This is NOT a teaching post.  BUT it is something that can help you if you have, say, a potluck at school for your holiday party.  This Thanksgiving I made a fantastic little crockpot dessert that was *demolished* by all in attendance.  It was SO easy, that I thought it would make the perfect Potluck dessert for school. What was it? Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake Yes...you read that right.  Chocolate.Lava.Cake.  YUM!!!! It takes 3 ingredients (sort of) Chocolate cake mix Chocolate pudding Chocolate chips Here is what you do.  Prepare the cake mix as the box says (so you will need eggs and oil).  Pour that into the crockpot.  Then prepare the pudding as the package says (you will need milk).  Pour that on top of the cake batter.  Pour the entire bag of chocolate chips on top of all of that.  Turn the crockpot onto high and let it bake for 3 hours. That is it.  SO EASY! Top with cool whip and you have an amazi......

As many of you know, I have been lucky enough to have a truly fabulous program called The Walking Classroom in use with my students.  If you have read my previous posts about it (you can read them here , here , and here ) you KNOW how much my students and I love being able to put those headphones on and head outside to learn. Well, because of this really cool program, something really cool happened to us at the end of April that I wanted to share with you.  We in Room 6 got our 15 minutes of fame!  We became TV stars for the day.  :) In a nutshell, Laura Fenn, the creator of The Walking Classroom, met the director of a show about the benefits of walking and exercise that is produced by a local PBS affiliate in my area.  She referred him to me, we set up the filming schedule, and 7 people armed with cameras and equipment descended upon Room 6. It was such a great experience for my students and I.  Having a camera follow you is such a trip!  I......

I don't know about you, but I am usually done by the time school is over.  All I want to do is go lay down on the couch and relax.  However life has other plans for me (as do three little kiddos and a husband, plus a house and well, you know...life!) so laying on the couch eating bon bons is just not really an option for me.  Things must get done, one of which is dinner. Making dinner.  Ugh.  The bane of my existence.   Can't we just eat cereal every night?? I suppose not. So I have discovered something that has changed everything in my household.  Wait for it...... My CROCK POT!!! Why has no one ever mentioned how incredibly amazing and fabulous (not to mention easy!) this machine is in all of my 38 years????  It really is a teachers' dream.  Set it and forget it as they used to say :) Because I am now officially obsessed with my Crock Pot, I thought I would share a few recipes with you that my kids and I enjoy.  They a......

My family (minus my photographer hubby) Last weekend, I was invited to see the Disney Nature movie Bears.  This movie, which will be released this Friday, April 18, is the story of the first year of life for two little bear cubs and their mama in the wilderness of Alaska. This is movie is true to form for Disney.  A story has been artfully woven from the footage the photographers were able to get while following these animals over the course of the year.  You see the bears in the den after birth, exploring the new snow-covered land around them, attempt to navigate the dangerous world of other bears, and desperately try to find enough salmon and other food to make it to the next winter.  The scenery itself is breathtaking and the bear cubs are just too cute! My two children, ages 7 and 4, (well, I did take all 3, but my 6 month old was more interested in me than the movie ;)) really were very invested in the movie by the end.  They enjoyed the visuals and......

Do you have kids who fidget and wiggle all day long?  I am sure that the answer is yes.  I know I do (heck, I tend to wiggle and fidget when I have to sit down for too long of a stretch!)  So when Scott Ertl contacted me to try out one of his Bouncy Bands in my classroom, I was definitely intrigued. Bouncy Bands are basically large rubber bands made out of recycled tires.  They hook on to your student's chair, using pvc pipe as anchors to keep them from falling down.  The student is then able to rest his or her feet on the band, bouncing away, releasing all of that energy, and helping to keep the student's focus on the work at hand. I have to say that the student that had the band on his chair really enjoyed having it there.  He would tell me, "Mrs. M you should get some of these for everyone!"  He liked having somewhere to put his feet during the day and found it a nice, relaxing way to let off steam. The band was also really interesting to the ......

Is it really October??  Wow...this year is just flying by.  Since it is the first of the month (ok, the 2nd, but who is counting?) I thought I would link up with Farley at Oh Boy, 4th Grade so you could see what is going on in my world Currently.... Yeah, not much has changed from my last two posts.  Mostly spending time with Cameron, getting to know him and enjoying every minute of my maternity leave.  I really have this itch to start getting ready for when I go back to work after leave is over, but spending time with this little man is far more appealing :)  He is just too cute!  (and for a current picture, head on over to Instagram  ;) ) As for a treat, I have some homework passes that you can use on Halloween.  I actually use these in my room because the thought of giving them more candy on that day, when the students are already hyped up, is rather unappealing to me :)  Plus, this is free for me...and anything I can do that cuts......

