Take a Peek at my Classroom!

 Hello! Today I wanted to share a few things I've incorporated into my classroom. Enjoy!

Displaying Student Work 

One of the challenges I knew I'd be facing with my classroom is the lack of wall/bulletin board space. One wall is taken up completely by windows, while this limits areas to hang things, I have to say I really do love the amount of sunlight it lets in. :) We have a beautiful oak growing outside our window and I find myself rarely turning the lights on and allowing my students to work from sunlight instead. :) Two walls are bulletin/white boards, and the last wall is cabinets and shelving. While I do like the storage capacity of this wall I felt like it would be impossible for me to display student work. I believe this is important as it improves my students' self-confidence and allows me to display work that meets or exceeds my expectations. In order to optimize this space I created these little ribbon strips that fit over the door...

The holder is a giant loop. The front part of the loop is made from ribbon and the back part is elastic. This allows the holder to fit snugly on the door without damaging the door with adhesives, nails, tacks, etc.

Back side (inside of door)

The clothespins were hot glued on the front and each student is assigned a pin. For the most part I allow them to maintain their own clips, however I occasionally have them all post similar things. In this case each student had an ice cream cone hung. As the students learn their multiplication facts they get to color each of the related scoops. (There's a 'two's' scoop, 'five's' scoop, etc.)

The clothespins are spaced just far enough apart for 'computer -sized' paper.

Positive Behavior System

I firmly believe in the power of a Positive Behavior System. The school has a system already in place that consists of handing our tickets when we catch students being good. I wanted to add something within my own classroom though and my "Seeds of Success" were born...

The bucket in the middle is filled with seeds (colored cotton balls). If students are able to meet my expectations for a task (i.e. good behavior during lunch is worth 5 seeds, specials are worth 3, and each of my subject areas are worth 2. Perfect behavior during fire drills, tornado drills, lockdowns, etc. are worth 15 seeds.) they get to place the specified amount of seeds in their jar. (The decorated jar.) If they are unable to meet my expectations they gradually lose their seeds and have to give them up to me. (My jar is the undecorated one.) At the end of the week if they have more seeds than me we do a fun activity. (Ideas include no shoes day, choose your seat day, homework passes for everyone, eating lunch outside, cool science experiment activities, math games, SmartBoard games, etc.) If I have more they don't get their reward.

To build on the PBS ticket system used by my school. I also hand out gemstone rocks to the individual students. Once they earn five rocks they can trade them in for a ticket. These cute little buckets were purchased at Target. They have little chalkboard shapes on them where I write their names.

I know the lighting is bad. Sorry :(

~Farm Girl Teacher

The buckets line the windowsill and students can keep their rocks, tickets, lunch tag, special pencils, etc. here.

The students really love just having this little area just to themselves!

The Wait is Over...Owl Phone Case!

Finally, the wait is over! I have been trying to get this pattern posted for longer than I care to mention, but it is finally here! Check out the three cases I made...

The center one was made for Mom's Samsung Galaxy, the green one was the original and is made to fit my LG Smartphone, and the purple one was made for my sister to fit her Pantech Jest 2. It also holds my dad's ancient flip phone but he didn't want me to make him one. lol

One of my favorite things about this pattern is that the wings double as pockets so it can hold spare change for the vending machine, ear bud style headphones, or chapstick!

The pattern is relatively simple, each of the pieces are constructed individually and then sewn together to complete the look. Use soft yarn to protect your screen from scratches, and use bits of leftover yarn from your stash to make the wings! (The green is from the baby converses I made, the pink is from a lanyard, and the purple is from a scarf!)

Please visit my Craftsy or Ravelry Shops to purchase the PATTERN.

If you're not interested in crocheting but like the case, contact me personally through comments, Facebook, or email (thatfarmgirlteacher@gmail.com) and we can discuss purchasing a finished project. :)

Looking for more projects? Go here.

~Farm Girl Teacher

Project Share & New Passions

Happy Labor Day! I was really hoping to surprise you all with a new pattern for the owl phone case I've been working on, however it's still in the drafting stages as of right now. (I made several prototypes and gave them to family members. Unfortunately I'm waiting on my mother to get back from the grocery store so I can photograph hers! lol) I feel like I haven't blogged in forever, mostly because it's still the first few weeks of school and I'm exhausted! This weekend was wonderfully rejuvenating though and I'm excited to share my labor day project with you! Can I get a drum roll please........

