Get ready to "Move it, Move it!"

This past week has been very informative at Region 20, along with all the other classes I have been too.  I learned some great activities that we can incorporate in the classroom daily :) Students will be challenged to speak in complete sentences during class time, answer all questions with understanding instead of saying "I don't know," and be able to relay their understanding of academic concepts through kinesthetic movements!  I know this will be a challenge in the beginning, but through time and practice everyone will do great.  This is going to help students to be more aware of their bodies and space around them, as well as, practice respecting peers for their strengths and weaknesses during collaboration time.  It will also assist with the critical thinking techniques they will need to have for the STAAR test this year.  I am going to try to "wake up" their brains and make multiple neurological pathways connect to concepts that are important and usually difficult for the students to understand.  So get ready to "move it, move it!"

I would like to thank Ms. Hatfield for her generous help and advice for helping the students progress in their Reading and Language Arts skills. You are awesome!

I have been at the Region 20 Education Center most of this week and have learned so much. I have really been inspired and have some great new ideas for this school year.

Today I was at SASIC helping Ms. Lochridge fix the classroom. It looks great! I am looking forward to seeing the sixth graders advance in their learning!

The New School Year is Almost Here!

Howdy!  School is only about a month away and everything for the new school year is coming together nicely!  The classroom will be ready for students at the end of this week.  The theme for the first week of school will be "All About YOU!"  We will spend the first week getting to know each other and becoming a strong team and family that will be together for the next nine months!  One of my most important classroom expectations is to respect and appreciate everyone for their differences.  We are all able to learn from each other and it is important to take advantage of every learning opportunity we can!  I look forward to meeting everyone at the open house on August 6th and August 7th!

I want to thank Richard Dougherty for all his help yesterday in the classroom. He helped me pick up tables, desks, and carry books. I think he is stronger than me even though I am about twenty years older than him! Ms. De La Rosa, your son is such a gentleman.

Ms. Lochridge filled me in on her ideas for the school year and a peek at her lessons for the kids. The sixth graders are so lucky to have such an amazing teacher!

Well, Ms. Lochridge and I were at school yesterday fixing up our room for the new school year. There were SO many wonderful books and educational games for the future kids! They have a lot ahead of them, but I know next year will be great!

While I was searching the internet today, I stumbled across another website that I found intriguing. It discusses the effects of visual art integration on reading at an elementary level. Included in this website are many related items which I found appealing.

http://www.eric.ed.gov:80/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED496132&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED496132

Just finished registering for my webinar on July 19. It looks to be very informative for educators.

This is a website that has many fun activities for students to learn Math through art. It features games and many other activities that can be used for other subjects.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7877990_integrate-math-art-classroom.html

I really liked looking into this site and found it inspiring. It discusses using the Internet and technology for all subjects. It also discusses transforming a classroom into a "virtual art studio and museum." Pretty cool.

http://www.cyberbee.com/intclass.html

I just was reading all the cool ideas this website has to offer about using art in all courses. It includes lesson plans and many fun activities I believe students would benefit from.

http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/teachers/lesson/visarts/visarts1.htm

Here is a website that features many links to using art with Math. It also features features fifty of the top Math blogs.

http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/library/math-art

This is a link to an article that featuring twelve ways to bring the arts into your classroom.

http://www.teachhub.com/news/article/cat/14/item/297

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/art/reading-and-language-arts/52557.html

I have been looking at this site for innovative and fun ideas for educators. It is really inspiring!

Today I had a break and relaxed by the pool. I saw a mother with her two kids playing a spelling game using spelling dice to form words and define them. Awesome!

Get ready for next year!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!  I have been busy taking classes so we can have a successful year new year. I have learned many new techniques, games, and fun activities to incorporate into the classroom next year.  I hope all the new 6th graders have their thinking caps ready for August 22nd!  If you are wondering how to prepare for next year, my best advice is to read, read, read, and practice memorizing those multiplication and division facts!!

This website talks about using popular art to teach reading and language arts. It looks like it can benefit many teachers and students at SASIC.

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/art/reading-and-language-arts/52557.html

This is a powerpoint about using technology in the classroom.

http://www.slideshare.net/ashleyquark/integrating-technology-into-the-english-language-arts-classroom-128600

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3192550

This article discusses how to incorporate reading into art. I thought it would be interesting to check out.

Can't wait to greet the new sixth graders!

Looking forward to the next school year!

Having a wonderful and busy summer!