Slice of Life....

Have I got a neat idea for you guys!  I tried out something new with my class today.  It was a brainchild of too much time on my hands and having great friends that are soooo creative.  First and foremost check out this Slice of Life scholarship entry by none other than a former resident of mine (during my Resident Assistant  days).  Hit like if you're into the video.  She's super talented and deserves a scholarship to help out with school costs! 

Okay, shameless plug over with....  below you find the pictures of what my kids and I created with her help using Skype.  The whole process is pretty easy.  Come up with a concept.  It can be a saying, animal, person... whatever!  Once you've got an idea, start peeling.  When you're peeling the orange do you best to keep as much of it intact as possible.  The bigger the pieces the more possibilities.

 Once you've gotten your orange all the way peeled begin using your nails and fingers to shape, pick, and mold your object.  If you mess up, don't worry.  It just means you get to make something different.

As you're finishing up think about a saying that goes along with your peel.  I had to help my kids a lot with that one, but you can always brainstorm before hand...  Use strips of paper or even the peel itself to create your inspirational saying.

My kids had a rough time at first, because they're not good with few directions, but in the end LOVED the creativity it provided them.

Good luck!

Five for Friday.... Except it's late

Thanks readers for not lighting torches and picking up your pitchforks.  It's been an incredibly busy 2 weeks for this poor teacher.  Most of my post has to do with my chaperoning duties, but I'll include some fun stuff too.  Head on over to Doodlebugsteaching to participate in the Linky Party!

http://www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.ca/2013/04/five-for-friday-linky-partyapril-19th.html

1.  TESTING IS FINISHED!  Thank the Lord!!! I took this great photo on the last day of testing when I promised my kids we'd play with art tools.  I absolutely love bringing art into the classroom, because sometimes I think our kids are just TOO inundated with technology and jsut neeed to practice using their imaginations and creating something of their own.  

 2.  I took a high school student into Anchorage for a Future Educators of Alaska conference.  It's a conference held for high school students that are interested in going into the education field and specifically geared towards getting these students to stay and teach in their home state.  It was an amazing opportnity for my high school student to meet other high school student from different areas!  And... she got to experience some of the little things city people take for granted.

3.  I got some cute things in Anchorage, because I'm a total girlie girl and LOVE shopping as much as the next person.  Say hello to my new favorite top.  I've been soo afraid to jump on the mint bandwagon, but after I bought this top and matching heels.... I'm a lover for life.

4.  I also managed to have my high school student help me make a "Yupik Eskimo Polar Bear" for my little sister's bundle of joy.  Yes... my little sister is expecting and due in August.  I'm just now getting used to the news myself! :)

 5.  My mentor visited me for the last time this week.  :(  So sad to not get to see her again, unless I'm lucky enough to come visit her during a holiday.   But her visits were nothing but amazing.  She helped me prep for intereviews, moving, and even videotaped a lesson or two.  With all of her love and support I think I'm a blessed 2nd year teacher. I wish I would've gotten a photo with this amazing woman, but it has been quite the busy week.

Now I'll leave everyone with my ABSOLUTE favorite slam poet telling it like it is about teaching.

Currently... I Will Wait

By the looks of it, I am tardy for the party... Thanks to Farley for creating an awesome way to connect with other teacher bloggers.  Now if I could only get my stuff together and be as awesome at blogging as all you other ladies. :)  Oh well 2 years of experience is a start... right?

Listening:  I blame my Alaska teaching best friend Mr. B for starting the new obsession with Mumford and Sons.  That song has become my classroom song for writing and independent work time.  Once in a while if I'm quick enough I can catch my kids singing along with the chorus!  So cute.

Loving:  I know... I know.... personal life on a teaching blog?!  Who would do such a thing? Someone in a 2 year long distant relationship.  That's who!  ;)  Plus he was sweet enough to send me a goofy message this morning before testing.

Thinking:  Packing.  You'll probably be seeing a lot of that in the next blog posts.  Any advice on how to make packing less daunting?  Besides selling everything you own?!

Needing:  Patience.  It's state testing time and I feel like my kids heads are going to explode and so is mine.  So here's a funny to show how I feel about standardized testing.

http://pinterest.com/pin/101894010291523197/

 

Advice:  "When in doubt... dance it out"  Might be the best thing I've ever done.  When kids are getting antsy have them do a little freeze dance game.  When you're tired of writing lesson plans put on your favorite 90s pop song and dance around your classroom.  When you're overwhelmed with packing or cleaning put on your best rock music and have a personal concert of one... 

http://pinterest.com/pin/414260865693765280/

Five For Friday... Better Late Than Never

Isn't there a saying about how it's ok to arrive "fashionably late"?  Can that go for the blogging world too?  Apologies for posting about 4 days later than I'm supposed to for a linky party.  It's just been crazy with the whole moving back to Indiana, Easter, and state testing.  This post has a bit of cultural explanations.  So... here goes.

1.  This week has been spent in preparation for testing.  The state of Alaska begins standardized testing in 3rd grade, much like many other states.  Normally I wouldn't be so concerned with testing, but I'm the first year of all English instruction and the first year of standardized testing.  Thankfully with the help of lots of practicing test format, language, and math skills I think this group is going to do awesome.

2.  Moving.  I HATE PACKING!  It's stressful and kind of sad... especially when you're not sure where exactly you're making the move to.  But I have faith in the Lord.  Because as my life verse says:  Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord.  "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

3. Visiting friends between villages makes time go by even faster than it already is.  Mr. B and I hopped on a snowmachine and made our way over to a neighboring village.  I had a girls night with a a fellow lady teacher and we all met up for darts and chilli the next morning. Yay!


4.  There was a death in the village earlier this month and  the body has finally been laid to rest this Saturday.  The person was a very kind and caring community member and cared a great deal for the school.  It broke my heart to hear the sad news.  When there is a death in the village there are some cultural events that happen, feasting, sitting with the body, and there are certain things people can't do during the mourning period.  There is to be no ball playing and no clothing out on the lines.  I was fortunate enough to meet with the family members and pay my respects the day before the funeral and took a few photos.

5.  Easter is a big deal here in my village.  Our school actually puts on an egg hunt for the grades K-12.  Throughout the week the kids decorate eggs and on Friday class by class the kids are sent out to find eggs around the outside of the school.  It was so cute and fun to see my kids searching for the eggs they'd spent time decorating.  I even got a chance to decorate 2 of my own.  ;)

Can you tell I miss my boyfriend back home in Indiana???