Tried It Tuesday - Finishing Strong!

We have 7 days of school left.

We go all of next week.

I know some of you have more time than that.

My sympathies.....

One of the things we did to encourage our students to make the most of the last few days and weeks of school was to do a lesson on "Finishing Strong".

We watched this truly inspiring video:

The kids absolutely love it!

The music and quotes just make you want to step it up!

I created some follow up activities so the students could write down their plans for finishing strong 

this school year.

We talked about perseverance, and how setting goals is the key to achieving more.

You can check out the packet of activities I created in my TpT store.

Head on over to Holly's blog to find more great Tried It Tuesday ideas!

Ten Things I Want to do this Summer (Linking up w/Mrs. Jump's Class!)

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Our weather has been great here, and it feels like summer has already begun.

The only problem with that feeling is that we still have two weeks of school.

But, since vacation will begin in just two short weeks, I can join THE Deanna Jump for her summer planning linky!

1.

I moved into a new house about a month ago, and will spend much of the summer unpacking those final boxes, rearranging and decorating.

Here is a pic of the kitchen (which I love!), but I still need a color scheme and knickknacks for the 

shelves, etc.

2.

I'll be making a couple trips to the Chicago area to see family.

The first week we're off my niece and I are going to see a Backstreet Boys concert there!

3.

I'm definitely going to get some golf in!

4.

Of course I'll be doing some reading - both professional and for pleasure.

A group of teachers in my building are doing a book study on this book.

5.

And I'll be taking lots of walks with this little cutie.

I just found a great walking trail near my new house.

6.

I'll be doing some gardening!

7.

Organizing the many books in my classroom is on the agenda.

8.

I am so looking forward to having more time to create products for TpT, and for blogging!

9.

I already have a couple trips lined up with friends!

This was from an awesome trip to NYC in 2012.

10.

And the last thing I'm looking forward to is:

DOING WHATEVER I WANT ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS!

(Because I won't have to go to school - hurray!)

Stop over to Mrs. Jump's blog to check out other bloggers' summer plans.  

Tried It Tuesday - Design Squad, and Creative Teaching Press Winner!

The winner of the Creative Teaching Press Classroom Collection is:

LaNessa H.

LaNessa will win these products and more:

Would you like to have some of these goodies for your own classroom???

For more details about Creative Teaching Press' 

INCREDIBLE 

2014 Back-to-School Product Line 

CLICK HERE!

Make your wish list now, my friends!

Products will go "live" on the site (www.creativeteaching.com) very soon and you will be able to place your orders as soon as May 26th!

Now, on to Tried It Tuesday!

I recently asked the third and fourth grade students in our after-school STEM Club to design a Convenient Carrier that would be attached to a crutch or wheelchair.

To begin the challenge I told the students about how hard it was to carry items when I was on crutches after breaking my ankle a few years ago.

Using the design process from EiE and a lesson plan from the Design Squad website, the students used cardboard, tape, rubber bands, paper, and tape to create convenient carriers.

They loved it!

I highly recommend checking out the Design Squad on the PBS Kids website for lots of great suggestions for engineering activties!

Also, head on over to Holly's blog, Fourth Grade Flipper, for more ideas in the Tried It Tuesday linky!

Five For Fraturday - Mother's Day Last Minute Craft

Happy Fraturday!

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for a review of my week!

1.

We've been doing a unit on Social Issues, and I found some excellent books for teaching this unit on the Creative Teaching Press website!

When students in my book groups were discussing the book, many of them referred back to the graphs and other text features to share what they had learned.

I loved how the book includes tips for "Making Changes" at the end.

I felt that the book presented the information in a matter-of-fact manner.

I know this topic can politically charged, and I appreciated the middle-of-the-road format of the book.

The book got the students thinking, and that is the main goal of our unit on Social Issues.

2.

Did you get some fun Teacher Appreciation Week gifts?

I thought this one was clever - the card says, "I hit the target with getting you for a teacher", and it included a Target gift card - hurray!

3.

Have you ever wondered about how the TV ratings were made?

Well, I got to be a part of it this week. 

I had to record every program I watched for a week, and was paid a whole $5.00 for it!

4.

We put these together on Friday for a last minute gift for moms.

We had made cards earlier in the week, and I whipped this up while combing the aisles of JoAnn Fabric and Crafts on Thursday night.

The box is from the wedding section, and it is filled with Cookies and Creme Hershey's Kisses.

I had some scrapbook paper for the bigger heart, and I also had the sticks from another project,

The sticks were fastened to the box and heart with tape.

The kids did a nice job of putting them together in less than 30 minutes.

5.

And last, but not least, don't forget about the awesome giveaway of Creative Teaching Press items that ends on Sunday, May 11, at midnight.

Click here to enter - or scroll down to see all the wonderful items you could win!

HUGE Creative Teaching Press Exclusive Blogger Sneak Peek Giveaway!

Hello Teaching Friends!

I have fantastic, wonderful, spectacular, inpiring news!

As an exclusive blogger for Creative Teaching Press I have been given authorization to award one lucky educator a collection of new, yet-to-be-released products!

You can spend the summer thinking about how you'll use these trend-setting products to decorate your classroom for the coming school year.

You will surely have the classroom to envy when the school doors reopen.

Let's get started on the swag you could win!

These charts are perfect for a math focus wall, and can be posted as you introduce topics throughout the year.  This set is suitable for grades 2-4.

Of course I'm including these chevron letters!  

How about some new border?

My classroom is decked out with a gray chevron, lime green, and black color scheme.

I think I just may need to update with these!

I like to overlap some borders - maybe the black with this green?

And maybe the snow will be a little easier to take next winter if you have this border to dress up your bulletin boards!

These letters would provide a clean look to any display!

Wait - there's more!!

YES!  You could win this complete set of chalkboard style posters! 

What a perfect match with the borders and letters!

Need a lesson plan book to get you organized? How cute is this?

To win this awesome collection of new products from Creative Teaching Press, just enter below!

One winner will be chosen, and that person will be announced next Monday, May 12.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And guess what???

You can earn even more chances to win Creative Teaching Press items by visiting the sites of other exclusive bloggers!

Click this link to see the other great giveaways going on this week!

An InLinkz Link-up

Creative Teaching Press sure does appreciate teachers!

Thank you Creative Teaching Press!