Donor's Choose

So, I have known about Donor's Choose for a while and after setting up a project and getting all the approvals I have finally posted my first project. I have a great group of 4th graders and I am wanting to get some iPad mini's for the classroom. I want to put some technology in their hands that can be used to create videos, help enhance one on one instruction and give students another educational outlet. I hope to get this project funded and get these iPads into my students hands very soon! I would love  if all of you great follower can help me get this funded. Thanks in advance for the help!
Have a great Sunday everyone!

Hi Friends,

I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed, so I just created a request for my classroom at DonorsChoose.org:
Help Make Us Technology Savvy!

Give to my classroom by November 1, 2014 and your donation will be doubled thanks to DonorsChoose.org. Just enter the code SPARK on the payment page and you'll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100).

If you chip in to help my students, you'll get awesome photos and our heartfelt thanks.

Thanks so much,
Lena

P.S. If you know anyone who may want to help my classroom, please pass this along!

So much going on!!!!

Wow these first few weeks have been CrAzY!!!!! I don't feel like I can slow down or catch up, but they have been wonderful. We have been doing a lot of great work and learning awesome new things. So this blog is just a hodge podge of everything that has been going on so far.

We have been learning all about matter and we have been doing centers to explore the different states and the kids have been loving it! It has been a real blast watching my 4th graders work through their stations and gain a better understanding of matter.

 We have also been learning all about the 3 regions of North Carolina. The kids have been working really hard on their code of arms and are really enjoying learning about their state. They also turned in the first 3 pages of the NC  ABC Notebook and they were really awesome.

We have also been spending a lot of time on the idea of place value. Deb Hanson has created some wonderful fall projects for math that my kids just loved. Can't wait for the parents to see them at open house on Thursday!

I am really enjoying 4th grade. I have an awesome group and I am loving every minute I have with them. I was so sad when I missed yesterday due to being sick but felt so loved when I came back and got hugs and was told how much they missed me! 4th grade is turning out to be everything I had hoped it would be!

Hope everyone has a great evening!

~*Lena*~

Sunday Scoop

I am linking up today with Teaching Trio for Sunday Scoop! I have neglected my blog and everyone who enjoys reading it. I will get better about blogging I promise!!!! So here we go.....

3 Things I HAVE to do....
1) Get more organized at school. This is my plan for tomorrow. I love fourth grade, my kids and my new team but feeling like a first year teacher again is not a ton of fun. I am hoping to get a lot done tomorrow afternoon and feel more in place for the year.
2) Get back to working out. I have been so busy these last few weeks working out has fallen by the waist side (pun attend hehe). I plan to get back to it even if it is just walking the trails by the school or doing laps around our playground area while watching the kids. I know I need to do this because I need to take care of myself.
3) Stay on top of grading. I want to not be grading all weekend so I need to get a system in order so that I can stay on top of my grading and not have to bring a ton home on the weekend.

2 Thinks I HOPE to do.....
1) Work on TPT products. I have had some happy success since I started selling on TPT. With that as crazy busy as I have been I have not added anything new. I plan to start work on a NC ghost stories unit and a few other thing. But I would love to hear from you all about what are some things you would like to see or need. Shoot me a email at 4thgradewithglitter@gmail.com.
2) Blog about what we are doing in class. This is the reason I started this whole thing was to write down what is and is not working in my classroom. I need to get better about blogging and hopefully will now that things are calming down a bit.

1 Think I am HAPPY to do.....
1) Welcome my kids into the classroom each morning. I am loving 4th grade. I think it is a wonderful fit for me. My family and friends think so too. I love seeing my students each day and getting to welcome them into class each morning. We have been having a blast doing morning work and listening to music. This past week I had car line (we help get the kids out of their cars in the morning) and I didn't really get to welcome them to class as they came in and I missed it so. I am glad I do not have car line this week and get to welcome and say goodbye to my kidos each day.


Well that is all for me for now. Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

~*Lena*~

4th grade fun!!!

So, we have 2 weeks in the books! I am loving 4th grade. It had been just a wonderful transition and I am so glad that I was able to move up. I have a great group of kids who are excited to learn and who love to read. We are set  up to have an amazing year together!!!

Earlier this summer Amber from Shut the Door and Teach contacted me for something exciting. She was moving down in the grades and I was moving up so she offered the chance for me to use her products in my classroom and to blog about them. I was thrilled to be given this chance and hope I am able to lead you guys to some great products and help out a fellow teacher! So, what's first? Keep reading to find out!

I love getting to know my students, but all the information that teachers hear at the beginning of the year can be a blur. I wanted a way to know what my students were in to and what they liked and were worried about as the new school year started. I turned to Amber and her Student Interest Inventory. I gave it to my students one morning as morning work and I learned a lot about my kids. 

 Here is all of my kids inventories!

 

Here are a couple close up! I commented on every paper. I am going to make copies, so that I have one and I can send the other home. I want my students and parents to know I care about what they do, like, and dislike, in and out of school! I learned a lot of cool things about my students. A lot of them like science and play sports. The last picture the students like tennis, so I am going to see if maybe we can get some things to have tennis stuff during recess!

The next product that I have been using is Place Value Code Breakers. We start our year off with place value and it has been fun when we have had a few extra minutes and during center time to play code breakers. I don't have any pictures of the kids playing but they have enjoyed it. They like trying to figure out what the number is. It has also helped the kids that are struggling with place value. 

I can't wait to use more of Amber's products and introduce them to you! Hop on over to her store to see these and other products. Have a great Sunday and a wonderful week everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~*Lena*~

September Currently

WOW! It is already September. We have  been back at school for a week and had a long weekend, it has been nice. So, let's get to it, September Currently with Farley and Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

Listening- I am just laying in bed listening to the fan blow. It is nice to know it is Monday and I don't really have a lot to do!

Loving- My new class. I love my new room, and my new students, and my new team, and just everything about this school year so far. I have already fallen head over heels for my students and know it is going to be an amazing year in my fourth grade class.

Thinking- I have been neglecting my blogging, my TPT stuff and my facebook page. There has just been so much going on the last few weeks. Which leads me to my next thing.

Wanting- I am wanting the school groove to be back in place. Hopefully this week will bring that and I can get back to the gym, and to blogging, and to be home more often!

Needing- I need my throat to stop hurting. Dang sinuses :(. They have already started the fall draining period and it's not been nice. Hopefully it will stop soon!!!

3 Trips- I want to go to Greece, Germany, and Italy!!! My husband has promised and it might take years to make it to all but that is our plan!!!

I hope everyone has had a great start back to school or does so as they head back in the next few days. I know some people are working on finishing up their school year right about now so good luck to you all who are doing that. I will have finish pictures of my classroom this week and let you in on some of the fun things we have been up to! Until then enjoy your day wherever you may be!!!

~*~Lena~*~

Look who I met today....

Okay, so like most every teacher I know, we all love a good book. One of my most favorite ones is The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. Well today I got to meet him!!!! **Jumps around and does a happy dance** He has a new book Frank Einstein which is about a really smart kid who creates awesome things. It is the first book of a six book science series. I am so excited to read it with my fourth graders because the first book is about the scientific method and matter which is where we are starting at in science this year. 

Jon spoke for about 30 minutes and was just wonderful to listen to. The kids that were at the signing were so funny and asked and said some really funny things. I learned a lot about Jon and other books he has. I am very excited and hope to get some of his boy friendly books in my class room soon. I just love getting to meet people who enjoy helping and teaching children and who I love to learn from. Check your local Barnes and Nobles for authors coming to local stores!

I wonder who I will get to meet next?

Have a wonderful week friends!!!

~*Lena*~

Room set up, open house and 1st day or 4th grade!!!

Hello dear friends!!! It has been awhile since I have blogged. It has been a crazy 2 weeks since I started back at work. We went back the 11th and got into trainings and planning. However, all I wanted to do was get into my classroom. The charter school I work for is expanding and out 2nd-7th grades moved into a new building and it wasn't quite ready yet. Finally, or Wednesday of last week we were able to bring stuff in and see out rooms but could not decorate yet. Below are some pictures of my new room before I got started with it. I was excited it is really nice!
  
When we were finally able to get started decorating I was super excited! I was lucky enough to have my wonderful husband to come in and help me some. I am so very loved!!!

I don't have any pics of my room all finished I will have to get some on Monday!

Open house was awesome. I only had 4 people not show up! All the parents were really awesome and supportive. I heard a lot of if you need anything let us know, we would love to help in class, and just other great things. They all seem excited and super supportive. I am even lucky enough to have some awesome parents from last year with me again this year!!!

Our first day is always a half day. So kids started coming in at 7:45 and we got started about 8:45. They all seem so excited about the year. I was really excited to hear a lot of them really like science!!! We toured the new school, went over rules and important times, and did a few getting to know you things. The end of the day was at 11:30 but car line took a really long time (we knew this going into it) and I think my last kid left at almost 1:30. All in all it was a good day. I have a great group and I know we are going to have an amazing year! I can't wait to really get started!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

~*Lena*~