In my last post, I showed you the binder that I was putting together for my sub for when I went off on maternity leave.  My plan was to go into school one more day, leave all of my plans, gather the necessary binders, even show the sub around (who was coming in on that last day of mine to sort of "learn the ropes" and meet the class.)   Well, as we all know, even the best laid plans tend to veer off course every once in a while, no matter how planned they are (and with a 3rd c-section that was scheduled since almost the time I conceived....what could be more planned?? ;))  You see, I went in that next day (which happened to be a Tuesday) for a last minute ultrasound to check on the size of the baby (since I had gestational diabetes and all.)  It was supposed to be a quick little check that would put me at school before the bell even rang to pick up the students.  During the check, the doctor saw that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck twice......

I can not believe that my summer is 12 days from being over.  I had SO many plans. I was going to make all of the new labels, binders, teaching resources that I had thought about at the end of the last school year.  I was going to get the nursery done.  I was going to unpack the garage.  I was going to do a lot of things. I didn't. I managed to take my children to the beach many times.  We went to the zoo.  We made pottery at Color Me Mine.  We read books.  We lazed around.  We spent time together.  And my daughter has proudly exclaimed that this has been "the best summer ever!" So I am cool with not getting everything done. But now that school is imminently approaching, I better start making some goals or I will be "up a creek", as my grandmother used to say.   Oh, Boy 4th Grade's Currently is the perfect way to get me going.  So here we go..... OK...so I realize I have spelled especially wrong.  UGH!  I......

Last weekend, I had the privilege of seeing a sneak peek of Monsters University at the El Capitan Theatre (which, if you are not from Southern California, it is MUST if you plan to visit Hollywood.  Such a fabulous theater)  I took my 6 year old daughter with me.  Here she is waiting for the film...with her 3D glasses on :) This movie is a prequel to the 2001 release Monster's Inc .  While you don't have to see the first movie to appreciate this one, it helps.  Having some familiarity with the cast and how they eventually all end up, makes for a more fun experience (sort of like how I had been on Star Tours at Disneyland umpteen times, and had a ball, but it made SOOOOOOOO much more sense after I had seen Star Wars for the first time a few months ago.  Now I realize why everyone was cheering at certain parts on the ride ;) ) Anyway..... This movie follows Mike Wazowski and James Sullivan as they maneuver through college, intent on becoming scarers.........

It is officially June....which means summer break for me is so close I can actually taste it.  Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job, but I also love the fact that we get a mental recharge at the end of it each year.  Ahh...the perks of being a teacher! June 1st also means it is time for Oh Boy, 4th Grade's Currently and I thought I would link up (and post two posts a day apart....hasn't happened in quite some time in Room 6 ;) )  So without further ado....here is what I am doing Currently. I am currently obsessed with HGTV.  I think it is because we just moved (to a house that my family now actually fits in!  yay!!) but I can't get enough of this channel.  I love to marvel at the LOW cost of housing in places that are anywhere but where I live (and be stunned by the fact that the DOWN PAYMENT on my house was more than the entire cost of some of these houses on House Hunters).  I also love Love It or List It.  What a fabulous show!  ......

Today, my 5th graders culminated.  (though we still do have a week left of school...which is a discussion for another day...)  As the door on this year closes, I am going to *partially* open the next one as I join in on my dear friend Kim from Joy in 6th Grade's first ever linky party....What I Will Do Differently Next Year (though I am a tad bit late on this.  Sorry!) 1.  Plan ahead.  We went from a regular start calendar this year to an early start.  Because of this, my timing was off on all of the teaching.  And since the timing was off....FRACTIONS got the shaft.  Fractions!  UGH!  How could I have given fractions the low end of the priority scale???!!  So next year, knowing that the timeline is a bit wonky with the new calendar, I am going to start EARLY with everything that needs to be done in the fraction realm.  Because seriously, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, simplifying, comparing, mixed numbers, im......

OK...so I don't know if that is a real day or not but I am going to go with it.  I was in class today, looking over some papers from the inbox (that were stacked a mile high) and stamping them with my little "Mrs. Moorman" stamp...when suddenly it hit me.  I LOVE THIS STAMP!  It has made my life SO much easier and I just wanted to share. There really is nothing revolutionary about it.  It is a simple stamp I made with Vista Print that says "Checked by Mrs. Moorman"  That is it.  When I look over something that doesn't need to be graded, but I want the students (and parents) to know I actually did look at it, I put this little stamp on it and, viola, it is done!  Pure, simple, love. What is something you love this Wednesday?...

This week has been a crazy (and draining) week for me.  We are in the midst of state testing and, well, you know how it goes.  It is just a stressful time for all -- me and the kids -- that my brain is mush.  I feel like I have SO much to write about (as we are still doing things in the class that I would love to share with you all!) but I just can't.  I also blame the baby for the mush brain ;) So, to reward you all for hanging in there with me, even though I am not blogging as much, I am taking after my soon-to-be for sure Teacher of the Year friend Elizabeth at Fun in Room 4B and having a Pin It to Win It contest.  All you have to do is visit my TpT store and pin ANYTHING you would like to own.  You can pin one thing.  You can pin everything.  Then, come back here, with a link to your pin, and tell me why you wanted that particular product.  If you pin more than one thing from my store, comment separately for each one (with the link t......

