Five for Friday

I’m closing in on my second week of sweet summer time and I’m excited to recap the week with Doodle Bugs Teaching 

Last weekend was a fun filled family weekend.  We celebrated my Grandma’s 90th birthday.  During the party my parents and aunts and uncles surprised her with the little “old” people.  She loved it!  My Grandma is such a special lady, she always has a smile on her face.  I’m glad we were able to celebrate her and have a great time together.  

My Friend Jayme and I from Teach, Talk, Inspire started a Tell all Tuesday summer link up a few weeks ago.  Every Tuesday we focus on a different topic.  I have really enjoyed collaborating with Jayme and have loved to read through everyone’s post each week.  It has been a great way to get the know this wonderful blogging community a little bit better.  This week we did a Teacher Bucket List.  It was fun to read everyone’s bucket list.  Thanks to everyone who shared.  If you didn’t have the chance to link up it is not too late, it is open until Sunday.  Click {here} to check out the Tell all Tuesday post.  
On Tuesday we got a fun surprise when Teacher Pay Teachers shared our blog post on their FB page!  If you think I was screaming with delight and jumping up and down you are right!  We were honored to be mentioned and so appreciate it.  

For those of you who follow my blog I mentioned last week that I am taking some grad classes this summer.  All of the classes focus on integrating technology into the classroom.  
This week for my assessment class I had to find an online technology tool to turn a paper pencil test into an online assessment.  I also had to research an assistive technology device to help all learners be successful taking the assessment. 
The assessment tool I used was called Learning Pod and I really enjoyed experimenting with it.  I hope to use it more during the school year.  
It is a FREE website that allows you to create assessment questions as well as browse thousands of already made test questions that are tied to state standards. 
The Assistive Technology tool I found that I also want to try in my classroom is called Speak it! 
Speak it is a Google Chrome extension and enables you to have the text read to you.  Once Speak it is installed you simply highlight the text and then right click to activate Speak it.  Once you click the play button the text is read to you.  I think this would be a useful tool to have in the classroom. 

I finished the book Still Alice.  I enjoyed it.  It definitely had its sad moments, but it was well written. It was interesting to see the perspective of Alzheimer’s disease through the lenses of the person who has it.  I will have to rent the movie.  It always intrigues me to read the book first and then watch the movie and compare the two. The next book on my list is Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult.  I have read several of her books and I enjoy her style of writing.  After just a few pages I was hooked!  
Just me and my bud relaxing and getting some sunshine!

The other day I was inspired to create a new product for my store and went for it.  I love when I have moments like that.  I just posted this packet to my store and it is all about the alphabet.  There are three pages for each letter. A page to identify and color the picture that starts with the letter, a page to practice handwriting, and a page to cut and glue the picture that starts with the letter.  I am excited to use this packet with my kindergarten kiddos.  My plan is to use it for morning work or maybe to give additional practice for anyone that needs it.  
Well, that wraps up another week.  Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read through it.  
I am super excited for this Saturday because some sweet new friends of mine Marie from Once Upon a Classroom and Kirstin from Hip Hooray in K have organized a Chicago Blogger meet up!  I can’t wait to meet these talented ladies and get to know them better!  
Happy Friday and Weekend!