Five For Friday May 16, 2014

This week has been an absolute tumultuous week and can I just say TGIF with a great big AMEN?  Friday at last and time to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday.

My week started off with a bang when my principal came up to me 5 minutes before recess was over and said, "We have bad news, we are losing a position in fourth."  I am low man on the totem pole in my grade (since I just moved up this year), so I knew this was going to effect me.  Then she smiled and continued, "We have an opening in first."  

I think first graders are absolutely adorable to look at, but truthfully, I don't want to live there.  If anyone asked me what grade I would LEAST want to teach, first grade would be it.  I have often said, "I am allergic to first graders". It isn't entirely un-true, I spent most of my practicums in first grade (despite requesting 4th-6th) and spent the ENTIRE semester sick!  I have never been so exhausted in my entire life!  I give much props and admiration to those of you who do teach first grade and are amazing at it, but for me, I just couldn't do it!  Add that to the fact that I have now changed grades EVERY year for the past three years, this would be the fourth year at a different grade!  I have no supplies for first grade - I do have an amazing library of chapter books, but I am thinking they would not be useful to the majority of students in a first grade room!  So, my week has been a blubbering mess of me crying (yes I am being a baby about it, but really, how many times should I change grades? When I got my license for K-8 I didn't think it would mean I would teach every grade in that spectrum!  Luckily our contract states that they can't move us more than 2 grades without our consent, so it looks like they will have to juggle around to place me in 2nd or 3rd.  I am hoping for 3rd since I taught that last year, but who knows?  I will keep you updated as soon as I know.

We have managed to get some work done and MAPS reading tests completed in between crying jags (not just about the grade level switch, but the fact that I am losing my kiddos that I have taught for two years in a row is starting to hit me).  They keep coming up to me with little notes that say "I love you, or you are the best teacher ever,"  Every time I get one the waterworks start flowing!

I came in the classroom to see this note of encouragement one of them had written to the whole class today about our school token system.  I couldn't have been more proud!  

It made me want to ask the school next door to create a new position so I could roll up to 5th grade with them!  More tears!

As I said between crying we did manage to get some work done.  We had a Popsicle themed week using this Summer Fun Writing, LA, and Math Activities using Popsicles for Big Kids packet from Cutsey Clickables from Collaboration Cuties.

They each chose one of these prompts and completed a brainstorming graphic organizer. 

Then they were off to write.

After a bit of editing and revising, we completed final copies made to look like Popsicles.

We also did a little math review.

Last night was my third son's last high school theater performance.  It was Senior Night and they all did a brief monologue before the actual play.  Here is a really bad picture of him, but I wanted to show it off anyway, because I am really proud of him!  He will be studying film in the fall at the University of Montana and I am going to miss him a lot.  So, yes, even more tears.

I am hoping this weekend will be a lot more restful with more smiles and less tears!  Hoping yours is great as well!

5 For Friday May 9, 2014

The week is over and we only have three more weeks of school left!  It is just flying by!  Time to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! Well, a day late - the end of the year can get a little crazy can't it?

And in a blink of an eye - this happened!  My third child turned 18 this week!  Let me tell you that it doesn't get any easier from the first to the third.

He helped his friend DJ his high school dance this week (it was an 80's theme) - and they all looked great!  Definitely brought back some memories!

If you can't tell, he is the one rockin' the sunglasses and channeling Tom Cruise from Risky Business - lol!

And speaking of my children, I got the best gift ever from my youngest son, Luke.  I was at the copier during my prep period when he walked in (during his lunch) and handed me this note:

It was so special to me!  I really appreciated it, because sometimes I think I give my students so much of my time, I wonder if my own kids feel neglected, but obviously he is ok with sharing me!  I made sure to give him a lot of extra love in return for his sweet token of love!  I may need to make some Love Coupons for him instead of the other way around for Mother's Day.  If you are looking for any easy way to help your students celebrate Mother's Day (that can be used for other occasions as well), see my post here.

With this week being Teacher Appreciation Week, I have been feeling the love all week.  Here are a few of my goodies from my students:

Pretty flowers and a pretty girl - this little one LOVES getting her picture taken!  I have lots of selfies of her on my ipods and iphone from when she uses them for centers or QR code scanning.  I also have lots of photo bombs of hers in other classroom pics I take.  Love it!

She got me this for Teacher's Appreciation Week.

She knows me so well!  I have a Starbuck's Chai Latte - EVERY SINGLE DAY (serious addiction going on here!)

If you haven't entered already, be sure to head over here to win a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card.  Only 2 days left!

And last but not least, I just want to wish all of you fellow mothers out there a very Happy Mother's Day!

Five For Friday May 2, 2014

I have survived the week AFTER Spring Break.  One of my co-workers made an off-hand comment about the Tuesday after Spring Break being the most exhausting day of the year.  Thinking back to all of those first days of school exhaustion - I disagreed - and that night it hit me.  SHEER EXHAUSTION.  Seriously, every night this week I came home and collapsed - which explains my lack of blogging and my three half finished TpT products.  Oh well, the week is over - and it is time for Five For Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching! Here are a few things that tuckered me out this week.

I started my week with a pick me up treat from Starbuck's and a little shameless begging asking for some stir sticks for these poke cards.

The students convert measurements (this little guy is using our measurement conversion "cheat cards" which I blogged about here), and then look for the answer on the card.

They poke the Starbuck's stirrer through and see if they got the correct answer (if it is circled).

They collect as many cards as they can.  This one likes keeping her correct cards on her stirrer. 

These poke cards are also in my Cinco de Mayo packet.

Tuesday after school I had the last rehearsal with my drama club before their performance on Wednesday of their Spring play - The Lost Treasure.

I teach drama club to 5th and 6th graders at the school next door.  Here is a cast shot.

And a selfie fail!

Here is a picture of Cody before Wednesday's performance.  He is with the girl who was the main pirate  - he was her sidekick in the play.  She had to hit him several times in the play and I think she secretly loved it.  She MAY have gotten a little too into character! LOL!

Here is Tyler in his costume.  He had to fill in at the last minute for a sick student (what a trooper!).

We made sombreros to decorate for our upcoming Cinco de Mayo Fiesta on Monday!  We are so looking forward to it!  We have been using Cinco de Mayo centers, researching Mexico, and creating Mexican inspired art.

And the final products

And we wrapped up the week with a fun new version of Scoot I made up on the fly this afternoon.  Musical Chairs Scoot!  

We used these cards (area model multiplication).  I placed them around the room on the tables, but the catch was that I had more students than cards!

So... I played some music.  When the music stopped, they found a card as fast as they could.

If they didn't find a card, they checked their work or finished unfinished problems.

If they found a card, they solved the problem.

And I would love to say that I am off to rest, but... I am off to the Spring Carnival at Cody's school tonight!  Wish me luck!  Have a great weekend!