Witnessing Student Growth...#winning

As I have written about before, this year I am implementing Standards Based Grading. Here's how it looks in my classroom:

Students take quizzes often. Usually, there are 2-3 skills on a quiz, but each skill is separated. Here's an example of a decimals operations quiz my 7th grade general classes recently took.

Multiply & Divide Decimals Quiz 

Students get a score for each specific skill, and this is what goes in the gradebook - not the overall score. Since there's just a few problems for each skill, I have decided that mastery is missing 0-1 problems. If a student missed  0-1 problems, then I don't require them to re-quiz. If they miss more than 1 question, they are required to re-quiz on that specific section. I give re-quizzes on Friday. Students that do not have to re-quiz are given game time on their Chromebooks. They love this incentive!!

I am LOVING this way of grading. It is holding students accountable for their learning. If they don't master the skill the first quiz, they know they have to re-quiz on it on Friday. And if they still don't master it the 2nd time, they know they will be re-quizzing again. I have only had about 10 of my 100+ students that have needed to re-quiz a 2nd time. Most students are mastering the skill on their 1st re-quiz. This, to me, is such a win!

When settings up their interactive notebooks at the beginning of the year, I had students title 4 pages "Quiz Forms." After every quiz and re-quiz, students write in their score for each section of the quiz. This way, come Friday when it's time to requiz, they look there to see what specific sections they need to re-quiz on. Not gonna lie - this has been a struggle for many general students. I should have went around to every single kid after returning the first quiz to ensure they had done this correctly. I will definitely do that next year. Those who did it right the first time are okay. Others, not so much. I even saw this past week where one kid had glued in an actual quiz in the quiz form section. (Insert blushing emoji). I then tore the quiz out, and I went through and wrote in every quiz and score in his notebook. (Insert impatient/annoyed emoji).

I wish I had a picture of a notebook that was done correctly. I will take a picture this week and add it here.

My original plan was to make the quiz report forms myself and have the student just fill in the score and glue them in. I did that for my first class, but I just had my other classes hand write them in. Maybe I will start creating these for general classes.

Many of my advanced students are making careless errors on their quizzes...forgetting a negative sign, adding when they were supposed to be subtracting, etc. Making them re-quiz because of these mistakes forces them to be more and more careful with each quiz.

Re-quizzing has definitely allowed me to see student growth and has helped me to also identify weaknesses.

After classes have taken the 1st quiz on a topic. I grade them and sort them low-high. The following day, students work with a partner on making corrections. I do not grade the corrections. It is just for their learning. I take a quiz from the top of the stack (a low score), and a quiz from the bottom (a high score). The two students get together, and they know that if they have the high score, they have to actually teach and help the other student - not just show them their answers. This has been so beneficial! I hear the "ooooh, I see what I did" and "man, I can't believe I forgot that."
((music to my teacher ears!))

My Daily Routine Using Essential Oils Since Starting School

I started using oils in May, and I really didn't know what I was doing at first. Now, in September, I absolutely love them, and wish I would have known about them sooner. I order something new every month...I only wish I had more time in my week to play around with new recipes, products, ideas, etc.

I wanted to share my oily routine since school has started.

I know a lot of people diffuse peppermint and/or lemon to help wake them up, and get them focused and energized. Being real - I don't wake up in time to diffuse anything. I will apply a little Frankincense, Melrose (a new one to me), or Tea Tree if I have any blemishes on my face. I also always keep a pitcher of water with lemon, grapefruit, and peppermint in it. If I am literally running out the door I will just grab a bottle of water (told ya - the struggle is real). But if I have a minute or two to spare, I will fill my glass water bottle up with water from my pitcher.

I have taken my bottle of Stress Away with me to school a few days and rubbed some of my wrists. 

Often times I leave school with tension headaches. When I get home, I diffuse one or a combo of two of: joy/peace & calming II/stress away/citrus fresh. A recent favorite of mine to diffuse is citrus fresh and joy. It is uplifting and smells SO good!

I have been sick this week, so I applied thieves to my feet. I also used RC on my sinus areas. 

I apply Progressence Plus (specifically for women) nightly to my neck and forearms. 

Young Living Essential Oils are also in my face wash, makeup remover cloths, and face cream that I use daily. **Note: Tim (hubs) says that's the best face wash he's ever used!! And I agree. I will be making some to give to some of my family soon.

I will diffuse peppermint on the weekends when I don't feel like doing..well, anything. This helps me stay alert and keep me focused on writing lesson plans, creating quizzes, entering grades, customizing homework, cleaning the house, doing laundry, etc.

