FOSS Science Word Wall Cards and Focus Wall

This FOSS Science Word Wall Pack is the perfect resource for the Solids and Liquids Kit. There are four sets of vocabulary cards included in the pack, one for each of the four Investigations of the module (Solids, Liquids, Bits and Pieces, and Solids and Liquids with Water). 

These colorful card sets are on attractive chevron cards which are designed to be printed on thick paper and then cut apart and posted on either a Science Word Wall or Focus Wall. You can post them all at once or build the wall as you either begin the Investigation or introduce the vocabulary.

These cards are also small enough to make an interactive word wall in an area in the classroom that would allow students to remove the cards and use them while writing in their science notebooks or journals and then return them to the board afterwards. Another idea for the cards is that students can use them in a center as flash cards for practice and reinforcement.

I am anxious for the new school year to begin so I can begin using these word wall cards. This year I am attempting a Science Focus Wall. 

My school has already adopted the common core standards for Reading, but not for the special subjects like Science. I'd like to get a head start preparing for the Next Generation Science Standards by adopting and implementing them into my lessons this year. A Science Focus Wall would be the perfect tool to expose my students to the "big picture" of Solids and Liquids. I've not done one before, but I have seen several great ideas for focus walls on Pinterest that make attempting a focus wall for science possible for me. I will keep you posted on how things work out.

I would love get your feedback, questions or ideas on these word wall cards or on starting my science focus wall. 

Please follow me on my TpT store to get these word wall cards and my other great products and future freebies.

**Lori** 

 

Back To School Daily Lesson Progress Sheet

Happy last days of summer break fellow teachers. It's back to school time for many and I know we are scrambling for those last minute nuggets to help us teach smarter and not harder.

I teach Science to K-2 students at my school. On a daily basis, I teach the same lesson to up to eight classes per day. They come to me for two consecutive days of a six-day cycle. For the past two years, I've been trying to come up with an easy and quick way to keep track of what I had covered in the first class and what I needed to cover for the next class. Needless to say, for moi, it's been a challenge, but I believe I've hit the jackpot with this form here.

With this sheet and on a daily basis, after recording the (cycle) day and date, I can record each class and room # that I will be teaching on that day. Then in the boxes I can make a quick notation of what part of my lesson plan I covered for each individual class and what I need to cover in the next class.

I can use the AM form for the morning classes, and the PM form for my afternoon classes.

I intend to make lots of copies of each form, front to back, with AM as the front and PM as the back of the form and attach it to my lesson plan daily. Voila! There I have it. A great idea to keep me on track, and hopefully you too if you teach like I do! 

Please visit my TpT store and take a look at my products. I would love it if you'd purchase some and "Follow Me" if you like what you see. 

Thanks,
--Lori

Back To School Science Writing Pack

This is the first product that I'm featuring on my new blog! I have been working hard on getting it looking great for viewing and purchase. I would love your feedback. Please visit my TpT store and consider purchasing it if you like it.

This Back To School Writing Pack will get your students writing about Science right away. The following printables are included:

1. Summer Science--Students can write about their summer science experiences such as planting flower/vegetable seeds, caring for a garden, caring for an animal or pet, collecting rocks, shells or bugs, picking up trash, recycling, etc.

2. What Is A Scientist?--Students write about what a scientist is or does.

3. Science Notebook--This page can be printed and glued to the front of a two-pocket folder to be used as a science notebook. I use them to have my students store class handouts. If you have the folders with pockets and fasteners, you can add multiple pages of the Science Journal Writing Paper printable I talk about below.

4. Science Journal Writing Paper--This printable can be used as experience paper for students to do reflective writing on their science investigations, record findings, or draw diagrams or models. Since this is a Back To School printable there are only a few lines for students to write on to reduce beginning of the year anxiety or frustration towards writing. A larger section is provided for the picture instead.

Hot Off the Press Blog Hop

If you haven't already heard, there is an awesome Back To School Freebie Giveaway opportunity going on right now. It's a collaborative effort by 20 TpT awesome bloggers. Jump on board and join the fun.

Just click on the picture above to get your instructions and the Cheat Sheet and hop to each of the links to download each of the 20 freebies. Embedded within the freebies are QR codes with money amounts to record on the cheat sheet. Total the amounts today and enter the contest for over 20 awesome prizes like gift certificates, gift baskets, freebies, and even a Nexus 7 Tablet! A winner and one of the awesome mystery prizes is chosen every day! Happy blog hopping!

Great Week of Loving and Learning

Loved this place! This weekend I had the privilege of celebrating my 28th wedding anniversary with the most awesome and amazing man alive. We stayed at the beautiful Felicita Resort--Harrisburg's best kept secret! You gotta check it out: http://www.felicitaresort.com/ 

This past week I spent a lot of time watching great videos learning the basics of creating great TpT products. I've got to thank Jessica Stanford so much for her wonderful Youtube video on Creating TpT Products in Powerpoint at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg8CKDogtBw. Up until now I had spent so much wasted time trying to learn Gimp but there was so much to learn I was pretty overwhelmed and discouraged. Jessica's video on using PowerPoint was so easy to follow and I was able to make a sample product right away. Yay! 

