Wow it's been a long time!

Oh my! It's been such a long time since my last post! I have been a little busy though these last few years... I now have two children; Jordan who turns 4 next week and Madelyn just turned 1.

I'm still teaching 3rd grade and loving it! This is my first year with a student teacher and it has been such a great experience!
Since my last post, we have made huge strides in the classroom technology department. I now have an iPad Air 2 for my own teacher use and a class set of iPad minis that we share with two other classrooms. Having this access to the iPads has completely transformed my classroom! It is amazing to see the learning and creating that has been occurring in my classroom. My hope is to share what I have learned this year with you. My favorite techy projects and some that have not gone so well. Apps that are worth having and some that are not worth the space that they take up on your iPad. I can't wait to hear your feedback and get more ideas from you! Until next time...

Heather

Class Website

I am a big fan of using technology in the classroom. Unfortunately, we don't have a whole lot to work with but I always try to make the best of what we have! The main technology that my students can use is a computer. So, I decided to make a classroom website where the students can access all of the websites we use on any computer they want. Whether that computer is at school or at home! Recently I had to change my website from Google and I found Weebly....I love it!! Not only did I have a really easy time setting up my new website but they also offer a blog option that is linked to the website! The blog has turned out to be a really great option! I set it up to where I pose a question and the students can go on the blog and not only respond to me but to each other. I'm really excited to continue blogging with my students over the summer. :) 

Here is a link to my classroom website if you would like to check it out:

ERE 9 Kids

As the school year comes to an end, I find myself thinking more and more about next year. I like to reflect on this past year while it is still fresh in my mind and start to make changes to some of my classroom procedures for next year. 

One of the biggest problems I have had this year is keeping up with absent students and work that needs to be caught up when they return. I don't like to send work home with students to make up because it usually gets lost or becomes a problem for the family. The other part that makes it difficult is that so much of what we do during the day is differentiated which means that what one student misses during the day could be totally different from what another student misses. 

So, I have decided to make Absent Folders. These will be red plastic folders that will be placed on a student's desk when they are absent and filled throughout the day with anything the student misses plus a note from me with any other instructions. Then when the student returns their work will be neatly organized and I can have them work with a student helper or my TA. :-)

Welcome!

Recently I fell in love with teacher blogs! I have loved looking at all of the ideas from other teachers and reading about their experiences. Since summer is just around the corner I thought I would try writing a blog myself. I'm totally new to blogging but I'm hoping to be a quick learner! 
I am a 3rd grade teacher at an elementary school in Southern Oregon and as the title of my blog suggests, I teach in heels almost every day! I have a beautiful son named Jordan who is 15 months old and a wonderful husband of 3 years, Ryan.