Gift From Principal

We have two new administrators this year and, as McDonald's says, I'm lovin' it!  The environment is very positive and they are very much for the kids, which is the way it should be, right? 

Last month, the principal asked every staff member to send her the name of any current student on our campus who "warms our heart".  Besides my own child, another student immediately popped into my head.  I had Alan my first year in first grade.  He is one of those kids who is low academically, can be a stinker, but also a sweetheart, and you cannot help but love him! 

All we were told was to send her the names....nothing else would be required of us.  Things that make you go hmmm.

Friday, our last day before the holidays, each teacher had a gift from the principal (with a little help from the students we chose).

This was in a picture frame.

 Every time I read this, my eyes tear up. 

I'm his favorite out of ALL the teachers!!

I...LOVE...THIS...KID!!!

The Secret of Santa's Island

The Secret of Santa's Island is a great book that I was introduced to just last week.  It is about a boy who receives the ultimate gift from Santa--all because he said "thank you".

The story ends with Santa giving Sam a snow globe with this inscription on it:

"Thankfulness is the secret to happiness."

I gave my kiddos a paper plate with the instructions to draw/color/write something(s) for which they are thankful.  We added a trapezoid to make the bottom piece, with the quote from Santa. 

Oh No....Santa's Stuck!

Several weeks back I found these paper plates at Target and got them, not knowing exactly what I was going to do with them. One day I read the book, Santa's Stuck, and an idea popped into my head. Students had to draw a Santa and write about how/why he got stuck and how he got out.  Here is the book and end result:

Holiday Break....Here I Come!

Have you heard this song? Take a moment to watch!

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

Day 58

Some days, I think....

WOW!  It's ALREADY the ____ th day of school! 

Today is not one of those days.

 

Today I am thinking, is it ONLY day 58??!! 

That means we still have 119 days LEFT??!@#@!?

Don't get me wrong--  I love these kids and I love what I do,

but I have quite a group this year! Here are my list of gripes:

~They cannot/will not sit still.

~They cannot/will not be quiet.

~They cannot/will not get their work done!!

~They cannot/will not get along.

~They cannot/will not __________!

I am exhausted today.  Who am I kidding?

I'm exhausted/frustrated EVERYDAY!

Okay, I think I'm done venting.  Thank you!

Onto some good news. 

Our district Math coordinator visited

my classroom last week and LOVED what I was doing.

 Very simple, but effective.

The kids GOT IT, and that's what is important!

Plus, I got this ticket (sorry it's blurry!)

because the coordinator

"Spied Marvelous Math"

She wrote:
Love the "10" chart.
Great activity.
Great questioning.
Love the journals, too!

Now I'm entered into a drawing for free Starbucks.

And that, my friends, puts a smile back on my

exhausted/frustrated face!

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: