Crazy New Sport

Last Tuesday many of my friends were writing about Instagram. My knowledge was limited. But I do not feeling left out.

So, quickly Sunday morning I got an account all set up. And I am in love.

I get to follow all my favorite blog peeps. It is quick. There are always pictures (duh). 

I've been playing around with it. Trying to do the hashtag thing. And in the process, I forget to blog! 

If I knew how to link it to here, I would. Perhaps I will learn over the weekend. But if you can figure it out, my username is mrsbartelsschoolfamily. 

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I will leave you with some pictures. My table at school is covered with lovely flowers. I got flowers from my students yesterday and today. With some of the sweetest notes. (Thanks parents!) And chocolate. Yum!

Day #1

Day #2

Happy Teacher Week!

It's Friday!

And I'm ready to share my five random things from the day. Later I will link up with Doodle Bugs and browse more entires. It is a great way to look back, destress, have a laugh (or two) and get brilliant ideas for next year.

1. 

This is my shadow at the first recess today. Can you tell that I am wearing my long (past my knees) winter parka? It is May 3 people! I should be wearing flip flops, not Ugg boots! The wind chill was 34 degrees. Hoping for warmer weather, soon.

2. 

Today I began the Spring screening on AIMSweb. No fun at all. I completed 20/22 students on the nonsense word fluency. It was disappointing. I wanted more students above the target. That may have influenced my crabby-ness in the afternoon.

3. 

This was also the school-wide BBQ cookout. It was a little too cold to eat our cookout outside. Some teachers ate in their rooms. I said, nope, we are eating in the gym (which doubles as our cafeteria) and using tables. The kids were super impressed that I ate with them (I think I was required too). Their impressed-ness was weird. Because I have eaten with them each Tuesday and Thursday in our class since about October. Oh well. They had good hamburgers and I had some oatmeal. They had the better lunch.

4. 

When the testing was finished we needed a dance party. We have never had one before. Sure, we have brain breaks, sing songs, but let them have at it? We sang and danced to Taylor Swift. Our markers and glue bottles were our mikes. Then a sweet boy asked, "Can we have a boy song now?" OK, Son of Man it is. (From Tarzan, reminds me of my youngest son--he used to watch that movie every chance he could get.)

5. 

Now, homemade pizza and a friend for the night.

Grown up drink and kid drink. We will not confuse them.

Have a lovely weekend my friends!

MAY Currently

Yippee! It is that time of the month again. Hop on over to Oh 'Boy Fourth Grade to read what many talented bloggers have written as their "currentlies" for the month.

Wait, first read mine.

Listening: my family have all found activities to keep busy. So I get to blog.

Loving: my iPhone is so cool. Now I am cool just like all my cool friends.

Thinking: Themes, how the relate to ag; Four Blocks, how to integrate ag/science; what room will I have; a master plan (scope and sequence); etc.

Wanting: this cute red purse.

Needing: someone to cook for my family every day. I do not like to cook, but they like to eat. Houston, we have a problem. A personal cook could solve my problem. I am willing to trade for it...

Summer Bucket List: Last summer my bucket list had seven items on it. Farley did not give us that much space (unless I typed really small), so I am starting with three. This summer is going to be great, because I know what I am heading into--first grade. So I think I can give myself even more time to read for pleasure. Last summer was all about Bailey Flannigan (Karen Kingsbury), I wonder who the author of the summer will be this year. Suggestions?

Have a great day tomorrow, because it is FRIDAY!!!

Wow

Wow #1: Looky here what I got!!

My husband bought it for me (he got one for him also) on Saturday. Now to discover all it can do for me.

Wow #2: Next year my school district is going to a Four Blocks model for our ELA time. I am so excited about it!

I am dabbling with it now.

On Tuesday I lead the class with a "guided reading" lesson using a National Geographic Young Explorer. I gave the purpose for reading (discover how mother animals and their babies are alike), then got the kids with their "whole brain partners" and they read the article.

Seeing them read and help each other, if necessary, was amazing!

Finally the kids helped me fill out a chart with the animal name and the baby name.

