Tag Archives: All about me

The seven Dwarfs from Walt Disney.

Do You Have a PLAN for Packing up YOUR Classroom?

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It’s THAT time.

Time to pack up my classroom!

Are YOU packing up YOUR classroom?

via GIPHY

WAHOO!  Summer vacation. The Beach. Family BBQ’s. R&R.

BUT, WAIT!  NOT YET!  First I need to pack up my classroom so I can find the things I need when we come back. Back to School is crazy enough without me NOT being able to find my MOST needed items! ( Where is MY stapler???)

Are YOU packing up your classroom?

What am I packing?

What is on my classroom packing list?

Here is my list:

Number One

It’s ALL about ME!  What will I need the first week?

Teacher Editions and Lesson Plan Book

My Teacher Editions  & Lesson Plan Book. I need them to plan for the first weeks.

Mostly Routines and Daily schedules. (Work on THIS before VACATION!)

Sticky Notes

Sticky notes inside to remind my “aging” brain…what I INTEND to do!

What MATERIALS will I need to accomplish this? What lesson to focus on those first weeks? What went well? What didn’t?

USE THOSE STICKY NOTES INSIDE YOUR TE!

You will NOT remember months from now… what you are thinking about TODAY!

Use the next few weeks to make your NOTES!

How to Prepare for a Successful Reading Workshop in First Grade

Teacher’s Desk

Don’t forget, in your TEACHER DESK…

hide a few water bottles, mints, chocolate, and Tylenol, sanitizer, throat lozenges,

for the first week back…FOR YOU!

Never know how that FIRST WEEK will go!

BE Prepared!

* “SUGGESTED” teacher MUST HAVES for the first weeks:

Number 2

Student materials ( packets, papers, journals, etc ).

Before packing up your classroom,  RUN THEM NOW!

( Nothing feels better than pulling out MUCH NEEDED things…ALREADY DONE!)

Papers copied, sorted, and filed!

Whew! SO glad I prepped these BEFORE school was out!!

Get some puzzles, games, blocks, etc. out.

It’s National PUZZLE Day! Do YOU play GAMES??

classroom card games

THEY WILL NOT BE INDEPENDENT!

Have a few things ready so they can have “downtime”

while YOU are doing ONE-TO-ONE assessing!

You know you will HAVE TO…prepare for IT!

How do YOU FIT IT ALL IN? Balanced Literacy

Number three is third.

As you are packing up your classroom with those MANY, MANY BOXES (for centers, games, things you need to go through) … DO THOSE LATER!

I know you NEED these,  BUT

You will “SURVIVE” looking at them LATER!

NO STRESS!

( YEAH, right!)

Read to SELF..LET THEM READ!

Prepare today… after a RELAXING Summer… the thought of coming back

and redoing everything in a day or two is

EXCRUTIATING!

Screaming Child

Breathe…relax…make your lists…stick to them…and PREP AWAY!

The payoff is HUGE!

Now…where did I pack that STAPLER?

stapler

These posts might help “ease” the transition Back to School…

Polka Dots Please blog post on flexible seating.

Polka Dots Please

Teacher Stacking chairs

Packing Up Your Classroom

* PS…I just found out I have three weeks to pack up

MY ENTIRE CLASSROOM! I am getting NEW Carpet! I am happy…I think!

PACK UP 30 years of stuff? In 3 weeks? EVERYTHING?

Time to PURGE! Who needs the PD resource from 1999???

I think I need a LOT MORE BOXES!

I may need ALL of these boxes to pack up my classroom.

Hi HO…HI HO…It’s off to pack I go!

                        

via GIPHY

 WENDY  – 1stgradefireworks

What is TRUE Teacher Appreciation? It might SURPRISE You!

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What is TRUE Teacher Appreciation?

I am a VETERAN teacher.

NO.

 I have NOT fought in a WAR.

I have taught in GRADE 1

 ( exclusively )

for over 30 years!

WOW!

( Never “graduated” to second grade..as my students tell me!) 🙂

But…

I have changed my “VIEW” on teacher appreciation.

We ALL want to be appreciated.

We want to be recognized for

SOMETHING “GOOD”

 we have done!

But..

things can get a little …

OUT OF HAND!

I believe..

YES…

I believe there are

those who

are APPRECIATED

and those who

WISH THEY WERE!

What is TRUE Teacher Appreciation?

