Spring Break

We have been off for spring break this past week.  It has been so nice to NOT have to rush to drop off kids, rush to work, rush to get everyone picked up from practice, fed, helped, etc. I seriously can't wait for the summer! One thing I absolutely ♥ about Texas is our Bluebonnets! Every late winter/early spring we are blessed with these blue beauties along our highways and countrysides.  Living in the country, I am so lucky to have a yard full of them. This is what I get to look at for a few more weeks....

Lucky, right???  I think so!

Here are my daughters striking their poses:

But...back to work tomorrow!   Let the countdown to summer begin!  LOL!

  

Whiteboard---not the computer kind

Okay, you may not believe this but if you do you are in the same boat as I am.  Our school still has green chalkboards...yes, I know.......

I teach at the same school I went to as a child and it still has the same chalkboards (just with some extra chalkboard paint layers added). At lunch on Friday, my team and I were discussing how we could get whiteboards (dry erase boards to be exact). The chalk dust is not always cleaned up every day like it should be and leads to not only a mess, but allergies.

A teacher down the hall found some dry erase contact paper like material he applied to the board and it seems to be working but says he paid near $100 for it.  We are not willing to invest that in our rooms since we can be moved at the principals discretion and the board would have to stay behind.  Also, we can not "screw" whiteboard panels in beccause it will damage the board.

So, we were considering dry erase paint.  Has anyone used this?  Does it look nice?  Does it last?

I am back!

Well, not that anyone really reads this, but I have decided to try and get back to writing on here after a long absence.  I have a very challenging class this year and quite frankly I don't think I have ever been so exhausted after a days work both physically and mentally in all 18 years in the education field. So, coming home and working on this is far from my thoughts.  I do however, love, love, love Pinterest! I can get on there or facebook and calm down, if I am left alone for a few minutes (which is rare).

I have found so many cool ideas on Pinterest.com that we have used here at home for cooking, organizing, and for my class.  I am so glad I found it!

I also decided in January that I need to do something for myself each week.  I am always making sure one child is taken care of with her cross country and track activities, driving to every small town in Texas to cheer her on (which I LOVE--don't get me wrong!) and making sure her life as a "teenager" is well managed.  The other daughter is 10 and is an active Girl Scout (which makes ME the marketing and sales executive basically these days) and a golfer.  Luckily the golfing is shared with  her daddy because I am horrible at even mini golf, but that leaves the Girl Scout sales to me. ugh..
 Of course there is also my hubby of almost 20 years.  Any married woman knows men require work too! :)  Honey, where are my shoes?  where are my keys?  ha ha!!


So, back to what I was saying.....  I decided I needed to start excercising...for real.  Not just saying I would, but actually doing it! I reeled in my cousin Donna to go with me to a Body Sculpting workout class here in town and I love it!  The first several days, however, I thought I was gonna DIE!  Whew!  Was I out of shape!!  Climbing the stairs at work brought tears to my eyes! But, after 6 weeks now, I am finally feeling better, firmer in places that were not, and sleep better.  It will all be worth it, right?
If anything it is time for ME two nights a week and  I get to see my cousin who is also a very busy dedicated mom.

Christmas Crafts

It's that time again!  Time to start thinking of which Christmas crafts I will do with my class...here is a list of things we have done in the past.  Now just to decide.....

Christmas Craft Ideas:

Candy cane reindeer—use 1 candy cane, 2 “googly eyes”, one small red pom pom, and one brown pipe cleaner cut in half to make two pieces

Make a snowflake center—this is a center activity on following directions—all they need is a piece of white copy paper , their scissors, and pencil

Heart Wreath- students will trace hearts onto green construction paper , cut out and form a circle with point of heart facing the middle of the circle.  Then they will add small red circles as “holly”.

Snowman Can- Use a clean soup can.  Paint it white, add eyes and nose out of buttons and students will draw a with a red or black sharpie.  Hot glue ribbon around the bottom of the can to serve as a scarf. Hot glue a pipe cleaner as a handle.

Clear glass ornament- Students stuff iridescent filler into a clear glass ornament and the paint a snowman face on to it.

Blue handprint ornament- students dip their hand in white paint and they will grab the blue  ornament from the bottom. This will give the effect of five white snowmen.  Add hat, and face with black sharpie.  Attach poem :”These aren’t just five tiny snowman as any one can see, they are made with my handprint which is a part of me. Hang it proudly on your tree so you can recall, the Christmas of 2011 when my hand was just this small”

Can lid metal ornament: use a soup can lid removed with smooth edges and cleaned.  Students can decorate with glitter, scrapbook paper, paint, etc.  Add student’s picture to the middle and add a ribbon to hang.

reindeer  lapel pin: Use old fashioned wooden clothespins and decorate to look like a reindeer

add pin to back to wear

    

What ideas do you have that you have done with your class?

Behavior Doctor

I had the opportunity yesterday to hear "The Behavior Doctor", Laura Riffel, PhD speak. Although our seats wear very uncomfortable (a junior high auditorium built in the 50's), the speech was definitely worth hearing.  What great ideas and perspective she has about dealing with children with "problem" behaviors!  After siting there all day, I started thinking about how I like the kids to get up and do learning centers for reading and math. While centers are GREAT, there are times when we need to stay at our desk and do work.  I realize sitting there will get uncomfortable for some kiddos (as I was uncomfortable yesterday).  I have a chair cushion on my teacher chair I sit at during small group instruction.......so why not make the kids chair cushions??  This is something I think I may do for them.  I have to explore cost, color,materials, etc. Has anyone else done this?

Here is the link to the site for The Behavior Doctor if you are interested. Today I played the music from her site while the kids were doing independent work.  Very calming.....

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all my ghosts and ghouls out there!  What a busy weekend it has been ! 

 I turned 40 last Thursday and spent the day watching my oldest daughter compete in the district cross country meet. She took the bronze medal and her team won the district championship!  What a great birthday gift to see your child be so successful! Friday evening I went with family to celebrate my birthday at a local BBQ restaurant that has local bands play.  We had a great time! Saturday my husband and I went to a Halloween party for adults only. Hubby dressed up as Allen and Baby Carlos from the movie the Hangover, and was hilarious!!! He won best costume! 

Today, I am back at work and it has been a very busy day with a parent picnic and Storybook character parade.  My team dressed as the M&M's from the M&M's Counting Book ( I know it's a stretch...but it worked and was easy!)

I made an M &M template for the kiddos to make M&M headbands.  They had a challenge to make theirs in a pattern.  Have a safe and Happy Halloween if you take part in the trick-or-treating! 

Scentsy

I love Scentsy!!  I was given my first one as a Christmas gift from one of my students last year.  I absolutely ♥ it!  I bought one more for my classroom to help with those "after PE" aroma's...you teachers know what I mean! Who says third graders are too young for deodorant?? :)

I am ready to buy another one from my colleague at work Veronica, who sells Scentsy.  I came across this giveaway today via The Tip Junkie.  Check this out:

This giveaway is sponsored by Being Allison (twitter) , Being Allison (facebook), Being Allison (blog).  Go to her site(s) and check it out!!