Wisdom for Wednesday - Proper Perspective

Hello there!

I have to say it is a wonderful day! I have taken deeper breaths today than I have in over a week! You might remember that I am waiting for shoulder surgery - now scheduled soon, Lord willing! - and I think favoring it finally took a toll on my back and neck. 

I cannot even begin to describe the pain I've been in the last week and a half, but thankfully today with an ultra-scary crack at the chiropractor I am finally getting some relief. All I can say is my husband definitely got some practice combing my hair and other "fun" things because I could not even lift my arms...so yes, it is a great day!

How many of you like going to the chiropractor?

I have to say it is not on my list of favorite things to do.

This was my fourth appointment and still not getting the relief I needed (I'm leaving for DC in less than a week!)...so I explained and demonstrated to my chiropractor (a sister in Christ) that when I knelt to pray if I popped my shoulder in and out (ouch!), it seemed to give me some relief in my back and neck area. 

I was pretty sure I sounded crazy, but she was very excited and said she had been praying about the move we needed to do and felt the Lord leading her to it (sorry I don't remember the technical terms, but it is apparently something few people need). 

Anyway, now she was sure and went for it. 

AMAZING.

That is all.

 Enough about me...how about a little wisdom?

 

I'm doing two Bible studies right now (long story about how/why I'm doing both, but...). Both are by Mary A. Kassian and Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I'm almost done with the first one True Woman 101: Divine Design and just started the second one True Woman 201: Interior Design. I would highly recommend both!

 The full quote is this... 

"When we see God as He is--in His awesome greatness, majesty, goodness, and love--we will have a proper perspective on ourselves."

It goes on to say, "We will marvel at what it means to be created in His likeness and to be loved by Him. And we will be motivated to treat others with respect and grace, recognizing that even the most depraved sinner is a bearer of His image, distorted as that image may be."

It is humbling to think how much God loves us, cares for us, and wants to be a part of our lives. And as they suggest in the study, remembering that forces us to see others as we should as well.

Hope you are having a great week--whether you are out of school or not! :-)

Memorial Day

Take time today to remember those who have served and have paid the ultimate price for our freedom!

Have a blessed Memorial Day!

Wisdom for Wednesday-Last Day

Welcome to this week's

Today was our last day of school with kids and these quotes are so true.  It is amazing how tired we as teachers really get by the end of the year.  I am exhausted right now as I sit here and blog and I'm thinking I may need to spend my first couple of days off (we still have another day of teacher in-service and then we will be done for the year) just sleeping.

On a more serious note, we as teachers love our students and even though we are tired, we fight through it and do the best we can for the kids.  I thought today, we spend so much time with these kids (it is over 1,200 hours) throughout the year and develop rapports with each one of them.  You do get attached to them and there is sadness saying good-bye to them as they leave your classroom.  

Have a great day!

Fun Times

We are continuing to pop our balloons on a daily basis and the kids absolutely love it.  Every morning they come in saying that they can't wait to see what is behind the balloon.  So here is some of what we have done:

1.  Art Day-we had different things for the kids to do-draw, sand art, make things out of craft sticks and stamps.  I think we could have let them do this all day and they would have stayed engaged in it!

2.  Extra Recess-All kids love this!

3.  Mystery Reader-Sorry no pictures on this one.  We went down to the 5th grade classroom and read some of our reading stories to the 5th graders.  They loved doing this.

4.  Today was move your desk anywhere you want.  It always amazes me because for the last 2 years the majority of the students will move their desks all the way up to the front of the room.  So, I was anxious to see what they would do this year.  Guess what happened?  Yes, most of them moved to the front of the room and only a few stayed back.  

2 more days left.  It's hard to believe that this year is already almost over.  

Have a great day!

I May Have a Problem...

The first step is admitting it, right? HA!

This was my first week of summer vacation and I spent time working! 

I know. 

What is wrong with me?

I just couldn't help it...

Actually, it started last Friday evening after the last day of school as my family was watching yet another superhero movie. 

You see I had brought home some things, knowing I would be inspired to work this summer at some point. As I was putting things away, there was next year's calendar which is filled with changes. I can't even begin to explain it to you, and I know you don't want to hear it so I'll just skip right over that part. I figured I should just jot out my yearly reading and math plans at least. Not too taxing, and I would feel like I accomplished something big.

Then on Tuesday (I think, the days are already running together without a schedule), my daughter's softball game was postponed (again) and I was putting away more school stuff. 

This time my Reading Wonders samples...

We are getting Wonders for next year.

 I cannot wait!

We had Reading Street from what seems like forever ago--actually I think 9-10 years.

I know some people don't like using a basal series.

I love using a basal series.

And no, I do not follow it religiously.

It is a resource that I use to guide my instruction, and my students love reading stories from what we call the "big books."

So my head is already filling with how I will use all of the wonderful resources...

As I was admiring the samples once again, I realized I would need new "I have...who has...?" games!

Here's how (and why) I use them with a reading series:

I take the high-frequency words from each unit and make a game. Each unit is five weeks long, so I pull out the game in week 1. 

We play the game once or twice a week (usually in small groups during Daily 5) so the students are exposed to the all the words from the beginning of the unit. By the end of the unit, even my lowest readers have those words mastered!

 As you probably guessed, I got busy right away creating my games. 

One new thing I am definitely doing next year is data notebooks, so I also made assessment checklists to go along with the games.

I cannot wait to get them all printed and prepped for my classroom!

If you're interested, you can check them out in our TPT store: 

Buy the bundle and save $10!!!

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

This week was not all work though!

We celebrated my daughter's 15th birthday...with superheroes!

What else?

 

I've decided her fascination with superheroes--Captain America, especially--is not unlike my fascination with action movies at her age (think Bloodsport, Kickboxer, The Terminator...).

She insisted we take a picture with her cake to prove how dorky I am...what can I say?

13 + 2 =15

And that works when you realize you don't have anymore candles.

:-)

Wisdom for Wednesday - End of the Year Style

Good morning!

 

I know most of you are still plugging along, pushing through the end of the year craziness so I'm hoping this post will give you some giggles and encouragement.

I thought I'd share a couple of things I recently shared on our Facebook page. They have had thousands of views and plenty of teacher shares so I know it is something you all need to hear right now!

First, here is a link to 14 End of the Year Memes from Education to the Core. I think #1 and #2 are my favorite. :-)

 Second, an open letter  to the Dear Worn-Out, Run-Down, Absolutely Exhausted Teacher from Grace4Teachers.

 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 

  

Press on, teacher friend. 

You are not alone! 

He is ready, willing, and able to help you through!

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!