Living Kitchen Farm and Dairy

This week I am attending the Urban Ag workshop. Today was the second of the workshop and they took us out to a working farm and goat dairy.  We loaded a charter bus and took the ride to Depew Ok where the Living Kitchen farm and Dairy is.

When each one of us got off the bus we had to get a piece of paper that would divide us up into 4 groups.  There was honeybees, forging, dairy, and 3 sisters.  I had 3 sisters and my friends were in two different groups.  The person in charge of our group walked us out into the fields were the crops were.  There is a Native American story about the 3 Sisters which in short each sister ended up being corn, beans, and squash.  She told us the story of the sisters and explained to us what we were going to do.  We were the workers of all the groups.  We got to plant the beans and a melon along with a companion flower next to each corn sprout coming up.  We had to do three rows and these rows were long lol.  I got to plant the beans while the other ladies each helped with the others as well.  And oh by the way it was about 93 degrees today and we were in the middle of a field and our only shade was a tent they put up for us.  After planting and a glass of water (which they provided us with Mason jar cups of water that was cool)  We then had to harvest beets, cabbage, and potatoes, which we were going to be eating these for lunch.  I really loved digging for the potatoes with my hands.  I usually garden with my hands and I don't use gloves.  It was to neat to see how potatoes grow and how u harvest them.  We got to harvest red, white, and purple, yes I said purple, potatoes.

Since we were finished we had a few questions and drank more water before walking to the cabin for lunch.  We walked up the road to the cabin.

Well after I got all hot and sweaty walking to lunch I finally arrived at the cabin.  There was cooking demonstration going on with the foods we harvested.  One group got to milk the goats which by the way produce a gallon of milk a day per goat (I need a goat cause my boys drink a gallon a day).  That group then made cheese, which they later told us after lunch that process.  My group brought the cabbage, beets, and potatoes, the third group got to work with honeybees.  They learned a lot about the bees.  We had fresh honey for our tea.

After a few questions we moved to the dinning room for lunch.  We had family style lunch.  I tried a beet for the first time not too bad.  All the food was very healthy and good.  After lunch we got back into our groups to share what we learned with the other groups.  We all had to walk back to the bus and then head back to Tulsa.  Today was truly much better and a very fun day more than yesterday, where we just sat and listened to speakers about how obese we are as a state etc.

Harwelden Institute Visual Arts Workshop

This past week I attended the Harwelden workshop for visual arts.  I had a really good time working with different art forms and mediums.  But at times I was lost.  I was mostly lost when they (the two instructors) were making references to artist besides the ones we were talking about that I had no clue who they were.  I was the only one in the workshop from my school and who was an art major or teacher.  I have always loved painting, drawing, etc but not call myself an artist.

The first project we worked with prints with fruits, vegetables, and other things from nature.Below are some examples of my fellow peers work.

 The next two are mine.  The one with flowers I used strawberries for the flowers, green peppers for the yellow flowers as well as a lemon, I also used celery and broccoli and some ferns and pine leavers.

 This one was only ferns and pine leaves to make this design.

This activity can be used with my students.  I have used apples to make apple prints during my apple unit.  But I now got to see other items used for printing and can't wait to try this out with my students this coming year.

On the next day we had a clay artist come talk with us.  She makes whistles in her works and showed us many examples.  Afterwards we got to work with clay while she helped us if needed.  I started working with mine and keep moving it and moving it trying to come up with and idea.  Most the ladies started already with something but I wanted to make some kind of flower.  I enjoy gardening and flowers and thought lets do it.

 This was the lady next to me who was an art teacher and major.  She was amazing to watch.

 This was mine.  I ended up with a flower and many liked what I did.  I kept telling myself that mine wasnt to the caliber as the others but I then remember each student is different and has their own talents.  I think I did a pretty good job.  I am getting it fired and then I will paint it when I get it back.

 This lady was the oldest and was a retired teacher.  She made a donkey and was hollowing out the middle so it can be fired.

Another teachers work.  I learned a lot about clay and the firing process and what I needed to do to protect it from cracking etc.  This was the most relaxing thing I did the whole week.  As a matter of fact all the projects relaxed me and I got to express my creative side and see the potential with my students.Then in the afternoon we got a personal viewing of a George O'Keefe painting that Gilcrease has.  It was really cool to see and hear about her and her work.  We then got to come back and make our on piece based on her paintings.  During lunch we were asked to take pictures of flowers around the museum.  I took some of the following.

 The above picture will be the one I choose to paint, which my painting is in the next picture in the middle of two other teachers' paintings.

 I really love how they did their picture.

 I thought mine looked good but wanted it to turn out a little better with the black lines when I should have shadowed with colors like the other ladies did.

Gurthie Green pics.

On Wednesday we got to visit two locations downtown.  The first one was the Gurthie Green.  The CEO explained the process to get it and how it is ecologically friendly.

The second location was across the street at an art gallery 108 Contemporary.  The artist on display made the above items.  The objects were made out of clay rods that she fired then hand painted.  The while circle has over 120,000 rods that she had to put together each and every one of her pieces.  It was really cool to see in person.  It reminded me of a Koosh ball.

Over all this workshop was very valuable to me and I plan to use and my students get the opportunity to have an artist come my class 2 times and on the 3rd time we get to go to Gilcrease Museum.

