Sunday, March 10, 2013

ScootPad & Other Free Online Resources

I've been looking for a new Common Core related internet resource for students. We have Ticket to Read which I think is an excellent resource. However, we really need more practice with Common Core math skills since our core resource is far form user friendly, especially for kinders (ThinkCentral anyone?).


We use XtraMath for addition & subtraction practice but I was looking for something with much broader scope. XtraMath is a fabulous free resource by the way. Definitely check it out by clicking on the picture below.

XtraMath


After a little digging, I stumbled across ScootPad. It seems a lot of teachers are using it. And it is FREE! What's better than fabulous and free? I'm going to give it a try and let you know how it goes.

If you are already using it, please let me know what you think. If not, check it out below.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

So What Happened?

So in July 2011, after 152 applications, 9 interviews, and a couple of job offers, I accepted my dream job in first! I learned ALOT, and had a very successful, if incredibly exhausting first year.

This year I am in K - a whole new adventure for me, and one without having had the benefit of experiencing an effective K cooperating teacher during student teaching (I have so much to thank my wonderful cooperating teacher for, for my fabulous first year in 1st grade!).

Now wholly obsessed inspired by so many wonderful teachers in blogland, and on TpT, I'm excited to continue on this crazy journey of an almost, brand spanking new teacher. :)

Sunday, July 17, 2011

The unknown... arg! A little retail therapy to help..

The last few weeks have been a real roller coaster. Things are finally happening but certainly not as smoothly or exactly in the direction I had imagined. Suffice to say, I still have not yet signed a contract. Hopefully this week, that might change. Fingers crossed!

Unable to further effectively plan, (given I have no idea where I'm going to end up and have just about organized every generic, non-grade specific facet of my future classroom three times over) I am attempting to keep my mind off the current whirlwind of emotions, and so have turned to shopping - fortunately, given my lack of a permanent post, shopping via couponing. Having watched the shows, I've always thought that it looked like fun, but who has the time? A part-time employed graduate student, that's who. Hence, my new endeavors.

Other than the odd free nail polish or smoothie, I hadn't until now really gone on an extreme couponing expedition. With so many back to school offers out at the moment it seemed a perfect opportunity to get my feet wet. Taking in Office Depot, Staples, Target, and Walgreens here is the result of my first haul.



STAPLES
Paper: $6.99 per ream, on sale for $5.99, $4.99 mail in rebate. TOTAL = $2 for 2 reams

OFFICE DEPOT

Pop-Up Tape Dispensers: $3.99 each, accidentally stocked in the dollar section therefore $1 each, $1 off one manufacturer's coupon. TOTAL = FREE for 3 dispensers

WALGREEN'S

Papermate mechanical pencils 5 pack: on sale for 19c. TOTAL = 19c for 1 pack
Milka Chocolate: On sale 2 for $2, $1 off 2 bars Walgreen's coupon, $1 off 1 bar manufacturer's coupon. TOTAL = FREE for 2 bars


TARGET
Scotch Magic Tape: on sale for 50c, 50c off Target coupon. TOTAL = FREE for 2 dispensers
Sharpie Markers 2 pack: on sale for $1, $1 off 1 Target coupon. TOTAL = FREE for 1 pack

Bic Pens 10 pack: on sale for $1, $1 off 2 manufacturer's coupon. TOTAL = FREE for 2 packs

Papermate Pens 10 pack: on sale for $1, $1 off 1 pack Target coupon. TOTAL = FREE for 2 packs
Wonka Bar: $2.09, free Wonka bar coupon prints after purchase, and will keep printing of I go back for another and another etc, lol. TOTAL = depends on how many times I go back lol!
Post-it Tabs 24 pack: $3.89 per pack, $2 off 1 manufacturer's coupon, 75c off 1 Target coupon. TOTAL = $2.28 for 2 packs


OVERALL TOTAL = $4.47!!!

I also, found a bargain at Target. Though it was an impulse buy, I had a coupon with me and combined with the clearance pice, it was too good to pass up! Command Hooks 4 pack: $5.69 per pack, on sale for $3.98, $1 off 1 manufacturer's coupon. TOTAL = $8.94 for 3 packs

Not too shabby for a first time around!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Daily 5... Is This What I've Been Looking For?

During my internship in first grade, one aspect of the structure of the day which frustrated me was the literacy block. With a state mandated 90 minute reading block followed by a 30 intervention/enrichment block, I followed my wonderful cooperating teacher's schedule of 1 hour whole group instruction, followed by 30 minutes of literacy centers.

I tried several approaches to the structure of the literacy centers - homogenous grouping with scheduled  groups for guided reading, heterogeneous groups with homogenous pull put groups for guided reading etc. Yet, I never felt I quite achieved the balance that I was searching for. additionally, I found the creation of the weekly literacy centers to be extremely time consuming, taking more organization and planning (not to mention grading) than most of the rest of the day/week combined. So I was determined to use this summer to research a little and find many different strategies and approaches to literacy centers. I recognize however, that it is ultimately the students which will determine which approach is best, yet I feel the more informed I can be in advance, the better instructional decisions I can make when I finally have my class.

One approach I recall from my language arts class at college, was inspired by the 2 sisters and their Daily 5 approach. Wanting to refresh my memory of this I purchased their book and plunged in. Hands down, I have never read a professional book so quickly, and throughly in my life. From the introduction, I knew that this approach was borne out of the same fructrations I experienced, and the same desire to make literacy centers the most effective learning experinces possible.

Next post, I'll go into a little more detail. At the moment - 1 ♥ Daily 5.

The Beginning....

So really, the beginning was actually two months ago... graduation. With shiny new diploma in hand, I embarked on the quest to find my first job as a newly qualified elementary school teacher. Thus far, the journey has been full of ups and downs, but suffice to say, I have yet to sign a contract.


As of this time I have applied for more than 75 jobs, and attended a state job fair. I have had 18 "thanks but no thanks" emails, and 3 interviews, 2 job offers, which leaves 54 applications floating in limbo. Hmmm... Most frustrating is the application process of one county. The whole thing is web based only. The online application doesn't let you add letters of recommendation, a resume, cover letter, details of any individual achievements etc. It's purely education and work history. In addition, you are given the following information as you apply: "We respectfully request that you refrain from contacting principals directly.", so no ability to email or drop off resumes.

How do I get on the interview list? All that principals see is the standard form with qualifications and experience, both of which in my case are not too shabby. Far from it in fact, yet I'm struggling to get an interview. So the question is, how do you stand out in this system? Any ideas? I'm bamboozled.


To keep myself from going a tad stir crazy throughout this process, I've been busily reading, researching, creating, making, organizing and planning. Though I have no idea in what grade, school, or district I'll end up, I figure I can use this time to best organize myself for any eventuality. As well as detailing my job search, in this blog I'll be posting about new ideas and creative projects as I stumble across them.

Sending positive vibes out there to everyone on the job hunt.