Science ~ Environments Unit

Our district uses the FOSS kits, which I do love because everything is right there HOWEVER....when we have an hour of science and one investigation lasts over a long period where you have to only observe this become problematic.  I decided to incorporate cell structure and plant adaptations into the unit so we can cover more material and not sit and twidle our thumbs for an hour!  We will be doing an investigation on water tolerance and you can extend this into plant adaptations.  I choose the desert and to start this learning off I plan to show them the Magic School Bus - Gets All Dried Up.  I created a video worksheet so they have a purpose to WATCH the video and then a two-side worksheet to complete after as an introductory lesson.  I love the Magic School Bus and even my 5th graders do as well!!  You can swing by my teacher store to grab this set of materials for $1.50.

Click HERE to purchase!

Excited About My Jams!!

Teachers you will love these!  They are durable and reasonably priced! I was able to do my nails and my daughter's nails with only 6 wraps!!  That was only $3.75!  For a mommy on the go and on a budget these were great! My daughter LOVES them and I have been getting compliments where ever I go!  So, worth the investment.  Contact me at littleapplenails@gmail.com and/or visit my website to order at www.littleapplenails.jamberry.net.  Mother's Day is just around the corner and these would be an awesome gift!:)

Fun Scoot Game Created for LCM/GCF

I have been seeing the game SCOOT on Pinterest and the internet so I did some reading.  It sounds like a fun game that holds all students accountable and engaged.  I created a Scoot game for practicing least common multiple and greatest common factor.  Our state testing is slowly creeping up and knocking on our door!! EEEK!  This week was review for this standard with a short quiz coming next Monday.  We will be playing the Spring Scoot LCM/GCF on Monday to review for the quiz on Tuesday.

The first two pictures are of my new scoot game I made and the third is a student sample of their homework from last night. I can't wait to try the game with the students!  My students LOVE being able to move and I love that they can get what they want and learn at the same time!  I am thinking of creating my first "pack" to sell at my teacher's stores with this unit!!  Kinda excited!!!  Let me know what you think by commenting below.

Click HERE to get this Scoot game!

Currently In April

Wow, FINALLY April is here!  I have been patiently waiting for Farley to post up Currently In April!  I had so much fun participating in March!  It's such a great way to see all the amazing bloggers out there and networking strings too!  If you haven went and read Farley you are missing out.  She is a hoot!!

Listening to my space heater!  Yes it's April I know, but I live in Kansas and I'm COLD!!  I'm always cold!  It will be 100 degrees out and I'm the one in a sweatshirt!!
Loving the renewed faith I have in our Lord Jesus Christ.  As I've grown I have really had to learn to lean on my faith to get me through some tough and hard times.  Each year I am humbled by how Jesus suffered to save us from our sins.
Thinking I really need more energy!!  Anyone have ideas??!!! I am a wife and mother to two awesome kids, full-time elementary teacher and part-time adjunct instructor for a college.  Besides the obvious of giving up the part-time job, what are some things you do do rev up your energy?
Wanting a iPod Touch!  I have an iPhone but I already have too much stuff on it and need, ok this is how I justify getting one, an iPod Touch for my music!!
Needing to clean my teacher desk.  I'm the one that is an organized mess...but I really need to clean because I'm starting to feel overwhelmed...this might help with the energy level eh?
Advice for blogging or teacher store...don't be afraid!!  I let me fear of failure hold me back and now for some reason I just jumped on it and am loving it!! 

I LOVE Kagan!!!

If you aren't using Kagan structures in your classroom YOU SHOULD BE!!  They rock!  My kids love doing the structures and they are so easy to implement in the classroom.  If you are looking for some related materials that you don't want to create yourself, boy I've helped you out lol:)  I have just created a Find Someone Who LCM/GCF worksheet to review this topic.  How do you use??  Pass out a worksheet to each student, give them some time to mingle with their peers looking for someone who can do a problem on their worksheet, and come together at the end to check!

Visit either of my teacher stores on the right side of the page to get this great resource for only $1.00!!! 

Needing To Know How to Insert Your Signature To A Word Document???

How To Insert A Signature To A Word Document

How many times now are you seeing that businesses want all electronic documents for hiring new employees?  I am seeing this becoming more and more prominent in the workforce.  So I went and did some digging on the internet and found that you can use your nifty smartphone to take a picture and insert the picture to your document and save as a PDF!

I personally have an iPhone 4 and use the app Scan Pages to take a picture, scan and export to my email as a JPEG file.  I open my email, save my JPEG to my computer so that it is accessible to insert into my document.  I currently use Microsoft Word 2010 to do most of my word processing documents.  Below are the steps from start to finish!

1.       Take a picture using your smartphone of you written signature.

2.       Import your picture to your computer (use an app such as Scan Pages to scan for a cleaner image and export to email.)

3.       Have your document open, such as a business letter and using the INSERT tab in either Microsoft Word 2007/2010 click on the PICTURE ICON and browse for the image of your signature.  Click INSERT.

4.       You will need to change the Text Wrapping so that you are able to position your signature where you need it on your document.  With the image selected click on the pink FORMAT tab at the top on the Ribbon.  Click TEXT WRAP and choose BEHIND TEXT.  You are now able to move your signature freely about the document and reposition it.  Size as needed using the sizing handles.

5.       Do a SAVE AS and choose PDF in the Save as type drop box. 

6.       Now you are ready to submit your document with your signature electronically.