In a Galaxy Far, Far, Away...

What we've been learning:  We started 2016 with a unit about the planets and outer space.

I saw an idea on Pinterest over the summer to create pillowcases with the periodic table of elements labeled.  Although we weren't going to study chemistry, the idea stuck with me.  I wanted to incorporate decorating a pillowcase in some way.  Christin had special fabric markers that we used, and the boys each brought their own pillowcase to decorate.  They had to label the planets in order and try and draw them to scale-ish.  They turned out so different from each other.

Next, I had planned a super fun travel poster assignment for the boys.  I even spent several days making my own example.  They were each going to pick a planet and research information about the planet.  Then, they were going to make a travel poster convincing us to travel to their planet.  The boys informed me that they already knew about planets and had done a similar project in elementary school.  I felt really disappointed they didn't want to/had already done the project.

I wanted to incorporate art into the space unit.  Last year I felt like I did a better job including art in different assignments, but this year I have not.  As I was search on Pinterest I found this artist, Djuno Tomsni.  He does a nod to the 1970s with these vacation space images.  We created similar pieces of art.  I especially like Andrew's.  He has a family looking at a cable car on a snowy planet.  On the backside, he talked about how the family forgot their coats and wouldn't make that mistake again.  So creative.

The boys also created drawings about what life on space might look like.  I found this website with what communism might look like in outer space.  The images were so creative and detailed.  I remember when I was in elementary school I loved drawing intricate houses and towers and underground living spaces.  If I had more time, I would love to have them write stories to go along with their drawings.

I used the mystery bag pirate hook (blog post about it can be found here) and threw some astronaut food in a brown bag with a question mark on it.  I purchased the food at Michaels, the craft store, over the summer.  I saw it and knew the treat would be perfect for my boys.

The bags caught their attention as they spent several days guessing the contents.  Once they actually got to open the bags, they LOVED the freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches.  Before researching, they made predictions about how astronauts go to the bathroom, sleep, and what they do in their free time.  Then, they wrote papers about what life is like in space for astronauts.

Next is a unit on weather, storms, and hurricanes.  Any lesson plan ideas for those topics?

Con mucho amor.

Valentine's Day

What we did to celebrate:  I love celebrating love.  Valentine's Day landed on a Sunday this year.  (Here's the link to how we celebrated at the Reyes Academy last year.)  I had some friends over for dinner.  We ate pasta, and we ordered the yummiest cinnamon rolls from my new favorite place: Mari's Cakes.  I also had the apartment decorated for the holiday.  (Thanks mom for sending such cute decorations!)  

The Reyes Academy celebrated Valentine's Day on Monday.  We first made Love Rocks.  Here's an article that explains where the idea came from.  A couple lost their daughters a few years ago.  To help cope with the tragedy they started making these love rocks to spread joy.  Visit their Facebook page here to learn more about what they do.

My mom made one for my roommate and I last year, and I loved the idea of randomly blessing others.  We could leave them at the supermarket, give them to people on the street, or set one on a step of the apartment.  I thought the concept of spreading love went perfectly with Valentine's Day.  The kids each made 2-3 using fabric scraps and modge podge.

Next we did black out poetry with using 1 Corinthians 13 or 1 John 4.  I loved seeing how different the 6 poems turned out.  Christin and I also participated.  It really helped us to think deeply about the text and its themes.  I would love to incorporate this same strategy into English class sometime.  

We ended the celebration by giving the kids their valentines.  Over Christmas break I found these poop pencils, and I knew they were perfect for the boys.  They absolutely LOVED them.  We had fun laughing about sticking poop in our noses, eating poop, and touching poop.

Christin and I made cookies and cake to give to the guys at the colmado and to bring to Bible study.  Through a friend on Facebook, I discovered a website called 40 Acts.  Each day of Lent they send an email with an act to do for the day.  I had already planned on making these things, but when I opened my email the act for the day was to make food to give to someone.  It was fun to randomly bless those around us.

How did you celebrate love year round?

24

What I'm doing to celebrate: This year I turned the big 2-4.  It seems like such a big number.  I told that to the boys and they said, "You said the same thing last year."  My birthday was such a fun day.

It began right when I woke up and got to open the package my mom sent with me in December.  She sent a birthday card in the mail, but it sometimes takes a long time to get mail in Santiago.  Even without a card, it was nice to have a piece of home to open on my special day.

