Donors Choose "iPad, iWonder"

UPDATE: 
My Project has been fully funded!! Thank you donors!! We can't wait to get our iPad mini!

Earlier this fall, I created a Donors Choose project called "iPad, iWonder." With help from GREAT family, friends, and parents, I am over halfway to having an iPad mini for my classroom!

I hope to use it not only during reading and reading workshop, but also as a way to motivate my class. If you can help or know someone who can, please share! Only 5 more days left!

Yesterday Donors Choose put out a Groupon, I'm so bummed I missed it! My project is getting so close to being funded! If you were lucky enough to grab the Groupon, here is a great way to help a classroom in need!

Here's my classroom request: www.donorschoose.org/misscremer

How many times have you said, "I wonder...." My students are constantly asking that as we are reading and learning. Our new reading/writing/and spelling series is called Reading Wonders and has the ability to be accessed on an iPad.

I have a class of 25 5th graders who have a variety of needs. Our school is 40% free and reduced lunch, however, we do not receive Title support. My students love to learn, however many of them do not have the resources they need at home. By giving them extra resources in the classroom, I hope to help them succeed.

Access to technology provides my students with so many opportunities. With an iPad, they will be able to research, read, video tape presentations, use it as a camera, and play educational games. There are also so many apps that they will be able to use.

By providing support to this project, my 5th graders will be able to not only answer their "I wonder..." questions, but also open their eyes to new information, practice skills, and most importantly enjoy learning.

My students and I greatly appreciate your support!


Thanks,

April


FULLY FUNDED!!! 

Please share!

www.donorschoose.org/misscremer

Happy Thanksgiving!

I made these for the babies a few years ago! One of my favorite shirts!

CREATE.COOK.TEACH ~ ETSY STORE!

Create.Cook.Teach is now an Etsy store!

After many friends and family members telling me I needed to open an Etsy shop, I finally did it! I enjoy crafting and creating gifts for all ages. I often find myself saying, "Hey, I can make that!" I believe that I can, and usually the same day, I do! If you see something on the blog, you would like for me to put in my shop, let me know! I will do custom orders, send me your ideas!!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreateCookTeach

These were some of my custom orders I made today!!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreateCookTeach

Wreaths & Wine Party

Last week, I had my friends over for a "Wreaths & Wine" party.  I had given a few wreath lessons, during the fall, so I thought, "Why not have a party and get them all done at once?!" We met at my house, and then headed off to Hobby Lobby.  In the days before the party, we were pinning inspiration pictures, so most of us went with a vision in mind.  I was there to help them pull their vision together! I wish I would have taken pictures of us shopping. It was a sight to see! We all had our phones out with the pictures trying to find the perfect ribbon, pine branch, or ornament! Andrea even made a friend who was making a similar wreath! I thought she might invite her over too!

All of us spent around $25-50. Some of us hit up the fall sale, 80% off, so they spent a little more, because they bought more than just wreath supplies!

First we had a little dinner, then we got to work! I set up a large 6 foot table and the glue guns.  I would also suggest having out wire cutters, wire, picks, and scissors.

I gave a little lesson on deco mesh wreaths, and we all got to work! I love how they all turned out! Even some of them who are not crafty, and didn't have a vision, came out with great wreaths! It was a hit! A little wine, helps boost confidence too! :)

This is what happens when you try to do a self timer, that shoots 6 pics every time! As you can tell we were having fun! 

Our AWESOME wreaths! 

Crock Pot Jambalaya

This is one of my favorite go-to Sunday winter meals. It is easy, its all in one dish, and it makes the house smell good! Depending on the sausage you use, it can be mild or spicy.  This round I used the sausage from the grocery store. The sausage from Werner's in Mission is 1000 times better! It is a lot spicier, but really adds to the flavor! 

Ingredients:
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I have also used breasts)
1 pound andouille sausage
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes with juice
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon Cajun spice mix
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 3/4 cups rice
Parsley, optional

Directions
Combine chicken, sausage, onion, green pepper, celery, tomatoes, garlic, chicken broth, spice mix, thyme and oregano in a large (5-quart) slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 hours.

Add rice; raise heat to high and cook for 30 minutes more. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, if desired. Note, the rice does get soggy, so make sure you put it in right before you are ready to eat!

adapted from: My Recipes

Pink Laundry

My laundry room was inspired by a woman, Stephanie Vest, that I heard of through a friend. She had a rare form of cancer called Gamma Delta Lymphoma. 

"She had a flair for color and style, and created beauty where ever she went. In fact, she created a whimsical hot pink laundry room that helped her celebrate the beauty of completing a load of laundry."

I knew that when I had a house, I had to have it too! My huge laundry room was the perfect canvas for my Pink Dream and a small tribute to Stephanie, who sadly lost her battle with cancer in December of 2008. 

 The chandelier is from my grandparent's house.  I spray painted it black!

Zebra curtains that I made and tied up with pink bows.

My sister made these cute knobs for me!

In the laundry room, we tore out the floor and put in laminate wood. It made such a difference! It also made my hands have a bunch of blisters!! 

Yellow and Grey Chevron Guest Bedroom

This room is where the most demolition took place.  We had to knock down some closet walls and shelves.  We also had to paint the ceiling.

This room we painted grey.  Once my roommate moved out, I needed to fill it back up! So I went to work! 

Here are a few links to some of this room's projects!

http://createcookteach.blogspot.com/2012/09/diy-headboard.html - Headboard

http://createcookteach.blogspot.com/2012/09/dresser-re-do.html - dresser

http://createcookteach.blogspot.com/2012/09/yellow-grey.html - whole room

http://www.createcookteach.blogspot.com/2012/08/you-are-my-sunshine_29.html - paintings

House Tour: Craft Room/Guest Bedroom

This room started as a Dallas Cowboys room.  I painted it a green color and added a few shabby chic details.

