tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84126515429009327672024-03-13T09:46:08.078-07:00Teach On.Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-21109359194301119762014-10-23T18:34:00.002-07:002014-10-23T18:34:49.666-07:00Classroom Tour, 3rd Grade, 2014-2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So...yeah. I've been MIA. For like, EVER. Sorry about that. I like, got pregnant. Yeah. That's my excuse for everything these days, because I'm 30 weeks now. Lol. Preggo brain.</div>
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But anyway, thought I'd come back and try to start posting again. I have so much to say and to share!</div>
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I actually looped up with my class this year, so I have 16 of the same kiddos and 2 new ones and am teaching 3rd grade. It has been an AWESOME transition and a great experience so far. I am just loving it.</div>
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Check out some pictures from our room this year.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Every Birdie's Welcome in Our Nest." :)<br /> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kJmQfw4hk-4/VEml5JVqQlI/AAAAAAAACmw/_A3thRgGkBs/s1600/IMG_5361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kJmQfw4hk-4/VEml5JVqQlI/AAAAAAAACmw/_A3thRgGkBs/s320/IMG_5361.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the door. I should really make the front of my desk cute.<br />Oh well. Love my new rug from Ikea!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Oijy5jvteo/VEml5H-1MiI/AAAAAAAACmo/9pqPrsHDS6Y/s1600/IMG_5362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Oijy5jvteo/VEml5H-1MiI/AAAAAAAACmo/9pqPrsHDS6Y/s320/IMG_5362.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pic is from our Meet the Teacher Night--the chalkboard is now all decked out!</td></tr>
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The Good Morning section holds our Target Reading, used as part of our morning routine.</div>
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Then there is a section called Scientist Chat where I ask questions and learners can add their thoughts and comments. Then next to that, there's a Wonder Board. Some QR codes scan to certain videos and articles on Wonderopolis, and the learners can add their own "I Wonders." Which reminds me, I need to read their wonders and try to post some QR codes for them to explore! :<span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep. Our character board still says 2A.<br />We are now 3E. Whoops. ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiction section of our classroom library. <br />On the top, I "spotlight" particular books: seasonal or books that tie in with our current learning topics.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-WZE3k9LTY/VEml6mn9peI/AAAAAAAACnI/MxvjBADREVY/s1600/IMG_5365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-WZE3k9LTY/VEml6mn9peI/AAAAAAAACnI/MxvjBADREVY/s320/IMG_5365.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cubby tags. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our What Stuck With You Today board has been a big hit.</td></tr>
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There's now a numbered grid, and each day before packing up to go home,</div>
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the learners jot down one or two things that "stuck" with them from that day and </div>
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stick their post-it notes on the board.</div>
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I type in their thoughts on Answer Garden throughout the week,</div>
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and then I turn the Answer Garden cloud into a Wordle and share it on Twitter,</div>
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print it out for the kiddos to see in the hallway.</div>
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This week, we took the Cogat test, and I had them share</div>
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what part of the test was easiest for them/what their brain was best at</div>
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(working with words, working with numbers, or working with pictures).</div>
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I can't wait to read what they wrote!</div>
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Our Project Based Learning Board.</div>
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It is now constantly filled to the brim!</div>
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We just finished a project where the learners groups' chose a state in the</div>
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Northeast Region and planned a potential trip for one of our teacher's sister and her husband.</div>
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They researched landforms and natural resources in their states, the local climate,</div>
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and they planned out fun outdoor activities.</div>
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Then most recently, they created raps and illustrations to teach</div>
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the 2nd graders how to subtract with regrouping. So fun to see them </div>
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improving in their cooperation, communication, and critical thinking.</div>
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My desk. It's way messier than this now. :/</div>
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Must do/May do board. Love this.</div>
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I love my daily drawers. :)</div>
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Non-fiction section and my tall bookshelf with teacher editions</div>
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and more read alouds. :)</div>
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Um...last year, that blank wall space was covered by bookshelves.</div>
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This year, I meant to continue the green & the border all the way down.</div>
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But uh...we're 9 weeks into the year, and it still looks like this. LOL.</div>
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I guess you could say I've got bigger fish to fry.</div>
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And our hallway display! I wish the lighting wasn't so awful.</div>
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This is also where I display their What Stuck With Us word clouds.</div>
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Hope you enjoyed the pseudo-classroom tour.</div>
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Hope you all are having a wonderful school year so far!</div>
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Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-58033282508730938582014-01-03T16:24:00.000-08:002014-01-03T16:24:30.815-08:00So I'm Teacher of the Year. WHAT?!Yeah. Craziness. December 5th we had a staff meeting to find out who was the new Teacher of the Year, and lo and behold, it was ME. *Cue the shock & awe, folks.*<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Little ol' me</td></tr>
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My silly team nominated me, and so did one of our fab Kinder teachers. I was so shocked, I just stood there! Someone made the comment that it was the first time they'd ever seen me speechless. So true. I always have a comment for everything, lol.<br />
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My principal had called my parents, so they were there to surprise me, and while my hubs was out of town for business (bummer), one of my besties who used to teach with me came up, as well. So neat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">My principal and me</td></tr>
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My principal created a Pinterest board for the new Teacher of the Year reveal. Pretty funny because she always jokes that my classroom looks like Pinterest threw up in it. LOL.<br />
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When she displayed the Pinterest board on the screen, I slowly started to realize that all the pictures she had pinned were of things I had created for my classroom. It finally started to dawn on me that the new Teacher of the Year must be ME! Too funny.<br />
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The comments with the Pins were taken from the application my colleagues filled out about me. Wow.</div>
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Unique personality? Check. It's part of what keeps my students awake, I think. Haha.</div>
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O.K., I didn't create this poster! I believe I found it on</div>
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Technology Rocks Seriously's blog. :)</div>
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So it's possssssible that I could be overheard saying "Ain't nobody got TIME for that!" multiple times a day. Just sayin'. (So this was a fitting tribute to me, for sure, lol.)</div>
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So yeah. Pretty dang cool. And now come the writing of the 6 essays, the observation, and the interview by a panel. Say HUH?! Yikes. Excited about the honor, but a liiiiiiittle stressed about the rest! :)</div>
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I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the remainder of your time off. This is the first somewhat-school-related thing I have DONE since December 18th, and I applaud myself! :)</div>
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Here's to a great 2014 that includes good friends, good health, lots of love, and plenty of chips & queso.</div>
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XO,</div>
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Gayla</div>
<br />Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-2316555314901692662013-11-12T19:05:00.000-08:002013-11-12T19:05:11.262-08:00Like Sands through the Hourglass...Seriously. I am sorry to report that with all the new implementations going on in my district, "Ain't nobody got time for that!" Blogging, that is. Geez o'Pete. It's all I can do to [sort of] keep up with all that's expected of me this year, much less blog about it. PHEW. This teacher is exhausted. Excuse me. Educator. Oh yes, one of the many things I'm having to relearn. I am no longer a teacher. I am an EDUCATOR. Get it right, folks. Also? The students? No longer. They are now to be referred to as LEARNERS. Get on board! :)<br />
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We've also begun Project-Based Learning (PBL) on our campus, which has been lots of fun, but lots of work. OY. The kids are LOVING it, and I am loving the collaborating and critical thinking that's going on, but it is a LOT of work. Mostly upfront work, but still. Holy Moses!<br />
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PBL on U.S. landmarks, their significance, and how they make places unique:<br />
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These photos are from today's mission...they learned about the Golden Gate Bridge, and then they</div>
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constructed their own long bridge spanning between 2 desks.</div>
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Their bridges were judged and scored based on length (3 points for each inch),</div>
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beauty, and teamwork. Every team received the full 2 points for teamwork today!</div>
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Whoo hoo! I was one happy teacher, er, educator.</div>
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This mission came from the book Mind Missions, which is AMAZING for turning boring Social Studies units into ENGAGING, hands-on experiences for learners. I highly recommend it. Also, it works GREAT for PBL if you use it--the missions are perfect Scaffolding Experiences.</div>
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<a href="http://www.mindmissions.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-THomSSoeRPI/UoLpnB2pNRI/AAAAAAAACew/TcbvyZod_Yg/s1600/mind+missions+pic.jpg" /></a></div>
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The teams have a few more landmarks to learn about and missions to complete, and then next week they'll receive a Game Changer. This is where they'll be issued their main task/challenge. As a whole group, we will be creating and naming our "class town." Each team will then become a committee--one team will be the Bridge Committee, one will be the Statue Committee, one the Monument Committee, one the Seal Committee, etc. The committees will be developing and constructing a model of their landmark to stand on a raised relief map of our "Class Town." I envision them choosing something like "Cockrellville," haha. </div>
