Using Music to Support Lessons

I don't know about you- but I love using music in the classroom.   Using it for transitions, for signals, for celebrations, for anything.  But I had never really thought about using music for lessons.  Working with ESL students this year, it fascinated me how many American songs they knew the words to, without even realizing it!  And I quickly realized there are some amazing websites out there to help teachers practice listening to songs and filling in the gaps. Two of my favorite to work with this year have been LyricsTraining and LyricsGap.  They are fun to use and oh so simple.  All you have to do is go to the website, choose your song, and listen away!!  I like to view everything ahead of time for 2 reasons... 1)  I like to make sure the video and language are 100% appropriate and 2)  I like to write the words out on flashcards.  See why below.  

I have yet to have trouble finding a song I want!  They have nearly everything. 

Choose your song!

And plug in the missing lyrics

 LyricsGaps has a special feature that allows you to create your own gaps in songs and then assign them to students.  Students can complete this for homework and you get their scores!

 

 

AND THEN comes my fav part- using words from the song, I create flashcards and we use them to form sentences.  Whattt?  So brilliant and easy.  Each time we do this, my camera is either full or I forget it!  Sorry- no pictures of kiddos in action.  But not only does it get them creating sentences, it gets them speaking and singing, and feeling more comfortable with the beautiful English language- A huge win-win for me!! 

How do you use music to help you in the classroom?

5 for Friday {Giveaway, Cronuts, Adventures Galore}

HAPPY FRIDAY!!  I just love Fridays!  Everyone's in a good mood, the weekend is *just* around the corner, and you're always allowed to wear jeans :)  Even though I am slightly obsessed with dresses and leggings, nothing beats a good ol pair of jeans.  Am I right?  I'm liking up with the adorbs Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! 

GIVEAWAY!  Sooo, my birthday was last week and I was hoping to have a celebration with a giveaway and all sorts of fun stuff- but my computer decided otherwise!  So starting RIGHT NOW I'm hosting a giveaway.  Enter below to win a $25 gift car to TpT and MANY amazing products.  Details are at the bottom of the page :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CRONUT!  Oh my goodness.  Maybe I'm out of the loop but I had never had one of these bad boys until this week.  My sister-in-law was in town and noticed it as we passed a bakery.  De-lish-ious!  Seriously!  In case you're like me and unaware of the cronut fad... a cronut is a deep fried croissant in the shape of a donut!!  You're welcome. 

Going with the glutenous theme- HELADO {aka Ice Cream/Gelato}!!  While the sister-in-law was visiting we had to get some yumminess :)  I loved every second of it!

My hubby is a huge history nerd.  He studied history in college, can frequently be found reading nonfiction history books, and loves to take me to historical places.  Some I love... others, not so much.  Luckily this week he took me to one that I really loved!  We visited the local castle, Bellver Castle.  You know..... just built in the 14th Century.  No biggie.  It was super cool.  And a very unique date :) 

My hubby and I left our beautiful kitty cat back in the states to stay with my husband's family so I have a weakness for kitty cats when we see them out and about.  This one meowed so loudly when I walked past him that I couldn't help but give him some love.   

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to join to link up for Five for Friday and don't forget to enter the giveaway!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Back in Action

My computer is back in action and I am happy happy happy!  I must have needed a weekend away from it- because for whatever reason, it decided to stop working Friday afternoon and promptly begin again Monday morning.  I got the message.  And I rested and played. 

I needed to refocus on myself, my family, my friends, and this wonderful adventure I'm experiencing here in Spain.  Here's just a little glimpse into my much needed weekend.

I hope you're feeling rested, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle your week!  Be sure to stop by later this week for a GIVEAWAY!!  :)

Catching Up

January, February, MARCH!  That's what my grandmother used to always say to me and my brother when it was time to "march" to bed.  And I can't help but think about it every time we usher in this month!   March is one of my favorite months... for so many reasons.  It's my birthday month, it's the month that brings warmer weather, spring break, all things green... it really doesn't get much better.  I'm fresh back from a long weekend away- so before I go unpack, I needed to check in and see how it's going :)

SO much is going on around the bloggy world today.  Have you stopped by I'm Lovin' Lit's blog to join in on her giveaway?  She has some amazing products available for FREE all week! 

 

It's testing season... what have you done to inspire, motivate, and prepare your learners?  Mrs. Cahill shares all that she does on her adorbs blog!  I may be biased because I worked with her all last year- but she really is the best.  

And how could you miss the Bright Ideas Blog Hop hoppin' around?!  Be sure to check out some of the brilliant ideas.  You can start HERE! 