Ta da! I LOVE the look of this dress! It comes from New Look pattern A6067. The New Look brand is one of my favorites, and I was particularly drawn to this pattern. I also love the fabric, I think the colors transition well from summer to fall. (I intend to wear sandals in the summer, and transition to pumps or possibly boots and tights as the weather cools.)

I bought the pattern and the fabric over a year ago but I knew it was going to be very tedious. Unfortunately I've been continually putting it off since then. The fabric was purchased at JoAnn's and the dressmaker was a Christmas gift from my parents. (Her name is Joann, bet you can't guess why! lol) I seriously LOVE my dressmaker and use her all the time. Plus, it means I don't have to do my hair when I want to share my looks. :)

That zipper only took me one shot! Literally the best zipper I've ever inserted! (That I didn't rip out six times)

I am always looking for patterns that are comfortable as well as modest, after all, I don't want to have everything hanging out while I'm teaching long division! Another thing that really drew me to the pattern was the chevron pleating in the center front...

A little difficult to see, but trust me, it's beautiful!

I knew that this would contribute to the tediousness of the overall construction but I loved it! It also has a fully lined bodice and instructions on how to sew a belt to match the dress. I chose to forgo the belt that came with the pattern because my fabric was already so busy. I decided it looked better overall when broken by the solid brown belt.

I have to be honest, I was a bit curious to see what my neighbors would think of me dragging my dressmaker through the yard to photograph it. (The lighting in the house is awful!) Turns out it wasn't the human neighbors I needed to worry about....

After shoving Joann in various places in our garden I kept feeling as if someone was watching me. I turned to see this....

Beginning to feel a little self-conscious, Joann and I took our little photography section to the side yard. I mean, our animals should be used to my antics, right?

Nope, the first to notice was Tux....

He moved in to get a closer look...For those of you who don't know his real name is Leo's Tuxedo, I think Tux was just helping me get a few formal shots :) The two horses in the background are Jose and Drew Piney, neither of which seemed to care what I was doing in the least. Anyway, Joann and I moved into the back yard and....

That's when our fourth horse, Colby took notice...Unfortunately I had a really hard time catching him in action, he was actually terrified of Joann and kept running back and forth...lol

Anyway, that's the dress I wanted to share. :) I spent Saturday pre-washing my fabric and cutting my pattern pieces/lining and construction took almost all of Sunday, that being said though, I think it will look awesome at school Tuesday!

I'd also like to share a very new passion of mine...Zumba! Some how I'd missed this particular bandwagon but Mom and I went to our first Zumba class last Wednesday and LOVED it! We had a great time and it wasn't nearly as difficult as the video we'd been doing at home! (Okay, we'd been sitting on the couch watching the people in the video dance, but same thing, right?) For those of you who live locally we went to JC Karate in Ridge Manor. The overall environment was wonderful, they really are a wholesome, friendly, small town business and we really felt so welcome there!

Enjoy your Labor Day!

~Farm Girl Teacher

Throwback Thursday: School Firsts

Kindergarten 1997

First Day of Teaching 2013

This week our summer ended and it was time for students to return. I have to say I was nervous, however my excitement that I had finally reached the big day kept the butterflies at a minimum. I have many exciting stories and fun pictures, but teaching is exhausting and I am going to take a few moments to breathe before sharing them. Right now I want to use my Throwback Thursday to share an idea that's been floating around in my very chaotic brain for a few weeks now. In celebration of my first First Day of School (as a teacher) I compiled all the previous first days into a video. :) I am thinking of showing this to my students Friday just for fun. For those of you who did not know me as a child, fair warning, I wasn't always the glamorous trend setter I am now. :D For those of you who know my mother, yes she bought the house just so that she could have a fireplace to take pictures in front of....lol, enjoy!

