Summer Fun

Hello Hello! Mrs. Ayala here!  I hope you are enjoying summer just as much as I am.  My days are filled with 3 boys which = ADVENTURE and lots of party planning.  My little man will be having his 1st birthday at the end of this month. HOW EXCITING!

Another exciting adventure coming my way is that I recently accepted a new job position!  I will now be an instructional facilitator at Zavala Elementary.  I will still be in the same district, but it will be at a different campus and I will no longer have my own classroom.  This is such an exciting new chapter in my career but I will have to say that I am nervous and excited to be working with teachers.  I am not sure it has completely really set in, but one thing is for sure.... I am already wanting to go and take advantage of all the back to school specials on glue, scissors, folders, binders.... etc! I will definitely have to find something to fill my void for DIY projects for my classroom.  I almost feel like I would like to make themed classroom decorations and rules, etc for purchase.

Here is my family! Can you see that I am out numbered and our male boxer dog is not pictured!  I literally have a pre teen who dislikes almost everything I say and my middle child... well... he's just that, a middle child with all that comes with that title!  Myles is at the perfect age where he does exactly what mama wants!

Lots of trips to the parks this summer.

I love watching Myles experience the world! Firsties for him are my favorite! Here is his first time going down the slide without sitting in someone's lap.

Handmade shirt for 4th of July! He loved the paint!

Splashing water is one of his all time favorite things to do!

Another one of his favorites is to throw things! Here he is throwing our landscaping rocks! NOOOO

Loved this slide!

First Haircut!

Myles' 1st birthday is a MONSTER THEME with bright primary colors!  Check out some of the DIY party decorations I have been working on!

#1 Monster Pixy Stix: I paid 10 for 35 at our local Family Dollar Store, Print #1 from google images, print in any color cardstock, use a regular office stapler to staple the number one to the pixy stick tag.

Monster Invitation Envelopes created out of brown paper bags: I used colored paper, white paper, dot stampers, design cutters (scissors), glue, and slide the invite into the bottom of the bag.

 

Hobby Lobby cardboard numbers and letters: paint, colored paper, white paper, scissors, glue

Tissue Box Monsters: emptied tissue boxes, butcher paper, construction paper, white copy paper

 Ribbon Decorations: Lots of ribbon, lots of patterns, scissors, glue gun!

Tissue Paper Monsters: Tissue papers into pom poms, add eyes and/or teeth

Hobby Lobby Cardboard Letters: Paint, paper, scissors, glue

Photo Shoot!  Balloons, basket, cute baby, nice park, good weather

I look forward to blogging some more about my new job, classroom ideas, baking, family, and party planning!  See you next time!

Pluto Book Report

Hi everyone!! Mrs. Ayala here!
This week has been fun and exciting!  My son Matthew is a second grader and they had a book report this week.  My son has a huge interest in non-fiction books!  Matthew chose The book Pluto as his book report topic.

This was definitely an family project, which was really fun because everyone shared ideas and we were able to search online together.  We found out some interesting facts about Planet Pluto, the Solar System, and all about other Planet Pluto children's books out there that now Matthew would like to get his hands on.  (GREAT for Summer reading!)

Here is what we found!


Poor PLUTO!  Pluto has really been through a lot, and did you know that we sent a satellite to take pictures of PLUTO a few years ago and it will not arrive until 2015!












Here is what we decided to do as Matthew's Book Report Presentation:
We are having a WELCOME TO PLANET PLUTO Party!

The picture shown is a welcome flier to Planet Pluto:

The following picture is of the Pluto Guest Book that Matthew made!  Inside the guest book, students/Earth Aliens will sign or draw themselves as aliens or Earthlings.

And finally to end our PLANET PARTY with a BANG we made Solar System cupcakes.

We included yellow for the sun, blue or green for earth, a white speck (sprinkle) for Planet Pluto, and clear sugar crystals for stars.  The frosting was fluffy white and blue food coloring was added to create the actual solar system rings.

