Big Announcement!

Sorry that I've been M.I.A. for awhile! I have a lot to update you on!

For starters I would like to show you some geometry projects my 6th graders have been doing!

One of the projects we've done is working with Coordinate Planes (which aligns with the common core standards!) They used graph paper to plot points to make their initials in box letters. They have to draw the points and then connect the dots to make their letters. Here are how they turned out!

The class is only a 6 week class so their final project was to make a design using 5 given geometric shapes. 

They were to use a Triangle, Square, Rectangle, Octagon, and Circle. For extra credit they were to find one 3D figure. 

Below are some of my favorites! 

One of my students made a Stegosaurus!

This student made a little character

This student made a scrapbook

This student also made a little character.

This student made a holiday feast! Yum!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

and now, what you've all been waiting for....

My BIG announcement!

We're having a baby!!!!!

A picture that one of my classes made for me. They were SOOO excited when I told them I am pregnant!
Gotta LOVE 6th graders! :)

Yay!! We can't wait :)

Have a great week!

Parent/Teacher Conference Pics & New Design!

Woo! Am I glad that conferences are over! But you know what? They actually went really well!

One of my co-workers gave me the advice to say "your child is perfect" to every parent. Well, I didn't exactly do that...but, I did make sure to give each parent a compliment about their child and then we discussed any concerns that they had.

To set up my classroom I put four desks together. With me on one side and the parents on the other. (Shown below)

I also set 4 chairs outside my classroom for the parents who were next in line. I was told not to post a master list of my conferences outside my door. Because it is really none of the other parents business who has a conference when with me.

I also had the students file pulled out and our behavior log binder out.

Inside the behavior log looks like this. If the student has to move their "baseball" they have to write down the date, what class they were in, the behavior they were doing, and their signature.

 So...I feel like a terrible teacher....

Our conferences were Thursday night and Friday morning. On Friday morning I found out that I was apparently suppose to stay at the school until 8pm. Well, my conferences got over at 7:15pm. And I was sure that some of the other teachers told me that I could leave once my conferences were over. So I waited till about 7:30pm and decided to leave. No one stopped me on my way out either! I had no idea I was suppose to stay till 8pm! I felt terrible when the other 6th grade teacher told me that the next day! Luckily, no one but her and another teacher noticed (good thing the principal or super didn't know!) Honestly, they wouldn't have been made because I had absolutely no idea! But, I still feel bad anyway!! Oh, the joys of being a new teacher! :)

p.s. Check out my new design! The header on my page is a little pixelated but....I still like it! lol

Parent/Teacher Conferences & Currently

Tonight was my first ever Parent/Teacher conference! And I survived!! Yay! You know I really wasn't nervous for them until my principal and superintendent individually came to talk to me about them. They were asking if I was nervous, if I was ready, if I had any questions. Then they proceeded to tell me that if I needed them to just call down for them if I have a problem with a parent...ya, that statement got me a little nervous! But you know what? I made it! And they actually went very smoothly! I had no complaints! I actually got some compliments! Tomorrow morning is round 2 of P/T conferences. Let's hope they go as smoothly as todays!

Have you had P/T conferences yet? If so, how were they? If not, how do you prepare for them?

I had 4 desks pulled together. I sat on one side and the parents sat across from me. I had a file folder for each student with they AimsWeb test scores, grade reports, and their behavior log. After I presented those I asked the parents if they had any questions.Each time slot is 15 minutes long and some of them didn't even last the whole 15 minutes!

And now, time to link up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade's October Currently! Can you believe that it is October already!!

the BOOK section is for you to share your fave OCTOBER SEASON book
that means you can share FALL, Halloween, Autumn, or all of those!!!

My book right now is Where the Red Fern Grows we are currently reading this book in my class and my kids are loving it! Such a great book!

and PLEASE remember the rule of 3...
you need to please comment on the 2 links ahead of your link and then come back and comment on the link after your link...
this is a way to spread the love and visit new blogs and well it is just my RULE... and not to mention nice (and my RULE)
 and it hurts feelings when you don't give the love (aka you don't follow the rule)... really it does I get the emails that say they didn't get the love :) so RULE of  3 PLEASE 

Happy October!

Happy "Official" 1st Day of Fall!

It is such a beautful day out side! I haven't been out much yet. I am working on some lesson plans right now...Yay! haha! I plan to get outside later this afternoon! 

Anywho, I wanted to share my lesson plan format with all of you! I will post it below!

Lesson Plan Format

I now need to get focused so I can get outside and enjoy this weather!!

HELP!

Does anybody out there use SHURLEY ENGLISH??

This is my first year teaching, and my first year teaching Shurley English. I'm not so sure I like it! I am not very good at English in the first place, never have been. I never really had proper English in grade school, high school, or college! I think I am a pretty good writer but I know NOTHING about parts of speech, or classifying a sentence! I'm pretty sure my students know more than I do at this point. And that's sad!

So HELP me, please! I'm begging you! give me the secrets to Shurley English. To me it is so confusing!

Mollusk Menus....and 6th grade stories!

 So far in Science we have been learning about animals. Our chapter that we are one right now is all about invertebrates. We have been discussing different mollusks. I took them to the computer lab the other day and had them research what countries eat mollusks (snails, crab, squids, etc.). They were then to find recipes where the mollusk was the main ingredient. From that they made some menus. They had to come up with a name for their restaurant, include one appetizer, and one main dish. Here are some of the menus!

Love these kids! They are so funny and creative!

____________________________________________

So funny story today...

I had one of my boys come up to me and say:

"Guess what? Last night I woke up around 6am with a ringing in my ear. So I went to my mom and she game me some medicine to put in my ear, then I had to lay on it. After I laid down for a little while a ROLLY POLLY fell out of my ear!"

How hilarious is that! Never heard of that happening!

Have a great evening!

A Look Into My Day

here's a look into my busy schedule!

Mrs. Crouse’s 6-2 Schedule

8:20 – 8:30              Arrival/Morning Routine

8:30 – 9:15                Exploratory Class

Session 1 (August 20 - September 28): Mrs. Crouse – Geometry

Session 2 (October 1 - November 9): Mrs. P – Geography
Session 3 (November 13 - December 21): Mrs. F – Fine Arts
Session 4 (January 2 - February 8): Mrs. C – Technology
Session 5 (February 11 - March 22): Mrs. T – Health
Session 6 (April 2 - May 21): Mr. S – Economics/Current Events

9:15 – 10:00              P.E.

10:00 – 10:45    6-2 Science
                                           *Computers on Tuesday

10:45 – 11:30     6-1 Science

11:30 – 12:15           6-2 History

12:15 – 1:00            LUNCH/RECESS

1:00 – 1:45            6-2 Reading/Spelling
                                       *Library on Tuesdays from 1:30-2:00

1:45 – 2:30           6-2 English

2:30 – 3:15             Support/Study Hall
________________________________________



I have noticed that my kids get really restless after lunch/recess time. Once coming in from recess we have Facebook Time (aka silent reading time) to settle them down.


Do you have any other suggestions on how to keep them motivated after lunch?


                                Have an amazing day!