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Eventually, each committee will record a video in which they describe our town, including the significance of the landmark they designed and what U.S. landmark it compares to. These videos will be linked to QR codes so that visitors to the school can scan them to see what our learners created and what they've learned. They'll also be taking their Kinder Buddies on a "gallery walk" of our town, explaining the landmarks. OY. Serious stuff, y'all.</div>
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If your school uses PBL, I'd love to hear any thoughts or tips you may have!</div>
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Thanks so much for stopping by!</div>
<br />Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-81235415668012257772013-09-26T16:17:00.000-07:002014-02-23T12:35:12.362-08:00A Little of This and That...Just a little snippet of what we've been up to in 2nd grade...<br />
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We have officially introduced all of the Daily 5 rotations except for Word Work, and we are off and running! This week was the first week for Work on Writing, and the kiddos are LOVING it. I do have a LOT of different writing activities, which helps with garnering enthusiasm. *Tooting horn* Ahem.<br />
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So yeah. In Listen to Reading, we have 2 options so far: they can listen to books on cd at the listening station, or they can listen to books on the computers. For that, they visit our classroom blog (see the links on my left sidebar), click the Listen to Reading link at the top left, and there are about 10 websites where they can listen and follow along to stories. They love it.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51ZgPQJElwc/UkOsdEkga9I/AAAAAAAACXs/ZvaPeH3uTOw/s1600/IMG_5796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51ZgPQJElwc/UkOsdEkga9I/AAAAAAAACXs/ZvaPeH3uTOw/s320/IMG_5796.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Soon I'll be introducing the iPads (Listen to Reading & Word Work) and iPods (Listen to Reading), which will create QUITE the buzz (can't wait--except for the crying--there's always crying when they don't get the iPad FIRST FIRST FIRST).</div>
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*Side note: we share our iPads with the 3rd grade team, so our kiddos get to use them every other day. Pretty great!</div>
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So this year we have started notebooking like CRAZE-EE. I seriously think we have a freaking notebook for every subject. It's a little out of control, but I am loving them. Especially now that they're all pretty much set up. (Creating Table of Contents using rulers? With 7 year olds? Not fun.)</div>
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Check out some of our notebooking so far this year! I found some amazing units on Teachers Pay Teachers and some freebie notebook pages, and I am soooooo excited about the awesome work my kids are going to do this year.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lpIDgSO540Q/UkS1DAxGRFI/AAAAAAAACYo/cW4h-d-dads/s1600/IMG_5916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lpIDgSO540Q/UkS1DAxGRFI/AAAAAAAACYo/cW4h-d-dads/s320/IMG_5916.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/2nd-Grade-Reading-Interactive-Notebook-aligned-with-the-Common-Core-765272" target="_blank">Amazing Reading Notebook Unit by Nicole Shelby</a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HuL_wRJSmaA/UkS15GuEp9I/AAAAAAAACZE/LBayYGm2Ln0/s1600/IMG_5919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HuL_wRJSmaA/UkS15GuEp9I/AAAAAAAACZE/LBayYGm2Ln0/s320/IMG_5919.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The above 2 pics show some freebies for Reading Notebook by <a href="http://simply2ndresources.blogspot.com/2013/07/reading-writing-notebook.html" target="_blank">Becca at Simply 2nd Resources</a></div>
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My Science Journal Title Page</div>
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Here's the part where I'm gonna complain, because it's my blog, and I can whine if I want to (and YES, I may POSSIBLY be DRINKING some wine as I whine, but that's neither here nor there):</div>
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-I had my 1st SIOP training today after school (Sheltered Instruction for ELLs if you're not familiar), and I'm frustrated. We sat through a slide show presentation that basically told us information that we had all already learned back when we had to take the ESL certification test, and THEN came the REAL reason for the training: we are now going to be required to post our Content Objectives and Language Objectives in our classrooms. For every state standard. For every subject. Every day.</div>
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SIGH.</div>
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And yes, I know our district is probably super late to this objective-posting party, but DANG IT, I don't like it. I have SO MANY other things I need to be doing besides typing up the objectives that I cover every day (is it just me, or are there about 30 if I include everything I review or touch upon?). Seriously?! I haven't been so frustrated (my nice word) in a long time. Well, I was pretty frustrated when I found out I had to do 6 hours of this training, heh. </div>
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Anyone else have to do this? Would you like to join my pity party? Jump right in, folks! I loves me some comments! :)<br />
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Actually, one of our ESL Facilitators has a great Pinterest board with ideas for SIOP if you're interested.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/jillybeanpop/cisd-sheltered-instruction/" target="_blank">Sheltered Instruction Pinterest Board</a><br />
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Hope you are all off and running this school year. I am loving my group this year and excited about what they're going to accomplish.</div>
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Hang in there. </div>
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XO, Gayla</div>
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Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-43447562058206981502013-09-15T20:13:00.001-07:002013-09-15T20:13:17.534-07:00Sunday Night Blues. Sigh.<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Things that irritate me when I'm at school on Sunday:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">-custodians didn't empty my trash cans, and we had brownies Friday. ants to follow, I'm sure</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">-new remanufactured ink cartridge doesn't work</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">-my copies aren't done</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">-the gates are down, hence a trek across creation to get to my room</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">-feeling like I've accomplished nothing when I leave</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;">-being at school on Sunday</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;" /><a class="_58cn" data-pub="{"type":"hashtag","id":298801566915519,"source":null}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/teacherproblems" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">#teacherproblems</a></span><br />
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But seriously. How awful is it to be at school on a Sunday and to still feel unprepared for the week afterward?! So annoying. I feel like it doesn't matter how hard I work, I'm just a hamster on a wheel. (Metaphorically speaking, of course.)<br />
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This year (we're 3 weeks in) has been crazy, nutso, people. We started off the year launching Project-Based Learning (which we're launching district-wide this year--well, either PBL or UBD), and I've already got 2 mini PBL units in the works. Each team is getting a full day of planning to work on our next full PBL unit, and ours is on October 4th, yay! Considering I'm a complete newbie, I'm already loving PBL, but there's just not enough time in my day (ha) to plan for it! Thank goodness we have a coach from the district that is very helpful!<br />
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Also in class, we've so far introduced Read to Self and Read to Someone. Up this week is Listen to Reading (a big favorite every year), so that will be fun. Alas, I'm fairly certain my iTunes playlist was deleted over the summer. SIGH. Last year I had a parent volunteer come up and upload every book on cd to my iTunes account, which was awesome. Guess I could do that again. <br />
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But in other news, I spent more money on my classroom today. I know, I know. Shocking, right? It's a sickness. I am trying to Schoolgirl Style my room up. :)<br />
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And I keep having to buy more bandanas to make my curtains fluffier. SIGH. :) <br />
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Well, I'm hoping to get some finishing touches added to my classroom this week (finished curtains, included!), so hopefully I'll have some pics up here soon. Get ready to ooh and ahh, mmmkay? K thanks.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eSscWQWcWL8/UjZ3PiV80MI/AAAAAAAACXc/6Duu-lgNhpM/s1600/wait+till+quiet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eSscWQWcWL8/UjZ3PiV80MI/AAAAAAAACXc/6Duu-lgNhpM/s320/wait+till+quiet.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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You liking my ADHD post tonight? Does your brain have whiplash yet? LOL.<br />
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Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to have some pics up soon!Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-75584782580484917402013-09-08T16:20:00.000-07:002013-09-08T16:20:05.225-07:00Another Opening, Another Show and Back to School!So yeah. I've been meaning to blog. Really, I have. But prepping for back-to-school combined with Tech Week and performances of the musical I was in, combined with Staff Development just didn't work well for me, time-wise.<br />
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(That's me on the bottom right--we had a BLAST doing this show!)</div>
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But it was all worth it! I am sort of recovered physically from the past few insane weeks. We just finished the 2nd week with students, and it's been good so far. I have a very sweet group of kids, if a little talkative and energetic. :) I'm really looking forward to learning and playing with them this year.<br />
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Anyway, I wanted to share some pics of my classroom even though there are still a few finishing touches I plan to put on it. (Is a classroom EVER truly "done?")<br />
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Haven't decided if I'm going to keep this display for Daily 5 check-in yet...</div>
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Will probably change this board to a Writing board for anchor charts, etc.</div>
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My new storage area for Word Work activities! Love it.</div>
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(Need to take down that poster!)</div>
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My new writing area. The stuff under the table is junk I still need to sort through and store somewhere. :(</div>
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All my supplies for Work on Writing, so organized, whoo!</div>
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We are launching Project-Based Learning this year. </div>
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My PBL board looks better now, but I haven't snapped an updated pic yet, sorry!</div>
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Our character quality of the month, Conflict Resolution Wheel, R Time Rules, and Rules for good manners, etc. are displayed here. (The ugly dolls are my bathroom passes!)</div>
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My new Authors We Love wall!</div>
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I love how it turned out!</div>
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Reading cushions and buddies.</div>
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Our Wish List at Meet the Teacher</div>
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(about 1/2 of the items were taken, yay!)</div>
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Smartboard and my new alphabet line (made by me!)</div>
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I have since completed sectioning off the chalkboard on the left, </div>
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and I'm still not sure how I feel about the BRIGHT lime green duct tape.</div>
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I HATE chalkboard!</div>
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My birthday photos will be posted on the black & white chevron board.</div>
