Must-Read Monday - A Bit Delayed

I know it's not technically Monday anymore, at least where I am.

Most of you probably won't read this until Tuesday, but that's perfectly fine.

But, I'm linking up with Amanda over at Teaching Madness for Must-Read Monday!

Anyways... I went on a little bit of a shopping spree today (yesterday?) in the bookstore with a voucher I got for 30 meal swipes.

Wanna know what I got? $100 worth of overpriced books.

One of the books was Clifford's First School Day.

This book does a pretty good job at using sequences words, so what a better way to introduce and/or review sequencing.

Sooo, I made this little diddy for ya... A FREEBIE!

You can get it here!

Now you have something to do when school starts in the fall. Because that's exactly what you want to be thinking about right now, huh?

Icky, Sticky, Ooey, Gooey Bubblegum!

So, I got an email today about *possibly* being the Interim Children's Minister at my church.

 Ummm.... YES PLEASE.

We'll see how it pans out. It's such an amazing opportunity and GREAT to build my resume.

That, and I just really love the kids at my church back home and teaching them about God's word is truly my passion.

I would LOVE to spend my summer planning out what those kiddos are doing every Sunday AND making their Vacation Bible School experience AMAZING.

Anyways....

In one of my last posts I talked about an "End-of-the-Year" math PowerPoint.

And sent you to another link to get it.

Well, I figured, why not post it straight to my blog, instead?

But... Umm... No clue how to do that.

Then I found out that DropBox is excellent so I'm trying that.

If it doesn't work, I'm sorry. I don't know what else to do.

But if you have any problems, let me know.

And if you really want to use it and its not working, comment or email me and I'll send it to you.

Anyways...

I hereby present to you:

FILL THE BUBBLEGUM JAR

This activity is perfect for third graders to review all (most?) of the math they have learned during the year, with a little bit of fun. 

And, in case you were wondering, it IS based off the Common Core. 

Don't get too ooey gooey!

 

Saturday, Oh, Saturday

I have news!

Big news!

I absolutely hate my math class.

It's math for elementary teachers but some of the stuff I have never learned in my whole entire life.

BUT apparently I'm pretty fantastic because my professor recommended me to be a peer tutor for it next semester.

So I took the job!

That means I actually get to do something to prepare me for my future!

By being a peer tutor, I get to really really learn the material, which means I'll be all set to teach math to the little ones by the time I get out of here.

AND it might even mean that I'll be creating cute things over the summer to prepare myself for tutoring. Gotta keep reviewing the material!

Oh, AND I got my little last night! She is precious and I love her and I am so glad I get to call her mine.

That's all I have to say today. Nothing that exciting. Just waiting for the next week and a half to be over so I can do fun things like read children's books and make freebies to share with all of you..

OH. I also entered to win the Mystery Box this month.

GO. DO. IT.

You could win free shoes.

Among other things.

But FREE. SHOES.


Head on over to A Teeny Tiny Teacher to check out the fun!

Five for Friday

I'm participating in Doodle Bugs Teaching Five for Friday Link Party again this week! Woohoo! This week I finally have some pictures! Woohoo!

On Easter Sunday the "dynamic duo" took the stage yet again at church. We sing on the praise team together and haven't sung (sang?) together since I left for college. I absolutely ADORE this woman. She seriously has made me the person I am today and I couldn't be more thankful. She is a teacher - she is only subbing right now - and I strive to one day be like her!

I GOT A LITTLE!

I GOT A LITTLE!

I GOT A LITTLE!

Big/Little reveal is tonight and I am SO excited. I saw her last night and it was sooo hard not to say anything!

You probably think these are more gifts for my Little. Wrong! My friend FINALLY brought me my birthday present.

My birthday was in January.

I FINALLY FINISHED MY ONLINE CLASS!

It was a pain in the but, I tell ya.

But it focused on using technology in the classroom,

I had to make an e-folio. You can check it out here.

Feel free to use anything on there. I don't mind!

There's a math review PowerPoint (with hypermedia!) for second or third grade, I believe.

It's all aligned  with Common Core.

So, have fun with that!

I'm slowly but surely finishing up the semester.

At the beginning of the week, this was all I had left.

Most of the Theta Phi list is gone, now.

After today I'll only have 2 more assignments left.

And then finals.

And then HOME SWEET HOME.

Thursday Thoughts

My roommate doesn't have class for another three hours and she's already up and moving around?

Say what?

That's a change!

(Update: 10 minutes later she was back in bed... I spoke too soon!)

This morning in the shower I was thinking... What am I going to do this summer to help my future teaching career?

Normally, summer is my break from teaching Sunday School and I go back to "The Jungle"  for one week only to teach at Vacation Bible School.

Normally, I spend my summer in the box office at the movie theater where I used to work. I don't know if they're taking me back though.

I applied to be a camp counselor at day camp in my town.
Got an interview.
It went really well -
They loved all my answers!
Never heard from them again.

So that's awkward.

I put all my eggs in one basket with that one. So my dad got me a job at the warehouse at the place he works.

Not too bad, I suppose.

I'll be more productive than sitting and watching cars go by all day like I did during my movie theater days.

But how is that going to help me grow to be prepared for my career?

Well, I decided that, maybe, I could start making things for my future classroom.

I mean, "why not?"

However, I am a little hesitant. I want Common Core to go away so bad. I'm hoping it's gone by the time I step out into the real world.

But then I remembered that  I have field experience every semester (except one) before graduation.

Soooo. Maybe I'll make things geared toward Common Core to share with all of you, and then MAYBE I'll be able to use them. If not, well, then all of you benefit.

The 2 followers I have.

If you're reading this... FOLLOW ME! Please? :) Some support going into the crazy world of education would be super great!

I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to....

It's totally fine.

Anyways, my two goals for the summer are:

1) Read at least 1 children's book a week and come up with a unit/activity geared towards that book.

2) Make stuff for Common Core. I'll probably focus on math, just because that's been my enemy the past 15 weeks and I want to beat it. Grade? No idea.

Also, I'll come up with a freebie here soon. Just let me get through the next 2 weeks of finals.

How a Future Teacher Peer Edits

So.. My those who have worked in a group with me in Composition I and II this year probably think I'm a nut. They also probably hate me. Because when I peer edit, this happens:

Maybe I'm being too harsh. I don't know. I try not to write too much. But I just want them to better their papers! I feel like they think it's bad when I write so much.

I just. Can't. Help. It.

At all.

I try really hard.

It doesn't work.

I don't think its too much of a bad thing because the professor I have for BOTH of these classes recommended me to the director of the Writing Studio to be a Writing Assistant next year.

Yahooooo! I have a job next semester!

Though it isn't *totally* tailored to being an education major, it may just be helpful! Who doesn't like a teacher who has superb writing skills? Especially with all this nonsense happening!

I do write in colored pens, though. Who doesn't love a colored pen?! I refuse to use red though. REFUSE.

At least pink, and purple, and blue are fun colors, right? That makes all the writings seem less bad? Or am I totally crazy?

Happy Monday!

It's the day after Easter Break, and, surprisingly, it really hasn't been that bad. Yes, I'm serious. Class was, well, class. Then I was supposed to go to the food pantry, but that didn't happen - they only need volunteers the second and fourth Monday of the month, so, instead, we went to our frozen yogurt little shop. Afterwards, I went to my Hip Hop Hustle class and ever since I got back I've been writing Facebook surfing. having a dance party. writing my five page rough draft for English tomorrow.

Now that I've given you a synopsis of my day, I just wanted to share the most delicious recipe. What you could use it for? Hmm. Not sure, really. But it popped into my head that you could use it.

wait!

revelation moment!

abort confusion.

You could use it to teach students how to write directions!

Perfect, right?!

I don't have any cute freebie to go with it, or anything. I could probably make one if you really wanted me to!

So, it's not my own personal recipe, I got it from Picky Palate. She calls them No-Bake Chewy Cookies and Cream Bars. I needed a simpler name, so I just call them Oreo Bars.

All you need is 1 package of Oreos (or the generic brand), 1 package of marshmallows, and 4 tablespoons of butter.

