1 read aloud + a 10 minute brainstorming session = A Second Grade Thanksgiving Day Parade!

"Be different, be bold, be innovative" -Ron Clark, The End of Molasses Classes.

   This quote has challenged me in so many ways over the past couple of weeks, as well as the rest of what I have been reading in The End of Molasses Classes.  I have been even more inspired to "make it happen" for my students, to "take the plunge", and simply do whatever it takes to make learning fun and engaging! So lets rewind to a read aloud that took place about 4 weeks ago. 

    Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet has been a book I recently added to my collection that is my favorite! It tells the true story of the puppeteer who was behind designing the first balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! If you don't have this book, add it to your collection ASAP! There are so many lessons that can be pulled from it! Perseverance, creativity, the list could go on and on. 

 I had ordered this book to share with my class during the month of November with the intention to do "something" STEM related. I had not decided what this would look like and I was reading the book to my class, it hit me. Why not have students create their own Thanksgiving Day Parade floats? So during the read aloud, I paused to throw the idea to my student teacher. Of course, being the amazing, innovative teacher that she is, she was "YES"! I resumed reading the book, then another idea hit me. Why not have our own Thanksgiving Day Parade? After the read aloud and showing my students the video from last year's Macy's Parade, Anna (my student teacher) and I began bouncing around ideas of what this would look like in our classroom. Needless to say, 1 read aloud + 10 minutes of brainstorming= A Second Grade Thanksgiving Day Parade! 

   We quickly began to plan up a rubric for students to take home the next day, set the date, made invitations and honestly hoped for the best! I decided that students would create the floats at home with parents. I keep quoting Ron Clark, but y'all seriously, he speaks truth about teaching in his book. I had just literally read the chapter where he talked about setting high expectations for both students and parents. I wanted parents to be invested in this project and have the opportunity to work with their child and be creative together! 

   The students were PUMPED up about our planned production. Each day, I would talk to them about how their projects were coming together and remind them when they were due. I think most of those sweet second grade babies could say the due date in their sleep, but I was determined that they would be on time and that students would not forget. I also sent reminders to parents every other day about the due date and also about the actual parade date and time. I am sure some of them are glad this is over and that reminders won't be blowing up their Seesaw and Class Dojo inboxes. 🤣

Did I mention that I only gave students 1 week to get this done? Yep, 1 week ladies and gentleman! Let me just say, ALL of my students rose to the challenge and did a PHENOMENAL job! We had everything from SpongeBob to Mickey's Christmas party! Not to mention three students wound up bringing in a Turkey, Christmas Tree, and Santa Float!! I mean, how perfect?? They were the grand finale of course! 

   So I didn't just want this to be a project where they just made something cute and fun, I wanted to them to present and talk about their floats. I had originally planned for them to talk in the microphone during the parade to describe their floats, let's just say when I mentioned this idea to 17 second graders, they all looked like they could crawl under the carpet. I even had one say, " I am absolutely not talking into a microphone in front of an audience." Part of me wanted to say, "oh yes you are!" The other part of me   realized that these 7 and 8 year old babies were terrified and we needed a back up plan. I quickly decided that they would each do a video describing their float using a green screen app . I had already planned for them to write a description of their float during literacy stations, so that part was taken care of. 

With the help of our school's amazing technologist, Sarah, the green screen plan went down flawlessly! She is also a rock star and made this experience so amazing!

Many people wanted to know what standards were being addressed, and of course you don't do things just because they are cute and fun. Everything must have a purpose. Well, we addressed writing, communication, and some STEM standards with this project, so it was a win-win!

   The actual room transformation for this production was a combination of beg, borrow, and buy 50 feet of tacky tinsel garland, giant plastic glitter bows, and some red table cloths. Let's just say, when you're about to do something outside of the box, people jump at the opportunity to help! From my administration (shout out to both of them for letting me put my crazy ideas into action), school secretaries, my teaching BFF Hope, my amazing student teacher, and my sweet mama, room 415 went from classroom to NYC! The front of the room was none other than our own rendition of Herald Square, complete with our very own live broadcasting booth and news anchor (Anna), Palmetto News Broadcasting- aka PNBC, store front, and red carpet! The kids were so excited about the room transformation and helped out as much as they could! They truly took pride in it all! 

