Teacher of the Week- Ms. W from Upper Grades Are Awesome

Meet Ms. W from Upper Grades Are Awesome:

Let me begin by saying, how pumped I was to find out Ms. W was a fellow Arizona blogger. So cool. 

Teaching experience:

Ms. W has been teaching for 9 years, with experience in grades 3, 5 and 6.  Ms. W showcases her passion for the upper grades through her blog, Facebook and TpT store (you can find the links at the bottom of this post).

Favorite Teaching Moment:

Ms. W says, "For the past three years I have been most excited about having my students participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and each student spends the month of November becoming novelists! Their confidence and writing skills grow exponentially!"

Visit Ms. W:

To learn more about Ms. W, you can visit her blog, Facebook and Teachers Pay Teachers store by clicking on the images below:

Teachers Pay Teachers Store:

 

Blog:

(Tons of fantastic ideas here!)

 

Facebook:

 

To be featured as Teacher of the Week:

Each Sunday I will feature a new teacher of the week on my blog and Facebook page. To be considered as my Teacher of the Week, simply click on the Teacher of the Week button below and answer a couple of questions. It's easy as pie!

Teacher of the Week Form

 

Teacher of the Week- Scipi

Happy Mother's Day!  It's time for:

Meet Scipi:

Teaching experience:

Scipi is a veteran teacher who has been teaching for over 30 years.  Currently, Scipi teaches math at the college level and states "My math mission in life is to cure one mathphobic at a time!"  Scipi integrates manipulatives, songs and games in her math lessons to ensure that her students are engaged.

Favorite Teaching Moment:

"I absolutely love seeing my remedial math college students use manipulatives while loving it!  They especially love using the double dice (one inside the other).  They act like little kids, but they are having fun while learning.  When their "lightbulb" goes on, I'm thrilled!"

Visit Scipi:

To learn more about Scipi, you can visit her blog and Teachers Pay Teachers store by clicking on the images below:

Teachers Pay Teachers Store:

(Resources for elementary, middle school, high school and college!)

Blog:

To be featured as Teacher of the Week:

Each Sunday I will feature a new teacher of the week on my blog and Facebook page.  To be considered as my Teacher of the Week, simply click on the Teacher of the Week button below and answer a couple of questions.  It's easy as pie!

Teacher of the Week Form

What I bought linky & I receive an award!

Teacher Appreciation Week has to be the best week for any teacher.  You get neat things, you get some extra smiles and hugs and most of all, you feel EXTRA appreciated!

I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin' (just a tad late) to show you what I purchased during the TpT sale this week.  If you'd also like to link up, click on the image below!

I kept my purchasing to a minimum, thankfully, and didn't go overboard this time around. 

Purchase #1

Sara Cooley is my absolute favorite TpT seller.  My kids and I have enjoyed every single thing I've purchased from her store.  I picked up her Hollywood Ending pack to use during the last day of school.  I know my kids are going to be so pumped for this awesome party.

Purchase #2

It's only fitting that if you purchase and End of Year celebration pack, that you purchase a Beginning of the year pack as well!  I picked Abby's Fun With Firsties after reading all of the rave reviews, and boy am I glad I purchased this.  This resource has so many cute hands-on and reflective activities to use during the first week of school.  I can't wait!

 

Finally, this has been such a busy week!  I am so honored and blessed to receive the Teacher of the Year award for my school.  On Monday morning all TOY's on the West side of Phoenix were honored at a wonderful breakfast banquet where we received this awesome plaque. 

 

On Tuesday, the TOY's from the district were honored during the district board meeting. 

So, so happy!

Hope you all had an incredible week as well!

Teacher of the Week- Michaela Almeida

I apologize for being a little out of the blog world recently, but I'm back to honor another fantastic teacher, who is making a difference in, and out of her classroom!

Meet Michaela Almeida:

Teaching experience:

Michaela began her career as a Title 1 teacher, and has now been a classroom teacher for two years.  To assist victims from the Boston Marathon bombing, Michaela has set up teacher resource bundles  that teachers can purchase for $20.  All proceeds are donated to The One Fund.  Below are images of the bundles, and you may click on any image to visit Michaela's blog post to learn more.  Thank you for your commitment to the community Michaela!