I have been out of Purification for almost 2 months, and it.is.killing.me. I also use it on blemishes, on cotton balls put in smelly places, and in my diffuser. It is an air purifier and literally takes odors out. It's been out of stock. I have learned my lesson though. I will start buying extra of the oils that I know I use a lot and don't want to be without again. I am also getting another diffuser to keep at school with  next month's Essential Rewards order...that way I am getting points back to use on future orders! Win-Win

On another note, it's starting to feel more like fall here in SC! And that means Carolina Football is in full swing. WooHoo!

First 3 Days of School

I should definitely be writing this week's lesson plans right now, but obviously, I'm not. I can't believe I'm already procrastinating.
pssshh. yeah, right! I wouldn't expect anything else.

We started school this past Wednesday. Like all teachers, I stress procedures those first few days. However, I also really want students to have fun and enjoy being in class. I want them to leave my room excited about what they're doing in math. That's half the battle. If kids know that you (gasp) actually like them and if they enjoy being in your class, they're more motivated and more likely to work hard for you. So, I tried to make those first three days a mix of learning procedures and having fun.

Day 1 - Wednesday:
When students enter my room the first day, there is a small tub of Play-Doh on their desks. The first thing I have them do after welcoming them in is use the Play-Doh to create something that represents them. They LOVE this. It It's so out-of-the-norm for them to be able to do something like this at school, so they are typically pretty excited and chatty during this time. That's okay. That's what I want to happen. I give them more time than actually needed for this because I use that time to walk around to each group of students and talk to them. I ask questions, figure out if I've had their siblings before, find out who their 6th grade math teacher was and what level math they were in, find out what they did over the summer....basically anything to get them to open up to me so that relationships can start to form.

Then I go over a "Who is Mrs. Brown?" powerpoint to introduce myself. It just has pictures so students can see that I'm more than just their math teacher.

The next thing I do is spend some time going over just 3 procedures that they will need to know for the following day - Supplies, Beginning of Class, End of class. I save the rest for the next day.

If there is time left, (and this year there was),  we play a name game. Each student has to think of an adjective to describe them that starts with the same letter that their name starts with. For example, it could be Smart Suzie, Sassy Suzie, Lovely Liz, etc. The first student says their adjective and their name, and then the next student has to say theirs and everyone that's went before them. The kids like this, especially when I split the class in half and make it a competition, but it is mainly more for me to help remember names.

Day 2 - Thursday:
I finish procedures on the 2nd day. However, instead of me just using a powerpoint and rambling on about them, I want the students to interact with them. I printed out the powerpoint that I use, and put 1 copy on each group of desks. Students rotate reading them aloud in their groups. I include written descriptions of important procedures and memes in the powerpoint!! They LOVE reading the memes aloud! My favorite to hear the students "act out" is the "ain't nobody got time for that" one.
TOO FUNNY!

After they've finished reading in their groups, I give each student a half sheet of colored paper, and they have to write down two things they learned about homework, late work, rules/consequences, and rewards. Then I call on students to discuss what they learned.

Once finished with procedures, I have them work on covers for their interactive notebooks. I go around the room and let students choose which color paper they want. They are allowed to decorate it however they'd like. This week, we will begin taping their covers to their interactive notebooks with packaging tape. This helps to personalize the notebook to them so they will (hopefully) find it important and be more likely to keep up with it. It also makes the cover a bit more sturdy.

Day 3 - Friday:
We play Musical Chairs on Friday. This is really not a game. No one wins. No one gets out. It's just the  name of the activity. I got this activity from the teacher I student-taught under. I knew I would love it.

I created 15 get-to-know-you type questions. I put 1 card on each desk. When the music is on, students flip their cards over and answer the question. When the music stops, students rotate to the next desk.

After Musical Chairs, students finish their notebook covers, and I pass out workbooks.



What do your first days look like?

Excitement for 2015-2016

My husband has informed me a couple of times that I'm more of a glass half empty kinda person than a glass half full. I beg to differ. I don't think I'm a negative person. At all. But I do think I am very realistic. Sometimes what's realistic is negative, and sometimes what's realistic is positive. I am not one to sugar coat anything, (and I typically always find those people annoying). I appreciate honesty. Tell it like it is - nothing more, nothing less. Don't try to make something out to be something that it's not. Shoot straight with me. Keep it 100, and we might just be BFFs!

