Class Facebook Page or Blog????

I hope my followers can help me with a decision I have been thinking about since school let out the beginning of June.  I have been thinking about creating a class Facebook page for parents and students to share what is happening in the classroom (I refuse to post pictures of my students' faces but just the activity or project.), daily homework assignments, events and project deadlines.  I love Facebook to keep connected because kids love it (I know they are not suppose to have an account but most do.) and so do their parents.  I do have a personal Facebook account but I REFUSE to accept any friend requests from parents, students (prior or current) or co-workers.  I really love to share what the kids are doing in class and a Facebook page could be a quick way to do it..... no long posts.  Ha!

Or just start using my old class blog page to keep parents up to date with class activities and events.  I have used this page in the past to post pictures of activities or class projects (no facial shots), the students have responded to posts and I have included links that my students could use.  The problem with the blog is that I felt most parents did not even take the time to look at it and unless I had the students post their responses to a post during class time they did not use the blog either.  All that work but no one really took time to look at it.

Currently, my school does have all the teacher keep up with an Edline account where we post homework daily, links and post events and deadlines.  I cannot really post any pictures, parents / kids cannot respond to anything but with an email and to be truthfully it is not parent friendly.  For parents to see my pages (I have 4 separate pages because each subject has a separate page that the parent has to switch to.).  To be honest each student is to have a username and password so they can access my pages but most forget them. Talk about frustrating when we go to the computer lab to work on something that I want them to use a link I added to Edline.  Talk about a waste of time!

Most of my parents do not even link their email account so they do not get alerts to uploaded grades and homework or even the group emails that I send out with reminders. 

Sooooo here is my decision, stick with the Edline account only, try to get parents and students involved with the blog page or try a class Facebook page?  What are your thoughts?  What do you use to keep communication between home and school open? 

Have an awesome evening.

Is It July???? NOOOOOOOOO! Farley's July Currently

I can't believe I posted yesterday now I am posting today but I can't miss Farley's July Currently even though I will probably be the 1 millionth link up.  Farley has an amazing following.   Jump over to Oh' Boy 4th Grade to check out some other teachers' amazing blogs.  It is so much fun to check out what others are up to on their summer break.

Here is my Currently.....

Listening & Loving:  All my kids are still asleep and I am enjoying the peace and quiet before the craziness starts when they all get up.  Here are my 2 toenail tapping dogs.  I guess I need to put toenail trimming on my list today.

Thinking:  I need to work on some school stuff or things for my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  I just can't seem to get motivated. My break just really started last Friday since I was on the Cleveland Diocese science curriculum team.  We just spent the last 9 days writing the science curriculum for k - 8th grade for the entire Cleveland Diocese.  I really enjoyed the writing process and met some amazing teachers.

Wanting: Breakfast but I don't want to wake the kids up just yet.  Shhhhhhhhh!  Pss by the way I gave up and made some toast.  No sleepy kids up yet. 

Needing:  To get this day going so I can clean out the basement (too many toys and junk), work on my TpT stuff (science fair packet), wash my bedroom curtains and clean out my kitchen cabinets and cupboards.  I love to organize and throw things out but I need to get off my butt!  I always have all these plans but POOF before I know it the day is over. 

Blogging Tips:  I have a hard time finding time to blog during the school year but I thought of trying to use a calendar to schedule blog posts and ideas.  Also to get more followers, Linky Parties are the key.  The more you do Linky Parties it gets your blog out there.  Especially Farley's Currently from  Oh' Boy 4th Grade.  So come check out the party, leave some comments and find a new blog or two to follow.

Fair Assessments - Process, Product, Formative and Summative & Psssss Follow Me on Bloglovin

Ok here is a post that I did not post from April.  I am not sure why but if has been sitting in my list of posts waiting....... I had a few teacher friends that I told about this workshop and they wanted to see the handouts but of course I threw them out.  Duh!  Then I remembered this unposted (not a real word but don't know what to call it) post. Also as EVERYONE knows Google Reader is gone so follow my link on Blog Lovin,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Here is my unposted post.....
This week I went to a workshop on assessments, Diverse Learning: Assessing and Grading Fairly, with my partner teacher.  It was a free workshop and who can resist free CEU's?  I know the title may be boring but I had one of those Ah Ha Oprah moments right in the middle of the workshop. 

The entire workshop was about changing your idea of assessments from comparing students to others to  standards base grading.  OK I was listening at this point but was still skeptical.  Then we did an activity where we used a rubric that assessed the process or how the project was completed and then did a rubric to grade the actual product. 

Here is the rubric that we used to grade the process of our pretend student.  Don't mind the math scribble, my mind was shot by then and I could not even do basic math.  Ugh!!!  This student struggled with the process of writing his paper and that was evident in the grade.

Then we looked at the completed rubric of our pretend student that assessed his actual project.  The project was not as bad as the process and that was evident in the grade he received.  He was able to do the project even though his process was weak.  Think of all those students you have that struggle with organization, deadlines and retrieving the info needed to do the project but the actual project was pretty good.  It showed an actual assessment of that student.  He struggled with the process but he did ok on the project itself.

