The Teacher In Me ~ Keeping the Learning Going

I'll admit it, when it comes to learning, I let go in the summer.  As a teacher by trade,  I know I should encourage my kids to keep their skills up so there isn't so much loss in the summer, but I'm just so exhausted from the school year, that the last thing I want to do is fight with my kids to do work.  So I slack off.  I'm such a bad mommy & teacher....

Not this year!  It's a summer goal of mine to keep the learning going.   
  


Reading:

This is an easy one.  Pick up a book and read.  

I base the time of reading around The Nag.  However long it takes him to read a chapter, that's how long Little Ricky needs to read.  (Not to mention that Little Ricky is like his mommy, once he starts reading, he doesn't want to put it down.)  

We recently cleaned out our home library.  We donated a bunch of books that the kids have outgrown to our school and to cousins.  Now, we have tons of chapter books left for summer reading.  Right now, the boys are working on The Magic Tree House series.  We also have plans to make it to the public library.  


Math:

The boys' teachers sent home Summer Math Packets for the kids.  They are essentially the math worksheets that the class didn't finish during the school year, so it's a nice bridge to the learning that will take place next year.   I have them work on 2-3 pages every few days. 

My husband also likes to ask them "hard" math facts (addition, subtraction, and multiplication) while we are in the car or eating a meal, so they can work on their recall.  Sometimes, if we are at a restaurant, we make up math problems for them on their "kiddie menus" for them to solve. 




Writing:

Another easy one.  We have marble notebooks that we use as journals.  We got them at the Dollar Tree.  I have them write a paragraph or two about what we did that day.  They also like to write stories from time to time.  Little Ricky just wrote a book as a gift for Father's Day.  (Totally his idea)  I also plan to work on their handwriting....it's awful!!


Science:

The boys LOVE science!  My plan is to do at least one cool science experiment every other week or so.  I also want to take them to The Miami Science Museum for the first time.  We are also planning on revisiting The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Science and Discovery.  These places should get those little scientific brains going!



I'm not saying that I'm home schooling this summer.  Just an hour every couple of days.  Mostly on the days when we don't have an outside activity planned or it seems they may just kill each other.  


What do you do to keep the learning going in the summer?  I would love more ideas!


Alexis

Curiosityville Sitrs Up Curiosity

Disclaimer:  This post was created through my partnership with Curiosityville and The Motherhood.  Although I was compensated and received a subscription for Curiosityville, all opinions are my own.  

Do your kids like playing games online?  Mine do.  I try to be cautious about the types of games they are playing.  I would really like them all to be educational, but sometimes the educational ones just aren't that interesting for the kids. 

Curiosityville is a fun and personalized learning world for children ages 3-8.  This awesome website boosts brain power, creates learning and understanding in core areas, and establishes a fun and inviting place for kids to learn and create.  Curiosityville has been created in partnership with National Geographic, Johns Hopkins University, and other learning experts so you know it's academic!


Once your child is logged in, they can choose which character they would like to learn with that day.  Here are the characters:

• Rosie is a scientist
• Jack is the policeman
• Joe is the mayor
• Ruby is a teacher
• Pablo is an artist
• Olive is a chef

In each character's room, there are many different activities and games for your child to explore.  "The Nag" really loved Rosie because he wants to be a scientist when he grows up.  His favorite game was Space Mission in Jack's room.  He was able to shoot astroids and comets all while listening to facts about space and practicing math facts.

Rosie the Scientist teaches about the brain.

Space Mission

Space Mission

As your child maneuvers through the site, apples are given for completed activities.  After a number of apples are accumulated, a badge is awarded.  The badges are stored on a special page. 

 
Want to know a cool part?  The Learning Tree page actually maps out your child's learning as they move through the site.  Parents can view various charts to see their child's strengths and where they need more practice.  You also get a personalized email detailing your child's progress.  Did I mention there are timer settings so your child doesn't stay online too long?  COOL!

 

I highly recommend Curiosityville to all families with kids ages 3-8.  It's such a great way to incorporate learning, creativity and technology!  Not to mention that the content is updated weekly, so your child will have something to keep their brains working throughout the summer! 

Alexis

Year of the Snake ~ Chinese New Year in the Classroom

I try to teach all of the major types of holidays in my classroom.  Even if it's just a quick book with a craft.  One of my favorite holidays to teach about has always been Chinese New Year.  I love the history, the traditions, and the RED!

2013 is the year of the snake.  I went on the almighty Pinterest to look for ideas to celebrate Chinese New Year in my classroom.  

We'll start our celebration by reading some books.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Bringing in the New Year:
 
This book follows a Chinese American family as they prepare for Chinese New Year.  There are brightly colored pictures of the traditions for this Lunar New Year. 






Sam and the Lucky Money:

This is a book about a little boy named Sam who decides to donate his Chinese New Year money to a homeless man.  What a great way to teach about giving!








Check out these great snake crafts that are quick, easy, and adorable!  Yuppers, I found them on Pinterest!  (I love that site!)

 

These paper chain snakes were geared for pre-k kids, but I really think my first graders would love this one!  Not to mention, making them in lucky red....cute!

This paper plate snake is also easy and fun.  We can hang them from the ceiling...love it!

