Kindergarten Pond Getting Techie!!

I have spent the last two days at our county's Digital Renaissance Summer Conference!!  (If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen a lot of tweets with #digrensc.) I am on fire and ready for school to start so I can share all this fabulous tech with my kiddos!!!

( 2nd, 1st, and Kindergarten representing with our Superintendent!)

Here is just a taste of what I learned from the past two days:

Kevin Honeycutt 

Have you met this guy? If not, you are missing out. He is an amazing teacher with so much to share!!! Check out his web page and YouTube channel.

My  five major takeaways from him were:
1. Relationships are important between student and teacher! Teacher empowerment comes from being trusted, how you feel when you are learning is how you remember the learning – emotion cements learning and leads to launch moments!!!!

2. We need to teach ourselves and our students to "Learn to Love to Learn". We should all be "self-updating software" continuously improving and learning on our own.
3. Be prescriptive! Make the tool fit the students.

4. Don't be secret geniuses!!!! Share! Social media is like a jar of lightening bugs, the more you have the more you can see!!!
5.  Find the teachers you want to be like then stalk follow them! Learn from each other!

Kindergarten Tech (using 1 to 1 iPads)

Here are some fabulous apps I discovered:
Brainstorm & Brainstorm Companion (to use whole group, students respond to a question or prompt and then "flick" their answer to the teacher's iPad which can be displayed on the board)
Stage (allows you to use iPad as a document camera, it also have tools on the side to annotate and more)
Eggy Words (sight words game)

Using Popplet in K

Beginning sounds sort - (reading center) Letter cards on desk with a lot of different picture cards to sort (ex. Letter b card on table, find the pictures that begin with /b/, take photographs of cards and add to Popplet)

Students take a picture of self and then add adjectives around the picture

Students take a picture of self and add pictures of all the other students and type in their names

Essential question – so that everyone can share their answer: students come up and answer on the  board or on the iPad in a center

Facts about a topic - written or pictures

Pre-writing - answer questions to prepare to write a narrative

Using QR Codes in K
Record reading, writing, and singing to send home.
Teacher record leveled readers, add QR code to the book, students can follow along in the book as they listen to the story.
Multiple uses during reading centers - memory, sight word review, sound matching, word writing - using the QR codes to check work.
*Great sites:
www.recordmp3.org, www.qrcode-monkey.com, www.qrstuff.com

iMovie 
Let me begin by saying, Eric Lee from Technology in Motion (Jacksonville State) is amazing! He is so knowledgeable and patient. This is the second time I have attended a session of his and learned so much each time! (I attended his iMovie session last year and then updated my OS system and iMovie changed.) I plan to make a how to video and share with you very soon for my students and to post here!

Google Drive
I have used Google Drive in the past as a file sharing tool but oh my goodness, Drive is so much more!!! I may not use it to it's full potential with my students but it will definitely come in handy with our new collaborative planning!!!

And last but not least, I WON AN IPAD MINI FOR MY CLASS!!! I am so excited and so thankful!!! Thank you to all of the people that presented and organized this amazing conference!!!

**Speaking of Winning...Don't forget to sign up to win the Back to School Tech Giveaway From Mom Powered Media - See below for details!!! Ends August 15th!**

At Mom Powered Media, we believe in higher education and want to help our network readers get there. To help you do just that, we are giving one lucky reader a $500 Visa Gift Card and HP 14″ Chromebook PC. There will also be 20 second place winners to take home Back To School Prize Packages. So what are you waiting for? Let's get BTS ready, tech-style! Special thank you to our supporting co-host bloggers: Monica's Rants, Raves & Reviews, The Jenny Evolution, Memoirs of a Clueless Woman, My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life, My Daylights, Barbara's Beat, Saving You Dinero, Shaping Up To Be A Mom, Robyn's View, Coupons and Freebies Mom, A Hen's Nest, Budget Savvy Diva, Mutterings Of A Mindless Mommy, Your Sassy Self and Nest Full of New. Open your sleek, next-generation HP Pavilion 14-Q020NR 14" Chromebook PC to get online, fast. You can access your favorite websites and Google Chrome apps on the 14-inch diagonal HD display in seconds. HP 14″ Chromebook PC features:

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One grand prize winner will receive a $500 Visa Gift Card and HP 14″ Chromebook PC. Twenty additional winners will also receive a Back To School Prize Package.

Giveaway ends August 15th at 11:59pm, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. Excludes Quebec. Only one entrant per household, per address. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Enter using the giveaway form below. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com if you have any additional questions or comments.

Five for Friday - Niece Addition!

Oh my what a week I have had! *Warning* This post has nothing to do with teaching and everything to do with two of the most precious girls EVER!!!

Our Holiday weekend was a success! We spent the 4th with my best friend and some of her family. The girls now have another aunt! We also headed over to Dauphin Island to slide down a huge water slide and then to the splash pad in Spanish Fort! 

 You can't beat a day that starts off with Dunkin Donuts!

 After a long day of shopping and more splash pad fun, there was still plenty of energy for hoola hoops and jump ropes in the back yard!

 Tuesday brought Pirates and Princess on the beach at The Hangout! 