The presenter said you could either average the two rubrics or keep them separate.  This was the Ah Ha moment!  I always struggle with how to portray that the student really was not independent with the process but the actual project wasn't too bad or the student was totally independent on both process and project and did awesome.  In my previous rubrics I always had a statement or two on the process such as using the internet, use of graphic organizers, rough draft you get the idea but two separate rubrics.....GENIUS!

Then the presenter talked about formative and summative assessments.  I do use both of these in my math class so I can see how my class is doing and if I can move on but I had another Ah Ha moment even after I was so pooped after a long day at school I thought I was imagining things.   Hmmmm could be both. 

We also had to look at a standard - "Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources demonstrating ability to locate an answer to a questions."  So our formative assessment we came up with; an Exit Ticket to look for a teacher created question, Webquest to practicing locating answers, graphic organizer to organize the info for the project / paper and the deadlines for each step of the project.  The summative assessment would be the project or paper.  Ok here was moment......the formative assessments would be assessing the process and the summative would be the final product.  Love it!  Well I hope you enjoyed my rambling on assessments.  How do you grade projects?

Science Blog Hop & Goodbye Google Reader - Boo!

I am so proud of myself for posting once a week for 2 weeks.  Maybe I am getting back up on that horse blog!  This has to be a quickie since I have to get back to school work.  I was chosen to be on the science curriculum team that is writing the k - 8 science curriculum for the entire Cleveland Catholic Diocese!  Tonight I am in charge of writing the 5th grade science curriculum by looking at Ohio's Common Core and the old Diocese's curriculum and merging the two. It has been a huge undertaking but it is so cool at the same time.  I can't wait until it is rolled out next March.

Well on to the Science Blog Hop that I stumbled on Bloglovin (pssss Google Reader is going away in July so if you like to read all your blogs you follow on Google Reader, you need to find a new way....Bloglovin.  It was the easiest to convert to.  Trust me I tried a few others....Ugh!   So hurry up and move everything over.).  I love science blogs because it is my favorite subject that I teach.  Yep, I am a science geek! Jump over to the science blog hop over at  Mrs. Harris Teaches and link up your blog.  Don't forget to take a look around and leave some comments.  Ok I am not a tech geek and have no patience to figure out the link thingy so that is missing on my post.  If I have energy after the curriculum writing tonight maybe I will fight with it. 

Have a great evening,

Alive & Kicking & Made It Monday

Well how do I start this post out????????  I am so embarrassed I have TOTALLY slacked at blogging and have not posted since April! UGH!!! How did I let that happen?   I even lost 2 followers but the only fault for that is my own. I even have a post I started back in May about an assessment workshop I attended but never posted ( I promise I will revisit the post & post it soon).  I think I just felt like why would anyone want to read anything from me?  Plus I just have been so tired.  I know no whinning!  So here I go as I  get back on the horse blog.

I thought I would try Tara's Made It Monday over at 4th Grade Frolics Linky since I made some super duper cute Father's Day gifts for my dad & hubby.  I know it is not school stuff but I need to get my confidence up.

First I saw this awesome printable on Pinterest but of course the link is not working now.  If I find a working one I will add it to the post.  If you have the link could you leave it in the comments so I can add it? 

My littlest one and myself went to the Dollar Store and found the glass jar and she picked out Daddy's "favorite"  candy.  I think she had more fun picking out the stuff then her dad did opening it.  I did catch her at one point Sunday with a mouthful of chocolate.  I think the secret it out!  LOL  Then I printed out the printable and mounted it to some cute scrapbooking paper, punched a hole and used some yarn to attached it to the jar.  Easy Peasy! 

I have seen this next Father's Day project all over Pinterest.....  First I took cute pictures of the kids holding a dry erase board showing one word. 

Then I uploaded them to Target Photo and had them printed in black & white & bought a 3 hole frame. Here is the finished product.

Cheap & easy and my hubby loved it!  Not too sure how Grandpa felt.  He is not the warm & fuzzy Grandpa but we would not trade him for the world.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day!

Please stay tuned for more,

April Currently & Summer Math Projects

Is it really April?  Really?  I think I missed April 1st and now it is April 4th. The only way I knew it was April was that Farley posted April's Currently over at Oh Boy 4th Grade.  How did that happened?  Gosh I am definitely in spring break mode and I do NOT want it to end.  So here is my April Currently.  I love reading all the other bloggers posts.  It is like reality T.V. for teachers.  LOL

Listening - My youngest is so proud of herself that she makes herself toast.  She gets the toaster, bread, butter & cinnamon out all by herself.  She refuses to let me help.  I do keep an eye on her though.  I love it! 

Loving - Spring break and who does not love that?

