Five for Friday

I woke up today with a goal.

That goal is: document five parts of my day and link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

Here goes:

1. A cold chai tea latte for my drive to work. Not as delicious as the drink yesterday. but a good morning tradition.

2. A beautiful flower from a fabulous firstie.

3. A painting party in first grade.

4. A 7th grade pool party. For my son. I am certainly glad I teach first grade and not middle school. They wore me out!

5. A couch. No picture. but I am certain that teachers the world over are enjoying some R&R this evening. Just. Like. Me.

What five things do you want to remember from today?

Hop on over to Doodle Bugs Teaching and read more Five for Fridays.

Friday!

Love a week with so much family time.

Let me recap with 5 happenings and link with Doodle Bugs Teaching and Big Time Literacy.

1. My family hiked for 2ish hours. Some was difficult and I wheezed (because I am an out-of-shape old lady), but the view was AMAZING!!!

2. We also toured a band instrument factory. Yes, we saw artisans creating clarinets from blocks of wood, and trumpets from a sheet of brass. Now I will never complain about the price of a trumpet or trombone, it takes many steps and people to make an instrument. I can't find the exact link to an online tour, but this is close. We read ahead that cameras were forbidden on the tour, so I left mine in the van. But, lo and behold, we get started and the tour guide says, "take lots of pictures!" Wish I had my camera. It was very cool.

3. Good food and drinks.

4. Bowling.

5. A chocolate factory tour...

And a bonus photo... I'm not in Las Vegas learning from SDE about being a better teacher. But I did have a great time with Patty. She is just the sweetest and such an encouragement to me (both online and in person). 

Now, be sure to check out more Five for Fridays (at Doodle Bugs Teaching) and some favorite lessons ( at Big Time Literacy).

Friday's Rock!!

It's Friday, so I'm going to Kacey's party. You can go to, if you want, everyone is invited! You can hang out on the wall (read) or get in the middle of it (post your own blog).

Which ever you choose, it's fun, so let's go!!!

My randomness...

1. I went shopping with my boys this afternoon. Needed some summer staples (shorts and swimming suit for the boys). But also found our way to the bookstore. I started reading about mindfulness because of an IG post yesterday (my research began here) and found a book today that I cannot wait to read. 

I know, another professional book. This makes 3 books officially and I have 3 more that I want to give a go at. Good thing I have 8 weeks left of summer!!

2. I happened to get a couple of books that will fit my classroom theme (camping) and be engaging to get the kids wanting to read (The Book Whisperer).

3. Doesn't it happen? Go shopping, and end up eating out... We went to our current favorite... Chipotle. No pictures. I was too busy shoving food into my mouth.

4. We have had crazy weather this summer. So much rain, two days of heat this week. But I do try to keep my toes relatively pretty, just in case it is sandal weather. Time to update...

5. Watching my current favorite baseball team (KC Royals) play my very first favorite baseball team (St. Louis Cardinals). It's a little weird to be cheering for both teams. I confuse myself!!!

How did you spend your Friday??

Now, it's time to hang out with my virtual friends at the Party!!

Five for Friday (May 29, 2015)

It's been a while.

But, hey, it's summer and I'm gonna do it!

Five for Friday with Kacey @ Doodle Bugs Teaching for a fun Friday non-teaching related post.

This afternoon I took my boys to a city nearby, not the big one, but the semi-big one. It was so wonderful to listen to them talk with each other. Sometimes (a lot) I just like to sit back and be amazed at who they are.

And this is what happened...

1. I used a gift card that I got 1.5 years ago to get a Chai Frappuccino.

2. The boys wanted to spend some money at GameStop and I wanted to drink my splurge. So I waited and people watched. A lot of people went in and out of Super Clips. I was surprised.

3. We dropped their instruments off at the music store for maintenance and a cleaning.

4. I introduced them to Hastings. My older son could not believe that I had not taken him to this land of wonderful before. He wants to go back on his birthday.

5. And we topped it off with some burgers at our favorite burger place.

How did you spend your Friday? Hope it was good.

Then head over to Doodle Bugs and read what my friends have to say today. 

Let's Play a Game

Because we are all about the games in First Grade.

I'm calling this game--Five Awesome Happenings from the Week Ending on January 30, 2015.

Later I will link up with Kacey @ Doodle Bugs Teaching.

1. My student teacher (Miss Scheuerman) started fulltime on Monday. She is turning out to be a fantastic addition to our room. She is helpful. Thoughtful. Full of joy and enthusiasm. Eager to learn. Eager to teach.

I think I will keep her for the rest of the year, and if I can--I want her back again next year (not because she would not be ready, but because she is wonderful).

2. Wednesday was National "Have Fun at Work Day." I took it to heart! I wore some new shoes and made many people smile with my witty comments and playful attitude.

3. Thursday was "No shoes necessary in our classroom" and "Eat lunch in the classroom" day. 

4. Thursday was also "Kansas Day." We frosted "sunflower" cupcakes while sitting in a circle. As I was taking a video of the circle, the kids spontaneously started to sing. They sang a song learned in Music class--maybe you know it... Home on the Range. Melted my heart and filled it up all in 52 seconds. I sent the video to the Music teacher, she loved it also.

I'm pretending that this sing-along happened because we were on the floor, in a circle, being a community of 22. We've been a class for a long time. But now, we are more than that. I LOVE it. Every single day.

5. My husband knows a person, who works for a place that has nail aprons. Nothing fancy, but sure is handy for holding all of my important supplies during the day (phone, pens, beads [for giving for following directions and doing the right thing], sticky notes, confiscated toys, keys, school id--you get the picture). Well, I needed one for Miss Scheuerman. She wore hers today. 

So happy that it is Friday. That I have already eaten, and that I can soon take my evening nap, because, tomorrow I will be back to planning and preparing for ANOTHER great week.

Five for Friday (January 23, 2015)

Yay for time and energy and photos to post to my favorite Friday party. :)

We split up the K-1 students into 4, 4-H groups. Today we rotated groups in order to complete the Power Panther Pals curriculum. Mrs. Jones taught the "Play Hard" part. I taught the "Eat Smart" part. One other teacher made the snack with the kids, and the last teacher taught 4-H pig curriculum.

We celebrated a birthday, and I love this letter.

Mrs. Roux tried to teach me the difference between straw and hay. (I really know, but played along with her.)

Jenny (in the foreground) is back. She spent December and January back at her first home (she had a gig in a Living Nativity). 

And we were gifted another calf (background) today. She is pretty, not quite as tame, and will get named soon.

And the most meaningful photo. Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Roux in the barn. Taking care of business. I stayed outside. There was a dead mouse in there and Mrs. Jones tried to keep the information from me, so that I would not be freaked out and still go in the barn, but I heard her whisper the news to another. 

So, since there was a critter, I would not go in. Not sure they noticed me.

Now I'm creeped out again about going in the barn. 

I have a strict "don't ask, don't tell" policy about mice in the barn. But someone told. Aaaaaccckkkk.

Once, when Mrs. Roux was in the barn, standing, talking, watching kids work--a mouse fell from the rafters. RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER.

Now you understand. I am not going in. EVER AGAIN.

I have chores in March and need a really good friend to do them for me. Any takers?

Thanks Kacey @ Doodle Bugs Teaching for the party. I love it every week. Hop on over and find out what other friends of mine did today...