Litter Bugs Revealed!!

Today the judges come by to evaluate the entries and I am so pleased at the results of our hard work! The kids had super amounts of fun creating their litterbugs and you can tell.

We read the poem We are Plooters by: Jack Prelutsky and then wrote Earth Pledge's as well. (I found this link at 123 and ABC originally from Babalisme - These photos were taken before adding our pledges.)

Unfortunately it looks like the lighting is off to show just how spectacular this looks in real time:) We made the title using recycled newspaper. Then we made bugs with squashed cans, plastic bottles, and egg cartons. I spray painted the cans white in order to recieve the color the kids chose using permanent markers. I also spray painted the plastic bottles and the kids used colored tape and markers to decorate. Of course they all needed pipe cleaner antennae and some added legs. Wings were made from either saved ends from laminate or recycled shopping bags. Top it off with some googly eyes and wala! We made flowers from cardboard/toilet paper tubes and a plastic floor cleaner bottle, plastic flowerpot, and a milk carton. I used hot glue to attach the parts (teacher only) and to adhere to the board. Now we wait to see who the winners are. I'll post some other bulletin boards that were done at our school as well. (I took these photos before adding our pledges - I'll repost a new photo later:) )

Don't be a Litter bug...

This week we are wrapping up our unit on Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Our school is having a bulletin board contest with the theme of Environmental Awareness. So I of course waited until the last week to come up with an idea (and I arranged the contest...hehe).

Here it is....the kids will bring in a recyclable object and then make it into a bug. They can add wings from recycled laminate film. Then we'll have trashcans on the bulletin board and attach the bugs above their appropriate can (plastic bugs above the plastic bing, squashed soda can bugs above metal, etc.) Above it all will be the title - Don't be a Litter Bug! - using recycled newspaper. Then I thought for those who have time, they can make some recycled flowers to add to the bottom of the board. I'll post pictures of our finished product.

Hit the ground running...

So today was the first day back from our break. They cleaned our windows over the holiday so we had to move everything away from the windows. First thing this morning I had to put everything back. Amazingly it looks more organized than it had:) I also had to draw our color words back on a window and shape words on another window. We had started a spicy words window but now I'm not sure it was as effective and maybe I need to redo a lesson and a new idea.

We are getting geared up for our big visit. This is our accreditation year so we are madly checking and rechecking that we are doing everything we are supposed to and have the data to prove it. A suggestion was given that we walk through other rooms and see what we may be missing and that we can add to our own rooms. Immediately I saw that though I have my reading strategies posted, I didn't have my math strategies posted. Hmmm....

The problem is...WHERE WILL I PUT IT??? A teacher friend laughingly commented that she thought I may have a small corner where my flag is that we can hang something. Then in a more serious tone, she suggested I use the ceiling!! Well today I finished putting up all my key words for addition and key words for subtraction (blown up giant - I'll try to upload a photo). I got these from another fabulous teacher out there but I don't remember who just now. If I remember - I'll be sure to give her a shout.

Anyhoo....I wanted to keep with my camp theme so I made a campfire of our strategies (see the Number Talk book by Math Solutions)

(I love this book! Click the book to go to Amazon. )

and I thought the kids could give examples on tree templates that would go around the campsite. Originally I thought to put this on the ceiling as well but now I'm concerned at how often I may be required to climb the ladder to add those trees:) Back to my original problem of where to put it....

Lastly I have a question before I crash for the night...Do any of you have some creative ideas on how to show evidence of Think Alouds? Someone suggested sticky notes with the title of books that were used and the strategy that you focused on but that seems a lot of work and the possibility of losing sticky notes.

Spring Break Rennovations are underway!

Oh I had hoped to already have some things created to post but I have been using my Spring Break to get rennovations done instead:) This morning at 7:30 am the chimney guys arrived and I now have a new chimney just waiting for our Kochelofen to be installed in a couple of weeks!! YAY!! Now we are waiting for the builders to arrive and knock out the ajoining wall to open up space for the Kochelofen (like an enclosed fireplace). Maybe after today I'll have some time to let my creative juices flow....