Use a food processor (or blender) to grind up the Oreos while you melt (is that the right word for marshmallows?) the butter and marshmallows in the microwave for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes.

Then, mix them all together and pour it all in a pan that's covered in aluminum foil.

You might want to spray everything with cooking spray so that the marshmallow doesn't get stuck everywhere. If you clean up fast enough, though, it shouldn't be too big of an issue.

The end. That's all. Sorry I don't have pictures.

I didn't have this idea when I made them for my friend Matt on Sunday night.

They're still sitting in my room, though. Quite the temptation. He better get back soon or they'll be in my tummy!

Five for Frunday

So, I don't have much to post this week, but I thought I'd link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching's Five for Friday. Yes, I know it's already SUNDAY, but why not? :) I might not have pictures, but I'll be prepared for next week!

By the way, Happy Easter! While you're having fun with the Easter Bunny, looking for your Easter Basket, and going on egg hunts, don't forget the real meaning of Easter! HE HAS RISEN! As one of the kids in the Sunday school class I teach put it a few years ago, "Egg hunts and jelly beans and the Easter Bunny is nice, but that's not what it's all about."

I got to come home for Easter! We had Thursday and Friday off - the joys of a private university. It's been nice to be home for a little bit, I've gotten the chance to catch up on some work! However, it'll be nice to get back into the swing of things the last two week I have left of my first year of college. Then I'll be done, it'll be summer and....I'll be a happy snowman!

I got an email about placement for field experience! Woohooo! The professor, how about we call her Prof C - I feel like she will be referenced many many times in the months to come, emailed us saying that we should be getting our placement soon. I'll be in a preschool two days a week, Monday and Wednesday, for two hours in the morning. I'm super pumped!

I found out that I might be getting a little. I feel like I'm nesting for a baby like I'm pregnant. But I am NOT pregnant - don't worry. There's not even a man in my life that I have romantic interest in. So, because I'm getting a little, the crafting has commenced!

It snowed this week. SNOWED. Last Saturday I got a sunburn at Greek Week. And then. it. snowed. On Tuesday. Let me tell you, I was NOT a happy camper.

Theta Phi Alpha participated in their FIRST EVER Greek Week at my college! I'm one of the Founding Sisters of our chapter. It's been fun. We didn't do too too great - we lost - but we rocked it in volleyball and floor hockey. The other three sororities underestimated us, but we sure showed them!

Hello!

I can't believe I'm writing a blog. I always start them with the hopes to keep them up, but I never do. However, I am making THIS blog about teaching.

I know. No way. It's not called "The Blossoming Teacher" for nothing, right?

Anyways, let me share a little bit about myself.

1) I don't really know what I'm doing. I designed my header up there by myself. All on my own. Some skill, huh? Hah! More like trial and error, and I don't really know how to do anything else.

2) I'm not a teacher. Yet. I guess you could call me a teacher if you want, though. I guess. This girl in my Child Development class did last week. So, why can't you?! (:

3) I have been stalking teacher blogs for at least a year. I'm obsessed. Sorry. At least I admit it, right? :)

4) I'm finishing up my first year of college. I'm majoring in Early Childhood Education and getting a 4-5 Generalist Endorsement. And minoring in Spanish. Gotta do whatever it takes to get a job, right?

5) I'm in a sorority. Theta Phi Alpha is my home. Ever loyal, ever lasting.

6) I love to read, but college doesn't give one much time to do that. Summer's right around the corner though, so *hopefully* lots of books will be read!

7) I am super duper organized. If I'm not, it drives me crazy. Last semester, the girl that sat next to me in Spanish asked, "Are you an education major? You're super organized..."

8) I love to eat. Mostly junk food, but I'm trying to be healthier. It doesn't work very well.

9) I live in Ohio. The weather sucks, I know. You don't even have to tell me.

10) I cannot wait until my first *real* teaching job! Like, in my very own classroom. With my very own lessons. And my very own rules. But that won't be happening for a while, so until then I hope to share the knowledge I acquire with all of you, and gain some wisdom from the more experiences lovely ladies (and gents!) who have walked the halls of schools before me.

I hope you all have a fabulous Easter!