End of the year bulletin board

Hey all you hard working teachers! I am posting my latest bulletin board idea and sharing with you how I created it! I took it from a design I saw online and tweaked it a bit. First off I found this one...Doodle Bug Teaching Blog and I loved the idea of using a gumball machine and the phrase. I decided I wanted to use this for the end of the year, so I changed the phrase a bit to sum up what fun we HAD! Although I loved this gumball machine, I wanted mine to have a more realistic look since I work with 3rd graders..

SO, I found this gem in a google images search and fashioned mine around this one. In order to make the gumball machine I first started with the bottom part. Whenever you are drawing something use shapes you know how to make. So I made a rectangle for the base and then followed that up with a long skinny cylinder for the bottom part. For the glass part, I simply made an oval like shape that had a skinny top part. I didnt have to worry about it looking perfect because the "hat" was going on the top and that really makes it look like a gumball machine. I added the hat by creating another oval with more of a flat bottom. Then a circle for the handle. For the yellow lines running down the bottom I just cut yellow strips of paper in order to attach to the outside of the machine. I then added the section for the quarter and the handle to turn it with and finally created gumballs that were about the size of large cap on a lotion bottle (which is what I used!).

I used a lid from a small coffee can to create the size of the large gumballs on the board itself and added the kids names to it. It was really pretty easy to do the whole thing but it took some time to really make it look good. Because I am such a lover of candy and sweet things I decided I wanted to make my classroom have a candy theme next year (if I get a job). So, I laminated the gumball machine so I could use it in my classroom next year! I have the graphic I used on my background listed on my tpt store. If you are interested in using a similar theme for your classroom, I will be posting items on my store this summer as I come up with them.

Sweet Reading!

So Much happening, So little time!

Well, its that time again....Testing is in one week! Being a student teacher, I didnt think that I would be that concerned about testing but a lot has happened in the past few weeks. My co-op had to have knee surgery so she has been out for the last two weeks. There wasnt much time to figure out what to do so I had to plan for the following week in one day. Once I got through the first week and realized my teacher wouldnt be back, I had to figure out how to plan for the second. With testing so close I knew we needed to review and practice some OAA test questions. I ended up getting with another third grade teacher and got it planned for the week. It all worked out well.

Aside from the craziness of trying to prepare these kids for the test in two weeks and attempting to keep my sanity with the interesting crop of subs I was paired with, I am also hearing a lot of rumors and talk about job placements. Altough I dont have any idea of whether or not I will be good enough for the job, the other teachers and administrators seem to be happy with what I am doing which is great. I work so hard and it really is nice to hear all the wonderful compliments Ive been getting. The staff at this school is really supportive of the "newbies: as I call myself! :)

Not only have I been really busy with teaching and test prep but I also have this huge project due for my student teaching seminar class. This project has to be done in a week (yes, the same week as testing!) so I have been trying to work on that as well. This project is a requirement for graduation and if its not done perfectly, I dont get my degree! EESHK! Holy scariness batman! LOL

One last thing before I go, if you know of any good blogs for teaching fifth grade I would appreciate it! There is an opening at the school I am at and I want some more information to help me in case I am offered a position in a higher grade. Thanks blog followers for all your help!

Assistive Technolgy

Hey Blogger friends- I am helping with something at Hardin Central and I have a favor to ask. If any of you have children with special needs OR you know of any children with special needs, I need to know if you use any ipad, ipod or iphone apps for these children to help them with their special needs. We are looking at purchasing apps that would work as Assistive Technology. Please respond here! The children will appreciate your help! :)

Three Branches of Government TpT

I just added a new TpT item! This was created by me last year for a 5th grade class in Ohio. It meets Ohio Academic Content Standards but can be used with children ages 4th-8th grade. Hope you enjoy it!

Three Branches of Government Unit

Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing well! Sorry it has been a while since my last post. My husband went in for surgery yesterday so I missed school yesterday and today! NOT liking it at all but I would rather be here in case he needs something. I have a wonderful Co-op that is OK with me missing two days in a row for this (thank goodness!) but I am still unhappy about not being in school today.

Either way, on my day off from school (in between taking care of my husband and myself) I decided to figure out my TpT page. I just uploaded my first item. Being that it is my first, it is free. It is a Jeopardy style game I created in powerpoint last year after covering a unit on the three branches of U.S. Government. Stop on over and check it out!

 U.S. Government Jeopardy Game

Let me know what you think of it!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful end of February! Spring is just around the corner...!

Student Teaching!

Sorry I have been MIA lately! Student teaching began a few weeks ago and I have been busy, busy, busy working and planning! Thursday was my birthday and I couldnt have gotten a better present from my co-op than I did. Without delving too much into anything she gave me some kind words of encouragement and really helped me to see that what I am doing is working really well.

I have taught several lessons now and I am one week away from taking on the entire day. Its crazy to think I will only be teaching a full day for two weeks. I feel like now that I have gotten to the point of almost all of the day, I can handle anything! It really is encouraging to get up there and do well and see such amazing results.

Thursday after school, I stayed with my co-op and planned for the next week. We ended up staying until 6pm. Crazy thing was, I wasnt even upset about being there so late on my birthday. I missed my own surprise party too but it was all worth it. I love being in the classroom and I feel so refreshed when I leave for the day. I really feel like I am making a difference every single day. I just love it!

Anywho, my question for this post was about fractions. I will be teaching fractions for math next week to my third graders. Its the first time they have been introduced to it and I am wondering what worked for you when teaching this topic. If you have any ideas, suggestions, or lessons that worked for you I would love the help!

Thanks to all of you who continually check back with me and please follow me! THANK YOU!!

Lesson Plans

I have created several different lesson plans throughout college and I wanted to add them here so others could use them. Some of the lessons I created are for early childhood students and range anywhere from Preschool through 3rd grade. Other lessons are geared toward 4th and 5th graders because I will be certified PreK-5 in Ohio. All of my lessons cover Ohio Standards but could probably easily be changed to fit other state standards. I will start posting some of the things I have finsihed but will add more as I get them. I know how much help lesson plans from other people have been for me and I just want to share in what I have done. Hope you enjoy what I have and feel free to change them and make them your own if you would like!


I also want to thank those of you who have commented with advice and encouragement so far. I am new to this but I am continually surprised and happy to see when others have commented on my blog! It really is the highlight of my day! Thanks so much!




Tomi