Currently My Favorite....

Can you believe it's already APRIL!  

Wow!  

Time really flies by when you are having fun a busy teacher!

Listening: Parenthood...yet again!  I am ashamed to admit that I may have watched 8 episodes this Easter Break.....and it might have been all in one day......Hi. My name is Miss Frizz and I have a problem.....

Loving: My new TPT products. Well, not mine as in I made them, but mine as in I purchased them.

Check them out! Click the picture to visit the TPT link.

I have been printing, laminating, and cutting all day long!  Happy Easter to me :)

Thinking: About my upcoming observation.  Our window opens tomorrow...and no, that's not an April Fool's Joke!  I would prefer informal feedback over a formal observation any day!

Wanting: Another day off!  Two hoots for all of you bloggers who are off school tomorrow.  Keep me in your thoughts.  The husband is off at a friends house playing games...while I am stuck at home blog stalking preparing for the work week.  Boo.

Needing: A blog tutor.  I seriously need some help.  Anyone want to sign up to help me figure things out?  I can pay you in crayons and pencils.....

Advice: If at first you don't succeed, try try again!  I say this to my students all.the.time.  Especially after reading the Little Engine that Could.  I tell this to myself all.the.time too.  It's better to try and fail than to not try at all!

And now for a few of my favorite things....

Favorite Place to Shop: Thrift Stores!  There's nothing better than "poppin tags" on a dime!

Favorite TV Show: 

Obviously.

Favorite Sweet Treat:

Favorite Food:

Favorite Restaurant: 

Google Image

This isn't my favorite restaurant (although I have visit this one with our friends who live in Dallas!), but my husband and I do love visit all of the local Taqueria restaurants.

Whew....enough about me!  

What about you?  

What's currently your favorite?

Five for Friday Flashback! 3.29

Today is Good Friday.  And it really is a good friday!  I am enjoying my day off from work.  I have tidied up a bit and taken care of some housekeeping things that I never have time for during a normal school week.  Today, I'm linking up with two wonderful bloggers to share my random 5 photos from the week! Click on the graphics to link up.

Let's get started!

I found this book in the office while I was tutoring this week.  This year I have picked up a few more dollars hours and tutor on the side.  I chuckled to myself and sent this picture to my husband.  While we were dating, he bought me the book How to Win Friends and Influence People, which is one of his favorites.  I found it cute that someone had made a little version of this for kids! 

I reorganized my reading centers this week.  Since it was only a 3 day week for us, we practiced the centers.  We raced against the clock during clean up time and we worked really hard at getting started quickly.  This was very beneficial because I was able to reinforce the procedures and iron out any hiccups along the way.  We then discussed the issues whole group and came up with solutions.  I feel confident they are prepared for the real deal next week.

I know you are judging my anchor chart *cuteness* right now. But I have come to admit that I have a problem. Hi, my name is Miss Frizz and I can't make my anchor charts look cute. thankyouverymuch.

My friend over at Leach Teach posted a mini lesson about Fluent/Not Fluent reading.  Check it out here.  

It inspired me to use this short week to discuss fluency again.  My lessons were as followed:

Day 1: Model not fluent reading using the book below.  My students told me all of the things that were wrong with the way I read. We made an anchor chart of this.

Extension: During Read to Self (which follows right after my mini lessons), I encouraged my students to NOT read this way.  I passed out our whisper phones so that students could decide what kind of reading they were doing.

Day Two: I read the same book fluently this time. (Note: I only read the first few pages...not the entire book.  For "mini-lessons" sake!)  After listening, my students named all of the things I did right.  I recorded it on our anchor chart.

Extension:  On Day two, during Read to Self I called students one by one to my back table.  I used the same book (There's a Fly Guy in My Soup) and had the student practice reading the first few pages.  Once they felt comfortable with all the words, I recorded their reading using the Voice Memo App on our classroom Ipod Touches.

After recording, the students listened to their reading (with headphones on, of course!) and accessed if they were fluent or not fluent.  My students absolutely LOVED this little activity.  Watching their faces as they listen to their little voices is precious.  If my students decided they were fluently reading, they could also tell me why.  If they chose not fluent, they could also tell me why and we recorded them again so they could feel the success of reading fluently.  

If you have a smart phone, ipod touch, or ipad, I encourage you to try this with your students!

On Thursday, a parent who was volunteering for our Egg Hunt made a sonic run.  This was waiting for me at lunchtime!  It couldn't have come at a better time!  Egg hunts are so exciting I tell you. Soexciting! 

One of my team teacher's students was throwing away trash in the trashcan (which is located in between our classroom spaces....remember we share one room.)  He walked up to me as I was teaching a small group of students.  In the smack.dab.middle of my wonderful chaotic lesson, he says to me "We are going on an egg hunt today!" and walks off.  