Tomorrow is our third day back at school for teachers. At the start of the school year, stress levels can sometimes be high because there's so much to get done before the kids arrive. It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, so I decided to write a post focusing on the positives. I would truly hate if others thought of me as being glass half empty. If it's just my husband, cool. Others, not cool.

There really is a lot to be excited about this school year!

1.) New Schedule - The 7th grade schedule has changed from teaching one class before planning to two. I think I am going to love this change. The kids usually get pretty rowdy after their enrichment courses, and then they still have 3 more core classes to go. This allows us to get in one more class period before they leave us for enrichment classes.

2.) Teaching a New Section - I will be teaching one 8th grade class this year first thing in the morning. I have never taught 8th graders, so I'm excited to see if I will mesh well with them. I student taught with 6th graders and then had one 6th grade class my first year teaching. So, after this year, I will have taught all three levels. I'm interested in seeing if teaching 8th grade is something I may be interested in in the future.

3.) Coaching Volleyball at the Middle School - I have coached volleyball for several years. My friend and I had our first team of developmental (11 and under) players our senior year in high school.  After that, I've coached JV at Lugoff-Elgin High, a 16s club team, several seasons of 15s club, and this past year was the assistant Varsity and interim head Varsity when the head coach was on maternity leave. This year I will be the assistant coach at the middle school I teach at. I have never coached this level. I'm suppperrr excited to be able to work with girls on basic fundamentals because they are so, so important. It's frustrating at the high school level when there are players that still do some things incorrectly or haven't fully mastered basic skills. It's much harder to break them of those bad habits at that point. I will definitely miss the high school girls and the fast-paced game, but I can't wait for this new experience.

4.) Co-Teaching - This year I will be co-teaching two classes with a new teacher to the school. I LOVE doing lots of group work, stations, and activities that have kids up out of their seats and moving around the room. And I often pull small groups of students and work with them directly for some extra tutoring while other students are working independently. Having another teacher in the room is going to be so wonderful for this!!!

5.) New Way of Grading - As mentioned in a previous post, I will be transitioning to more Standards Based Grading. I still have some reservations and questions/thoughts that I need to figure out, but that's also another reason why I'm stoked about co-teaching. We will be able to bounce ideas off of one another and figure out what's going to work best for us and our students. I'm worried that it may be too much to implement this with all classes, so right now I'm thinking of just doing it with the classes that are being co-taught. Not 100% sure on this though.

OOOOHH and I got new carpet in my room! It's the small things, y'all!

See Tim, I can be a glass half full sometimes!

Things I realized this summer

Disclaimer: This is a complete random post that really serves no purpose.

Today was the last official day of summer for teachers. I love my students and I love teaching, but ooooh do I love summer, too!!

After reflecting on my summer, here's a list of things I've realized:

1.) I've spent wayyyy too much time on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Google, etc. And I'm not even one of those girls that's glued to her phone. Just having extra time had me on it more. I'm pretty sure I posted more things this summer than I did the entire last school year.

2.) I don't think I'll ever grow out of wanting to stay up late and sleep all day. And when I say all day...I mean ALL day! I've always heard that that would change when I became an "adult" with a big girl job. Well. It hasn't.

3.) I love just being a wife. Organizing, cooking, and cleaning are things that typically get put on the  back burner during the school year. I come home late (after volleyball), usually exhausted, and often times still have school work to do...which means take-out and a cluttered house. And take-out and a cluttered house eventually leads to stress and unhappiness. Plus my mostly innocent husband is the one that I end up taking my frustration out on. (Love ya, Tim.) Even though it seems like I say it every year, I have GOT to find a balance this school year.

4.) I LOVE being an aunt! I became an aunt for the first time in June. Buying for baby girls is so much fun!!

5.) I have picked up 2 new hobbies. Experimenting with my Essential Oils from Young Living and becoming an independent distributor for AdvoCare and helping myself and others meet their health and wellness goals. I never had intentions of being a distributor of either one. I started using Essential Oils in April or May, and it's been so much fun. I love trying DIY recipes and learning new ways to use the oils to replace common household products that contain harsh chemicals and are loaded with toxins. I started with purchasing the Premium Starter Kit (which is currently on sale), and  I thought that would probably be it. Boy, was I wrong. I am now buying different oils every month and have a Pinterest board full of different things to try.

