Classroom Prep Begins!

We finally got into our classrooms yesterday to begin the process of decorating and preparing for another great school year.  Our whole first grade team did some work yesterday for the upcoming year. I love my team!  I will be posting pictures soon of my new classroom decorations and Rockstar items.  I'm very excited about another first grade year, and I have decided I LOVE teaching first grade!  It's been my favorite grade to teach so far!

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

A beautiful national park on Lake Superior.  Plan on taking a cruise if you want to take in the real beauty of the painted landscape.  The tour is aprox. 2 1/2 hours long but worth the trip.  If we had had more time we would have spent another day touring the area.  The color of the water was beautiful!  I have included a picture of Miners Castle and the mosaic colors of the mineral stains on the rocks.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

We had a great time at Sleeping Bear Dunes.  If you get a chance to visit this park, don't forget to drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and hike up the dune.  It's a challenge, but worth the climb.  If you take the challenge to run down the dune, please note that many people fell face first attempting this challenge.  My recommendation, don't run!  Here is the park website:  Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore  Don't forget to goggle the legend of Sleeping Bear Dunes!  Jack and I are standing by an old apple tree trunk.  The dunes move at a rate of 2 feet per year, one day the apple tree trunk will be completely buried.  I am also including a picture of the same tree trunk taken in 2009.  Happy National Park hopping!

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Our son, Jack, participates in the junior ranger program when we visit a National Park.  This was the first junior ranger badge received during our summer vacation.  It was a quick visit, but remarkable to see the dunes formed at the lakeshore.  Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Michigan Vacation

Just returned from a fantastic trip to Michigan.  I will be posting some of our vacation highlights!  I would highly recommend a trip to Michigan.  Some areas I will be highlighting:  Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Mackinac Island, Petoskey, and more!

Great iPad App

Today in my technology training I was introduced to the Educreations app.  It is a FREE app and user friendly.  I created a short video today in minutes.  You can save them to your iPad or share them.  Happy creating, and please feel free to share your creation ideas.

Rockstar Themed Daily Five!

Great Book!

If you haven't had a chance to read "What Great Teachers Do Differently," take some time this summer to recharge your batteries with this one.  It was an easy read with great points, and it gave me a chance to evaluate my goals for this coming year.  Let me know what you thought of the book, and what was your biggest aha moment.

Rockstars in First Grade!

Hello!  Welcome to Rockstars in First Grade Blog.  I am excited to begin my blogging journey.  I changed my theme this year to "Rockstars" and I look forward to another great year teaching first grade.