Happy Birthday Maria Ponce-Khoury

Live from PSI!
It's Maria's Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Clean Up Your Printer List!

I am really loving the new color copier/printer...

If you haven't tried scanning with it yet....wow...it is fast!

But I am hearing through the grapevine that many of you are having trouble finding and choosing the right printer....

Probably because the printer list you have has WAY TOO many printers listed.

Did you know...you can delete the printers you don't want or need.

Click this link to watch a screencast of how to do this!

It is especially important that you delete the printer named LMC Color-4600

(that machine no longer exists and if you choose this it will print to the SPED room)

Of course if you would rather learn this by talking to the "real" me....Stop in and I will help!

 

Special Water Main Edition

What are you doing today?

I don't know about you....
but this just feels weird!

Nice....
Comfortable.....

But a little weird!

I must be feeling better because I woke up....wide awake....at 3:30!
I am awfully glad to have my energy back...

 And I love the idea of telecommuting....even though I miss making coffee for you all!



So I ask again....what are you doing today?
Me?

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I thought this would be a good day to clean my computer!

• organize files throw away duplicates.....
• upload some stuff to Google Docs so it is accessible to me anywhere (then the laptop can stay at school)
• clean out the email....my goal is to keep the inbox under 100 and it has gotten out of hand
• sort and organize my iPhoto library
• synch all my calendars
• Clean out my bookmarks

Somehow all of the technology we have just gives more things to clean...

Of you decide to clean....keep an eye out for cute photos....send them to me...I am making updates to some of the displays in the media center and would like lots of photos of kids!

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I will run a list of all the "Students Not Tested" for NWEA as the window closes on the 4th...keep an eye out for this in your e-mail

I have been running the reports...and our kids are really doing well...congrats to you all!
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I am heading to Barnes and Noble to buy the new Caldecott and Newberry Winners!

The Jack Gantos book sounds really good! Here is the review from Amazon.

"Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launced on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder. Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air.

Oh... I love my job....I will probably have to lay on the couch and read this...and IT COUNTS as work!

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Can you believe the ATPPS observation window starts tomorrow....
I need to look over what needs to be done and think about what I might want to do for mine!

And.....the mid year check in too!

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I want to work on the website....especially the JumpStart links.  I think there are other things out there....and I want to make it jazzier...
If you know of any links there should be, let me know!
Or....you could do what first grade has done and make your own button/page for your kids.

BTW....
Jumpstart is now open for First and Second Grade students.
Just give me a heads up when you are planning to send students who have never been to JS before so I can be sure to help them settle in.

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I hope you ALL have a productive day....
I will watch for you on SKYPE.....my SKYPE name is mbloomgren...
Maybe we can have a virtual coffee break!

Printer Tips....and a couple of suggestions!

The printer copier seems to be working pretty well....

it must be 

because since it was installed PSI has printed 8051 pages in color

and

12428 pages in Black and White

I made a little movie to show you how to set up a color and black and white printer option to make it easier to print...

 Printer Set Up Tutorial

One of the most exciting things about the new printer is the ability to print ledger sized documents in color!

The iWork Application Pages has a large sized poster option....

The copier will print them....

They are stunning.....

Remember the goal to have more images of our students?

HMMMMM....Come see me if you want some help learning how to make these!

Please don't forget to pick up your documents after you print them!

There always seem to be a lot of unclaimed printouts....

so next time you are here...check to see if your stuff is in the basket!

Make sure that if you send students to get copies or print outs, they do so without interrupting the learning activities (I think kids think they are SUPPOSED to check in with an adult when they come in to the LMC)

If you will consistently ask kids to do this....I would suggest that you bring the class and show them what the expectations are as well as remind them not to interrupt!

 Are there other questions you have about the printer/copier?

It can probably do a lot more than we are doing with it....so if you have any tricks that you know...please share!

I haven't figured out the scanning yet...but it is on my list of projects!

Winter NWEA MAP Test Schedule

Didn't we JUST get done with MAP Testing?

I guess NOT....because the window for the Winter starts on Monday (Jan. 9)!

I am posting the schedules as I know them at this point!

I need to ask your patience and understanding during the testing weeks.

I have made every effort to avoid scheduling tests during scheduled Library Book Choice times.

BUT....

If we are going to be able to manage the testing AND library.....something has to give (ME)...

So as much as I love reading aloud and teaching library lessons to your students.....