My hubby and I only have four more months left in Spain and are planning on taking advantage of them as much as possible!  We went on a trip to Brussels this past week and have up to five more trips planned before we leave in June AND my hubby's sister is coming to visit us this week!  Ahhh- so much excitement!  I look forward to sharing our adventures and my remaining time teaching here in Spain :)  Here's a few pictures from our trip to Brussels, Antwerp, and Bruges! 

Belgium is known for their mussels and fries!  MMMMM

I hope you enjoy your Sunday!!Be sure to stop by later this week for a giveaway to celebrate my birthday!!

The Difference Between American English and British English

If you're like me, you probably knew one or two differences between American and British English but never thought much more about it.  In Spain they learn British English.  Over the year I have picked up on important UK jargon and grammar {learning to not correct students when they say "I have got a book".  I have a book, I have a book, my inner teacher screams!!}.  Sometimes I have to go home and look up certain British words after having one of those IHaveAbsolutelyNoIdeaWhatThey'reSaying type of moments.  So here are the top differences  between American and British English that have caught me off guard the most.  

10. Have got
In the UK it is proper to say "Have you got a brother?"  instead of "Do you have a brother?"  Hurts to listen to and to say!

9.  Lift
You take a lift to get to the fourth floor of a building.  And the fourth flood is actually the fifth flood because the bottom floor is the 0th floor, not the 1st. 

8.  Maths
Mathematics is shortened so students call it "Maths".  You'll often hear or see something like, "I have Maths homework tonight" 

7.  University
In the States "school" is everything Kinder-college.  In the UK it is specific to students who are Kinder-18.  Once they graduate from high school, they attend University. 

6.  Trainers and Trousers and Jumpers
A jumper is a sweater.  Trainers are those things on your feet that lace up.  And trousers are what you wear on your legs every day.  Pants?  Oh gosh- don't make me blush by mentioning those things you wear under your trousers! 

5.  Pants and Knickers
Pants are men's underwear and knickers are women's underwear.

4.  Rubbish
Have you got any rubbish to take out to the rubbish bin?

3.  Colour, Favourite, Travelling
The different spelling has been so hard for me to get used to!  Our unit on Holidays {what they call vacations} challenged me.  In the US: Traveling.  In the UK:  Travelling

2.  Z
You know that last letter of the alphabet?  In the UK it is called "Zed".  Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Zed.  Just doesn't have the same ring to it...

1.  Rubber
I'll never forget the first time a student said, "Have you got a rubber?"  to her first grade friend.  Whhhhhat?  When she pulled out an eraser I realized rubber is entirely different in the UK.

Curious for more differences?  Check out my guest blog post at All Things Upper Elementary tomorrow!! 

 

Math is Real Life {Time Change}

Today I'm linking up with a monthly REAL WORLD math linky hosted by 4mulaFun, Fourth Grade Studio, Teaching to Inspire in 5th, AND MissMathDork!

I am definitely a math dork.  I love it.  When I was a little kiddo I would do extra math problems for homework at night.  Just ask my Dad- he thinks it’s hilarious and makes fun of me for it all the time J 

Living in Spain can sometimes be very inconvenient.  I have family and friends all over the world and if I want to talk to them, well, I need to use math.  My mom and dad and best friend all live on the East Coast and so they are 6 hours behind us.  I always need to subtract 6 hours from our time in order to find out if it’s too early or late to call them.  Then, my brother is in the Central Time Zone, so he is 7 hours behind us.  So that’s more math if I want to call him!  If I want to talk to my friends from Colorado, I have to subtract 8 hours.  And the most crazy one of all- we have two amazing friends who are teaching in South Korea right now.  You can read all about them here.  But they are 13 hours AHEAD of us!  So if we want to talk to them, I have to do more math!! 

It’s such a simple thing, calling your family, but it can really present a challenge.  I loved talking to my mom on the way to or from work back in the States.  Well now I can only call her after and it’s always her lunch time, not the best time for us to catch up.  I’m hoping we’ll fall into more of a routine soon! 

Math is around us all the time!  There you have it- that’s how I am using math every single day! Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to link up with these wonderful bloggers!

Nerd Alert, Nerd Alert!!

Y'all... I am such a teacher nerd.  Like, TpT Lovin, marker hordin', pen obsessed, binder enthusiast, and clipart addicted.  {Aren't we all though?}  However, I'm slowly realizing that while this is the norm for me in the schools back home.  It is SO not the norm here.  And by the people surrounding me.  WHAAAAT???

The program I am working through is organized by the Spanish government.  In order to teach English in Spain, you do not need to have an education degree.  So almost all of the people who do this program come straight out of college and have different degrees.  I do not know of any other actual teachers in the program.  I feel like I definitely have an upper hand because I am comfortable in a classroom, but nobody else gets the teaching aspect.  Nor do they have a love for all things TEACHER!  Like, when I suggested that we create a tub full of all our lesson plans and games we make... I got blank stares.  That would've killed in a teacher's lounge!  And when I purchased an uber cheap printer at a local store... I got asked why I would spend the money.  And when I told them to let me know of any game ideas they have so I can make them online and share them... they thought I was crazy.  And the teachers here are not much different.  At least the teachers I work with.  They love themselves some workbooks.

My collection of teacher supplies so far.. Meager but a start!

So maybe this isn't the same teaching environment.  Maybe I really am a SUPER teacher nerd.  I think I'm okay with it.  Who's with me?

Five for Friday!

I'm linking up with the adorable Doodle Bugs' Five for Friday!  Be sure to go check it out!

(1) I am really enjoying teaching esl.  It's allowing me to work with so many different ages AND do fun stuff that you couldn't exactly get away with in 5th grade :)  Such as The First Grade Parade's adorable Are Bat's Cute or Creepy Graphtivity and this book I made all about Bats!

(2)  This is the view from my classroom window.  It's cloudy but in the distance you can see mountains :)  I try to get a glimpse out that window as frequently as possible.

(3)  Mmmmm... I really can't think of a much better way to spend a morning but drinking apple spice tea and updating the blog!

(4)  My hubby and I celebrated our **4 Month** anniversary this week :)  We went out for some yummy tapas!  One of my favorite things about living in Spain is the TAPAS!

(5)  My bookshelf which is slowly starting to fill up with fabulous school supplies!  Just need some colored paper, colored pencils, and a hole puncher... and maybe a few {thousand} more items :)

HAPPY FRIDAY everyone!!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Freebie!

Hola chicos!

All is well here in Spain.  I cannot believe we're nearing the end of OCTOBER!!  Where has the time gone!!?  I am trying my darnest to finished my 3rd writing unit, like yesterday.  Please bear/bare {just had to google which it was... turns out it's bear} with me as I adjust to this new life and no wifi thing. 



Found this adorable guy while searching for the correct phrase

I am enjoying my sweet ninos.  But to be truthful, this entire process is a struggle for me.  I feel like I am struggling just as much as the little kiddos.  Not only can I not speak Spanish, they cannot speak English.  I am just trying to keep my head above water most days because what else can you do when little ones can't understand you?

In order to make the most out of our time in the classroom I'm trying to use very simple games and activities.  This past week I taught about Halloween!  In order to teach them, I used the Halloween poster you can see here.  And then made some flashcards with the pictures on them. 



My drawing skills leave something to be desired

We read the words together from the poster and then I had them form two groups.  One student from each group would come up at a time and I would hold out the flashcard for them and the first student to say the word got a point for the team.  Super simple.  And easy.  And helping build their Halloween vocabulary.  Haha.  It may not be the most practical vocabulary for them to learn but hey, they're enjoying it :)   I figure we will ease into some numbers and the alphabet this coming week. 

With my high schoolers, I am having a very different experience!  My high schoolers are much more fluent in English and can have a little more fun.  In fact, one of the teachers I am working with brought games to our class this week and we got to all play games {which is nearly unheard of from teachers in Spain!}. 

Super similar to "I Have... Who Has..."

One of the games was very similar to "I Have... Who Has..." and I thought it was great, so I went ahead and made my very own version and you can grab it in my TpT Store for FREE!  It's a great game for discussing context clues and even better for any ESL learners because it makes them think about the sentences. 



There's SO many fun ways you can use this game :)

In the mean time, I am still scouring the internet {when I can get it!} and have started a Pinterest board with tons of ESL games and activities.  Please check it out and be sure to follow me on Pinterest while you're there! 

It's the "end" of the strike

TIL is the program the government is trying to enforce.

Well, the strike is pretty much over.  Don't ask me what that means because I'm not exactly sure.  But from what I understand, almost all of the schools are back to work and have started their school year {nearly a month after they were supposed to}.  There wasn't a complete settlement- but the government is going to provide English classes for all teachers for the next two years.   After two years, they will be expected to teach 33% of their school day in English.  I'm not exactly sure how you can do that... but that's the new expectation.  I assume I will learn more about it as the school year continues, but isn't that crazy!!?  Can you imagine having two years to become fluent in Spanish so that you could teach at least two subjects a day in complete Spanish?  Whew!  Major props to these teachers.