Quilting Day with Friends

I hung out today with a bunch of my friends to sew today.  I got alot of sewing done:

A quilt top for my dad which I finished putting together

More fabric coasters - some are going to be presents- others I'm just making- just because- not sure what I'm going to do with them- but they were fun- Thanks again Laura Pearce for plunging me into a sewing frenzy- this is all your fault!!!

I also got some baby time in with my adorable niece- Ivy!

 

   

Quilt for Dad

A couple of months ago- okay I don't remember exactly but I want to say at least 5-6 months or more ago- I did a 10 inch swap for "Masculine" fabric.  I knew I wanted to do something for my father for Christmas, but wasn't sure what. ( I have no fear that he's going to see this because he doesn't even have a computer or have any idea how to turn it on- it took years for him to learn to use the controller for the TV and the DVR so I think I'm safe).  Then I found this tutorial for a Double Slice from the Missouri Star Quilt Company.  And this is what I  ended up with for the front:

I put a border on it to make it a little larger.  I wasn't too hot on the masculine fabrics in the 10 inch size, but once I sliced them up- I really started to like them. I've started working on the back.  I can't wait to get it quilted and have it ready for dad at Christmas.

Bazinga Review

So I have a rather challenging Double Block Algebra 1 class.  They don't do well with normal worksheets and review on paper- they tune out and use it as an opportunity to chit chat and not work- so I'm on a mission to find everything I can to have them do math without realizing they are actually doing a worksheet.  So I found this Bazinga Game on the internet and made my own board with all the cards like the game said.  I then split my students into 3 groups ( I already had Popsicle sticks with their names on them so it was easy to assign them groups).  I randomly picked the groups.  At the beginning they whined- but got into it once we started.   Group 1 went first and I put a problem on the document camera and all the students answered the question on their white boards.  I think picked at random one of the Popsicle sticks from their group to make sure they were all working.  They were allowed to work with each other while doing it- but I did find that some didn't and if I called on their card and they got it wrong their group was mad and made sure on future problems they all worked on it and came to a consensus. If they got it correct, they got a point and could pick a card.  That was the most fun for them.  If they got it wrong, I subtracted a point and the other teams could go.  I didn't want to try and have them compete for who got it done first because both other teams were already done with their problem do I let both teams answer and get the point if they got it correct- again I randomly picked one from each of those groups so they didn't know who I was calling on.  If they both got it right they both had to agree on a number card to pick.  They had a ball.  There were a few hiccups.  Once or twice students went to the bathroom- but I didn't stop the game and both times it happen to be (completely random) that their Popsicle stick came up and they weren't happy that they lost a point because the person wasn't there to answer.  They were the ONLY two that went to the restroom- everyone else waited until the game was over.   The best part was when the kids had to switch teams when that card was drawn- they weren't happy- but it was interesting to see how they all begged and hopped to either move or have certain kids move.  It was a grand success.  I hope I can find more activities to use in class- they don't do well with worksheets- they are freshman- still full of energy and don't sit well for more than 1 or 2 minutes.

Coasters

Saturday I went to a sewing day at Valli and Kim in Drippings Springs.  My friend Laura Pearce was there and working on Christmas gifts- these little coasters for family.  Now I vaguely remember seeing them at the Wimberly Quilt Retreat when we go, but I think because they aren't in bright colors, I never noticed them- but the ones Laura was working on was cute so when I got home that night I decided to make myself some:

Aren't they cute.  Okay so the picture is u[side down, but it'll have to do until I can figure out how to rotate it in the blog post.

I also started working on a "man" quilt for my dad from some 10 inch blocks that I got from a masculine swap with buttoncounter. I'll post pictures of those as soon as I get them up

Ghosts in the Graveyard and Slope Slope Slope

Yeh- I finally got my computer back- Fry's only kept it for about 9 weeks.  But now at least I can update my blog a little easier.

Any whoo-  I came across this post:
http://mathtalesfromthespring.blogspot.com/2012/10/ghosts-in-graveyard-new-and-revised.html

about ghosts in the graveyard.  I think I'm going to try it in class.  My kids might be willing to try it.  Afterall- today I got them to get to me sing Slope- Slope- Slope -Slope to Flo Rida's Low Low Low song.  Somewhere some student on Facebook has me singing it- but by the end of me attempting to sing it- they knew that slope is the difference of the y over x , rise/run.  Mission accomplished.