Brain Break Bouquet

Loving these Brain Break flowers I worked up. What a great find these premise Brain Break circles were. Teachers Pay Teachers is what's up. Had to craft them up into my future room decor and color scheme. Love that black, mint, and cream!

Missing The Heat

Going on day 3 of my county being closed, I am itching for a little sunny weather. Two weeks into my student teaching, I was on a roll! I don't wanna stop now! Not when I just got going! However, to ease the distress, I looked back on some of my time in Italy this past summer under that Tuscan Sun. I would enjoy nothing more than to be back there right now, sipping a cappuccino, lounging on a sunny rooftop. Maybe after graduation, a whopping two months from now, I can venture back there for the summer to celebrate. If not Italy, maybe Nica, or somewhere entirely new. Currently, I have my sights on AFRICA! Lions, Tigers, and Bears, OH MY!

Thought Catalog

"23 Lessons My Students Taught a 23-Year-Old-Me"

Find the article here: 

23 Lessons

Vascular or Non Vascular, That is the Question...

One of the four plant centers... I love science, it is my absolute favorite subject. Having a mother who was a Horticulture major at UGA, and now a 4th Grade Science teacher... how could I not LOVE this unit!!

Vascular & Non Vascular Plants from Katie Barker on Vimeo.

Venus Flytrap Discussion

Intro to Plant Classification Lesson: students respond to my question, "What is a Venus Flytrap?"

Plant Classification Venus Flytrap Intro from Katie Barker on Vimeo.

Throwback to Junior Year of College

When I was interning in a first grade classroom, I taught a lesson on "Greater Than and Less Than" using this song and activity.

Ally The Alligator Math Song from Katie Barker on Vimeo.

This lesson involved the 5th grade students rotating in 4 centers throughout an hour and fifteen minute class period. Students dissected flowers, examined vascular and nonvascular plants, noted key differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms, and watched countless videos online via QR codes. Students were assigned different tasks which helped them discover the characteristics of plants in a hands-on, discovery-based learning environment. Students even saw a Venus Flytrap "EAT" my finger!!!!