List is Shrinking....

Ok, so the other day I posted a list of over 25 things that I needed to do in/for my classroom. Well needless to say I did get there at 7am on Friday and was able to knock out a few things after having been sidetracked for about 2 hours doing other things [which by the way were very important!]. I still have a lot to do....jeesh! BUT I will get it all done...I think I will lock myself in there on Monday.:)

1. tape cords to floor/secure to wall
2. organize books and junk on tables
3. clean tables and shelves and board, etc...
4. bring needed bins from old room
5. place big bins on ledge
6. print out rules/consequences and make posters for display
7. make signs for cougar cards
8. request and organize team supplies
9. make and hang team number signs over tables
10. finish covering tin cans with polka dot tape
11. stick curtains to window/carts/shelf
12. hang bulletin board and periodic table
13. decorate 8 bulletin boards [scientifically speaking, scientist of the week, science fair]
14. hang banner above door
15. decorate door ???
16. hang string/clothes pins on outside wall and blank wall in class for student work display
17. make homework and i can signs for white board
18. finish updating website [www.tinyurl.com/jnaccio]
19. update welcome power point and convert to flip chart
20. play with activ board [gotta have some fun somehow!]
21. write lesson plans
22. move important binders to shelf behind teacher cart
23. run off needed materials
24. make inside covers for yellow folders
25. edit test folder/conduct sheets
26. ???????

My name is The Science Diva and I'm a Procrastination Junkie!

Wow....where has summer gone???? Right now I am sitting in my big comfy chair in my house instead of working in my classroom that so desperately needs it! Just look at this mess:

Is it a lack of motivation? No. Is it a profound sense of laziness? No, not really. Well what is it you ask? I really can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's that I'm so used to procrastinating that I have to feel rushed to get it done and feel good about it. THAT'S IT...I'm a procrastination junkie!!!! I know I have to clean it...it is very dusty and grimy in there. The chairs are around the tables, not on top any more. BUT, the tables are piled HIGH with stuff I don't want to just shove anywhere and will probably just get rid of because I haven't used it in years! I've already gotten rid of a file cabinet and the junk in it, some carts, a chair, and even a metal cabinet that I used to store my fun stuff in.... I DON'T WANT THE CLUTTER! 

But now, here I sit blogging in my big comfy chair exactly 1 week before I have to report for duty to sit all day and listen and learn. I guess my derrier will be up with the roosters tomorrow so I can get in there and knock something off of this  LOOOOONG list of things that still need to be done:

1. tape cords to floor/secure to wall
2. organize books and junk on tables
3. clean tables and shelves and board, etc...
4. bring needed bins from old room
5. place big bins on ledge
6. print out rules/consequences and make posters for display
7. make signs for cougar cards
8. request and organize team supplies
9. make and hang team number signs over tables
10. finish covering tin cans with polka dot tape
11. stick curtains to window/carts/shelf
12. hang bulletin board and periodic table
13. decorate 8 bulletin boards [scientifically speaking, scientist of the week, science fair]
14. hang banner above door
15. decorate door ???
16. hang string/clothes pins on outside wall and blank wall in class for student work display
17. make homework and i can signs for white board
18. finish updating website [www.tinyurl.com/jnaccio]
19. update welcome power point and convert to flip chart
20. play with activ board [gotta have some fun somehow!]
21. write lesson plans
22. move important binders to shelf behind teacher cart
23. run off needed materials
24. make inside covers for yellow folders
25. edit test folder/conduct sheets
26. ???????

OMG....25+ THINGS TO DO!!!! I do believe that is all I can think of for now...WHEW.....all I know is that once I am done I will blog about it and post pics and things I find from my school computer that are SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!

ATTN Louisiana Teachers: New Grading Scales Ready to Go & On the Go!

This year Louisiana is going to a state-wide grading scale. Well, like all DIVAS, I have a FABULOUS FRIEND that shared a document that contains over 50 ready to copy and paste grading scales based upon the total number of test points. What makes her TOTALLY FAB is that she told me that I can share it with anyone that can use it. Thanks Sonya H.!!! This will certainly make test-making & grading easier!!!

Also, for those of you with Androids or iPhones you can find FREE ez grader apps in your market or app store .... I do know that after testing the free Android apps that I prefer the one called Boosed Grader.

Go ahead....download Sonya's Ready-to-Go Grading Scales or an ez grader app for your phone. After all, they are SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!

Mouse Mischief

I was just reading on PROTEACHER about the free Microsoft program Mouse Mischief. THIS IS AWESOME! It allows you to link up as many computer mice you can find to turn your power points into interactive presentations. I do have a Promethean board and some actiVotes, but boy this is an AWESOME alternative for those who may not have interactive boards and/or equipment!


