Currently January

Welcome to January 2014!  It is Currently time again!

Listening-
Loved the movie Saving Mr. Banks....had to go home and watch Mary Poppins.  Now listening to the Broadway musical...also fabulous!

Loving-
I made snow globes as a Christmas present for my class.  I used beads and baby food jars.  However when I finished I had 4 jars that just wouldn't seal securely.  So I went to the store and bought four jars.  Kind of like someone I know who needed tuna cans.....  I dumped the baby food into ice cube trays and froze it so I could have the empty jar.  Now the frozen cubes of baby food are treats for my puppy.  She loves them and because they are frozen they keep her busy for a bit!

Thinking-
Genius hour is just that-genius!  I can not take credit for it, but am thankful for whoever pinned it!  Jen, from Runde's Room for some getting started ideas!  Genius Hour is also helpful and full of great ideas.  Before break, students brainstormed and narrowed their topics of study.  I can not wait to return and see what happens.

Wanting-
I got a kitchenaid mixer for Christmas and can't wait to put it to use.  My FAVORITE bread recipe uses Chai spice and brewed tea. Such a strange combo, but delicious!!!
Chai Spice Bread Recipe

Needing-
At church with the junior high group that I help with, we split up into small groups and got through a stack of cards.  It is pretty cool and I thought I would try them out with my class.  During our Circle of Friends, I started Ask, Read, Do cards.  On the calendar, I put each card behind each day of the month.  This month, I may just put them all on a ring and flip them.  Each card has a task.  A question we all answer.  Something we should read or something we should do.  Last month was a trial month and we had lots of fun.  #classroomcommunitybuilding

Memory or Tradition-

Whenever we got a Christmas card in the mail, we would put them up on the back of the front door (I am sure there are now much cuter ways to display Christmas cards)  Anyway after Christmas, we took all the cards off the door and put them in  a basket.  Before dinner, each night, we pulled out the first card and prayed for the person/family that sent the card.  Then put the card at the back and cycled through the basket during the next few months.

Your turn...go link up and don't forget the rule of 3!

Happy Thursday,

Teachers of Instagram

I LOVE instagram.  All kinds of new people to meet.It has made me incredibly aware of how much of a visual learner I am!  Elizabeth at Kickin it in Kindergarten is celebrating a blogiversary with favorite instagram pics.

1.  Images of alternative seating--

Not sure how this trend got started in my room, but it does actually look like it could be comfortable.

Donor's Choose Hoki Stools addition to our classroom.

 2.  Back East trip included a stop to Louisa May Alcott's house....magical!

 3.  This is what happens when you let kids show what they know in their way--Downtown Portland statues graphic novel style!

 4.  (Sorry broke the rules) Loved watching Dodgers win NLCS this year....especially since I have a huge Giants fan in my class this year!  (Also loved that I got to see a Boston game at Fenway the year they won the World Series.)

Don't forget to link up...or comment with your instagram name!  You can find me on instagram @chickadeejubilee
 
Happy Wednesday,

A Year of Reading

In case you didn't know....I love to read!  Goodreads is one of my favorite apps for keeping track of my reading.  So in celebration of a new year and for anyone looking for some new reads, here are some of my stats and favorites of 2013!

Books Read:  83
Pages Read:  23,393

Favorite Books: 
Across a Star Swept Sea:  Retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel.  Not as good as For Darkness Shows the Stars but still a page turner!

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library:  Such a clever book....a Willy Wonka/Librarian mashup.

Least Favorite Books: 
Ever After High:  Love Shannon Hale, but this book was too cheesy!

The Red Tent:  Not sure I was okay about fictionalizing an event I believe to be true.....

I reread The Mark of the Lion series...oh so good.  Christywas also a reread....LOVE that book!  A must read for all teachers:-) 

I read A LOT of young adult fiction!  Happily take suggestions of great adult fiction:-)

Happy Tuesday,

Saturday Saying Genius

Every Saturday I look forward to Tammy's new saying.  So I am joining her with a Saturday saying of my own.  On Christmas my family saw Saving Mr. Banks.  It was fabulous and I want to read Mary Poppins to compare to movie. 

Walt Disney is someone I would like to know about.  He has lots of great quotes and this one is something I am hoping to work with my class on.  Look up genius hour...you will find all kinds of great plans students are researching and creating about the things they love.  We brainstormed our ideas before break and I am excited to get back to class and begin our work!

My kids have come up with some exciting things to explore!  What would your genius hour project be?

Happy Saturday,

13 in 13

Kristin, Hadar, and Traci are hosting the 3rd annual Linky Party!  

13.  Favorite Article of Clothing
Not a clothes fiend....I would wear jeans and a hoodie everyday, if I could get away with it!  I do really want Portland socks.  They are printed with image from our old airport carpet.  (Only in Portland...weird things happen here!)

the carpet....

the socks...

12.  Favorite Movie
Love the Dodgers...Love Peewee Reese and Jackie Robinson...Love Baseball...Love the movie 42!

Honorable Mention:
Saving Mr. Banks (had to go home and watch Mary Poppins)

11.  Favorite TV Series
Sherlock is so good!  Each episode is an hour and a half long and just six episodes so far.  

Honorable Mentions:
Still Love New Girl!
Elementary
Chicago Fire
Person of Interest

10.  Favorite Restaurant
The Waffle Window--so many delicious ways to eat a waffle!

9.  Favorite New Thing You Tried
Finally started a tpt store...it has one measly freebie:-)  We will see where that goes.

8.  Favorite Gift You Got
I have wanted a mixer for forever....no more mixing by hand!

7.  Favorite Thing You Pinned

And not only did I pin it, I made it and it was delicious! 
A three layer cake.  Pumpkin spice cake on top and bottom.  Cheesecake in the middle.  Pumpkin frosting on top.  All from scratch.

6.  Favorite Blog Post
Winner:  How to Eat a Cupcake  If my class learns nothing else, I will consider it a success if they know how to eat a cupcake correctly!

Runner Up:  Famous Teacher Appreciation  An unsuccessful linky party attempt, but that doesn't deter me from liking it:-)  Just spreading some appreciation.

5.  Best Accomplishment
Reese (see #12) has made it to 8 months and we are both s till surviving...so that IS an accomplishment!  She loves no-school days as much as I do!

4.  Favorite Picture
Spent the day at the beach with friends I have had since 3rd grade.  Love hanging out with the friends who have been around for forever!  It is amazing how we get together and it is like no time passed at all!

3.  Favorite Memory (this is going to have to be 2...sorry)
-Spent a week at Teacher's College Reading Institute.  It was so inspiring and I wish I lived in New York, so I could go more often.  While in NYC, I saw Newsies on Broadway.  The whole trip Back East was fabulous, but I think Newsies was towards the top!  

 -I also got to meet a bunch of Oregon bloggers....so COOL! 

L to R:  Nicole (Teaching With Style), Tanja (Journey of a Substitute Teacher), Michelle (3rd Grade al Dente), Laura (Teacher Laura), Me, Sarah (Sarah's First Grade Snippets), and Nicole (Teaching's a Hoot).
And it really is a small world....a student in my class is friends with a student in Michelle's class at a school across town!  

2.  Goal for 2014
I have been dabbling in Whole Brain Teaching for a while and love the results from the pieces I have implemented.  My goal is to add more pieces and make it a much bigger part of my class environment. 

1.  One Little Word
I think my word is going to be motivate.  I want to be motivated and, more importantly, I want to be one who motivates my Chickadees.

And there are my 13 things!

Happy Thursday,