I will say this ONE TIME…

IT  IS  NOT  ABOUT  TEST SCORES!

The teachers with the SUPER highest test scores

are NOT, always,

the teachers who are

APPRECIATED the MOST!

Now…disclaimer…teachers work WAY TOO hard!

I got that!

Some are SOOOOOO  focused on the “data”…

they forget, or can’t “document” the traits of the child the “data” came from!

Nowhere is there a box to check that says:

___  Didn’t have breakfast ( or dinner the night before ).

___ Couldn’t sleep because my parents were arguing LOUDLY!

___ No one would help with homework/reading ( for the past two weeks!)

or

___  not in a good “mindset”  today.

BUT…

these are kids!

This is life!

To attach a “number” to a student, 

based on “today’s testing module”

is NOT  what teaching is all about!

( Ok sorry…OFF my soapbox!)

So,

What is TRUE Teacher Appreciation?

Where? How? When?

Admins…

Please… I don’t need a new pen with my school name on it.

What is TRUE Teacher Appreciation?

If YOU really want to show me your appreciation…

HAVE MY BACK during an IEP

when ‘the team” says

I NEED TO DO MORE!

By the time I have gotten to his stage…

I HAVE DONE ALL I CAN DO!

Take the stand that I AM DONE!

SEND ME SOME HELP!

Now I have great admin’s…

I know they have my back!

THAT’s  APPRECIATION!

If you want to “give” me something…

…TAKE MY RECESS DUTY!

…Take my class for an hour at the end of the day, if MY child is home sick!

… Come in and do reading groups once in a while

( an extra adult doing centers is ALWAYS appreciated).

You see…it’s NOT about the “things”

it’s about WHAT you DO!

What is TRUE Teacher Appreciation?

How do you know if your “team” appreciates YOU?

Do you “share”?

Do you “follow through?”

Do you “care” about each other?

My “teaching partner”…

( I said “partner” one time..it took on a WHOLE DIFFERENT meaning!)

and I have taught next to each other

( rooms 3 & 4)

for 24 years!

We are going to retire together 

the same year…in 3 years.

( We “pinky sweared”…

..as long as nothing catastrophic happens before then).

Her mom works in her room.

I call her MOM!

Our students think we are

SISTERS!

See the family “resemblance”?

In my heart…

SOUL SISTERS!

We run homework for each other.

We share our students.

We laugh, we cry, we CARE about each other!

We are NOT the ONLY grade 1 teachers.

We have 1-2 others who teach with us.

( Depending on the year and student numbers).

We ALWAYS include them!

This is NOT a

CLOSE YOUR DOOR & DO YOUR THING!

NOPE!

WE DO!

Together.

Feel appreciated? YEP! Daily.

( I could have transferred to another school in MY district..many times!)

NOT LEAVING!

LOVE MY CRAZY TITLE 1 school!

and then…

Your students…

What is TRUE Teacher Appreciation?

When do they make YOU feel appreciated?

Is it when you are passing out report cards?

Is it when they forgot their homework?

Is it when they have interrupted you for the 1000th time that day?

Probably NOT!

It’s when that SAME little girl walks in EVERY morning

and says…

“Can I have a HUG?”

or

When the little boy who STUTTERS ( severely )…

asks if he can READ his newest story

TO THE CLASS!

( And EVERYONE cheers  for him!)

or

The “behavior problem” child

who knows ( his MAMA tells him a lot )

that he is a PROBLEM…

and he hands me a heart he made with a picture of me & him!

( Melts my heart..right before he hits another student!)

and last…

the “older students” who come back…

just to say HI!

or…

“I got my driver’s license & I promise to be safe..just like you said!”

“I got a full-ride scholarship…to HARVARD!”..yes  it did happen!

“I want to be back in first grade so I can PAINT!”

“Thank you , Mrs. McCarty, for listening to me!”

Giggles, Grins, Hugs, & High Fives to 

ALL of YOU!

YOU make a difference!

NOVEMBER already? Don’t BLINK!

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I just LOVE

Kenny Chesney…

Kenny Chesney

I think he is speaking to ME!

As I  am singing…no…  BELTING OUT.. his song

( in my car of course…windows up..no one wants to hear this voice) 🙂

“DON’T BLINK”

Don’t blink!