Today I lead another "guided reading" lesson with NGYE. The purpose...to find out how plant parts help a plant. I had 5 kids sit with me to read, everyone else read to their self. It was ERT style. Everyone read to find out how the roots (stem, leaves, flower) help a plant grow. As each question was unearthed, the kids were clamoring to tell me the answer! So much reading and comprehending.

Wow #3: No picture from today of guided reading. But check this out...

Some kids were not working on their ag fair project. They did not ask what they could do. They found some friends and got busy reading!

Love it!

The end of last week I pulled out some very old basal anthologies. Handed them to the kids and they love them. They read and reread as often as possible. I will need to look in my cupboard for more anthologies next week.

I love my first grade readers.

15 days until they become second graders.

Wow #4: Just over a year ago I started this blog, because I wanted so badly to participate in blog giveaways, but you had to have a blog to participate. I won the very first time I tried. Read about it here, and see what I won (a Teacher Tipster DVD--sorry, I spilled the beans, I couldn't wait).

Now, 190 blog posts and 100 followers later I am starting to think of myself as a writer. YIPPEE!

Thanks for reading. Thanks for following. Thanks for commenting.

The sad part for you is I have no TpT store, no giveaway planned, and nothing to send you except good thoughts for ending this school year strong.

Good Things

The lovely Jennifer at Rowdy in First Grade thinks (and I agree) that it has been a while since we did this linky and it is time for another go-round.

A Good Thing From School:

My firsties are really getting adding three numbers. Even figuring out a problem like this... 9 + 8 + ? = 20. It has been a focus for the last week and they are GETTING it! Love when ideas fall into place. And, they all want to sit at my table and read for me. Like--do a running record. Crazy. But perhaps they are showing off what fantastic readers they are becoming!

A Good Thing From Home:

Tonight I got to have a hot dog roast. With my husbands family. At the home place. In the yard where I said my marriage vows. Tomorrow my in-laws are signing the papers that give ownership to another family. Someone we do not know. So, tonight was a blessing on so many different levels. Being together. Remembering other times. Creating more memories.

My life is full and rewarding. 

(And there are 19 days until summer vacation! Time to get started on my 2013 Summer Bucket List.)

Common Sense

Common sense? Are we born with it?  Do we acquire it through lessons?

What makes a first grader think that picking up the dead mouse (or rat) found on the playground is a good idea?

Here is my version of the story.

Since it was recess time and the teacher on duty had not come out yet, I was on the playground. The sun is shining (even if it is 32 degrees) and I am enjoying watching the kids run with joy.

Now two students are running toward me hollering my name (again and again).

Out of breath, one says, "Mrs. Bartel, you are not going to want to hear this." 

I'm thinking--so, why are you telling me?

"Student A and B are carrying a dead mouse or rat, I'm not sure by the tail."

Me--ewwww, gross, yuck! PUT IT DOWN!!!

Thank goodness that is when the recess teacher arrived on the scene. So I quickly filled her in and found my way back into my classroom.

When students A and B came in from recess I asked them politely to go wash. 

They responded that they had. Twice!

So, common sense. 

Mom, when did I get mine?

Potty Mouth

Do you know this book?

My principal loves these books and bought a bunch for school. To Share. 

I took this one, but I may not give it back. For 2 reasons.

1. We have been practicing singing 2 of the songs. (First graders are a riot when they sing about poop and pee.) This afternoon a handsome young man asked (as he turned in his completed work), "Mrs. Bartel, (he is so polite) is it ok if I read a book so I can get better at reading?" He was going after the above book. You bet, have fun!

2. We sang the songs for the kindergartners today. I think they might have been a bit shocked at our language (poop and pee). But they loved it. My favorite part... as we were leaving a sweet little K student told her teacher that she wants to be in my class next year. Cue my big smile. K teacher says, you'll have a good year if you are with Mrs. Bartel or Mrs. Jones. K says, but I want Mrs. Bartel. 

(If you have heard me speak about Mrs. Jones--the other first grade teacher--you will know that I love and adore her. She has amazing ideas and I am so happy to be working with her. So, K teacher is right, sweet student will have a great year with Mrs. Jones, they just know me because we are neighbors.)

My skepticism about these books is gone. They are super motivating for readers of all levels, and I think I need his other titles as well.