Currently February...Shamelessly Late

February 1st rolled right on by!  Don't tell....but I sort of purposely waited until today so that my "listening" could be promoting my future husband....

Listening:  Josh Groban's new cd, All That Echoes hot off the Target shelf...I left school at 2:00, ran to Target, and came back to school.  Work is always better listening to Josh!

Loving:  I have s.l.o.w.l.y. been adding wbt practices into my class.  Kids really seem to be responding, especially the catch and release.  Now I just need to find an easier way to remember it all.  I read and watch videso...getting it to memory so I can teach my class is trickier.

Thinking:  State testing is approaching far sooner than I would like.  Need to pour on some test taking strategies.

Pretty sure we all feel like this during testing time.

Wanting:  A new pencil sharpener.  I have TWO dead electric ones on the counter.  How is that even possible!  An order to Classroom Friendly Supplies is going to need to happen soon!

Needing:  The furniture clutter is possibly making me claustrophobic....I think I am going to be traumatized by the desks alone.  Looking at classroom photos gets me overwhelmed and that isn't even taking into consideration the cuteness factor, I just want functional flow! 

Double decker desks....hhhmmmmm.  Jim may have a solution.

Pet Peeve:  So silly...but I can not stand it when pants are on the inside tongue of shoes!

Pants go on the outside of shoes!

Go see what everyone else is up to and don't forget the rule of three!

Happy Tuesday,

Currently November

Oh' Boy November, ready go!

Listening:  Many Portlanders complain about the never ending rain, but I love it...the sound...the smell...liquid sunshine!

Loving:  The Syfy channel has gathered the cast of Fireflyfor a 10th Anniversary...sneak peek
Thinking:  For about a year, I have been feeling bothered by the clip chart system.  I had a light bulb moment about how I never wanted to be a teacher who wrote names and checks on the chalkboard and on some levels the clip chart does the same thing in a different way.  So the past two weeks, I have been working on only moving student clips up.  Six students still need some behavior support and I am still working through what I want that to look like.  But I have not been moving clips down.  Any thoughts or comments you all have are super appreciated.
Wanting:  What is this Minecraft business?  It is the main subject of conversations and student writing!
Needing:  Last Tuesday, I got a new student.  The Friday before that a student moved and Monday another student is coming...so I need to update the classroom and add/delete their names from the room.  Do you have ways to make getting ready for new students easier?  I keep everything I need in a big zip-loc bag.

Music:  This one is my favorite part.  I love music!  I play the flute and my kids know that, so we often listen to James Galway.  I have another student who plays cello and a few who play piano, so I like to incorporate those instruments as well.  My favorite cd to listen to during reading, writing, and art is Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone....beautiful stuff! 

Your turn.  Check out everyone else's November and start a classroom playlist of ideas!  And don't forget the rule of three!

Happy Sunday,

Elections and a Currently...Already?

Today was election day in our classroom.  At our school, we have student council of 3rd-5th graders.  Each class has two representatives.  Students running for student council gave their speeches and then we talked about appropriate ways to vote and then we voted:-)
The Candadites:

The Ballot Box:

Newly Elected Officers:

And Farley is at it again...another monthly chance to see what everyone is up to!  Check out what we are all up to and link yourself up!

Here is my currently:

It is banned book weeks, so I chose to read,  A Wrinkle in Time.  My dad and I drove to Seattle for the last home Mariner game and we listened to the audio book.  Loved the story!

I don't fully understand the new MLB Wild Card System, but it sure made the last few days of baseball exciting....did you all see the Rangers/A's game!?

We do a lot of art and I never get it sent home nicely unless it fits into a 9x11 folder!  Pinterest to the rescue...look what I found!  Toilet paper tube for artwork! 

source

We read, Bear Has a Story to Tell this week.  What an adoreable story.  In fall, Bear has a story to tell.  Bear's friends are all too busy getting ready for winter to hear his story.  An interesting circle story that starts in fall but goes through the rest of the seasons!  Go check it out!!!!!