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Yay! The little brown table by the window will house our BioBubble Aquarium!</div>
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The next step is for me to allow my kiddos to research what fish and other items we should</div>
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buy to put in our BioBubble. If you haven't seen/heard of them, you should definitely check them out. SUPER COOL. I think an aquarium will be a very calming presence in our classroom, and I'm so excited to get it up and running!</div>
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Math manipulatives still organized from last year.</div>
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(I have since put the label on the bottom left bin, heh.)</div>
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Storage for our extra supplies:</div>
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pencils, markers, crayons, glue, and baggies</div>
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Construction paper storage!</div>
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Also, I put the kleenex boxes inside that little lime green basket. Much cuter. :)</div>
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All the new books I accumulated over the summer. WHY?! </div>
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Why do I keep getting more books?! LOL. It's a sickness.</div>
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YAY for awesome library storage!</div>
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Guess that's about it. For now. If you made it this far, bless you. :)</div>
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Hope everyone's beginning of the year is going well!</div>
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<br />Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-66857507328426828242013-09-04T13:53:00.000-07:002013-09-04T13:53:06.377-07:00Welcome to 2A and Kid President's Pep TalkWe have had a wonderful time in 2nd grade so far!<br />
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A more detailed blog post (with photos!) will be up soon, but in the meantime, check out the awesome, inspiring video below!<br />
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Please feel free to leave a comment sharing which part of the video inspires you!<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/l-gQLqv9f4o?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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"Create something that will make the world awesome."<br />
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Love,<br />
Mrs. C.Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-90714793366815647042013-08-08T23:06:00.001-07:002013-08-08T23:06:28.519-07:00My Train Wreck of a ClassroomAKA: Before pics. Ha!<div>
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But seriously. If you are needing to feel better about the crazy state your classroom is in, never fear. You've come to right place.</div>
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Here are some before pics when I went in on Monday:</div>
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These 6 (ish) desks are covered with FILES from my 2 tall filing cabinets.</div>
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I have since gone through ALL of this, filled a giant recycle bin to overflowing, filled a cardboard box to overflowing, gotten rid of 1 of the file cabinets, and rearranged the desks. :)</div>
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Here's after working/sorting/recycling/filing for about 6 hours. Yeah. Ridic. Oy.</div>
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This poor recycling bin didn't know what hit him.</div>
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After 6+ hours of work, I still had to sort through these piles, plus the bucket in the pic below. </div>
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I thought seriously about harming myself, lol!</div>
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The last of the last. I know you'll be happy to know, and will rest easier, knowing I COMPLETELY FINISHED sorting/chucking/filing all my files yesterday. It gave me great joy to announce that I was finished to my teamies, who were also up there working. They expressed their pride that I was able to stay focused on this one task for 2 days without getting distracted by shinier, more exciting objects. Yay me! :)</div>
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Moving on...</div>
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A bunch of the <strike>crap</strike> stuff I bought.</div>
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I'm keeping my awnings from last year, even though they are a little worse for the wear, or as I like to say--rode hard and put up wet. But oh well. Ain't nobody got time for that. I re-did the borders on the left and right sections. Go me. :)</div>
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Birthday board. Yay chevron! Just need kiddos' pics for each month!</div>
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Now. These next few pictures are the collective banes of my existence. Cords. Frickity frackin' [insert 4 letter word(s)] cords. </div>
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No, but really.</div>
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Still more. (I didn't even take a picture of the ones under the student computers.)</div>
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And one of my very favorite parts of my room this year:</div>
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What's that, you ask? THAT, my friends, is the spot on the wall where my t.v. used to be. They removed all of our t.v.s over the summer but neglected to patch/paint/etc. So fun! Guess I'll be finding a poster to slap over this hot mess. (Do you like the shrine to my son on my cork board? LOL.)</div>
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I rearranged my desk set up for this year. Again. (Yes, I change it every. single. year.) I need a fresh start, people.</div>
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I'll be back soon for an update on my classroom progress. You would think each year would get a little faster, wouldn't you? Because in my 7 years of experience in setting up classrooms? It so doesn't. :)</div>
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Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-89782076827493967092013-08-06T15:18:00.001-07:002013-08-06T15:18:03.593-07:00Monday Made It--August 5th!Ugh. I seriously can't get over the fact that it's already August! However, my hubs and I are super excited that the final season of Breaking Bad starts in less than a week! Amazing series. <br />
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Alas, I still have to wait until OCTOBER to find out what happens on Scandal. SIGH. *pout*<br /><div>
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Well, mamacita has been a busy girl these days. I have been creating and printing and laminating and cutting and spray painting and silhouette-ing and mod-podging and sealing and YEAH. Busy. It's a sickness. But I've got some cute stuff to show for it, so there ya go.</div>
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Linking up, of course, with the fabulous <a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2013/08/monday-made-it-august-5.html" target="_blank">Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics</a> for Monday Made It. Yes, on Tuesday. Don't judge.</div>
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<a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2013/08/monday-made-it-august-5.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P7tvBqVG6ds/UgFr0e47lrI/AAAAAAAACNI/iFuYNB2mlww/s1600/mondaymadeit2_240x240.png" /></a></div>
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<u><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">HOME MADE ITS:</span></i></u></div>
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Last week I made a sign for our house, and I love it. I bought one of the unfinished wood plaques at Michael's, spray painted it with Heirloom White (best color), then cut the letters in vinyl on my Silhouette Cameo and applied. TODAY, I finally topped it off with Mod Podge and a sealer spray. Hope it lasts. I hand painted a similar sign on the cutest wooden oar (from Joann's) right after we got married 5 years ago, but my cat was throwing herself against our screen door one day, knocked it down, and broke it in half. *tear* So you know, 4 years later, I finally got around to making a new family sign. :)</div>
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BEFORE:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQWQ0CBIrlM/UgFl0FXxMII/AAAAAAAACLk/J1M0KlR1a3M/s1600/IMG_5561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQWQ0CBIrlM/UgFl0FXxMII/AAAAAAAACLk/J1M0KlR1a3M/s320/IMG_5561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made another sign for our front window. I saw a similar one on Pinterest, but it said Thin Mints, which I don't care for, so I changed it to Tagalongs. :) Loves me some Girl Scout cookies. I actually WAS a Girl Scout as a child, and I looooooved selling the cookies. It was back in the day when it was relatively safe to go door to door in your neighborhood. </div>
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BEFORE:</div>
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AFTER:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Sorry; not a great picture, but I was too lazy to pull it out of the window. LOL. I think it's cute, but I'm a little bummed that the vinyl letters somehow got moved when I painted on the Mod Podge, so they're not spaced very well. Boo. But oh well. Probably no one but me cares. :)</td></tr>
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I'm really excited about this one. I was in my classroom moving furniture Friday, and I came across this old calendar from Scholastic. Each month featured a children's author whose birthday fell in that month. I remember using the calendar a couple of years ago, but I saved it for some reason. Well, I figured it would make a fun display near our class library! I trimmed each author page and laminated them. I created some letters on my Silhouette to say "Authors We Love," and I plan to make it a focus wall above the library. FUN! </div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I plan to mount the title and posters on the lime green fadeless paper I bought, </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">so hopefully they'll really pop.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">This pic sucks. I'll post a better one when the wall is finished in my library. :)</td></tr>
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I also made a couple fun goodies with my trusty can of lime green spray paint and upcycled frames from Goodwill! Check out these before and after pics!</div>
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BEFORE:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Pretty, huh? What? No? LOL.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Dry erase board! POW!</td></tr>
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BEFORE:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">(Another beauty.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZw9YaGBAgo/UgFssmmsw4I/AAAAAAAACNY/up8murA1bng/s1600/2nd+day+in+2nd-frame.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZw9YaGBAgo/UgFssmmsw4I/AAAAAAAACNY/up8murA1bng/s320/2nd+day+in+2nd-frame.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Frame for the kiddos to hold as I snap their cutie pie pictures on the 2nd day of school!<br />Can't wait! Cuteness. I (of course) used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the letters,<br />laminated and cut them out, then used glue dots to attach. LOVE glue dots, people.</td></tr>
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Well, I posted some of the posters I made before, but here they are printed and laminated! My new Daily 5 posters to match the colors in my classroom, and my new teaching binder in chevron brights! LOOOOOOOVE me some chevron, and equally (actually even more) love me some bright/neon colors. Holla. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSHTlpK8-tA/UgFtfkFk5PI/AAAAAAAACNk/pB_5T3QpXsA/s1600/IMG_5599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSHTlpK8-tA/UgFtfkFk5PI/AAAAAAAACNk/pB_5T3QpXsA/s320/IMG_5599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ72fiA_ZHA/UgFyaec3f-I/AAAAAAAACN0/_SVcnEaIptQ/s1600/IMG_5607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ72fiA_ZHA/UgFyaec3f-I/AAAAAAAACN0/_SVcnEaIptQ/s320/IMG_5607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also made a new alphabet line to match my classroom.</div>
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Hope you enjoyed--thanks for stopping by, and happy August! If you haven't started back yet, enjoy the remainder of your summer-- know I am!</div>