 

Meteors at Midnight

Sounds like the next Magic Treehouse book, doesn't it? I got off work (at Taco Bell, not the school) at 4 a.m. today, which normally sounds pretty awful, however tonight was such a beautiful, warm summer night that I rode with the windows down on the way home just so that I could take in all the summer smells that remind me of childhood camping trips or playing manhunt at friends' houses. Driving down the deserted highway I happened to look up and see a brilliant green meteor streak across the star in the exact direction I was driving. Yes, I raced a meteor home... It was so breathtaking and I swear it slowed down to say a quick hello before racing back into the blackness and on to bigger worlds. After taking a few moments to truly appreciate the experience, I remembered a coworker telling me that tonight was the beginning of an annual meteor shower, best viewed by those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.

Saturday night (please note when I say 'night' I mean 1 to 6 a.m., technically the next morning), Sunday night, and Monday night are three days of 'oohs' and 'aaahhs' as far as our night sky goes! The annual Perseid meteor shower is best viewed on one of these nights (preferably Sunday night/early Monday morning). This shower was named after the Perseus constellation as it appears as though the meteors are coming from this constellation, really just a coincidence, the Earth is actually passing through the remnants of the Swift-Tuttle comet, a normal part of our trajectory. This meteor shower is considered one of the most popular as it is an annual event and is delivers! Depending on which article you read you may see 60, 70, or 100 meteors per hour!

I came home and laid around in various places on our property for an hour and a half enjoying the sheer magnificence of it all; sharing it only with our cat as my family was MIA. That being said, I intend to be prepared for tomorrow night when the shower is supposed to be even better! Tonight was just a trial run ;)

Allow me to share some of the things I learned....

#1: Night Vision Matters
The Perseid shower has some of the best views, however remember that the great majority of the falling stars you see will be very small, if your vision hasn't had about 30 minutes to prepare for the dark, your eyes are actually unable to see many of these smaller meteors! Even just glancing at a digital screen or light can force you to begin readjusting again. Leave your electronics inside and turn off outdoor lights on your house. Trust me, it is super tempting to google info about the shower on your smart phone, but you may be missing some awesome views!

#2: Location, Location, Location!
Choose where you want to set up your chairs and whatnot during the day. This minimizes the chances that you'll be sitting in an ant bed and maximizes your chances of finding the perfect spot. You want to have a clear view of the Northeast (specifically of the Perseus constellation, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out where that was!) with little obstruction from lights, trees, and buildings. If possible make sure you can see as much of the sky as possible as I also saw many falling stars in the North, East, Southeast, and directly above me.

#3: Bugs, Bugs, Go Away
Luckily I keep a bottle of bugspray in my car for emergencies (Is this only a Florida thing?) so I wasn't eaten alive, however if you don't already have something on hand make sure you pick up a cheap bottle today. Avoid tiki torches and Citronella candles though as these will destroy that precious night vision. Dress appropriately too, closed toed shoes, pants, even a long sleeve shirt if you're often bothered by mosquitoes.

#4: Entertain Yourself
Let's face it, there's going to be down time. If you know you'll become easily distracted or if you have kids go ahead and plan for this in advance. Research constellations and where to look for them in your area then, try to find them while you're watching the sky. Also consider researching local nocturnal critters and the sounds they make. It can be fun to identify the noises you're hearing, plus if you're worried your child may become frightened by the sounds, you can easily identify them and provide fun facts about the harmless animal that's making them. For example, we have some weird sounding frogs in our area, but they really are just frogs; we're also used to hearing the horses stomping around at night to keep the bugs at bay.

#5: Timing is Everything
The meteors can best be viewed between midnight and daybreak. Specifically, you want to make sure you go out after the Moon sets as the Moon's glare can obstruct your view. They are also supposed to be brilliant just before daybreak so it waking up in the middle of the night isn't your thing, consider getting up earlier than normal to go to work, school, etc. Also keep in mind the importance of keeping your eyes peeled, the falling stars from the Perseid shower are known for being particularly fast so you'll need a keen eye!

#6: Comfort Matters
Laying on a blanket sounds nice, but remember the dew has probably already fallen which means you'll need a really thick quilt or you'll have a really wet bottom! A lounge chair is the most comfortable option, and you will want something tall enough to support your head, your neck will tire after a while!