Just like that, you’re six years old and you take a nap and you

Wake up and you’re twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don’t blink

You just might miss your babies growing like mine did

Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your better half

Of fifty years is there in bed

And you’re praying God takes you instead

Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think

So don’t blink

I can TOTALLY RELATE!

I swear..I just looked at the calendar & it was OCTOBER!

Early OCTOBER!

THEN…WHAM!

Halloween is here..NO..GONE!

and now it is NOVEMBER! 

WHERE DID OCTOBER GO??

As I turn the calendar, I realize 

I need to slow down

and appreciate ALL that I have in the HERE & NOW!

So, my friends..

BEFORE the Holidays come…55 days to be exact!

and then BAM! Christmas Carols EVERYWHERE!

Take a few moments to 

STOP! Look around! Remember this MOMENT!

It will be gone in a BLINK!

Enjoy the..

LULL

( Before the RUSH!)

Take a minute, relish in the moment, and ENJOY!

BECAUSE…tomorrow will be here soon enough..

I wonder where I can get a 2019 CALENDAR?

(I better hurry…it will be here SOON!)

HAHAHA

Here are a few 

“helpers” to get you through the

 Nov./Dec.  rush!

DON’T  BLINK!

Let’s Talk TURKEY ( TpT 1stgradefireworks)

Let’s Talk Turkey

November Fact Family Booklets from TpT 1stgradefireworks

Fact  Family

November Adding 3 numbers MATH Booklets from TpT 1stgradefireworks

Adding 3 numbers

November Vocabulary BANNERS from TpT 1stgradefireworks

November Vocabulary Banners

The Elves are Working OVERTIME from TpT 1stgradefireworks

The Elves are Working OVERTIME!

WINTER Vocabulary BANNERS from TpT 1stgradefireworks

Winter Vocabulary Banners

So remember:

1. Don’t BLINK!

2. Enjoy each and every moment

3. Tell those you care about, what they mean to YOU!         Kind WORDS COUNT!

4. Take care of yourself. 

5. Live, Laugh, Love!

Primary Teachers are Quirky!

Close Reading

How important is READING?

Enjoy!

You can lead a horse to water…BUT

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Happy Summer! Today’s topic..CHICKENS!  WHAT???

I have been helping hubby…AKA…FARMER WITHOUT A FARM…

Keep the homestead happy while he works & I ..vacation!

I have weeded vegetable gardens, picked vegetables, mowed, watered & etc.

(I know..I like to work outside, but IT’S BEEN SOOO HOT!)

 

But, we also have..

 

2 CHICKENS!

Yes..chickens..in a chicken coop.

I live in a suburban town.

70,000 people…house 5-8 feet APART!

 

AND WE HAVE CHICKENS!

I REALLY like fresh chicken eggs…and baby chicks are  SOOOOO  cute!

 

Now I will say..our city allows you to have 5…

we only have 2! That’s enough!

Here is RAPUNZEL – she has LONG feathers

SNOW WHITE is black ( hiding I am sure ) – C’mon

..Snow White has BLACK hair!

 ( Granddaughter’s  named them)

Here is the TRI-LEVEL Chicken CONDO!

My hubby takes EXCELLENT care of his “chickies”…

BUT..

It has been hot here in NOR CAL…100 degrees plus!

Our “chickies” have a HUGE water tank (oustide the coop )

attached with a hose 

to the inside of the coop

 with a  “CUP” 

inside the for them to drink from.

It’s attached by a hose to our sprinklers

 so they always have clean, fresh water to drink!

(Smart HUBBY)

The only problem is….

THEY WANT ME TO FILL IT

…intead of “pecking it” , for the water to come out!

They would LOVE it ,

 if I would just stand there… 

& keep the cup full.

NOT!

So what’s a farmer’s wife to do?

Just as teaching anyone to do anything…

 

MODEL, MODEL, MODEL

Guided Practice

Independent Practice

 

Really? 

YOU  want ME  to Model this??????? To CHICKENS????

NOT!   REALLY???   ME????

 

So..I took a stick..pushed on the nozzel in the cup ( really just tapped it)

AND WATER FILLED UP THE CUP!

I had both of them in my hands

..NOT CHOKING THEM

   though I may have thought about it!

..just  enough so they wouldn’t scratch me!

I showed them where the water was & how to get it!

Then I stuck pushed,  pushed a little harder, their “LITTLE BEAKS” into the cup.

(MANY times!)