Link up and don't forget the rule of three!
Happy Thursday,

September Currently....Seriously?

Not sure how it happened, but it is September and time for a new Currently!  What is your September up to?

LISTENING:
Return to Me is my favorite movie which then makes me think of Dean Martin...who my grandma loved.  So I cranked up some magical music!

LOVING:
My Dodgers aren't too far behind....race on!  I truly don't know all the details of baseball trading....but apparently the massive Dodgers/Red Sox trade was a big deal!

THINKING:
Students come through the door at 7:35!  Oh I am not prepared for the early mornings!

WANTING:
Love love love my exercise balls in the classroom.  Dislike dislike dislike that they have no place!  I am determined to find a way to store them from the ceiling.

NEEDING:
I have a somewhat obsessive nature....and right now I am in love with fairy doors!  My classroom needs/wants one.  Oh the fun we could have...whatever is behind it could leave us notes...presents....be mischievous.  And we could write to it and decorate it and leave it snacks, presents....and I may have gotten my friend into them too!  Click the picture if you need more info. about my current crazy!'

BBC's Sherlock is so clever and Watson is played by the actor who was Bilbo Baggins.

Loving the blog world so much!  I "meet" new people and glean brilliant ideas.  It is like have having mentor teachers all across the country...and in a few instances the world.  I copied the list of all the blogs I follow...then used Tagxedo to make a shape collage out of the names!

 Right now, I need to visit Michigan.....

Don't visit me at night....once school starts, I wash my hair and put it in rollers.  I get 30 minutes of extra sleep this way.  And the curls don't come out til I wash my hair again.  My favorite are the pink spongy kind, (they are a bit more comfortable to sleep on) but they don't always dry fast enough.  Kevin Murphy has a set of hard plastic rollers that are vented so they dry faster.  However they do require a bit more thought into my pillow situation.  And yes, I do realized I just announced to all of blog land what a big dork I am.  No, I will not post a picture.

Go link up and join the fun!

Happy Sunday,
...

How Can it Be a July Currently

I am not sure where my summer vacation is going?  How is this happening?  Anyway Farley is at it again.  

Listening:  I saw Joshua Radin and Sara Bareilles a couple of summers ago--they are so talented!

Loving:  The reading piles in my house are overwhelming....but one of the best parts of summer.

Thinking:  I am going back to a 2/3 blend next year.  Excited about keeping some of my chickadees...but gotta start thinking through common core.

Wordle of last year's class list....they'll be back!

Wanting:  Just discovered Downton Abbey on instant watch...I am addicted and waiting for season two to come to my mailbox.

Needing:  Powells is most fun bookstore.  It takes up a block and has at least 4 stories of new and used books...I have got a list of books to freshen up my library.

Reads:  Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins is one of my favorite read alouds.  (Edward Tulane is my other favorite....but since it has already been mentioned....)  My kids are so into the story and there are two sequels, so they are motivated to read the next ones independently.  Growing Readers simply separates elements for encouraging lifelong readers.  (Again, Reading With Meaning and The Book Whisperer are some favorites...but we all need a selection to choose from)

Check out how everyone else is spending July, over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade! 

Happy Monday,
 

Toy Lab and Currently

Toy Lab is going on in our classroom.  We have been studying fact and opinion and will be writing toy reviews.  We started by reading quite a few toy reviews at Time to Play Mag.  It has plethora of toy reviews...some with video demonstrations.
Then we brainstormed Toy Reviews and what they have, can, are.  Using the document camera, we played a game, called Rush Hour.  And finally we wrote a class review of the game.  Next week we will be bringing in our own, favorite, (non-electrical) toy and having a Toy Lab to review our toys.

Toy Review Anchor Chart and Rush Hour Review

Rush Hour on the big screen.

And I thought I should link up with the Currently party.....I love reading what everyone is up to!

Love the super power part....you are all super heroes...in case you haven't seen this pic floating around...

Happy Tuesday,