ECET2 Inspiration!

You know you've been to an awesome educators' conference when you leave feeling the need to share all you've learned with completely random people over the internet!

It's been just about forever and a day since I've written a post on my blog, but after an amazing day of learning and collaborating with colleagues, I just had to write about it. Yesterday, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a conference put on by the Los Angeles chapter of ECET²: Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers. The organization's website states that its mission was "born out of a desire to provide a forum for exceptional teachers to learn from one another and to celebrate the teaching profession."

The Keynote
The day began with what seemed like an awesome Keynote presented by the fantastic National Teacher of the Year 2012,  Rebecca Mieliwocki. I regrettably missed most of the keynote due to arriving late to the event. I struggled to find the parking structure and the actual event location on UCLA's beautiful yet HUGE campus. My fellow conference attendees spoke very highly of Mrs. Mieliwocki's presentation so I am bummed that I missed it an cannot share the details with you.

Colleague Circles
Next up, we were asked to sit at themed round tables for our Colleague Circle discussions. The themes for the round tables were identified by teachers and focused on different aspects of the teaching and learning experience. Some of the themes were: Student Engagement, Teacher Leadership, Common Core Implementation, Collaboration, and Outreach and Advocacy.  This was my favorite part of the day. It was the first time that I had ever participated in something like this at a conference.  We sat at a table, shared experiences, sought advice, discussed strategies and best practices, and networked.

Breakout Sessions 
Then came the "differentiated instruction" aspect of the day. Out of a list of about 20 sessions centered around collaboration, instructional practices, and teacher leadership, attendees selected 3 workshops to attend. I attended a session about Mindfulness for K-12 Educators, Teacher Self Reflection, and Online Formal Assessments. Every last one of these sessions were nothing short of engaging, practical, and inspiring. I can't wait to tell you all about them. I have decided that I need to hold myself accountable for putting in to practice some of the strategies I learned this week. I will be starting a "So What???" series on my blog this week. Over the course of this week, I will be blogging about each of the 3 breakout sessions that I attended and telling you how I have implemented the strategies either in my classroom or in my personal life. In essence, I've attended this awesome conference on teaching and learning...so what?! So what did I learn? So what is the takeaway? So how is this going to benefit my students? Stay tuned for the "meat and potatoes" of the conference!

Until then,
LIVE well, LOVE much, LAUGH often
Miss Milton

ISTE 2013 Conference

Hey Blogosphere!

I know, I know it's been FOR-EV-ER since the last time I posted! I want to take a moment to thank my "fearless and faithful followers" (All 20 of you!) for sticking with my as I attacked teaching 4th grade for the first time. And boy oh boy was it different from my more mature older 6th graders! All in all, I had a great year full of learning, explorations, challenges and growth.

So, I have some good news for you all! (Which is part of the reason why I had to take a minute to fill you all in on the latest happenings in the life of Miss Milton).  I was offered a new position as the Technology Instructor/Integrationist at my charter school. (The first of its kind!) I am tasked with the responsibility of supervising our existing technology lab, and incorporating units that cover the technology aspects/skills required in the new Common Core State Standards that will be in effect for next school year in CA. Whew! Doesn't sound like much, but when you factor in teaching computer science to 320 Kinder through 6th grade students every day...Let's just say I have some planning to do!!!

Which brings me to...

 

(Click on the image to learn more about  the conference)

ISTE (International Society of Technology in Education) hosts a educational technology conference ( (A professional development conference on steroids) every year. Everyone, who does anything involving educational technology, technology integration, coaching, mentoring, 1:1 programs, administrators, mobile learning, computer science,  media specializing,  Pk-20 and beyond is probably attending this conference. And today included just the Opening session and one of the Keynote speakers. I've been eyeing this organization and conference for a few years, and with my new position, I had a pretty good chance pleading my "Why I should go to the conference" case to our administrative staff.  Well, admin kindly obliged and I am sitting here blogging from San Antonio, Texas hotel room in utter awe of the educational technology possibilities I have learned about and experienced during the opening day of the ISTE Conference.

Needless to say, I will be checking back in with the blogosphere at the end of the conference to share my highlights and takeaways from this awesome conference.

Until then,
Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often!
-Miss Milton

Mid-October Currently!

Hey Bloggies!

What a hectic first month of school it has been! I must admit I forgot I even had a blog for a little while. Nonetheless, I have set a goal to post AT LEAST twice a month for now. This way I let you all in to the happenings in my fabulously crazy 4th grade class AND I don;t over-commit myself, as I am usually prone to doing!

My post today is nothing short of fabulous. I get to link up with my "blog friend" Farly over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for her October Currently!

So here it is!

That's all for now bloggies! I must get back to Lesson Planning for the week...I know! I know! I waited until the last minute this week...I'm trying to get better at this!  :)

-Miss Milton

2012-2013 Classroom reveal...FINALLY!! (Better late than never right!)

Hey Blog Buddies!!

I know its been a really long time since I last posted but like most of my teaching friends, school has started and so has the mayhem. We have just finished our official third whole week of school and I still don't quite feel like I have found my footing this year.  Nonetheless, I told my awesome and faithful 21 followers that I would upload pics of my classroom and so here they are.

Disclaimer: These pics were taken on the first Friday afternoon of school right after my lovely 32 4th graders left for the weekend. Please excuse the things that are out of order or my piles of "just in case" things I have already accumulated!

This is the sign that appears on my door as students enter the room...Thanks Pinterest for the inspiration!

Here are my cups "buckets" used for the Bucket Fillers activity

This wall includes my Class Jobs, Star Student of the Week, Character Counts poster, some tools we use in our classroom and our class Brownie Points!