The same goes with AdvoCare. I did not have intentions on becoming a Distributor. I just wanted to try the 24 Day Challenge and figured I'd be done with it after that. Halfway through the challenge, I was loving the products and noticed a huge difference in the way they made me feel. That's when I decided that I would want to help others experience the same benefits that I did. I am a big believer in AdvoCare and still use products daily!!

If you're interested in learning more about the 24 Day Challenge, I found this awesome video here! Check it out and let me know what you think!!

How I Use Essential Oils

I have been asked about my Essential Oils and how I use them. Here's a list of ways that I have used the oils since I got them in May:

1.) Tim hardly ever goes to the doctor. He hates going and would rather suck it up and deal with whatever's bothering him than go the doctor. Well, just a couple of weeks ago, he surprised me and went. I had no idea he was going or that he was even sick. Figures. Communication is not his strong point. Anywho....when I got home, he was laid up in the recliner (as usual) but did look terrible. He was miserable. The doctor said he couldn't believe that Tim had lasted that long still going to work and everything. He had a severe sinus infection. He was given a Z-Pack. He had taken the first dose of the Z-Pack when I got home. I came in and told him that I was putting some oils on him. No arguing. You're not telling me no. End of story.

I applied Thieves on the vita flex points on his toes. I also applied Thieves on his throat and Lavender on his face where he said there was sinus pressure (around nose, under eyes, forehead over his eyebrows, etc.).

He took NyQuil not too soon after I applied the oils and went to sleep. He was perfect the next day. I don't know about you...but it typically takes me a few days after being on a Z-Pack to start feeling any better. You do the math on that one. :)

2.) Tim was congested last night, so I applied Thieves around his nose. He said it definitely worked!!      
    (I was doing backflips on the inside when he told me!!)

3.) I always keep a pitcher of water with oils in them in my fridge. This is probably my favorite way to use my oils and is definitely how I use them the most. I put Lemon, Peppermint, and Grapefruit in the water. When I'm not drinking my AdvoCare Spark, I'm drinking this. It's delish, and the combo of the three is supposed to be a detox. When I first started drinking the oils, I could immediately tell that I was not craving sodas anymore...I was craving that water! It was super easy to get down, and I was always wanting to drinking more and more. Peppermint is supposed to help curb appetite and is an energy booster, Lemon is supposed to detox the liver and is also an energy booster, and Grapefruit helps with bloating, digestion, and cravings. win-win-win!

4.) I put a drop of Purification on a cotton ball and put the cotton balls in my tennis shoes after I've been working out and they've gotten a lil stank...any odor is GONE by the next morning. Purification is an odor eliminator. It doesn't cover up smells - it takes them away.

5.) Again with Purification on cotton balls. While we were at the beach a couple of weeks ago, my lovely older brother went golfing with Tim, and they took his truck. Apparently they had some sweaty, straight-up stank..and I mean stank golf shoes and towels that they had left in there. I felt like I couldn't breathe in his truck the smell was so awful. I put the cotton balls with Purification on them in the air vents. Odor was soon gone!

6.) I made a face cream to use at night in place of my moisturizer. I talked about it here and here.

7.) I also made makeup remover cloths the same time I made the face cream. I talked about making these here and here. I absolutely love these and will never, ever, ever buy the Neutrogena ones I used to spend about $6 on for 25 cloths again.

8.) I made face soap this week using just 3 ingredients!! I talked about making it here.

9.) I have used Frankincense, Purification, and Tea Tree at different times on acne. It's amazing how quickly all three of these have worked.

10.) I have used stress away on my shoulders and neck when I have felt tense after a long day of work.

I purchased the Premium Starter Kit which came with a diffuser, 11 oils, and some sample packets. I think it was around $160. You must become a wholesale customer in order to purchase one of the kits which means that you will automatically get 24% off all purchases. There's no commitment or anything else involved when signing up as a wholesale member.

NOTE: Young Living is currently running a promotion and has $10 off of Premium Starter Kits!! I wish that was the case when I bought mine. If you've been on the fence about buying some, now really is the time to do so. The sale is good through August 14!

I would love to help you and your fam get started with using Essential Oils and living a toxic free lifestyle. Let me know if you want more info or have questions!! I am by no means an expert. I am still learning. This has really turned into a hobby. I enjoy making things and finding new uses for my oils.

Things to make or do next with my oils: Room Spray (like air freshener or Febreze), Poo-Pourri Spray, Liquid Laundry Detergent, Detox Bath



Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information represents what I, an Independent Distributor of Young Living Essential Oils, have chosen to do to change my lifestyle and personal health. Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

DIY Face Soap Using Essential Oils

Today I made my own face soap using some of my Young Living Essential Oils. I love that I am living a healthier life with essential oils by replacing products that contain harsh chemicals with ones that contain all natural ingredients. I love knowing exactly what's going in my body and what's in my household.