Over & Over

and

Over and Over…

Did I mention chickens are NOT  “above average” in cognitive development?

And again…and  again..

DONE!

NOW for independent practice! 🙂

Here’s my theory..

I WILL NOT POUR THE WATER INTO YOUR BEAKS!

If you are thirsty….

DRINK!!!!!

So..

They are alive.

 I guess sometime ( when I am NOT looking )..

they drink!

SUCCESS!

SO..you can lead a horse to water…

 

but make sure he teaches the chickens HOW to drink!

 

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

From me  to YOU…

 

CHICKEN DANCE!

 

(NO…I WILL NOT

 TEACH THEM

 HOW TO DANCE!!!)

 

Click Here 🙂

I think I will go practice the MACARENA! 🙂

I was taught “Hard Work” by the BEST!

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I am such a SLACKER! I think I am a hard worker!

I think I have it all together..

I DO NOT!

 

My Grandmother & MY MOM

raised a family, worked at home & outside the home, 

and we always had stuff when we wanted it.

THEY were hard workers!

 

AND I NEVER ASKED HOW?

 

Gma & Gpa taught me to work hard!

This is my GMA & GPA…

I miss them both.

They lived on a dairy.

 My GPA taught me about cows, HARD work, & what “silage” tasted like! ICK!

My Gma always wore a dress & heels. She was a petite little thing.

She wore toilet paper around her hair at night, so she would look “good” in the morning.

My Gpa didn’t give us candy.

 When we left his house, he would give us a teaspoonful of brown sugar 

, from the jar in Gma’s kitchen.

 Nothing fancy..but it meant EVERYTHING to us!

They owned a peach orchard.

 40 acres of peaches. 

I never really thought about it when I was little.

 It was just a “lot of trees”.

My Mom & Dad who taught me about Hard Work.

This is my MOM & Dad ( I just found this engagement pic.) HAHA

My happy parents who both work hard!

They are hard workers. 

My dad went to work every day.

 Dressed in his suit & white shirt 

( that my mom ironed..I know ..with an iron & ironing board! )

And my mom worked a self-owned business, 

was ALWAYS there when we got home form school,

 and helped us with EVERYTHING we ever did ( sports, clubs, school, etc).

And I never asked HOW?

How do you do it ALL? 

And now this….

Both my GMA & My MOM canned fruits, made pickles, and baked goodies!

Now I don’t bake ( leave that gene to my sister, Susie).

I have NEVER made pickles..& probably won’t..BUT  

I   CAN  FRUIT!   

I CAN FRUIT, A LOT!

I  remember walking into GMA’s garage & seeing shelves FULL of canned goods.

I grabbed bottles of canned fuits from my mom’s shelves in our garage.

Peaches, pears, cherries, etc, etc, etc,,   whenever we wanted!

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

It didn’t matter…it was always there.

HOW????  Hard Work!

I never asked.

So now..I apologize to GMA & MOM.

I should have asked to help you peel, or slice, or wash, or……..or….or……to do the hard work!

But, I cannot take it back.

SO?

I will follow in your steps.

I will teach MY DAUGHTER to can!

And my granddaughters!

I will continue the family tradition. Work Hard!

Only…we will use the recipe on my laptop.

( I know GMA & MOM didn’t do that!)

So here was my day TODAY ( from start  to finish ).

Canning fruits & vegetables is Hard Work!

Work Smarter not Harder!

Wash the jars ( hot water & heated dry) in dishwasher.

Pick the fruit from the trees, Hard Work!

Wash them for safety. Hard Work.

Blanch them to peel them easily. Hard Work.

Wash..rinse…BLANCH (  Boil  whole peaches, then put in pan of ICE WATER!)

Their peels  just  slide right off!

Slice, Slice, slice!

Work Smarter not Harder!

Too hot to cook inside!

Set up our campstove OUTSIDE!

Pan on the left is a sugar/water mixture.

Cook the peaches in for a short time, then pour into jars!

Hubby is sooooo  good at this!

Hard Work.

Harder Work.

Hubby does the hard work.

Then…

Boil in a water bath ( 25 minutes ) to seal.

Hard work pays off.

 and…

VOILA!

Canning is hard work, but so worth it!

Hard work pays off for MONTHS to come!

There we go!

11 quarts of fresh canned peaches!

They will be sooo  good  this winter! 

