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"Is this the social studies room?"

8/28/2017

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Earlier this week, we had a guest custodian in the building covering for our regular night technician.  As he entered my room and introduced himself, he began to look around  soaking in the decor of the room. Gazing about, he then asked if this was the social studies room. I proudly said to him that it was actually first grade!  His response to me was "It's good to get them thinking early."  

I couldn't agree more!  Social studies is the key.  I can't imagine a day going by in my classroom without a conversation entering into geography and history.  

Space it a big thing to me.  It makes me happy to have my room filled with images that might spark a child's inquisitive nature. Why not fill their heads with stories of leaders, inventors, musicians, artists and those that opened doors for others to follow.  There are too many to count, but I plan on doing my fair share of door opening to the many stories we are all connected with!
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TR, Teaching Soulmates and a couple of postcards...

8/15/2017

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I have had the incredible fortune to teach with some amazing, strong and innovative teachers in my career.  Several who have been mentors, cheerleaders and dear friends through thick and thin.  I am lucky!

However, I also have teaching soulmates, as you can see by the pic above, sent to me today on a teacher work day by my dear friend Jessica.  She and I can spend hours dreaming and planning lessons for our students around history.  We never get tired of it!  We love to think outside the box.  We also LOVE Teddy Roosevelt!  I don't know if we will ever be fortunate enough to teach in the same school, but the moments we can spend together dreaming of history lessons are grand!

The images to the right are from one of my former students and my other teaching soulmate, Lisa.  We met through a mutual friend and think SO much alike.  We are separated by thousands of miles from Colorado to Virginia.  Still, we love sharing our passion for teaching history and challenging our students.  Oddly, she teaches college freshmen and I teach first grade.  Last week she sent me a couple of vintage postcards of TR.  The one to the right is most unique and is going to require some more research (more to come on that).

Today, I received the more modern postcard from one of my students last year. Arianna's mom had text me last week inquiring for our address as Arianna wanted to write.  Her postcard made smile.  My kids learn a lot about TR in my class (they know he is my favorite).  I love that Arianna has background knowledge on TR and wants to share her new knowledge with me!  It only reaffirms for me that we need to start sharing history with students at a young age!

On a different note, I need to work on my winking skills!!
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Special Delivery

8/6/2017

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Today, my husband and I returned from running errands to find this little gem in our mailbox (yes, my kids know where I live).  Such a fun surprise from one of my first grade students from this last year.  Silas has been very busy!

Earlier in the day, I had been speaking with a retired superintendent from Kansas about writing.  His comment was that kids need to be writing all the time.  I explained to him, that in my classroom and with my cross-curricular approach, we write a lot.  By the time my students leave first grade, they have written a USA atlas on all fifty states, as well as a book on United States history.

I use Moffat as my vehicle for my state studies, with the students referencing powerpoints that I have created with my travel photographs as a reference.  The stories they come up with are rather magical.  The only hitch is that they must include appropriate references from that state.  

With that being said, all of my students went to Build-A-Bear in May after they saved their money as part of our personal financial literacy unit.  The students all made their own Moffats and named them.  Silas named his Cletus.

Take a moment to look at the fun story that I received today in my mailbox.  Thanks Silas for the terrific surprise!  It's great work!
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The tale of a rabbit...hanging out with Brooklyn

7/23/2017

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So Moffat has a crazy cousin named Elliott that randomly shows up on trips with some of my students.  He did it again and is keeping Brooklyn and her family company on their trip to Oregon.  Brooklyn is taking the photography rather seriously and her mom is sending me daily photos of Brooklyn's photography efforts.

I am thrilled with the photos she is sending.  I use these photos to create slideshows and videos for the kids to use in class for research.  I have photos from all 50 states, but am always happy for more!  Go Brooklyn!  Thanks for taking such good care of those rabbits!!!

I am inspired by the photos at Fort Clatsop and can't wait to add them to my Thomas Jefferson  and Lewis and Clark collection of pictures!
NPS Fort Clatsop
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That book is Moffat approved!

7/17/2017

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My kids are very funny...they like to say that my books are "Moffat approved".

In actuality, it is my simple way to keep track of which books are mine from my home library.  Moffat's little stickers help me keep track and also remind others when they borrow a book, who it belongs to.

This afternoon (as I am trying to escape the afternoon heat!), I am working on labeling the GIANT pile of new kids' picture books from my students last year.  My little "Moffat approved" labels came in the mail and I am very busy.  I was quite thrilled at the end of the year, when one of the parents had taken it upon herself to collect money and purchase books off my bottomless Amazon wish list.  My book collection is one of my favorite things and it is always growing.  My father recently inquired if I have all of them catalogued and the answer is no.  I keep waiting for him to come over and use his excellent organization skills to help me out!

Mostly, this collection brings me huge joy because of the doors it opens for my students.  I love the new worlds, people, events and places that these books bring.  After all, it's all about the story!
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July mornings by the pond...

7/5/2017

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My morning reading buddy, Henry.
Summer is here!  Yes, I know it is now July 5th, but I taught all of June and am now feeling like I can accomplish some things on my own time.  One of my to-dos is to read everyday.  I know for many, this is not a thing that one must think of, but for me, I have to be very intentional about it.  My creative side prefers to write, create, and do rather than read.