What I REALLY love about this is that it's simple. If I read about anything DIY, domestic(ish) online that I would like to try but has 10,000 ingredients and/or steps, I'm out. That's a wrap. Close the tab. Next.     This has 3 ingredients and 3 steps. It's liz-friendly. I approve!


Here's what I used:

• Pure Castile Soap (I get mine at Target)
• Foaming Soap Dispenser (I reused one from Bath and Body Works)
• Distilled Water
• Young Living's Frankincense
• Young Living's Tea Tree 

1.) Fill container about 1/3 way full with the Pure Castile Soap.

2.) Add Essential Oils. I put about 8 drops of Tea Tree and 6 drops of Frankincense. Tea Tree is supposed to help fight acne and is a cleanser that is actually in many skin care products. Frankincense also supports your skin health by reducing the appearance of wrinkles, sunspots, scars, etc.

3.) Fill the rest with distilled water.
Shake before each use to ensure the oils are dispersed throughout the bottle.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

My husband used it before I did tonight. I asked him how he thought it was. The only response I got out of him was that it smelled weird.
Typical.

I love that I am taking steps towards having less toxins in our home!! Please let me know if you have any suggestions or other ways that you're using your oils!

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  The information represents what I, an Independent Distributor of Young Living Essential Oils, have chosen to do to take charge of my own personal health.  Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. 

On another note...how about the season finale of The Bachelorette from Monday?!? AHHHHH!! So excited that Shawn got the final rose!

And why am I up writing a blog post at 2:35 am?! Well, duh, it's summer. And I'm a teacher, so I can! 
#sorrynotsorry
#enjoyingitwhileican

School Supplies

I am all about a good deal - especially on school supplies. Office Depot has different school supplies on sale each week starting on Sundays. Last week they had Sharpie singles for $0.25, 4-pack glue sticks for $0.25, and 5-pack highlighters for $0.25. Although I was on vacation at the beach last week, I had to go find a store.

I ended up getting a total of 12 Sharpies, 24 glue sticks, and 60 highlighters for about $8!!!              CRAAAY-ZEEE!!

They have lots more deals this week. After church and lunch, my husband and I stopped by for 100-pack notecards for $0.01 and 10-pack pens for $0.01. While there, I saw that they have plastic folders that I need for $0.60.

I ended up with 8 plastic folders, 6 100-pack index cards, and 9 10-pack of pens for under $6!!

Last year, I had students use glue sticks in their interactive notebooks, and they about drove me insane. Tops to the glue sticks magically disappeared ALL the time (yet I would find them on the floor all over the room once students were gone), the glue sticks would dry out, and students were always needing new ones. I stocked up at the beginning of the year thanks to Office Depot, but it was still a pain to always be handing them out.

So, this year I want to try tape instead. I have a feeling the girls will enjoy using their own colored or patterned tape, but I need to have some for students who do not have any. Please let me know if you see any good deals!!!

Beginnings of Standards Based Grading(ish)

One of my goals for the 2015-2016 school year is to implement some sort of new grading system. Why? Because I hate how now, students can take a test, fail it, and think it's no big deal because we automatically move on to something else.

NO!! IT IS A BIG DEAL! I want to hold my students accountable and have high standards for them. If they don't understand something by the day of the test, it doesn't just go away. They will see that same topic again, so it is important for students to "get it." I really don't care if they "get it" after 10 minutes or 10 weeks - all that matters to me is that they eventually master the topic. Not everybody learns the same way or in the same amount of time. Totally cool with that. And that's why something's gotta change in room 207!

I have read and heard a lot about Standards Based Grading (SBG), and I have been intrigued. I want to change my traditional use of quizzes, tests, and exams so that skills are specifically listed in the grade book instead of a meaningless quiz title such as "Quiz 3.1-3.3". I want to know the exact skill(s) that students do not understand and have not mastered rather than a mere grade of 16/20 on a quiz that covered 4 different skills. So, this year, the score for each skill will be listed in the grade book.

Once I know the exact skill that students are struggling with, I can reteach and provide opportunities for students to practice and re-quiz on that specific skill.

I don't think what I'm going to do is full out SBG, but is definitely more in that direction.
I'm not going to allow students to make anything lower than a "B" or 85% on ANY skill covered on a  quiz. If they do, I will enter that grade in the grade book, but students will be required to re-quiz on that one skill, and then their score will be updated in the grade book.

