Classroom Transformation!

IT’S READY!

Here is the classroom!

I love flexible seating and this school encourages it! I am hoping to buy more yoga balls through a grant! I have a side table that I put 2 mushroom chairs at, a bean bag chair, and I was able to find carpet at my new house under the stairs to make the classroom feel alittle bit more “homey”. 

I make curtains to help add more color and half way take out the afternoon sun.

I also have a mini futon for the kids to sit at while at stations.

Ready for the first day of school! Ready to mold the minds of the 2019-2020 school year!

(Do you see outside my big windows?? I have 2 picnic tables and and a amphitheater to the right with lots of bench seating and a stage for all our morning meetings!)

-Sunshine 

New School

Welcome back to ALittleNebraskaSunshine! It feels good to be blogging again!

This year I wanted to try new innovative ideas, and share them with friends and family, so you can see what I am up too, or maybe gain some inspiration!

We spent a short year in Kansas before moving back to Nebraska. I had heard about this school in North West Omaha call Legacy that focused on small group or one on one learning, project based learning, and teaching was encouraged to be outside! I get plenty of plan periods in one day and I have a teachers assistant; she is also a certified teacher! In almost every subject I teach I am able to do station work and have teachers at 2 of the stations! 

I am so excited for this school year and all that it has to bring! For right now you can see below, this is my school, and my classroom is on the very end, not completed yet!

This will be my new classroom come October!!

But, for right now I am on the house that is on the 11 acre campus. The house that came with the purchase of the land is originally where the kids take science! The science teacher is currently in the garage- with an air conditioner-  no worries, and I am in the living room and the kitchen! The kids “lockers” (chairs) are in the bedroom off of the living room! It’s quite the experience right now! 

My teaching idle growing up was Laura Ingels Wilder, so I feel like I am in a 1 room school house teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade! :) 

Here below is the living room of the house! I am exited to start decorating and make it feel like a classroom! 

Since I am in the science room, I not only have 16 kids, but 2 bearded dragons, 3 tree frogs, a leopard gheko, 2 coneflower snakes, and 2 turtles.

And how can I forget about all the goats and chickens! This is Emma! Do not let her blue eyes fool you... she always tried to eat my dresses! 

This is Xena- she is very curious! I can’t wait to learn how to hold her! 

This is Marge, she is very curious also, she will watch me work! I have held her a lot and she will hang out on my shoulder! 

From left to right, Emma Ozzy, and Harriet

Juniper- also Junie 

For now, see you soon! I will post updates on the classroom and animals and all these ideas stored in my head that make it so difficult to sleep at night! :) 

-Sunshine

Cinnamon Roll Cake

I made this Brown Butter Cinnamon Roll Skillet Cake on Sunday morning! SO yummy! Instead of the skillet, I baked in a 8x8 pan. Here is where I got the recipe, but I used Splenda instead of sugar and unsweetened almond milk. This brought down the calorie count, but not enough to make it healthy! I think I will freeze half of it so I can enjoy it later and resist the temptation to not eat it all in one setting! :)

This is Freedom Concert

Christ Community had an amazing Fourth of July Celebration!!! The music was wonderful and it was a PACKED house!!

 

 The wonderful Jenna Hagar was one of the speakers!

 We honored all the men in uniform!!

 PACKED house!

 Sarah and Elizabeth!

 Sarah and her sis Hannah, who I look forward to getting to know better in Guatemala!!!

 Beautiful show afterwards!

Hey! I have a greenthumb!

I have not had luck growing plants, I have killed mint and bamboo in the past (the 2 most un-killable plants). After taking a Doane class from a professor who really inspires me, I decided to try it again and she did help me out!!! Thanks Joyce! :)

 

I bought some soil and some pots from Target ($1.29 each) and they add some awesome bright color to my porch and when I take it to work, my classroom!

 

This chocolate mint below is from Joyce's garden, it started out as 3 little leaves and a maple tree! Once I untangled the roots, this mint is happily growing!!

 This is also from a classmates garden and growing greatly!!! I have used these chives in so many meals! Especially for my healthy baked potato soup. I cut off as I need them.

 I bought this oregano on clearance from Bag N Save for $1!

 basil from a classmates garden, I brought this plant inside and then proceeded to knock it over which is why it is growing sideways. Poor basil!

 Parsley! Again, clearance at Bag N Save!

 This I think is cantelope. I was eating cantelope on day and just planted the seeds in this empty container. I could have sworn it was a cottonwood tree because so many of those seeds were flying around.....but then Carissa google imaged a cantelope plant and it was a match! Cantelope takes a lot of space since it is a vine-y plant, so I look forward to it taking over my porch with sweet sweet cantelope!!!

 Here is mint again, I had to buy some at Target to infuse water, and I planted some of it, and look! healthy as can be!!! Here's to forever infusing water!

 Purple basil, I got from Joyce (my Doane professor). I need to research how to use it in recipes. -- It sure makes for a pretty plant! :)

Now the next part is learning to pick, prune and dry the herbs so I can use them year round. I plan on taking some of the herbs to my classroom to add another element. It will also be a classroom job to teach some students to take care of these plants. The mint and chocolate mint can also be used as a calming device, picking a leaf and rubbing it between your fingers gives a wonderfully delightful smell! I am so happy I have a whole wall of windows to give me as a teacher this opportunity! 

Dealing with the loss of a Student

This week was tough grieving the loss of one of my past students. I taught Roy when he was in 7th grade (in Houston), he would have been a Junior this next school year.

It was been really hard to sort through my feelings about this. To be with a student, and to make that connection August through June, and then to have him gone at such a young age just seems so unfair.

 

You are missed Roy ...

 

I take a lot of pictures and videos when I teach. The students love to be in the spotlight! Here is a clip of Roy talking to be about the budget project we were doing in Math class. Such a sweet sweet boy.

 

 

 

 

 

"Pasta" Primavera

Now that I have time I am able to try new recipes! More than just one a week! I have been cooking with Spaghetti Squash, it is so much healthier than noodles. I have made a Chicken Parmesan, and a tuna noodle casserole with it. Today I tried a Primavera, but with no meat (I had none on hand). It was really good and the sautéed garlic and onion really gave it a rich flavor!

I got the recipe from http://lexiscleankitchen.com/2013/06/25/pasta-primavera/ and made a couple of adaptations.

1 Spaghetti Squash

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (more to taste)

1 tsp salt

Freshly ground pepper (to taste)

2 handfuls fresh organic spinach

1/3 cup cherry tomatoes

1/2 onion, chopped

Chicken or Shrimp

 

Optional: Add in other vegetables (zucchini, broccoli, asparagus)

Optional: Garnish with fresh basil and parmesan when serving

 

Instructions:

I cut the spaghetti squash and cleaned the seeds out and microwaved it for 6 minutes

In a medium-size pot add oil, garlic, and onion and sauté for for 3-5 minutes

Add in spaghetti squash and mix well

Add salt, crushed red pepper, and pepper

Add in tomatoes, spinach, and any other vegetables of choice

Top with fresh basil and fresh parmesan