Ag Fair 2014 is In The Books

A really cool part of my school is our Ag Fair.

Each class, each student (either individually or in a group) creates and presents some type of ag related project. Then in May (when we are crazy with Mother's Day and EOY testing) we host an ag fair at our school in the afternoon and evening.

Today was the culminating day.

I woke up nervous. So I tried something new. I took a photo of my ootd (outfit of the day--learned that on Instagram) and posted it.

Got some work to do on taking a good picture (and finding nice clothes).

Our kids "worked" their project from 1:30-2:45 this afternoon and then again from 6-8 tonight. What a long time for 6 and 7 year olds to be good presenters. But they did it. I sent let some students go home early, especially when Mom or Dad mentioned that bedtime is 7 or 7:30.

 Out by the barn, telling about Freckles, our calf.

Telling about Mr. Williams' farm.

Now, what did we learn on Pizza Day?

We grew potatoes in our classroom and in our garden.

Trees. How they help us, do we have school supplies made from trees?

And to end the evening...PTO gave each teacher a hanging basket of flowers.

So pretty. Now to share it with someone who will not let it die (because of neglect or over watering, both of which I am known to do).

Off to bed. Tomorrow is "Muffins with Mom" at 7:15 am! Before Mom leaves for the day, she will come to our classroom and be given a special gift, so I need to be there, can't just arrive before the tardy bell rings.

Why did we schedule a late night and early morning right next to each other?

May 10, Five for Friday

Sitting on my small deck. Watching the clouds come and go. Feeling the breeze on my face. Reflecting on how much love I have felt this week.

It was like my birthday, only BIGGER, because it went on ALL WEEK!

Never before have I been spoiled by my student's parents as I was this week. It has been amazing and humbling. I love my job. It is more than a job. I love my hobby. I love my students. And the parents have let me know in many different ways that they appreciate me and what I do for their children.

The cards. Oh the cards. More than one brought tears to my eyes. The ones written by parents, and the ones written by my students. They are all so amazing.

Let me share just a few pictures... and then I will link them with Doodle Bugs Teaching and her Friday linky.

1. This student is a charmer.

And this is how he looked last night at the Ag Fair. Love all of it. As he walked through the class I just smiled. Good thing he charms me. Because he is often writing when is supposed to be listening. Yesterday when I got on him for that, I was quickly put in my place. Because he then presented me with a handmade card. The first he has ever given me. Thanks, friend.

2. Homemade (school-made) salsa with chips.

Last week the students made salsa. With some ingredients grown in our greenhouse. Yummy. It was our snack this morning.

3. Root beer float.

Not sure what the kindergartners were celebrating, but while I was working on my weekly newsletter a sweetie brought me one of my own. Yummy. 

4. Geraniums.

I so didn't do anything fabulous for the moms. Thankfully our gardener helps the students plant and care for geraniums. Perfect to send home for Mother's Day.

5. Bracelets.

The red and pink friendship bracelet was made by one of my students. He gave it to me yesterday with 6 sparkly pens. The black bracelet was made by a different student's mom, and they gave it to me this morning. I am not usually a bracelet person, but I think I will wear these for a long time. Maybe even every day. It is a lot like love on my wrist.

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I'm not counting down the days because I am wanting to send these kids on. I'm counting down because I have to know how many more fun days I get with these kids. My first group of firsties. They will always be special to me.

9 more days.

Ag Fair 2013, It's a Wrap

My kids have been working on their ag fair projects for a little over a week. They have been studying butterflies. 

They have been memorizing lines. They have practiced alone, to our class and to the other first grade class.

Today was the big day. We were open from 1:30-2:30. The kids did great! See...

 Ways Butterflies are Helpful to Farmers

The Lifecycle of a Butterfly

Predators of Butterflies

Types of Butterflies

Ways to Attract Butterflies (how to create a butterfly garden)

Then I drove home. 

I knew I was tired, but...

I pulled the van into the garage, let my son out, and closed my eyes. Just for a moment.

But, 30 minutes later, I woke up with my mouth catching flies. 

I took a nap in the van, in the garage. A first time for everything. I recommend naps in the van. Not a single child interrupted me!

Not done yet, we had another ag fair session from 6-7. When I arrived at the school my class was already full!

So much work, but so worth while. I think my friend summed it up when she remarked on the student's independence.

Today, for those 2 hours, I sat back and watched. Smiled. Marveling at each student and his or her contribution to the presentation. I'm glad the grown ups had cameras. Today was a good day to document.

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We finally got around to our final quilt for the year. I think this is my favorite. (But I say that each time we make one.)

Tomorrow is Friday. And "Muffins with Mom" at school. I will so be ready for a weekend!

Wow

Wow #1: Looky here what I got!!

My husband bought it for me (he got one for him also) on Saturday. Now to discover all it can do for me.

Wow #2: Next year my school district is going to a Four Blocks model for our ELA time. I am so excited about it!

I am dabbling with it now.

On Tuesday I lead the class with a "guided reading" lesson using a National Geographic Young Explorer. I gave the purpose for reading (discover how mother animals and their babies are alike), then got the kids with their "whole brain partners" and they read the article.

Seeing them read and help each other, if necessary, was amazing!

Finally the kids helped me fill out a chart with the animal name and the baby name.

Today I lead another "guided reading" lesson with NGYE. The purpose...to find out how plant parts help a plant. I had 5 kids sit with me to read, everyone else read to their self. It was ERT style. Everyone read to find out how the roots (stem, leaves, flower) help a plant grow. As each question was unearthed, the kids were clamoring to tell me the answer! So much reading and comprehending.

Wow #3: No picture from today of guided reading. But check this out...

Some kids were not working on their ag fair project. They did not ask what they could do. They found some friends and got busy reading!

Love it!

The end of last week I pulled out some very old basal anthologies. Handed them to the kids and they love them. They read and reread as often as possible. I will need to look in my cupboard for more anthologies next week.

I love my first grade readers.

15 days until they become second graders.

Wow #4: Just over a year ago I started this blog, because I wanted so badly to participate in blog giveaways, but you had to have a blog to participate. I won the very first time I tried. Read about it here, and see what I won (a Teacher Tipster DVD--sorry, I spilled the beans, I couldn't wait).

Now, 190 blog posts and 100 followers later I am starting to think of myself as a writer. YIPPEE!

Thanks for reading. Thanks for following. Thanks for commenting.

The sad part for you is I have no TpT store, no giveaway planned, and nothing to send you except good thoughts for ending this school year strong.

Teacher Appreciation and Ag Fair Wrap-Up

I can hardly wait. Tomorrow on Teachers Pay Teachers is a HUGE giveaway for teacher appreciation. So many sellers are putting one of their items for FREE! I know what I'll be doing all afternoon. Hope the family finds something to do while I am shopping at this amazing event.

Last night at 7:00 Walton Rural Life Center said "well done for another amazing Ag Fair." I know I have talked about Ag Fair, but did I really explain what it is? WRLC is a project-based school. We do projects as part of our reading and math all year long, and this Ag Fair is a time when the students can share what they have learned. Well, I did not do such a great job of keeping track all year and keeping our projects up to date. So the past two weeks have been crunch time. 

7 projects going on simultaneously. Some are new projects and some were recapping our sheep and chickens. (Most were new projects that the students chose to do.)

The students practiced their talks. Gathered props. Practiced some more.

Then said their talks 22 times (or more) to the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and other interested members of our community. One session was during the afternoon (1:30-2:30) and the other was last night from 6 to 7. Yep, on a Friday night. It was still a good turn out.

My heart swelled as I watched from the side while the children shined. And then again as the grownups walked out and said how well the students "knew their stuff." Yippee. Successful Ag Fair.

I will leave you with several pictures of this wonderful, and exhausting event.

 (Chicks, Tractors, Soil Erosion)

 (Comparing our sheep with the donkey, who is becoming a permanent member of our school)

 (Making electricity from a carrot, apple, potato, and soil)

 (Students from other classes got to go around and see as well--so much learning!)

 (Soil Erosion by wind and water)

 (Chicks/chickens)

 (Tractors and Implements)

(Chicks)

Way to go Walton Rural Life Center students! You rocked this Ag Fair!

Ag Fair and Other News

Today was a lot of work trying to finish up the presentation boards for the Ag Fair that happens in "2" days. There are 7 groups working on projects in my room. Wheww. 4 boards are completely finished, now they are working on their presentations. 1 board is waiting on attaching some photos tomorrow and a graph. 1 is working, not sure what their end product will look like (they still have an experiment they want to do). And the last is making photo books. Tomorrow I will print the pictures and info and then they can assembly. Done. Now for practice. 


Ag Fair is a big deal. Invitations are sent. To people like school board members, district office workers, parents, grandparents, and lots of interested individuals. We do it twice. Once in the afternoon, and again in the evening. I am looking forward to it, now that the projects are almost completed. 




In other news...

Eyore is staying at the school and has found a new home with Martha, the cow.

(You can also see Brownie in the background.)

Black Bob and Lucy Belle got sheared today by the amazing Erin. She used to be Miss Murphy's student in 5th grade, now she is in college and teaching our students about sheep care.

It was hard to talk above the noise of the clippers (but they managed, of course).

Lucy now. No wool. We weighed her. 65 pounds. Wow, she started life at 6 pound on 2-15-12! Her mama made wonderful milk.

Tomorrow the ewes will get sheared.

Last week Horizon MIlls gave us soccer goals for our playground. We are so thankful to have real goals. My kiddos were beaming when they saw their present. 

Here is a fun picture of all 21 of them in front of one new goal.

16 days of school left. 

Earth Day

We have been working an Earth Day project. I set the bar very high. They seem to be climbing to reach it.  Perhaps tomorrow they will be finished and I can show you a picture.

It started with a mini-writing project. The final copy has to be in cursive. I think I will require cursive for the rest of the year. It is so much easier for me to read and they write much neater in cursive than in print. We are attaching a craft to the writing. Mrs. T. and I like it. Looking ahead, I think it will be a great project to have on the walls for the Ag Fair which is coming up in 8 days.

Ag Fair. Seven groups of second and third graders that need to do research and create a final project. I already have ideas of how to make it smoother and awesomer next year. I'm sure we will all rise to the Ag Fair occasion as well.

When we got back after spring break, I told my students that we are going to finish strong. We are not slowing down. We are not going to cram, but we will continue to learn every day. 

Today was a good day. Tomorrow will be also.