End of Summer Update

Wow, I can't believe summer is just about over. I say it every year, but summer just flies by! I am going to Toledo and Detroit this weekend to fit in my last bit of summer fun. I'm going to visit the Detroit Zoo with a friend, should be a good time. I have a goal to visit a zoo in every state, so now I will be able to check Michigan off my list. I've already visited zoos in Ohio, Pennsylvania, DC, Maryland, Georgia, West Virginia, and Indiana.

Today I have a meeting at school about our new OLWEUS bullying prevention program. I am on the core team with 3 other teachers, the principal, and guidance counselor; it has been much more of a time commitment than I expected! Hopefully it will work once we implement it though so it is worth it. I don't think bullying is a huge problem in our school, but it still exists and needs to be stopped.

I'm hoping to get there a little bit before the meeting so I can run off copies. That is definitely one of the most tedious jobs as a teacher, I waste so much time standing by the copier! We used to be allowed to have students do it for us which was great, but my principal won't let us any more. So annoying!

In other news, I sold my first 2 lessons on TeachersPayTeachers, yay! I think their back to school sale really helped me out. I only made 66 cents on each purchase after TpT fees, sale discounts, etc. but hey, it is a start :)

Tonight I have to run to Lakeshore Learning Teacher store to buy a grade book and plan book, my school used to provide them but no longer does because of budget cuts, meaning more money out of my pocket. I've already spent $150 on back to school supplies... being a teacher is not cheap!

Well, hope you all have a great back to school week. We have meetings Monday/Tuesday and kids start Wednesday. I will try to update on how it all goes next week sometime. Good luck!!

Back to School & TpT

I hate when teachers pass around a blank notecard and have students write just the basics... don't they want to get to know their students better? Well, I decided to post my favorite back to school activity on TeachersPayTeachers, find it here. It includes the survey I give my students to get to know them and collect the basic info, as well as my review of graphing lesson and activity- it all ties together. Here are the previews:

There is also a big sale coming up on the website and I'm participating! So, if you've been wanting to purchase anything, now is your chance to get it for 28% off!! :)

TpT Lab & eye dominance...

Looking up ideas for school and just found a lesson about eye dominance, I'm going to add this to my genetics lab, I think the kids will like it!

One inherited trait is eye dominance – the tendency to use one eye more than the other.

Here’s how you can test yourself for this trait. Try this:

 1. Hold your hand out in front of you at arm’s length. Point your finger at an object across the room.
2. Close your right eye. With only your left eye open, observe how far your finger appears to move.
3. Repeat Step 2 with the right eye open.
4. With which eye did your finger seem to remain closer to the object? That eye is dominant.

... My right eye is dominant, which is dominant for you??

• Here is where I found the lesson, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mini-Lab-The-Eyes-Have-It.
• I also found an article about it here http://www.springerlink.com/content/p1k2r20125426603/
• Here is my updated genetics phenotype survey lab on Teachers Pay Teachers. It includes this eye dominance trait, as well as 11 other genetic traits. PowerPoint, Student worksheet and graph, answer key, etc are all included. My students LOVE doing this lab! Here's a few previews: