Cool Collaboration!

This week I got together with some awesome teaching friends!  We shared ideas and did curriculum planning for next school year.  And it's still summer.  I believe we've got some Diamond plans and lessons that students will surely enjoy.

It's About Time!

Unfortunately it's been awhile since I've posted anything. And I'm looking at my background which shows snow but it is amazingly beautiful here in the summer.

The school year ended great. My students made great growth. Now it's onto next year's challenge! I'll be teaching 4th/5th grade, a split for the first time in my career. I sure hope I'm up to the challenge!

I'm going to start doing better about blogging and sharing my ideas and tips on integrating technology. I've spent some of my "free" time this summer looking for better ways to use it with students.

Diamond Accomplishments

Winding down for the year, testing over, now is the time to give students a few "jewel" lessons. What cool things can they learn about science? What do they want to learn about before they "graduate to middle school"? While this year has had its challenges, there have been so many "diamond" moments. I look forward to hearing about the shiny diamonds this group, under pressure, will become.

Testing Diamonds

In our school district students do not only take state tests, but also are required to take the MSP,"Measurement of Student Progress" for Reading and Math. A week ago we finished the State's tests and today I told them that we would be taking the MSP for the third time this year. One of the Diamonds said, "What?! Another test?!!!". Then other students chimed in about how they are tired of taking tests. In my head I was thinking, "There are a lot of people out there who think you guys ARE tested too much. So I'm going to help them get through more tests by doing the best creative lessons I can during our last 28 days. :)

Diamonds Under Pressure

This year I moved to a new school, that is ranked as one of the lowest performing schools in our state, Washington. What a lucky place to have transfered to!!!! Not only is the school a "GEM" lol, but the students are truly a joy to teach. This week I remembered a quote I'd heard a speaker say his teacher had told his class, at a school very similar to mine. That they were all "Diamonds under pressure.". Each day my students and end our opening announcements with an inspirational quote. So I used that one. Wow, what an impact it had, especially when we discussed how diamonds were made and the correlation it had to them being successful in education. I'd been looking for a name for my teaching blog, and thought why not use "Diamonds Under Pressure"? So there you have it, my blog was born.