Periscope, Check your work strategies and Talent show act???

Hey friends!

So yeah, I have a love/hate relationship with Periscope. Don't get me wrong, I mostly LOVE it. In a few short months of dabbling with it, it has extensively changed my life. Maybe that sounds a bit dramatic, but I really do feel that way. It seems like in the blink of an eye, I've become friends with people from across the continent, which is something I honestly never thought I would do. I feel like these people have become a daily part of my life. Most of them, which may include you if you've come here from my periscope, I watch on Periscope. Mostly teachers - who have created a social media sensation. We share such a powerful bond. I mostly learn things from them (you), but I've also laughed, cried, danced, sang, and celebrated with them. Like I said, some of them may be you, who are reading this. And if you are, thank you. I appreciate your friendship. I value it.

For those reasons, I love Persicope, undoubtedly. However, I am starting to realize that it is a mega battery drainer! I can't fully enjoy every Periscope I'd like to watch because my phone will inevitably die!!! Is anyone else experiencing this? How have you managed to fix this issue? Please share. I am trying to attach my charger to my hip... but that's just a loss waiting to happen. I know it's going to end up getting lost somewhere, because I know myself well enough yall. #clumsy

Also, if you checked out my Periscope, I talked about "Check your work" strategies. PLEASE share below, because I am VERY curious about this. I would greatly appreciate it.
I really would like to know what kind of strategies you teach your students to check their math work after they have finished. If you make a lesson out of it? Or HOW you go about teaching them to really go over each problem.

And lastly... If you have any suggestions for a talent show act that you've seen or had success with, please share! I'm in search for something FUN and FUNNY :) :) :)

Thanks everyone! Have a great rest of your week!

Jose

FREE December Desktop Wallpaper

Howdy! It's been a little while since I have posted something on my blog and I needed to change that! I was inspired to create a new desktop wallpaper and I wanted to share it with you all. I know December is half way over... but it's never too late to enjoy a free festive background!!! #celebratelife I would LOVE to see how your work space looks with this desktop wallpaper! Use the hashtag #classroomtopia to share! ALSO - this weekend I will be announcing a BIG giveaway on my instagram that will include one of my NEW weekly planners so stay tuned!!! I will periscope the inside of the planner on Dec 21st at 7PM CST, be sure to add me and join me to check it out!!!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE WALLPAPER!

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Jose

Friendship Friday's - What Does your Classroom Look Like Right Now?

HEY EVERYONE!

I am SOOO sorry that this is THREE days late! We had a family emergency where we had to leave town for a few days and I am just now getting back to reality and back to school mode.

This is our second edition of Friendship Fridays! I wasn't able to really promote this weeks blog post, so maybe that is why we only have 1 friend to showcase this Friday! It's okay though! We are all super busy, so I totally understand. :)

This weeks topic was "What my classroom looks like RIGHT NOW!" 

To participate, Please:

Please follow her on her INSTAGRAM and HER BLOG

Next friendship Friday will be in two weeks. 8/28/2015 and the topic is 

"My favorite Ice-breaker Activities for Back 2 School!"

This is open to anyone! If you'd like to join us please do!

One thing I ♥ about my classroom LOVE LINKY

Hey Bloggersphere!

How has your week been going? Are you super stressed like me? haha
I am joining my sweet gal pals from Journey Through Elementary this week in their classroom love linky! You can be a part of this too!!! Head over to their blog and check it out! :)

So... There are SO many things that I absolutely LOVE about my classroom this year... but I have to say that my absolute favorite thing is that I will be Co-Teaching this year!!! Our campus is adding fifth grade this school year and because we are already bursting at the seams with no space, all of the bilingual teachers will be co-teaching this year! That means that we will have 24 students and two teachers in one room!! I get along very well with my co-teacher, so I think we are going to have a BLAST this year.

Have any of you done co-teaching before and shared a classroom? Do you have any advice?

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastico day!

Mr. C.
#classroomlovelinky

Meet the Teacher - Mr. C.

Howdy!

For "Friendship Friday" this week we are introducing ourselves to our new social media buddies! 