Although it will most likely change, this is how I'm envisioning this happening in my classroom:
-Teach 1-4 skills
-Students take 1 quiz on those skills. Each skill has it's own section and spot for a score within the quiz. So, if a quiz covers 2 skills, students will actually get 2 scores in the grade book - one for each skill.
-Return graded quizzes. Students fill in their scores for each skill on a grade tracking sheet I will pass out. They will glue these in the front of their Interactive Notebook. (see picture below)
-Students will re-quiz ONLY on the skill that they did not get an "A" or a "B" on.
-I replace the grade in the grade book if the score is higher than before.

Quiz Tracking Form

For re-quizzing, I'm thinking I will have it in class probably once a week or once every other week or whenever time allows. For students that have mastered every single skill, they will have some free time while their peers are working. This will be a great motivator for students to do well on quizzes the FIRST time.

Questions/Thoughts I have as I am working through all this:

•  Should I still give tests? How will that work? Just give a cumulative test after every 2-3 chapters/topics since I will be giving more quizzes than normal? 
• This seems like a lot of grading...how can I manage that? Use Digits, Google Form, Socrative, etc. so that it is automatically graded? 
• I'm teaching 3 preps this year (yikes!) - should I only start this with 1 prep? Or go all in and have all my classes do this? 
• Should I enter all grades as I usually do (numerically)? Or, should I only enter the numerical score if the student passed the skill with an "A" or "B" and enter a "NY" for students that have "not yet" mastered this skill, but enter the actual numerical score in the comments section so that it is still on record?

What are your thoughts? I would love any feedback and/or suggestions you have!!

Math Calendar FREEBIE!

I finished my Masters Degree in November of 2014. Many of the books and articles we were required to read stressed the importance of two key ideas in helping our students learn mathematics - having students experience a "productive struggle" and providing them with opportunities for cumulative review.

Here are two books that I found the most helpful:

In my three l o n g short years of teaching, I have learned so, SO much about what it means to be an effective teacher. I think most teachers can relate to this: you have an AwEsOmE lesson planned. you have spent hours preparing. you have researched (more like pinterest) ideas. you have gathered materials. you've made copies. you've laminated. you have manipulatives and visuals and sometimes even a song! you have hands-on activities, games, and stations. You deliver the lesson. And you NAILED IT! (high five!) Students had fun AND learned. It's a win-win. And you even have assessment data to prove it.

Fast forward 2 months later. You bring up the exact same topic to the class.
*crickets*
*dazed, blank stares*

"Really?!? Y'all don't remember this?!" Teacher bangs head on a concrete wall. 


Students HAVE to have cumulative review. And if not, stop what you're doing. Go ahead and get some band-aids....Cuz you gon' need 'em!

After looking on Pinterest a couple of years ago, I decided that Math Calendars would be a neat way for students to consistently review previously learned material. So, I created a couple and LOVED them, but I never found the time to create more. These are also the most purchased items in my Teacher's Pay Teacher's Store. I really like these because there's so much flexibility in the way that you could potentially use them. You could keep them in the classroom and have students complete one a day, or have them work on a week at a time and check them in class as you go.

I typically pass them out on the first day of the month. Students are responsible for taking them home and keeping up with them. They are due back around the second of the following month. I really stress the importance of students showing work on the back or another sheet of paper in order to receive any credit. I won't accept it until I see where they have shown work.  I often give students "work time" in class. When students tell me they don't have anything to do (yeah, right) because they have finished their classwork and homework and have no missing work, my first question back to them is "have you finished your math calendar for this month?" And that's the end of that conversation. :)  I also sometimes have students work on their calendar as their warm up assignment in class. This helps to keep them on students' mind so that they are not forgotten about until the 30th of the month. Because time management is such a struggle for 7th graders, I give a few extra credit points if they are turned in early.


Here is the 7th Grade Math Calendar I just finished up for October 2015. It will cover everything we have done in August and September. The calendar is editable so you could change the month, days, problems, etc. I will have both my 7th grade general and advanced class use this one. It could also be used for advanced 6th grade classes or for low-level 8th grade classes.

Topics in the calendar (and covered in August and September in my classroom):

• Integers
• Decimals 
• Fractions
• Absolute Value
• Classifying Rational Numbers 

Here is a FREEBIE of an old calendar. Use it to get an idea of what my review calendars look like. 

