Sorry for the long absence. It has been a crazy couple of
weeks. Testing finally ended … only to have Open House two days
later. So here’s a bit of what I’ve been up to …
This is what the parents saw as they entered the room. The kids
did animal dodecahedron reports; each of the twelve sides had different
information about the animal … habitat, predators, physical
adaptations, behavioral adaptations, anatomy, etc. Those were
definitely the hit of the night. They also did country reports
… the little books next to the dodecahedrons.
These turned out really cute. They wrote about music class with
our principal. Since we are such a small school, everyone wears
many hats. We are lucky because our principal makes time to teach
music to our third graders. I plan to make memory books for them
out of the pieces of writing you see on the walls.
This is where we mark countries that we come across in our reading
throughout the year as well as the countries from their country
reports.
We went on a field trip to the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art.
They each chose their favorite piece and wrote about it. This
will be part of their memory books.
This is our classroom library. I am forever telling them to take
the beanbags out of the library before sitting on them or else it ends
up being a roiling mass of children in the library when someone wants
to get a book. 
This is writing the kids did about their all-time favorite books.
On top is a picture of each student with his or her favorite
book. Another page for the memory books.
The front of the room. The TV in the corner is playing the
slideshow we made. Each student wrote about one aspect of our day
or about a special event, and we added pictures. On the kidney
table in the front, there are guessing jars for Open House. This
is the first year that I’ve had two current students win. Usually
parents or former students are the winners.
The kids were actually in the room as I was taking these pictures. Can you see them hiding? 
Here they are … my babies. They are so proud of their
dodecahedrons. I wanted to keep one as a sample, but nobody
wanted to part with it. One student is moving to Maine this
summer, so I may be able to snag hers because her mom says it’s too
difficult to pack. 
On top of the craziness of preparing for Open House, we’ve been tearing
up the house. Everything is a total disaster right now. No
kitchen counter or sink, furniture piled high all over the place, and
rubble everywhere. It’s not moving along as quickly as I had
hoped. Toshi’s friend who is helping us said it would take about
five days. What he didn’t mention was that it wouldn’t be five
days in a row. Right now it’s looking more like one day a week
for five weeks. Ugh! But, I can’t complain because we’re
getting a much reduced rate. I’ll try to post pics of the
progress soon.
I’ve been reading here when I can, but just haven’t had much
time to comment or post. I hope everyone is well and enjoying the
three-day weekend. We went to Palm Springs yesterday just for a quick
getaway. Nothing says vacation like lunch at IHOP surrounded by
gay men! 
Poisoned by Fairy Tales 
You are such a cool teacher!! I wish Faith had you . Your classroom is awesome!Thanks so much for the encouragement – he is on his way over right now to take Faith and I to lunch – thus starts my role as “friend” rather than “lover”. I feel this will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done! Thanks again
Your room is so COOL!! You can really tell how much care you have put into all of it.I don’t blame you for wanting one of the dodecahedrons, I would too. I looked all over the picture where the kids are hiding but I could only see one person. I guess I’m getting old and blind. Or should I say blinder! I can’t wait to see pictures of the house, I’m sure it will bring back all kinds of memories. IHOP huh, I’m jealous. I love all of the pancake houses, Waffle house, IHOP, Huddle House. Haven’t been in one in a year. In fact our Sunday brunch which used to be nothing more than cereal and toast has somehow morphed into pancakes, bacon and eggs. yum!I’m so glad you wrote today, I’ve missed you.
‘love the dodecahedrons! (and I’m glad I only had to write that and not say it out loud!)
and aboyt gay me? I had a naughty thought about Rupert Everett today…
What an open house! High school open houses are never that spectacular (or at least mine aren’t.)
Just wanted to stop by and say “hi”…seeing as we are both in the same blogring and all. I’m originally a sunny SoCal girl (my mom actually taught in LAUSD for a long time…at Rockdale Elementary), but I am now a high school English teacher in the Bay Area. Definitely don’t miss that awful LA traffic. Miss the warm beaches though.
Your room looks amazing!! I love the dodecahedron idea. Where did you get that and how did your students manage to assemble such a thing? Your bulletin boards are even more awesome!! I can really see how much time and effort you put into your class. I’m sure the parents will love the displays.
What a great job! I’m sure it’s lots of fun being in your class! Did everyone have a good open house then? Were you able to snag that extra dodec.? :o)
cool pictures of the classroom cool…ryc: okay chau and i are probably the best of friends i could ever have besides my sister #4 friend in boston…
chau and i talk incessantly through the day and well i guess we understand each other well..it was hard for a day or two to understand his need to keep dating…(guy thingy) but still i did not want to lose him as a best friend and so that is where we are ….though when we are alone well that is something else…
and he wants me to date but that is hard though the list of dates is pretty good..i wonder why now so many want to date me and dating is crazy …but here i am talking to chau all the time and going on dates…so crazy for sure..
katie
ahh hope the last days of school year are going well…
i am busy packing
seems i decided that Boston was best idea and more affordable and well the offer of place was there with sister #4 ‘s other sister #1….
so i am packing and trying to work out the details for sale of house at right time…
and as for guys….hahah well cant pack them up …and would not want too…
perhaps some nice guys exist in boston….one can only hope..at any rate
i will enjoy the new adventure…
warmth and LOVE katie
I envy your classroom. It is colorful, informative. It is what I aspire to in my high school classroom, yet I fear I could never measure up!Outstanding job. Outstanding.
You are, if I may say so, a freaking genius. High schoolers are always saying that they should get paid to come to school. I have GOT to find a way to steal your salary thing! I’m not sure if I could handle them in pods, but I definitely like the idea of desk rent.As for classroom color, I have that in goodly sums, but one time when my mentor’s college-age son was helping me ready the room for my annual rubble digging, he told my mentor, “Her room makes me hyper.”Anyway, I shall be ruminating on a secondary salary system. Thank you so much!
ryc: timbuktu is too far and i am not sure they have internet ? lol
so boston it is well technically outside boston by 20 min train…
still nice…
Holy cow!!! Your room is amazing!! I love the dodecahedrons! And the reports the students made about what their favorite book was, along with the slide show…wow. How long did it take to put all of these projects into effect? I also love your classroom library with the bean bags, very awesome. Your description of a bunch of “roiling” kiddos tackling each other made me laugh!
Oh, about your question of what a Utorrent is, it’s a program designed to download tv shows, movies, cartoons, etc. And since the codeword for download is *pirate*, and that I’m a poor pirate, this would be true as well! Also, Invader Zim is just a silly cartoon, but it’s full of satire. Of course, I love it!
oh, your room looks great. i recognize some of those faces. can you do me a favor and get the email addy for the one that is moving to maine? if they have one. thanks.