I woke up this morning to the beautiful sound of...NOTHING. No irritating alarm going off in my ear. It took me a few seconds to remember that:
I MADE IT!
Our last day of school was on Thursday and I finished the required teacher workdays yesterday!
The last month or so has been SUPER busy and I am very excited to just relax. I've got some ideas in mind for some units, so stay tuned!
I hope that you are either enjoying your summer vacation, or getting close!
Happy Thursday!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Red Solo Cup
Since my husband is constantly singing this Toby Keith song, and the project I am going to tell you about actually needs a plastic cup, I figured...why not to my title.
This week we have been working on our Mother's Day project: a fabric basket. This project is pretty easy, but it takes some time.
Here are the supplies that you will need:
1. Fabric like gingham that doesn't have a right or wrong side
2. Elmer's liquid glue
3. Rubber bands
4. Solo Cups (they don't have to be red!)
5. Ribbon
6. Hershey Kisses
7. An aluminum roasting pan
8. White paper bags
9. Different color tissue paper
You will need a fabric circle, rubber band, and plastic cup for each child.
Start by cutting your fabric in identical sized circles. I usually use a salad plate as a pattern:
Pour glue into the aluminum roasting pan (2-3 large bottles).
Completely cover the fabric circle in glue on both sides. The use your fingers to remove the excess. Turn a plastic cup upside down and evenly spread the fabric circle over the top. Put a rubber band over the fabric circle to give the basket a gathered edge look:
Allow the fabric to dry overnight.
Once dry, gently remove the cup and rubber band from the basket. Trim the edges and tie a ribbon in the rubber band groove.
Fill the basket! I used to use potpourri, but for the last few years I have filled the baskets with Hershey Kisses.
Let the children decorate their bag and pick out a color of tissue paper to gift wrap the baskets.
What do you do for Mother's Day in your classrooms?
Happy Thursday!
This week we have been working on our Mother's Day project: a fabric basket. This project is pretty easy, but it takes some time.
Here are the supplies that you will need:
1. Fabric like gingham that doesn't have a right or wrong side
2. Elmer's liquid glue
3. Rubber bands
4. Solo Cups (they don't have to be red!)
5. Ribbon
6. Hershey Kisses
7. An aluminum roasting pan
8. White paper bags
9. Different color tissue paper
You will need a fabric circle, rubber band, and plastic cup for each child.
Start by cutting your fabric in identical sized circles. I usually use a salad plate as a pattern:
Pour glue into the aluminum roasting pan (2-3 large bottles).
Completely cover the fabric circle in glue on both sides. The use your fingers to remove the excess. Turn a plastic cup upside down and evenly spread the fabric circle over the top. Put a rubber band over the fabric circle to give the basket a gathered edge look:
Allow the fabric to dry overnight.
Once dry, gently remove the cup and rubber band from the basket. Trim the edges and tie a ribbon in the rubber band groove.
Fill the basket! I used to use potpourri, but for the last few years I have filled the baskets with Hershey Kisses.
Let the children decorate their bag and pick out a color of tissue paper to gift wrap the baskets.
What do you do for Mother's Day in your classrooms?
Happy Thursday!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Hello Out There
The end of this year is just flying by, and I apologize for not posting since April 30! I am sure that we all feel that there is just SO much to do before the end of the year.
Just wanted to let you know that I am still here, and I will be back this week with a Mother's Day project. Stay tuned....
Happy Sunday!
Just wanted to let you know that I am still here, and I will be back this week with a Mother's Day project. Stay tuned....
Happy Sunday!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tail Waggin' Tutors
Dogs.
Man's best friend.
It's hard for many people to resist a cute, fluffy dog, especially children. The people behind the Tail Waggin' Tutors were really onto something when they developed this program. These are special friends that are trained as therapy dogs. They come into schools and the children get a chance to read to the dogs. When we got the news that these canines were coming to first grade, we were thrilled!
You could feel the excitement and anticipation all through our rooms, because today was THE day. The dogs were coming! I have to say, that my kiddos were really good while the dogs were in the room. I was afraid that craziness would reign, but we talked about how they needed to speak quietly so they wouldn't startle them, that they needed to stay in their seats until it was their group's turn, etc.
I thankfully remembered to snap a few pictures:
This little dog's name is Simon. Simon's owner told me that they often visit hospitals, and being a Corgi, he sits on a chair so the patients can interact with him. He made himself right at home in my rocking chair...isn't he cute?!
Here is another group:
This is Max. He was such a sweetie! He would look at each child as he or she read.
I couldn't get over how well-behaved the dogs were. They didn't bark, whine, jump or any of the things MY dogs would have done:
This is the famous Iron Man. He has been known to knock people over when wagging HIS tail.
This is Tucker. He likes to bark...a LOT. Evidently, he did not feel like having his picture taken!
Do your schools have a neat way to encourage reading? I would love to hear about it!
Happy Monday!
Man's best friend.
It's hard for many people to resist a cute, fluffy dog, especially children. The people behind the Tail Waggin' Tutors were really onto something when they developed this program. These are special friends that are trained as therapy dogs. They come into schools and the children get a chance to read to the dogs. When we got the news that these canines were coming to first grade, we were thrilled!
