All Kids Love Slime

Students of all ages seems to love SLIME! 

We made SLIME with our third grade partners during Christmas time.  That was fun for my kindergarten class as well as the third grade students who were "helping" us. 

Since it is the end of the year, it is a good time to do these kinds of "science experiments". 

I found this website and thought I need to save that for next year as well. 

Here is the link.....

https://ultimateslimeguide.com/master-your-slime-video-1/

Details on How to Make the Silhouettes for Mother's Day

I put together an instruction sheet for the Silhouette Pictures so I will remember how to do it at the end of each school year.  I thought it would help other teachers as well.  I tried to put as many details as possible so whether you are TECH SAVY or NOT, you can do this!  YES YOU CAN! :)

Here is the link:
How to Make Silhouettes of Your Students

Let me know if it is helpful.  I would love to see photos of the ones that you create!

Until next time..........

Remember Using an Overhead?

Technology has come a long, long way.  I remember in the "old" days.....no, I'm not old.... not really old.  I remember "a while" back, teachers used overheads!  Do you remember those days?

Well, now PowerPoint did the trick.  It was fun to see the students faces when they saw their photos were now silhouettes.  I made a how to guide.  Some of the features may have moved due to updates, but this is how I did it at the time.  Click here and this might give you some more information.

They loved decorating the frames for their moms!  We printed out the silhouettes on regular copy paper.  Then, glued the large popsicle sticks around the picture to make a frame.  The students decorated them with markers.  Then we trimmed the paper around them. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the moms out there!!

Luncheon

I was invited to the luncheon by TRTA.  They presented me a "big check" and a certificate from the local chapter. 

MORE GOOD NEWS!

Well, Well, Well,....... LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!

The Children's Museum of Houston had numerous applications for this award.

I had to answer questions, submit letters of recommendations, put together a portfolio with essays and photos. Then they narrowed it down to four people.

Then FIVE board members came in to visit the classroom, the children, and my teaching abilities at different times.

If heaven had a phone, I would call my daddy! He would be overjoyed with excitement!

It was a long process, but I won!! I am the Martel Early Childhood Educator of the Year!

I WON!

I WON!

I WON!

Yes, I am excited!!

Texas Retired Teachers Association

The Texas Retired Teachers Association has a classroom assistance grant program that rewards public school teachers who demonstrate commitment to public education and children through the creation of innovative projects, programs, special events, or unique learning platforms. This year they received 104 applications and awarded thirty $500 grants to teachers throughout Texas. 

My grant was to purchase floor robots knows as Blue-Bots to help my ESL students learn skills such as cause and effect, sequencing, counting, letter recognition, problem-solving, early programming skills, and STEM.

#happyclassrooms

Earth Day - Recycle Buttons

In honor of Earth Day, I did a crafty project this weekend. 

A friend of mine is willing to make a quilt for me using my daddy's shirts.  (He recently passed away in July.  We miss him so much - more than I can put into words.)

I decided that I would cut the buttons off the shirts before sending them to my crafty quilting friend.  This was a harder process than I thought.  Not the actual process of cutting of the buttons, but the overwhelming amount of emotions. 

I am okay with using the shirts, but I am not okay with what it means. 

It means my daddy will never wear them again.  

It means I will never see him in those shirts.  

It means he is not longer here to go places with me.  

It means we won't be going on vacations.

It means I come home to an empty house (except for Gizmo).  

It means I don't have anyone to cook for anymore.

It means I can't talk to him any more.  

It means my best friend is gone.

I sat and cried for a long while.  Gizmo knew that something was wrong and he sat with me.  He tried to cheer me up by bringing me his toy.  He kissed away my tears.  I know that I can't say, "Daddy", because that confuses him and he thinks that he is here or that he will be coming home and Gizmo will go sit in the entry way, yapping every once in a while, as if to say, "Hurry up, we are waiting on you."  I think that Gizmo knew those were daddy's shirts.  He sat on them, sniffed them, and at one point wouldn't even move.

So, we took a break, collected ourselves, and started again.  We powered through and managed to get a collection of buttons.  Now we have a lot of buttons, different sizes, shapes, and colors.

Now a quick trip to Michael's to get some tools, jump rings, and a chain.........

We managed to make a necklace!  

We did right by the Earth and daddy would be proud!

Grant from TRTF

I am so excited!  I am going to receive a grant from the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation.  There were over 100 applications received from all over Texas and mine was one they chose.  I hope we can work out a time where they can come to the school and present it to me.  I look forward to spending it. YES - I will be spending it on technology! :)

Say Thank You to Yourself

Make a list of things you want to do to make your situation better.  Do something small to help you reach your destination.  You can do it!  You can make it happen! 

TCEA Has Some Favorite Blog Posts

Here are some good blog posts that might be helpful.  Here is the link...
https://www.tcea.org/blog/tceas-top-20-blog-posts/