   The day of the parade, I was a nervous wreck. I mean, we had invited some special guests who we knew were coming, but I had no clue if parents were coming or not. The kids were all present, dressed in their parade finest and ready for the the show to begin at 10:30. At 10:25, down the hallway comes a throng of parents, grandparents, a 5th grade class, and administration! Room 415 was PACKED to the seams and I had to hold back tears! Y'all, that room felt like NYC with the buzzing crowd! Our 5th grade guests even broke out in a chorus of Jingle Bells while we waited on the parade participants to be ready in the hallway. My heart was, is, and will continue to overflow! It was truly a magical experience!

 The parade went off without a hitch! Students were announced by PNBC's amazing announcer just like the floats in the Macy's parade, their videos played the background, the crowd cheered and clapped, and the students smiled from ear to ear! At the end, guests took time to talk to the students about their floats and I floated around on cloud 9! The support and encouragement received by all who attended spoke volumes to this teacher's heart! 

It was a day that will go down as one of the best! I can't thank all who came, helped, and supported us enough! 

Hope told me the morning of the event, "you're about to make magic up in here!" I really feel like it was magic and I pray that this will be something that my students remember for the rest of their lives. I want them to be inspired to be creative, think outside of the box, and take the plunge with their ideas!" After all, isn't that what we teach them?

{The pictures and video from our event our in the video below 😃}

Happy Thanksgiving Friends! 

♥Syd 

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Lemons -> Lemonade

The last 2 weeks before going back to school have not been what I planned.   The afternoon of my 17th wedding anniversary and at our great-nephews birthday party, I slipped getting into a swimming pool and ended up tearing my MCL in my right knee.    Hubby says this is the most expensive anniversary to date.     Grace (my alter ego that really needs to wear a football helmet and be wrapped in bubble wrap 24-7) struck again. 

After 10 days on the couch at home and finally seeing the orthopedic doctor, I ended up in Isle of Palms for a week at the beach with my family. 

One rainy day, my mom and I went shopping.  I NEEDED new flat shoes.  No more heels for this diva for a while.  And I needed my makeup---insert realization that soon I will have to fix my hair and face E V E R Y morning. 

The sweetest little lady in Belks saw me crutching my way to the Clinque counter and said "Well, honey you look fabulous in that knee brace.  And you are smiling.  You have made some lemonade outta your lemons."

The next day on the beach, a group of moms and daughters who were parked next to us all week said,  "We have watched you the past several days.  You aren't letting that knee keep you from playing bocce and attempting to throw a football."    My reply was "I am a hot mess but doing the best I can.  Lemons to lemonade."

These 2 ladies got me thinking....

This school year is going to hand us all some LEMONS.  There is going to be that one kid, that one parent, that one co-worker.   There is going to be that lesson that doesn't go as planned.  There is going to be that morning when there is not enough coffee in the world to help you get your life together.  That meeting that takes up your entire planning period. That email that raises your blood pressure. 

We can't control the lemons.  But what we can control is the way we react.

This year my goal to continue making LEMONADE.  This is not always to easiest choice.  I know it is easier to take the negative LemonHead approach {sour face included}.   

How will you handle the lemons?

~Hope 

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It's Shark Week Ya'll

As Sydney posted yesterday...she and I have both been convicted of { trying to } make everyday count.  Especially these last days when I have been tempted to find a Magic School Bus or Bill Nye video.  STEM has been engaging all year...so why not end the year with a BANG!!!

It's Shark Week Ya'll

I follow Momma with a Teaching Mission on Instagram { ya'll should follow her too } and I saw she had a Nonfiction Shark Unit on her TPT.    It is a fabulous unit and I used parts of it to fit what I needed for my stations.  

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nonfiction-Shark-Unit-1572674

I have wanted to try an unlock activity like Cooties and Cuties shows on her Instagram.  We have done BreakOut boxes but I love the idea of moving { down the wall } along the challenge. 

Target had the cutest shark stuff which made my wall and prizes so cute. 

 The Wall 

All 86 kiddos made fish as their "game
pieces". I colored coded them based
on their class color.   When they
completed task 1, they moved to the shark
to show they were working on task 2.. 