Is a handmade, monogrammed neck pillow really necessary? Probably not, but it sure is lovely :) Choose a nice fleece and  create something simple by freehand, or get more intricate with this awesome tutorial for a patchwork pillow!

#7: Enjoy Yourself
Seriously, really make this a great time to enjoy the peacefulness of night and the wonder of nature. Don't fiddle around with your camera trying to take pictures (it will never work, just give up now, lol) or stress yourself out about things that are happening in the future. Drag yourself and your loved ones out of bed, make your favorite hot chocolate, coffee, tea, or lemonade, and take the time to cherish the moment and later the memory, you'll thank yourself!

Happy viewing!

Living the Dream

Don't you just love logging on to Blogger and finding two wonderful posts from two of your favorite bloggers? I have to share their blogs with you because, honestly, I'm just addicted! :) Farmish Momma is one of my favorite Florida ladies and posted the most adorable pictures of a Seussical Baby Shower she helped throw! The photos were adorable and I have to say...I think I've found a theme for my future baby... (which is a long way away, don't get excited!)

 Katy, my favorite lady for tutorials over at No Big Dill also posted an awesome tutorial on how to make a beautiful thimble necklace! (Seriously, I'm in love with this!)

On a different note, today is my last official day of summer. It's interesting how life is, one chapter of my life is closing but so many other doors have been thrown wide open. My classroom is almost ready to go (just waiting on curriculum materials) and I will begin planning with my team Friday. I really feel that I have the best possible team anyone could ask for at one of the best schools possible. One of the teachers I interned with is my team leader and next door neighbor, while the other is just down the stairs. (I will miss her though, she's no longer teaching fourth grade ): ) I have truly been nervous about beginning this new adventure; I've been having horrible dreams for weeks.

A few days ago I began creating an idea I've had in my head for a while now. Next to my classroom library, I made a large paper tree. (I've got a sort of garden theme going in my classroom) The tree is a way to record and celebrate student success as well as motivate the students. As a team we decided that students must earn 10 AR points per month. (AR is a program that tests students on books they've read to check comprehension. They are leveled and more difficult books are worth more points.) The tree I created has levels representing this goal. Each student will make a small owl that will 'climb' the tree the more points they earn! The lines on the tree are sticky Velcro, they will also have Velcro on their owls. I will post more pictures later, when I do my big classroom post, but here is a preview:

As I stood back to admire my work it really hit me that for the first time I was standing in MY classroom. I was living the dream, I was living my dream, a goal I've been picturing for so long has finally come true and I was so overwhelmed with joy that I just stood in the middle of my classroom crying. I can't explain how absolutely wonderful it feels to know that you are doing what you are meant to do. The emotion is so overwhelming, so joyous, and so hard to put into words. I truly hope ever single person gets to experience this feeling once in their lifetime, my goal going forward is that with my help, my students will be able to achieve all of their dreams as well. I am so thankful to the many people who have helped me along my journey, but mostly I am thankful to my parents, they have done so much for my sister and I and wouldn't be standing in the middle of an empty classroom balling my eyes out if it weren't for their love and support throughout the last 21 years. Thank you Mommy and Daddy, I hope to make you proud as I begin this new part of my life...

On a Pontoon...

 

Last Thursday my family took my father out on a pontoon boat for Father's Day. (Better late than never, right?)

 

We had a great time at Lake Panasoffkee and caught several fish. We only kept about nine but we still had a wonderful time!

Isn't this photo beautiful? I really do love Florida, mosquitoes and all! :)

 I am happy to report that I caught my first bass! (Not big enough to keep, but still exciting.) And I can't resist but show you my absolute favorite catch of the day....







He won the award for cutest fish that's for sure!

All in all the day was a wonderful one. Light afternoon showers kept it from being super hot and the fish were definitely hungry! What a great way to relax from our hectic lives. For those of you who are wondering I will have my owl phone cozy pattern up soon, I am working out some kinks in the sizing right now. I have also been doing some serious preparations in my classroom this week and I hope to show photos of that soon! (I'm waiting to take my 'after' pics until it's READY ready....) Enjoy the end of your summer!!

~Farm Girl Teacher

P.S. I don't want you to think my mom was MIA...she was our wonderful photographer...unfortunately that also means she wasn't in any shots. :(