Fizzy's Lunch Lab

I love this site! Have you seen it? It is not aired, at least I haven't seen it in the last 3 years I have been viewing it with my class. The kids love it! Great characters, songs, and messages. My daughter yells at me at the grocery store because I didn't shop the "U" and she also checks for sodium content on everything because she doesn't want to get dehydrated. I tell you, this is a great site for your lunch bunch. Check it out and let me know how you will use it.

Episodes include:

• Whole Grains
• Balanced Meal and Diet
• Veggies
• Good Fat & Bad Fat
• Hydration
• Family Meal Time
• Fruits
• Protein
• Exercise
• Carbs and Sugar

From the PBS Teachers Link - 

Fizzy's Lunch Lab is a vibrant, fun and kid-friendly Web-only series featuring original characters and funny stories that entertain and educate families about the importance of good nutrition, a balanced diet, and physical activity. Join Professor Fizzy and his friends in the super-charged Lunch Lab Test Kitchen, as they prepare healthy snacks, investigate the difference between good and bad food, and learn what happens once the food you eat goes into your body.

Each week, The Lunch Lab website will release a new animated short video as well as a corresponding recipe for kids and parents to enjoy. Monthly food/nutrition themes will help guide our message, and the animated videos will reinforce concepts pertaining to the featured theme. This will make it easy for both parents and teachers to incorporate lessons in the home and classroom.

Mindful Choices

In our the IB program, we encourage kids and adults to be really mindful about their choices. With a blog, I find myself constantly reflecting on my actions. It really is a great, yet simple way to keep balance in your life. Click the image to download.

Thank you Lettering Delights for the very cute frames.

Choose Act Reflect Poster

New Teacher Advice

1. Stay positive! When there are things out of your control, let it be and move on to something you can put positive energy into...like blogging. JJ

2. Take it ( ( ( s l o w ) ) ).  Don't get caught in a whirlwind that you can't handle. If the kids aren't getting something, turn around, go back, and work on it till it's right. Build that good foundation.

3. Organize with the ending in mind. For example, if there is a project you are particularly proud of, keep a student sample and start a portfolio. File things that you have been given by theme or month so everything is easier to retrieve next year. Be thoughtful about the materials and files you collect or you will become the crazy file lady!!! ^_^

My first year was tremendous! I learned so much about myself teaching my first class. It must be done to grow. Keep your head up and enjoy the wild ride!

Oh! I forgot...have someone throw you a Teacher Shower! One of my student teachers had one and it was so fun. Make a list of supplies you will need and pass it along to the host to organize. I wish I had one...

Thank you Anna at

for starting the conversation!

Classroom Before and After

School has begun. Must. Post.

Let me first say, I really love my new school. We started out the year like most of you, with a general faculty meeting. What was really cool and special about this meeting was that we finished the day by visiting our school neighborhoods with our new school shirts (Year of the Dragon) in a big yellow bus! Imagine being a kid hearing whistles, kazoos, maracas, and teachers cheering for you to get back to school! It was so fun. The kids were so happy to see us. What a wonderful way to become a part of my new community and school family.

And now for your viewing pleasure. Classroom pics:

The before, before...

The whole school was renovated, so while we were on the bus singing and hollering, the school looked like this.

When I first walked in...6 days before the first day of school:

Every rug in the hallway stacked very nicely.

Every old clock in the building stacked very nicely.

Yes...that is what you see...

It took 2 days to get it like this...

And three more days to get it like this...

These were taken after the first day of school.

Love the new ceiling mounted projector! Yay!

Wide shelving to make sure books aren't shoved and stuffed back into their boxes. Fan because there's no air in the room. Yikes! 

 Kind of messy afternoon dump-on-the-table picture.

Word Wall, Behavior Chart, and Brownie Points Pan. Throughout out the first trimester the students will be creating the alphabet chart, classroom agreement charts, anchor charts, and other references around the room. This explains my blank walls.

Calendar Math

Right now I'm working on my classroom CHAMPs plan. I know my little guys well enough to put in place some more structure. Moving to a new state has it's challenges, but I am so excited to have the Florida knowledge and PD to mix and choose with the Colorado style. I think blogging helps us as a nation to see what's is required of other states and how we can find common ways to reach our kids.

Thanks everyone again for sharing your love of learning and teaching!

This has been added to Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher's

RSA School Animation - Changing Education Paradigms

If you haven't seen this one yet, you should have a look. I find myself really cheering on positive reforms and am constantly reflecting on how I am able to move my kids forward in today's economy. Let's get the school year started!

IB PYP Learner Profile Activity

If you are teaching at an IB Primary Year Program school let me know. I would love some more ideas for 1st grade. Here is a Learner Profile activity that helps students reflect and also informs the teacher.

If you are not at an IB school, you can still use this piece to inform you deeper about the students learning preferences.

Images and fonts from Lettering Delights.

(Click image to download)

Focus! My Top Three Things for 2011-12

1. Daily 5 - This is the first year teaching within this format.  Thankfully, there are so many of you out there teaching and sharing their experiences. This is so helpful for a newbie like me. I promise to return the favor as the year goes on...

2. IB PYP - International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. My new school just became officially accredited and I can't let them down! Such an amazing program. Lookie...

3. ELL - I really need to work on my ELL component to be able to reach all of the students in my class. This one may take a while, but is well worth the effort...

Thanks Mrs. Morris at Simply 2nd Resources for such a great beginning of the year prompt:

Mo Willems - Cat the Cat

I love some Mo Willems! Pigeon! Elephant and Piggie! And now we love Cat the Cat. First graders will love the super easy readers because they are hilarious. Seriously hilarious. And the students will be inspired to make their own. Watch the promo to get more ideas. The kids will love watching this as well.

Click the button to see his great site with videos, goodies, and more!

Dollar Deals - Dollar Tree

Holy $80 at Dollar Tree...

First let me explain...I have just relocated to Boulder, Co from Jacksonville, FL. My hubby found a new job here that he LoVeS. I have been searching all summer for a job and just recently was hired into a first grade classroom at an awesome school. More news on the school later.  In transition, I was only able to bring the bare minimum of my classroom and teaching materials. I am excited to start over again, especially with all of the new inspiration I am digging up from the blog/Pinterest/FB teaching realm.

Here are some goodies I scored from the local DT:

My giant IKEA bag. So great for shopping trips like this.

Aren't these shoe boxes cute? Going to use them for math centers.

Word Wall pointers made from fly swatters.

Back to School treat bags

20 green bins for Individual Book Boxes. Plan to paint them.

Woodland theme paper, number reference stickers, alphabet reference stickers, sunflower doilies, and other paper shapes.

5 cookie sheets for a behavior chart idea I have and these really cute crayon color books.

Portable Center bags. I plan on painting these as well.

Magnetic boxes and sink stuff ^_^

Stickers, charts, and presents for birthday graphing.

Prezi - The Amazing Presentation Tool

Introduction on Prezi

This is a free presentation tool. It took a while to make, but I am really happy with the results. 

This Prezi really helps focus the tool for eductaional purposes. Very cool. 

How to create a great prezi on Prezi

Currently...using Glogster

This Glogster is interactive. Click on each image to see links.

listening to the Givers. Makes me so hap-happy. *\ 0_0 /*

loving my family. ^_^

thinking about cake. So delicious. *_*

wanting a Kate Spade clutch. $325...((s i g h))

needing to exercise. Gotta get off my blogging booty.

stalking Geninne's (non-teaching) Art Blog. I love her beautiful birds! And also these lovely blogs...

Thank you

for hosting the party!