Celebrate this week #celebratlu

Celebrate is a weekly link up hosted by Ruth Ayres of Discover.  Play.  Build.  in which you celebrate your small (or large) victories for the week.  It kind of reminds me of the #schooljoy hashtag from last year, but instead of blogging something every day, it's a weekly round up.  You can follow the hashtag on twitter #celebratelu or link up on Ruth's blog.

This week:

1.  More of my Donor's Choose project books arrived!  

2.  It was calling for wintery weather on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I had high hopes for being off Tuesday, but it didn't happen.  So, while that isn't something to celebrate, having a 1/2 day on Wednesday is!

3.  This came in my school mail:

She's official!

4.  I was able to attend the Thanksgiving feast that my kindergarteners were putting on.  And, was able to eat some authentic, homemade tamales!

5.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Celebrate this week!

Celebrate is a weekly link up hosted by Ruth Ayres of Discover.  Play.  Build.  in which you celebrate your small (or large) victories for the week.  It kind of reminds me of the #schooljoy hashtag from last year, but instead of blogging something every day, it's a weekly round up.  You can follow the hashtag on twitter #celebratelu or link up on Ruth's blog.

This week:
1.  Luna came to school in her Halloween costume:

Our school mascot is the "Buzzy Bee", so of course, Luna had to come as a bee...

2.  I went to a Stampin' Up party and had the best time!  This is a crafty thing that I can do!  

3.  I donated books to my school to use as giveaways on the morning announcements (every morning, the guidance counselor draws a name of a child who won the book for the day.)

{11/27} My #schooljoy

One of my boys is reading the @OrigamiYoda books.  These are the Darth Papers and Origami Yodas that he made for me today :)

It's about time for a #schooljoy !

It's been so long since I've had a #schooljoy !  These last few weeks have been interesting, to say the least.  They have been both frustrating and wonderful.  Anyway......

I found out today that one of my groups, who I do math remediation with as well as language, would rather play addition war (played like regular war, only you add the numbers on the cards) tournament style (with the appropriate brackets made for both the winners and the losers, of course) than play math games on the iPad.  Yay for low-tech! 

{10/10} my #schooljoy

My #schooljoy for today is being able to celebrate Auggie's birthday with my students (see post in about an hour with more details!).

Just something funny that happened today (and again, pardon my sense of humor):  My 3rd grade group is two little boys who are pretty energetic.  Today, one of them was very gassy.  Which made the other one yell and then laugh uncontrollably and then try to pass gas.  I finally had to tell them that it was rude to do that during class, but if they felt like they had to, that they could go out into the hall and do it out there.  Well....they both ended up out in the hall....they excused themselves, went out (giggled), and came back in.  No problemo.  Geesh! 

{10/2} my #schooljoy

My #schooljoy for today is pretty simple:  we found out that the "Pink Ladies", the Biggest Loser team that I captain, lost the biggest percentage of their body weight for the school last week!  I'm so proud of my ladies! 

I was really nervous to share my (and my sister's) posts on Wonder, but everyone has just been so nice!  Thanks to all of you for making it easy, because sharing personal stuff (either Allison or even my student's writing samples) is scary!

I tested pretty much all day...not much joy in that, unfortunately....

{9/27} my #schooljoy

I have a few #schooljoys for today (but then, I usually do!)
            1.  It's a jeans day!  All donations go to our school's Relay for Life team.
            2.  4th grade is on a field trip!
            3.  I weighed in for Biggest Loser this week and lost some.  And from what I'm hearing, our entire team lost some.
            4.  We have a PTO Fall Festival tonight.  I'm helping with Bingo, so that should be fun :)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

{9/25} my #schooljoy

I have a couple #schooljoy 's for today (shocker, right?) 

First, one of my girls told me that they weren't sure aobout a book I recommended to them (The Princess Curse), but now that she's started it, she really loves it. 

Then, without getting into specifics, getting an ESL child tested for Special Education services is a hard road.  Usually met with, "Are you sure its just not a language issue?" type questions.  Good things happened today and I'm VERY happy.

{9/20} my #schooljoy

My #schooljoy for today came before school even started!  My coworker brought in persimmon seeds from her yard.  There is an old wives tale that says if you cut the persimmon seed and it looks like a spoon (or shovel), we'll have heavy snows/bad winter.  If it looks like a knife, it will just be cold, cutting winds, etc.  And if it looks like a fork, it will be light fluffy snow (that just falls through). 

