Sno-Cone Social

Were YOU able to join us for our annual Sno-Cone Social? It was AHHHH-mazing! Our school secretary, Mrs. Duncan, went all out this year and we had a lot to see and do and GET!!!! 

Didn't make it? :(  

Lucky for you, I took a few pictures... Here's what you missed:

Here we have our new librarian, our Reading Interventionist and our Art Teacher making Sno Cones. Nurse Jill Has her back to us (unfortunately). Ms. Harris a 2nd Grade teacher andMrs. Gragg (Kinder) are in the photo as well.

                             The Pflugerville Fire Department brought out an engine for the Windermere community to look at ... and we even got to climb into the truck! They also used their engine to announce a few raffle prize winners but alas, I was not one of them! But, YOU could have been a winner...

The Pflugerville Police Department was there.

AND  we had two very special guests, 
Elsa and Anna!!

They had their audience transfixed by their hit, "Let It Go". They also stayed for pictures and to sign autographs. 

Costco was there offering membership discounts...

The Girl Scouts were there signing up girls for the new year...



Hmmm... How did I not get a picture of HE Buddy, the Mt. Playmore table,  and Barnes and Noble? 

Well, they were there too, with goodies and information. (I scored... just saying')




At any rate, a good time was had by all and I hope YOU can join us next year as we once again host our annual WPS Sno-Cone Social!

Meet the Teacher

It was so incredible to meet ALL of my students and their families tonight! So many big smiles and so many hugs! I can already tell that we are going to have an incredible year together! Princess Peach is very excited that FINALLY someone will be around to read to her! Peach misses the classroom as much as I do each summer. Sleep tight everyone! I can't wait to see you tomorrow!

QR Codes

According to Wikipedia, QR codes stand for "Quick Response" codes. QR codes are a matrix barcode first developed for the automotive industry for fast readability and the large amount of data that can be contained within them. You probably feel more familiar with the UPC barcodes on groceries but I am sure you've seen at least a few QR codes in magazines, museums and at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. To use QR codes you need to have a QR code reader app installed on your smart phone or iPad. I have i-nigma installed on my phone but there are many available and most are free. You might want to install one if you don't have one already since we'll be using QR codes this year for many things. Some of the ideas I have already are: scavenger hunts, animal facts, a classroom tour, writing, and math facts. I have no doubt that the students will come up with some clever ideas on their own after we use them a few times as one of my goals this year is to integrate technology into the curriculum in ways that students can easily replicate and improvise. QR codes are fun and a bit like "spy stuff" for kids. That's always a great learning hook! ;) To get you started, here's the QR code that is outside our classroom door. Click on the QR code to find out more about me!

Kid President's Pep Talk to Teachers and Students!

Hey y'all... Are YOU ready to be AWESOME?!??!!?!?!?!?




Yes, I SEE my students and all they can be... and I can't wait to meet you!!!

Dang! When will school start?

Getting Ready for a New Year!

As summer begins to wind down, my thoughts turn towards the classroom and the upcoming year. I went up to the classroom this week to begin the set up for a new year. I was dragging my feet (just a wee bit) until I got to our hallway just outside the door. Do you remember just outside our door where the student's pictures are hanging with the clip below it that they use to display their work? Just looking at those faces filled my heart and suddenly I wasn't dragging my feet anymore. This process of looping is so wonderful. We all know who we are and there's no fear about what the new year holds!

-Yes, we'll be Second Graders this year, the "BIG Ones" in the school. We'll really have to be AWESOME role models in the hallway so that the young ones know how to behave!
-There'll be lots of refinement of the learning we did as First Graders and of course, there'll be NEW things to learn and get good at.

But the big questions like,

•"Who else will be in my class?" and
•"Will I have any friends?"
•"What will my teacher be like?"
•"What will she expect from me?"

THOSE big questions have already been answered and we can focus straightaway on the new skills and learning we will master this year.

My promise to the students at year end was that they would return to the classroom and it would look very similar to what it did at the end of the year-- FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS. Then we would begin to change things out. For instance, our words on the Word Wall would still be there to remind us of all we have learnt in first grade but then we'll take those words down and learn MORE words! Calendar will start out as it did last year but then we'll have NEW math concepts to learn and master.

But, there will be a few things that will different right off.
WARNING!!! I've changed the location of the sofa and the computers! I think the arrangement will be better suited for us and it feels more cozy. (That's an odd word, eh?) I know they will love it but it will also be the first thing they will remark upon walking into our room. I've also moved the "Lightbulb Lab". There's many items from my travels around the world displayed because our Second Grade theme will be "Global Learning". And YEAH! (BIG kudos to me) I've actually organised the classroom library for this year. (I've discovered to my dismay, that the school year is far too busy to accomplish such an immense task.) Also, I'm very excited to implement Whole Brain Teaching this year. The students will love it because it involves their entire brain and body. (Trust me when I say this: Your children need to move and talk to understand and learn.) I'll have more details as the posts go on so that you may understand what your children are doing and learning all those hours they are away from you!

I miss you all so much and cannot wait to see everyone. It's coming up quickly but not fast enough for me (but even as I say that I shudder to think of all I must still accomplish). YIKES! Princess Peach misses the students as well and she's not very happy watching my increasingly dry and brown back garden melt in the heat. She will be quite happy to watch the kids as they move about the classroom again. As will I.

See you soon!