Pretty Pencil Pinwheels (Easy summer craft)

Pretty Pencil Pinwheel

This is one of the crafts were going to do tomorrow @The Book Club. It’s very easy to make.

Taken from: http://crafts.kaboose.com/pretty-pencil-pinwheel.html

By: Amanda Formaro

Difficulty: Easy

Age: 7 and up

(4.5/5)

Pinwheels are an age old craft that your Grandma will remember. Put together these pretty wind decorations and stick them in your garden.

What you’ll need:

• Colored card stock or construction paper
• Thumbtack or stick pin
• Pencil with new eraser
• White craft glue
• Scissors
• Sequins
• Pattern

How to make it:

1. Print the pattern onto plain copy or printer paper.
2. Cut the square pattern out, cutting on the solid lines.
3. Lay pattern on top of colored paper and trace the square. Cut out the square from the colored paper.
4. Keep the pattern square on top of the colored square. Either hold it in place with your fingers or tape it down lightly on two of the sides.
5. Cut through the pattern and the colored paper along the dotted lines but do not cut in to the center circle.
6. Use a thumbtack or stick pin to poke out the holes in every other corner as indicated on the pattern. Set the pattern piece aside.
7. Take one corner (one with a hole) and fold it toward the center of the square. Fold the next corner that has a hole and fold it toward the center on top of the first holed corner. Repeat with the other two corners with holes until all four are folded into the center. Glue the folds to each other and to the center. Hold together until dry.
8. Push the thumbtack through the center of the pinwheel and into the eraser of the pencil. Make sure the pinwheel isn’t touching the eraser or it won’t spin.
9. Glue some sequins to the flaps of the pinwheel and let dry.

Tips:

• You can use plain white paper and have children color with crayons or markers to decorate before cutting out the pinwheel pattern.
• Decorate with lightweight items such as sequins and stickers or glitter glue. Items like buttons and craft jewels are too heavy.
• If the pinwheel isn’t turning properly, try using a longer stick pin rather than a thumbtack to allow more room between the pinwheel and the eraser.

Happenings & Things To Do In South Central L.A. & Surrounding Areas

Necessity truly is the mother of invention. While I am grateful for L.A. Parent magazine, all of the happenings are in the outerlying areas of L.A., like Torrance to Pasadena, even as far away as LaCañada Flintridge. I don’t mind traveling sometimes, but LaCañada Flintridge is way too far for a 2 hour event that I could find closer in.

That’s why I’m going to put out a weekly or bi-weekly newsletter (I haven’t decided yet) for those who want something a little closer than Torrance, Pasadena or LaCañada Flintridge. I will compile a listing of things in the surrounding areas of free or very low-cost activities to do with your children and family this summer. I wish I would have thought of it sooner. I know it’s because I have more time. Last year at this time the only things I wanted to do was sleep and absolutely nothing. That is not the case now. I’m so less stressed now. I am very, very near to completing my Master’s/Credential program, so my mind is clearer. I’m adjusting to life with much more time on my hand. Something I haven’t had a lot of these past couple years. Now that I have the time, I plan on using it wisely.

Here’s to the summer and having fun with your family! Bye for now!!!

My Apologies!

I wouI would like to offer my apologies to several people who e-mailed me and requested a copy of my OCR lesson plan template for Special Education students. There were many things that happened. First, I took a two month leave, the laptop with the lesson plans were on the laptop, I was swamped with school and my family, etc. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. However, I would like to correct that. I offer my apologies to: Elona D., Candace T., Jennifer Y., & Cindy W. I will get the lesson plan off the school laptop and e-mail it within the next day or so.

Sorry guys!

Leila

Book Club Time Again!

Well, it’s that time again- Book Club time! I will start tomorrow. As of now I have my own children, David & Phillise, and 5 other neighborhood children. I am planning activities for them as we speak. We are going to:

• Make & decorate the cover for the Memory book before I laminate them.
• Take pictures for their library card.
• Visit the library to get library cards for those who don’t have them.
• Check out books from my library or the public library and explain the rules of the book club regarding behavior and participation.

That’s all I got for now. Will post pics tomorrow before the weekend. Bye for now!

Keeping It To A Clap!

Keeping it to a clap! Well, what does that mean? It means that I will keep the noise down, as far as my thunder thighs are concerned. They used to make so much noise. I’m embarrassed to admit this but, before I started exercising, they used to rub together. Now, they do not. My inner thighs have toned up so much from walking 3.6–5.2 miles/day. Plus, I’ve added the Sand Dunes in Manhattan Beach to my exercise regimen. Oh, the Sand Dune!

So, dear readers, I am going to keep it to a clap! No more thunder! Only the thunderous applause when I reveal the thinner, inner me that’s been waiting to get out for years!!!

Ellen’s 11 Star Spectacular Super Deluxe Hotel by Larry Schwarz

Ellen’s 11 Star Spectacular Super Deluxe Hotel, written by Larry Schwartz & illustrated by Kelly Denato, is the perfect little book to use with the Open Court Imagination Unit. I guess everyone’s feeling the crunch, ’cause this book is my most recent purchase from Barnes & Noble. It was a great buy: $3.99 for a hardcover book.

On to the review. I would say this book is for someone as young as 3-4 years old. It is the cutest little book. The young heroine, Ellen, lives in an 11-Star spectacular, super deluxe hotel. Her life is fabulous. She has a pet monster who she feeds. She’s a world famous detective who foils jewel heists. That’s a pretty tall order for an 8 year old.

Her life is so exciting. Well, not really. It’s actually a motel outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. She experiences  a series of adventures. Or does she? I guess you’re going to have to read it and find out what happens?