Thank you captain obvious.  I had no idea.  Based on the way my students wiggling with excitement and chatting away like crazy....I thought it was a normal day.  It cracked me up and made me giggle to myself. 

#icantcontrolmybodybecauseiamtooexcited

#firstgradeproblems

Our egg hunt!  

It lasted a total of two minutes, but fun was had by all!  

A parent on our GEO committee suggested we have the students bring egg cartons instead of bulky baskets.  This was a brilliant idea!  Once the egg hunt was over, we looked inside the eggs, decorated our cartons, taped them closed, and put them away in our backpacks.  They were out of mind out of site hidden for the rest of the day! Back to learning. Viola! 

~

Some of you were asking about how my meeting with my Superintendents went a few weeks back.    I can finally update you and tell you it went as well as I could have ever hoped!  I had requested something, and they granted it. Only there is a catch. (of course!) I have a decision to make and they have a decision to make.  

Needless to say, there will be some BIG changes going on with The Frizz in First Grade for next year.  

And I mean 

BIG!

(Well, okay maybe not that big.)

Once all of the details have been figured out, I will be sharing what's up.  

Until then, say some prayers and keep me in your thoughts because change is scary!

Hoppy Easter to ya!

High and Low Linky

If it weren't for linkies, I'm not sure my little ol' blog would get much attention!  I am so happy and honored to be participating in this month's High and Low with Katie over at Teacher to the Core.  I enjoy reflecting over the past month.  It help me to evaluate my teaching and become more aware of the "bigger" picture!

 Click on the picture above to link up! 

My low would have to be discovering our *new* car has a short in the speakers.  This past week, as I drove to and from work, I only heard bits and pieces of my favorite NPR shows.  Such a disappointment.  Now, there is no telling when I will drive in silence, or when I might hear Ira Glass  speak in broken English (due to the short in the wires...) 

It's really gets my panties in a wod, sotospeak.

#firstworldproblems

This month, the week after Spring Break tobeexact, I gained 2 new students!  I was nervous (like I am always nervous when I get a new student...you never know what you're gonna get..) but after meeting these two cuties my mind was put to ease!  They are SO SWEET!  I love how they have already changed the dynamic of my classroom for the better :)  I am so thankful for this change.  

I meant to take pictures of my Reading Centers/Daily Five Fiasco, but haven't had the chance.  I cross my heart and hope to die *think* I might post later this week or next week updating you on the changes.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my plan actually works out this time.  I wouldn't want to put the cart before the horse....

In other news, I wanted to share this wonderful resource with you in case you live in a cave your school does not participate in TPRI Assessments.  I have recently turned to this website for my small group planning with reading.  They have blacklined masters of almost EVERY reading skill!  Just print, cut, and laminate!  

Click here to get some teaching gold.

If you are on your Spring Break, I wish you rest.  If you have an Egg Hunt in your near future (like I do), I wish you lots of extra candy on your conference period! I always like to say: If you can't beat em, join em.  One for you, two for me.  You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit.

I'm planning on having lots and lots of reese's in my Easter Egg Basket.

What's in yours?

I'm off to watch one more episode of Parenthood before I pass out.

The Noun Game

Let's play the noun game! 

Mrs. Reed over at Flying into First Grade has provided this fun linky.  The rules of the game are to think of a person, place, thing, and animal that you love!

PERSON: It's hard to pick just one!  At the moment I would have to say my teaching buddies.  I just got back from happy hour (that's right.  happy hour on a Monday afternoon.  two words: Parent Conferences teaching rocks!) I love getting together with those girls and laughing, crying, and laughing some more.

PLACE:  The local park in the Spring Time.  It is beautiful.  I love to go running through the trails there, or just picnic on a warm day.  

THING: My new-to-me car!  The Mr. and I bought it last November and I still can't get over the fact that I have a "less than ten year old" car.  This is a first!

ANIMAL: Giraffe   What's not to like? Have you ever spent the afternoon at your local zoo watching these hilarious creatures?  They look so weird.  I would have never thought to create these strange beautiful animals. 

____________________________________________________

Now, you might be wondering what my lie was when I posted my 2 truths and a lie last week.  

1. I have never dyed my hair.
2. My *sweet sixteen* car was a 1993 S-10 Tahoe Blazer, which I drove until its 20th birthday.
3. My husband and I met while playing intramural soccer in college.

Drum roll please.....#2 was the lie.

I did drive a 93 Tahoe Blazer since the time I was sixteen, but it died just 3 months before its 20th birthday.  

Congrats to Terri, Dawn, Hilary, and Lauren for guessing correctly!  

Here is your *promised* celebratory cyber-high-five!  

Great job ladies :)

In other news: After a week back from Spring Break, I have decided to change up my Reading Centers yet again.  To recap this school year's reading centers fiasco, I trained my kids with the Daily Five, gained 10 more students and switched to reading centers (baskets with rotations), lost 10 students and switched back to the daily five with lots of choices realized that didn't work-six year olds get overwhelmed with too many choices, so I switched back to reading centers.  I HATE dislike reading rotations because there is no room for choice.  Yet my students cannot handle choice at this time. So, I decided to move back to the Daily Five, but without the crazy amount of freedom that I would normally give my students at this point in the year.  

I hope to be back by the end of this week with pictures of my attempt to make this work.  Say a prayer for us as we re-learn the expectations for centers!

Do you ever feel guilty for changing things in your classroom when they don't work because you know your kiddos need consistency? Is it worse to be inconsistent or to keep failing? 

Five for Friday: Welcome to the Space Jam....

Click the picture to link up!

This week is REALLY random!

I realized I hadn't taken any pictures all week until it was too late!  It's hard to get back into the swing of things after a week long break :)

One: This week I hated my alarm clock!  

On Thursday, my first thought of the day was: "What day is it? .... Based on how tired I feel right now, it better be Friday!"  I was so disappointed when my sleepy brain finally realized it was only Thursday!  I love breaks, but it is always hard to get back into the routine of waking up early.

Two: We have been studying about Ancient Egypt.  After learning about Mummies, we wrapped a student to see what it was like.  They had a blast and *Freaked Out* when we wrapped his face :)  Don't worry, we made sure to leave a hole for his mouth/nose to breathe.  

Three: We made a Royal Cartouche with our name written in Hieroglyphics for our art this week.

They turned out very cute.  My room turned out....well, let's just say it looked like a minor glitter tornado swept through it right before PE.  Luckily I have some great helpers who love to clean. 

Four: Today was "Wear Your Favorite Team Jersey" Day at school.  I borrowed my husbands Monstars Jersey which looks like this:

I was shocked to find out a good amount of my students knew exactly where the jersey came from!  

Five: I am off this weekend to try to find a copy of Space Jam.  What's not to like?  Michael Jordan? Cartoon Characters? Basketball? What a weird brilliant movie.

Enjoy your weekend!

PS. If you are willing to donate something to my 100 follower giveaway, let me know!  I am going to do my best to learn something new and set it up :)

2 Truths and a Lie

I'm linkin up again this week to tell you two truths and a lie.  I think this will be a fun little bloggin' game.  

This week is 2 truths and a lie!

1. I have never dyed my hair.
2. My *sweet sixteen* car was a 1993 S-10 Tahoo Blazer, which I drove until its 20th birthday.
3. My husband and I met while playing intramural soccer in college.

Guess which one is the lie, and I will give you a HUGE celebratory cyber-high-five. :)

In other news, yesterday I hit 100 followers!  

You guys have encouraged me so much!  I was going to give you a sappy, tear-jerk-er speech, but I will spare you the drama.  Thank you for caring enough to follow me and my frazzled adventures. 

 I am beyond excited!  Thank you.

 Do you think I should host a giveaway?  If so, would you be willing to donate something from your TPT store or hook me up with your copy of "Hosting A Blog Giveaway For Dummies"?  (I seriously have no idea what I'm doing here.)

I'd love to know your thoughts! 

Ooooh, and don't forget to guess my lie!

Five for Friday: Spring Break Edition

I'm happy to be linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for some Five for Friday.  I've gotten out of the swing of posting and am excited to link up again.  Here are five random photos over the course of my spring break week.

I started off my Spring Break with a little shopping!  I found these pants at a new thrift store in town and said "why not?"  Anyone throwing an 80's party soon?  I am in need of an occasion to wear these bad boys!

On Monday, I spent some time in the classroom- cleaning, organizing, and rearranging.

My sister celebrated her big Three-Oh Birthday on Tuesday.  We started the celebration by booking a relaxing massage, but as it turns out, we missed our appointment because we were thirty minutes late.  We went to the mall instead and happened upon these chair massages.  Lucky us!  

The husband and I decided to go on a camping trip at the end of our week.  We got to the campsite and realized we were suppose to camp 40 yards from a major highway!  No thank you!

We booked it back to our apartment and ended up grilling there instead! 

I spent today rearranging and Spring Cleaning our apartment.  This is my new happy place.

If you are just happening upon your Spring Break I hope you enjoy it.  If you are just finishing up, I wish you rest and comfort knowing Summer is right around the corner. :)