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Check back later this week for an update on how my classroom is coming along and to make yourself feel a whole lot better about whatever state YOUR classroom is in. Trust me--you have to see these pictures to believe them. It's a like a freakin' sharkNADO tore through!</div>
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LONGEST POST EVER. OY!</div>
Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-70024877157300234062013-08-02T21:15:00.001-07:002013-08-02T21:15:26.627-07:00Say It Ain't So. (Currently August)Sigh.<br />
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August.<br />
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'Tis a sad, yet exciting month.<br />
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I hate summer coming to an end, because I love spending more time with my little one. I hate summer coming to an end, because I love being able to sleep later and lounge around in grungy clothes (or my pajamas) and do nothing but watch tv and play. <br />
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But I do get excited to meet my new group of kiddos and get my room and bright and shiny for them. :)<br />
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So here we are. I go back to work officially for in service on August 16th (which, unfortunately, is the same day my musical opens), but I also have a luncheon for mentors on the 15th. Then the following week we have in service, and the kiddos come back on the 26th. The musical I'm in closes the 25th. LOL. {What was I THINKING???}<br />
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So anywho. Linking up with the fabo Farley! (Click the pic to visit and/or link up!)<br />
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<a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/08/currently-august.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-apIHX0PH4sY/UfyBkFWgbOI/AAAAAAAACLI/ZbXna_ySr98/s320/currentlyall.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UOWFiHiAB1s/UfyB2KHE0TI/AAAAAAAACLQ/-9L7HPA-GnE/s1600/currently+aug-mine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UOWFiHiAB1s/UfyB2KHE0TI/AAAAAAAACLQ/-9L7HPA-GnE/s640/currently+aug-mine.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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So yeah. I think the Rangers have actually won a few games lately.</div>
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I am super excited (and possibly crazy) to be doing a musical (we open Aug. 16th and close the 25th). This is my first show since I got pregnant and had my son, and I actually did this same show 6 years ago. It is one of my very favorite shows EVER, or I wouldn't be doing it again. It's called Songs for a New World, and it's written by Jason Robert Brown. The music is amazing and DIFFICULT! I am so thankful to have already done the show and to be familiar with the music! (Back to school is a stressful time as it is without added stress, even if it is for fun!)</div>
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I am SUCH a night owl. I have rehearsals Tuesdays and Thursdays until 10:30 (at least), and by the time I get home, I'm wide awake (from singing and dancing). I do my best thinking at night. Also...I may or may not be sliiiiiiighty addicted to Candy Crush. Ahem.</div>
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I went up to work in my room for the first time today. It didn't look too bad when I got there. I wish I could say the same for when I left. OMG. Can you say disaster area? Because I can. I'm somehow going to have to squeeze in 2 more desks than last year, so I decided to get rid of one of my huge file cabinets, and I rearranged and scrunched some furniture together. We shall see. Make it work, people!</div>
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Mmm....margarita. Something about summer and margaritas.</div>
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Back to school must haves!</div>
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1. Sonic drinks are just a must for working in my classroom. I pick one up on the way to school almost every time. Makes life so much better, dontchathink?</div>
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2. A new package of Flair Pens. This is on your list, too, isn't it? ;)</div>
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3. I literally rearrange my classroom set up every. single. stinkin. year. I just have to change it up. Makes it seem even more like a fresh start, I think.</div>
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Thanks for stopping by, and thanks again to Farley for hosting!!! </div>
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<br />Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-83819570433006419702013-07-24T12:28:00.000-07:002013-07-27T21:24:49.359-07:00Teacher Sales! (Get excited.)One of my teamies and I are planning to head to Teacher Tools tomorrow for their annual sale, and I thought I'd go ahead and research when allllllll the sales are for teachers this summer. <br />
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Might as well share the info. if I'm looking it up, anyway, right?! Hopefully some of you will benefit from this! I live in the Dallas area, so I'll share the various locations in our area and try to link to the websites that give sale dates when possible.<br />
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Here goes!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teachers-tools.com/" target="_blank">TEACHER TOOLS</a>: (20% off storewide)<br />
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*July 25th, 8:30 am-7:30 pm - Ft. Worth and Allen locations<br />
*July 30th, 8:30 am-7:30 pm - Hurst and Lewisville locations<br />
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<a href="http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/" target="_blank">LAKESHORE:</a><br />
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*Back to School Sale now through September 1st, 20% off tons of items<br />
*Free shipping online when you spend $79+, use code SHIP79<br />
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<a href="http://www.officemax.com/home/custom.jsp?id=m6510080&cm_sp=btskto5-_-save25perc-_-teacherapp" target="_blank">OFFICE MAX:</a><br />
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*Various Dates; click the link above to enter your zip code and find your store's sale date!<br />
(mine is August 10th-12th)<br />
*Teachers get a free, reusable tote and 25% everything you can fit in it!<br />
*Be sure you have their Max Perks Teacher Rewards card beforehand!<br />
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<a href="http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/back-to-school/resources-for-teachers/teacher-appreciation-day.html" target="_blank">STAPLES:</a><br />
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*Various dates; click the link above to find your store's sale date! (Mine is August 10th, 10:00-1:00)<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.325;">FREE shopping bag plus 20% back* in Staples Rewards</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-style: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.325;"> on everything you can fit in the bag! For the first 100 teachers. While supplies last.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.325;">*Enter to win a $25 Staples</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-style: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.325;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.325;">gift card.</span></span><br />
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Of course, there's still all the weekly ads to look through for the CHEAP STUFF at Target, Walmart, etc. Though I avoid Walmart like the plague unless it is time for truly desperate measures. :)<br />
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Last year I was up at Office Max having lots of my new decor printed (because they disconnected my printer at school, and I had to wait for the tech guy to come re-sync it or whatever), and with my printing purchase I got a whole class set of FREE composition books! And they were cute designs, too! Hoping they'll have that deal again this year. I have a lot I need to print again this year, and I don't really want to print it all at home. <br />
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I've also been searching every Target within a 30 mile radius for these certain book boxes that I got about a month ago. They only had 3 in the right colors (teal & lime), and I really need 2 more!!! I also need another 20 or so of these books I got for my team in the Dollar Spot. They're little reading response books, and I plan to have the kids keep them in their book boxes for Daily 5 and require them to fill out at least one section per week. One day when I went, they were on sale for 70% off, so I got them for SUPAH CHEAP!<br />
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I was going to post a picture of it, but I can't find it, and frankly, I'm too lazy to take another one. After all, the books are in my car. In the garage. In the backseat. I mean, ain't nobody got time for that, amiright? :)<br />
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Anyway, I hope this post helps a few people out there! Happy back to school shopping! I'll be sure to post pics of the goodies I pick up at the sale tomorrow! Tomorrow is PAY DAY, too! So watch out!<br />
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Catch ya later...<br />
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<br />Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-58704879165610671302013-07-23T16:35:00.000-07:002013-07-24T12:28:55.379-07:00Top Ten Tuesday: Classroom Must Haves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm linking up with Courtney at <a href="http://www.swimmingintosecond.com/2013/07/top-ten-tuesday-linky-party.html" target="_blank">Swimming Into Second</a> (adorable blog!) for her Top Ten Tuesday!<br />
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This week's Top Ten is for the things you must have in your classroom. </div>
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So here goes.</div>
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#1...My Smartboard</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRmucr5PR-M/Ue8DCAOekBI/AAAAAAAACIM/hF4AYT6Fr4s/s1600/smartboard6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRmucr5PR-M/Ue8DCAOekBI/AAAAAAAACIM/hF4AYT6Fr4s/s320/smartboard6.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I get so frustrated when it's not working! I am so used to touching the screen and writing on it. It's the best.<br />
I was the first teacher at my school to get one (wrote a grant), and now every classroom has one!</td></tr>
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#2...Mr. Sketch smelly markers</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPSubk_NcdM/Ue8DYGWTe2I/AAAAAAAACIU/PwfBXMJJckc/s1600/mr+sketch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPSubk_NcdM/Ue8DYGWTe2I/AAAAAAAACIU/PwfBXMJJckc/s1600/mr+sketch.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These make my heart so happy every time I use them. The kids always want to smell them when I pull out a new one, and I usually indulge them. Who can blame them?! These things are awesome! And they write so bold and neat!</td></tr>
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#3...paper chopper</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMFhM1GV4z8/Ue8Dr17x7yI/AAAAAAAACIc/SfnFzG0P0cI/s1600/paper+chopper.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMFhM1GV4z8/Ue8Dr17x7yI/AAAAAAAACIc/SfnFzG0P0cI/s320/paper+chopper.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I use this puppy all the time. I don't call it a paper trimmer because this sucker doesn't trim. It CHOPS.<br />
Hard core, baby. :)</td></tr>
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#4...bright colored everything</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-waEPX-sFpmU/Ue8FoVS__RI/AAAAAAAACI0/8pvLTzDJfDA/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-waEPX-sFpmU/Ue8FoVS__RI/AAAAAAAACI0/8pvLTzDJfDA/s320/IMG_4175.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My current classroom decor: lots of lime green and teal!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iWNQJq8tw1c/Ue8EXXNIdGI/AAAAAAAACIk/1IFCH7VTJoU/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iWNQJq8tw1c/Ue8EXXNIdGI/AAAAAAAACIk/1IFCH7VTJoU/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My old classroom decor. Beach party!</td></tr>
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#5...my Scotch laminator</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKuT1uBDJ4M/Ue8GAHS-eJI/AAAAAAAACI8/Qj4ChQPpaDo/s1600/scotch+laminator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKuT1uBDJ4M/Ue8GAHS-eJI/AAAAAAAACI8/Qj4ChQPpaDo/s320/scotch+laminator.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the best purchase I made after hemming and hawing forever about whether or not I should buy it!<br />
Wish I had bought it sooner! It's perfect for small jobs like centers, task cards, etc. I also like that it's a thicker lamination that what our school laminator does. Plus, our laminator is usually on lockdown, and we have to wait for volunteers to come up and do it for us....no comment. *ahem*</td></tr>
