Hurricane Sandy

Last year we never had one snow day - we did however have a day off for flooding in the beginning of September.  Last year the only big snow storm happened on Halloween.  Is this all this crazy weather due to global warming?

This year, we are currently off of school for Hurricane Sandy.  They are calling this storm Frankenstorm since it is so close to Halloween.  We still have power, however I do some preparations for the Hurricane.  I don't need things flying around in my back yard, or me not being able to see in my house.  At least I have a good book to read if the power goes out, it only seems like a matter of time until we don't have it.  Many power companies sent their trucks up to PA to help out with the anticipated power outages.  Some power companies even called their customers saying that it might be 5 days until they get power.

Stay safe during the Hurricane and if you aren't experiencing the Hurricane - enjoy the sunny weather!

Math Graffiti Posters

A few weeks ago I ordered some posters for my classroom called Math Graffiti.  This pack of posters has 55 posters that have catchy ways of saying Math terms. I hung these posters all around my classroom - I first laminated them and hung them all with velcro since come PSSA testing time - I have to take them all down. I love Velcro - best product invented for a classroom!!! 

While the posters do cost quite a bit of money - my students really enjoy look at them all over my room.  This year I hung them all at once, I think next year I might hang them up as we cover the topic, almost like a graffiti word wall. For those that speak Spanish - the words are written in Spanish at the bottom of each poster.  Each poster is 11"x17" so students can see this all around the room.  

  

Mountain Climber Freebie

Today I decided that I was going to set up a TeachersPayTeachers account.  I have used the following activity in my classroom quite a bit this year and the kids absolutely love it.  The one that I just put up is for positive numbers.  While the numbers start off pretty basic, once the students start getting towards the top, the numbers start getting into the hundreds.  Great resource for students to use without the use of a calculator.

I plan on creating a whole set up them including negatives, fractions, decimals.  I really can adapt these for both my lower level and honors students.  

Happy Climbing!

Second Go Around

Well I have tried blogging before only it just didn't go so well.  I just never kept up with it.  While I read lots of blogs every day, I just hope that I can create a blog where I an share both what I do in my classroom, but also my love for traveling.

I teach both 7th grade Math and also a night math class at a local Art Institute.  We use the CPM curriculum so I am always trying to find some creative ways of sprucing up my lessons.

The one thing that I love about teaching is the summers off.  I used to work in a cubical and let's just put it like this - that didn't last too long.  I absolutely to travel the world.  Some places that I have been are Tunisia, Costa Rica, Russia, Mongolia, China.  I enjoy making the world my classroom over the summer.  One of my hobbies is taking pictures so trying to show others what the world has to offer excites me!

So here's to the new blog, I hope I can share some ideas with others!