Just A Few Days Left of Summer

Just a few days left of summer break.  I will be getting my classroom keys next Wednesday to begin my 12th year of teaching. In the meantime I have been doing my usual preparing for the new year at home and at workshops.The first workshop I attended (last week) was the OERB workshop.  I took the class for Pre-K to 2nd grade called Little Bits.  At the end of this workshop I came away with a complete kit to lead activities I learned during the class as well as $50 and a free field trip for my students.  (Free is always good, since we don't get to take trips anymore due to budget cuts.)

Then I got to meet my new principal at the PBIS training for our school district.  Along with others from my school we listened to each other and planned ways to improve school climate, attitudes, procedures, and so much more.  That same week I meet with a team of 6 of my peers and our principal to plan the schedule and other procedures for the coming year. (Crossing my fingers the changes work.)

Today I went to two of four trainings on the use of a Promethean Board.  I finally got my board the last two days of school and I am so ready to use it with my students.  During the training I got to learn the basic uses of the board as well as so really cool ideas to use.

I have the newest model (Not sure which one but it looks like this).  With the software there is a resource library with tons of templates, games, and activities for student or teacher use.  One of the things I liked was an ABC activity where the students can move the letters with their pen onto the screen.  I then had a thought to save the students work from the board into a electronic portfolio for each student. There are many times I wanted to save something they did but there was no way of saving their work unless I took a picture of it.  The ideas then just started pouring into my head.  I plan on using the Promethean Board as a center but then I realized I could use it with small groups as well.  For example if I have a small group of students who are having trouble with tracing, I can create an activity for them to practice tracing on the board then I can save their work to show growth.

Another thing from this workshop I learned about Promethean Plant. And that I can upload the things I need to work at home and then transfer it to my work computer with just a flash drive.  Tomorrow I will be attending class 3 and 4, learning more about the Promethean Board. On Friday I will be traveling with my BFF to Norman to attend Ag In The Classroom workshop.

Yesterday I meet with my two Garden Gal friends to have a bio-weekly meeting on our school garden.  We had a lady from our service center who helps with grant writing come sit in on our meeting and help us find and ways to write grants to get money for our garden.  We have come up with two major items we need that will cost the most on our wish list.  A Shed and a picket fence.  So let the grant writing begin.  On that note, our garden gal group received our donorschoose.org project funding for a compost bin.  YES HAPPY DANCE!!!!!