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#6...my color printer</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjCs3B0VBZw/Ue8Ggo5OKxI/AAAAAAAACJI/bpfaTOaUUi8/s1600/color+printer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TjCs3B0VBZw/Ue8Ggo5OKxI/AAAAAAAACJI/bpfaTOaUUi8/s320/color+printer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have an HP something-or-other that also scans and all that jazz. It prints fine, but it is a necessity!<br />
We call it our "team printer," because the color printer in the office is pretty much off limits. <br />
And frankly, who wants to walk across the building to get your stuff, anywho?! I tell ya.</td></tr>
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#7...labels (on everything)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8pWIa4xxHgE/Ue8JZ_IpefI/AAAAAAAACJg/LstAfigpRRo/s1600/IMG_4169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8pWIa4xxHgE/Ue8JZ_IpefI/AAAAAAAACJg/LstAfigpRRo/s320/IMG_4169.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Word Work & Work on Writing. Labels!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSPKCtxDysE/Ue8I260WLRI/AAAAAAAACJY/vPYA1wmMaIg/s1600/IMG_4162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSPKCtxDysE/Ue8I260WLRI/AAAAAAAACJY/vPYA1wmMaIg/s320/IMG_4162.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of my class library. LABELS. They make me sane. er. SanER.<br />
I also have almost every cabinet door/drawer labeled with my DYMO label maker.<br />
(If only I was this organized at home...)</td></tr>
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#8...my rolling chair</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_MXu6VZnSk/Ue8KMtIR1GI/AAAAAAAACJw/q5fkC_x04AQ/s1600/rolling+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_MXu6VZnSk/Ue8KMtIR1GI/AAAAAAAACJw/q5fkC_x04AQ/s1600/rolling+chair.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks something like this, but navy blue. I am planning to recover it in a cute fabric this year.<br />
This chair makes me happy. I like to roll around in it. I spend so much time controlling the SMARTboard for the kids, that it's nice to have a comfy spot to rest my butt. :)</td></tr>
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#9...storage bins</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsUdcx8kesY/Ue8Ko4S2dxI/AAAAAAAACJ4/DTLIcRt4Hpc/s1600/storage+bins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsUdcx8kesY/Ue8Ko4S2dxI/AAAAAAAACJ4/DTLIcRt4Hpc/s320/storage+bins.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love storage bins. I worked last year to get more bins that matched or coordinated,<br />
because I had collected so many random, mismatched ones!</td></tr>
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#10...my teammates</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBqg8OUounQ/Ue8M92gDGqI/AAAAAAAACKQ/NV74nNxIuzg/s1600/IMG_4139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBqg8OUounQ/Ue8M92gDGqI/AAAAAAAACKQ/NV74nNxIuzg/s320/IMG_4139.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my teamies and I at our Summer Conference before school started last year.<br />
That's me on the right. (So glad my hair has grown out some from when I chopped it off for Pink Hearts Fund!)<br />
I don't know what I'd do without my amazing teammates. They are SO fun to be with, and we are<br />
constantly cracking each other up. They make my job more fun and more bearable on those days that are <br />
tough to get through!<br />
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So what are your top ten "must haves" in the classroom???<br />
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Go link up at <a href="http://www.swimmingintosecond.com/2013/07/top-ten-tuesday-linky-party.html" target="_blank">Swimming Into Second!</a><br />
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Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-42520952622117843352013-07-21T14:23:00.001-07:002013-07-21T19:49:39.146-07:00Vacation. Hmph. But Monday Made It. Yay!I'll be linking up with Tara at her <a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2013/07/monday-made-it-72213-early.html" target="_blank">Monday Made It</a> linky further down in this post. Please feel free to skip ahead if you don't feel like reading about my crummy vacation, lol. There are some Daily 5 Freebies, so it may be worth it for you to keep reading! ;)<br />
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Well. Hubs and I went to Mexico to celebrate our 5th anniversary, which was June 21st. <br />
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"Celebrate" turned out to be a loose term, as we both got sick. Yep. We arrived midday Sunday, I was sick by Monday night, and he was sick by Tuesday night. I spent most of Tuesday in the room, but Wednesday I was able to spend a couple hours at the beach and even some time in the ocean. <br />
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We stayed in Playa del Carmen at one of those fancy resorts. It was beautiful. The ocean is gorgeous there. Hubs and I discussed and both agree that the sand in Destin is nicer (white), but the water is nicer in Playa. <br />
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Another interesting thing is that there were like NO Americans there. It was nearly ALL Europeans. So I couldn't understand anything anyone was saying. :D<br />
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One thing is for sure: when you're sick and unable to enjoy your vacation very much, it sure does make you miss your child more! We both missed our boy terribly and couldn't wait to get back to him Thursday.<br />
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Here are a few pictures I managed to get (on my phone, sorry):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CB40zUYX7ws/UedVrUrkqKI/AAAAAAAACFI/3vo4KBIr6xY/s640/blogger-image--1405480872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CB40zUYX7ws/UedVrUrkqKI/AAAAAAAACFI/3vo4KBIr6xY/s640/blogger-image--1405480872.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you like my double chin? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Europeans. Lots of em.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the bar by the pool, where we took cover during the brief rainstorms that passed through. <br />There was also a swim up bar, which was my fave.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I looooooove the ocean.</td></tr>
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Alas, I'm still feeling miserable, but I'm thankful to be back at home, at least! The worst part is thinking about how much money we spent on a trip we hardly enjoyed. :( Oh well, what can you do???<br />
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I did manage to get a few things made for school on our flights, which is where my Monday Made It comes in. I usually prefer to link up with cute crafty creations (I love alliteration, peeps), but I was in Mexico, so that was a no-go. Though I have several crafty creations in the works, yay! <br />
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<a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2013/07/monday-made-it-72213-early.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y1B1ED6YGIc/Ueyc0IA0a8I/AAAAAAAACH8/kmmIvXmV9bQ/s1600/mondaymadeit2_240x240.png" /></a></div>
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Here are a few updated things I've made if anyone is interested, and be sure to click the image above to see Tara's and everyone else's amazing "made-its!"<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Daily-5-Posters-Aqua-Lime-Orange-Chevron-Polka-Dots-762318" target="_blank">Free Daily 5 Posters in Teal, Lime & Orange Chevron & Polka Dots:</a><br />
(Click link to download on TpT; click image to enlarge.)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1wERC4KDKxs/UexQoCELitI/AAAAAAAACHs/mYZeApII4-o/s1600/Slide1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1wERC4KDKxs/UexQoCELitI/AAAAAAAACHs/mYZeApII4-o/s320/Slide1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Daily-5-Posters-Black-White-Polka-Dots-762675" target="_blank">Free Daily 5 Posters in Black & White Polka Dots:</a><br />
(Click link to download on TpT; click image to enlarge.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/My-Teaching-Binder-Organize-Your-Life-in-the-Classroom-760095" target="_blank">My Teaching Binder in Pueblo Primary:</a><br />
(Click link above to view on TpT; click images to view.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/My-Teaching-Binder-Chevron-Brights-Organize-Your-Life-in-the-Classroom-782659" target="_blank">My Teaching Binder in Chevron Brights:</a><br />
(Click the link above to view; click images to enlarge.)<br />
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God bless you if you made it this far! :D</div>
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XO, Gayla</div>
Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-67062464311888526552013-07-08T21:32:00.001-07:002013-07-08T21:58:07.915-07:00Cafe Awnings: How To!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've gotten several comments asking how I made the cafe awnings in my classroom (yay for people finding me through Pinterest--gotta love the internet!), so I thought I'd post some information here, though I'm sad to say we didn't take pictures during the process. :( I will do my best to explain, though.<br />
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I'm going to link up with <a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2013/07/monday-made-it-july-8-and-giveawayd.html" target="_blank">Tara's Monday Made It</a> for this! Hopefully it'll spark some ideas for those on the prowl to make their classrooms cuter!<br />
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Here are some pictures of the finished awnings in all their glory:<br />
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OK, the polka dotted awnings themselves are actually just wrapping paper I bought at Party City.</div>
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I think it would be just as cute or cuter to do the whole long awning in just one print/color.</div>
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But that's neither here nor there. Anywho.</div>
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My brilliant cousin helped me make these, by the way--I told her what I wanted, and she figured out how to make it happen. GENIUS, I tell ya!</div>
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First, we measured the length each section was going to be, unrolled the wrapping paper roll, and marked it on the inside white side with a sharpie. (For the 2 outside edges, be sure you allow an extra few inches on each side.)</div>
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Then to make the scalloped edges, we used a small, dessert-sized styrofoam (sp??) plate. We put it face-down and traced the top half (semi-circle) of the plate (repeatedly) on the white underside of the wrapping paper with sharpie. Then we cut along the scallops we traced. Voila, you have your paper. Now, just to figure out how to hang it! (Obviously, we just did one section at a time, and it took both of us to hang.)</div>
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<i><b> YOU WILL NEED:</b></i></div>
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1) a cardboard tube (must be strong; a toilet paper roll is too flimsy. I used a thick tube from a different wrapping paper.)</div>
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2) a hot glue gun</div>
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3) thumb tacks (not the flat kind, the kind that stick out)</div>
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4) scissors</div>
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5) stapler that lies flat to staple on the bulletin board </div>
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6) box cutter, etc. (yes, I have one of these hidden in my teacher desk!)</div>
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So as I hope you can see above, I folded down about 2 inches of the wrapping paper and stapled it to the very top of the bulletin board, all the way across the section. (You will need a helper to hold up the paper while you staple.)</div>
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After deciding how far you want the awning to stick out from the bulletin board, you'll need to cut your cardboard tube into several sections that are that length. (This is where that box cutter comes in.) I think we did about 3 inches out from the bulletin board and then cut the tubes to fit. You may also want to CREASE the wrapping paper (you may be able to see the creases in the photo) before you start stapling or hanging.</div>
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Each "section" of my bulletin board has 2-3 cardboard tube pieces helping to hold it up. I hot glued one circle end of the tube piece, then pressed it to the very top of the awning (where I stapled) to provide a support for the paper. Then I put hot glue on the circle end sticking out toward me and pressed the front of the awning on it (careful not to burn yourself!).</div>