Here are a few party hat templates that you can use as your PLUTO PARTY HAT!

Virtual Collaborations

Blogging:

Bloggin Background
http://www.kveo.com/news/kindergarten-blog-explores-new-ways-learn

Virtual collaboration is the method of collaboration between virtual team members that is carried out via technology-mediated communication. Virtual collaboration follows the same process as collaboration, but the parties involved in virtual collaboration do not physically interact and communicate exclusively through technological channels.[1]Distributed teams use virtual collaboration to simulate the information transfer present in face-to-face meetings, communicating virtually through verbal, visual, written, and digital means.

What the Teacher Wants:
                                                                                                                            TPT:


Smedley's Smorgasboard:



Amy Lemons




Mrs. Jump's Class

Debbie Clement
Rainbows within Reach



http://mrsayalaskinderfun.blogspot.com/2012/11/debbie-me.html


Pinning Freebies thanks to our Virtual Collaborations!

Ayala Freebies: http://mrsayalaskinderfun.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-friday.html

 

Letter of the Week Example: http://mrsayalaskinderfun.blogspot.com/2012/09/here-is-our-week-at-glance.html

 

 

Bubble Bursting Project

Bubble Bursting Project- This week we are continuing our "Bubble Bursting Project"
We will be incorporating, Math, Social Studies, Science, Writing, and Technology during this project based learning!





Students will:

1. Be in groups of 4.
2. Create a KWL
3. Investigate the history of bubble gum.
4. Create a foldable of bubble gum facts.
5. Participate in a bubble blowing contest.
6. Measure bubbles.
7. Graph results.
8. Create a self portrait using pink balloons to demonstate their bubbles.
9. Read related books on bubble gum.
10. Write a discriptive essay on their findings about blowing bubbles. How was it? What happened? How did it feel?  What did you predict?  What was the outcome?  Was their a trick to blowing larger bubbles?

Timeline

http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventions/a/gum.htm

How to blow a bubble gum bubble:

http://www.wikihow.com/Blow-a-Bubble-with-Bubblegum

Awesome teachers who have done similar lessons:
http://theteacherwife.blogspot.com/2011/11/bubble-gum-fun-writing-and-math.html


Cool Videos








Books about bubble gum!

4th Grade TEKS:
ELAR:
(1) Reading/Fluency. Students read grade-level text with fluency and comprehension. Students are expected to read aloud grade-level stories with fluency (rate, accuracy, expression, appropriate phrasing) and comprehension.
(15) Writing/Writing Process. Students use elements of the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) to compose text. Students are expected to:
(A) use and understand the function of the following parts of speech in the context of reading, writing, and speaking:

(i) verbs (irregular verbs);

(ii) nouns (singular/plural, common/proper);

(iii) adjectives (e.g., descriptive, including purpose: sleeping bag, frying pan) and their comparative and superlative forms (e.g., fast, faster, fastest);

(iv) adverbs (e.g., frequency: usually, sometimes; intensity: almost, a lot);

 Math
(4.11) Measurement. The student applies measurement concepts. The student is expected to estimate and measure to solve problems involving length (including perimeter) and area. The student uses measurement tools to measure capacity/volume and weight/mass. The student is expected to:

(A) estimate and use measurement tools to determine length (including perimeter), area, capacity and weight/mass using standard units SI (metric) and customary;

(B) perform simple conversions between different units of length, between different units of capacity, and between different units of weight within the customary measurement system;

Science
(3) Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions. The student is expected to:

(A) in all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing, including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student;

Social Studies
(21) Social studies skills. The student applies critical-thinking skills to organize and use information acquired from a variety of valid sources, including electronic technology. The student is expected to:

(A) differentiate between, locate, and use valid primary and secondary sources such as computer software; interviews; biographies; oral, print, and visual material; documents; and artifacts to acquire information about the United States and Texas;