Thinking - I need to get some stuff done for school and my TpT store.  Actually I think I need another week off.  Hee Hee

Wanting - Warmer temps even though it was been beautifully sunny skies here in Ohio this week it has still been only in the 30's brrrrrr.  Looks like we will get a warm up when I go back to school next week.  Of course!

Needing - I need to print out my resume today for a interview for a part-time tutoring gig I have later today.  I wish I did not have to take on a 2nd job but my teacher's pay does not look like to be getting any better and the chance of any new job offers with more money is slim to none.  Sooo here I go adding more to my already crazy schedule.  Ugh!

Advice - I see my advice comment is stuck up by my needing comment and I just do not feel like fighting with it.  So my advice would be to join as many linky parties as you can so get more of a following.  I am still new to the TpT so I do not have a lot of advice there.  I did sell 3 things for a big whopping $3.00 and after fees & commission I made....... drumroll please....... .90 cents.  Woot Woot!  I guess I need to get my rear end moving and get some more items on my TpT store. 

Summer Math Projects

Since I am the chairperson for our math curriculum  I have to have a meeting to plan on what we are going to send home for math practice over the summer.  In the past we have made mandatory the Summer Solutions workbooks.  I loved it!

I think the workbooks are great practice over concepts that are taught if you use the Simple Solutions series during the school year.  As many of you who follow my blog know we have implemented a new textbook series, Go Math, this year that I really do not care for but I will not rant about that. It is a done deal.  We did not use the Simple Solutions this year.  There just is not enough time to do both.  So I do not think the summer workbook can be used because we did not use the Simple Solutions workbooks this year.  This will be missed. 

I think a constant review of math topics really does help students though.  I currently have 4th grade students that still cannot remember how to do mean, mode, and range and many of my 5th graders cannot remember it from last year when we did use Simple Solutions.  It is tested and then forgotten with Go Math.  That is just one of many concepts that my 4th & 5th graders are missing with this Common Core curriculum due to no repetition.  Concepts not reinforced in Go Math like it was in Simple Solutions.  But Simple Solutions does not have the depth and application skills that are needed for the Common Core and our changing world.

Now the problem,  our principal still wants us to make some math project mandatory for over the summer but she does not want us just to send a worksheet packet home.  I agree BORING!  As I already mentioned the new Common Core does not insist on rote memorization but a more deeper understanding of math concepts by application, explanation of why and a multiple ways of completing math tasks.  So the principal wants us to come up with or find a math "project" for our students to do over the summer.  I do have a few ideas but I was wondering what does your school have your students do for math over the summer?  Or is nothing mandatory?  What are your thoughts and feelings?  I would really love your feedback.

Happy Thursday,

Brain Farts & Easter Math Stations

I have been struggling with our new math series, Go Math.  It just seems to slow us down with all the extra "stuff"  that the textbook company feels we need to teach.   I am almost done with chapter 4 out of 12 chapters which is just crazy behind.  I have pretty much tossed the textbook aside and only use it to help guide me in planning the lessons.  The kids and I hate how certain topics are introduced / taught and there is concepts that are missing or rushed.  I do not know if I am frustrated with the textbook company or the Common Core.  Maybe both??

So I have been wanting to do math stations once a week but could not if I followed the Go Math textbook.  The week before spring break seemed like a perfect week to use math stations for some multiplication and division reinforcement.  Here are my four stations that we started today and will wrap up tomorrow.

Station....
1.  I stole borrowed this idea from A Teacher Without A Class,   "Scrambled Eggs Multiplication."  This time of year I always have a gazillion plastic eggs rolling around hence where I got the Easter theme for my stations.  On one half the egg I wrote a math fact from 5 - 9 and then on the other half I wrote the product.  I took the eggs apart and the kids had to match the facts up correctly and write them down on a sheet of notebook paper that they turned in.  For some reason my kids are having, "brain farts" or memory loss with their multiplication facts.

2.  This is one of my favorite websites for math games, Math Playground.  I use my Smartboard for groups to play Penguin Jump Multiplication.  Another attempt to refresh their multiplication facts "brain farts."  They love this game.

3.  I am lucky to have 3 desktops in my classroom so I have a group playing Snork's Long Division on them.  This online game has the kids complete one step at a time for long division and even gives them a hint.  You may need to turn down the volume or have the kids use headphones, the music can get on your nerves.  LOL

4. This station was the entire reason I wanted to do stations.  I have three students at a time come to me with a dry erase boards and practice their long division skills.  I then can try to redirect and prompt them through each problem. 

No pictures.   I was really trying to focus on my 2 groups today.  Maybe I will take a few of the kids in the stations tomorrow and add them to my post. 

I am very lucky because currently I only have 12 kids in my fourth grade math class so I made 4 groups of 3 kids (low, low medium, medium and high).  I have decided to have the high group try division with repeated subtraction and partial quotient after I demonstrate  instead of boring them with more long division problems.  The high group has shown me mastery with long division so I want to challenge them but the other groups are still really shaky.  Hopefully I can start doing different stations every Friday.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Happy Monday,


I have bee