Summer PD

Today was the first of many professional development days I have planned for myself this summer.  I went to "Designing Literacy-Rich Classrooms That Support the Common Core" with Dr. Kimberly Tyson.  It was my first video conference style PD.  She gave us her definition of Literacy-Rich Learning Classroom:  "A literacy-rich classroom is one where students are surrounded by a print-rich environment and have multiple opportunities to engage with authentic texts for a variety of purposes throughout the day.  From the atmosphere and decor of the room to interactions with peers and teachers, every element of a literacy-rich classroom is designed to motivate students to explore the elements of literacy."

I took some notes and want to put my thoughts down to help myself better myself and to improve on myself and my teaching.

Top 10 Characteristics of a Literacy-Rich Environment;

#1 my classroom needs an area to read and write that is comfy for 4-6 students that provides browsing, reading, writing. 

I have both a reading area and a writing area in my classroom but my writing area is only set up for two students to work at.  But I feel I can improve on this by providing writing materials in all centers throughout the room.  Same as reading materials.

#2 Using Anchor charts:  I have uses some anchor charts in my classroom but Tyson gave 3 questions to ask myself about them....1. "Was it developed with students?" 2.
Was it posted to be accessible to students?" 3. Is it a record of student thinking?"

If I keep these three questions in mind will help get better use out of my anchor charts.  Also the question of how to store these charts for students to have access to was brought up and one idea I liked was taking a picture of your anchor charts, print them off on 8 x 10 paper and place in a clear shelve and then place them in 3 ring binders (for ex have a math anchor chart book, etc etc)

#3 Content posters can visual clutter if not referenced too. 

I don't use many of these. So many I need to look at this more.

#4 Displaying student work  should be representational of students showing progress not just the perfect ones.

I display all student work. My organizational charts have moved to being used on the Promethean board freeing up clutter and space and not distracting students.  Trying to remember simple is better on bulletin boards.  She mentioned explaining work in the hall way for parents and others to understand what they see and why the students are doing the work that was asked of them.  I do this.  I connect what we read to the activity for others to know why we did it and also using the standards we are covering as well.

There were several great ideas I loved to do in our school hallways. (Promoting Literacy in the hallways) 1.  Placing clips on the lockers to display that students work.!!!!!!Love this idea.  2. Posting student work or projects in the library for all others to see.  3. Having a voc bulletin board that is interactive with the students. And 4. A Graffiti Wall.  There are 3 white boards that the principal or other person posses questions for the students to respond to.  This changes about every week. I really love this idea.

#5 Student Engagement allows time for students to talk, verbalize information.  If they know the information they can talk about information.

#6 Word Walls ...can be alphabetical, using kid's names, words with pictures.  Making it easliy readable, students can help make.

The ideas I like on this I might try or older grades can do is color codes words like blue for all nouns, red for all verbs etc etc of color code by subjects.  I also liked  having a student generated word wall with a word vine and this would go great with my garden theme in my classroom.  Students add words to the word vine they learn.  I need to remember to use Spanish and English on the same word card.

#7 Labeling the classroom....create with students and connect speaking, listening, writing etc.  

We should label items throughout the school to spread learning beyond the rooms.

#8 Apps. online tools that support student learning.....using digital media  she gave a few sights to try out and also mentioned twitter.  Using Twitter to connect or follow others in education as well as meeting once a month to join groups to talk about things.

#9 Classroom Libraries....40-50% should be fiction books, 40-60% should be nonfiction, and 5-10% should be reference books. 

I would like to add menus, maps, and magazines to the class library.

#10 Independent Reading builds fluency, increases voc, and builds background knowledge.

New Beginnings

I haven't had to chance to blog much from the last school year (12-13).  This past year had many changes and challenges.  The first change was a new principal.  When I first heard my old principal was retiring I was really scared and worried about the up coming year.  My thoughts went from "OGM" to "Will I do ok?" "Will they be early childhood friendly?" "Will I work well with them?"  My new principal was coming from high school down to elementary and that alone scared me.  Most people don't view early childhood as the foundation for a child's educational start and success. As the year went on I found out she did very much feel early childhood especially pre-k was the foundation to a child's success.  Through out the year I was challenged by her and by my students.  I had a very active group of students.  It was frustrating at times to deal with over 14 boys and 5 girls.  Yes, I said 14 boys.  I had to challenge myself to find ways to connect to them, to keep them engaged, to keep my sanity, and to keep my students safe.  I felt my new principal placed a lot of responsibilities on me from being in charge of our PBIS team to taking on my roles in my school.  This has got me thinking about my future in education.  I feel I am a great leader for both students and my peers.  This got me thinking "Can I take on the role of principal myself?" I feel I a leaning towards that one day but as of now I just can't pull myself out of the classroom but I am wanting to go back to school and finish( but basically have to start over) my masters degree.

Summer has just started and changes are happening already at my school.  Many of my friends and peers are moving on to better themselves.  We had two great teachers retire.  One from 35 years of service and the other 15 years.  I will be coming on my 13th year in teaching this fall and I hope to be as great as these two ladies and to be in teaching as long as 35 years.  We have many TFA teachers have finished up their 2 year contracts and are moving back to their home states to start another career or to continue teaching.  So as you can see we will be having spaces needing to be filled and others will be moved around for the better of our school.

Healthier more Active Students!!!

 Some of the many new items my class received this school year (12-13) free from Indian Health Services grant for healthier more active students.

 It even came with curriculum for grades pre-k to 6th.