Enjoy!

AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge Results

I have finished AdvoCare's 24 Day Challenge and am excited to share my results with you!

The Facts:
-Down a total of 10 lbs
-Lost over 5 inches
-Increased energy level
-No bloating
-Improved digestion

I was amazed at the numbers, but I was even more amazed at how much better I felt. And I noticed many of these benefits as little as halfway through the challenge. What's crazy is that I did not follow the recommended diet to a tee (insert blushing emoji), yet I still have great results. Overall, I have completely changed my eating habits - way less fried food, less starches, less sugar, tons of more water, etc. This has taken some serious will power and dedication, but I truly believe that AdvoCare has helped to make the process easier.

I fell in love with the products on the challenge and know that I will continue using them. I have a pretty good feeling that I will be reordering Spark at least once a month when school starts!! Hey - a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! I recently ordered a new flavor of Spark - Watermelon - and it is right up there with the Fruit Punch flavor in my book! They taste just like Kool Aid...but without the sugar!!

Since I love the products and will continue using them, I decided to sign up as a distributor so that I will have 20% off my purchases!! Let me know if you are interested in the challenge, and I will get you hooked up! I was skeptical at first, but trust me, after my own experience I know that you will not regret it!!

Since finishing the challenge, I have purchased AdvoCare's Catalyst. I have heard and read lots of great things about this product, so I'm hoping I'll have great results with this, too. Catalyst is supposed to give you greater benefits if you work out - it preserves lean muscle tissue so that you are burning fat, not muscle, giving you a more toned physique. And who doesn't want that?!

All about the SPARK

Y'all. Please tell me you've tried some of AdvoCare's Spark. If not, this is a MUST if you're like me and could use a little boost of energy every now and then. I started using it about three weeks ago - my last week of school. The end of the school year is very, very, VERY hectic. There's so many things to be done in and out of the classroom to finish out the year and to ensure that the start of the following year goes smoothly. Checking lockers. Stuffing report cards. Labeling furniture. Moving furniture.  Finalizing grades. Packing up and storing items....not to mention managing 102 seventh graders throughout the day who want absolutely nothing to do with school at that point. Although I love the kids -  It's exhausting. By mid-afternoon, right after lunch, I would usually be dragging.

Ahhh... And then there's Spark. Thank you AdvoCare!!!

I tried several times in the past year to stop drinking sodas and to drink nothing but water. It never failed. By day 2 or 3, the caffeine headaches were k i l l e r, and I'd give in. Spark has been my solution to this!! I have not had a soda in a month, and I really don't even miss them. My husband drinks them daily, so for them to be in my fridge and for me to STILL NOT drink them is epic!! Because Spark has caffeine, I have been able to kick those bad habits without feeling like death. And just like the picture above says, there are no jitters!!

Spark comes in the following flavors: Cherry, Fruit Punch, Grape, Green Apple, Mandarin Orange, Mango Strawberry, Pink Lemonade, and Watermelon.

Initial Reaction to DIY Essential Oil Products

I posted here about making make-up remover cloths and face cream using some essential oils from my Young Living Premium Starter Kit. I'm not going to be that girl that's super dramatical (thanks for the word, Flava Flav) and rave about how amazingly fantastic and life-changing these products are after only using them for two or three days. I'm not going to do a full review until after I've used them for a few weeks, but I do want to give you my initial reaction.

The makeup remover cloths were too wet. Next time I will have to adjust the amount of liquids I use and/or the amount of cloths. They were also too soapy at first, so I added in a little more water. What I've started doing is getting a dry cotton round and lightly pushing it in with the others so that it is damp. This has worked great. I typically don't wear a ton of makeup - except for mascara. Now that, I pile on. I have noticed that I do not have to rub my eyes near as long when taking off my mascara as I did when using the store bought ones. I was afraid that the oils would cause my face to sting, but they have not.

As for the cream, the texture of mine is perfect. However my mom's has stayed in a liquid state. She tried putting it in the refrigerator, but then it was completely hardened so she wasn't able to use it. We are working on this and will hopefully have something figured out soon. Any suggestions?!? The label on the coconut oil says that it turns from solid to liquid at 75 degrees, but there's no way her house is 75 degrees...and both of our creams were made at the same time..?