                          K-2 Bundle- Valued @ $150                     3-6 Bundle- Valued @ $170

                                 

 

Favorite Teaching Moment:

In Michaela's own words-

 "There are so many little things that happen each and every day that remind my why I love my job! I implemented reader's workshop in my classroom this year, something the kids in my classroom were not used to. When I would announce it was time to start reading workshop, there were audible groans from many of my students. One day, a few months into the school year, we were at reader's workshop and I lost track of time! When I looked up, it was time to pack up for dismissal and I announced that we had to stop reading. One of my little guys, who is a very reluctant reader, looked up from his book and said ʺBut Mrs. Almeida, I don't want to stop reading!ʺ That one sentence made me so happy! It was definitely one of the highlights of my career so far!"

Visit Michaela:

To learn more about Michaela, please visit her Teachers Pay Teachers store, blog or Facebook page by clicking on the images below:

Blog: 

 

Teachers Pay Teachers:

 

 

 

Facebook:

 

To be featured as Teacher of the Week:

Each Sunday I will feature a new teacher of the week on my blog and Facebook page. To be considered as my Teacher of the Week, simply click on the Teacher of the Week button below and answer a couple of questions. It's easy as pie!

Teacher of the Week Form

Teacher of the Week- Amy Swan

Meet Amy:

Teaching experience:

Amy is currently in her tenth year of teaching and is a National Board Certified teacher in Early/Middle School Childhood Literacy.  Amy also holds a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  Amy says, "I believe strongly that all children need and deserve to be loved, listened to, and appropriately challenged each day in school. My favorite time of the school day is when I'm reading aloud to my class...it's magic!"

Favorite Teaching Moment:

Funny story alert!  Amy shares this hilarious event with us:
"When I was teaching 5th grade, I had to attend a district meeting on the morning of my birthday. My sweet room mom had brought in birthday treats for me to celebrate with the class when I returned in the afternoon. However, my 1/2 day sub passed out the treats first thing in the morning, had the kids sing ʺHappy Birthdayʺ to me (even though I wasn't there), and she even ate MY birthday treat!! When I got back, she told me all about ʺmyʺ party, smiled brightly, and wished me a very Happy Birthday before she left. Hilarious!!"

Visit Amy:

To learn more about Amy, you can visit her Teachers Pay Teachers store, Facebook or blog by clicking on the images below:

Teachers Pay Teachers Store:

 

 

Facebook:

 

 

Blog:

 

 

 

Sight Word Mania

As our year begins to wind down, and I reflect on all of the many sight words my students have had to learn in first grade, I decided to implement more hands on sight word activities.  I called the following game Sight Word Race.

I provided each table with a different bag of items that I found in my classroom (which was great because I didn't have to go purchase anything new, and I could finally put these things to use!):

*yarn

*magazine letters

*black-eyed peas

*popsicle sticks

*beads

*pipe cleaners

 

I then displayed a list of previously learned sight words on the board.  Students played Paper, Rock Scissors to see who picked the first word.  The winner picked the word, and the race was on! Students competed against their partner to see who could create the word first.  The winner then picked the next word and the game continued. 

The next sight word activity we played was one I had heard of from another teaching friend, called Flip Words. This is a super simple and engaging game.

 

Directions:
1. Write sight words on sentence strips and place face down.

2. Students take turns "flipping" words with a spatula.

3.  If the student can read the word, they keep it.  If they are unable to read the word, it goes back onto the grill!

 

One of the things the kids chose to add to the game was if the word was not read correctly they said "Oops! Your burger isn't ready yet!"

:)

 

 

I hope you can implement these activities in your classroom! Teacher of the Week post is coming up next.

Teacher of the Week-The Teachers' Aide

Meet Jamie (The Teachers' Aide):

Teaching experience:

Jamie has 13 years of classroom experience and has taught grades 2-4.  This year, Jamie is staying home with her daughter and uses her spare time to meet new teachers and learn new ways to teach important skills to students.  Jamie also uses the time to create products for her Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Favorite Teaching Moment:

Jamie says,"My most memorable moments are the ones where former students, who are now in high school or college, have come by my room to say hi or when their parents email me inviting me to a special event in their child's life. Each moment gives me a feeling of joy-that they genuinely missed me and just wanted to say hello. Love it!"

Visit Jamie:

To learn more about Jamie, you can visit Teachers Pay Teachers store or Facebook by clicking on the images below:

Teachers Pay Teachers Store:

Facebook: