WOW! I have been selected as a Whole Brain Teaching Social Media Intern! I am so honored to have been selected!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
WOW! An Award!
A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to Mrs. Stoltenberg at
Mrs. Stoltenberg's Second Grade Class
for nominating me for the Versitile Blogger Award! I am very honored!
So here are the required 7 random facts about me:
1. I have 2 daughters. Daughter #1 just graduated and is going to be a physics teacher in a teeny tiny town in Illinois. Daughter #2 is currently in Mexico studying abroad. She is a Homeland Security/Criminal Justice/Spanish major and will be a Sr. in the Fall!
2. I have 3 dogs and 3 cats that are spoiled rotten!
3. I am teaching 1st Grade ELL Summer School.
4. I am reading "Gone Girl" on my Nook.
5. I've been married for 28 years to my college sweetheart!
6. I've lost 50 lbs. since last June!
7. I joined a local Couch to 5K program in February of this year. I have ran 4 - 5Ks and I run 3miles every other day.
I'm going to have to look for 15 great blogs to nominate for this fantastic award so I'll be back later for an update! Thanks again Mrs. Stoltenberg!
Laurie
Monday, June 18, 2012
Tradition Education vs. Whole Brain Teaching.....my thoughts.
Traditional Education: “Try not to have a good time - this is supposed to be educational”.
Charles M. Schulz
Since when has learning new things not been fun! Who doesn’t remember the first time you learned to ride a bike? Squeals of joy came out of everyone involved as I unsteadily made that first trek down the road! I felt as if I could conquer the world after that! As an adult, I recently trained for and learned how to run a 5K. When I crossed that finish line my arms were in the air, fist pumping, high fiving, spectators were cheering! I felt like a million dollars! The training, concentration and perseverance to achieve both of those skills were grueling. But the end result of pure joy was worth the amount of bumps, bruises and scrapes sustained in the process! Learning is FUN! The rigor and requirements in education today is much like enduring all those bumps, bruises, and scrapes but without the same rewards.
Fun doesn’t have to be superficial, simplified or amusing. What fun in education does mean is highly motivational, actively engaged, innovative, creative and imaginative learning. Children are supposed to LOVE learning! It is understandable that today, in traditional educational settings, children find it very difficult to love the boring, monotonous, repetitive, meaningless hours of sitting at a desk or in front of a computer being force fed superficial facts for high stakes testing.
What about WBT isn’t FUN? When I incorporate WBT into my day, not only do my students have fun but I do as well! My kids beg to play Super Speed 100! My class loves to act out their basal reading stories with their hands, bodies and silly voices. Teach/Okay shows students how others think. “It’s okay” encourages students to not be afraid to give a wrong answer. WBT naturally encourages critical thinking skills without the students even knowing it! My test scores and exemplary evaluations prove that WBT works!
Laurie Matko
firstgradeelljungle.blogspot.com/
ELL teacher in VA (I attended the WBT orientation)
Charles M. Schulz
Since when has learning new things not been fun! Who doesn’t remember the first time you learned to ride a bike? Squeals of joy came out of everyone involved as I unsteadily made that first trek down the road! I felt as if I could conquer the world after that! As an adult, I recently trained for and learned how to run a 5K. When I crossed that finish line my arms were in the air, fist pumping, high fiving, spectators were cheering! I felt like a million dollars! The training, concentration and perseverance to achieve both of those skills were grueling. But the end result of pure joy was worth the amount of bumps, bruises and scrapes sustained in the process! Learning is FUN! The rigor and requirements in education today is much like enduring all those bumps, bruises, and scrapes but without the same rewards.
Fun doesn’t have to be superficial, simplified or amusing. What fun in education does mean is highly motivational, actively engaged, innovative, creative and imaginative learning. Children are supposed to LOVE learning! It is understandable that today, in traditional educational settings, children find it very difficult to love the boring, monotonous, repetitive, meaningless hours of sitting at a desk or in front of a computer being force fed superficial facts for high stakes testing.
What about WBT isn’t FUN? When I incorporate WBT into my day, not only do my students have fun but I do as well! My kids beg to play Super Speed 100! My class loves to act out their basal reading stories with their hands, bodies and silly voices. Teach/Okay shows students how others think. “It’s okay” encourages students to not be afraid to give a wrong answer. WBT naturally encourages critical thinking skills without the students even knowing it! My test scores and exemplary evaluations prove that WBT works!
Laurie Matko
firstgradeelljungle.blogspot.com/
ELL teacher in VA (I attended the WBT orientation)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
http://www.scribd.com/doc/97237225/WBT-CertificationWHOLE BRAIN TEACHING CERTIFICATION!
