Rubrics, Marzano Observations and me!!

I am more than just slightly excited to report that my long due absence from blogging is due to extreme pressure from my class.  However, I had an informal observation done last week or the week before..I really can't remember and I received all applying!!!  This has never happened to me and as a new teacher I am beyond excited!!  I am going to attach the rubric I use.  It's easy and my first graders understand it.  If they get it without the teacher's help they get to go to yellow which they say makes them feel happy but not joyful.  If they get the answer correct and all of question probes they go to green which they say is exiting!  The red at the bottom just mean we need some extra TLC!  I use clothespins with their names on it and I pick them by using "sticks".  These "sticks" are tongue depressors with their names on them and I draw them from a colorful basket.  My class was very excited because my mother bought them all Easter Baskets from the dollar store and I hid 150 eggs in our classroom for them to find!  They loved it and I have some students who really need me!  

 

Our team likes to write performance assessments and this performance assessment was about the central message or theme from Common Core.  Rainbow Fish is the perfect idea and is available at storyline online which makes it even more entertaining because my kids can watch and listen albeit the Smart board!  I included my take on Rainbow Fish because I usually never complete the Art project.

Last but not least at the beginning of the year I read Spaghetti in a Hotdog Bun.  I have attached an additional rubric that goes along with Writing.  This one is good b

because I used the kids examples with there permission.  I teach in a Title One School so there is a rubric example for ESOL.  Let's see.......I am exhausted just thinking about the last nine weeks and my Master's which is almost done!!

100th day and Groundhog day

Today we celebrate the 100th day of school..call me carzy maybe I was early!!!  I used a lot of really good ideas from TpT!!  Last year was a lot about instruction so I haven't been able to throw parties since the first year I taught!!  I decorated today and it was ah maze ing!!  I'm also excited to say one of my old students is BACK from the first year I taught!!!  Here are some pics of my classroom!  I love YELLOW so my inspiration is rooted behind the yellow bulletin boards!!

 

My favorite teacher

Tonight I had grad class and I got to visit with my professor on our way out and I don't often use the word blessed but I do feel blessed to know her!  She is well spoken and a role model!

AR goals and crazy hair day

Today we had crazy hair day!  I don't know if you are familiar with Accelerated Reader but when we reach a new goal we get to celebrate success with a goal!!  I wore an electic blue curly wig and it was super special for my first grade students!! 

 

I can't wait for my grad classes to finish because I am frazzled and not excited about them!!  I am however excited about joining some of my family members overseas with the ISS program!  If any of you would like to travel I would recomend the non profit organization because the schools are privately funded by dignitaries and International businessmen's children!  The college graduation rate is 98%!

Inspiration

Today has been a very long day.  I had my favorite part of the day at the very end.  I have an inspiring person in my life and she is my professor.  She is blonde and tiny and very smart.  She is my inspiration.  She can reflect on what has happened since 2004-2005 and put everything in perspective for me.  She is well spoken and nice.  I am really grateful she is my professor again this semester.  Her name is Mary Pat.  She is the best.  My finance class is easy..nothing like business finance.  So today I am grateful for Mary Pat!!!

I am a teacher because...

I am thirty and finally reday to work!!!  I must admit I have always wanted to be a teacher!!  As a little girl I played teacher a lot in Barrow, AK!!  We moved to FL when I was seven after my dad retired from the North Slope (he was a Principal and my mother was a Vice Principal).  My family is full of Educators so you can imagine what it's like to be around us!

 

I graduated from FSU with a degree in Risk Management.  If you ask me anything that has to do with Financial Planning or the benefits of investing in Insurance I can tell you exactly what to do!  I took my first grown up job in Jacksonville, FL and did not  like it!  So I decided to go to a college after work in downtown Jacksonville to an EPI program.  I moved back to Central Florida where my mother is still a Principal and am teaching first grade!!  Writing my story this way is really boring but full of facts. 

door ideas

My doors are my favorite part of my classroom..