Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry

I still have 2 more weeks left of school and while I am sad about my kids moving on, I can't wait to start summer vacay!  I am so jealous of those of you who are already out.  I got a little taste of summer life this past weekend when I spent the weekend away in Virginia camping at Hungry Mother State Park (isn't that a great name!) It was so nice to have a relaxing weekend away enjoying God's beautiful workmanship.  We went biking on the Virginia Creeper Trail and nothing could be better than riding with friends and being surrounded by nature.  My girls even enjoyed riding in their trailer!

Then I had to come back to reality.

It has been over a week since my last post, did ya miss me?  Let me start by saying that I am a Harry Potter fanatic!  I have read each book and seen each movie numerous times.  I even have the text books!

So it was no question that I would complete a novel study of the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, to end my awesome school year.  Each day my students read a chapter and complete a portion of our lapbook.  I am hoping to have the lapbook ready to go in my TpT and TN stores soon!  Hopefully you can use it next year. 

Each student was first sorted into their perspective houses and given a Hogwarts student they would become.  (familiar if you saw my Titanic lapbook!) It was neat because we used video clips from the movies to announce which house they would be in.  

Then it was on to Olivander's Wand Shop to have our wands "choose us" Students chose between 3 stain colors to create their wand.  

Students had to use their wizard money to pay for their wands.  That is a Goblin, AKA my teammate Erica, from Gringotts taking their money.

The highlight of this week has definitely Snape's Potion class!  Students were able to make 3 potions and even took one home!  

First they made Exploding Elixir.  This used Elixir of life (water), Ground Bezoar (Baking Soda), Dragon's Blood (vinegar), Troll Slime (dish soap)

Check out our Exploding Elixir!!!!

Next we made Snape's Slime.  We started with Unicorn Blood (white glue) and added Elixir of Life (water)

Next a few drops of phoenix tears, pond slime, jumping spider venom, eel juice (food coloring)

Add in some Powdered Unicorn Horn (Borax) with more Elixir of Life

Add some magic words and Voila!  Snape's Slime!

Our last potion was Flesh Eating Slug Repellent.  It started with Elixir of light, added a small amount of Goblin Crystals (Pop Rocks) and a splash of Liquefied Fairy Wings (Vinegar) It had a little fizzle. 

And of course no Potion Class is complete with various odd ingredients found only in the wizarding world.

Happy Hump Day Everyone!!!!!

UGH....Testing, Round 2

So we got our testing results in on Friday and let's just say I had some highs and some lows. Math rocked, but reading left some to be desired.  My kids worked so hard and they did out perform last year's results, but I guess I set my own reading bar high and unattainable.   Can I just say I HATE THESE FREAKING TESTS  there has to be a better way to assess kids.  The reading comprehension test consists of reading 8 passages and answering questions during a 2-3 hour testing session.  How many of us would be able to do that??????  I know I don't switch between 6 different genres in a 2 hr period of reading.

So this week we have to remediate those that didn't quite make proficiency and then retest EACH AND EVERY TEST again...UGH!!!!!

The worst part of this whole cycle, is that I have a couple kids who were 1 point from making the score they needed and they were devestated to know that even though they busted their butts, they have to do the whole thing over again.  My heart breaks for them!

So excited to get this done and over with so my kids can enjoy their last two weeks of 3rd grade.  Oh yea, in other news, I have applied for a literacy teaching position and have an interview tomorrow.  Still not completely sure if I'm ready to leave the classroom, but couldn't pass up the opportunity.  We shall see what happens :)

Hold on tight, Monday's coming fast!!!!!!

Stick a Fork in Me, I'm Done!!!!!

My kids are done with day 3 of testing and they have rocked it out each day!  I am so proud of this group.  Several students used their strategies until the very last question.

Yesterday we did have a very special visitor, Barbie and the Rockers  Rocker Haywood!!!  I went around to each class in 3-5 and did a special rock song for them and told them to rock out the test.  I even gave them the idea that if they came to a super hard question they could think of the giant skunk on my head my hair, and it would get them through it.

I am so glad to be done with Round 1 of the testing!  Now on to planning my Harry Potter unit.  I am a bit of a freak about Harry Potter.  What fun things do ya'll have planned for the last few weeks of school???

Party Like a Rock Star

Today was THE DAY, test Day!!!!!  We started our EOG testing today and let me tell you, my kids ROCKED it out in true rock star fashion.  This is the first year that most of my kiddos actually used their strategies and I think its going to pay off big.

Just before starting the test our awesome custodian, Mr. Larry, came around to pep up the kids.  How could this not make your nerves go away??????

 
Another plus of this week, I went to the "Free Store" one last time yesterday.  The final haul was pretty exciting!  I got 24 books for my classroom library, dry erase markers, notepads, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, binder clips, pencils, crayons, markers, journals, and tons more.

Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!  Tomorrow there might be a visit from a rocker to kick off testing!

Fraction Bootcamp

TEN HUT!!!!!! 

Yesterday we started our Fraction boot camp and it was great.  Fractions have been a huge struggle for my lil' third graders this year.  My awesome teammate Erica found different hands on activities that the kids could complete each day.  Our state standards have 5 different elements for fractions.  Each day the kiddos rotate through an activity that goes with each of the 5 standards.  

I created a Boot Camp itinerary to helped the kids keep up with what stations they had done.  They also had to answer an EOG (our state testing) question that went with each standard.

Click on the pic if you want to see the actual document.  

Fraction Flip-a war-like game

 Number line sort

Fraction Sort

My awesome principal helping out at the Fraction Pizza station.  She is such an asset to our school, and I couldn't have done this station without her!!!!

Completed Pizzas

 My recruits had the best time today and couldn't wait for boot camp time.  What fun things are you guys doing for review before the BIG test?????

Ohhhh, and check out David Bowie and Joe Dirt below!  You can guess which is which!

Fractions, Fractions and More Fractions!

It's Taco Monday!!!!  I LOVE taco night and tonight was no exception!  Great food and company, can't beat it.  For some reason the tacos were extra good tonight.  (I think it is because I missed last week)

Today was a super busy day, and it is way too late, but my brain doesn't seem to want to settle down for the night.  I can't believe the BIG test is next week!!!!  To help my kids prepare for the upcoming EOG, we are spending the week in fraction boot camp.  Our new recruits arrive tomorrow and I can't wait!

Today we decided to review fractions on a number line by creating a human number line.  

The kids had a great time using what they had learned about fractions on a number line to create this!  

To keep my kids practicing this difficult skill, I created task cards with number lines on them.  Students are expected to tell which fraction the letter would be found on.  

Head over to my Teacher's Notebook Shop or TpT to pick this set up for only $2.00!  I will upload to my TpT as soon as they open back up to uploads.  

In honor of Teacher Appreciate Week, I will give this set away to the first 3 people to comment!!!

May Currently and a Surprise Visitor

I am once again linking up with Farley, from Oh Boy Fourth Grade to participate in her awesome Currently.  Don't you just love her!!!!  She has the best ways to keep spicing up the Currently each month.  I love the beauty pageant theme this month.

As promised a special guest has stopped by my blog to pay everyone a visit.  I am so lucky that Scott Free from America's next great game show, Great Expectations, stopped by!

Does he look familiar to you???? Oh yea, its ME!!!!! I attend Forest Pointe Church and have the awesome pleasure of volunteering in Kidzpointe with the elementary kids.  This week called for the host (me) to dress up as a cheesy game show host.  Did I pull it off????  Scott Free is expected to make appearances each Sunday, so be on the look out for more pics to come.  

Hope ya'll are ready for Monday, because ready or not its coming FAST!  I for one need another weekend day.  

Cinco DeMayo = New Blog Design!!!!!!

What do you think of my new blog design????  Isn't it Ah-Mazing!!!!  I can't stop looking at it.  When I started  working with Erika and Misty from The Honey Bunch I could have never imagined they would design something this awesome.  It totally fits my personality and my blog title.

She had Michelle from the 3 AM Teacher create custom clipart to compliment my taco theme!

While I didn't plan on it launching on Cinco DeMayo, I think it is appropriate!  If you are thinking about getting a custom blog design, I highly recommend using Erika and Misty.  They were easy to work with and with my input created something I could have NEVER dreamed up!  Make sure you check out their blog below.  Also, check Misty out at


Also, today is my awesome principal, Rebecca's birthday!!!  She calls it Cinco De Meo, haha!  Hope everyone has had a wonderful Saturday.  I took the girls to a kickball game at the school and they had a blast.  
Don't forget the awesome sale going on a Teacher's Pay Teachers and the Teacher Appreciation giveaway at Teacher's Notebook.  I am having a sale at both!

Longest Week Ever!!!!!!

I officially am suffering from Summeritis!!!!!  Anyone else????  I just don't know if I am going to make it! By Wednesday of this week I was beginning to think the week was NEVER going to end.  It was soooo long and this was crazy because last week flew by.  On the upside there are several great giveaways going on right now

 

Make sure you enter the Teacher Appreciation Sweepstakes!!!! 

I am having a sale right now in honor of the sweepstakes.  Everything at my TN store is 40% off!  Make sure you stop by my store and load up on all kinds of goodies :)

Don't forget to stop by TpT to take advantage of the 3 day sale.  All items in my store are an extra 20% off there :)

Tomorrow is Friday and I can't be more happy!!!