My Summer Bucket List Linky Party

What is on your Summer Bucket List?  Join up with these wonderful bloggers and share. Just click on the image after you have checked my bucket list out.

One

I must organize my lovely classroom.  I'm pretty sure I'll be in my classroom and at the same grade level.  I have the tools but just haven't had the time to set up the library like I want it. My filing system is really stacks of paper throughout my desk area.  I can find things but boy it is an eye sore.

Two

Have as much possible fun with this little guy.  We will try and be outdoorsy and social on our budget this summer.   We have been reserved with going to many places since my little guy might get a sensory overload, but we are going to be adventurous. Back yard camping and picnics on our agenda.

Three

I'll actually have time to spend with my hubby.  We can actually have a few lunch dates since our son goes to a year round school.

Four

My hope is that we will make it to the beach when we visit California.  If we don't I want to at least enjoy the outdoors and warm weather while we have it.

Source: Style Me Yesterday

 If I can steal away some time.  I'll have a review of a couple Science DVDs and a giveaway.  I'll be sure to try and keep you all in the loop.

Instagram Fun and Giveaway

I have joined the fun for Teacher Talk Tuesday.  What the Teacher Wants and Apples and ABC's are having gathering the wonderful teacher bloggers to share pictures of our school day.  Click on the image above to get the details and to see their post about it.

I've also joined The Pinspired Teacher with her Photo a Day Teacher Challenge. Click on the image to get the details as well.

To find me you just need to search for littlepiratetreasures.

Can't wait to see what is going on in your classroom.

Oh there is also a great giveaway going on.  Click no the image below to check it out.

May Currently

I finally have a quiet moment to get to the May Currently.
Remember hop on over to Farley's blog to join in. Just click on the image.
Well here is what I'm up to.

Wow, it is nice to have both my guys sleeping in.  We are usually up and hustling our behinds way earlier than this.  

My son is doing wonderfully at school but we have had some tough moments with mini meltdowns. We are working through them. I feel better now knowing about his bedtime routine being a bit tougher since he is having separation issues that most kids do.  I love talking to experienced moms they help me see a much clearer picture.

As always I would love to get organized to the point that I can pinpoint units easily and have everything laid out much easier for me.  I need an organizer to give me a class.  

I would love to go and soak in a hot tub for an evening.  I really need to get my big girl panties on and make this a wonderful last month for my second graders.  I've been trying to keep art, writing and science a great learning experience for them.

I am saving up my money (any change I can find) to make a fund to take my son to as many places I think he will love.  My husband and I have been hermits of sorts because of the fear of having my son get overloaded with sensory input.  We have decided to be cautiously optimistic and just try.  I've developed a thicker skin for dealing "with the public" and now I just need to be focus on my little guys mood.  

Can't wait to check out the other blogs.

Full Moon and Fun

This week was a tough one since my students had a wackadoodle  kind of schedule  because of the testing that was going on in the upper grades.  It made for a long afternoon.

Also the full moon might have had a hand in the naughty behaviors that arose this week.  Luckily my students shined before the moon rose.  I had my wonderful observation by the captain of our ship.  She was cutting it close since the evaluation cut off is the last day of April.

My students continued work on their animal writing and their clay models.  The weather has been so wonderful so picnic lunch maybe in our near future.  Do you do something similar with your class?

My son was able to help some wonderful people complete a certification class on working with swimming students that are diagnosed with ASD.  He had a blast.

As a family we decided to go out and visit the Discovery Museum.  It was perfect for him to interact with all the exhibits.  He didn't want to leave and we only had a small meltdown.  I would love to take my students to that museum. We will most likely have our one field trip a week before school ends. 

Last week my husband and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary.  It has been a wonderful adventure. As you can see we had an intimate family wedding.  Our bagpipe player was wonderful.   

My two gentleman relaxing after a long day.  

 I've decided to join in a challenge to get healthy.  If you are interested just click on the image below to get the details.

I have alphabet activities that I need to post this week.  I have been making more items for my son to work on as the summer nears.  That is all for now.  