My name is Jose Cortez and I am a fourth grade Bilingual teacher in good ol' Texas! I have lived here most of my life. During Middle School I lived in Mexico with my grandparents. That is where I learned Spanish and it is paying off now!!! I LOVE being a bilingual teacher! 

Before my teaching career, I worked as a graphic designer and a marketing specialist for local non-profit organizations. It was very fun, but it was NOT rewarding whatsoever!! I sat behind a desk alone and in silence most of the day. No fun! So I decided to make a career change and teaching was something that I ALWAYS wanted to try... boy am I happy that I did! 

I am about to turn 30 next February and let me tell you that it is starting to freak me out! It sure crept up on me. But it feels so nice to be where I am today in general.

A few interesting things about me:

Favorite color is GREEN

The only Starbucks drink I ever get is the White Chocolate Mocha (SOOO good!)

I auditioned for American Idol TWICE

I am horrible at every sport

I LOVE markers and stickers

Favorite soda is Orange Fanta

I am obsessed with the HGTV channel (I wish Joanna Gaines was my bff)

Well, thank you for reading a little bit about me! I hope to make some friends on here!

For more classroomtopia fun follow me on my TPT store and My Blog

FRIENDSHIP FRIDAYS KICKOFF

HOWDY EVERYONE!

Welcome to our first edition of "Friendship Fridays!!!" This first one is to introduce ourselves to our new friends. As we move on, we will have new topics each week. The new topic is listed at the bottom of this post. 

To participate, Please:

Thank you for participating and Here We Go!

CLICK ON Each logo to go to their Blog!

Please follow her on her INSTAGRAM and HER BLOG

Please Follow his BLOG and his TPT store 

She would like to be followed on her class Facebook page HERE

Thank you all VERY MUCH for participating! 

If you would like to participate in NEXT WEEKS "FF" please email me the link to your post

to classroomtopia@gmail.com 

Next weeks topic is "What My classroom looks like right now!"

If you have already made a blog post with your finished classroom then you are ahead of the game! Just send me the link! BUT - remember to please post two links that you would like others to follow. (remember that there may be new friends who didn't get to follow previously)

This is open to anyone! If you'd like to join us please do!

Friendship Fridays - Would you like to participate?

Hey Y'all! 

I need to start off by saying that I am having a BLAST on Instagram! I didn't realize how much becoming involved with "teacher" social media would fuel my excitement even more in this profession. I love looking at all of the pictures of BTS projects, classroom decorating and random everyday shenanigans. I have had my own personal instagram before, but it was never like this. I feel like I am actually creating friendships and becoming a part of something very special. 

For most of us who are just starting on this new blogging and social media venture it can be very intimidating to see others who have a KAJILLION followers on every one of their accounts. I know that it takes time to build relationships and gain notoriety, but for some of us who are brand new to all of this, we can't help but to think and ask... "where do I start?" 

I have made a few Instagram friends the past few days and I feel like... (and trust me that I am no expert at this)... but I feel like maybe we can start by helping each other out. 

We all have accounts that we would like to have more followers on. We either have a TPT store, Facebook page, Instagram account, Blog, Twitter, Periscope. Maybe we have them all. 

So here's what I am proposing: 

If you have a blog, go ahead and create a blog post that describes you so that we can all get to know each other a little bit more. Then, post TWO of your social media accounts WITH LINKS that we can all go to and follow. I'm only posting TWO so that we don't overwhelm each other with tons of links from the get-go. I would like to call this "FRIENDSHIP FRIDAYS," and we can do it weekly on Fridays. Create your blog post and leave me the link as a reply on this post. I will create a post next Friday that will feature all of your links and we all go and get to know each other and help each other out by following one another on the two links we've provided. 

If you don't have a blog, send me an email to classroomtopia@gmail.com with your "get-to-know-me" and two links, and I will post that directly onto my Friendship Fridays blog post. 

If you are interested in joining this, leave me a comment saying "I'm in!" just so I know how many to expect. Then, be sure to reply back with the link to your post (or email me) before this upcoming Friday. :)

Be sure to come back on Friday to participate! :)