Ombre Chandelier

This was a tedious project to put it nicely

{only took a day and a half to assemble}

I came across this project on pinterest through the blog Hey Gorgeous. She does a wonderful job of step-by-step pictures for creating this ombre chandelier. Not only are the pictures helpful, but the directions as well.

Supplies

paint strips

Am I the only one who feels like I am commiting a crime when I take a handful of these. I picked various shades of green for my chandelier

 Lamp shade

I went to Good Will twice to find this scalloped shade. You will remove all fabric leaving just the metal rim.

Puncher-outer

{insert correct name here}

You will also need:

scissors

thread

ribbon

tape

Once all the paint chips are punched out start asembling each row. I layed mine out on the table color side down and taped them all together. The reason why I taped them together is so they will hang flat. Other wise they will go whatever way they please! I started with the bottom layer first and then started the top.

As you can see you are going to flip the lamp shade and work your way outward. I found tying each strand on was easier if the chandelier was hanging.

All in all this project turned out nicely. I am dreading transporting it back home and then to school as it is a tad bit delicate! As long as no one touches it or a strong wind does not come by we should be fine.

Fruit in a cup

In an attempt not to blow away and stay dry from tropical storm Debbie there have been several projects in the making; including one that can be eaten!

 The eaten treat was of course discovered through Pinterest

I thought these cupcake fruit pizzas were too cute and simple to make

Ingredients
Pillsbury pre-made sugar cookie dough you find in the refrigerator section
16 oz. of cool whip
8 oz. of cream cheese
various fruit

Roll the dough in to mini balls and press a tbs into the dough to make a cup

Allow the cups to cool and pop out the cookie cups.
While the cookies are baking mix the cool whip and cream cheese together until it is smooth.

 To reduce the amount of filing into the cup I put fruit in the bottom and covered them with the cool whip & cream cheese concoction

Add some fruit to the top and you are done!

Here is a sneak peak of a classroom project

Fibonacci Poetry

Let's just get one thing straight I am not the biggest math lover. I typically stop listening to people when math words spew out of their mouths.

Well I have had the privilege of being a part of the National Writing Project and through this I have discovered countless tools and lessons to increase my students, as well as my own, writing.

This workshop allows teacher to learn from other teachers

//Which I love\\

Each teacher is required to present a best practice lesson in writing.

One teacher presented how to integrate poetry into math. I thought this demonstration was going to be ruined because it incorporated math, but I was surprisingly wrong. The presenter read the following book Growing Patterns, Fibonacci Numbers in Nature.

I would try to explain what Fibonacci is, but as I said I do not speak math. Basically there are patterns in nature that follow a sequence that relates to math. The teacher went on to explaining that a poem can be written following the Fibonacci experience.

A Fibonacci poem is similar to Haiku by counting out syllables and relating to nature. Here are the syllables per line: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 13, 8, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1

FLORIDA AFTERNOONS

Drip

drop

falling

from the sky

grey painted low clouds

pouring down clear tears from above

intense thunder looms far away waiting for a strike

flash of gold crashing down causing dancing sparks to fly

puddles forming, grey clouds parting

colors showing

promises

rainbow

glow

now

A little touch up

I am a little particular when it comes to my personal calendar.

I like to see a month at a time and stray away from the day to day calendars

{I look at the big picture instead of all the details}

So finding the cutest planner is not easy when you are looking for a practical/affordable one.

I have been lucky enough to find this Mead planner two years in a row.
It meets two out of my three demands:
Cheap...under $10
One month at a time
Unfortunately it is not that pretty to look at, but easy to jazz up a bit!

Supplies for the touch up:

Scrap book paper

Scissors

Ruler

The Mead calendar comes with a clear plastic sleeve which is perfect to slide and type of paper in! What was once plain and boring is now pretty!

Flying Book

Another project complete and I have a little confession to make: I tend to lean towards projects that need to hang from something.

{Oh well}

For this project, which was of course inspired by pinterest, required that I hunt down an old book. I went around from Goodwill to Goodwill in search of the perfect old book. I found a nice looking "Three Musketeers" book that the binding was all ready falling apart...which I was going to remove any ways.

Supplies

Old book

exacto knife

hot glue gun

clear string

scissors

There was a little trial and error as I figured out the best way to loop the pages together and at the same time stay connected. I worked with two pages at a time; looping one, hot glue, loop the other and hot glue...repeat several times. Then came the part where I had to attach the pages to the actual book; which was not that bad just hot glue the pages to the binding.