I'll admit, I "edited" while I took these pics... There may or may not be a huge mess on the floor. I am patiently waiting for Ikea to open here, so I can get a big shelf to organize all of my craft stuff! 

The comforter and curtain are both from Target.  The bed and night stand are from my grandparent's house.  They just needed a little goo gone and cleaning. 

I wrapped cardboard letters in yarn to make the CREATE sign.  I found the sewing table/file drawers at an antique store.

There are a quite a few touches from my Grandma's house in here. My grandma Cleo loved to sew. I have her sewing machine, and think of her almost every time I use it. The thread rack is from her house, along with the antique lace and notions frame, and the doll.

 

Four Years!

Four years ago, I was in the process of taking down wall paper, painting, and decorating! Four years ago, I bought my first house! It has come a long way, and even after 4 years, it is not done! This week I'm going to give you a little tour of some of my favorite rooms of my house! (Maybe it will make me clean and finish up a few little things!)

Most of these are the pictures I took when I was in the process of buying the house! 

Friday Funny

It was a rough week in Miss Cremer's Class. As a kid put it- "She lost her top, but it was our fault."

Check out this bad boy I confiscated. 

You really don't want to mess with me now! ;) 

Fall Wedding Decorations

I love how these pumpkins turned out! I cut out the gold vinyl on my Silhouette and Emily took it from there! She painted pumpkins with white and gold glitter and added the vinyl decals! 

      

I also cut out song lyrics that they liked and she stuck them on frames with pictures of them. These letters were small and I think she was cursing me the whole time! 

My mom and her girls at the wedding! 

Halloween Chili

For Halloween, the neighbors and I gathered to pass out candy to all 22 Trick-or-Treaters.  I made us chili for dinner.  When I make chili, I sorta make it up. This Chili Seasoned Ground Pork with Jalapenos was my inspiration this time! Don't laugh at some of the ingredients... I'm not sure where the beer came from. I also had a request from Mary Anne, NO beans, I didn't totally listen! Jay, this one is for you, so you can make your own chili! :) 

Ingredients: 

1 pound ground beef

1 pound HyVee Chili Seasoned Ground Pork with Jalapenos

1/2 medium onion, diced

2 poblano peppers, diced

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 can tomato sauce

1 can corn

1 28 oz can whole tomatoes

2 T Chili 9000 spice from Penzeys

1 t chili powder

1 can beer (I used Schlitz Tall Boy)

Directions: 

Cook ground beef and pork, until browned. 

Add onion and peppers and cook for 2-3 more minutes. 

Add meat and veggies to the crock pot. Add all remaining ingredients. 

Cook on low for 2-3 hours. 

From Tale To Table - Baking Bread

In our new reading series, Wonders, there is a story called From Tale to Table.  It is about baking bread and it is about how you have to follow a plan and read carefully to make a recipe.  It included a recipe for bread. So to break up our usual reading and paper pencil plan, I decided to make bread! The kids loved it and the bread was yummy! 

 I sent out an SOS email in the morning and had a mom take it home and bring it back to us! 

Ingredients

1 cup warm water

¼ cup sugar

2 t. active dry yeast

1 t. salt

3 cups flour

2 T vegetable oil

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the warm water and 2 t. of sugar. Sprinkle the yeast on top. Let sit for 5 minutes.


2. Stir the solution in the bowl. Then add the salt, oil, and the rest of the sugar.


3. Put flour in another bowl. Slowly pour in the solution and stir until the mixture comes together. Shape the dough with your hands to make it round.


4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8 minutes. Then place it in a covered, greased bowl. Put it somewhere warm to rise for 1 hour. The dough should double in size.


5. Take the dough out and punch it down. Shape the dough into a loaf.


6. Place the loaf in a greased bread pan. Then cover the loaf. Wait for about an hour.


7. Remove the cover and bake the dough in the oven at 375*F for 25-30 minutes. Check that the crust is golden brown and the center is fully cooked. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool.

 

Chicken Parmesan

This weekend Harper, who is 4, helped me cook some chicken parmesan! She was a great helper! She pretty much made the bread all by herself. It all turned out yummy. We ate the whole pan! We were so busy cooking, I only took a picture of the final product!

Abbey had some noodles in the fridge that were already cooked, and I used jared spaghetti sauce to speed up the process!

                               

Ingredients
1 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 t. Italian seasoning
2-3 chicken breasts
1 egg
1 jar spaghetti sauce
mozzarella cheese
olive oil

Directions:
1. Place chicken breasts in a ziplock baggie. Pound out the chicken until it is about 1/2 inch thick.
2. Prepare 2 bowls, one with egg, and one with 1 cup breadcrumbs, a 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, and 1 t. Italian seasoning. If you need more you can add to it later. I always feel like most recipes have too much breading and you end up throwing half of it away1
3. Dip chicken breasts in egg, then in breadcrumb mixture.
4. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet.  Add chicken and cook until both sides are browned.
5. Cover the bottom of a pyrex dish with spaghetti sauce.
6. Add cooked chicken, top chicken with a little more sauce, and sprinkle with cheeses.
7. Cook in 375* oven for 10-15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked.
8. Serve with noodles and remaining sauce.

Chalkboard Frame

This chalkboard was the final touch for the playroom. Abbey found a big frame and we painted it with Red Annie Sloan Paint. I was tired of painting, so I just "dry brushed" it. I think it adds to the frame! Then traced the corners of the frame on the wall, used blue painters tape, to paint about an inch outside of the box. I used 2 coats of paint. Then Cody screwed the frame right into the wall!

We also got the curtain hung up!