On another note, we've had a busy couple of days. We went from a family of 5 (mom, dad, two older brothers, me) to a family of 8 (spouses) 3 years ago. Yesterday at 9:41 a.m., we went from 8 to 9 as we welcomed my little niece, Charlee Grace, into the world. I am already a little bit obsessed. I can no longer go in a store without going to the baby section. Buying little girl clothes is so.much.fun!!! Before giving my sister-in-law a baby shower a while back, I went ahead and told her that I did not buy them anything they wanted off their registry (sorry!!). I bought stuff that I wanted her to have - which was cute clothes and accessories! I already have presents put up for later. According to my husband, "the girl already has tennis shoes for when she's five, and she can't even walk yet!" This is completely untrue. But his point is not. I am going a little overboard. But she's the first...I can't help it!

Pimping My Classroom

Anybody remember the show "Pimp My Ride?"

If she doesn't know what Pimp My Ride is, SHE'S TOO YOUNG FOR YOU, BRO! 
Did I really just say that?

   ANNDD create a meme?

 Well, I'm going to be Pimping My Classroom for next year. Should I even be using those words in the same sentence - pimp, classroom?!? Good thing my blog is fresh (insert blushing emoji).

For the past few years my classroom has been decorated with lots of colors - black and white, hot pink, neon green, and turquoise. And, it's cute, now. Don't get it twisted. But, I want a change. I'm thinking of just going to black, white, gray, and turquoise.

Before:

Teacher Toolbox
Thanks Pinterest!

View of the back of the classroom

Check out those awesome scale drawings!!

Front of Room

I will be taking everything pink and green down and replacing it with turquoise. I can't wait to decorate with what I've already bought!

Dollar Tree Finds!!!

Absolutely LOVE these!! (from Ross)

Y'all. I have the nosiest cutest dog. She has to check out everything that's going on.

Next Steps:
-get turquoise fabric for back bulletin boards
-get turquoise ribbon to replace the pink and green on my cart, desk, and table
-get turquoise rug

My Newest Obsession

Since being on my summer break, I have had the time to look up more ways to use my Young Living Essential Oils. I purchased the Premium Starter Kit almost two months ago, and I am so, so, so glad I did. They have already served many purposes in the Brown household. However, my hubby was so not convinced at first. He was all, "since when are you into voodoo?"...........i'm sorry, what?....men. smh

After explaining that I believe God put these oils on Earth for us to use, they're all natural and healthy - straight from the seed, and after him physically seeing and noticing a difference that they have provided, he's been on board!!

Today I experimented with making night face cream and makeup remover cloths. There's so much information out there about how to use the oils...it's a little overwhelming. I literally have 8 tabs up on different ways to make face cream.

  

My parents willingly decided (were made) to be my guinea pigs with the night cream.
Thanks mom! Thanks dad! :))
They will be applying the cream at night. I did take pictures of their faces so that I can compare their skin after a couple of weeks of using the cream. But I do enjoy living, so I will not be posting them. At least not any time soon. (what mama don't know won't hurt, right?!)

Ya girl is all about simplicity (laziness). Here are some links I referenced that did not use too many ingredients/were not too complicated:
http://lemonpeony.com/diy-all-natural-essential-oil-night-cream-recipe/
http://realfoodenthusiast.com/diy-luxurious-homemade-whipped-body-butter/
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/04/diy-makeup-remover-pads-for-every-skin-type.html
http://thecoconutmama.com/2015/04/homemade-makeup-remover-pads/

I ended up using the following oils in my cream:

-Lemon (evens skin tone, good for oily skin)
-Lavender (smells great, helps with acne and dark spots)
-Frankincense (helps with acne, reduces appearance of aging skin)
-Purification (helps with acne)

Frankincense is seriously thebomb.com for breakouts. I have used it on acne at night, and the following day, there was ZERO evidence of any acne!!

I'm super excited to see how these products work!! I'll keep y'all posted.

It's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine, it's...

SUMMERTIME! Nobody said it better than my main squeeze, Kenny Chesney.

I'm two weeks into my summer break, and I.am.absolutely.loving.it!!!!  But before you know it, it'll be mid-August, my little seventh grade darlings will be entering the halls, and it will soon be gettin' real in room 207! :)

Before the school year ended I made a list of my professional goals for this summer:

1.) Look more into Standards-Based Grading
2.) Create more Math Calendars (especially since I will be teaching a new prep this year - 8th grade!)
3.) Use Blendspace to create more flipped lessons
4.) Create and/or find more foldables for students' Interactive Notebooks
5.) Create warm-ups
6.) Go ahead and customize some things in Digits for my 8th grade class

Now...I just have to DO these things...And in comes the struggle.