Spring Break is quickly coming to an end, and I am quickly beginning to realize that I need to get myself into gear and prepare for the next three weeks.  You see....we are in crunch time to The TEST!  Ahhhhhh!!!  I know that I have tried my hardest to get them ready, the standards have been my bible, but 5th grade is really a hard test year (all of those odd years are) and it is just so unpredictable.  But I digress.  Since it is still Spring Break, I thought I would relax just a bit and link up with Latoya at Flying into First Grade and play "Let's Get Acquainted".  Admittedly, I am late to the party here.  Latoya has been having this linky for quite some time now, and I have learned a great deal about my fellow bloggers....but I have never joined in....until now. So without further ado, My Favorite Things . Favorite Shop I seriously can not get enough of Target.  If I could live there, I probably would.  It is one of those stores......

Long time no blog, eh?  I just feel so uninspired as of late.  Nothing fabulous seems to be happening in my room, other than the usual stuff....so nothing really interesting to blog about.  But I did make two "changes" in my room semi-lately that I haven't written about on my blog, so I thought I would share.  Both are crafty, and both were something that I shared how to create (step by step) on Classroom DIY, but never here.  So here we go. New borders! I have begun the process of changing the borders in my room.  I am just so tired of the yellow/gray/white combo.  Since we are entering into the Colonial/Revolutionary era, it is time for a change.  Last year, I did the same basic tissue puff stuff.  But for this go around, I thought I would change it up just slightly.  I decided to braid the tissue.  And so far...I am liking it!  It is put up the same way as the puff, but instead of 3 separate pieces, it is all braided tog......

I was browsing TpT the other day and I came across something that stopped me in my tracks.  Someone (who shall remain nameless) took my Calendar Math template ...which you all know I LOVE and have used for YEARS...moved a few things around and was selling it as her own.  I really, honestly, could not believe it.  It made me sad and mad all at the same time. So, what did I do?  Well, I contacted her.  I asked her to please remove the product from her store as that is essentially MY product.  She responded that she was looking on Pinterest and had seen several pictures of Calendar and "adapted it" then put it up. (she was apologetic, did take it down for now, but she did say that when she tweaks it a bit more she will put it up again... :\) And here I am at my point.  What you see on Pinterest comes from PEOPLE.  Actual, real people who have put their hard work online to share with you for your own classroom.  Most of what you see, especial......

Christina over at Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge is having a linky party about the Best things in Blogging in 2012 and I thought I would join in the fun! There are so so so many things that this year has brought me to brag and share about the blogging world, that it really is going to be hard to narrow it down.  I want to just say EVERYTHING...that everything about blogging has been fantastic and positive and life altering, because, in truth, it has.  But I know that would make for a very boring and short post (and if you know anything about me by now, you know that short posts are NOT my thing ;) )  So here we go...some of 2012's bests.   Best Freebie I usually share no frills freebies with you.  A form here, a printout there.  Things I use in my class that I thought you might as well.  But this little gem that I shared really seemed to resonate with you all.  I got so much great feedback from this Book Order Form Math page I did...a......

The past year or so has been rough for our profession.  We faced a constant barrage by the media, labeling us all as greedy, lazy clock punchers who were doing nothing more than glorified babysitting.  Our salaries and benefits were questioned because there is NO way anyone who is currently in the classroom is there to actually teach anyone anything.  I mean, we are all there to go home at 3pm and have the summers off.  Then, with revelations of horrible atrocities at the hands of a TINY MINUTE HANDFUL of teacher, ALL of us have been vilified and looked upon with suspicion.  And now, in the wake of a sad, mind-numbing tragedy, many of us are thinking about how...about WHY we should go on. Well, let me tell you why *I* teach. I teach because of Bryan M. who, while we were studying the rows of teeth that sharks have and how there is always one waiting behind it in case it breaks off during a feeding frenzy, made the connection to the American Revolution and ho......

Today begins my first day of winter vacation (officially!) so while my kids are preoccupied with a little resting time, I thought I would take this time to announce the winners of my One Year Blogiversary giveaway! For the Math Pack...Ursula G won! For the Reading Pack....Sara V won! For the Writing Pack...Peggy P won! Each of you ladies will be getting an email from me with your prizes attached!  For everyone else, it is not too late to get the party favor.  Just head on over and leave me a comment...and I will send it out to you :) And with this little extra time I have, I thought I would do a little shopping while I was at it.  I don't know if you saw this LifeSpan TR1200-DT Treadmill Desk (2013 Model) when I posted it on Facebook...but it is PERFECT for me.  I have it on my wishlist (because exercising AND blogging would be awesome!)....but somehow, I don't think my husband will go for it ;) I also wanted to be sure you had heard that Jen ......