So what's on my list?  Well, you might be surprised.

I have two libraries at our house, filled with children's geography and history books.  I am always looking for new mentor texts and people of interest to share with my students.  With this being said, I have checked out our school's entire collection of Cobblestone magazines for the reading project.  I am also enjoying the collection of books that my students this past year. I have several lengthier books that I am covering in post it notes to take back for teaching resources.  

One of my goals is to continue to find those strong stories to take back to my kids.  As part of our leadership team at school, we are working on character development.  I want to have a strong collection of heroes that I can weave into our school lessons.

I am also enjoying the graphic design and inspiration in so many books.  These books and the Cobblestone magazines are going to serve as exiting mentor texts for the students to show their thinking in new and creative ways.  

Stay tuned as I begin sharing some of my favorites to take back to the classroom in the fall.
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International Women's Day: Celebrating Dreams!

3/8/2017

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Yet again, I can never be exposed to too many children's books!

Today is International Women's Day and I started my day in class by reading an unfamiliar book from a colleague. Thanks fellow bibliophile!  I was not disappointed.  For years now, I have said that I learn more from reading kids' books than I could have ever imagined.  Drum Dream Girl shares the story of Cuban female drummer, Millo Castro Zaldarriaga. I had never even heard about Millo.  The story reflects that it was not acceptable for girls to play the drums in Cuba in the 1930s.  The simple poetic verse and bright illustrations caused me to want to know more about this young girl with a rhythmic gift.

This was a girl with a dream and she went after it! Aren't we all entitled to our dreams?  

Celebrate International Women's Day!  Celebrate dreams!
Amazon
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Music, history and books...how can one not be inspired?

2/26/2017

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​I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks and have become ok with that.  I feel like it is more important to do so when I feel that inspiration.

Tonight, I found it as I was sitting down to continue to work on my lesson plans for the week.  Like every Sunday, I pull out my collection of books highlighting our state studies to haul off to school.  This summer, I treated myself to some new ones with some of my Crystal Apple funds.  Always love buying books. I bought Trombone Shorty by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews.  I read it quickly when I first got it, but reopened it again this evening.

After I finished rereading the story, I proclaimed to my husband how much I love quality children's literature.  He was not shocked to hear me profess this for the millionth time!!  The story, by musician "Trombone Shorty" or Troy Andrews, tells the childhood story of how he became a musician in the neighborhood of Treme in New Orleans.  Troy is truly a gifted musician, picking up the trombone at age 6.  The story recalls to how music was always the constant in a neighborhood that had is ups and downs, but was never lacking for the gift of music. Young students can relate as he shares how the neighborhood kids would go out to play at 5 o'clock after completing their homework.  He compares the music to gumbo stirring in a pot, a little of this and that coming together.

With most books I read to my class, I particularly enjoy looking for the author's notes at the end of the book.  This, of course, did not disappoint.  I also did more research to discover that "Trombone Shorty" has started the Trombone Shorty Foundation to support young New Orleans musicians.  Talk about a way to give back to your community!

I found this book inspirational for so many reasons.  I played the baritone saxophone all through college and was fortunate enough to attend a festival while in college.  I wish that I could say it is something I kept up with.  My husband and I visited New Orleans several years ago, and I am always hungry to learn more about the city, culture, history, and music.  This book opens those doors for my own students.

I am anxious to share tomorrow in class as we will also be enjoying some current performances of "Trombone Shorty."  

​Music, history and a great book!  

To learn more about "Trombone Shorty" and his career, follow the link to an article from NPR.
NPR
Trombone Shorty on Amazon
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Valentine's Day...a perspective

2/14/2017

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Love it or hate it, today is Valentine's Day.  As a primary teacher, it's a thing that is expected to be celebrated in a classroom.  Today, we did just that.

The picture on the right is a photo of me in fifth grade.  At the time, I LOVED Snoopy.  My best friend and I planned on opening a Snoopy store after we graduated from CU in Boulder. Needless, to say, I was very proud of my box.  

Today, all my kids brought in their valentine boxes.  As a teacher, I prefer having them done at home.  It's a good family project and it save me valuable teaching time.  I also encouraged my kids to leave their classmates' names off the valentines.  Twenty-six kids looking for names on 26 boxes could take the entire day.  One of my parent volunteers witnessed that today as she was helping a few kids that did put names on valentines.  

I will admit, as a teacher, Valentine's Day is something you get through and manage and it's honestly not my favorite.  However, looking back on my childhood photos and seeing the sheer delight on my kids' faces as they anxiously dig through their boxes reminded me that I need to endure.  

It's all a matter of perspective!  Happy Valentine's Day!
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Happy Birthday to an inspiring woman and one of my heroes...Dolly Parton!

1/19/2017

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My husband and I at Red Rocks Amphitheater before the concert in July.
Happy Birthday to one of my heroes, Dolly Parton!  One day I dream of meeting you.  In the meantime, I thoroughly enjoyed teaching main idea and primary source analyzation while listening to your songs.  More samples to come! We have projects to do in first grade.
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    wife, mom, teacher, author, history nerd and the lady that carries around a rabbit
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  • About
  • Honors and Continued Work
  • Moffat's Blog
  • My Support People
  • Geography in the Classroom
  • History In The Classroom
  • #Blog365