 

Here are the class occupations up close and personal!!! I found the frame from Teaching in Flip Flops' blog and I added all of the class job information to them

This is my first mini-library/reading corner...I'm so proud of the way it came out. It looks quite comfy don't you think?!?! It totally matches my room theme.

Reading/English Language Arts wall

Our behavior tracking system...I did away with the color cards and now my students just move their magnet numbers instead.

The beginning of my math wall...humble beginnings I must say... I'll be adding student work and Anchor charts as the semester progresses.

                                Social studies wall and "N.F.L." Never Finished learning Charts

Our Writing Focus Wall (Looks kind of busy already...I'll be taking some of these posters down AFTER Back to School Night!

The classroom view from the entrance. Gotta love our "hand me down" mismatched student desks! (The desks took some getting used to but I'm thankful for them)

                                                         A view from the Library cove!

 

A Place for EVERYTHING???...Uh Will My Classroom EVER Be FINISHED?!?!?!?

Hey everyone!
OK...I feel the need to express a tiny amount of frustration with my classroom and classroom supplies with you. Here is the issue people...I have been in my classroom for the last 3 days  trying to put my  life  classroom back together after the summer break. Apparently, I had amnesia of how long it was going to take to finish decorating and organizing my room. Right about now....I'm feeling EXHAUSTED and OVERWHELMED! Not to mention I have to sit in a 6 hour PD tomorrow which means no classroom time for me.

I know what you're thinking? "That's how ALL teachers are feeling at this time!" Yes, that is true, however, this time I'm officially on organizing overload! You see, this isn't a normal "class set up" year for me...A few nights ago I was getting one of my personal professional development fixes through blog hopping and pinterest-ing. And I ran across this pinned picture:

Well that pin lead me to an article that led me to write this post. I was magically inspired compelled  to become more organized this year (both at home and at work) after reading an article entitled "7 Habits of Highly Organized People". (Of course I have posted the link to the article HERE, because I would just hate for YOU not to be magically inspired compelled to get organized too!)

To make a long story short (and in an effort not to lose one of my AWESOME 19 followers because of a ridiculously long post) I have been going crazy organizing things and spending lots of money investing in living an organized life for myself and for my students. The part that jumped out at my in the article was having a "place for everything". Arguably, the hardest part of my organizing endeavors...You mean to tell me that I have to get rid of my ever-loving "junk drawer" or "teacher piles" of paperwork?...You mean I can't have a stack of "one day this will be useful" or "I will use that item in a lesson"? All of that was taking sooo much longer than I thought and for a minute I had to ask myself if all of this extra organizing, labeling, color coding, bins/tubs buying will all be worth it...And the answer to myself was YES! It will definitely be worth it!During the year,  I will be less stressed (which will make EVERYONE happier)...and if nothing else, my students may even learn something about being organized as well!

As mentioned earlier...my classroom is not done yet, but here are a few class pics to show you where the mayhem began last week...Can't wait to show you my finished and MORE ORGANIZED classroom in a few days!

P.S. I LOOOOVE the color of this fabric but it has been my worse nightmare trying to staple it to the walls. I tried to be wise cheap with my spending and the fabric that I bought already has a few holes from all the pulling and stapling I was doing (that will quickly be covered with Anchor Charts)..In this pic, I was trying to do a little design with the fabric to cover the holes (it didn't work) I will be sure and show you this wall in my classroom reveal pics later...

 

That's all for now...

God Bless you all!

Have a wonderful rest of the week!!!

 

-Miss Milton

Back to School Jitters!

Hey everyone! As you all know by now...I LOOOOVE THESE LINKY PARTIES! They are a great way to hear about how other teachers are feeling and how they do "teaching"! (For lack of a better sentence!)

Well here is a Linky from A Turn to Learn, and it's all about "Back to School Jitters"...So read on and then hop on over to A Turn to Learn and join the fun!

Monday Made It (But...Tuesday Posted It!) & TPT Sale Rave!!!!

Hey all...Just realized it's been too long since I last told you all about my endeavors as I close out this summer. I am slightly jealous of everyone's fascinating pictures of their classrooms. I can't wait to get in to my room and GET TO WORK!!! I decided on a cute theme inspired by some new signs I bought from Teaching In Flip Flops last night at the TPT sale!

Let's pause for a moment and reflect on the past two days of shopping heaven!!! God bless TPT for their sale and God bless all the wonderful teachers for posting all the great stuff (and even offering additional sales!) So after about an hour of TPT searching I decided on ...

Practically EVERYTHING  that was in that darn cute Zebra print from Teaching In Flip Flops and I also bought a cool Sports Themed Setting Goals Packet from Teaching in Room 6... and a Greek and Latin Root Word Wall set from Forkin4th ....I also bought a few other things too!


Now on to Monday Made It! (But Tuesday I posted It!)

I didn't make too many crafty things this week because everything was done on the computer but here is what I did attempt to be crafty with....

I saw this idea on Pinterest a while ago and put it on my summer to do list...(Disclaimer: In my mind, I attempted to make 6 of these so that I could have a class set for student mail boxes...However, after making one of these I had second thoughts) ...Sooo I'm not sure what this will be when I get done with it! Maybe a paper shelf of some sort! Any suggestions!

Directions: Head over to your local Post Office and grab a desired number of packaging boxes, build the boxes, spray spray spray that adhesive, and cover with wrapping paper...and taa daaa!!!! Your very own shelving unit of some sort!

Then I went over to my trusty TPT site and found this awesome list of 101 Writing Prompts from Katie! (After the usual process of printing and laminating...looks like I have a date with a pair of scissors!)

Well...That's all I have for you today friends!

Have a wonderful week!

Charell