Go ahead, check it out....and yes, you know it's SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!

"Teaching" Science is Different...

I really dislike the way some administrators [NOT mine...they are AWESOME!] or higher ups expect all teachers to plan and teach the same exact way. Just as students need differentiation, so do teachers and the respective courses being taught. There is no way I'd expect a Reading teacher to teach the same way I do. Science lends itself more towards engaging hands-on activities...that to me is just expected of what I do. I remember the days [long ago of course] of sitting in Science class READING day in and day out, never DOING anything! Oh how I wished I could just DO something! That's why my kids DO, DO, DO!

A few years ago I attended LaSIP and another Science teacher training that were intensive, yet quite spectacular. They both focused on using the 5 Es of a Science Lesson that focuses, in this order, on Engage. Explore. Explain. Elaborate. Evaluate.  


Through the use of this method, accompanied with Kagan strategies, Thinking Maps, and other Literacy Strategies, my students are always engaged and doing something from the second they walk in my classroom.


Check out the link above...it is very informative and when coupled with your curriculum and a sound classroom management plan, can change your classroom environment into one that is always captivating and engaging. [The last few slides are irrelevant since this was used in a training somewhere, good none-the-less!]
Go ahead, check it out...after all, it is SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!

HARRY POTTER 7.2

I know, I know! This is a Science teacher/resource blog. BUT...I have to talk about it or I will EXPLODE!!!! This movie was AMAZING and is definitely SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED! I have so many feelings .... HAPPY that I finally saw what I pictured in my mind for the past year or so BROUGHT to LIFE better than I could have ever imagined...AMAZED at the acting talent of Alan Rickman [Snape] who was by far the BEST ACTOR in this whole series!... HONORED to have shared this with both of my children for the last 10 years or so... SAD that this is the UTMOST END to the entire series... RELIEVED that I will be able to watch what took 10 years to bring to life [HP 1- 7.2] in a matter of 16 hours.... & finally CURIOUS as to what I will get all worked up about next!


Now normally I can not STAND 3D movies...but boy did this one really convert me! Especially since I was fortunate to not only have awesome 3D glasses but ROUND HARRY POTTER 3D GLASSES!!!! Was soooo worth the price for the double feature!!!


I just loved every aspect of the HP series though...it brought about a surge in childhood imagination and sparked curiosities in what COULD be if one only imagined it! How AWESOME it was for JK Rowling  to do this!?! 


Well in order to move on with my life, I must quote JK: "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." — J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)


So, Rest in Peace Snape....and Goodbye Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and the rest of the magical world... Mischief Managed!

Do YOU Have a Theme Song????

I do! At the beginning of every school year and for open house, I present a power point that contains student expectations for the year. My THEME song is Thomas Dolby's 'She Blinded Me With Science'. Of course I don't use the video or the lyric version...just the midi file which can be found among thousands at MIDIDATABASE.COM which is completely free to use by the way. If you don't have a theme song, find one. It will truly set the tone for your year....and will always be that reminder to your students when they hear the tune again in the future! 


I'm including a pdf version of my BEGINNING OF THE YEAR POWER POINT. Please feel free to use it as inspiration to create your own. The fonts may not show up properly, but you will get the idea! 


Here's the video to She Blinded Me With Science. After all, it is SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!

Ever Walked Through Paper????

GOOD MORNING INQUIRING MINDS! Did you know that a square piece of dry paper cannot be folded in half more than 7 times???? Go ahead...try it! :)

I love finding weird, yet true science bits. My students especially love those bits, too! Like this one: Walking Through Paper. Maybe some of you have done this when teaching matter/physical changes. I tell my students that I can walk through paper and proceed to talk about physical changes while cutting a piece of folded paper. In the end, I open up the paper which is now a HUGE circle and walk through it. In the video on youtube, the girl cuts hers a bit too large. I try to cut along the blue lines of the paper to get that HUGENESS. Of course my students all want to do it too, so I allow them a few minutes to try. I assign them the task of going home and "tricking" their parents and writing a reflection of the "tricking". The next day they come back to school with such FABULOUS reflections that they want to share. I post these on a bulletin board for all to read. I love sparking that curiosity and creativity!

Go ahead, check out the "Walking Through Paper" video. After all, it is SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!

Remember: "All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind". ~Martin H. Fischer

A Newbie Among the Pros!

I am moving in some uncharted territory [well for me it is!]. I have so many things I want to share that I don't really know where to begin. A lot of my GOODIES are on my computer at school, so as soon as I can get there and save my GOODIES to my portable hard drive [which I just bought on ebay...said it was a 300GB but is REALLY a 500GB!] I will most certainly begin my posting spree to share, share, SHARE!


