How Pinteresting Halloween Edition

I hoped I would be more regular on my How Pinteresting posts buuuut.....it didn't happen, so I will vow to post a How Pinteresting edition when I can.

I have been seeing some fabulous pins on Halloween and I just love some of the crafts I am seeing so I have started a Halloween board, you can see it here.  I have shared some of these on my Facebook page  but decided to also share with all of my blog followers a few of my favourites as well!  So here are some the more Pinteresting pins I have found

I love anything that uses hand/foot/thumb prints, these ghost are not so scary but more on the cute side.

Oh see, here is one using knuckle prints, easy to do!

Another easy craft, that would go great with reading Stellaluna.  I can just see these hanging from the ceiling with bat facts attached.

What kiddo wouldn't love eating worms!!  Some great science on solids and liquids here.....or just an excuse to eat jelly.

Not only Halloween related but a great Art and Maths lesson on symmetry.

I hope you have found some great ideas for your classroom and, just click on any of the pics to be taken to the pin.

Homework or not?

Hi friends!  I posted a question on my Facebook page the other day asking whether teachers though homework was a good thing or not.  The teachers that left comments all indicted that they DID NOT like homework.  My children currently go to a school where homework is not formally given, the are encouraged to do home reading and to finish any tasks that were not finished at school, sometimes I like this, sometimes not.  My children seem to finish everything at school, so homework is usually reading and piano practice for my daughter (she loves it so not really a chore for her)
I think this is a topic that is hotly debated by both parents and teachers so I thought I would open it up here for discussion.
As a teacher I dislike assigning homework, copying, marking it and following up on those that didn't do it and were unlikely to ever do it for whatever reason.  As a parent I dislike the time it cuts into my family time, I am not of a worksheet mentality I would rather have my kids doing hands on as much as they can.

As a parent I like to read with my child, I like to see what they are doing in the classroom and I like to see where they need help so that I can be part of their schooling without having the opportunity to be in their classroom.  At the moment I don't think I am getting a complete picture of that on a weekly basis.

So you can see why I sometimes like it, sometimes not.  There have been many articles and studies done on whether we need homework or how homework is outdated and needs to be more reflective of our modern lifestyle as indicated in this article.

Over the last couple of years I would like to think that in my classroom I have slowly been modifying my homework to reflect the modern lifestyle will all have.  I have given my students a rubric that allows them to make choices about the activities they complete and they amount that they do.  My homework also includes family activities so that any extra curricula activities are part of their "home"work.  The student would have to complete the shaded activities and then choose any of the others that they would like to.  I just noticed that record the spelling strategies you used should be shaded.

Here is a quick sample of  one week.  Please note this is not current as I am subbing at the moment.

After I had written this post I noticed a fabulous blogger I follow Amanda at Teaching Maddeness  has just done a blog post on how she sets up her homework which has another spin on homework, so why not head over and check it out.  If you have a way that motivates your students or parents to engage in homework please feel free to leave a comment

Custom Categories

Do you buy on TpT?  Silly question I'm sure!  Did you know that some sellers have Custom Categories in there store to make it easier for you to find things in their store?  I love them and I use them.

The great thing about Custom Categories is that it is set up by the seller not the site, so you know it is going to be relevant and you won't have to scroll through pages and pages to find what you need.   So if you have a favourite seller, go the their store check on the left hand side under the My Products tab for a Custom Categories list.   You just might find exactly what you are looking for!

Enjoy the rest of your week and if you are on school holidays enjoy the serenity!

Our Place in Space

Over the last few weeks I have been revamping working on a unit I used in my classroom  a couple of years ago.  I regularly visit this fascinating topic in my classroom, there is something that children find endlessly interesting about space and our solar system.  So I started with a few activities that I have done with my class and then it. Just. Grew....and grew, until I had over 80 pages and an updated Space unit!

Here is one of the activities that I have included in the file.  My Solar System Flip Book.  There are double copies on each page so you only need to print half the amount for your class.
 item.

There is space on each page to add more information as students explore the planets.  This file is available as part of the unit as well as a stand alone.

Just click on any of the pics to get your copy.  I will have the Space unit at a reduced price for a limited time so jump in quick to get your copy!

Currently October??!!

Oh boy this year is flying by!  I missed out on linking up last month as I was busy with family, but this month I am on holidaaaayys!  So without further ado her is my currently.

1.  It is a rainy, windy Spring day here and my two little darlings are stuck inside on their holidays.....still in their pyjamas at 2pm, hehe.  So what else is there to do but make a blanket cubby, love childhood.

2. As mentioned above I am in week 1 of holidays and I am embracing the nothingness.  I love not hearing that phone ring at 6:30 am

3.  Even though I am loving doing nothing....I really need to get my kids out and about doing SOMETHING!  We went to the movies yesterday so I think tomorrow we will get out.

4. A new book!  Before TpT I read all holidays....I have not picked up a book yet, will definitely be downloading one this week.

5.  I have to go to a fancy schmancy (as my son would say) dinner on Friday and I need a fancy schmancy dress to wear that will be warm, everything I have is strappy and not warm.  So I guess I should put dress shopping on the agenda for the week as well!

6.  My favourite treat is red licorice at the moment....seriously I can eat a whole packet in a day!  Its ok though, they are 98% fat free.....but I think it has lots of sugar, I'm too scared to look!

Righto, your turn to head over to Farley's to link up!

Huge Giveaway!

Head over to Alison's blog Teaching Maths with Meaning to enter her MASSIVE giveaway.  There are some great prizes from some fabulous K- 2 teachers and 3-6 teachers.  You have the chance to win your choice of a product from my store...so head on over and enter now!

Fall Freebie

I am enjoying relaxing on my holidays and even though we aren't going anywhere it is nice to wake up and know that I won't be getting a call to rush off for subbing, especially since it is raining cats and dogs here.  So what have I been doing?  Well creating wonderful things for you!

Of course that means I have got a freebie for you.  This is a Fall themed Read the Room activity with QR codes for self checking/correction.  Don't worry, there is an answer sheet included if you don't have any scanning devices.  Just click on the pic to get your FREE copy, I am off to the movies with my own little darlings now, have a great day!