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Monday, August 12, 2013

It's Teacher Week '13!

Happy Teacher Week '13 Everyone!
 
 
I am so excited to be participating in Teacher Week '13 hosted by BlogHoppin'! Here is a list of the week's events.

 
Today's topic is Let's Talk About Me - Meet the Teacher.  I thought to myself this is an easy one for me.  Who do I know more about than anyone else... myself!
 

Things to know about Julie...

 
1. I have been happily married to my husband Steve for 10 years.  We have one little one.  Her name is Cee Cee.  She is a cat.
 
 
2. I come from a family of Chicago Bear's fans. Steve and I went to the Bears' game on Friday.  They played the Carolina Panthers.  Too bad the Panthers won.

 
3. The exciting thing was that three former Iowa State players were on the field, two for the Panthers and one for the Bears.  This is important because I am a graduate of Iowa State University!  Go Cyclones! 
 
 
4. I love to decorate for the holidays.  Whether it is my classroom, my house or my cat.


 
 
5. This is my sixth year teaching 4th Grade girls at Sacred Heart Schools, an independent school in Chicago.  Prior to my current position, I taught 5th grade for two years in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before moving to Charlotte, I was the Computer Applications Teacher at the same school where I am currently teaching.
 
 
6. I love to read for pleasure and to read to my students.  I can't wait for the third Michael Vey book to come out in September.  This series by Richard Paul Evans is as much for me to read as it is to read to my girls.
 
 



 
 
7.  Some of my favorite summer television shows are: Franklin and Bash, Suits, Rizzoli and Isles, and So You Think You Can Dance.
 
 
8.  My husband and I like to go to the early Sunday morning showing of movies.  The prices are less expensive and it is never too early for movie theater popcorn!
 
 

 
 
9.  I love flowers.  I currently have two hibiscus plants on my deck, a red one and an orange one.
 


 
10.  I bought a new, larger SUV this summer even though it is only my husband, our cat and I.
 
 

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Friday, August 02, 2013

Liebster Award


Thank you so much to 
for nominating me for the Liebster Award!
The Liebster Award is for blogs with less than 200 follower in order to help promote that blog, show appreciation, and hopefully draw more followers.
To accept the nomination, you do do a few things first:
  1. Link to the person who nominated you.
  2. Answer questions from you nominator.
  3. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
  4. Nominate five or more blogs with less than 200 followers.
  5. Pose questions to your nominees.

Questions from Heather


1. How long have you been teaching?   I have been teaching for 17 years.

2. What is your favorite color?   My favorite colors are pink and black.

3. Why did you start a blog?   I started a blog because I enjoy l

4. What is your current favorite blog? I don't have one current favorite blog.  I am always reading Fourth Grade Studio, Fabulous Fourth Grade Froggies, and Oh' boy Fourth Grade

5. Do you have a TPT store?   No.  I wish I did.  I don't know how you all do it.  when do you sleep?

6. What is your favorite food?   I LOVE pizza and chocolate.

7. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?   I am still waiting for my husband to take me to Hawaii.

8. What is your favorite thing about the beginning of the year?   My favorite thing about the beginning of the year is the newness of everything.  We are all on a clean slate and can become whatever we want to be, no matter how awful last year was.

9. If you weren't a teacher, what would you be?   If I were not a teacher, I would work in an animal shelter or maybe I would be a vet.  I love animals.

10. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?   I adore chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

11 Random Facts About Me

1.  I love cats.
2.  I have a cat named Mrs. Cat, aka Cee Cee.
3.  I teach only girls.
4.  My husband is originally from Russia and became an United States' citizen two years ago.
5.  I won't eat yogurt because I can't stand the smell or the texture.
6.  I love brightly colored polish on my toes.
7.  I love Kate Spade handbags.
8.  I taught computer applications for 10 years before moving to 4th grade.
9.  I love musicals.  My favorites are Hairspray, Jersey Boys, and Wicked.
10. I am a neat freak in my home but at school things can really pile up.
11.  I try to spend at least 30 minutes a day reading for pleasure.

Nominations

Adventures in Multigrade 


Being Ms. Ebron

Questions

1.  How were you as a student?
2. What was your favorite vacation as a kid?
3. What is your favorite morning beverage?
4. What subject do you like to teach most?
5. How long after school is out do you stay to get work finished?
6. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?
7. What is your favorite children's book?
8. What is your favorite television show?
9. What is your favorite thing about the first day of school?
10. What was the one thing your learned during student teaching that you still use today?
11. What is your favorite flower?

Thursday, August 01, 2013

August Currently

Hello Bloggy World!  It's me Julie and I am trying my darnedest to be a dedicated and consistent blogger. So for my first post back I am linking up with the wonderful Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade on her August Currently.




Most of my items need no extra explanation.  However, I am hoping someone has read The Blessing of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel. and can help me get motivated.  During the summer I want to read what I want to read.  I guess I sound just like the kids.

Now to my B2s must haves...

1.  Editable Mustache Tags  Editable Mustache Tags by Miss Nelson from Run! Miss Nelson's got the Camera.  If you don't follow her blog you definitely should.  My girls just love mustaches.  I mean really who doesn't?  Check out her adorable tags and as of right now they are even on sale!

2.  Life Savers® Mint Candy; Wint O Green®, 50-oz. BagThese are a must for school.  With all the talking, snack and lunch a girl needs to keep her breath smelling fresh.

3.  Every year I order a new set of Paper Mate Flair Pens.  I love the variety of colors and I love having new school supplies just like the kids do


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Skyping with Richard Paul Evans


A4b Loves Richard Paul Evans!


On March 6, 2013 the ladies of Academy 4b were fortunate enough to be able to Skype with the amazing author of the Michael Vey series, Richard Paul Evans.  Who is Michael Vey you ask?  

To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey seems like an ordinary 14-year-old–he likes waffles and video games, hates homework and gets bullied at school. But Michael is anything but ordinary. He was born with special electrical powers.  - Taken from the website michaelvey.com

If you haven't read the first two books in this seven book series you need get started before book three comes out in September 2013.  

Mr. Evans was so gracious.  What we thought would be barely 10 minute experience turned out to last 35 minutes.  The only reason the girls didn't ask any more questions is that they were already late to their next class.  

It was so much fun talking to an author of a book you love.  Not only did Mr. Evans answer the many, many questions the girls had, but he even shared some information about his third book in the series that is due to be released in September.  At one point he told the girls they now knew more than his publisher.  The girls thought that was awesome and cheered loudly.

I can't say enough about what a wonderful experience my students and I had.  One student said, "It was so nice to talk to a famous person that actually listened to us and cared what we had to say." I completely agree. 

A screenshot of Richard Paul Evans 



The ladies of A4b 

Please visit Richard Paul Evan's facebook page or his website to learn more about all of his books.


Thursday, March 07, 2013

World Read Aloud Day

March 6 was World Read Aloud Day.  This is the second year my students and I have participated in this great event.  We took the entire day off from regular classes and were read to.  This year I had 12 "secret readers" volunteer to come into the classroom and read aloud one of their favorite books.  Each secret reader explained to my 4th grade girls their connection with the the book or poem they were about to read.  Some readers brought their favorite book when in fourth grade.  Some readers brought a book by their favorite author.  We even had a few fables read so there was some learning involved.  The girls absolutely loved it.  To end the day the fourth grade girls read their favorite picture book aloud to their first grade buddies.  It was a fun filled day for all, especially the "secret readers" aka parents.

Reading an excerpt from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

 
Reading an excpert from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle


 
Reading Smile! by Leigh Hodgkinson

 
Reading her favorite poem by Shel Silverstein

Click here to learn more about World Read Aloud Day and suggestions for ways to participate next year.



Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Snow Day!

On Friday, A4b had their first indoor snow day! In Chicago we often have cold weather, however we have nearly broken a record for lack of snow.  It has been 325 days since we have had 1 inch of snow. Remembering the amazing post Tara from Fourth Grade Frolics wrote about her snow day in Florida I thought why not!

Here is how our day went.

Using the ingredients for Mixed-Up Snowman Snacks I found at Gourmet Mom on-the-go the girls created snowman scenes.

Using these ingredients...


A4b created this!

After both creating and eating our Mixed-Up Snowman the girls moved onto creating with homemade clay. Using a recipe found at Spoonful.com the girls had a blast making everything they could think of.
Snowflakes!

Snowmen and Igloos!

Create your best Mrs. Cat!
(Mrs. Cat is my lovely little grey kitty.)


We ended our morning by making snowmen! Since there is no snow to be found we used newspapers.



 
 
 
Newspaper Snowman!


The girls had a blast.  Thank you Tara for such a great idea.  I will definitely make this a tradition.

Friday, January 04, 2013

January Currently

January Currently

I am linking up with Farley's Currently for the first time!  I love reading about what all of you have been doing and have decided to get in on the fun.  That being said I really do need to get grading the historical fiction book reports the girls turned in on December 7 and the animal power points they completed right before break.  Wish me luck! 

 
I guess that is why I chose the word perspective as my OLW.  Will it really matter if all the power points or the hisorical fiction books reports are graded before Monday?  Not really, but I will do my best.
 
~Julie