For now, check out my AWESOME SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED BLOG ROLL.... there is something there for EVERYONE!!! Also, I am thrilled that I was added to the SQWORL of The Organized Classroom Blog here: SQWORL. Check it out and visit some FABULOUS blogs!

Nominate Your or Your Child's Favorite Teacher!

Go to Scholastic's page and nominate the teacher that has inspired you or your child to be the best they can be. You both can win a trip to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!!!!

OMG! I'm Vista'd Out!

Ok... when teachers jump on a bandwagon, they roll until their tires run flat...well in my case, rolling on the rims and making sparks! I had to PRY myself off of my computer at 3am this morning. Darn Vistaprint! Free shipping here, $1 shipping there. It was crazy! Well needless to say if you haven't heard about the great deals you can get at www.vistaprint.com then you are missing out! I created so many things for my classroom and family members that I really can't remember all I made! Oh, the BEST part is that I maybe paid a total of $10!!! Y'all I created and bought like $300 of stuff for only that $10...which is including shipping! Like what you ask? Well...

6 huge magnetic signs [for my homework board and other areas]
2 banners [one with rules, etc. and the other for over my door]
5 bumper stickers with my class website on them
5 personalized pens
5 personalized sticky notes
5 different sets of blank business cards [will use to write student names for use when calling on them]
1 set of business cards with my info on it for parents
5 sets of 10 blank note cards for use to identify groups, etc..
4 different rubber stamps
2 personalized mouse pads
2 sets of address labels [one with just my name and the other with name, website, email addy, and planning times to stick in test folders/agendas]
And...I'm probably leaving somethings off...but basically that's it...for now!

If you need "things" for your class, you have to check out what you can do there! After all, it is SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED!

Science + Music = Lots of Learning Fun!

One of the things I kicked up a notch this year is the number of content-related songs used in my classroom. Youtube and Schooltube are excellent sources for science songs. I especially love the group They Might Be Giants. Their songs and videos are catchy and have really helped my students remember important concepts.

Sometimes, when I am brave, I will write a song to sing along with current popular tunes kind of like The Atoms Family Song . A few years ago, a student was in class humming and singing the Barbie Girl song. It was kind of distracting the lesson I was teaching on density so I challenged him to create a song about density to the same tune. Well in turn he challenged me too! The very next day, he came ready with his and I was ready with mine. Little did we know we would collaboratively write one of the songs that is always requested on the first day of school by new classes each year since! Here are the lyrics...THE DENSITY SONG.....it's kinda catchy!  And, here is a SCIENCE DIVA CERTIFIED video of one of my classes singing the song...just fast forward about 1 minute into it [my video making skills need some tweaking!].

We're Now On Facebook, Too!

Just look to the right ---------> and click like...you can follow us there as well! :)

Teaching the Scientific Method

It is a requirement in my district for all science teachers that will have students participate in the Science Fair to attend an in-service that supplies us with a set of lesson plans to teach how to create a science fair project. My problem with this is that they are the SAME for grades 6 through 12! My poor babies really haven't had to formally use the scientific method to this extent which can be a tad bit overwhelming for a 6th grader! So, I do my own BORROWED thing. :)

A few....well maybe 5....summers ago I participated in a Math and Science partnership through the local university in which they used the "Student Scaffold for Designing and Conducting Experiments" that I have used in my classroom ever since. I have tweaked it a bit to include writing lines and more space for my kiddos [when I get to my school computer, I will link it as it is not on any of my jump drives here]. The only prep you need to do is have a class set of 1x1 sticky notes ready [4 each of 2 different colors per student] and a class set of the object in which you plan for them to investigate and manipulate [and any variations of it that the kids could possibly think of]. I used a small popper making sure they were all the same color and walked them through the entire scaffold. There are 2 sets of 4 boxes. The first 4 are for the independent variable and the the second set of 4 for the dependent variable. To make this interactive, you use the 2 different colored 1x1 sticky notes: the first same 4 for the independent and the second same 4 for the dependent. What they wind up with is one of each variable which helps develop the rest of the method. The best part of this is that they go through and learn the whole entire method in a matter of days and actually have the "Science Fair Experience" before they even have to do it.

I do have to add in here that in the beginning when they are trying to determine exactly what the popper is [yes I have students that don't know] we research like all good scientists and write down what we find and cite the sources! In the end they have to write up am "Experimental Research Report" in which they have to use the information we gathered through research and in the experiment.

I have used this with growing dinosaurs and the sponge capsules, too. Go ahead and give it a try...after all, it is Science Diva Certified! :) If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to message me!