Check out Queen of the Jungle's blog! She's teamed up with First Grader at Last to have a spacey giveaway to celebrate 100+ followers! I love all things spacey so I do hope I win this one!

My All Time Top 7 FAVS!

Katie over at Persnickety Pickles is having a Non-Teacher related Linky party! This will be my first and a fun one to do:) So here goes....

1. My wonderfully supportive husband! Without him I wouldn't be able to be such a great teacher and mom!

2, 3, & 4. My boys - My heart explodes with love for them. I love how they keep me busy and each and every day they help

me see the joy in life!

5. CHOCOLATE!!! Need I say more?? Unless I say CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM!!!

6. Apple: iMac, iPod, iPhone, and hopefully in the future iPad!!! They make my life so much easier!!

7. Walks in the forest! Nothing like clearing the brain and getting centered like a nice long hike in the woods with the family and sometimes friends:) (The bottom photo was taken while stopping at a hut in the woods)

Pirate Giveaway

Ms. Morgart from Curls and a Smile is having a Piraty Giveaway! Hurry and check it out before it ends!

Teacher Work Day!!

Isn't it amazing how we can spend 8 hours in our classrooms alone and still not get everything done on our agendas :) This year we are working towards accredidation and they are really pushing for evidence of data. I spent most of my day getting report cards written and everything filed and ready for our visit. By the time that was done I was out of time. I stayed awhile longer to at least be ready for Monday. Lindsey at The Teacher Wife has some AMAZING units that I was able to get printed and laminated. I also hung the ones we have already used so that they are up for student reference. I'm hoping to get some photos posted as it looks super cute!! I just read she is having a sale so I popped over to see what's up. She only had two units I don't already own but I was sure to snap them up. We might be using the noun unit for review or I'll put it away for next year. My boys loved the SUP-ER hero graphics and they are 2nd and 4th grade:)

Finding balance...

Well I just got started on this but haven't found the time to write an entry or add what we're doing:( So I've been wondering how teachers find the balance between family and their jobs? I have three adorable boys and this week baseball season started in full swing with a game for one tonight and another on Saturday. I had hoped to do a little work on some Earth Day projects for school. Fortunately tomorrow is a Teacher Work Day and after completing report cards I can maybe spend some time planning. Does anyone else have these issues? Seriously after 13 years of teaching, I'm still asking myself how do I get it all in?
(I'll have to show some super cute photos of my little baseball players:)

Check out Erica Bohrer's First Grade: Spring Themed Fun Contest

Erica Bohrer's First Grade: Spring Themed Fun Contest: "Anna Brantley of  Crazy for First and I have teamed up for a 'Spring Themed Fun' contest.  You could win Anna's adorable Hippity Hoppity Math and Literacy Centers and my Jelly Bean Math Centers, plus my Spring File Folder and Writing Prompts.

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My first blog entry...

Well I'm hoping to take a stab at the world of teacher blogs so here goes nothing...

Over the past couple of months I have fell in LOVE with teaching all over again as I have been inspired by fabulous teachers all over the world! Though I don't have access to many of the luxuries stateside (Dollar Tree), I do have access to the internet:) I'll try to post some photos of my classroom and hope to link up with some of the amazing teachers out there! Still working on the blog image but Thistlegirl images sure are snazzy:)

Contact

My Class Website: www.martinsmartians.com
Me: jsrjmartin@aol.com
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About

I am currently a first grade teacher working overseas. I began my teaching adventure 13 years ago. Since then I have taught Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, and Special Education. Growing up I remember lining up my stuffed animals and pretending they were my students. My classroom looks nothing like it did in my pretent school but I enjoy just as much as I did then. I beleive that learning has to be fun for the kids and am always looking for great ideas to keep that spark alive.

I am also a mom to three wonderful little boys! We had a little surprise with our youngest who is just about to have his first birthday!! Though we are starting all over again, there is such joy that comes with it.

Blogging is such a wonderful way for teachers to share their expertise and creativity! I am hoping that I will have the opportunity to share a little of what I have gained from my years working with children.
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