Feeling Pretty Pampered

I have always liked this template design from Leelou Blogs!  Although it lacks a teacher vibe, it does capture my mood at the moment...  *princessy*.
Today, I have

• slept until 9:06
• read 72 pages of "My Name Is Memory", in bed, with coffee (!)
• balanced the checkbook
• played solitaire on the iPad (my birthday/anniversary/mother's day gift)
• researched reading strategies while watching BravoTV
• bought stuff for the classroom at Homegoods
• found banana popsicles at the grocery store
• whipped up a veggie pasta salad with chicken
• changed my blog template

What did you do today?!

Summer Reading Lists~Blog Hop!

I live to read.  Or, maybe I read to live.  Seriously, I will read license plates if nothing else is in my line of vision!  This year, I trained myself to rise at 5:20am, just to have coffee and read until 6am. 

My Summer Reading List:

The author has a website/blog that continues to send me to my knees.

  Visit A Holy Experience to see what I mean!

The study begins this Wednesday!! AND, I just found an Amazon giftcard in an email from one of my students! 

At the end of chapter two, I realized that I need to buy this book; I've taken so many notes!

I don't believe in reincarnation, but the premise of this book is fascinating.

 What are you reading?




Thanks for linking up- I can't wait to see what you are reading! :)

Summer To-Do List~Join The Party!

Littlest Learners is hosting a Linky Party!  Join in and share your summer To-Do List!

This past week, I indulged my tendency to ignore the alarm clock, read a book for pleasure, and caught up on The Real Housewives (pick your city).  Yea!

  
My list begins with dance.  DollyGirl dances 12+ hours/week and competes.  The season has ended, but recital prep has begun.  This photo was taken last week during rehearsals.  At 12, she is taller than me...the pointe shoes add another few inches!  During June and July, I'll be driving her to various dance camps, intensives, and auditions.               She's worth it!

Another major to-do is to replace this car!  My 15 yr-old son, aka "MidBro" was driving, with dad along, and was hit while making a turn.  Thank God for the inventor of air bags!  Needless to say, the driver's license is on hold for my precious son.

Professionally, I'm super excited to join in on this book study!  The math series for my kindergarten class does not include a teacher's guide; thankfully, I've written curriculum and have experience with age-appropriate math practices.  Debbie Diller's book is an answer to my prayer, "God, please help me find support for the math block!"  

I also have tons of filing, sorting, printing, copying on my list for summer.  My goal is to spend the first week back (August 8-12!) on lesson-planning, not filing!  I brought all of my guides and files home with me and need to get them set up for easy use.  Meaning, move them out of the garage and into the spare room!

Every now and then, please remind me to stop watching reality TV!  
I have things to do!!

Teacher As Hoarder (See Photo)

What can I do with these??!!

Friends, I knew that you would have suggestions for the leftover pieces of my deceased refrigerator!

My husband came home tonight, took one look at the counter and said, "Why?".  I answered with a jumble of possibilities:  paint trays, book bins, closet separators for file folders, drawer trays for pens and such....my voice grew quiet as he scooped them up for a (brief) stay in the garage.

Can you support my defense?  Or, do I need an intervention!?

Last Day Activities

On the last day of school, the children drew a final self-portrait; this was added to their morning work journals, complementing the first page--a self-portrait from the first day of school!  
You can download the one I created!
…My Portrait…

To celebrate our study of the ocean and seashore, we assembled a special snack.  This activity was a lot of fun!  
If you try it, have extra umbrellas on hand.  They break easily!
Ingredients:  vanilla snack-pack pudding, swedish fish candy, mini vaInilla wafers, tiny umbrellas

The last thing I did with the children was pray.  Wow, what a privilege.  I held my tears in check all day...until this moment.  It was holy and sweet.


Happy Last Day to all of you!

Last Day Haiku

Bittersweet moments,

Glad to be on vacation,

Sad to say goodbye.

Butterfly Bonanza

A field trip to The Butterfly House was the perfect way to end our study of these beautiful creatures. 

We went on a scavenger hunt, looking for butterflies mating, nectaring, puddling, and resting.

Feel free to lift the first three photos for your files!

Number 15, there is Only One You!

We have a winner!
Erica Bohrer, I will contact you via email and get the book on its way!

"Only One You" Giveaway!

50+ followers = giveaway!

My favorite way to end the school year is by celebrating with the book
"Only One You" .

Linda Kranz has a wealth of ideas for using this book in the classroom.  

The inside covers are filled with inspiring thoughts!

I will send "Only One You", straight to your door, via Amazon!

Enter by midnight on Thursday, May 12!  

A winner will be chosen at random on Friday, May 13.

(Yes, it CAN be a lucky day!)

How can you enter?  

Leave a separate comment for each item:

*Follow me!

*Post the giveaway on your blog!

*Share one thing that you like to do with your class on the last day of school.

(Please leave an email address/website so I can find the winner!)

PS:  I've been reading the comments and your end-of-the-year ideas are FANTASTIC!

I'm wishing I had more time with my kindergartners, lol!!

Giveaway Hint

I'm doing a happy dance!


When the list hits *50*, I will be giving away a copy of my favorite end-of-the-year picture book!
But, only one of you can win!


Pretty please, follow me?

We're All In This Together

I searched the web to find an inspirational sign that would encourage us as teachers.  Ta-Da!  
And, the anthem from High School Musical works, too!  Please forgive me if the tune keeps you awake tonight, lol :-)


Check out the blogs in my sidebar:  each author embraces the profession of teaching with generosity and enthusiasm.  You all make me proud to be a member of the tribe!  

Student-Led Conferences

Here I go....diving into the deep end of the pool!  We don't do spring conferences at my school, but I floated the idea of student-led conferences in kindergarten and a plan was set in motion.

Little did I know that Project Fair (last week, big event, lots of work) would be enough of an undertaking!  But I am excited to see my kinders share our classroom with their parents and other special friends.  Tomorrow, the children will take turns practicing with each other.  To help the conference run smoothly, I've created a checklist.  It isn't a compatible version, but it might serve as a springboard for you!

Student Led