Five for Friday

  It's been a while since I've done a Five For Friday post.  If you don't know about these, it's a weekly linky from Doodle Bugs Teaching.  Click the picture to the left to head over and join the party!  Anyhow, I haven't blogged much at all since November really.  I just haven't had the time it seems.  I'm trying to get better.  My kids do so many great things that need to be shared with the world.  I'm involved in several committees that do good things for kids.  In fact, last night I was laying in bed making a mental list of all the things I needed to do for my committees/collaborations and thought it might be perfect for a Five For Friday post.  So, here we are:

 Science Fair!  I'm involved in organizing our school fair and the regional fair this year.  This is my third year with the regional fair.  I'm on the activities committee and this year, I've added on being ethics chair.  I'm really enjoying that position, because students from all around the district need to email me for permission with any projects relating to humans or animals.  I'm feeling so inspired by all of their impressive ideas.  I wish I could see the end result of all their projects.  I'll be on the lookout for a few of them at regionals, that's for sure. 
Right now I need to focus on the school fair.  It's only a month away!  My kids are trucking along with their projects.  There's a few really original ideas in my classroom.  For all but two, this is their first science fair project.  I know they were really overwhelmed at the beginning.  So far, students have picked their project, done some research, created their question and hypothesis and written a list of materials.  On Monday, we will be talking about the procedure, which I think is the trickiest part before you actually begin the project.  You have to be really specific.  Throughout it all, I've been referencing my Scientific Process poster set, which you can find on TpT.

Click the picture to go to my TpT store!

 Last night, I had a meeting with my Language Arts LSA group.  We are hosting a presentation next Friday, on the Pro-D day.  I'm so excited to have another round of SmartLearning training!  (You can read about my first conference in October here.)  This time, we will be learning about math the SmartLearning way.  I'm really excited to hear about the integration opportunities, especially with the way the new B.C. curriculum is looking.  I've got to remember to pick up the food next Friday morning!

 I'm also working on an inquiry project with two colleagues from my school.  We are looking at writing and how to improve writing scores as well as student interest towards writing.  We are hoping to improve these aspects though specifically teaching the 6 Traits.  We also want to teach students about having a growth mindset.  If you are unfamiliar with the mindset idea, you need to read Carol Dweck's book by the same name.  Though I didn't find it all applicable to teaching, and don't really enjoy reading self help books, I did find some valuable information in there. 
Essentially, there are two types of mindsets.  Fixed and Growth.  Those with a growth mindset see hard tasks as challenges to overcome and seek joy from the effort put in.  We're going to start these lessons next week. 
I need to take some pictures of the awesome bulletin board I'm making inspired by the picture shown here!

 I'm on the PBIS committee for my school.  We had a collaboration on Monday morning.  Our next big event is Pink Shirt day.  It falls on a crazy week with a language arts collaboration, science fair, and a carnival.  So I really hope it doesn't get lost in the mix.  We plan to promote it early and with some buddies activities. 

 Item number 5 is that I'm exhausted.  I'm out the door to a friend's place to watch a movie with the girls.  Have a great weekend everyone!