Summer Reading

It's summer!  While I am SO glad to be on summer vacation now, I would be even more appreciative of the break if it didn't start out with a terrible cold!  Really . . . my last day at work was Friday and the aches, sore throat, and fever comes creeping in Friday night!  What's up with that?  Well with some "Tussin" and anitbiotics in my system I hope to hit summer vacation the right way pretty soon!  Hopefully you've had (or will have) a better start than I have.

Every summer I send my kids off encouraging to read every day knowing that only a few will truly read through the summer.  Some won't pick up a book . . . at all!  Oh, how sad!  If only they would keep reading a part of some sort of routine during the summer!  Do you feel the same?

I have to confess . . .

most summers I my routine suffers from a serious reading deficit.

Sad.  I know.  I always intend to knock out several titles from to "must read" list (which is too long to even list).  But then laziness, circumstances, and the big bad tv take over and seem to push my good intentions out of the way.  Does that mean I suffer from "the summer slide" too?

Hopefully not this summer!  I'm starting off pretty well . . . with a little teacher inspiration!  I'm currently reading Ron Clark's The Essential 55. After hearing him speak last summer I'm thinking I'll probably have to revisit it at the end of the summer too, to throw myself back into the classroom hyped up and uber-positive!

Do your summers suffer from a reading deficit too?  

Hey . . . maybe if you post one book you plan to read this summer in the comment section, you'll feel more accountable to follow through!  =)

Let's see what's on YOUR summer reading list!

It's Voting Time!

Thank you all for the interest you've shown in my "Facebook in the Classroom" post. It's because of you that this blog has been nominated for a "Fascination Award"! If you like the blog, please take a minute to vote! Voting starts today and goes through May 21st. Click the link below or use the link in the side toolbar to the left. Thank you!!!

Mother's Day Results

We did our traditional Mother's Day cards where the flower pot says "I love my mom because…" and each flower stem that can be pulled out has a reason they love their mom. The more reasons they think of, the more flowers in the pot! I do this every year and it's always so cute!

Here are the results of the Mother's Day Coupon Books. The kids did a great job!

Easy Mother's Day Activity!

Every year I try to plan a project ahead of time for my students to make for their moms.  I want them to give their moms something cute and meaningful . . . something that once the sentimentality wears off she won't want to throw directly in the trash because it's just become part of the clutter.  There's also the cost factor since all their Mother's Day projects come out of my not-so-deep pockets.

Well this year Mother's Day snuck up on me and I didn't order the materials I needed for the project that was pretty successful last year!  This week I scoured the web for something to do and came across this cute Mother's Day Coupon book activity.

I'm currently teaching my kids economics, so this goes perfectly with our lessons!  Each coupon for mom would demonstrate a service they can provide.  (Of course, we will have to brainstorm and make lists of service ideas they can do for mom.  A few goods may even make the list too!)  The project links to a file with premade coupons, butI decided to make a template for the coupons so that my kids can make their own.  The cover will be made out of construction paper and bound together by ribbon (although I do have my scrapbooking materials here at school, so maybe I'll use those cute little metal grommets!).

If you're in a pinch for a Mother's Day project, here's the template.  Not much prep!  Wish I had gotten this out to you earlier!



Click the preview to get the template for free.



What? Whaaaaaat?!?!?

Are you for real?

I'm so honored!  I got an email yesterday telling me that I got nominated for a Fascination Award!

At first I was like, "Is this legit?"  And then I checked it out and they were actually for real.  Can you believe it?

They said it was for an article I wrote - "Facebook In the Classroom".  The email said, "The comments posted in response to your post prove that your content not only inspires your audience, but it also creates discussion around your posts, both of which are requirements for the nomination of a Fascination award."  That means this nomination comes thanks to all of you who have have chimed in and followed along.

Voting starts on May 14 and continues through May 21, 2012.  I'll post a link once it starts.  Thanks for your support!

End of the Year "Memory" Book

This is the time of the year when we pull out those good ol' memory books!  You know . . . the ones that are fun for the kids and keep them occupied for a while so that you can check off a few of the seemingly endless items on your end of the year list.  Well, here's another memory book for . . . but with a twist!

This "memory" book is for both fact and fiction!  There are 8 topics for each student to record his/her favorite memory, but then your students can try to trump their best memory with a memory that never happened (but perhaps they wish had happened)! 

Click the preview to get your copy from Teachers Notebook.  I will get it onto TPT as soon as they let me upload again!

Enjoy!

Quick Writing Prompt

I love to see how their little minds work.  Some show quite a bit of creativity given just a little bit of freedom!  Here's a quick writing prompt for Writing Center that encourages kids to use their imaginations and take charge of the classroom.  If you're short on ideas of what to plan for the last few remaining weeks, maybe the results of this prompt will give you a few fun ideas!

Click the preview to get your free copy!

TPT Teacher's Appreciation Sale

It's almost here! Are you ready? You can save up to 28% off! All items jn my store will be listed at 10% off as well! Don't miss it!