Well, here is the picture of Pam's seeds.  You be the judge :)

{9/19} my #schooljoy

I really hope you don't think any less of me because of today's #schooljoy.  Please remember that I work in an elementary school with 3-5 graders.....

I was in inclusion math this morning in 4th grade.  Everything was going great, but around 9:30 A LOT of boys started asking to go to the bathroom.  So, one at a time they go, until we get to one boy, who is doing the "dance" (you know the one I'm talking about).  So he jumps line and goes.  The classroom teacher and start wondering how many stalls/urinals are in the boys room, because if there was more than 1, we could send more than one at a time.  I said I'd check after school.  But, no need.  One of my boys goes, "There's 2 for pee and one for poo."  Oh my gosh!  It was the funniest thing.  We thanked him and went on our way. 

So again, my #schooljoy is my kids and the darndest things they say :)

{9/18} my #schooljoy

My #schooljoy for today is pretty simple....ITS TACO SALAD AND CINNAMON ROLL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I know I posted last week about us starting a Biggest Loser competition here, but you guys KNOW how much I love taco salad and cinnamon roll day.  I think I may have blogged about it in the past....

I came across this on Pinterest and had to share



Source: spirituallythinking.blogspot.com via Misty on Pinterest

{9/17} my #schooljoy

My #schooljoy for today was kind of hard to find, I'll be honest.  I was doing benchmark testing all day, 3 different grades, as a read aloud for math.  Great fun was to be had by all (not really). 

But, in my 4th grade group, I had my new girl (who is pretty quiet and shy) and another boy (who is more vocal and whose strength is math).  On most problems, he'd finish quickly and go, "Oh, that's easy!"  And then, every now and then you'd hear this quiet little voice going, "Oh, that was easy!"  before he did.  It just made me giggle.

This week is benchmark testing all week, plus, I'm getting sick (my throat is on FIRE!), so I'm really really looking for some joy!

Its Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA

Its Monday!  What are you reading?  From Picture Books to YA is a weekly feature hosted by Jen and Kellee of Teach Mentor Texts and inspired by Its Monday!  What are you reading by Sheila at Book Journeys.

Last week, I started listening to the audiobook of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  It's kind of confusing, and I can't go back to reread.  It's also striking me as really sad, so I'm having a hard time with it.

I got a bunch of books from the library:  Blackout by John Rocco, Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer; Incarnate by Jodi Meadows (reading right now---LOVE IT!) and the audio of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  

This past week's posts:
September 10:  Its Monday post; #schooljoy; BBAW Day 1:  Showing the love
September 11: My BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week) interview with Wendy from Musings of a Bookish Kitty; #schooljoy
September 12:  Review:  Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer; #schooljoy; BBAW:  What does book blogging mean to me?
September 13:  Thursday #Thirstday, Review:  The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron; #schooljoy
September 14:  Using Pinterest in School {Technology Board}; #schooljoy

This coming week (what I have scheduled so far):
September 17:  This post; #schooljoy
September 18:  Review (and video): The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore; #schooljoy
September 19:  #schooljoy
September 20:  Thursday #Thirstday; #schooljoy; Cover Reveal of Abandon by Elana Johnson
September 21:  #schooljoy; free ebook download

What are you reading?

{9/14} my #schooljoy

My #schooljoy for today was that its a JEAN DAY!  And FRIDAY!  (I sang both of those like Oprah used to!)

I also ate lunch with one of my 4th grade classes.  It was crazy.  But, I love it!  

My other #schooljoy is that my friend (and coworker), Cathy, brought me fresh jalapeno and cayenne peppers!  I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to do with them---dry them, probably, but they look awesome!

{9/13} my #schooljoy

My #schooljoy for today kind of made the other ESL teacher get a little misty when I told her.  There is a student on her caseload that has some issues.  Deep down, a good boy with a great sense of humor, but that often gets overlooked because of his behavior and academic concerns.  But anyway, today's story is about him...we'll call him X.

I was behind X in the tray line after breakfast this morning (I go and sit with a buddy of mine every morning to make sure that he gets breakfast).  In front of X was a little kindergarten girl---a newbie.  X says very kindly to her (in Spanish), "Why didn't you eat this morning?"
She says, "I wasn't hungry."
X, "Ok, but tomorrow make sure you eat.  And, you didn't drink your juice.  You can give that to the pre-k class.  Put it here."