I must apologize for the lack of pictures, I brought my camera home for the summer, but left the computer cord at the other house. Thankfully, I found another blog that gives step by step instruction for this project. Unfortunately, I discovered these instructions half way through me being done. 

{step by step instructions}

I really like the way this book mobile turned out! This hanging book will be a nice addition to the reading corner in my room

Another project funded

My Fifth project has been funded!

My students will be receiving and reading Flipped come this fall.

I have been wanting to read an actual novel with my students instead of literature stories in our literature book.

Now do not get me wrong the literature stories are great, but I am getting a little tired of them and would like to try something new. Plus my students will also be able to watch Flipped the movie after they read the book and make connections between media and text.

In celebration of my project being funded I created my 6th project on to Donors Choose for Nooks!
If you would like to donate or take a look click on the Nook

I strongly encourage any teacher to post a project through

Donors Choose

First off its FREE!

Second you bring in resources into your classroom without any out of pocket cost!

It's a win win situation!

With all five of my projects I have brought in

1,345

of resources into my classroom

Not too shabby

All about them

{Long lost post from the beginning of the year}

 At the beginning of the school year I had all three grade levels create an all about me project.

This project had three parts

Part One: Essay...which was only three paragraphs

//I decided to go easy on them with the first writing assignment\\

Part Two: self-portrait

//with only crayons\\

Part Three: identify the parts of speech within their essay

//They were less enthused about this\\

My favorite essay by far is by Mr. L

Here are some classic lines from his essay
"I hate eating white soggy bread"
"My brother thinks he is smarter than me, but we all know he is a fool"
"Everyone pronounces my name wrong and I don't understand why"

DIY Wood Chalkboard

I originally came across this little jem on Pinterest and discovered where it originated Smashed Peas and Carrots

I had no idea where to get a tree stump and was about to venture out in the woods when Mrs. Hahn Daydreams told me I could find pieces of wood at Michael's. So instead of heading out in the woods I headed towards Michael's to gather supplies.

{What you will need}

Tree stump ($10)

Ribbon ($1)

Sponge brush (.25)

Tape (garage)

Chalkboard paint ($6)

Following suit of Smashed Peas and Carrots mom I created an outline with tape for the chalkboard boarder. Because Lord knows I cannot paint a straight line to save me life.

Then you paint once let dry for an hour

paint twice and dry for 24 hours

Finally after all that drying you can condition your chalkboard by rubbing a piece of chalk over the chalkboard paint. I found the colored chalkboard paint at Michael's. They also had other colors besides teal.

I plan on hanging this little jem in my classroom come the new school year

The gathering of supplies

Based on my post "let the crafting begin" I have been gathering various supplies to see these little gems come to life.

By Monday I will be revealing how one of the projects turned out!
{Pinterest inspired}

Happy Spelling day

Today is the Scripps National Spelling Bee

{If you are interested in watching the Bee it will be on ESPN tonight}

Here are some Bee facts for your enjoyment

There are 278 spellers ranging from places such as South Korea and the Bahamas.

The spellers range in age of 6 to 15.

There are more girls this year that boys.

The spellers favorite subject in school is math followed by spelling.

The youngest speller on record for Scripps is this years Lori Anne who is 6!

{SCRIPPS}

Mandalas

Now I realize school is over for me, but some of you are in the last couple of weeks of school. I came across this project through a fellow blogger

{educated not  so domesticated}

and fell in love with this activity.

At the time my 8th graders were diving into a Holocaust unit and my exploratory wheel were learning about different Eco-systems. I decided to use this project with their two groups. To be honest this project could be used in any subject. Students could even create a Mandala about themselves.

//A little background on Mandalas\\

A mandala (Sanskrit for “circle”) is a sacred, symbolic diagram, used as a meditational aid in Buddhism and Hinduism. A traditional mandala is a "blueprint" of a temple of the gods, as well as of the entire universe.

While mandalas usually contain lettering or images of Buddhas or deities, yantras are mainly geometrical. "Mandala" and "yantra" are sometimes used interchangeably. Many use the term "mandala" to refer to any circular image or sacred circle.

//more than I ever wanted to know about Mandalas\\

To introduce the lesson I created a PowerPoint on the history of Mandalas. Showed a YouTube video of Monks creating a Mandala with sand as well as gave them examples of student made Mandalas.

Each student was given a circle template and had to come up with six symbols to represent in their mandala. Once they were finished drawing and coloring they had to write a paragraph explaining what each picture represents.