Please join me as I go through the stages of being certified as a Whole Brain Teacher! I promise this will make your life easier!
http://wholebrainteaching.com/
Please join me as I go through the stages of being certified as a Whole Brain Teacher! I promise this will make your life easier!
http://wholebrainteaching.com/
Sunday, January 22, 2012
It's A New Year. Big Decisions.
Happy New Year! January ALWAYS tends to be the BEST teaching month EVER! The kids are more mature and are settled into the first grade routine. I'm refreshed after the Winter Break. They suck up all the information I am teaching like a sponge! This is also the time that my class changes due to the fact they are very transitional. (They move around a lot) I've lost 3 of my sweetest babies and have gained 1. It's so bittersweet because I get so darned attached. This is also the time when we start thinking about retentions. I have one little fellow in mind. Our system is not big on the idea of retaining "anyone" so it has to be for very good reasons. I think I have enough evidence to get this one little baby to be retained. Retention isn't always a negative thing. Sometimes it just makes sense and is right for the student. I retained one fellow last year and he is a straight A student and is a leader. How can that be a "bad" thing? But it is a difficult decision that I don't take lightly. What a difference one year can make!
That's my life as I know it......
Laurie
That's my life as I know it......
Laurie
Monday, December 26, 2011
Not At My School! Finally have time to vent....
I haven't blogged in forever but I thought I could pull off at least one post per week but noo......WRONG, FAIL! But the good intention was there....
But in the meantime, I've been blog stalking and looking at all of the wonderful arts and crafts EVERONE did over the holidays. Plus I've been reading about how the students were driving all of their teacher's crazy with all their hyped up behavior.
Said to admit, none of this went on in my classroom. Our ACADEMIC calendar was priority and it did not include anything FUN. (And I teach 1st grade!)We did finally make 2 "arts"y activities on the 19th and 20th. And my kids weren't all hyped up over the holidays because they are too poor! They don't get to go to the mall or stores to see all of the Christmas fan fair. They don't even have trees up. And NOOOOOOO Santa does not visit them so they figure they have been naughty all year. But Santa Matko (me) tried to make up for it as much as my pocket could afford..... Hopefully I made them feel a part of the season and that they were NEVER that naughty to get punished by not getting Santa's presents. So our last weeks of school were like any other ordinary day. I only wish my students would have been fortunate enough to do all of the above activities and been so excited about the holidays they were crawling out of their skins!
My Principal is also GREAT about the celebrating! So much more than other Principals in our district! She acknowledges our clientele and makes it the best she can for them. She supports everything we do, as long as it is for the kids! I am so fortunate to have her as a principal! And my Assistants are just as awesome! But our hands are tied to the curriculum no matter WHAT!
So for anyone that reads my blog, be thankful for all the things that make children, children and make children believe in Santa, The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny, etc.......and be thankful your curriculum still allows time for the fun things!
This is my life as I know know it right now.
~Laurie
But in the meantime, I've been blog stalking and looking at all of the wonderful arts and crafts EVERONE did over the holidays. Plus I've been reading about how the students were driving all of their teacher's crazy with all their hyped up behavior.
Said to admit, none of this went on in my classroom. Our ACADEMIC calendar was priority and it did not include anything FUN. (And I teach 1st grade!)We did finally make 2 "arts"y activities on the 19th and 20th. And my kids weren't all hyped up over the holidays because they are too poor! They don't get to go to the mall or stores to see all of the Christmas fan fair. They don't even have trees up. And NOOOOOOO Santa does not visit them so they figure they have been naughty all year. But Santa Matko (me) tried to make up for it as much as my pocket could afford..... Hopefully I made them feel a part of the season and that they were NEVER that naughty to get punished by not getting Santa's presents. So our last weeks of school were like any other ordinary day. I only wish my students would have been fortunate enough to do all of the above activities and been so excited about the holidays they were crawling out of their skins!
My Principal is also GREAT about the celebrating! So much more than other Principals in our district! She acknowledges our clientele and makes it the best she can for them. She supports everything we do, as long as it is for the kids! I am so fortunate to have her as a principal! And my Assistants are just as awesome! But our hands are tied to the curriculum no matter WHAT!
So for anyone that reads my blog, be thankful for all the things that make children, children and make children believe in Santa, The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny, etc.......and be thankful your curriculum still allows time for the fun things!
This is my life as I know know it right now.
~Laurie
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Stuff
Sooooo.....it's the fourth week into the school year. I "think" I finally have a handle on my schedule and Lesson Plans.....key word..."think". I love teaching at my school. Everything and everyone there has made such a positive impact on my life! What a difference a year makes! (I'm still working on the Cafe. staff, ruff!)My classroom looks great and my students are draining every ounce of energy out of me but I LOVE THEM!