Science, Writing and Art, Oh My! and a Giveaway

My students have come back refreshed  for the last quarter.  We are working hard before they leave for the summer. Sorry for the quality of the photographs, they were taken on my phone.  

We have been working on habitats.  I got a donorchoose grant for art supplies and have been able to mix science, writing and art.  The kids have been so excited to express their knowledge through art. It is so wonderful.  

Our first project was a flip book to jot down all our notes about the habitats.  From there we moved on to water colors and wrote poems about the habitat. The ocean one turned out to be an Acrostic poem.  Here are some samples.

My hope is to make a class book for each habitat.  

We still need to do forest.

Now on to our research project.  They are writing about an animal. They worked on each step.  Research, flow map, and now we are on our rough draft.  They are also trying to create their animal in clay.

My students are so creative.  Their creations will be painted when fully dried.

Before I leave the classroom I get to turn off the lights and see their bright butterflies.  What types of art do you do in your class during spring?

On Earth Day we discussed Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  This lovely creativity was on on TpT.  The kids loved it.

Speaking of Earth Day, Educents has teamed up with Conscious Box to bring you a free Conscious Box delivered right to your door!

Consious Box delivers eco- friendly products to your doorstep every month. So this would be a sneak peek at the products you could receive. The giveaway starts at midnight and ends on Sat. April 27th. Your prize will be mailed to you on May 10th.

Also, be aware that you will be added to their mailing list for future giveaways.   

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Made It

Super excited about finishing these two projects since I started them in the summer.  Spring Break was good to me.  I got to spend time with my guys and complete these. I also won a couple pin to win games on Facebook.  I can't wait to use the units/activities with my students.  

Project #1

I was inspired by all the cute owl clip art I saw.  This little gem is easy to make.  I just used: embroidery needle 

                thread

                embroidery hoop

                felt squares

                fabric 

                buttons

                fabric glue

I'm just not sure what to do with it since it doesn't match any of my decor.  Possibly a giveaway item.  (shrug)

Owl Art

Project #2

I finally got around to finishing up a unit for the Mathematical Practices.  You can find it in my store.  Here is a list of what is in it.

Each practice has an activity to do to clarify the mathematical practice to the students. 

The activities are not just math related but go across the curriculum.

There are:

*writing activities to respond to literature

*a graphing activity

*a fraction book

*a fraction page

*race to a dollar game boards

*a scavenger hunt for math tools

*word problems page

*parts of a flower activity

*domino addition page

*mathematical practices rubric

*anecdotal record sheet

If you teach or have a preschooler/kindergartner  I posted a few freebies in my store as well. Can't wait to see what everyone made.

Autism Part 2 - Freebie

I got this wonderful graphic from Kinder Alphabet.

Other items that have helped in our journey have been:

A Picture Exchange Communication System-  We use pictures for his routine and he knows what comes next or requests things that way sometimes. We took pictures of him doing various activities or things he likes and laminated them. We put up some Velcro and attached Velcro to the pictures right outside his room. I keep saying we but really my husband made these.

Sensory Diet:  My little guy loves to spin.  So we have tried to use other methods to have him get the same comfort he gets from that movement.  He has a mini trampoline and a huge bean bag to jump and lay on.  He loves to have many blankets on him.  Even if he has a weighted blanket.  He goes to gym once a week to move, dance and play.

Sounds and food textures are the toughest right now.  Things are too loud a lot of the time.  He doesn't like to experiment with food to much. (If you have any suggestions I am all ears.)

Water Play: He loves to play in water!  We are trying to get him to learn how to swim this year since water is a huge love for him. Bath time is play time and now with the weather getting warmer he wants to water his flowers as a ploy to get him to run free with the hose.

Waiting List: Not so fun is being on a waiting list.  To get more services we are on a waiting list.  Our insurance isn't the greatest so we are hoping when we get off this list we can get more services.  Until then we do the best we can.

I'm blessed!

This is my little guy going blue this month.  

Every small success is truly a big thing in our life.

Freebie
This is an activity I have done with my son to practice the color words and vocabulary words.  I would print it and laminate.  You can always tape the pictures to the crayons or write and erase on them. I hope you can use it.