Must Read Monday

I have really had math on the brain lately!  And I have found some great math books recently that I have incorporated into our Guided Reading time (this book is a level N).  The one I want to share with you is called Spaghetti and Meatballs for All! by Marilyn Burns.

It is a great book about a couple having their family and friends over for a spaghetti dinner.  They carefully plan how many tables and chairs they will need, but things go awry when their guests start pushing the tables together.

We've had great discussions about geometry and standard units while improving our reading skills.  My students were engaged by the story, and eager to share their mathematical ideas about how to solve the problems that the characters in the story encountered each time the tables were rearranged.

March Currently

My currently for March.  Click on over to Oh Boy 4th Grade to do your own!

Currently for February

Here is my currently for Feb.  Click on over to Oh' Boy 4th Grade to find it.

Farley's Currently Post for January

Find it for yourself at Oh' Boy 4th Grade!

12 in '12 Linky Party!

A linky party is being hosted by A Teeny Tiny Teacher and Miss Kindergarten!!  And since today is 12-12-12, I thought it would be particularly appropriate to join in.

12.  Favorite movie you watched: Lincoln.  It was amazing.  I can't believe how much Daniel Day Lewis actually looked like Lincoln.

11.  Favorite TV series:  Definitely, Big Bang Theory.  Sheldon never fails to make me laugh!

10.  Favorite restaurant: The Gardens of Taxco in West Hollywood, California.  Too bad, I have to drive 700 miles to get there!  It is the best restaurant on the planet.

9.  Favorite new thing you tried:  I got my first pedicure this year as a gift for my birthday, and it is something I will definitely do again!  I never knew what I was missing.

8.  Favorite gift you received: my husband, healthy and happy, after having had heart surgery.

7.  Favorite thing you pinned: my favorite pins are the dog pictures that make me smile.

6.  My favorite blog post:  I don't think I've been doing this long enough to have a favorite yet!

5.  My favorite accomplishment: hmmmmmm . . . I'll have to keep pondering this one.

4.  Favorite picture: a picture I took of my boys (well, only one of them is actually mine, but the other two are Godchildren so I count them, too!) on a trip to Oregon.  Please pardon the blasphemy that is UCLA and USC together!  Where did he even get a USC shirt!???!!

3.  Favorite memory: spending two days driving to California with my son.  It was nice to have time just talking with him (those of you that have teenagers will understand this one!).

2.  Goal for 2013:  To continue working on my PhD; one more year of coursework to go, and of course that little thing called a dissertation!  I must be crazy.

1.  One little word: Optimism; Keep putting one foot in front of the other with a smile on my face.  

Thanks for the linky party!!  It was nice to reflect upon the past year and think about the good things that have happened.

Farley's Currently Post

Find it at Oh' Boy 4th Grade

Fun Ways to Practice Math Facts Linky Party

Since I have been thinking so much about math lately, I am curious as to how everyone out there has their students practice math facts.  I try to have my students practice for 10 minutes every day in a fun and engaging way, so I am always on the hunt for fun ways to practice what is dull and boring by itself.  Please share one of your fun and creative ways to practice basic math facts.

Amy Lemon's Linky Party

Step into 2nd Grade is having a linky party.  I have heard this term a couple of times now, but until today, I had no idea what it was - I actually had to Google it (what did we do before Google?)!  Sounds like fun - so here goes!

Some quirky information about me:

1.  I love animals, and I have a multitude of pets: three dogs (a big goofy lab, a black and tan hound, and a chihuahua), two cats, a guinea pig, a fish, and a turtle.  The guinea pig and the turtle are classroom pets.

2.  I grew up in Los Angeles, but always yearned to live in small town America.  I now live in Utah in a town of about 7,000 people and I thank my lucky stars every day.

3.  I love to read.  I read 3-5 novels a month (don't ask me how I find the time because I don't know!).

4.  I can't get enough of black and white movies.  My husband jokes that I won't watch a movie unless it is in black and white (that's only 90% true!).  Can you name the actress?

5.  The only cake I will eat on my birthday is coconut cake.  Mmmmmmmmm!

6.  I don't know how to dance - in the dictionary, under 'two-left feet' there is a picture of me.  I am also musically challenged . . . hmmm, maybe these two things go together.

7.  Avocados are my favorite food and I can't get enough of them.  My favorite way to eat them is smeared on whole grain toast with a sprinkle of salt and pepper - YUM!

8.  Eight is my favorite number so here is where I will stop!