These books and crafts would also be something easy and fun to do with your kids at home too.  Put it all together with some dumplings and fried rice...mmmmm!

GUNG HEI FAT CHOI! 

Alexis

The Teacher In Me ~ David Goes to School

Ah, the beginning of school....a time of new beginnings. 

This year, my team and I decided to shake it up a bit, change our old beginning of school routines.  One teammate of mine was scouting some new ideas on Pinterest (you know, the place for EVERYTHING!!), and came across this idea for teaching rules using the lovable and troublemaking "David." 


The idea came from Fall Into First.  What a cute idea using the book David Goes to School by David Shannon.  The kids love David because his extreme rule breaking makes them laugh, yet reinforces the need for rule following.

After reading the book, we brainstormed some rules that should be followed at school.  

Then the kids chose one or more to write about.  Since it was the beginning of the week, I wasn't so picky about true sentence structure.  And finally it was time to make our "Davids."  I love how unique each "David" came.  It was the kids' interpretations of this loveable character.

They came out SO cute!

How do you teach about rules?

Alexis

Mission Possible ~ A Book Review with Giveaway

I educate first grade children.  I educate other educators.  I educate myself.  I am a teacher.

I think back to my years in school before I went to college or graduate school.  I remember the teachers who genuinely loved what they did.  I could tell they loved their profession because it was conveyed in their demeanor and their way of reaching the students each day.  Those teachers taught me to love to learn.  Then there were the teachers who were burnt out.  You know the ones, a few years until retirement, sat at their desk all day, barked at you instead of engaging you.  Those teachers made me look at the clock the entire time.

It makes me wonder…were those teachers being pushed to reach their highest potential?  Were they continually trained in order to better their craft.  Or were they just the ones who were "born to teach?"

I always thought I was born to teach.  At the beginning of every school year, I enter with vigor and excitement of things to come.  Only to find my self three months in and tired.  I am at a place in my career where I feel stagnant.  In no way do I feel that I have reached my peak or my full potential.  I’m not even at the point in my career where I want to be.  And now I'm getting burnt out.  I think to myself, "maybe I'll go back to school or maybe I'll change careers."   

I recently read Mission Possible: How the Secrets of the Success Academies Can Work in Any School by Eva Moskowitz and Arin Lavinia.  It's a book that chronicles the workings of the Success Academy Charter School in Harlem as it rose up to be one of the top schools in New York City.  Wow!  How inspiring.  Moskowitz and Lavinia explained the ways that they created the Success Academies and how it's all about the adults.  "Achieving excellence isn't about the students.  It's about the grown-ups.  When the grown-ups are running on all cylinders, they bring the kids along for the swift, exhilarating ride."  I honestly couldn't agree more.  

When I worked as an educational consultant, I would work in failing schools and coach the teachers with the techniques to help the students meet the grade level expectations.  I saw many energetic teachers who were willing to do whatever it took to help the kids learn.  I would also see the flip side; the teachers who had hit a wall in their teaching, and they didn't want to better their skills.  Teachers tend to get stuck in one place and get complacent with the “known.”  We are in need of continual growth and development of the craft in order to help pump up the excitement for the very thing that drew them to the profession in the first place.

Other countries deem educators as masters of information.  They are, in some countries, the highest revered because they dedicate their lives to enrich others’ lives.  Educators are respected for what they know, do, and say.  I feel that in the US, there is no respect for educators.  Emphasis is placed too much on people in the spotlight.  Oh everyone says the right thing, "Teachers should get paid more.  It's a shame."  But where did the respect go?

I didn't go into teaching for respect.  I certainly didn't choose this profession for the money.  I love to learn and I love to share that learning with others.  That is why I teach. 

Reading Mission Possible lit the spark I have for education.  I feel empowered to go back to school in the fall and demand professional development that will help to improve everyone's fervor for education.  I am lucky that I work with a wonderful staff of dedicated educators, but we all still have so much to learn.



Do you want to get inspired about education?  Here's your chance to win your own copy of Mission Possible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




I hope to hear your thoughts on why you think this country treats teaching so differently than it does other professions. 


Eva Moskowitz would love to chat with you on Facebook and Twitter as well.  Let her know your opinions and share in the conversations on the importance of making change NOW.






**Disclaimer:  Although I was paid to participate in the review of this book through my relationship with SITSGirls, all opinions are my own.

Alexis
 

Whistling Dixie

So "Little Ricky" has been working hard on learning how to whistle.  We had a talk about how to do it.  It's not just putting your lips together, but that your teeth and tongue have to also work.   He couldn't figure it out.  For days he worked hard on getting the sound out.  


Then one day......pheeeew.....  It was faint, but a sound definitely escaped his little puckered lips.  Pheeeeew!  Another one.  PHEEEWWW!  


Now that little bugger is "Whistling Dixie" all over!!


At first it was really cute.  Now it's all I hear.


Pheeew pheew pheeeew as he builds with his Legos.


Pheeew pheew pheeeew while he's watching tv.


Pheeew pheew pheeeew at the movie theater.


Pheeew pheew pheeeew even while he's in bed and supposed to be going to sleep.


That darn sound is now in my head and I too am making the pheeew pheew pheeeew sound.  


Ugh.  Now I have to teach him how to sing songs while whistling so at least it's an enjoyable sound!  Wish me luck!





Alexis