End of the year ideas

I feel like the last few weeks of the school year are a marathon sprint.Doesn't make much sense eh? Well, I mean that it seems SO LONG, but you have to get everything done in record speed, like a marathon sprint.So, to help you out. Here are a few ideas you can implement quickly and easily during this crazy end of the school year season!Check out FOUR end of the year ideas below (some with links)!ENJOY!COURSE REFLECTION PAPERYup, a course reflection.Why? The kids give you their honest opinion (seriously, high schoolers don't hold back) and you can keep them busy with a great activity that reminds them about all they learned AND in turn you get feedback on how to improve your class next year...I'd say that is a win win!Do it anyway you want! If you need help, click below for my COURSE REFLECTION PAPER resource that I use EVERY year with my classes.SAE PRESENTATIONSI know a LOT of you do this already.I absolutely love learning about students SAEs at the end of the year, especially with my newbie aggies.I have my students do a three-day long expo. They all have to present their SAE to the class, but can choose to so a SPEECH, HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATION or a FAIR BOARD.The kids choose what feels right for them.Click below for access to the free document I share with my kiddos!TEACHER 1-on-1 MEETINGSI have seriously LOVED having teacher 1-on-1 meetings with my kids. Just this week I met with a student who in January wanted to get a job and I helped her with the application, then in March we met and she had gotten the job and her first paycheck. Then this week she told me she got a promotion! How amazing! I love seeing that growth.Even if you haven't met periodically with your students, you could have a end of year meeting just to check in with them. I really think this builds rapport with your students and allows you to really engage with them.Check out the Teacher Meeting Sheet I use. Feel free to make a copy and edit for your needs!AET RECORDBOOKSIf you use the AET, you can easily have students turn in a complete record book report for part of their final activities in class. Students will have to ensure that they did SAE descriptions, plans, time investments, pictures, captions etc. Once completed the AET makes a PDF for them that they can print and give to you or submit as a PDF online. Easy peasy! Added bonus, this allows you to evaluate who looks like they are getting to the point to submit a proficiency or state degree!

Quick How To-Review Prize Boards

I love review games.Especially ones that are EASY to implement, like my new favorite QUIZLET LIVE.But, let's be honest, it can get boring quickly. Kids are excited at first, but a game only takes a few minutes max. We need more time to review, and more student buy in!Enter REVIEW QUIZ BOARDS.SUPER SIMPLE, Create a board with numbered boxes on it. I started with 50. When a team won quizlet live, students came up to the prize board (seriously, just a sheet of paper) and signed their name in ONE box. Then I repeat quizlet live for as long as needed (bonus tip-change teams every time, have them try it silently, have them try a quizlet live relay etc. to keep up the excitement). When I am done. I pull up a random number generator 1-50 and pick a few numbers and the kids who picked those numbers get a PRIZE.EASY, NO MONEY INVOLVED, EASY TO IMPLEMENT IDEA!Try it out!Let me know how it goes!

Pockets full of joy

Around 5:45 a.m. most weekdays I sleepily walk into my local Pure Barre studio, I am immediately greeted by name by one of kind and fierce instructors.I grab my ball, tube and weights and head to my spot at the barre, front left corner with the tiny sliver of mirror.For the next 50 minutes I strive to be as crazy strong a Giselle, as hilarious as Danielle and as poised as Haley when I am working by butt off.This is a small pocket of joy in my life.While watching Queer Eye the other week this quote stood out to me."You have to create little pockets of joy in your life to take care of yourself."-Jonathan Van NessI am not sure I could love that quote more.In my early years as a teacher, I didn't have many pockets of joy for me.I was a newly wed, in the new town (and state), struggling with my content and students. I had no outlet. I had my wonderful husband, but nothing for me. And then my sweet daughter was born, who brought joy and let's be honest more stress at times. Before she turned one, my husband deployed for over 7 months. I was solo parenting, solo teaching, and surviving on grocery store sushi and popcorn. I also made the big move to Georgia all without my husband. Still no pocket of joy. I was happy, successful, and had a good, very blessed life. But, no pocket of joy, and I FOR SURE didn't take care of myself.It really took until early 2017 that I finally started realizing if I am not going to prioritize myself, who will? Answer nobody. I needed to take care of me, before I could be the best mom, wife, and teacher I could be.Slowly I added little things that provided ME joy, pure barre, my Thursday night women's small group, volunteering at church, and slowly my cup began to fill.Can you put your hand in a pocket of joy when you need it. Do you know that one thing that lights you up when you need a pick me up. Do you feel like you can't or don't have time to do this?As a mid-career (what? I'm in my mid-career, how'd that happen?!) teacher, I urge you to find yourself. What brings you joy, and make that a priority in your week. Remember you cannot pour from an empty cup.Wanna chat about your pocket of joy? Let me know! Bonus points for an awesome hobby you can teach me :)

Professional Development in your PJs

You heard that right...This July you can show up to professional development in your PJs. Try doing that at your state teacher's conference or next teacher work day at school.GERMINATE Virtual Summer Conference is right around the corner, July 10-12, 2019 to be exact. GERMINATE will allow you to experience sessions from teachers ACROSS the nation from the comfort of your own home, in your own time, at your own pace.That's right!No need to ask a presenter to repeat something they said too fast, or clicked through their slides too quickly. Just pause and rewind, baby!All sessions will be prerecorded and uploaded on the conference site. After you register, you can log in during the conference and get #allthewisdom from the ag teacher presenters.Sessions will be geared around the three circle model: FFA, SAE, and CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.REGISTRATION BEGINS TODAYAnd guess what, it is only $35! Yup, that's right, ALL the sessions, ALL the handouts, and NONE of the traveling, hotel fees, eating our every meal and sitting through sessions you might not want to. YOU pick an choose :)OR if you are busy during the dates of the conference (I get it) you can purchase the all access pass which gets you all the sessions FOR-EV-ER. Yup, FOR-EV-ER!It is going to be EPIC. Join us! Register HERE!Can't wait to begin to grow with you.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVNJ2NasmRQ&t=3s 

I did a thing...

I am obsessed with podcasts.To be honest, I am not sure why because I am much more of a visual learner.Maybe it is because I totally feel like I am just chatting with a friend.It would be freaky if I ran into Rachel Hollis or Kayse Morris someday because I totally would just hop into a conversation like we have been best friends forever.Well, I finally got a chance to be on a podcast.My amazing Instagram made friend Hannah Wedger started the podcast "Ag with Mrs. Wedger" and I was all for hoping on a call with her to chat about something I am super passionate about...Did I spark your interest?Head on over to "Ag with Mrs. Wedger" on spotify, itunes, stitcher etc. to listen!Let me know what you think, comment below