Hello Hornets!

I am pleased to announce I have found my "dream" job of being a Reading Teacher, Co-Teacher and Title Teacher.  I met the staff today and they are awesome.  You can tell that they are thoughtful, dedicated and like-minded people who are in teaching for all the right reasons.  They are funny and have a sense of humor!  They care about kids and will do "whatever" it takes to help children be successful.  They work very well together and collaborate as a "Team".  I'm ready to work for a school that works with the "team-mentality".

 The School Board is also a wonderful bunch of community members who share the same goals about "doing what's best for kids".  They have a great sense of humor and high standards for quality and effective teaching.  I appreciate that!  I am so blessed!

Research Based Best Practices

I've had a few friends ask me how to know if their teaching methods are "Researched Based".  I found this article that maybe helpful.  Good for you if you are one of the educators who wish to provide the very best for your children.  With the changing tides in education and more required of teachers, it can be overwhelming to get it all organized and implement the quality education you strive for.  I will continue to look for more resources.

Research/ Evidence Based Practices

Teacher Team Work- Cute Story I found to inspire you.

The Story of the Geese, a lesson for all of us flapping and honking through life to make a difference.Lesson 1: The flapping of each bird’s wings creates uplift for the geese that follow. By flying in a V formation, the entire flock has a 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

If we share in a common direction and sense of community, our going may be quicker and easier because we are traveling on one another’s thrust.

Lesson 2: Should a goose fall out of the V formation, he will suddenly feel the resistance and the drag of flying alone. If you keep watching, you will see him get back into the V formation, to take full advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.
If we have as much sense as the goose, we will keep in formation with those who share our vision, who are headed where we want to go. We will be willing to accept their help, and give our own help to others.

Lesson 3: When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back into the formation and a new, fresh goose flies in the lead position.
As with the geese, we are interdependent upon one another.
It is helpful to take turns at the hard tasks and share the burdens of leadership.

Lesson 4: The geese aren’t honking without cause. They honk, honk, honk up to the lead goose to congratulate him for flying fast and strong.
We need to make certain that all of our honking is encouraging and never something else.

Lesson 5: If a goose gets ill or injured during flight and descends to the earth, another goose will follow. He will remain with the fallen bird until it is well again.
If we have as much heart as a goose, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
As educators, we will fly down and help our children soar to the learning sky.
To be an educator is to carry the energy of the journey of life and to find ways to help children learn to their potential.
Remember, you can do this.
You can do anything.

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Helpful RtI Websites

Fellow Teachers,  I have come across some websites that can be helpful and informative for you and your staff when working towards fine tuning your RtI aproaches. 

http://www.rti4success.org/

http://www.florida-rti.org/

Marshmallow Math

In March and April we used marshmallows to help learn about angles, vertices and sides.  We also use the marshmallows along with toothpicks and fruit loop cereal to discover and practice the 100's, 10"s and 1's column.  It was a lot of fun.

Angles, shapes and vertices

100's, 10's, 1's place value and writing

numbers in expanded form