Happy

And sometimes, we just need to dance!!

Teachers for the Day

It always seems at the end of the year I have students who want to take over the class.  I'm not sure if they think I'm frazzled or if look like I need a nap.

This was my teacher helper last year.  He told me I looked tired and that I needed a break.  I told him to come to school wearing a tie, have books, and be ready to teach.  This is how he looked...

Can it get any cuter than that?

So today, I had two students who wanted to take over without me knowing.  I was working around the room and they were coloring where I normally sit.  All of a sudden I heard them checking over other student's work and telling them what to do next.  Some had to complete work, while others finished, and were given choices.  They were perfect for the job.

There were even a few moments where they were "tough" teachers and I took note.

Here they are helping me out.  They even filled my bucket because I helped a student pick up a MASS amount of dominoes that fell out of the container he was carrying.

I've already had MANY requests from other students to be the teacher tomorrow so I'm sure we'll make it through the next 3 days of school!

What Does the Fox Say? Round Two

So the kids know that I ABSOLUTELY love this song (insert sarcasm here)!!  Pandora seems to know too because the last couple of times I've put some quiet music on for students to listen to this always seems to play.

It was quite funny to find a paper turned over on my desk first thing this morning.  Of course when I flipped it over what I saw had me laughing.

Great illustrations Abbie!!

Abbie took the time to create this LOVELY illustration of my FAVORITE song!!  After seeing this, I knew it was time to finally show them the video, "What Does the Teacher Say?"  Check it out here if you haven't seen it yet (What Does the Teacher Say?).

Of course they found it quite amusing and were laughing to see adults acting like children.  I told them that I felt like those teachers some of the time.

As I took this pic of her I continually told her how much I LOVED this song while she continually said, "NO, you don't!"

It was a great way to end the day...connecting with the kiddos and a lot of laughing!

Laptop Out of Commission....

SooOooo...I'm going to try to post about our week a bit later but my school laptop is out of commission and I was told I might get it back in a week (fingers crossed).

I'm borrowing an old laptop from school for the time being and the most I can do is check mail and take attendance. It's pretty slooooow so I'm not spending much time on it.

If you notice I haven't posted or your looking for the latest update on what your child has been up to I'm not ignoring my  blog.  We'll see what I can post later.

I'm sure I'll be showing withdrawal symptoms seeing I do EVERYTHING on my laptop!!  I keep telling myself I can make it a week and this might be a nice little break but then reality sets in and I think of everything I should/could be doing.  Yikes!!

Sour Lemons

On Tuesdays and Fridays our classes get a healthy fruit or vegetable to try.  This week we had grapes and lemons.

Of course, I always have my kiddos try the lemons.  This is a PERFECT time to snap some candid pictures of them making faces after trying one.

Ms. Kauffman (kindergarten teacher) photobombing their photo!

This Teacher Needs a Break!!

So I had the sweetest student (with the biggest grin) tell me yesterday that I needed to take a break.  To me, this mean't I looked AWFUL!!  He even said he'd teach for me today!!  Is it wrong if I told him to be wearing a tie and to be prepared because I'd be napping in the back?

I knew when the bell rang at the end of the day he'd follow through and be ready the next day.

Guess who showed up today wearing a tie and had a handful of books in his backpack?  Meet Mr. Frink, my new substitute teacher.

Taking a nap while he WASN'T looking!

Today, I'll be napping in the back!!

JoJo's Magic Tricks

JoJo has been entertaining us the last couple of weeks with some magic tricks!  Here he is at work.

Happy Birthday Lucas

Lucas celebrated his birthday yesterday.  We sang Happy Birthday, which the kids said I needed to practice.  I guess I don't have a LOVELY singing voice.   Of course I sang in a much more dramatic way but believe me when I'm in the car alone I think I sound GREAT!

Here's his birthday bag and quite a treat that he brought in...to be 7 again!!

Feeling the LOVE Today

So, I have a student who's grandmother just retired from teaching first grade.  She has been sending in items for me to weed through to see if I can use them for my classroom. What a dream come true!!

Today, she came to my class and dropped off a bag full of supplies.  Look below...can you believe it?  I felt SO LOVED and APPRECIATED today.

She wrote the nicest note telling me how much her granddaughter enjoyed coming to school and she was grateful for my commitment to teaching.  This definitely made my day and made me realize once again why I LOVE my job!!

NEW, FREE Book

Today, I had a conference at the university on literacy and Gail Gibbons was there.  She shared with us how she got into writing and illustrating.  People were quickly buying up her books when I spotted a new book, Ladybugs (I like ladybugs and always sign my name with one).  All of them had been sold when I noticed one up front on the table.  The LAST one.  It was mean't to be, right?  When I asked if I could buy it she told me to just take it.  REally?!  She said not to worry about it and she had plenty more.

WOW!  Teachers love new books but to get one for free from Gail Gibbons and then to have it signed.  It made my day!!

April Vacation in Review

It's hard to believe I've gone a week without blogging or being on the internet.  Or...doing school work.  Gasp, I know!!

This is the first vacation where I actually didn't complete school work and now I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.  Tomorrow is Sunday!

This isn't school related but I thought I'd share.  My husband and I took a trip to Arizona this vacation.  Let me just say it was A-mazing.  I did cringe though as I shut the door and left behind the mound of school work that still has to be completed.

We have both wanted to visit Arizona, especially to see the Grand Canyon.  Now, with my fear of heights and flying it seemed like a perfect fit (sarcasm inserted here)!  No better way to get over your fears.

This honestly seemed like one of the looooongest vacations I've ever had and I mean this in a good way.  We had a BLAST!  We went to the Petrified National Forest, hiked trails in the Grand Canyon.  I hiked right around 16 miles from the rim to the canyon floor and dipped my toes in the Colorado River.  We hiked and shopped in Sedona and went to the Saguaro National Park.

The weather was perfect at the beginning of the week but by the end it got HOT!  It reached 100 degrees on Friday.

Here are some pics I wanted to share!  I hope everyone had a restful and fun April vacation.

Winter WELLness Day

Most think of the day before vacation as dragging out and being a difficult day to get through.

NOT US!  Today we celebrated Winter Wellness Day.  Our gym teacher, Ms. A, and others put together a fun filled day with TONS of activities that got the kids moving around.

We participated in hockey dribbling...

An obstacle course...

Limbo...

Movin' with Jack...I love their faces!!

Bowling...

And they made healthy snacks.

We ended the day completing a winter word find and an assembly.  ENJOY your vacation and see you soon!!

New Class Jobs?

OhHhhhh, those boys!!  Josh, Tommy, and Jack thought it would be a RIOT to add some new jobs to the board for the kids to do today!!

Each morning I write what they need to do when they come in.  My jobs are simple....
1. Unpack
2. Sign in
3. Read to Self

The kids were quite excited to find this new list on the board.

Sugar, Sugar, and MORE Sugar

We made our gingerbread houses this afternoon!!  Parents came in to spend time with our class, help, and eat some candy.

Serious at first...

Then...not so serious!

The kids were very focused during this time and quite creative.  Here they are at work!

After all the tasting and making, Quinn snuck back to the jelly bean table for another treat.  Here he is CAUGHT IN THE ACT!!