Currently May... wait...what??? May?? Really???

OMG! Where has the time gone.

 I just can't get over the fact that May is here. 

This has been the fastest and slowest

 school year at times this past year,

 but now I'm starting to panic... 

Am I really ready to be in the last month of school?

 Am I really ready to say goodbye to my sweet kiddos??? 

Ahhhh!!!  

Am I the only one feeling this way?  

Either way, I'm excited to finally be back to blogging!
I'm super excited today to link up with Farley

for Currently!  It's been awhile so I'm 

ready and excited to catch up on some

blog reading after writing this!

First of all don't you just LOVE the design this month?

I can't get enough of the purple!!!

Listening- The TV is on and the hubby is watching a movie. I can't sit still long enough to watch a movie these days.  I have no interest. So here I am just blogging away!

Loving- At the end of April I started to do a Pinned It Spinned It challenge on Instagram.  Have you heard of them?  I follow a few gals who pin different outfits from pinterest for each day, and you need to spin the outfit to make it your own.  It's really helped me stick with not wearing the same old things each day.  It's excited for the end of the school year too.  Are you on Insta?  Find me: MrsBentinsBlackboard!!!

Thinking- Sadly most nights around this time I'm already in bed.  We've gotten really used to a schedule with a baby and that means early to bed for H, early to bed for us!  He went to bed really early today and I'm worried bout what time he will wake up in the morning! :)  Cross your fingers for me. 

Wanting- I'm a new mom.. It was my first year as a teacher/wife/mother all rolled into one. I desperately need some "Me Time"! Enough said. 

Needing- I've recently started Weight Watchers with a group of teachers at school and I'm really wanting to finally get rid of that baby weight. I've been avoiding it for far too long. H turned a year old this month so it's time. It's important to me to stick with it and be more active especially with my family. So far so good especially since the nice weather. 

Summer: Yes- Building our new house starts this month. So this summer will be full of following the progress! I'm so excited.  Hoping- To just enjoy time with my family and forget what day of the week it is. I can't wait! I hope I can do it.  Dream- To get away on a mini-vacation. I feel it's been tooooo long and it would be a great way to start making some memories with my new little family!

Stop by Farley's blog and check out all of 

the currently linkys! It's a great way to 

meet some awesome people!

My Rockin' Classroom- Pioneers

Happy Weekend!

I'm pumped to be blogging today for a Rockin' Giveaway

with my friend Katie at Rock and Teach!  

We're all getting together to give you the chance at some great prizes

and to share some rockin' things that we do in our classrooms. 

For the past several years my team and I

have done a pioneer simulation to help teach

non-fiction in our reading blocks. To get some background,

check out this old blog post.  

Here is our trail map to the West!

This year we wanted to continue 

some of the great things that we've done

in the past, but also we wanted to take it to a new level

So.... we added a STEM element! 

A-Ma-Zing!  

Seriously.. Amazing!

I am so lucky to work with such great 

teammates.  We rocked this and I have them to thank for it!

Here were the pioneer essentials that had to be packed in the wagon!

Students worked in their 'wagon train' groups

to attempt the challenges that we've made.

The first one was to build a wagon that 

can hold a list of 'trail materials' without falling over. 

Step 1:  Students had the opportunity to look over items in the General Store and go back as a team to view prices and discuss ideas. 

Step 2: Planning Process- Until they had a plan, they weren't able to go to the store. They needed to bring their ideas together. 

Step 3: Buying Supplies- Students needed to track their spending on a budget sheet, and make change from their purchases. They could go to the store as many times as they needed, but there would also be times that it would close. 

Step 4: Build a wagon structure that could hold all of the pioneer essentials for travel. In order to have a completed wagon, you must fit everything in or on it and the wagon can't tip over. 

Step 5: Additional Challenge- Make your wagon roll 2 yards without tipping or falling. 

I had 3 out of 4 wagon trains successful with this challenge. 

 Surprisingly the one that didn't finish was a huge shock to me. 

It was amazing to see some students shine in this activity

 that struggle with more everyday school activities.  

I also love how 2 of the 3 put their water barrel (soda can)

on the outside of the wagon how it was on the real wagons!!!

We had a long discussion and reflection process after this activity was done. 

 Students wrote about their experience and documented their process with pictures. 

 We took the pictures and listed the steps and talked about what they would do differently next time.  I can't wait to share with you the next STEM challenge we did.

  Some groups really took what they learned 

in this wagon building activity to heart 

and tried very hard to fix their teamwork

 or communication the second time around. 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing my rockin' pioneer activity!

Please take time to visit Katie 

and the other fabulous bloggers taking part in this giveaway!

Enter Enter Enter to win some

fabulous prizes and also a $50 TpT Gift Card!

Have a fantastic Day!
Ana :)

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An InLinkz Link-up