I really like this book for use with the 3rd grade OCR Imagination unit. Check it out!

How Many Substitutes Does It Take…?

The whole question is, “How many substitutes does it take to teach a special education class?” Apparently it takes 9. Yeah, you heard me 9. Apparently 9 is the magic number because that’s how many subs my students ran away during my 2 month absence. Wow!!!

Only Two!

Yesterday, the last day of school I might add, I had two students. Two little girls. One rambunctious, the other very quiet. So, the day worked out very well. So, my assistants and I actually outnumbered the students. It was a pretty quiet day. Oh, what a day!

Extra Tired Me!

I am so freaking tired. I have not had any rest since the weekend. I just finished my presentation. That’s a load off. Now, I’m going to bed!

CONGRATULATIONS WORLD CHAMPION LAKERS!!!

Well, the title says it all. Congratulations Lakers!!!

Tired & Cranky Me!

Well, the title says it all. I am tired and cranky! I have barely had any sleep this whole week. Between summer school, work, and my family, I am exhausted. I was supposed to go to karaoke tonight, but just don’t have the energy. So, I think I’ll take a nap now. Good-bye !

But, I Can Only Read Those Books!

“But, I can only read those books! ” said one of my students, Mike, as he pointed to the Bob books on the shelf.

“What do you mean,” I asked.

We talked about the reasons for his misbehavior. I intervened when he was misbehaving with my assistant. I realized that he was misbehaving because he didn’t think he could “do” the test. So, we talked for a minute as I pointed out High Frequency Words (HFW) and sight words. He was amazed that he could read words in the passage of the test.

I let him know that they were the same words no matter where they were. I would like to say that he took his time and diligently read the test, but I can’t. He dashed through the test and circled any answer. However, the good part is that he realized that he could read other books besides the Bob books and other “easy” books he’s been reading from. I’m glad he brought it up because I would not have thought he thought that he could only read from certain books. It’s amazing how kids think! I can use this information in the future!

It’s nice to know!

Bye for now!

My Class is Too Comfortable!

I say that my class is too comfortable because when children come into my class, I have a hard time getting them to leave. One of my 5th grade students did not want to participate in the 5th grade activities. I know it’s because he only knows 4 people because he came late in the year. However, I still pushed him to do it.

“I don’t wanna’ go,” he said. “I wanna’ stay here. This class is comfortable.”

Needless to say, I still made him go. However, I’m not totally heartless. I sent one of my assistants with him. She stayed with him for about 10 minutes.

I have to make sure that I make my students comfortable, but not too comfortable.

Until next time people!

They Took A Survey!

My students took a survey yesterday. You know those school survey the students are being asked to take. I wasn’t trying to peek. Honest, I wasn’t. Its just that I had to read it to them. Well, I helped them with it. I did not, however, lead them in their answers. It was all their own answers. A couple of their responses made my eyes water. The questions were about if I cared about them or not. All of them answered without hesitation that I did. It really touched my heart. They know that I care about them. Without a shadow of a doubt.

It means they understand when I’m hard on them! They understand that I need to discipline them. They understand that I love them!

If A.P.L.E. Payments Not Received!

Someone by the name of Bio Teacher left a comment and his e-mail address on this blog. He wants anyone who has not received their A.P.L.E. payments as promised to contact him, so you can fight together. If you would like to contact him, his e-mail address is: APLEaction@gmail.com

Let me know how it works out!

I Swept the Floor!

What an odd title. What does that mean? Who doesn’t sweep the floor? Why does it have significance that I swept the floor? Well, I’ve been back from stress leave for a month. During that whole time I hadn’t swept my classroom. I let the students sweep it. So, you know it wasn’t as nice as if I’d swept it.

I take great pride in my classroom’s cleanliness. However, I just didn’t have it in me yet. I wasn’t ready to jump back in with both feet. I needed time to sort of get with the flow; time to readjust.

Well, today, I guess that period of adjustment is over because I did it. I swept the floor. Now, it looks good. It looks like the classroom I remember.

As I continue my journey, I think I’ll sweep the floor more often. I mean that literally and figuratively. Join me, won’t you!

An Unusually Tough Tuesday!

Tuesday’s usually go very smoothly and very quickly. However, today was a little rough. There also seemed to be a snail in the clock. It moved sooooooooooo slowly!

I know what, or more appropriately who the problem was- it was Nu. He has been out of sorts lately. Even more so than usual. He starts around 7:30 a.m. He’ll eat and then throw his left-over food @ whoever happens to be near him. Whenever an adult intervenes and sends him away, that doesn’t last for more than 2 minutes. As there are a lot of children to take care of and limited adults to supervise them, he’s soon back disturbing others trying to eat.

From there, he lines up; but not before he runs into everyone else’s line. Soon, it’s time to go to the classroom where it all begins again. Usually I will have one of my assistants take him for a walk to calm him down about 30-40 minutes in. When he returns, he usually runs around the classroom throwing stuff. Shortly thereafter, I gratefully welcome Recess. Only to have it start all over after Recess.

Yeah, it was an unusually tough Tuesday!

I know it’s not his fault, that this is part of his disability. It doesn’t make me any less tired though. That said, I’m about to take a nap!

So, until next time!

HAPPY JUNE!

Hey everyone! Happy June to you. You know what that means? Less than a month left in school.

YIPPEEEEEEE!

Hopefully I will have time to write this month, ’cause I didn’t last month. I was so overwhelmed with summer school. It’s Monday & Wednesday- 4:30-10:00 p.m. Believe me when I say that we stay the whole time. Sometimes it’s so boring. I’m not going to stress though. After tonight, I only have 7 more sessions. Then I am free until at least August.

So, until next time!