Scholastic is having a Dollar Deal Sale. If you use the code 10THANKS, you can get 10 free Books! Go to teacherexpress.scholastic.com!
It's my life as I know it right now.....(and it's good!)
Laurie
Scholastic is having a Dollar Deal Sale. If you use the code 10THANKS, you can get 10 free Books! Go to teacherexpress.scholastic.com!
It's my life as I know it right now.....(and it's good!)
Laurie
Friday, July 29, 2011
New School Year Resolutions Linky Party
I think as teachers we all make "New School Year Resolutions". I'm forever saying "Next year, I'm doing this different". or "Seriously....What was I thinking????? Next year, I'm not doing this at all!" Ha! Ha! But My School Year Resolutions are always ongoing. I'm always looking for a better way to do just about anything! That's one reason I LOVE stalking teacher blogs!
Stop on over at:
to read other great Blogger's resolutions and maybe post some of your own!
To start it off......I am going to hopefully:
1. Successfully incorporate all of the wonderful ideas I received from the Debbie Diller's Math Work Stations book study this summer. (Anchor Charts, I Can charts, etc.)
2. Revamp my Daily 5 and Cafe Literacy Work Stations with Anchor Carts and I Can Charts.
3. Incorporate more writing activities in my Work Stations and lessons.
4. Remain positive and encourage positive attitudes.
I will add more as I think of them....it could go into the hundreds! Ha! Ha!
This is my life as I know it right now....
Laurie
Stop on over at:
to read other great Blogger's resolutions and maybe post some of your own!
To start it off......I am going to hopefully:
1. Successfully incorporate all of the wonderful ideas I received from the Debbie Diller's Math Work Stations book study this summer. (Anchor Charts, I Can charts, etc.)
2. Revamp my Daily 5 and Cafe Literacy Work Stations with Anchor Carts and I Can Charts.
3. Incorporate more writing activities in my Work Stations and lessons.
4. Remain positive and encourage positive attitudes.
I will add more as I think of them....it could go into the hundreds! Ha! Ha!
This is my life as I know it right now....
Laurie
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Shoes Unit
Friday, July 15, 2011
Things My Teacher Says.......
I'm famous for saying to a student who has a microscopic cut on their finger,:(I make like I'm talking on a phone with my finger and thumb...)Let's call 9 whaa whaa for the whaambulance! Maybe they can stop on the way and get you a whaamburger with the french cries! Always in a joking manner! LOL! The kids LOVE when I do this....I would never say this if their feelings were going to be hurt....
Laurie
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Postcard Exchange!
I'm so excited! I've been picked to represent the State of Virginia in this awesome postcard exchange! What an experience it will be for my students next Fall!
A postcard exchange is where 50 teachers (one from each of our great states) agrees to have their students write and mail the postcards out to the other participants.
click here to read more!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Debbie Diller's Math Work Stations!
This has been an awesome book study! I will be incorporating this in my classroom next year. Who knows, I might try a trial version in summer school! We are on Chapter 6 this week and there are so many great ideas! If you haven't checked it out yet, Go to Oceans Of First Grade Fun's blog!
Laurie
New and Improved!
Hello Friends!
I have been toying with this blogging thingy for about a month now. My first attempts were very lame (this is one step above, but still lame compared to some of the blogs out there)and I have finally now come up with something I am a bit more comfortable with. There are so many decisions when creating a blog of your own. I wanted it to be a reflection of me and what I do. I feel this blog title pretty much sums up my work life. And I LOVE it! I Love the new title and I LOVE what I do! Blog stalking is my latest obsession and I have gotten SOOOOO many new ideas for my classroom next year from the tons of very creative teachers! My printer is going to explode when I start printing it all! This is how I plan on spending my summer: Teaching summer school and blog stalking......hmmm...LAME but it's my life as I know it right now!
Laurie
I have been toying with this blogging thingy for about a month now. My first attempts were very lame (this is one step above, but still lame compared to some of the blogs out there)and I have finally now come up with something I am a bit more comfortable with. There are so many decisions when creating a blog of your own. I wanted it to be a reflection of me and what I do. I feel this blog title pretty much sums up my work life. And I LOVE it! I Love the new title and I LOVE what I do! Blog stalking is my latest obsession and I have gotten SOOOOO many new ideas for my classroom next year from the tons of very creative teachers! My printer is going to explode when I start printing it all! This is how I plan on spending my summer: Teaching summer school and blog stalking......hmmm...LAME but it's my life as I know it right now!
Laurie
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