Completing task 2 moved them to
"Surf's Up"  This was a gel window
cling that I left the plastic on and taped
it up.  The stuffed shark was after they
completed task 3 and were working on 4.

The beach ball was for Task 5.  When
they complete the STEM task, they could
move their fish into the bag showing they had
survived Shark Week. 

The Details on the Tasks:

Task 1   Vocabulary 

I posted the vocabulary cards from Momma on a Teaching Missions's unit.  I created a matching sheet to go along with the vocabulary .  Students had to match the words correctly to move forward. 

Task 2    Shark Labeling 

Students had to use Seesaw on their iPad to take a picture of the shark labeling page.  They used the diagrams posted to correctly label their shark.  Once the photo was uploaded, they had to ask me to approve their work before moving forward. 

                                                 

Task 3--Venn Diagram comparing

This task of reading and completing the Venn Diagram comparison was directly from the unit I purchased. {simple, easy, and straight forward}

Task 4--Digital Poster 

Target Dollar Spot had these great informational books.  Students used PicKids on the iPads to make their digital poster using the book to find a picture and facts about a shark of their choosing.  Once these were uploaded to Seesaw they had to ask for approval before moving on. 

 

Task 5--STEM challenge to build a shark cage 

Of course, I had to include a design challenge.  I love how Hope King makes her students research to find the information they need.  To make this a little easier on my 3rd graders, I created a Google Slide doc with information and pictures of shark cages.  Students had to scan a QR code to obtain the information.  Using only the materials provided, they had to build cage that would support the weight of 50 pennies.
{several students built boxes and I had to remind them that boxes are not cages}

 The kiddos had a blast.  This was so worth the work. 

It was a successful Shark Week, ya'll.  ---Hope 

P.S. 

Not all kids/groups successfully created a shark cage that would support the weight of the pennies.  After 2 days of working only on the cages, I stopped the working.  Students received a prize shark from the fish tank, but they did not get to move their fish to "I survived Shark Week" . { tough love lesson } 

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Breakout box challenge

Growing up, I was literally obsessed with Mission Impossible! I had the nintendo game, watched the movies, and was pretty sure I wanted to be Ethan Hunt when I grew up. I know, such a nerd but I loved it! 

Today, my childhood dreams came true in room #415 with theme music and all. 

With only 6 full days of school left, I have been inspired and challenged not to count down until the last day, but to count up to what I can do in the precious time I have left. 

Y'all know I was blown away with Hope King at RCA. When I visited her room was transformed into a spy lab and I was totally inspired! So I decided I would "borrow" her idea and put my own spin on it! 

I found the super cute and fun breakout game on TPT in Class with An Alligator's store. Link Below ↓ . 

{https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Unlock-the-Box-a-break-out-game-The-Case-of-the-Principal-Investigation-3075458 }

The activities were easy to prep and a great way to review skills that we had learned this year in second grade. 

Breakout Details:

Students had to sequence time cards, read a passage, and complete a 3 digit addition activity to get the codes that unlocked the locks on the breakout box. I divided them into two groups as they entered the classroom using neon yard sale stickers numbered 1 or 2. As I gave them out I told each child they now were officially on a mission, also the neon stickers glowed under the black lights which made the effect extra cool. 

Room Details:

I literally used the black lights from my donors choose project, white yarn, neon printer paper, and highlighters for the passages they read. Easy as a wink! 

Here are some pictures from our breakout session! Students displayed teamwork, were engaged, and so excited! Proud teacher moment!! 

Once they accomplished their mission, they celebrated with ice cream and then begged to have the lights off for the rest of the day so they could maneuver around the "laser beams". 

The "thank you for making our day fun", excitement, and hugs made this all worth it! 

You can find several breakout activities for any grade/age level at www.breakoutedu.com as well as more breakout games like this one from Class with an Alligator at www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Class-With-An-Alligator

I think I'll call it a night,  I am past #teachertired today!!! 6 more {full} days to make it count! 

Syd

p.s. I mentioned in my previous post that it is not always victory flags on the mountains and that stuff happens. Prime example, right in the middle of students cracking the codes, a lock jammed. So even double agent teachers need a hero! Thank goodness Hope came to my rescue!

