Thankful to be an Oklahoma Educator

This Thanksgiving I am "Thankful to be an Oklahoma Educator"! 

I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to work in seven school districts (taught in six), each one different, but fabulous in their own way. I have held many positions over the years: financial secretary, cheerleading coach, test coordinator, mentor, technology integrationist, ELL, GT, and assistant principal. I have  taught high school, pre-k, and everything inbetween. I have a pretty colorful resume: Teacher of the Year and Regional K20 SKIE award winner are two highlights that I cherish. 

I have had amazing colleagues and have learned from each of them. I have had the pleasure of meeting many incredible families across the state. 

I have had sad moments in my career when students have passed away and discovering abuse of a child. I have celebrated happy moments such as when the "lightbulb" goes off and  students "get it". 

Oklahoma education is not perfect, but when I signed up for this career I knew it wasn't going to be.  I knew what I was getting into. I knew I wanted to make each day an exciting learning adventure for the students of Oklahoma. I have put my whole heart into this state for many years. I stand up for what is right, never losing sight of the fact that parents are trusting me each day with their most precious treasure. I am thankful to be an Oklahoma Educator, I love my job! 

Thankful,
Mrs. Hime 

SW Mock Election was a Success!

Another GT project was wrapped up this week!

The students have been studying the election process since mid-September. They have defined election vocabulary, researched the election process, visited the County Election Board, designed and hung posters around the campus to advertise the big day, and  this past Tuesday they hosted a Mock Election for approximately five hundred second, third, and fourth grade students on Southwest campus.

Election Vocabulary slides 

Each GT student worked the election in one hour shifts. They manned the sign-in table, ballot box, handed out "I Voted" stickers, and counted ballots. 

The students announced the winner during Rise & Shine Wednesday morning to cheers from the campus. They were so excited Hillary Clinton had won ( I don't think they realized their winner was not the nation's President-elect). 

I can't wait to meet with them this week to hear their thoughts on the big day: What worked, what didn't work, what could we do differently next time... 

Teachingly,

Mrs. Hime

GRA 2016

Global Read Aloud 2016 wraps up this week! 

This was my 4th year to participate, but my first to host a Gifted and Talented book club group made up of second through fourth graders. We have meet each Monday over the past six weeks to have lunch, discuss our book (The BFG) , reflect, and complete activities. 

Our book club began with a Mystery Skype to determine the location of our WRA 2016 partners, they were a group of fourth graders from North Carolina! Each week the students have completed a reflection activity in Seesaw. The students collaborated to construct and publish a Gooblefunk Dictionary (you can scan the qr code below to view it). They also each wrote a dream of their own on Dream Jars, they were fantastic! 

Gooblefunk Dictionary 

We will end our book club tomorrow (Monday) with a pizza party, discuss the ending of The BFG, and reflect in Seesaw. I believe that each day should be an exciting learning adventure, the past six weeks has been an awesome one! 

Teachingly,
Mrs. Hime