(Daddy gave us more peaches 

…so I am thinking peach cobbler for dinner!)

or maybe…..

I SHOULD MAKE JAM!

Gma made jam……so did MOM….WOW…Hard Work!

I should THANK them.   🙂

I DO NOT Like Making New Year’s Resolutions!

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I detest, hate, do NOT like making New Year’s resolutions!

I am totally NOT GOOD AT IT! I know…FAILURE! Who wants to relive that each day? NOT ME!

So… how about a word…ONE word to remind to SUCCEED!

A few years ago I came across a great idea to reduce your expectations and increase your success.

I use a one-word resolution.

That’s right, all of the things I need to do can usually be summed up in one word.”


So..my friends…here is my ONE WORD

My “ONE WORD” Resolution is BREATHE!

YES!  BREATHE!

Now I know you will breathe…BUT I MEAN…BREATHE!

Take a step back, breathe in deep calming breaths, and RELAX

Calm the body, mind, & spirit.

NOW…look at what is going on with a new “view”.

A relaxed, positive, and enjoyable VIEW.

SO…as  FAITH HILL

 ( love me some country music) tells us,


“JUST  BREATHE!”
Happy New Year!  🙂

Hi HO Hi HO it’s Off to HFW we go!

Word Walls

Shared Writing

Skinny Food for Skinny Jeans? Lifestyle changes.

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I must admit…

I am NOT a fan of SKINNY JEANS!

Well…just NOT on me!

I am a 54-year-old Grandma.

I couldn’t wear those when I was 12…

more or less today!

Yes. I am BIG BONED…always have been!

So I am determined to make the lifestyle changes

to “decrease” my density.

So..Weight Watchers and I have been in a

RELATIONSHIP,

for the past 40 years…on and off!

I have been through MANY, MANY 

programs.

Yes, I ate LIVER, counted FIBER grams, and 

Worked out for MORE POINTS!

MORE POINTS  =   MORE  FOOD

I can honestly say..the last 18 months

I have made MORE Lifestyle changes

than I EVER had.

My blood pressure is down, my knees don’t hurt,

 I work out 4-5 days a week, 

and I eat fruit! 

A LOT OF FRUIT!

And I have lost & KEPT OFF 30+ pounds!

More to go..but on my way!

CLAP…CLAP…CLAP

So HOW?

What made the difference this time?

I am determined to never, ever DIET again!

If I want chocolate cake..eat chocolate cake.

EAT THE CAKE!

 

 To make a LIFESTYLE change, you have to have a PLAN!

There is a BALANCE SYSTEM.

Kind of like my checking account.

I can make deposits (save points & workout more)

So that when I make a withdrawal (chocolate cake).

I NEVER EVER GET OVERDRAWN!

Zero means zero!

When you use ALL of your points for the day…

YOU ARE DONE!

I am NOT a weight watcher leader.

I am NOT getting paid…just good info!

Just trying to keep my hubby & me healthy!

We have 4 children & 5 grandchildren.

I plan on being there to be a GREAT GRANDMA!

I want to see graduations, weddings, births, etc, etc.

I will do everything I CAN.

I will make lifestyle changes to ensure I will be there.

I have a very active PINTEREST BOARD.

Weight Watchers Chocolate cupcakes from Pinterest

SKINNY FOOD

Here are a few pins so you can choose 

what works for YOU!

TRY SOMETHING NEW!

Make a lifestyle change!

Do Your BEST!

LOVE WHAT YOU DO!

Believe in YOURSELF!

WE GOT THIS! 🙂

Why Do I Use DOCUMENT FOLDERS? WHY? WHY? WHY?

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Don’t YOU just LOVE it when something WORKS?

I am a PINTEREST JUNKIE!

I know. I am.

I saw these on PINTEREST and 

 I HAD TO HAVE THEM!

IRIS USA 12 by 12-Inch Portable Project Case, Slim

(I got mine on Amazon…FYI)

What are they (you ask)?

DOCUMENT  HOLDERS!

How do I use them? and WHY?

I have taken ALL of my MONTHLY MASTERS…

Crafts, Reading, Writing, Math, etc

and I have ONE COPY..

YES..

ONE COPY

of each page 

in a clear document holder.

NO more HANGING FILES!

They take up too  much space!

*disclaimer…even though they have clips that hold it closed…

I use an “OLD SCHOOL” rubber band around it..