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Hi, my name is Sydney and yes I still {try} to blog... A reflection on the '16-'17 school year

So I am sure many of you have wondered if I had given up blogging. Truth be told, I almost began to wonder myself! I had so many post ideas from happenings in room #415, then I got so caught up in teaching that I literally could not find the time to just sit and post! Thank goodness Hope keeps us alive {BTW, isn't what she is doing in STEM AMAZING?}!

So I decided I would wrap up the 2016-2017 school year with a self reflection/challenge post and share a few things that pushed me outside of my safe zone as a teacher this year. 

Let's rewind to Summer 2016.

I was invited along to present for my school district's end of year professional development, as well as another school district's end of the year professional development, and had also been accepted to co-present with Hope at UTC (Upstate Technology Conference), which might I add is an amazing conference and I highly recommend it! I'll miss it this year due to family vacation.
 I had not  really presented to peers and colleagues since college and now I had three conferences to present at. Talk about really swallowing fear!  Presenting can be highly nerve racking, but honestly through each session that summer I began to become more confident and began to realize my passion. My passion to make learning as hands on and engaging as possible in order to provide students with opportunities and experiences that they {hopefully} won't forget. 

Fast forward to fall 2016. Hope and I had been accepted to share about the Purple Cow PLC that we (really she) hosts at our school each month at the South Carolina Technology Conference (SCEDTech). Once again, completely out of my comfort zone. I am the type that would rather work right behind the scene and never be heard, God has a sense of humor is all I can figure. 

Insert 2016-2017 school year. I may have shared this in a post {ages ago}, but I looped from first grade to second grade this year. An amazing experience that I would not trade for the world. BUT, when you have the same group of students for two years, you're old tricks can become a little dusty. I mean, each year when you get new students they are so engaged by all that you have to offer. Well, not that these precious students were not still engaged in my classroom, but I knew deep down I had to change. I had to change for them  and keep that excitement for learning growing. Also, none of my wonderful, pre-made activities that I had used for the past 4 years were going to work because #newgradelevel #samestudents {yes, I admit I used to use the same things each year for each unit and they are still beautifully organized and stored in my file cabinet because if a good thing works hang on to it and use it again 😜}. 

In November I had the phenomenal opportunity to visit the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) in Atlanta, GA. I was blown away! I left so inspired and loaded with new ideas for engagement and instruction. However, those ideas would require me to once again step out of my comfort zone, I'm may start calling my comfort zone my comfort box because I literally find myself crawling back in there and taping the lid shut. Maybe I just have different comfort boxes for each area of my life, who knows. 

So, I came back from Ron Clark inspired and motivated to started this new journey as a new and improved teacher who was going to tackle engagement and excitement with a smile! The kids loved it and I honestly can say that they blew me away with their learning and growth as well! I won't pretend that all of my days were on the mountain top waving the victory flag, because there were many days that I was in the trench with the white flag of surrender flying too. What I learned though, was in order to grow, change has to take place.  Change has to begin with y-o-u. 

Reflecting on a school year could literally be a published book, i'll try to make the rest short at sweet. 

After visiting RCA, I began following Hope King @www.elementaryshenanigans.com very closely. Her ideas were amazing and her passion are contagious! She and Deanna Jump present the Get Your Teach on Conference, which I was dying to go to. The idea had been bounced around between Hope and I about how much we would love to go, but tickets to the nearest event had been sold out months before we started looking into it. Then comes a Sunday night in January. An Instagram post about seats being available for GYTO Nashville is posted. A few texts and bribed husbands later, two tickets were bought and a hotel was booked. 

That weekend in Nashville forever changed my as a teacher. I was challenged, inspired, and rejuvenated. If you have an opportunity to go, GO! 

So this year was a year of many firsts for me. I tried so many new things and yes, sometimes they failed and I went down in a blaze of glory. But, I learned and grew and so did my students. 

My challenge is, how will you grow and change as a teacher? Don't settle for mediocrity, strive for metamorphosis! Your students deserve it, you deserve it. Accept the challenges, {yes, sometimes they make you cry and question your sanity} push forward, and be the educator you always dreamed you'd be. 💟 

P.S. Only 14 days until summer break! 

Syd    

      

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