Whenever there is coloring involved in my classroom I tell them they cannot use the color "white" unless what they are drawing is actually white. I find this helps students create more colorful projects.

The one with the special diploma

I  teach intensive academics language arts to 6th, 7th and 8th graders.

Around the time a student reaches their 14th birthday the uncomfortable decision about diploma options comes up during a student's IEP.

I despise the fact that we have to determine a students track of diplomas at such a young age, but unfortunately no one asked for my opinion.

Typically, 7th grade is the year the dreaded decision must be made. In order to earn a standard diploma a student must take general education classes and have a limited amount of intensive classes. Now a diploma options can change if a student switches from intensive to general education classes.

Well, one such 7th grader was put on a special diploma track and this decision did not sit well with him. I am not exactly sure what happened to this student, but after his IEP he turned into a new student. Very focused and determined to accomplish any task given to him.

here is one conversation that took place in class after his IEP:

Student: "Miss, can you believe that they are giving me a special diploma?"

Me: "Well, do you think you deserve a special diploma?"

Student: "Miss, do you see the work I am doing?"

Me: "Yes, and you are doing a fantastic job at it!"

Student: "Then why in the world am I getting a special diploma?"

Me: "Because you are taking all intensive classes"

Student: "Well, I am going to change my diploma. There is no way I am getting a special one!"

Me: "What changes are you going to make to determine you earn a standard diploma?"

Student: "Miss, I am going to make sure no one gets in my way on earning a standard diploma and if someone does get in my way they are going to have to deal with me!"

Me: "That sounds like an interesting plan."

Student: "You better believe it!"

//sidenote\\

if you could read the student part with a hint of a Hispanic accent it might sound better

Let the crafting begin

{For inspirational quotes}

 I need to find a log or cut down a tree

Martha Stewart has colored chalk board paint

{By my desk because they are pretty}

Lanterns covered with fabric and a hot glue gun

{Hung above the book shelf}

 Good will bookstore and a hot glue gun again

{Above my desk...fire marshals must hate me}

 paint chips and a lamp shade

{Above my door with my name}

 Looking for a stick and letters to decorate

{Hung through out the classroom}

Took these home to back them with fabric so they are not see through

I have officially begun summer break which means I have a few projects in mind for the classroom.

{I love pinterest}

Waving goodbye to hope

Today I waved goodbye to a glimmer of hope.

I have never been overly sad to see students go, but this year was different.

Today I waved goodbye to my favorite set of students.

I may be a little biased as to why they are my favorite group of students, but that's okay.

This group of students had me for Science and Language Arts.

This group of students started fresh as 6th graders as I was beginning my very first year as a teacher.

This group of students were part of a larger group that I pushed for them to go into general education classes.

This group of students were my first experience with IEPs and progress reports.

This group of students have grown as young adults as I have grown into who I am as a teacher.

They will be missed dearly.

I tried to hide the fact that I was not going to be that sad to see them go, but I was just fooling myself. My glimmer of hope has moved on to high school leaving me behind.

I will always remember them as my glimmer of hope because they showed me that having a disability does not limit them. They were successful and I know their will be other students that will also shine while others are trying to dim their light.

so here is to my glimmering group of hope

Jerica

Shenay

Lexus

Dereck

Abel

Luis L.

Luis V.

Jessy

keep on shining

April and May Birchbox

I some how forgot all about posting my April and May Birchboxs
{so here it goes}

April Birchbox
{I lost the card so I am going off of the picture}
Yes to blueberries makeup removing towelettes
juice beauty serum
Yogi perfume
Zoya nail polish
some type of soap

All in all a decent box. I really wish they would stop sending perfume samples...although my sister is happy whenever I hand them over to her. I was excited about the yes to blueberries because I have always wondered how they compared to Neutrogena. I used the whole package and was not that impressed...sticking with good ole' Neutrogena.

May Birchbox
{I did not lose this card}
Diorshow Extase
Miss Dior Eau De Parfum
Miracle Skin Transformer
SHU UEMURA

I was pretty pumped about this box because it was inspired by GossipGirl; which I recently started watching on Netflix...already on season four...some what addicted! Each box had a different theme from GossipGirl. My theme was black tie ball.

All in all May's box was nice. I like the Dior mascara, but the miracle skin transformer is a tad bit too glittery for my liking. I am looking forward to using the SHU UEMURA in my hair...and my sister gets another perfume sample...