Just to make sure my papers don’t end up on the shelf!

Then I took SHARPIE PAINT PENS

 and wrote the month on the spine.

It has freed up SO MUCH SHELF space!

All of my HANGING FILES for my MONTHLY papers

(You know…they FUN THINGS!)

are now in one EASY TO CARRY HOME, folder!

I can take home the entire month of ideas

when I do my lesson planning!

EASY  PEASY!

Can you say…DECEMBER!

DONE!

I am trying to “get it ALL together”…

I think it might be my New Year’s resolution!

If so….DONE!

In LIFE…there is NO “DO OVER”

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In LIFE…there is NO “DO OVER”

Happy Holidays, my friends!

I just spent 2 1/2 HOURS…yes, hours…
putting up our
CHIRSTMAS  TREE!

Wendy….
WHY SO LONG?
Because.
My Christmas tree is NOT a
MARTHA STEWART tree.
It doesn’t match.
It doesn’t have a “theme”.
It is MY  family’s legacy.
It is a timeline of our life.
AND I CHERISH EVERY MOMENT!
I cried.
I giggled.
I remembered moments from years past.
My hubby kept coming into the living room
wondering what was taking so long.
Then…he would look an an ornament and say..
“Do you remember…?”
Yes!  I DO!
As I look through the ornament box,
my heart swells with happiness.
THAT, my friends, is what
CHRISTMAS is ALL about.
I collect ornaments!
I search them out EVERYWHERE we go!
I buy them for MY kids and MY grandkids!
ALWAYS…date the back!
Doesn’t seem important now…IT WILL BE LATER!
If you can’t find ornaments…key chains work fantastic!
Scavenge the “AFTER CHRISTMAS” sales!
Christmas boutiques, & craft sales!
It’s about a memory.
I never want to FORGET!
IN  LIFE…there is NO “DO OVER”.
There are “second chances”…but they are
DIFFERENT!
Here is a little “smattering” of my
Christmas Tree!
A cruise hubby & I took to the Caribbean.
The first ship I had ever been on!
After 10 months on fertility drugs…BABY on the way!
This was the first ornament I ever bought with a baby on it!
We didn’t know if it was a boy or girl.
Ended up being twin boys!
32 years ago & still cry at this one!
Happy tears!
Yes…I have the first 5 years for ALL of my kids!
We are blessed with 4 kids & 5 grandchildren.
Hubby’s FAVORITE!
JAWS FAN!
A trip to EUROPE with my mom & sisters!
4 California girls to England, Ireland, & Scotland!
We found our ancestor’s farm!
My auntie ( now 90 ) made this for me
when I was 5. ( 48 yrs ago ).
Very precious.
At the TOP of our tree.
The last remaining ornament HANDMADE by my grandmother.
My parents house burned to the ground 30 years ago.
In the attic were ALL of my MOM’s Christmas ornaments!
GONE!  Luckily, I had one from MY grandma.
Sniff…sniff…memories!
You think those little strings of popcorn won’t last?
Hubby’s from PRESCHOOL!
1965!
(It used to be much longer…I wrap it in tissue every year!)
For your kids…
If they play sports…get them a sports ornament
EVERY  YEAR!
There will come a day…when they won’t play!
Remember all the fun times!
KEY  CHAINS   MAKE  ORNAMENTS!
My little sis got remarried on the beach in HAWAII!
The WHOLE family went!
We went snorkeling and saw the SEA TURTLES!
FUN TIMES!
My son’s favorite sport ( He wrote this when he was 10 ).
He is now in the US NAVY!
I wonder if ALL the practices & games helped him get ready for LIFE?
YES!
My first trip to the EAST COAST!
We toured from NEW YORK to NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Stayed at the BEST B&B in Plymouth BAY!
TEACHERS!!!!
Yes…those  “SILLY”  classroom ornaments
DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
AND…GLITTER  MATTERS!
A plastic lid…some glitter…and  a picture!
Circa  1992.
So here is a “SMATTERING”
of
MY LIFE!
It’s  PERFECT for ME!
Remember..
IN LIFE…there is NO “DO OVER!”
Live, LAUGH, Love!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays
from
1stgradefireworks

My Dilemma…DO you Teach Halloween? October? Fall? Want a FREEBIE?

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So my dilemma.

We have a two week vacation

 from Oct. 1-Oct. 17.

