Five for Friday...A Little Late!

Five for Friday

     I am back with another Five for Friday, except I am EXTRA late this week!  Sorry for the delay!  I had full intentions of posting this blog Friday evening, but it never happened.  So, better late than never.  Here are five random things from this past week. Click on the picture to head on over to Doodle Bugs Teaching.

       1.  I have mentioned a few times that I have a student teacher.  If you have had one before, you know how wonderful it can be to get some projects done with your extra time.  So, you can imagine the panic I felt when I realized my project list keeps growing, but she finished her full time this Tuesday!!!  AHH!  So, I got back on track with making sure my biggest projects get finished.  I spent a LOT of time this week purging my files and getting rid of multiple copies of certain items.  I also went through and took the files that were breaking and old and replaced them with new ones.  My files are all organized and ready for the end of the year and next school year!

       2.  This week my kiddos were reading a story about dinosaurs and we are also in the midst of our geometry unit, so they created a Shape-O-Saurus during centers.  They had to create their own dinosaur using a pattern block template and then label the shapes.  They turned out really cute!

      3.  Our county's Arts Council provides our schools with performances each year that our students can view for free.  We take a trip to one of the local high schools to see this performance.  Every other year we see Roger Day.  He is a musician and the kids LOVE him!  He sings funny songs that they think are hilarious.  Check out his website:  www.rogerday.com. 

      4.  This is not school related, but Friday night we went to see our local Minor League baseball team play!  We were going to go on Thursday for the home opener, but there was a threat of storms so we held off until Friday.  It was a beautiful evening.  I have to say that ever since I was little, one reason I've loved baseball games has nothing to do with baseball.  I happen to be a big fan of ballpark food!  My mom and I would go get food and my brother would stay in our seats and keep score!

      5.  100 Followers!  This week I reached 100 followers!  Woo Hoo!  This was such an exciting week for me.  I would like to have a giveaway in honor of reaching this milestone.  If you are interested in donating an item to the giveaway, please let me know!  I would love your help!  You can comment in the post with your email at which I can contact you, or you can email me directly at meesh1213@gmail.com.  Thank you!!

I promise to not be SO late next week!

-Michelle

Let's Talk About Lunch!

Let's Talk About Lunch!

      Lunch- If you ask just about any middle or high school student he/she would probably tell you that lunch was his/her favorite part of the day! Right?  What about if you asked any elementary school teacher?  I grew up in Ohio and our elementary school teachers didn't eat lunch in the cafeteria.  They ate in the teacher's lounge and our PE teacher did lunch duty each day.  When I student taught, the teachers rotated so they took turns having lunch duty and even then we weren't there the entire time.  In fact we still had time to go to a teacher's lounge and eat lunch. 

    So, you can imagine my disbelief when I moved to NC, eight years ago, and was told we would eat in the cafeteria and have recess duty EVERY day!  WHAT??  I couldn't believe it.  Thankfully, the school I am at right now does allow us to have duty free lunch two days a week.  Unfortunately, we still have to scarf down our lunches and if you have duty free lunch you end up eating in your classroom!  My biggest complaint is that we don't have time to talk to the other teachers on our grade level. 
     Thankfully, our school does let us have working lunches once a month.  These are a time where we have parents and our assistants take the students to lunch and then read with them, before dropping them off at their special area class.  This gives us about an hour and a half to have our grade level PLC meeting, instead of our typical 45 minutes, and we can eat lunch together!  We usually order food to be delivered, which makes it even more exciting, since that is not something we can typically do! Yay for pizzas and salads!  Today was our working lunch for April.

So here is my question for you:  Do you eat lunch with your students in the cafeteria?  If so, how long is your lunch time?   Our lunch is only 20 minutes.  If you don't eat with your students, who monitors them in the cafeteria?  I would love to know how other schools manage lunchtime!

-Michelle

Wowie, wow, wow!

      In the words of Junie B. Jones, “Wowie, wow, wow”!  That is what I thought when I saw this afternoon that my blog had reached 101 followers!  Being that I only had about 30 followers for the first year and a half (I wasn't very consistent in my blogging efforts), I am overly excited about the growth of my blog.  I never thought when I started blogging that I would feel as if I was part of a community.  The "blogging community" is one that has enriched my teaching in so many ways.  I know that all of the blogs I follow have helped me become a better teacher and continue to strive to use creative and engaging materials and lessons each day.  I thank all of you for following my blog and I look forward to having you along for the ride! 

     I am in the works of trying to figure out how to throw a giveaway.  I have never used Raflecopter and am in the process of setting things up.  Once I figure everything out, I will have a 100+ Followers Giveaway! 

Happy Wednesday!

-Michelle

Spring is Here and a Giveaway!

Spring is Here!

     Spring Break is officially over!  This was probably my first "break" from school where I did very little school work.  I have a slight problem of wanting to get ahead.  So, I am always working on something to get ready for what is coming up next at school. This Spring Break, I only worked for about 30 minutes TOTAL on school work!  Those who know me well, know this is very shocking!  Not working on school work helped me really relax and enjoy my break! 

     When I went to get in my car this morning, it was warm and outside it had that smell of spring.  You know that smell of the newly blossoming flowers and budding trees! It made me excited for the day!  Last week during my break it wasn't very spring like, however, this week it is going to be beautiful!  I can't wait to get outside and enjoy the sunshine!  I hope you have been able to enjoy some spring like weather, as well. 

     If the spring weather has put you in a good mood, I have another reason for you to smile!  The Frizz in First Grade is having a 100 Follower Giveaway!  She has teamed up with some wonderful bloggers to have a giveaway in honor of her milestone.  Her giveaway ends this Friday, April 12th.  Make sure to head over to her blog to see what you can win and to enter into the giveaway!  Click on the picture below to go to her giveaway!

  Don't forget to enter by Friday!  Enjoy the beautiful week!

- Michelle  

Five for Friday...Spring Break Edition

Five for Friday

I am back with another Five for Friday...Spring Break Edition!  I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

 

As you know, this week I spent time in Cincinnati with family. Now I am back in Charlotte.  Here are five random things from my week:

1.  My mom was dog sitting for some family friends.  We took them for a few walks this week!  Arent' they cute?  They have a golden retriever and a black lab.  (Two of my favorite types of dogs!)

2.  I knew that I would have colder weather, being up north for my spring break, but REALLY?  SNOW!?  Yep!  I was driving back and was totally shocked when what I thought was supposed to be rain on my drive home, ended up being snow and lots of it!  I couldn't believe it!

3.  I don't know about you, but I am ready for spring and one way I am getting ready for spring is by creating items to use with my students.  This is my latest Cam Jansen Novel Study.  It goes along with the book: Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery.  This book will be perfect to use in preparation for Earth Day! My students love Cam and her photographic memory!

4.  Today is my last week day of spring break!  I had planned on going to the beach today.  I LOVE the beach, but it is not as warm or sunny as I was hoping it would be!  I live about 2 1/2 hours away from Charleston, SC and I try to make it to the beach as often as I can, even if it is just for the day.  These aren't pictures from Charleston.  They are actually from last summer in Destin, Florida, but either way, I was dreaming of the beach today while I sat on my back patio!

5.  Earlier in the week, my cousin contacted my mom telling her she was in Charlotte.  I, however, was in Cincinnati.  I did however, get in contact with my cousin and was able to meet her out for dinner tonight!  I haven't seen her in almost three years.  She is a nursing student in Omaha, Nebraska (wheremost of my mom's family lives and where my mom is from) and she is here in Charlotte for a student nurse's conference.  It was nice seeing her and it was a nice way to finish out my spring break week!

Have a great weekend!  If you are at the end of your spring break, enjoy these last few days!

-Michelle

Currently April

      I am linking up with Farley for her April Currently.  I am a few days behind because I did NOT bring a computer with me on my Spring Break!  It has actually been a nice feeling, being away from my computer and my school work, etc. 

Listening...I'm not really listening to anything right now!  It is quiet here!    

Loving...I am LOVING spring break!  I am at home in Cincinnati and have spent some time with family and visited with friends.  I am leaving tomorrow and heading back down to North Carolina! 

Thinking...I am thinking about my running group and how they have kept me motivated over spring break.  One of our runners created a Facebook page for our running group and we have stayed in contact over break, encouraging each other to keep running!

Wanting...My mom is cooking ribs with Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce, so I am wanting to eat them!  They smell so good!  This is a special BBQ sauce from a restaurant at home. 

Needing...To head back to the gym when I get back to NC.  I have been running the past few days, but I have also been eating a LOT!  

Advice...Save time for yourself   This spring break I brought my school bag with me to OH and I haven't looked at it one time.  I am glad that I have just relaxed and enjoyed spending time with my Mom instead of working on things that can wait!

I only have a few more days of spring break!  I am going to enjoy them as much as I can!

-Michelle

Five for Friday!

      It is time for Five for Friday!  This Five for Friday is EXTRA special!  You might ask why and I will tell you!  Today is a training day and next week is spring break!  No, I am not heading on a fancy vacation, but I am heading to Ohio to visit family and friends! 

1.  Opening Day Sale!!

Monday is Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds!  Unfortunately, the game is sold out and I didn't realize I would be home until it was too late to get tickets!  I am, however, having a SALE at my TpT site on Monday in honor of Opening Day!  Make sure to check it out! 

2.  Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia!

My kiddos this year are huge sports fans and they share a love of Amelia Bedelia, so I was inspired to get a set of activities ready for the book Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia.  I am planning on using this with them after spring break.  This packet includes five literacy response activities in color and black and white.  They ask the students to analyze the characters and their traits and understand and explain idioms.  If you love Amelia Bedelia, you will love this story and these activities!

3. So today's training was on standards based report cards. Our county attempted to move toward a standards based two years ago without a lot of planning or piloting it to see how parents would perceive it. They looked back and realized they made some mistakes. One, in particular. was that every CCSS for math in 1st grade is listed! The math report card alone is two pages! This year they took the time to create, tweak, and pilot a new one. Today we learned about that new report card. It looks MUCH better! What are your thoughts on standards based report cards? Do you have any suggestions?

4. This week I spent my last few dollars that the school gives us to spend on my classroom! Check out the goodies I bought! Aren't they cute?

5. This last one is for my southern friends! As I type, we are driving up to Ohio for spring break!

Don't forget to head over to Doodle Bugs to link up! Click on the picture below!

For those on spring break this coming week, enjoy the week! I know I will!

-Michelle