Quarters

Isn't it the best when, unexpectedly, a student shows that they really know what we have been talking about for the last two weeks?

That happened at lunch today. I am fortunate (or crazy) to invite all the children to eat lunch in our classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I get to be an invisible listener to many conversations.

While I was at my spot today I heard a friend yell across the room (which is not part of our "eat in the classroom standards"), "Look Mrs. Bartel, quarters." And he smiled.

Yes, we are knee deep in CCSS Geometry standards last week and this week. Being able to name something is Standard 1.G.3. Awesome, mark him off. He found it and described it in "real life." 

And that my friends, is what we are all about. Transferring school knowledge into other part of our lives.

Good thing I thought about grabbing a camera. Next comments went something like this..."Will you post that on Facebook?" "Hey everyone, get on Facebook tonight and see the picture!"

I totally L.O.V.E. this class. With my whole heart. I smile so much when I am around them.

Funny PIcs

The best way to spend a Saturday is in a room with other teachers. Right?

Well, not really, I wanted to be home with my family, but I did have a good time.

Kansas Foundation for Ag in the Classroom and Kansas Farm Bureau sponsored a Be Ag-Wise professional development workshop yesterday. I went with 3 other teachers from my school, and there were 5 teachers there from the town I live in.

The day was awesome for networking.

(Thank goodness Rhonda brought chocolate!)

The day was great for being goofy.

I took notes and pictures throughout the day. In Evernote. I loved trying out something new. I missed my notebook, but my notes and pictures are all in one spot.

My goal is not to create farmers in my classroom. I want my students to know where their clothes and food comes from (and I don't mean Old Navy and Dillons) and these days give me ideas on how to do that. I also want my students to be advocates for themselves and the people who raise the crops that they need to live.

The presenter is working at aligning the lessons to the CCSS (or as we call them in Kansas--Kansas College and Career Ready Standards).

So, next year the day could be even better...aligned and ready to go.

My Friday Five (March 8, 2013)

Thanks Kacey for hosting this linky each week. I love thinking about what to share.

Five things from my week:

1. We constructed the March quilt on Wednesday. So cool. I love how they are getting better at making triangles from squares. Last weekend I pored over the first grade geometry CC, getting ready for this week and next week. So, when we made the quilt on Wednesday I was shocked, surprised, and pleased  how that activity fit so well into the CC. Big time score. Check out the geometric math quilts unit on TpT here.

(I still need to trim the bottom now that all the students have added their squares.)

2. We are loving our unit on American Symbols. Really all my kids need to do is identify 6 symbols (Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell, White House, etc.), but Teacher to the Core created an amazing unit with fluency passages and lots of great activities, so that is what we are doing. The kids love it, I love it, and yesterday after reading the newest passage they sat in groups and reread any previous page. Smiles. Learning. Reading Informational Text. It was so Common Core. 

3. During the Cloverbuds rotation on Wednesday my group made bird feeders out of toilet paper tubes. It had nothing to do with "eating a variety of foods" which was the lesson, but, it was fun. I saw the idea here through a party.

(We hung 75-80 on the three trees and two bushes we have in front of our school. I wonder if the birds will eat them or not...)

4. I wish I could find a note that was given to me this week. I am so sad I misplaced it. From my first grader. It said, "I love you more than candee" Isn't that awesome! I love her too.

5. Each Friday my husband and I , along with our two boys, eat homemade pizza and watch tv or a movie. We are currently done with the pizza and are now watching Star Trek The Movie. 

That is my five. Hop on over to 

to read more week recaps. Truly, it is fun, and I make more friends. Double win. Happy Weekend!

Going Paperless?

I love pens. Notebooks. And paper. 

Except when I am trying to find a specific paper in my classroom.

You can ask my teaching partner...

We will be talking/planning and I will say something like, ok, let me find that paper. I think it is in this pile (or binder or file). She just laughs.

Last year I toyed with Evernote. But I really didn't know what I was doing or how to use it. So, I am intrigued that Alison at 

is having a "Going Paperless Challenge." (And during this challenge she is going to teach me tricks/tips/how to be paperless. This will make my husband happy. Save some paper. Save some trees. Yahoo!)

Mission #1 is Gather Tools. I have Evernote, but want to gather a couple of more (free) tools over the weekend.

