Bulletin Boards {idioms}

This blog doesn't see much of my teacher life.

This was just so cute I had to share.

We've been working on figurative language as we prepare for the state writing test next month. 

(insert my gray hair here)

Idioms, my favorite, we did Thursday.

Each kiddo randomly drew an idiom and then we talked about its meaning and used it in an example then the student needed to rewrite the idiom and draw it out as literal as possible.

I tried to pick ones that I could connect to food, 

so that's how "food for thought" came about!

This came out SOOO cute and the kids loved it. I also had this stuff randomly in my room and didn't have to buy anything for it which made this teacher very happy too!

Here are a few cute kid examples:

"Soup up your car" 

"Rotten to the core"

(by the sweetest child ever ha)

"Buy a lemon" ha

"How the cookie crumbles"

And so cute and creative, 

"easy as apple pie"

I love that she drew a math test next to the pie.

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Christmas fun in the classroom!

The last few weeks days have been crazy!

At school we have had testing that needs to be done,

meetings that need to be had, and a million and one other things going on.

Oh yeah, and the excitement of Santa and that today at 3:05 started our Christmas break!

Today we had an awesome day!

My teammate and I planned morning full of crafts and games followed by a kid party where they had more food than they knew what to do with. Then an hour outside on this beautiful day!

 Our school mascot is the owls.

I found this cute ornament pattern on Pintrest {of course} and luckily had lots of parent help!

 Seriously could not have made this ornament happen with 44 kiddos without the parents.

So thankful to work in a school and community where the parents are so eager to help and involved in the education. All hands were on deck!

 A sweet student even brought his guitar and played a few Christmas songs for us all.

The gift of music was precious!

 Of course festive hair added to our fun day!

Leading up to our fun day was some major prep time.

I had a great time planning and preparing, a favorite being the baked goods to share with the staff and treat bags for the kiddos.

It said, "Can't wait for S'MORE 5th grade fun!"

I also included a pencil {teachers are obligated to give this}, a heartfelt letter, and a homework pass-

which to my 11 year old students #gold

Thanksgiving Eve

I love Thanksgiving!

Of course I love the food aspect but it goes so much deeper than that.

I feel we should always have a thankful heart but sometimes taking

a time out (or a day out) to really reflect and be thankful can really bring some clarity and 

remind us all of how blessed we are!

The past two days have been some of the hardest I have had in my professional career as a teacher.

I felt pretty beaten down and defeated by a set of parents after some  damaging words were stated in an intense meeting. For the first time as a teacher I asked myself why I would ever allow myself to be talked to like that. I pour myself into teaching and feel it is my calling so to hear such hateful words were very upsetting. I will admit I came home really shaken up.

Today I had the day off (YAY!) and woke up to about an inch of snow on the ground.

It was a perfect morning to enjoy coffee with my favorite creamer and enjoy a warm blanket when I started checking my e-mail.

My inbox from school was full of encouraging messages from parents of students in my class. They had heard of some of the situation at school and messaged me thoughtful words that warmed my heart and put into perspective that everything will be okay.

I feel so grateful to be able to teach God's children every day.

I feel so grateful to teach at a school where my students and parents are so very supportive.

I feel so grateful that I work with coworkers who teach with compassion and care each day.

I feel grateful that my principal supports me.

I feel so grateful that God gave me the gift of teaching.

This has been a year of 'new' in every way. New school, new grade level, new common core, new marriage, new last name, new small group.

Nothing that I would change!

So thankful that Drew and I are healthy and enjoy our warm home. 

So thankful we are growing in our faith and that we have a close small group.

So thankful. 

School House Rock

I currently teach 5th grade at an amazing school that I am so blessed to be a part of.

Teaching is without  a doubt my calling.

I could list many reasons as to why I love teaching but at the end of the day

it is all about seeing the kiddos learn and grow everyday.

Kids are hilarious and enjoyable to be around and make

everyday so fun and never, ever do we have a dull moment in 5th grade.

A fun part of teaching is bulletin boards.

Here are a few of my favorite over the past 3 years.

I will create another post with this years board goodness!

 This was such a fun little craft. 

On the "party hat" (which I eventually put a fuzzy ball on) students

wrote his/her New Years resolution. 

We then connected this craft and resolution to a short writing passage

of how we can make these goals become reality. 

This fun board got covered with glitter snow fakes.

My Mom made all of this and even came and put it up!

The lights at the top blinked and I still use the snowman and banner each year.

 This is one of my all time favorites!

On the outside pieces of popcorn were tricky state assessment questions 

that we had used to review.

 Another fun and 3D board by my Mom!

Yes, the pinwheels were real.

Yes, they spinned.

So adorable and fun for Spring Break!

 This was a great writing activity for the last weeks of school.

We mad a simple acrostic using a summer noun.

 I had seen this on Pintrest somewhere and had to use it

when we were practicing writing sequential order and time order events.

Finally, a simple fall board with fall sensory poems around it.