You could feel the excitement and anticipation all through our rooms, because today was THE day. The dogs were coming! I have to say, that my kiddos were really good while the dogs were in the room. I was afraid that craziness would reign, but we talked about how they needed to speak quietly so they wouldn't startle them, that they needed to stay in their seats until it was their group's turn, etc.
I thankfully remembered to snap a few pictures:
This little dog's name is Simon. Simon's owner told me that they often visit hospitals, and being a Corgi, he sits on a chair so the patients can interact with him. He made himself right at home in my rocking chair...isn't he cute?!
Here is another group:
This is Max. He was such a sweetie! He would look at each child as he or she read.
I couldn't get over how well-behaved the dogs were. They didn't bark, whine, jump or any of the things MY dogs would have done:
This is Tucker. He likes to bark...a LOT. Evidently, he did not feel like having his picture taken!
Do your schools have a neat way to encourage reading? I would love to hear about it!
Happy Monday!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The 100th Post
This is my 100th post. I know that it should be packed full of units or pictures of my classroom. Umm, no, not exactly. It seems like it wouldn't have anything to do with school, but I think that I can show you that it is important to teachers everywhere.
Ready?
Are you sure?
Okay, okay.
Have you seen these?
Ready?
Are you sure?
Okay, okay.
Have you seen these?
They are DELISH! At about 2:00 when I feel like I can't make it through Social Studies/Science, I get a couple of these and am good to go.
I know that this is a stretch for an education blog, but at this time of year, anything to get through, right?
Have you tried these? What is your go-to snack?
Happy Wednesday!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
AAUGH!
I think that I am having a panic attack! I don't know where I have been, but I just realized that we have twenty-two more days until we are OUT for SUMMER, and I have a LOT to finish in that short amount of time.
Last week was very busy! We started our Fairy Tale unit, which the kids adored. We also had our big Relay for Life Sock Hop on Friday evening. It was very successful and we raised over $4,200.00!
I hope to be back with some pictures soon.
I've got to go map out the last few weeks of school so I can breathe again.
Happy Tuesday!
Last week was very busy! We started our Fairy Tale unit, which the kids adored. We also had our big Relay for Life Sock Hop on Friday evening. It was very successful and we raised over $4,200.00!
I hope to be back with some pictures soon.
I've got to go map out the last few weeks of school so I can breathe again.
Happy Tuesday!
Monday, April 16, 2012
The Teacher Mommy
I was always excited that my son would be attending the same school where I taught. He is in Kindergarten this year and it's been awesome! I have gotten to see Luke the student instead of just Luke the son.
Today, however. Today was different. Luke's teacher has been ill and was out last week and she will be out all this week. This morning, Luke didn't want to go to his class. He wanted to stay with me in mine. Tears were streaming down his face as he begged me to let him stay.
Let me tell you, this Mommy's heart broke.
I knew, though, that I could not let him stay with me or it would just become a habit. With the assistance of another Kindergarten teacher and our principal, they were able to coax him into the classroom while I slipped back to my room.
Lunch. First grade has lunch right before Kindergarten. We spend about 10 - 15 minutes in the cafeteria together. Luke cried the whole time. I couldn't make eye contact with him for fear it would make him worse.
This has been the only day that I have wished we were at different schools. It was so hard knowing that he was so upset. He likes his substitute, but he is a lot like me and does not like change.
Here is a picture of both of my happy boys yesterday evening after my youngest son Parker's third birthday party:
Who isn't happy playing in bubbles?
Switching gears, this afternoon our IT had a technology session about blogging. She has several a year and it helps us fill up our 20 extra work day form, and stay updated with technology. I just thought you would like to know, that she highlighted many of your blogs! There was a lot of oohing and ahhing!
I'm hoping that tomorrow is a less stressful day!
Happy Monday!
Today, however. Today was different. Luke's teacher has been ill and was out last week and she will be out all this week. This morning, Luke didn't want to go to his class. He wanted to stay with me in mine. Tears were streaming down his face as he begged me to let him stay.
Let me tell you, this Mommy's heart broke.
I knew, though, that I could not let him stay with me or it would just become a habit. With the assistance of another Kindergarten teacher and our principal, they were able to coax him into the classroom while I slipped back to my room.
Lunch. First grade has lunch right before Kindergarten. We spend about 10 - 15 minutes in the cafeteria together. Luke cried the whole time. I couldn't make eye contact with him for fear it would make him worse.
This has been the only day that I have wished we were at different schools. It was so hard knowing that he was so upset. He likes his substitute, but he is a lot like me and does not like change.
Here is a picture of both of my happy boys yesterday evening after my youngest son Parker's third birthday party:
Who isn't happy playing in bubbles?
Switching gears, this afternoon our IT had a technology session about blogging. She has several a year and it helps us fill up our 20 extra work day form, and stay updated with technology. I just thought you would like to know, that she highlighted many of your blogs! There was a lot of oohing and ahhing!
I'm hoping that tomorrow is a less stressful day!
Happy Monday!
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