Mission #2 is Build Evernote Notebooks. I'm really excited about this one. Will this take place of my awesome composition notebooks that I like to take notes in? Or will it be something else? Baby steps, I think. I will start this tomorrow night during family movie night. Movies bore me, unless Edward makes an appearance.

Are you interested in adding "one more thing" to your plate this year? Hop on over to read more. Join us. In blogland or in commentland or in neverland.

Kings and Queens

This week I have been struck by song lyrics.

I've heard the song many times, but mostly it is on in the background of whatever I am doing. Today I really heard the lyrics.

Especially the chorus.

Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout Your name in victory
When we love, when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these

That is me in my classroom. Loving the children that will grow up to be kings and queens.

And while I am called to be a teacher (in the academic sense), I am also called to love.

Thank you Audio Adrenaline for sharing a catchy tune with meaningful words. To remind me that my day is not all about curriculum.

My day has to be about love. Love in all kinds of weather. Good days, bad days. Flowing lessons and interruptions. 

These past three weeks have been amazing weeks at school. Each time I send out love, love comes back to me triple fold. Yes, amazing. As our love for each other grows, our bond gets stronger and our school family grows tighter.

What a wonderful feeling to be a part of something so wonderful.

In case you don't know the song, you can watch it on on youtube.

Jump!!! And, Come On Down, You Are the Next Contestant...

I've put it off long enough. I've wanted to do it, but haven't taken the time. Until now.

Diane from Fifth in the MIddle is hosting a party. This party helps us connect to bloggers in our own state (and other states that we wished we lived in...Hawaii, Oregon, Arizona...). 

So, without further ado, 

********************************************

"Come on down, you are the next contestant on 'Read Mrs. Bartel's Word'." That's what I said today in my best announcer voice.

It was silly. They giggled. We had fun, and they practiced reading.

I wish I had remembered to take a picture of the chart paper that I created. It has 52 words on it. Reading it was part of our word work today. The categories were: l blends, short/long a (spelled a-e), words with hunks and chunks, and words spelled with 'ai.'

After reading the word, they had to use the word in a sentence. Then they could give me a high five. But I kept my hand higher than my head, so they had to jump.

Several times I thought the student was falling backward, but lucky for me, all my students are athletic and stayed upright.

Smiles. Silliness. Laughter. And learning.

Several great teachers that I know have said: the children are children, they like to play. Make learning a game and all will be great. (This is my paraphrase.)

But (isn't there always a but?), keeping that level of interest or gaming is tiring. I'm not old, but I'm not young either. By 1:30 I was mentally done.

As I was describing this part of my day to my husband tonight I kept talking faster and faster. That is my signal that I really enjoyed it. Which means that I will probably do it again. 

If you have any great games that you have created on the fly (like I did today) I would love to know of them. I'm going to need more. 

Because I want the fun Mrs. Bartel (kinda like Maria--The Sound of Music) to show up again. Soon.

Thanks.

Currently

As the month ends and a new month begins, I start wondering...

What will Farley put in this month's currently? Well, wonder no more, here are my answers to the prompts.

Hearing birds when there is snow on the ground is a reminder that winter will not last forever. I love snow (and the snow days that may come with them), but being cold is not on my love list.

If you have not been to Art Projects for Kids, then I highly recommend it. I found it through my friend's board on Pinterest and have not been disappointed. You see, I am not big on doing art with my firsties. (Last year I did nothing artful and said it was ok, because the school art teacher worked with them once a week for 45 minutes. Oh boy.) So far we have made snowmen, and Love Birds. This week we made skeletons (as we talked about why calcium is good for our bones)

and sheep (because our lambs have been born). After the drawing and coloring were done the pictures were our prompt for the day's writing lesson.

Sunshine makes me so happy. Kansas is wonderful for sunshine. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.

It is getting difficult for me to find things in my classroom. Because I am stashing and hiding and have not taken the time to properly find homes for my stuff. Organization also makes me happy. Time to spend some serious time getting my room back into shape.

Two more weeks until Spring Break. Might as well plan both at the same time, then next week I can plan for the week after spring break. Because I will be doing NO PLANNING during spring break! (Maybe.)

I like apples, I love affirmations (giving and receiving) and I hate arguments. I am learning that to breathe during an argument is helpful and provides oxygen to my brain so that I may effectively work through the argument and not use the "hot head" that I was born with.

Now, you can jump over to 

and read and/or link up. Happy sunny weekend!