Mancala

This is one of my favorite games to play with my Search students. This is a classic game that I

remember playing in school that involved critical thinking and strategic planning.

1. Play online: you can select the difficulty. https://mancala.playdrift.com/

a. You can have your child learn to play on the computer first to learn the rules or

make your own game and practice together.

2. Or you can create your own Mancala game by using an old cleaned out egg carton. 

3. You can also purchase your own. Below are links to a few I have found on Amazon. 

Rush Hour

Another favorite game in Search is Rush Hour. In our classroom we have the

physical game and it is a great game to work on critical thinking. I love that
the game allows the students to work at 4 different levels and as they
master one level they can continuously challenge themselves. I do have both
games in the class, I introduce Rush Hour Jr. to kindergarten. Then they
progress up to Rush Hour. For my first graders, it’s a matter of preference,
some choose Jr and some the regular one. For 2nd and up I recommend the
regular Rush Hour. This game is perfect for all ages, as my 5th grader will
still play with this!

Easter Steam Challenge

One of my families favorite holiday is Easter, so naturally we love to try out the Steam challenges at home before I try them at school. One of my students favorites and my personal children's is the Save the Egg Challenge. During the COVID 19 Crisis, they created their own creations. This is a challenge they love to do each year, trying different designs and materials.

I use this challenge every year with my 2nd graders at school, but realistically it could be done with any age.

You can purchase this challenge on my TPT site. I have a full version for the classroom or a simplified combo for homeschooling!

Easter Pack   Protect the Egg

Digital Learning

I know many of us educators are chartering unknown waters at this time. In a time when digital technology is all around us, how do we turn our classrooms into 100% digital without warning or training. Don't worry you are not alone. I can sympathize with parents trying to "homeschool" their own children, as I sit here and try to teach my own 4th and 5th grade children. My 14 years of classroom experience did not fully prepare me or any of my colleagues for this. I love that our superintendent told us to just to do the best we can! They are not holding up this bar and expecting teachers to reach these unreachable goals. Our district checked out Chromebooks to families that did not have enough technology for digital learning, free lunch/dinner provided for our free and reduced population, some even had the food delivered to their homes if needed and much more.

I'm living by the mantra JUST BREATHE!

As a gifted and talented teacher, most of our classwork is done with group work or hands on. Moving to a digital platform is a challenge that I feel like I'm slowly tackling everyday. I'm blessed to have such wonderful parents who are supporting me!

I'm currently working on a STEAM Challenge packet for homebound students! Praying that we can get back to the grind and see our babies soon!

Things my family and I are enjoying today outdoor recess and my outdoor office!

Pumpkins in the Air

I absolutely love doing holiday themed challenges with my students. This month I am challenging my classes with Halloween themed activities. There are so many unique challenges to complete, that I often struggle to decide which to try. This month my Kindergarten students were challenged to build a new fence for the 5 Little Pumpkins, which coordinates with the song and book.

The first STEAM challenge for Kindergarten is always exciting and eye opening. It makes me realize how much students grow within a school year. My sweet students have never been asked to work with 5 students before to complete one goal, many of them have never attended a formal school program. So asking them to build ONE fence together is often a challenge in itself. The excitement on their faces when they start working together and build their first fence is a sight. Below are pictures of wonderful fences built by my Kindergarten students. 

This year is a little different in the 3 years I have taught Steam lab at my school we have grown from 7 classrooms to 10 Kindergarten Classrooms!

Check out my TPT store for this challenge. TPT 5 Little Pumpkins