Best...Week...Ever...

Okay, well maybe not ever, but it was a GREAT week!!

If I'm really honest, it was LAST week, but who cares!

Thursday was my birthday, and I turned the big "39". 

I got so many birthday wishes and hugs

(and a cake made by Jen)!

That night, some friends and I attended a fundraiser

at a lovely little place called "Painting With A Twist".

My cake makin' bud, Jen.

Do I look like an arteest?

The final projects.

The very next day at our morning assembly,

I was named the "Super Star Spud" of the week.

Here is what my principal said,

"Congratulations to Ms. F for receiving the Spud Award this week.  Thank you for your involvement in many extra duties on the campus.  You are appreciated for the hours you put in to make our school better." 

   

The award is given to a different staff member every week

who exhibits the following qualities:

-      Puts needs of others before own needs.

-      Exhibits positive attitude

-      Embraces change and learning

-      Achieved great results with student/students

-      Listens to colleagues

-      Exhibits willingness to work as a team player

-      Seeks out solutions instead of being bogged down by problems (Proactive vs. Reactive)

Here I am, holding my spud!

Why, thank you!

I would like to pass on this Super Star Spud Award to all of YOU! 

Thankful Thursday!

Thankful Thing #1

I can't believe my little ol' blog has 150 followers! 

I know my blog is not much compared to others,

but I keep trying to remind myself of a quote I recently read: 

"Don't compare yourself to others. 

Comparison is the thief of happiness." 

SO TRUE!

So...thank you to all my follwers

AND to all the awesome blog authors that I follow!

You have so many GREAT ideas and you are willing to

SHARE them with me (and others of course)!!

I can't wait to see what you'll do next!

Thankful Thing #2....3....and 4 (okay, and 5)

I know not every child who struggles is "special ed", "learning disabled", or whatever other label is out there.  However, there are times when you just know! 

T is one of those. 

She came to me this year not knowing any sounds, and could only recognize a few letters and numbers. She was very unfocused (even in one on one situations), loud, disruptive (do you get the picture?). 

She saw the Reading Specialist 5 days a week, and had been doing so since Kindergarten.  Her data "folder" was turned in earlier this year, and my hope was that they would have all the information they needed to finally test her. 

No......such.....luck!

T's folder was sent back.  I was told I needed more data.  Are you kidding me??  We had a year's worth of data, yet somehow it wasn't enough!  So, what did I do?  I did what I had to do-- I collected more data, and resent her folder.    Finally, I got the glorious news!

Hallelujah!  Let the testing begin!

Finally, she was tested!   Finally, she qualified!  Then I heard the dreaded "b" word.  No, not THAT "b" word!!  The other one.....but.    BUT, she won't be put in special ed until next year.

I'm sorry, w  h  a  t??

After some discussion, it was decided that she could "unofficially" start services now (whoopee!), and next year it would be official (whoopee!).  She is finally getting what she needs! 

So where is the thankfulness here?

#2  T qualified and is receiving the extra help she needs.

#3  T is finally on meds to help her focus (w o w)!

#4  T is hilarious, and can make me smile

(even when I don't want to)!

#5  I am thankful that T is in my class!!

Thank YOU for reading this!

I'm Walking On Sunshine!

Yes, I am walking on sunshine after getting this comment:

Chrissy said...

I love reading your blog and seeing your creative ideas.

I'm giving you the Sunshine Award.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 Chrissy

First Grade Found Me

November 23, 2011 12:12 AM

Thank you, Chrissy!!

The Sunshine Award rules are
1. Thank the person who gave this award and write a post about it.
2. Answer the following questions below.
3. And pass the award to 10~12 fabulous bloggers, link their blogs and let them know you awarded them.

* Favorite Color?  red
* Favorite Animal?  cats and dogs

* Favorite Number? 628

* Favorite Drink?  coffee

* Facebook or Twitter? Facebook

* Your Passion? My family.

* Giving or Getting Presents?  I love giving gifts, especially when I it's something they love!

* Favorite day? Saturday. Even though I work most Saturdays, I like knowing I have one more day off.
* Favorite flowers? ?? I don't really have a favorite!

Here are 12 blogs I have chosen to pass this award on to:

The Corner On Character
Grade ONEderful
Teaching First
First Grade Delight
The Teaching Thief
Inside The Classroom
2nd Grade Ponderings
First Grade Exploration
Runde's Room
First Impressions
4th Grade Frolics

Blog on Fire? Mine, really??!

I want to give a great BIG thank you to Rebecca at

for nominating me for the Blog on Fire Award!!

As part of accepting this honor, I will tell you seven things about myself. 

I'll try to make it interesting, but I cannot guarantee that you won't fall asleep while reading them! 

1.  This is my 12th year of teaching.  My first 9 years were in 4th grade, and the past 3 years have been in 1st grade.  I've been lucky enough to have been at the same school the entire time.

2.  I've been blessed with a great family and we moved around a lot when I was younger.  I've lived in Wisconsin, Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, Spain, and Germany.

3.  I went on a 19 mile bike tour in Amsterdam.  I only fell down once, after I ran right into someone else. 

4.  While visiting Paris on a bus tour with my friend, we had a little snafu at the Eiffel Tower...... We bought tickets to go all the way up to the top, so we (and several other tourists) rode the elevator up, stayed for a few minutes, then decided it was time to head back to the bus.  The driver had already warned us that he was leaving at 5:00, and he would leave whether we were there or not.  Well, there was the slightest problem......the elevator that we rode up on was no longer working.   It was almost 5, so we decided (along with the other peeps from our bus) that we needed to make a run for it.....so we did!  We ran all the way down the stairs to the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, then kept running until we got to the bus.  We made it, but with only minutes to spare.  Whew!!! 

5.  I've been to Disney Land, Disney World, and Euro Disney.  I want to take my son to Disney....someday!

6.  I work waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to much!  Ten to twelve hours on school days, plus I have worked EVERY Saturday since August, not to mention all the school things I work on at home.  I'm EXHAUSTED!!  Plus, I'm a single mom to a very active 9 year old boy! 

7.  I am so thankful for my fellow bloggers!  You give me so much inspiration, and I feel I have become a better teacher because of YOU!  Thanks!!

And now, without further ado, are my nominees for the Blog on Fire Award:

Versatile Blogger Award

YEAH!!!  I've been given the Versatile Blogger Award by Mrs. Geary at Light A Candle.  Thank you very much!

The Rules after accepting the Versatile Blogger Award are:

■  Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

■  Share 7 things about yourself

■  Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs

Seven things about little ol' me:

1.  My birthday is in 9 days--September 20th.

2.  I love, love, love to sing!  I've been known to karaoke a time or two.  My fave song to karaoke is "I Feel Lucky" by Mary Chapin-Carpenter.



3.  I was born in Wisconsin (GO PACKERS!), but now live in Texas (GO PACKERS!).


4.  I have completed three half marathons (one each in Denver 2009, San Antonio 2009, Dallas 2010), but I am not a runner.

5.  I have two dogs, Selah and Janey, and one cat, Anna (who likes to hide which is why there is no picture).



6.  I have a karate-loving/soccer playing son, Matthew.



7.  I am an avid blog hopper and pinterest repinner.

Now I'm off to pass this award on to other wonderful blogs!

My Blog is Rated A Top Ten Blog!

THANK YOU to Barbara at Grade ONEderful for listing me as one of her Top 10 Blogs!