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Hot glue the other cardboard tube pieces in the same way, spacing them out to provide support.</div>
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For extra support, I used thumb tacks. I pushed in several thumb tacks just under each cardboard tube to help anchor them a little bit. Get the thumb tacks as close as possible up against the tubes.</div>
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The last thing we did was to even out the 2 outside edges of the awning. </div>
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Can you see the little slit we cut on the right side there?</div>
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The part that sticks straight out from the wall on the far right, we cut a line between the last scallop and 2nd to last scallop and then folded the far right scallop inward and under to even it out. </div>
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Can you see it here on the underside?</div>
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I really hope this helps! I wish I had thought to take some step-by-step pictures!</div>
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Thanks to everyone who has complemented my awnings and who has expressed interest in learning more about them. Please send me pics if you end up making some; I'd love to see what you come up with!</div>
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Thanks for stopping by!</div>
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Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-56757422127922085132013-07-06T08:32:00.001-07:002013-07-06T08:32:22.643-07:00Favorite Pins Friday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks to <a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The First Grade Parade</a> for hosting this fun new Friday Linky Party! Cara Carroll is amazing, as I'm sure you know, and I'm super excited to link up! If you haven't visited <a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cara's blog</a>, definitely check it out; you won't be sorry! Click the button above to visit the Linky Party!<br />
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What a fun party, huh? Considering I'm Pinterest-obsessed and what not. Whoo! So let's get started, shall we?<br />
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In no particular order, here are some of my fave pins of late:<br />
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From my DIY/Crafts board:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YIwfRzSQt1M/UdczyJTadnI/AAAAAAAACCc/NVxFKaELDzk/s1600/PIN-ladybug-vs-bumble-bee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YIwfRzSQt1M/UdczyJTadnI/AAAAAAAACCc/NVxFKaELDzk/s320/PIN-ladybug-vs-bumble-bee.png" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Source: http://chickenscratchny.com/2013/04/spring-time-tic-tac-toe.html</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How freakin' cute is that?! Looks pretty simple to make, too! The original post said she got the river stones at Dollar General, too! She's clearly my kinda gal. :)</span></td></tr>
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From my For My Classroom board:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1c5dzb_d3CI/Udc1kxG05BI/AAAAAAAACCw/PWvFrbrbCr8/s1600/PIN-Expand+an+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1c5dzb_d3CI/Udc1kxG05BI/AAAAAAAACCw/PWvFrbrbCr8/s1600/PIN-Expand+an+Image.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Source: http://artmommie.blogspot.com/2012/03/young-explorers-class_10.html</span></td></tr>
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Brilliant. This is from an art blog, but I think this would be an amazing back to school activity to inspire creativity and have students write about their final product. ?! Love it.</div>
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From my Desserts, Not Deserts board:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QImbbrBZv34/Udci7wFtlpI/AAAAAAAACB8/-beGX6Nb3LI/s1600/PIN-campfire+cones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QImbbrBZv34/Udci7wFtlpI/AAAAAAAACB8/-beGX6Nb3LI/s320/PIN-campfire+cones.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/11527/camp-fire-food#_a5y_p=687797<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">YUM. May have to try this tomorrow when we have a pool party/cookout!<br /><br /><br />From my DIY/Crafts board:</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TeUAmB-8Gb8/UdchkW5RBWI/AAAAAAAACBs/JWPtD45n1vM/s1600/PIN-pvc+shower+curtain+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TeUAmB-8Gb8/UdchkW5RBWI/AAAAAAAACBs/JWPtD45n1vM/s1600/PIN-pvc+shower+curtain+tent.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: dumpaday.com<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I am loving this idea! We've been wanting to get a canopy for our backyard by the pool, but the ones we like are all too big for our tiny patio area--This looks pretty doable, huh??</span><br /><br /><br /><br />From my Gifts/Stuff for Others board:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv1VnwM_h3Q/UdciPcj9X2I/AAAAAAAACB0/HqnvvC77KrE/s1600/PIN-money+envelpe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv1VnwM_h3Q/UdciPcj9X2I/AAAAAAAACB0/HqnvvC77KrE/s320/PIN-money+envelpe.jpg" width="179" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Source: dumpaday.com</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What a brilliant idea!</span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />From my Style/Beauty board:<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ap2coAbNlzQ/Udcwi_3A-eI/AAAAAAAACCM/lmpspR5Rx1M/s1600/PIN-striped+skirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ap2coAbNlzQ/Udcwi_3A-eI/AAAAAAAACCM/lmpspR5Rx1M/s320/PIN-striped+skirt.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Source: http://headedsomewhere.com/2013/04/22/follow-the-leaders-of-the-blog-o-sphere/<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Loving this look!</span></td></tr>
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What a fun link-up! Thanks again to Cara for hosting! Hope everyone had a great Independence Day!Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-31449242216487462442013-07-02T14:39:00.003-07:002013-07-02T18:13:19.337-07:00Monday Made It: July!I am sad to say that it's already July because July is almost August, and August is back to school.<br />
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However, I am NOT sad to say it's July because hubs and I are taking a trip to Mexico this month! (Not the whole month...is that how that sounded? Just 4 days.) YAY BEACH and fruity drinks! Can't wait, though I am already worrying about leaving the little man. I know he'll be in great hands with our parents (both sets of grandparents are taking him part of the trip).<br />
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We just celebrated our 5th anniversary, so our trip is really for that, so yay! Last summer we drove to Destin for a few days, but we haven't taken a proper "fancy" trip for quite a few years (pre-pregnancy, hehe). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 years ago</td></tr>
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Anywho, I am finally joining in for another Monday Made It with <a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2013/07/monday-made-it-july-1-what.html" target="_blank">Tara at 4th Grade Frolics</a>! I hope you'll stop by and check out all the fun ideas from different bloggers and/or share your own creations!<br />
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Friday, after I dropped off my little guy at the babysitter's, I came back home to find that our garage door was not working and wouldn't open! Normally not a big deal, but our front door is also currently broken. (Why does everything seem to break at the same time?) So after trying (unsuccessfully) to break into my own house through the back door, side door, and by kicking in the front door, I decided to do something much more productive: shop. I used $50 in gift cards for new books at Barnes & Noble, got some new stuff for me and the little guy at Old Navy, and got some goodies at JoAnn's to make a burlap wreath (which I've been wanting to do for a long time).<br />
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Here's my first attempt at a burlap wreath:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not perfect, but pretty good for my 1st try! :)</td></tr>
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I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Holla!<br />
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Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-53418330143065438942013-06-28T20:47:00.001-07:002013-06-28T20:47:29.089-07:00Blog Lovin'???<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5255161/?claim=8huxggdbaq2">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a><br />
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I have no clue about this Blog Lovin' business, but I have definitely been lovin' me some blogs for many years now, so I am down with the name, at least.<br />
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Hopefully you all have gotten your Google Reader situation figured out--such a bummer, amiright?<br />
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Happy Weekend!<br />
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We are having some friends over tomorrow to swim and cook out, and Sunday night we have a wedding! Should be a fun one.<br />
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XO,<br />
GaylaMrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-44914769811361045272013-06-19T09:08:00.000-07:002013-06-19T09:08:04.042-07:00Super Teacher?!Who has 2 thumbs and was named a Super Teacher in her district???<br />
THIS GIRL! :)<br />
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Funny story. We were in the middle of the week with the 3 days of state testing, in which every student has to be like SILENT all day long, and of course, the kids are about going berSERK by the 3rd day. So we teachers decided that the kids deserved to watch a movie. I know, I know. It was only April. Plenty of learning left, but dang. They had worked so hard being SUPER QUIET. So anyway (I'm long-winded), I'm the techy person on my team, and I headed down to the library to work on getting the Streaming DVD working. (Don't get me started on this piece of junk, lol.) So I called my teammate and said, "Hey, go down to my room and see if it's playing." I waited a few minutes, and called my room, and my PRINCIPAL ANSWERED. Um. Yeah. I about had a heart attack. Times 3. She said that I needed to come down to my room right now. I was FREAKING OUT, Y'ALL.<br />
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THEN, when I turned into my classroom, not only was my boss standing there, but so was our SUPERINTENDENT. HO-LEE. COW. I had no idea what was happening, and I'm sure I looked like a dadgum deer in headlights. <br />
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Come to find out, he was there to give me an AWARD! I had been named a Super Teacher for the district! They gave me a t-shirt, a magnet, and a notepad! (My students thought I was super cool.) Hehe. Then on Friday our Superintendent took all the "Super Teachers" to lunch and gave us plaques. :)<br />
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So, our G/T Specialist nominated me--how sweet of her! Super Teachers are recognized for creating 21st century, innovative, student-led lessons. Here is her nomination letter:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Gayla Cockrell is a second grade teacher at Lakeside. She consistently creates her own projects and activities, rather than use pre-made ones. Gayla builds in authentic extensions for the higher-level learners, while still preserving the "fun factor" and student-choice for her below-level learners. This makes differentiation appear seamless within her classroom, and protects the student’s feelings about their abilities among their peers, which is paramount for all learners. For their February research project, she created a Famous African American unit using the Super 3 research method, and student choice. First, she selected age appropriate websites and then developed QR codes to ensure that her learners are successful in accessing these sites with ease for research. Then she created a high-interest, kid-inspired activity for her students to use when taking notes, as well as embedded a vocabulary study for her students to collect new words and locate definitions on their own. Each quadrant of the research activity has a guiding question to focus their research from facts about their birth and death, the important achievements, and the relevance to the present. For the student product of this unit, she provides a list of technology products, art based products, and I Pad product apps, as well as allows her students to propose their own product. Each list has 6 choices, and all have been introduced to her students through prior lessons/units. Perhaps most importantly, the kids conclude their unit with a self-evaluation which asks them to consider their own feelings about their work, and allows them to make their own suggestions for improvement. This initiates the important task of independent reflection of effort at a young age. Gayla is truly a super teacher at Lakeside!</span></span></div>
