Monday Made It: September

I'm linking up with Tara again for another fabulous MONDAY!  :)

I can't believe it took me so long to figure out how to use this particular resource that I'll be writing about today, but it would have really been good to know last year (as are all great finds I guess). So I created my very own set of task cards to help me teach the identification of common science tools and their use. I also gather the "real tools" so that the kids can also touch the tools themselves. I commonly use the "real tools" for a quick class review (I hold up the tool and the class has to tell me what it is and what it's used for). 

Here are the task cards that I created. Click on the images for more details and to view these items at my store.

Mary from "Teaching with a Mountain View" is one of the biggest task card experts that I have recently run into and I really LOVE all of her ideas. She has even dedicated an entire BLOG and WEBSITE just to task cards. Anything that you could possibly ever want to know about task cards is on her site. 

I would also like to highlight some of her ideas here, but I would definitely check out her blogs for more information and task card details. Task cards can be used for students who finish early, be sorted by level to help with differentiated instruction, used with simple board games (chutes and ladders, checkers, tic-tac-toe, connect four, etc.), test prep, sub plans, the game SCOOT, used in cooperative groups & interactive notebooks. 

This whole idea of task cards to me is way better and more engaging than giving a kid a worksheet and saying, "Do these problems." I know my students would never respond back with,"Oh, thank you Mrs. Valera. I can't wait to start this worksheet, it looks so exciting!" 

Have a great rest of your week!

Monday Made It: Back to School

Today I'm linking up with Tara again for my Monday Made it!

Anthony Blaise Valera is here to stay! Thank you all for the prayers. I have been recovering slowly, but my friends and family have been helping out with my other two little ones. My wonderful husband has been holding down the fort very nicely (as well as many other things). I've been able to sleep, relax and recover for the most part and am feeling good 10 days after surgery! 

Here he is... 8 lbs. even & 20.5 in. long

(left to right) My husband Michael, Anthony, Me & My OB

Me & Anthony enjoying some quality skin to skin

Anthony just chillin' at the hospital

 Anthony's 1st smile caught on camera

Angelica holding her baby brother

Due to the fact that I have been staying in bed for a majority of my time recovering from surgery and taking care of my little Anthony has given me a great deal of time to sit, think and draw clip art!

I'm still in the process of putting some of this together, but here's a glimpse of what I've been working on...

If you are interested in any of this clip art, borders or backgrounds, please "follow me" to receive the most up-to-date information about when these images will be released. 

I have also been working on another "Back to School" Product that I have just laid the finishing touches on. It's called "When I Grow-up." It's something that I really enjoy doing with my students at the beginning of each school year and I've also added some other ideas as to how this product can be use in specific content areas. 

         

           

If you have any ideas that you want to see added to the product, please post them in the comments below.

Have a great week!

-Rebecca Valera

Science Girl Lessons

Monday Made it: Summer is almost over!

Today I'm linking up with Tara again for my Monday Made it!

I will soon be the mother of 3 beautiful children. Anthony Blaise Valera will greet the world no later than Friday, so please pray for a safe delivery and surgery. This has been an extra HOT summer for me. 

I have also fast and furiously been working on becoming a clip-artist! I have already created quite a few things, but here is a quick preview of what I have accomplished:

They will soon be in my store, so follow me if you would like the up-date once they officially come in!

That's all for now, so have a blessed day!

Rebecca 

Newest FREEBIE, just for YOU!

My newest product is on the web and totally FREE. Check it out below:

            

Integrating Technology - Take One, Voki!

Hello friends!

Today I'm teaming up with the "Teaching Trio" on Technology Thursday.

I just wanted to write a little something about one resource that I've used to incorporate technology in the classroom. As with any fun, exciting activity or thing you introduce to the students, you have to set clear expectations and stay really focused with what they are learning about. Otherwise, the excitement is there, but some of the learning gets lost.

I want to start with a tool that I have used before in the classroom called Voki. Here is a list of some of the ways that I have incorporated this tool:

-Students create a summary
-Students tell about something they have researched
-Teacher introduces a lesson, or posts web reminders

Example of a Voki that I used as an example for students. No voice recording needed. I just typed and chose what computer voice I liked best.

Albert Einstein Example

Example of a Voki I created to help direct students and parents on my blog. This was used with my own voice recording.

Sock puppet


Here are some other ideas that I have had about using this tool:
-Short persuasive writing tool
-Explain a math or science problem
-Digital clues to a scavenger hunt


End product
Here are the options once the students finish their voki creation:
-Email it to you
-Copy and paste the link (via Google doc?) or to a word document


With this tool being so amazing there are a few "hang-ups." The voice typing tool illustrated in the Einstein demo above, will only let you type so much. There is more time for recording a voice to put in your puppet, but it would be an extra step (more time) for those of you who do not have as much tech support at your school.

Voki does offer new services for teachers and classrooms that would be worth checking out.... even seeing if your school would cover the subscription cost for you.

Feel free to comment below with any additional ideas or feedback!

For more technology tips you might want to also check out:






The Hot Lunch Tray

Monday - Made it: Summer Memories

Today I'm linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for my first ever link party.

This Summer had been a great time for me to reconnect with my family and be able to "play mom" more. Max, my oldest just turned 3. Angelica, my second, is 1 and a half and getting into everything (she's my curious one). I have enjoyed taking my two angels to library time the most and to really see them have more interest in reading books. We now have family time in the evening dedicated to story time in the evening right before bed.

Library day before the 4th of July

Angelica... always wanting to put her shoes on so she can "go" somewhere.

Library day with the clowns!

My most productive thing that I've been "making & baking" for about 9 months now is our newest addition Anthony Blaise Valera. He will be here in less than 4 weeks. We are all super excited to finally meet him.

I am hoping that this week will be super great and wish you all the same! Have a blessed Monday!

Back to School, Back to School to prove to those kids that I'm not a fool.... Back to School

I hope you are all having a fabulous Monday! I have been working hard trying to think of a new way to get some of those "First Day of School" tasks completed and at the same time have fun. Here was the solution that I found: a scavenger hunt. I know what you're thinking... I would never let the kids run around the school doing this or that! Believe me, I've thought about that too. However, if the carrot dangling in front of the rabbit's nose is large enough, I think I can get him to do exactly what I want. If you set clear expectations and provide students with an incentive, you will (9 times out of 10) get amazing results. I mean, what's not exciting about a scavenger hunt? This is also a great way to see how well your students are working cooperatively in groups. Here's what I came up with:

A Back to School Scavenger Hunt 
(only $3)
102 slides, game variations, long hunts, small hunts...

Take a look at all of the previews & let me know if you have any questions about this product.











{Coming Soon} You can also get the QR Codes for the clues for an extra $1!!