End of the Year Craziness = More Than Five for Friday!

Hey there! 

How are you holding up? Are you done yet? Still plugging along?

I have 8 more days...which is especially painful after my FB memory this morning was from the last day of school last year! Now don't misunderstand, I love my kiddos, but this teacher is completely past end of the year teacher tired. ;-)

So tired, apparently, that I completely spaced the Wisdom post on Wednesday. Sorry about that. It did not even cross my mind until last night! Kristi says that I have to make up for it by posting for the next six months. LOL! 

Anyway, all this end of the year craziness that is wearing me out has at least given me PLENTY of pictures for Five for Friday.

Let's get started, shall we?

1

Prairie Day!

Our little rural school is in the heart of the Flint Hills, and we received this map exhibit as part of an effort to give students a deeper understanding of the place where they live. 

The Flint Hills Map & Education Center gave a presentation earlier in the year at an inservice and encouraged teachers to try more place-based learning. As the K-2 science teacher, I felt like I needed to give it a try.

Fortunately, one of the teachers with many of the lessons on the website is one of our own former teachers. She agreed to come out of retirement for the day and help with Prairie Day! We had six rotations throughout the day where students learned about the Flint Hills, prairie grasses and plants, old sod houses, and prairie wildlife. Next week, we will visit the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve for our field trip.

2

Balloon Countdown

Yes, I do a countdown.

No, I am not a bad teacher.

Sorry, I get tired of some of the "articles" I see floating around on social media.

Every year, I do a balloon countdown. Inside each balloon is a special activity or treat for my kiddos to enjoy. It makes the last 10 days a fun way to celebrate a great year together (it also could be considered bribery for good behavior). 

I had to miss our first balloon this year for a teacher training. :-(

But I prepped the kids and they handled it well. So far, we have had Bubble Gum Day and Art Day.

3

Mother's Day

We baked muffins for our moms and made these cute paintings.

4

Team Builder

I organized a painting party for our staff. Due to busy schedules this time of year, I included some other people too (i.e. my daughter on the left). We had a fun time and I liked my painting until I say hers... ;-)

5

Farm Day

Our FFA teacher and members put together a great Farm Day where we got to learn about farm equipment and animals. We also made ice cream (baggie method) and planted flowers. 

  

Bonus

Date Night

Nice weather means we get the hotrod out for date night...only this time we had a little trouble. Thankfully, this guy knows his engines. We coasted to the parts' store. He bought a new alternator, put it on, and away we went. My daughter has decided she should marry a mechanic too. :-)

That about covers it! 

Hope you have a wonderful, rest-filled weekend!

Balloon Countdown (5, 4, 3, 2, 1...I'm done!)

I have to apologize for not posting earlier. I think I was just too exhausted and excited!

In case you've been following my balloon countdown, I thought I'd tell you what my final days looked like.

For days 10-6, click here.

Day 5 - Read-A-Thon

This is a keeper! The kids started out with read-to-self and took AR quizzes on their own. Every so often, I would announce give-a-way time and draw for prizes (little things I had accumulated throughout the year--bookmarks, stickers, books, etc.). After recess, we switched to read-to-someone and kept on reading! Then after lunch, I gave them some reader's theater plays I have and let them work with a group to prepare and perform their plays for us. 

 Day 4 - Mystery Readers

I have been doing this one for years. When Kristi and I worked together, we would let the two 1st grade classes read together. Since I moved to a smaller school (one class per grade level), I have been getting more creative. This year I had two mystery readers from our school pop in and the Kindergarten class come read with us. I think next year, I might try asking parents to surprise their kids by coming to read.

Our principal reading The Sneetches to us.

Day 3 - Ice Cream Floats

Sorry, no pictures. 

I was probably too busy enjoying my float to remember to take pictures. ;-) 

Day 2 - Movie Day

I always put the kids to work "cleaning" our room on this morning. They work hard to clean out their desks, lockers, book boxes, etc. Then I give them jobs to clean areas around the room. 

They love cleaning day! 

Really. 

As I explained what we were doing, one of my kiddos said, "My cousin (who I had the year before) said cleaning day was fun!"  

After lunch we watched Runaway Ralph because I had read the book to them. They loved those books this year, and the movies were just the right length (only 40 minutes). Kids these days just can't sit through a full-length movie!  

Day 1 - Surprise from Mrs. R  

This changes from year to year. This year it was a large stick of bubbles. We have "Rodeo Day" on the last day of school and the kids are with me for only a few minutes while we wait our turn to eat lunch. We went outside and played with our bubbles!

