, but due to inclement weather, our tradition has been moved to tomorrow when it won't be raining on us.  In class this week, the kids have written scary stories and we completed this BooDoKu from Stephanie over at Forever in Fifth Grade.

We celebrated Halloween at our church on Sunday at our Fall Festival.  I'm so super proud of our costumes... I MADE THEM!!!!

 My daughter  and her hair that has a tendency to stick straight up, really was the inspiration for our costumes.  I really wanted to have a family theme for Halloween and the Flinstones were perfect!  I went to Hobby Lobby, bought broadcloth for cheap and then got cutting and sewing at home!  I'm not much of a seamstress, so they definitely aren't perfect by any means, but they sure are cute!  I even followed my first pattern for Pebbles' shirt!

You better believe that I will dressing up with my kids tomorrow and the Little Bit is going Trick-or-Treating with us, too! What were you for Halloween???

Tried It Tuesday - Seating Arrangement

I've made it through my first day back at school and it was mostly successful.  The kids loved sharing all of their adventures from their 2 week break. Even though I am back in school, I'm going to try to be better about this blogging thing.  It's Tuesday, so It's time for Tuesday Tried It with Fourth Grade Flipper.

 As for me, I decided to go outside my comfort zone and change up for their seating arrangement for when they came back. I've ALWAYS had my students in groups.  I don't think I've ever had them in rows, other than for testing, but the group thing just wasn't working for me this year.  Here are how my desks were arranged before break. To see the rest of my classroom, you can go {HERE}.

 

I kept the U shape but opted for rows instead of groups. 

 I still will do a lot of partner things and I'm trying to figure out how to do group work with this arrangement, but so far I really like it.  I can see them all at once and it's easy to check out 8 laptops at one time when they are working, which I LOVE! It's only been one day, but so far so good.  The kids like it, too!  How are your desks arranged?

Peek at My Week

It's been a couple of weeks since I linked up with Jennifer over at Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for Peek at my week, but I've actually been on top of this blogging thing, so here's what's going on in my week!

In math this week, we are starting division.  My kids should have their basics facts down from third grade, but we will be working on the facts in the background during this unit. We will be focusing on remainders and how to interpret what do with a remainder when dividing.  This was a concept that my students struggled with last year, so we will see how my current kiddos do.

At my school, in 4th grade, we teach science and social studies in alternating quarters.  First and third quarters are social studies, second and fourth are science.  We are starting our quarter of science with a science inventory and some science basics like the scientific method.  I know the kids are really looking forward to working on science.

We are going to start blogging this week. I've got my kids all set up on Kidblog.  The first thing I'm going to have them blog about is how they used math over October break.  I'm really excited about my kids getting their work, ideas, and creativity with the broader world.

It's Red Ribbon week this week, so we will be celebrating be drug free this week!  These are our spirit days for the week.

HALLOWEEN!!!!  Which actually means MY BIRTHDAY!!!!  Yes, I was born on Halloween!  My school is right off of our downtown square so we get to go trick or treating on the square instead of having a Halloween class party.  I'll be posting pictures of my costume on Thursday.  Any guesses???

What are you up to this Halloween week?

Five for Friday

Today is my last official day of October Intercession... SAD DAY!!!! I still have the weekend, but my two weeks with my sweet little girl are virtually over :(  It is Friday, though and time for Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

Last Saturday, my hubby gave my second birthday gift (Halloween is my actual birthday, MUHAHAHA) that was two tickets to see Disney's Beauty and the Beast Broadway production!  I went with my MIL.  We got dressed up and went to the show which was AMAZING!!!!  I had never seen it before and it was a wonderful gift! Here we are before the show.  We even had matching shoes!

I've been very busy this week getting my students accounts for a variety of websites.  They are now each signed up for 

Pearson Success Net

Penzu

Kidblog

and Infuse Learning

It took quite a bit of time to double check passwords and such, but now on Monday we can get working! You can click on each picture to see what you can use each site for!

The little one and I went and worked on some Christmas presents for the grandparents this week.  I know it's a little early, but I figured while I had the time, I might as well make good use of it! Any guesses what caused this face??? I won't be able to post their actual presents until after Christmas, but I think they are going to love their gifts!

I finished all of my grades for report cards this week!  Report cards go home in Tuesday folders.  4th grade math is hard but my kids have worked their tales off this first quarter!

The hubby and I are going to a local consignment event tonight for the 50% off sale!  We need to get Little Bit some fall/winter clothes that fit!  She's 10 months but just started wearing 6-9 months clothes! I love a good sale!

Now I'm on my way over to check out everyone else's 5 random things!!!

Tried It Tuesday: Today's Meet

I've been wanting to blog about Today's Meet for a couple of weeks now, so I'm finally getting around to doing it today for Tried It Tuesday with Holly over at Fourth Grade Flipper.

Today's Meet is a "back channel" that allows you to chat in real time.  Here is what the homepage looks like.

You create a room and decide how long you want it to be available.  Your room has a unique URL address for you and your students to use.

Then you give the kids the link and they type in their name and then can start responding to the topic at hand.  

I used Today's meet when I working on a Project Based Learning assignment called Road Trip.  At the end of class I had the kids tell me what they needed to work on and what information they already had.  It was a great way to see where everyone was and what issues I needed to address next class.  Here is part of their responses.  I did have some students type some goofy things and they got their privileges taken away :(  

The kids really loved it and have asked several times since if we can use it again! This would be a great resource for bell work, entry/exit tickets, or feedback on presentations.  I've also used it during my 21st Technology PLC trainings where we share websites with each other. The list is endless!

Five for Friday

I'm so proud of myself!!!  This is the third time I've blogged in 7 days!!!  Go me!!! It's Friday and that means it's time to link up with Doodle Bugs for 

I don't think I've officially mentioned that I am on FALL BREAK!!!!  Look at the leaves changing colors!  Aren't they just beautiful!

Our fall break is two weeks, so I still have one more week left to play catch up at school and spend all kinds of time with my little girl!!!  This is really the reason I've actually been able to blog this week and why I don't have very much school stuff to write about. I love this break, but I start working on my to-do list on about the 2nd day of school. :)

Because it is fall break, my MIL is in town for the weekend for all the craft fairs that happen the third week in October!   I usually buy very little but instead take away a lot of inspiration for my own crafts. I will be looking for some items for my little one's first birthday! *** GASP***

Can I just say that I have a new obsession with my Nikon 3100!!! 

In the past two weeks I've taken over 400 pictures!!!! I love my birthday gift and I rarely leave home without it!

Not only is MIL in town, but Ainsleigh's great grandparents always come into town for the craft fairs!  Ainsleigh was giving her great grandpa a run for his money last night!  I just love this picture!!!!

Last, but not least, I got to go get my hair done this week!  I've decided that I'm not going to chop it until the end of the school year.  I figure that is a good timeline and my hairdresser is going to hold me to it!  I love the red!!!