(B) analyze information by sequencing, categorizing, identifying cause-and-effect relationships, comparing, contrasting, finding the main idea, summarizing, making generalizations and predictions, and drawing inferences and conclusions;

(C) organize and interpret information in outlines, reports, databases, and visuals, including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps;

(D) identify different points of view about an issue, topic, historical event, or current event  


Bubble Bursting Project1


Bubble Bursting Project 2

Snowball Math

YES! January is so much fun... we are finally warming up around here. 
Today was a great opportunity for Snowball Math!
We used rounding, estimation, number patterns, measurement, comparing, and graphing.
In science we were able to use the scientific method-Predictions, Hypothesis, we asked questions, researched, etc.

I started by laying a long strip of blue butcher paper on the floor.  A few desk had to be rearranged but it only took whole 30 seconds to get prepared.  Next we label inches on the butcher paper using a yard stick.  We labeled the inches by tens.

We had two items to compare and analyze.  A cotton ball and a regualar copy paper crumbled up.

There were some rules: 
1. Students can not jump forward as part of their throw.
2. Students can not step on the blue butcher paper.
3. The snowball must land on the blue butcher paper.




Snowball Math

We also read "There was a Cold Lady who swallowed some Snow" by Lucille Colandro



Check it out!
Next week we are starting a PBL (Project based Learning) project on Bubble Bursting!

This and That

  WOW! I am really feeling emotional about this blog post.  I miss my blog so much but time has been so scarce for me in 2013!  Masters degree , teaching a new grade level, and having a new baby boy has kicked my butt to say the least.  In 2014 I will be running my first 10K, turning the big THREE ONE, and I plan to blog more often.

 

 

So here it goes!

January is always so much fun!  Students come back from their long holiday break eager to learn and not only that but they have the classroom routines aced.  Just before we left for the holiday break we created a winter bulletin board inspired by Pinterest.  The bulletin board reads: Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow!  I don't think we really meant it.   Today in South Texas it felt like the high twenties with the wind chill... That is way too cold for us.  It did snow one Christmas Eve about 9 or 10 years ago and it was beautiful.  So many of my fellow Blogger, Facebook, and Instagram friends are at home either snowed or iced in.  YIKES! Stay warm my friends! Especially all the Texas teachers because we are not use to this frigid weather.


We are welcoming students back from winter break tomorrow and I am eager to hear all about their adventures over the holiday. 
On another note fourth grade has definetly been a big adjustment for me.  So many of you have messaged me or commented on some of my posts asking me who, what, when, and where I moved.  I am teaching in the same district and the same school in South Texas. From kinder to fourth grade is a giant difference, which I knew it would be, but I yearned for the challenge and learning experience.  Some days I am so overwhelmed with testing and fourth grade TEKS and just doing every lesson for the first time.  What helps tremendously is that I have awesome collegues that don't let me slip through the cracks.  The whole grade level including some great 5th and 2nd grade teachers have really helped me and encouraged me.  The closer this state assessment gets the more motivated and excited I am to teach, motivate, and ignite the learning in my fourth graders.

                           Fourth Grade "WRITE STUFF"

 

HoneyBADger Support Team!



 

I hope I didn't get too personal on this blog post but it is everything I am feeling and excited about right now!  I have so much more to say but time is running out!  I hope to blog again tonight and tomorrow!! Watch out WORLD!!

 

 

OH BABY!

OH BABY! I can't believe it has been two months since I last blogged!  Life is definitely full of adventure these days between end of year activities, working hard on my masters, being in my third trimester of pregnancy and finally giving birth to a new baby boy this month.  Whoa baby, and did I mention that in my spare time I scrapbook, pinterest, collaborate with my kinderland buddies, and have accomplished over 15 DIY projects for my new grade level change to fourth grade!

Needless to say I have not only been super busy but enjoying life to the fullest!

I want to thank all of my followers on Facebook, Pinterest, and Blogger for being patient with me and continuing to follow my blog even though my traffic has been slow.
Here are a few pictures I wanted to share with you!