(NO COMPLAINING HERE!)

BUT…

We return on Oct. 17.

 MONDAY

14 days (exactly ) until….

YOU  KNOW  IT

MONDAY, October 31, 2016

HALLOWEEN!

Parties,

CANDY,

Kids who can’t wait to get home ( highly DISTRACTABLE!)

(some schools…not mine….)

COSTUMES!

So …

My  dilemma.

When we go back,

Do I put out HALLOWEEN themed centers?

Do I keep it OCTOBERish with Columbus, Halloween, Fall, Pumpkins,etc?

Do I just “touch” on the “HOLDIAY” stuff…and Promote the FALL  stuff?

Do I  add  THANKSGIVING?

Should I keep it ALL going until THANKSGIVING?

What to do?  What to do?????

BTW…   I  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE   FALL!

My favorite  season.

YUMMY!

But…

CONTENT is EVERYTHING!

My student’s MUST take a BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT in December.

I want them to do well.

( I don’t tkink there will be a HALLOWEEN question on it.)

Unless it’s about

HOW MANY CANDIES DID YOU EAT ALL TOGETHER?

So ..what to do?   What  to do?

INTEGRATE!

I must teach SCIENCE and SOCIAL STUDIES!

( Living things…life cycle…Plants/animals…Lifestyles Long Ago..)

So here is MY plan:

Reading:

  • Nonfiction about pumpkins, apples, plants
  • Biography about Christopher Columbus, Squanto
  • Fiction about Fall, Halloween, Pilgrims, Thanksgiving

I am checking my district curriculum ( yes, we have one )

for REQUIRED (Tested )  Skills & Strategies for this quarter.

As we delve into our reading…I make SURE to incorporate TESTED strategies.

Questioning? Sequencing? Retelling? Etc..etc…

Vocabulary?   Again…check NECESSARY vocabulary for success!

I spend A LOT of time on necessary vocabulary. I have 10-12  English Language Learners.

They need visuals, modeling, & practice before they can “TAKE ON” the new information.

Phonics?   Spelling?   Grammar?

 Required phonics skills for this quarter.

What to use for  Spelling?

BOTH!

  Required spelling skills AND  thematic vocabulary words.

WHAT?      WHY?

Because…I want them to have some  INTRINSIC vocabulary to use easily in their..

WRITING!

I want MY Mummy!  🙂

Sorry….couldn’t  resist.

Writing:

  • “How To”..grow..carve…etc… about pumpkins, apples, plants
  • “Informative”  about Christopher Columbus, Squanto,Pilgrims
  • “Narrative”  about Fall, Halloween, Pilgrims, Thanksgiving
  • Thank You cards, Invitations, Lists, Etc.

Again….I am checking my district curriculum

for REQUIRED (Tested )  Skills & Strategies for this quarter.

Whatever our REQUIRED writing prompt will be

( I already know mine  is INFORMATIVE)

We will practice, practice, practice!

I won’t skip the other genres.

Just FOCUS on the INFORMATIVE!

BUT wait!

I want crafts! I want CUTSIE! I want products!

I Love BOOKS!

And so…we will make CUTSIE lapbooks, paintings, charts, stories & crafts

 about???

Fall, Halloween, pumpkins, apples

, plants, Christopher Columbus,

Squanto, Pilgrims, Thanksgiving

DON’T  tell  our FIRE MARSHALL..

I might HANG THINGS UP!

Definitely!

I won’t tell,  if YOU won’t tell.

MATH:

  • addition / subtraction
  • missing addends
  • place value
  • graphing
  • story problems

And MATH??

Lots of Graphs, addition & subtraction, problem solving, story problems

ALL ABOUT THEMES!

How many apples, pumpkin seeds, candies, turkies, indians, etc, etc.

(Math Journals are GREAT for this!)

and, yes..

I will need to keep it going until Thanksgiving.

And I will need to use EVERY MINUTE of EVERY DAY!

And yes… it will take planning, and prepping…

BATS!

Black  Cats

Growing  Pumpkins

Making APPLESAUCE!

Happy Birthday Johnny Appleseed!

And YES

I WILL LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

You see…

FALL IS MY FAVORITE SEASON OF THE YEAR!

To those of you who hung in there to the bottom of this LONG POST…

A FREEBIE FOR YOU!

Happy FALL!

BOO BANG!