Final Thoughts

Posted this on our FB page Friday evening:

Notes like this make my teacher heart happy on this bittersweet day! 

I'm not sure many people understand the 'job' of a teacher... 

All my students become my kids! For nine months I get to teach them, to love them, to pray for them, to stretch them and watch them grow. I try to teach them to have good manners, to show good character and to demonstrate integrity. I want them to see God's love through me. I'm concerned for them and their future. Did I do enough? Will they be ready for third grade? 

It's not always easy. Just like a parent, there are times when I'm disappointed and discouraged. Times when discipline and consequences are necessary. But they are still my kids...right up to the end.

Then I have to say goodbye and let them go, hoping I've made a lasting impact on their lives. And hoping they will say hello when they see me again--even if they have a new favorite teacher. ☺️

That's a wrap! 

Summer projects...here I come!

10 Day Balloon (Adapted) Countdown

If you have been reading our blog, you know that Crystal is like on Day 5 of her countdown on the balloons.......not me.  We actually don't start the countdown until Thursday.  We have several more days left in school than her.  Like she said in her past blog post:

I know I have shared this every year, but you never know who might be new to the blog...so...

Each morning, I will pop a balloon. 

Inside is a piece of paper with a fun activity or treat written on it for us to enjoy.

I have two simple rules for the balloons that help tremendously with the final days craziness.

1. If you get in trouble, you don't do/have the next balloon activity/treat.

2. If you complain about the activity or treat, you don't get to enjoy it.

The activities/treats change from year to year, but include things like ink pen day, bubble gum day, kickball game, ice cream party, movie, extra recess, etc.

For me, the balloons are a bit different.  :-)  When I had Crystal as a co-teacher, I never laughed so hard in my life because she couldn't blow up a balloon.  Watching her try to do it was just funny (sorry Crystal but it was funny).  I'm wondering who she had blow up her balloons for her this year?????  I should have got her on video trying to blow up a balloon.  :-)

My  co-teacher now can't stand the popping of a balloon!  LOL!  So, she had a great idea to put it into a mimio.  Each day we can still pop a balloon with a somewhat sound of a balloon popping and then it will reveal what we will be doing for the day.  It will be nice to have this mimio because we can use it every year and change things on it if we need to.  No blowing up balloons (for those that can't blow balloons up) and no having to listen to the popping sound of a balloon (for those that don't like hearing them pop).  :-)  

Here is what it looks like and what is behind the balloons.

We already decided to take off the root beer float day and change it to art.  We had forgotten that we had that one last year and then we saw Crystal's post about it and remembered at that point.  It will be easy to change on the mimio.

Have a great week!

10 Day Countdown, Checking in with Customers, and Organizing!

Yes, it is that time of year! 

I have my 10 day balloon countdown up and ready for Monday morning. 

The kiddos will be so stinkin' excited!

Oh, who am I kidding? 

I'm so stinkin' excited!

 

I know I have shared this every year, but you never know who might be new to the blog...so...

Each morning, I will pop a balloon. 

Inside is a piece of paper with a fun activity or treat written on it for us to enjoy.

I have two simple rules for the balloons that help tremendously with the final days craziness.

1. If you get in trouble, you don't do/have the next balloon activity/treat.

2. If you complain about the activity or treat, you don't get to enjoy it.

The activities/treats change from year to year, but include things like ink pen day, bubble gum day, kickball game, ice cream party, movie, extra recess, etc.

This next thing I tried to share on Facebook, but since I called my students my customers I'm pretty sure FB hid the post from most of you. :(

I love to check in with my 'customers' this time of year. 

This week they were to tell me what I definitely needed to keep for my next 2nd grade class. I love reading their responses! Here's some of my favorites:

This one cracked me up...still waiting on shoulder surgery and the kiddos know it. :-/

The most popular things are definitely ball chairs, Moby Max, Showbie, and Class Dojo. I was happy to see several things about math rounds and Daily 5 too. 

This was probably my favorite though! This guy struggles in math, but has come to enjoy our Hotshots!
Makes my heart happy!

Lastly, I've spent the last couple weeks before school in our teachers' lounge/work room. There is such great storage in there, but it was in need of some cleaning out and organization.

These pictures make me smile. :-) 

Now I need to focus on tidying up my storage closet!

I also like to get as much done as I can for those crazy first few weeks back to school in August...lots to do to wrap up the year!