I just can't do that for the next 3 weeks :(

Lisa and I will make sure that things are ready for your book choice times.  

I would also ask that you remind your students that Lisa cannot answer book location questions AND do book check outs!  Remind them that you can help with locating books.

If you could possibly limit the time you are in the center to 20 minutes that would be wonderful.

If your book choice IS impacted be the testing schedule, I will arrange something with you.

Here is the schedule For Next Week (Grades 3-5 Reading)

 

And Here is the Schedule for Week 2 (Grades 3-5 Math)

 And Week 3 (Makeups and Grade 2 Reading)

Just Gettin' Through the Week!

My Mantra is.....

4 More Days...4 More Days...

We really do need a vacation!
Although, I have so much Christmas Prep left that next week will be busier than this one!

And...there better not be anymore "Indoor Recess"!

I would love it if you would take a minute to post your holiday plans in a comment....That way I can see what you all will be up to!
Me.....Entertaining the first week....Florida to visit my Mom the second week!

Thought you would want to know that I have put the links to 3 fun Holiday themed links on the bottom of the Student Resource Page!

Decorate a Virtual Gingerbread Cookie

 

Cut a Virtual Snowflake

Make Your Own  Virtual Snowman

And if all else fails....

Don't forget you can always do SUAC!

(That stands for Shut Up And Color)


And just for a giggle....Here are some photos from the Holiday Make and Take on Friday!

 

 I think Freddie and Corey might just have a new career if this education deal doesn't work out!

Now I am going to go and start scheduling the NWEA Winter Tests....Arghhhh!  

Time Saving Tech Tip!

Here is something I learned from the tech department yesterday!

I was bemoaning how long it takes for student log in and log outs....

I was told that if you are only using the computers to access the internet....
and you don't need students to save any document to their  account....

YOU SHOULD
use the Guest Account

This account is accessed by using
User Name: guest account  (the word guest a single space and the word account all in lower case letters)
THERE IS NO PASSWORD

 One advantage of using this account-students can sit at any computer.  They do not need to always be at the same one.  Nice for grouping students for instructional purposes.

This account would also save time with the computers in the classrooms.

If you have any questions....let me know!

Fa la la la la! It's time to Deck the Halls!

You are invited!

To Get Your Craft ON!

Friday, December 9th

3:15-5:00

PSI Teacher Lunchroom

Make and Take Holiday Decor!

 Cost: $7.00

What We Will Bring!

Greens

Dogwood Branches

Pinecones and other decorative add ons

Fresh flowers by request

Ribbon

Wire

Hot Glue Gun

Floral Foam

Advice and How To Tips!

Hot Cider and Cocoa!

What YOU should Bring!

An idea of what you want to make!

A container if you want to make a centerpiece!

Any favorite items you

RSVP to Mary by DEC. 3

(the $7 is due then to reserve your spot and so the little elves can go shopping!)

Great New Video Resource

Hey take a look at this!
Javier, the 2nd grade Amity Intern used this with an art project...Cool Huh?

If you go to You Tube and search "Cantado aprendo a hablar" you will see lots of links to really awesome videos.
It looks like maybe this is a kids show that airs somewhere.
If you want to learn how to embed the videos on your webpage to use.....come see me and I will teach you how.
That is how I did this one!
Thanks Javier!
Enjoy....it's a 2 day week for goodness sakes!

Math Resources! Think Central Login Information!

It was fun to see all of you checking out the Math Links on the website at the SD meeting yesterday!

It makes me think that we don't take time often enough to just explore and "play"

Maybe we should do a similar activity with Language Arts activities!

Anyway.....
One of the things that was mentioned at the session was a need to get the information about THINK CENTRAL!

Derek was able to forward this information to me from Carrie R-J

Hello- Mary Norwick (Thanks!) has uploaded all of the student information into Think Central (this is the electronic support of Math Expressions). You can create assignments, test, and tutorials.

Students can now access Think Central. Student log in to Think Central is the same as logging in to the computer.

I have attached a power point on Think Central and a PDF on Soar To Success."

 

I will also forward the email....so that you have access to the PDF and the PPT.

The link to THINK CENTRAL is on the Student Resource Mathematics Link down at the bottom on the left:

 Now I am going to go try out Kara's "just breathing"....found The Hoberman Sphere at Amazon for $11....gotta get me one.....