In the coming week I will be working on learning and practicing making editable powerpoints from Jessica Stanford's Saving Files as a PDF (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf3mZ9PGG6M) and Farrah Kilgo's Creating Printables (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kOdpkZ4rU8) video. This is so cool and exciting for me. I can't wait to get started again.

I've been so engrossed in all of this learning that my husband tells me that I'm spending too much time with "the other man" named "Mac".  Ha Ha.

Liebster Blog Award

Today I am thrilled that my friend and colleague Jen from That First Grade Blog has nominated my blog for the Liebster Award. I am a brand new blogger so this is a great way to acquire new friends and get more exposure in Bloggerville.

Liebster is German, and it means "dearest", "lovely", "cute", "beloved" and "welcome". I think that's a quite a word! Since blogging is about creating community, this award is an awesome way to spread the word about new blogs.

To accept the nomination you must:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated you.
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator.
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
5. Create 11 questions for your nominees.
6. Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them.

Blogs I Nominate for the Liebster Award:  (see below)


1. The Teaching Twosome

2. First Grade a to z

3. Shifting Teacher K-2

4.  Rosie's Rambles

5. Compassionate Teacher

Jens's Questions for me:

1. How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging for less than one month. I've just created and published by blog and have become very inspired to blog more from all the great bloggers that I am learning a lot from by following them on TpT and Bloglovin'.

2. If you've taught multiple grade levels, what grade level is your favorite? Why?

I have taught pre-school, fourth grade, second grade, and first grade throughout my twenty-five years of teaching. I must say that my favorite grade is probably first since it was the grade that I taught for the longest time (about 12 years or so). I think having taught six and seven year olds for such a long time has made me pretty much an expert and fan of all primary grade children.

3. What is the funniest thing that ever happened in your classroom?

I think that would have to be all the times when I have screamed and jumped on top of desks and chairs after seeing bugs and a mouse in my classroom while teaching first grade. During those times I did not have it in me to be brave or animal friendly. I was just plain scared! My students always got a good laugh at watching me jump so high and scream so loudly. :-) I'm glad to have made their day.

4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Tuscany, Italy is on my bucket list. I love the beauty of the land, and love to hear the Italian language spoken. 

5. Why did you decide to teach?

I was at a crossroads in my life in my second year of college and decided to major in teaching after first considering dropping out of college. It was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. I transferred to Shippensburg University, where I got my BS in Elementary Education. 

6. What is your favorite food? 

My favorite food is all soul food. Yep! Fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, green beans, black-eyed peas and rice. Love it all! Note that although I love these foods, I restrain myself from eating them until the holidays mostly. That just makes holidays even better.

7. Do you have any pets?

Although he does not live in my home (because my husband is not an animal lover. BOO!) I do share ownership of a rescue dog named Buddy. He is a lab/basset hound mix. He is the world's most handsome, cuddly, loving lap dog.

8. What is your favorite song?

 Hmmmm. I like a lot of different songs, but I can't say that I have an all time favorite.

9. What was the last book you read?

The last book I read was called Becoming a Woman of Strength by one of my favorite authors, Cynthia Heald. Her books are very inspirational.

10.  Do you have any children?

I have two adult children: Stephon Jr.-25 and Tammy-24

11. What is your most memorable experience as a teacher?

My most memorable experience came just about two years ago when I opted out of teaching first grade. I needed a change and ended up as our school's science teacher. It was totally unexpected, as I had never before taught just one subject, and especially not science. My first year was all about learning the curriculum and my second year was very rewarding because most days students came to my classroom very excited about what they would be learning in science. This was a breath of fresh air after teaching first grade for many years. 


11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I have a very small family.
2. My grandmother had two children; my mother had two children; and I had two children
3. I have a Master's degree in Curriculum/Instruction: Educational Technology
4. My sister and I are less than one year apart. For one month we are the same age.
5. I had gall bladder surgery recently.
6. My husband and I have both had the same surgeries twice (with identical scars to prove it).
7. I got married when I was 22 years old.
8. I will celebrate 28 years of marriage this summer! :-)
9. I drive a Nissan Altima
10. My husband and I are ordained ministers.
11. I live in a neighborhood where there are four educators living on the same street within the same block. Three of us are actually next door neighbors!




My Liebster Award Nominees:

1. The Teaching Twosome

2. First Grade a to z

3. Shifting Teacher K-2

4.  Rosie's Rambles

5. Compassionate Teacher



My Nominee Questions:

1. How old were you when you became a teacher?
2. What was your first teaching assignment?
3. What is your favorite children's book?
4. What brings you to tears?
5. Why do you teach?
6. What is your greatest joy?
7. What is your favorite vacation spot?
8. Do you like animals/pets?
9. Who is your greatest inspiration?
10. If you could write a book, what would it be its title?
11. What is your favorite Disney character?

Welcome!

Welcome to Mrs. Ross's Science Class blog. Here I post highlights of my science lessons, pictures of great investigations, and helpful lesson materials and tools.

I teach from the FOSS Curriculum: the Science and Liquids Module with my first and second graders; and the Trees Module with my kindergartners.