"We" made princess tutus! (AKA Aunt Melissa stayed up until almost midnight making tutus!) :)

 Love these sisters! They dressed up like their favorite sister princesses, Ana and Elsa!

 Since we were there, we just HAD to go to the beach. 

 By the middle of the week it was time for some down time! After 12 hours of sleeping, we met up with friends to swim and then off to get hair cuts!

Two cute sassy cuts for two cute and sassy girls!
A few months ago a certain red head decided to cut herself bangs and some front layers. They have now all been evened out. I cannot wait for the bangs to grow out. Too cute a face to hide behind think bangs!

Thursday we visited another splash pad. I don't know how I went all day and did not take any pictures. Then we spent the rainy afternoon dancing to my brain breaks!  Today we are taking a break from sun and water. We are headed to school to get my classroom set up, just waiting for the AC to come on!! 

I hope you all have had as fabulous a week as I have!

Wordless Wednesday with Ana & Elsa!

I am stopping in for a quick Wordless Wednesday post! I have had the most amazing week with two of the most precious girls I know!!!

Thank you to Christina from Sugar and Spice for hosting!

My very own Elsa and Ana!

 With their new BFF Arial at the Pirate and Princess Breakfast at The Hangout in Gulf Shores.

 Bubble Fun at The Hangout!

A little beach time...going to turn them into Beach Babies yet!

 Proof of a successful day!

What is your favorite way to spend hot summer days?

Comment below and then head over to Sugar and Spice to link up!

"Plugging" Back In for Five for Friday

I am back online after unplugging for a week to prepare for and begin healing from surgery. My Husband and I have been trying to have a  baby for a few years and I recently discovered I had fibroids. Those are now removed and I am healing and getting ready for out next step in our baby journey!

I am happy to be joining Doodle Bugs Teaching for a quick Five for Friday!

Milk Paint!

This is my new favorite "go to" craft supply!!! Read more about it {here}!

Check back on Monday to see I made with this fabulous paint!

Cooking Before Surgery

Lunches:

Since I am on my own for lunch I wanted to make sure I had some easy ready made lunches I could fix for myself. My two favorite go to easy cold lunch recipes are Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad & my twist on Texas Caviar. I have linked both of these back to the original posts I got the recipes from but I am listing the way I make it below. 

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (Gluten & Dairy Free)

This recipe doubles the original recipe as well as makes it gluten and dairy free. Just mix and refrigerate!

1 bag Tinkyada Brown Rice Vegetable Pasta Spirals Gluten Free -- 12 oz pasta, cooked according to package directions

1/3 C roasted red pepper

3-4 C cooked chicken, cubed (I have used chicken breast that I have baked or rotisserie chicken and both are good!)

1C  Vegenaise (vegan mayo)

4-6 tbsp Frank's Red Hot Sauce (use according to taste, I like a lot!)

2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

2 tbsp roasted red pepper brine (the juice the peppers are in)

Texas Caviar

Simple & Quick - my favorite! Simply mix together all the ingredients below and refrigerate over night. Serve with tortilla chips.

1 can corn (drained)

2 can black beans (drained)

2 can black eyed peas (drained)

1 can Rotel (drained)

1 fresh jalopeno diced 

1/2 of a sweet Videla onion diced

1/4 C rice wine vinegar

2 tbsp canola oil

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt and pepper (or to taste)

Next week I am looking at some veggie and fruit salads and smoothies. Any good suggestions that are very easy to make? I have limited time up and about but am looking for some new things to make.

Cooking - Freezer Meals

To insure I didn't have to eat fast food for the next few weeks while on bed rest I made up freezer meals for the hubs to just throw on the stove or in the crockpot. This has been a life saver this week! 

Our favorite freezer meal is Pizza Pasta. A friend gave me the recipe and I have no idea where it came from but it is too good not to share!
1 bag egg noodles (cook to package directions)
1 large jar of spaghetti sauce (pick your favorite)
1 lb ground beef - browned
1 package pepperoni (I use turkey pepperoni)
1 bag shredded cheese - your choice
2-4 small disposable casserole dishes (I get them 2/$1 at Dollar General)

Brown ground beef, drain, add spaghetti sauce and cook on low while noodles are cooking. Mix meat sauce and noodles together. Divide mixture between casserole dishes. Top with cheese and pepperoni. I usually make 4 dishes: two with regular cheese and two with dairy free cheese for me.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes, uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. If cooking from frozen add 10-20 minutes to the first cooking time.

A peak at my freezer. The dishes on the top are the Pasta Pizzas!

Bedrooms

In the week leading up to my surgery, I went  a little crazy on the redecorating. I think it was nerves! I repainted my master bedroom and two guest rooms. Now I have the office and living room and kitchen left to finish.

 Not the best pictures! We have been waiting for the floor guys to come put down our hardwood. Hopefully they will get to us soon!

 This room will *HOPEFULLY* have a pallet wood headboard in the next few weeks!

That green chair is the BEST reading chair ever!!! I love going into that room and rocking and reading!

Bathrooms
The bathrooms were not safe from my paint brush either!

 Still need to add towel racks in the master bathroom.

Also a work in progress. The hubs and I are going to build pallet shelves to go above the toilet. 

Have you done any home projects? Do you make freezer meals? Comment below and then link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching and share your 5!