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This really made my year (it was a really rough year for me) and made me feel so appreciated. You know, as hard as we work, it just feels good for someone to say thank you sometimes. :)</div>
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I hope you all are enjoying your summer as much as I am! (Assuming you are on summer vacation...)</div>
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Thanks for reading!</div>
<br />Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-86915476225072619362013-04-27T20:47:00.002-07:002013-04-27T21:03:33.396-07:00Boho Birds courtesy of Carson Dellosa!The lovely folks over at <a href="http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/default.aspx" target="_blank">Carson Dellosa</a> saw a comment I posted at <a href="http://www.ateenytinyteacher.com/" target="_blank">Teeny Tiny's blog</a> and were nice enough to send me over some of my very own <a href="http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/SearchCatalog.aspx?k=boho+birds&start=1" target="_blank">Boho Birds</a> decor to display in my classroom!<br />
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I couldn't believe it, and when my package arrived, it felt like Christmas!<br />
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Here are some pics of the first project I made with them (just ignore all the junk on top of my cabinets--what's a girl to do?!)...<br />
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I really think the birds' bright colors complement my poms!</div>
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(Click the pics to see larger images.) </div>
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The branches are really intended to go sideways with the birds </div>
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perching on them, but I improvised to make a tree instead. </div>
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Click <a href="http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/default.aspx?HolderName=bohoBirds_LP#tl-1150e317" target="_blank">HERE</a>...</div>
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(This pic is from their website, so you can see how the branches are intended to be used (I tried to embed the pic, but it wouldn't work, sorry!).</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QV0hRkaoP-4/UXyOi9W7hnI/AAAAAAAAB90/OY-l9JvDwQ0/s1600/IMG_4940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QV0hRkaoP-4/UXyOi9W7hnI/AAAAAAAAB90/OY-l9JvDwQ0/s400/IMG_4940.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Still deciding what to do with all the leftover birds & leaves! </div>
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I actually saw some GREAT inspiration of how other teachers have used the Boho Birds set in their classrooms on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CarsonDellosa?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">Carson Dellosa's Facebook page</a>. </div>
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Here's the link to check it out: </div>
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<a href="http://sunnydaysinsecondgrade.blogspot.com/2013/04/boho-birds-bulletin-boards.html" target="_blank">Sunny Days in 2nd Grade: Boho Birds!</a></div>
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I absolutely LOVE how she used glue dots, push pins, & the boho bird cut-outs to display student work. I am SO ON this for our student work displays in the hallway. They are pretty darn boring with just large black sheets of construction paper (laminated) with nametags and paper clips that hold the work. Her idea is SO MUCH CUTER. And of course, if it's not cute, why bother?? Am I right???</div>
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Well, I hope this inspires you to check out the Boho Birds or some of Carson Dellosa's other new spring-y collections--they have tons of cute ones, and I won't lie--they've always been my favorite supplier for classroom cuteness. And I'm not just saying that! :) Another one of my favorites is the <a href="http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/default.aspx?HolderName=calypso_LP" target="_blank">Calypso Set</a>--I LOVES me some bright colors, as you know.</div>
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Another big THANK YOU to Carson Dellosa--if I wasn't already a loyal customer, I would be now! :D</div>
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On another note, my little boy will be turning TWO in less than a month! Where has the time gone??? Also--must switch into party-planning mode like, NOW. :) </div>
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Hope all you teachers out there are enjoying your weekend. Our weather here in the Dallas area has been GORGEOUS today. :)Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-40026476672640502782013-04-15T16:29:00.000-07:002013-04-15T16:29:11.250-07:00Alert! Amazing Target Find!ALERT. I found an amazing little book at the Target Dollar Spot. You
may want to grab your keys and read the rest of this post as you walk
to your car. Yeah, it's pretty good. <br />
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Since I'm posting from my iPhone, all the pics will show up at the end, FYI. <br />
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It's called Brilliant Reader: a Book Log for Kids and Parents. <br />
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It's
a whole book full of book log pages! See below for pics, but I think it
would be perfect for Daily 5, allowing the kids to chart each book they
read and get a little comprehension practice, not to mention
reinforcing their writing skills. <br />
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The very last page
is just a NOTES page, which I think would be a great place for them to
jot down book titles they see a friend reading or that they want to
check out from the library next time. <br />
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Another possibility is to send this home with them for a Happy Summer, Don't Forget to Read gift. :)<br />
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I haven't decided yet, but you can bet your sweet bootay that I bought 22 copies! :)<br />
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Run, don't walk, to your nearest Target! :)<br />
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Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-56078332399274085042013-04-12T21:11:00.001-07:002013-07-02T18:14:16.778-07:00Five for Friday! April 12, 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2013/04/five-for-friday-linky-party-april-12.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j3yGU3MaVyU/UWjT1mBN49I/AAAAAAAAB7I/7S3fXXKQp-A/s320/fiveforfriday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm linking up! On Friday! It's officially Friday for another hour and 19 minutes! Hallelu! Click on the image above to visit <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2013/04/five-for-friday-linky-party-april-12.html" target="_blank">Doodle Bugs Teaching</a> and check out all the other links and her awesome blog!<br />
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Here are 5 random things from my week:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1s-Qux-_kw/UWjUOCb7T8I/AAAAAAAAB7w/DkZc32GMWw8/s1600/Boho+Birds+Arrived!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1s-Qux-_kw/UWjUOCb7T8I/AAAAAAAAB7w/DkZc32GMWw8/s320/Boho+Birds+Arrived!.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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#1:</div>
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This is me posing with my just acquired (today!) <a href="http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/SearchCatalog.aspx?k=boho+birds" target="_blank">Boho Birds Bulletin Board Set</a> from <a href="http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/default.aspx?gclid=CLjxys_ixrYCFRRxnAodZB8Alw" target="_blank">Carson Dellosa</a>! They sent this pack to me for free after I commented over at Teeny Tiny's blog about how I wanted it!! How awesome is that?! I felt like I won a contest! So anyway, all 88 gajillion pieces have to be laminated, and then I can't WAIT to find the perfect spots for these cuties in my room! (More details and pics to come after they're up and gleaming in their cuteness.) In the meantime, hop over to <a href="http://www.ateenytinyteacher.com/2013/03/carson-dellosa-boho-birds.html?showComment=1364670462465#c5499969953308749825" target="_blank">Teeny Tiny's blog post</a> to see how SHE used the set in her room. Plus, if you don't follow her blog, you are SO missing out. LOVE. HER. (In a non-stalkerish way, of course.) </div>
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P.S. Click <a href="http://www.carsondellosa.com/cd2/SearchCatalog.aspx?k=boho+birds" target="_blank">HERE</a> to check out ALL of Carson Dellosa's Boho Birds stuff! </div>
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OK. Moving on. But seriously, I was SO. EXCITED. Thank you, Carson Dellosa!!</div>
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#2:</div>
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Did you see my post earlier this week about these cutie-patootie writing lap desks I just made?! </div>
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AGH! I really am not a very crafty person, but having my Silhouette Cameo (thank you, amazing 2A class!) has got my creative juices flowing a little bit. And the kids are LOVING using these.</div>
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Check out my post <a href="http://teach-on.blogspot.com/2013/04/new-writing-lap-desks.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see pics of the others with their fun phrases! </div>
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#3:</div>
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HAPPY HOUR.</div>
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Twice this week. Yep. It's been one of those weeks.</div>
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Heck, it's been one of those years. ;)</div>
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But can I just tell ya how much I love the ladies I work with??? They are fabulous human beings, I won't lie to ya. Everyone should be so lucky to work with people who can make even the worst situation seem funny, LOL!</div>
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#4:</div>
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SUBWAY.</div>
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I ate it for dinner last night and for lunch today.</div>
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It's ok. I got different chips. ;) This, paired with my going to the gym last night for the HIP HOP CARDIO DANCE PARTY class (oh yes, you read that right), is surely going to cause those 10 pounds of tummy flab to fall right off. Right???</div>
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#5:</div>
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COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER.</div>
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38 SCHOOL DAYS (but who's counting?)</div>
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Happy Weekend!!!</div>
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Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-77721129033266363522013-04-10T09:02:00.001-07:002013-04-10T09:02:48.520-07:00New Writing Lap Desks!Stopped by Michael's yesterday, and their plastic lap desks were on sale for $4 each. Seeing as how they had my classroom colors (teal and lime) with GLITTER, there was pretty much no way I was leaving without some. Hence, our new lap desks for Work on Writing in Daily 5!!!<br />
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I whipped up some fun phrases, cut them on vinyl with my Silhouette Cameo (squee!), slapped those puppies on, and coated with Matte Mod Podge. <br />
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LOVE!!! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Jlj0VU54Oj8/UWWNF-BvSJI/AAAAAAAAB6A/Ad93kYKnl3g/s640/blogger-image-1195562699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Jlj0VU54Oj8/UWWNF-BvSJI/AAAAAAAAB6A/Ad93kYKnl3g/s640/blogger-image-1195562699.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HRXOf-6v5tw/UWWNHy0C1BI/AAAAAAAAB6I/Eg6hQAzsrOw/s640/blogger-image--1878470713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HRXOf-6v5tw/UWWNHy0C1BI/AAAAAAAAB6I/Eg6hQAzsrOw/s640/blogger-image--1878470713.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RhohZNpPNVo/UWWNDQuy25I/AAAAAAAAB54/c2y20TmQ5Nk/s640/blogger-image-27506610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RhohZNpPNVo/UWWNDQuy25I/AAAAAAAAB54/c2y20TmQ5Nk/s640/blogger-image-27506610.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hySefTFT0os/UWWNJu0RIDI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/ICbzGwJU_zs/s640/blogger-image--1939509692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hySefTFT0os/UWWNJu0RIDI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/ICbzGwJU_zs/s640/blogger-image--1939509692.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-30wD_fN9b3M/UWWM_RlzbyI/AAAAAAAAB5o/-euzLpr45nE/s640/blogger-image--1376366405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-30wD_fN9b3M/UWWM_RlzbyI/AAAAAAAAB5o/-euzLpr45nE/s640/blogger-image--1376366405.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-syXe_qEyaXY/UWWNBPaMe8I/AAAAAAAAB5w/FBa7jGbMD1U/s640/blogger-image--783440174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-syXe_qEyaXY/UWWNBPaMe8I/AAAAAAAAB5w/FBa7jGbMD1U/s640/blogger-image--783440174.jpg" /></a></div>Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-45488158891492174352013-03-24T20:22:00.002-07:002013-07-02T18:04:04.984-07:00What Do You Think of My New Blog Header???But seriously. Is it too busy with the background? It was driving me crazy that I didn't have a header, just a title, and I can't afford to pay a blog designer right now, though I'd love to hire Barbara at <a href="http://www.rubyslippersblogdesigns.com/" target="_blank">Ruby Slippers Blog Design</a>! Maybe one day...<br />
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But even if it's a little busy, I am proud of myself for figuring out how to put a header together all by myself! I am NOT a scrapbooker OR digital scrapbooker, so go me.<br />
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Seriously, though--what do you think? Is it cute? Would less be more?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZisnIr--UF8/UU_CyhVZfaI/AAAAAAAAB1o/pNu0OBAqrdk/s1600/more+is+more.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZisnIr--UF8/UU_CyhVZfaI/AAAAAAAAB1o/pNu0OBAqrdk/s320/more+is+more.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy 22 months to my sweet baby boy tomorrow! (Sounds a lot better than saying "tomorrow's Monday," doesn't it?)<br />
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:D<br />
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<br />Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-71266168497577400902013-03-19T17:43:00.000-07:002013-07-02T18:04:58.103-07:00Fractured Fairy Tales--LOVE.OK, guys, this may just be my favorite unit I've ever taught.<br />
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We talked about what we were going to do for Open House this year and decided to ixnay the Texas Unit, as it is really not in our TEKS (state standards), and 1st grade already does a lot of the same things for their Texas-themed Open House. So back to the drawing board it was.<br />
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Part of our Texas Unit had included Texas Fairy Tales, so we finally came up with the idea to get going on one of our genre studies that are part of our new TEKS. Hence, a FUN unit was born!<br />
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I plan Language Arts for our team, so I was the lucky winner to put all this together.<br />
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We started off by brainstorming what we already know about fairy tales/what things we often read about in the stories, etc. and ended the unit with the students following the writing process to develop their very own FRACTURED fairy tale based on a traditional one. IT. WAS. AWESOME. At least the kids thought so. LOL.<br />
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Here are some of my favorite fractured fairy tales that we read and discussed the story elements of:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Three-Cool-Kids-Rebecca-Emberley/dp/0316236667/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1NW8VMEHHPR5T&coliid=I2CCKIBAPVNSO1" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iVb6fUgVvg4/UUjx5ViCzXI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/vpeMm2Zpv0A/s200/3+cool+kids2.png" width="160" /></a> </div>
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Three Cool Kids</div>
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by Rebecca Emberley</div>
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First, we read a traditional version of The Three Billy Goats Gruff and discussed the story elements, and then, before reading this fractured tale, I asked, "What if we rewrote the story but made the characters different? What could they be instead of goats?" We brainstormed, and we decided that our new story would have 3 dogs--a chihuahua, a beagle, and a bulldog. Too funny! They were super into rewriting the story (this was all done out loud, not written down). The next day we read this book, which takes place in the big city, and it is too cute! I loved that the main characters were still goats, but they were "citified" and each was interested in different things, style-wise, and had different talents. Super cute story.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-John-Rocco/dp/1423100123/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1NW8VMEHHPR5T&coliid=I1P8OSUY9IDAIK" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7_MSzb7NO4g/UUj6O2z8ynI/AAAAAAAAB0g/xVo2thEIGPo/s1600/wolf+wolf.png" /></a></div>
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Wolf! Wolf!</div>
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by John Rocco</div>
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This is a fractured version of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, which I purposely chose to use for a group lesson because I have some wolf-criers in my class who are just SO SICK at least 3 times a week. One of whom finally actually DID throw up one day, and of course, no one believed that he was actually sick! I'm somehow doubtful that the lesson from this story stuck, but you know. A girl's gotta try. This was a great book to discuss with the kids, because the author changed the point of view! The illustrations are beautiful, too. This may be my favorite "new" book I've read this year.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kate-Beanstalk-Anne-Schwartz-Books/dp/1416908188/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1NW8VMEHHPR5T&coliid=IZX1NYDUGYVPI" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqP2IsG2SVI/UUj8Gh_gVCI/AAAAAAAAB0o/_4IHoVs3CKg/s1600/jack-kate.png" /></a></div>
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Kate and the Beanstalk</div>
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by Mary Pope Osbourne</div>
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Illustrated by Giselle Potter</div>
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I'm pretty sure my kids told me that Mary Pope Osbourne writes Magic Tree House. Is that right? Her name is definitely familiar. But anyway, great book! The kids were ALL about predicting the ending on this one! </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Somebody-Three-Blairs-Marilyn-Tolhurst/dp/0590539604/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1NW8VMEHHPR5T&coliid=IQ8FYMRQ35IQY" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VhR4qn74GkQ/UUj8q2kWG5I/AAAAAAAAB0w/6wfdHlI0jxk/s320/somebody+3+blairs.png" width="251" /></a></div>
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(Not including the credit since the words are so big!)</div>
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But dude. If you haven't read this book, you MUST. Seriously. Buy it immediately or check your library. You won't be sorry. The kids will LOVE it. But be forewarned--there will be LOTS of hysterical laughing. Little hyenas. You've been warned. But I absolutely love this book.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goldilocks-Returns-Lisa-Campbell-Ernst/dp/0689857055/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT1_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1NW8VMEHHPR5T&coliid=IUWXX1KT09TL4" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SogeYjOp1qQ/UUj-NTmrT-I/AAAAAAAAB04/9WkBDoSQdZI/s1600/goldi+returns.png" /></a></div>
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Goldilocks Returns</div>
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by Lisa Campbell Ernst</div>
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Have you ever read her books? They're all good. Just sayin. But this one is SO CUTE!</div>
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Goldilocks comes back to the bears' house many years later!</div>
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I could go on and on and list tons more, but I really enjoyed these during our new unit this year and wanted to share!</div>
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I don't know that I've ever seen my kiddos so excited about a reading/writing lesson each day! I wish I had taken pictures of everything and pictures of the kids engaged in their writing! It was awesome. But if you ever visited my classroom (this year, not every year), you'd see that there is scarcely time for me to snap photos when I spend most of my "free time" putting out fires and diffusing volatile situations. Sad to say. I guess I need to at least snap some of their final stories and artwork hanging in the hallway!<br />
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So anyway, since I'd already made most of the handouts for our students, I decided to put it all together with lesson plans, trade book recommendations, and all that jazz and post it on Teachers Pay Teachers. Click any of the pics to check it out in my TPT store. <br />
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Here it is in all its glory...<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fractured-Fairy-Tales-A-Reading-and-Writing-Genre-Unit" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jadwA7WXFIs/UUjwmUwBIfI/AAAAAAAAB0A/_FzOf-NlnzM/s400/fairy+tale+prvw.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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The unit is actually 30 pages long, so this is just a small sampling of what it includes.</div>
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The next 2 pages give more details about the contents. </div>
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I hope you got some good book recommendations you didn't know about! What are your favorite fractured fairy tales to read/teach with?? I'd love to hear! </div>
Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8412651542900932767.post-34668980632848951352013-03-17T12:56:00.000-07:002013-07-02T18:05:26.835-07:00Growing Firsties' 500 Follower Giveaway!Wow. First of all, if you don't already follow <a href="http://growingfirsties.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lisa Mattes at Growing Firsties</a>, head over there now!<br />
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Secondly, you MUST check out her <a href="http://growingfirsties.blogspot.com/2013/03/milestone-madness-500-follower-mega.html" target="_blank">500 Follower Giveaway!</a><br />
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<a href="http://growingfirsties.blogspot.com/2013/03/milestone-madness-500-follower-mega.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpCNjHu7lN0/UUYcXXxj4VI/AAAAAAAABzo/GqOOsuVkCgE/s400/growing+firsties500+Follower+Giveaway.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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Lisa has some amazing prizes to give away, so be sure to head over and enter to win!</div>
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What a compliment to have 500+ fellow teachers be interested in your work and your contributions to education. I think it's amazing all the teacher bloggers out there who put (no doubt) tons of work into their daily lives in the classroom but then spend all this EXTRA time working on their own lessons and activities and then share them with us. I'm new to doing this, but some of these bloggers are seriously AMAZING at it, and I truly am baffled at how and when they get all this amazingness done! Congrats, Lisa, and thanks for the giveaway! :) </div>
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On a side note, I stayed up WAY TOO LATE last night finishing up my Fractured Fairy Tales Unit (which we finished up before Spring Break, but putting it together to sell is quite another thing!). I was SO SAD, as you can imagine, when I finally finished the darn unit and it wouldn't upload to TPT! Tho thad. Theriously. So yeah. I've tried probably 20 times since last night, and I'm still not able to upload it. I contacted Support. </div>
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Well, here's a sneak preview so that you can be waiting with bated breath. HA! :D</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acXCdCcAYGc/UUYfiz92mpI/AAAAAAAABzw/jHTe6sqxHRk/s1600/fairy+tale+prvw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acXCdCcAYGc/UUYfiz92mpI/AAAAAAAABzw/jHTe6sqxHRk/s400/fairy+tale+prvw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm sad to report that my Spring Break is officially OVER tomorrow! :( *tear* *lots of tears*<br />
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Happy Spring!Mrs. Cockrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11530382811404245317noreply@blogger.com0