Y'all....he took this little girl under his wing and made sure everything was ok.  It was just the sweetest conversation from such an unexpected source.  

{9/12} my #schooljoy

I have a couple #schooljoy 's for today (shocker, I usually do)

1.  I try to make reading as fun as I possibly, especially the not-so-fun stuff like Timed Repeated Readings.  So, I thought of doing what I call "Reading Stamina Strips".  Basically, you do the timed repeated reading but, if you pass the number you read previously, you get a strip to add to your chain.  Once you get 10 strips, you can get a prize.  THE KIDS WENT CRAZY FOR THIS!   



2.  That new girl from yesterday, she's mine! 

3.  We're starting a "Biggest Loser" club at school.  I'm really excited because not only am I on a team with my friends, but like the kids with the reading stamina strips, I just need a little something to motivate me!  Competitions do that.  

4.  At my school, you learn about Virginia history in 4th grade.  One class of my kiddos is learning a rap, and they are just the darn cutest things! 

{9/11} my #schooljoy

I'm pretty sure I got a new student today!  I'm still testing to see if she qualifies for the program, but I'm pretty sure.  And she's super sweet, too! 

We had our first Relay for Life meeting of the year today after school.  Lots of jean days, candy and "souper bowl" parties!  I will post information about how to donate to our school's team (if you are so inclined) as soon as we get registered (and I get it, of course). 

{9/10} my #schooljoy

*Let me preface this by saying that we had a quite a few 4th and 5th grade teachers not return to our school this year (for various reasons).  I was a little apprehensive placing my students as I didn't know who "my babies" were going to be with, and I didn't know their style and compassion level. 

We lucked out.  I couldn't BE happier with who my kids are with (say that in the Chandler Bing voice, I know I did).

One class in particular, (4th grade), has this wonderful make-up of ELL, SPED and "regular" kids.  (And that's not be being sarcastic.)  They get along, they work well together, they joke and tease, they help each other (sometimes more than they need to), they are happy, and they're learning!  

I don't have any kids (yet), but I think of these guys as my babies.  They are MY kids.  I would do just about anything for them.  I get them for 3 years, so we have that bond.  I can't tell you how happy these new teachers make me.  I imagine this is what you moms and dads out there feel when your kid is matched with the right teacher. 

Its Monday! What are you reading? From picture books to ya

Its Monday!  What are you reading?  From Picture Books to YA is a weekly feature hosted by Jen and Kellee of Teach Mentor Texts and inspired by Its Monday!  What are you reading by Sheila at Book Journeys.

Last week:  I finally finished the audiobook of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.  I also read and finished Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.  

I'm starting to read Wonder to my 4th graders.  I really hope that in the 25 minutes I have them each day, we can really get the full impact and meaning of the book.  They seem to be enjoying it---we watched the trailer, and I got several questions, "Mrs. Furman, why aren't they looking at him?"  and "Mrs. Furman, what's wrong with his face?"  And then I read the line about how Auggie wasn't going to describe what he looked like, because what you were thinking was probably worse.  You could have heard a pin drop.  

Last week's posts:

September 3:  Its Monday! post; Be positive, spread the #schooljoy
September 4:  Happy first day of school ; #schooljoy
September 5:  Deep Thoughts on Harry Potter: Book 6; #schooljoy
September 6:  I'm on the Nerdy Book Club blog; #schooljoy
September 7:  An oldie but a goodie:  Where the Red Fern Grows; #schooljoy

This coming week:
I plan on starting to listen to the audiobook of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  I'm not 100% sure what physical book I'm going to start reading yet, so I'm open to suggestions!

September 10:  This post; #schooljoy; BBAW Day 1:  Showing the love
September 11: My BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week) interview with Wendy from Musings of a Bookish Kitty; #schooljoy
September 12:  Review:  Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer; #schooljoy; BBAW:  What does book blogging mean to me?
September 13:  Thursday #Thirstday, Review:  The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron; #schooljoy
September 14:  Using Pinterest in School {Technology Board}; #schooljoy

What are you reading?

{9/7} #schooljoy

My #schooljoy for today is that I was finally able to visit our library and check out all the new books that came in over the summer!  The librarian had bought The One and Only Ivan, I Want My Hat Back, Me...Jane, Grandpa Green, A Ball for Daisy and so many more!  The library was lined with all the new books she had purchased over the summer! 

Plus, ITS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Source: scoop.it via Amanda on Pinterest