Christin was an awesome roommate and decorated my classroom and laid out cute cards the students made for me.  She wrote a clever note with cute little gifts.  The cards from the kids were so special and nice.  The girls are so incredibly artistic, and the boy's precious notes melted my heart.

Rosa brought me the biggest balloon bunch I have ever seen, and we celebrated at lunch with pizza.  Unfortunately Andrew and Joseph weren't feeling very well and couldn't stay for the whole day.  Isaac was having a lot of fun singing, as you can see in the funny picture.

The night of my birthday I met up with some friends at Mari's Cakes for more pizza.  Corinne came all the way from La Vega to celebrate, and Amanda came straight from work.  Nathaly offered to drive us, and it was so fun to laugh, talk, and eat good food.

I felt so spoiled and loved by the gifts, texts, posts on Facebook and messages.  Thank you all for making my birthday so special.  Here's to many new adventures in a new year.

New Year - Reyes Academy Style

What we did to celebrate:  I realized I never posted anything about our beginning of 2016 celebration.  With the business of kidney stones and starting teaching again after the holiday, I simply forgot.  Last year we had an awesome New Year party (Here's my blog post about it), and this year I wanted to make it even bigger and better.

Thursday, January 6th was the first day back to school.  We had a half day so Christin and I could get the apartment ready in the afternoon.  We decorated for our sleepover/party.  The kids came over Thursday night.  We had pizza for dinner and had a New Year's photo shoot, which was really fun.  We played Skipbo and watched a movie, Captain Phillips, with the girl's classroom full of air mattresses and glow sticks.  It was a late night full of laughter, talking, and celebrating 2016.

The next day I bravely made chocolate chip pancakes for 8 people, something I never thought I would do.  It showed me one day what it might be like to prepare breakfast for a family.  Pancake batter flying, trying to make sure the kids eat a banana, and make sure all six of them were dressed and ready for our field trip.

We were heading to Puerto Plata for the day, a town near the beach.  Our first stop was the cable car.  We had a lot of fun taking pictures and walking around once we reached the top of the mountain.  We also found this cool bridge that had an amazing view, which I hadn't seen the last time I went up the cable car.  The boys especially loved the caves.

The second stop was an old fort in the city.  We ate lunch in the car and explored the building, learning about the history of Puerto Plata.  This part happened during the heat of the day, so we took a rest after the tour.  I absolutely love the architecture of the fort.  The old doors, windows, and arches are fun to photograph.

We ended the day at an amber museum.  After reading reviews on Trip Adviser, I had very low hopes for the museum, but the boys and I just finished studying fossils.  The amber museum was a perfect way to connect the field trip to science.  The museum was surprisingly really interesting.  It is not very huge.

We are hoping to plan some more field trips this spring.  I would love to go to Haiti with our students.  Currently in Spanish class we are reading about dolphins, so a trip to Ocean World is in the near future.  Love getting to explore this beautiful island.

Con mucho amor.

Pirating up the Week

What I've been teaching:  This was a "ruff" week.  The boys were more restless than normal, talking and not paying attention.  I had shorter patience because I have been busier.  I have been fighting off sickness and this stupid kidney stone.  Part of the way through the week, I realized I needed to "pirate" some of my lessons.  I hoped this would engage the boys more and improve my attitude about work.  

Teach like a Pirate (prior blog post about it can be found here) is all about being a purple cow in a sea of black and white ones.  The book encourages teachers to be creative and think outside of the box through different "hooks."  

from: here 

The Safari Hook:  Wednesday we moved to the roof for reading time.  There was a beautiful breeze, and we sat in the shade while reading Long Way from Chicago.  There are so many different places in our apartment complex that I should take advantage of and use.  Getting outside of the four walls of the classroom helps keep them engaged.

The Mystery Bag Hook:  Thursday I placed these three mystery bags on my desk.  I purchased some freeze-dried "astronaut" food over the summer.  We are currently studying outer space and the solar system.  I wanted the boys to be intrigued.  They could feel the bags.  Rice cakes, cookies, and paper were some of the guesses.

We ended week 22 of the Reyes Academy with worship, prayer, and a fun little selfie photo shoot.

How are you mixing things up in the classroom?  What are you doing to keep students engaged?