Oklahoma Strong a Slice of Life

Our school ended last week. Friday was our last day and the calm of the hullabaloo of the last week was just beginning to settle in...until the storms.

It seems this year my posts have been more about the weather than anything else. So much so that I have often refrained from posting because I felt like a broken record, cold, snow, wind, and fire have been the topic of many of my slices and posts. But yesterday’s tragedy is too massive and close to home for me not to write about.

As I sat here yesterday and watched the news report on the kids and teachers buried in their schools I wept. It is so close to home, mere miles down the road. It brought back the tears and emotions of earlier this school year and the Sandyhook tragedy. I felt so helpless and yet ashamedly so grateful that my kiddos were safe in their homes.

I know those teachers did everything they could to help and protect their students...their kids. It’s just so inconceivable that there are schools in this state without storm shelters, without a safe room. It should be a law. It should be mandatory for every school. Maybe now it will.

My hubby is the storm worrier. I tell him he always worries so much that I don’t need to. There have been numerous days (and middle of the nights) that he has packed us up and made us head to the storm shelter, me grumbling all the way. I will not grumble again. I will gladly go and spend the night in the basement of our school if it means one of my kids can be safe.

The pouring out of kindness and generosity of this state never ceases to amaze me. As I sat here feeling lost and helpless today, my donations made, but unable to do more I scanned Facebook and read the people reaching out, giving what they can, doing what they can, again the emotions flood me.

One that stands out is a grade school here in our town. Our school was out last Friday, but Ponca City the closest district to us is still in. One grade school was scheduled to go to the Capitol building in Oklahoma City today for a field trip. It is a Pre K-5^th grade school. The school/students decided to forego their trip and spend the 1400$ they had for the trip on donations for the tornado victims. Students and teachers alike took a bus to Wal-Mart and loaded it up with items for the town of Moore. I have friends that teach at Roosevelt, I have friends with kids that go to school there. I am so proud of this school, so touched by the heart of the teachers and children alike.

Our television has been infiltrated with tornado coverage. My heart has been permeated with emotion for the people it has affected. Our lives have been bathed with heartache but our spirit will forever be embedded with the generosity it has generated through it all. We will survive yet one more tragedy in Oklahoma. We are Oklahoma strong.     

You can help the Moore schools through Donors Choose http://www.donorschoose.org/okschools

Tornadoes in OKC

Thoughts and Prayers to teachers, families, people of the Moore schools and homes in OKC.

Gone Squatchin'

What’s a teacher to do when it’s the last week of school and the kids are as ready for a break as the teacher? 

Why take them Squatchin’ of course.

We’ve been doing the whole pop the balloon to count down the last ten days thing and the kiddos have loved it! Each day at the end of the day we pop a balloon to find out what the next day’s theme will be. We have had balloon day, school appreciation day, popcorn and movie day, and today was lunch on the lawn and Squatch hunting day.

We began by learning a few facts about Bigfoot, watching a few short videos and documentaries about the Bigfoot Phenomenon, and learning the best way to “call in” a Bigfoot.

I had the kiddos bring paper towel rolls to use for “knocking” and talked about the best way to “holler” for Mr. Bigfoot.

After we enjoyed our lunch picnic style on the playground finished up our books about Bigfoot and headed out to the playground just before the last bell rang.

It was HILARIOUS! I gathered them all under a big tree and told them that the Squatch may show himself if we stayed in the shadows and “called” really loud. 

I really am B-A-D for the amount of lies I told these poor babies. But I just couldn’t stop. They’d whoop and holler and I’d shhh them and then get wide eyed and say “oh my gosh did you hear that?” The looks on their faces just made me go on and on. I know! I just couldn’t stop!

I’d crouch down and point, they’d crouch down and look. I’d say “knock and holler louder” and they’d scream and whop, holler, and howl. Then I’d put my hand up and they’d still. “Look” I’d whisper and they’d freeze. “I see one they’d shout.” I’d turn and have to cover my laugh.

I can just imagine what the poor parents thought that were waiting in the drive to pick up their kids… “Mrs. Klinger has lost her mind… poor thing…it’s finally catching up to her…” 

Oh my Word! I loved it!  I know, I know I am BAD!

I am doing a whole unit on Bigfoot next year! I can hardly wait!!

Until then here is a copy of the book I made up to use today. You can get it here for free until the last day of my school. FRIDAY!!

Here's a few examples.  

Currently May

It sure doesn’t feel like May, but Farley tells me it is so because she has the May Currently up and ready. But really how can it be May? I think it is really only February and that psycho ground hog keeps popping

his head out saying -nope six more weeks… nope eight more weeks…nope TWELVE more weeks of winter!!!! Enough already 44 and sleet is not normal even in Oklahoma.

My baby girl moved home this weekend. Twelve weeks to bask in her company. I am so cherishing every moment. My son’s girlfriend graduated from OSU yesterday with her MBA. It was 50 degrees colder than last year when my son graduated. Really!

We have only 10 more days of school. 8 for me because I have 2 personal days left, and I am taking them. On my duty days J Hadley is subbing for me, for the first time. She will be subbing almost every day this week I guess she’ll figure out if teaching is really for her or not!

My bucket list is easy on me but hard on the hubby. He will be putting in a new floor, building me an arbor, and eating salads to help me lose those 15 pounds!

I hope you are having a warmer spring than we are, and if you are please send some our way!! 

Color Run Fun and a Winner!

Well it’s Sunday night after a FUN, busy, weekend. I participated in my first 5K this weekend! My kids and I ran/walked in the Tulsa Color Run! It was a BLAST! I was afraid it would be too cold or hot (this is Oklahoma) but the weather was perfect!  

My son Kanten and his girlfriend ran most of the way. They started before we did so were there to greet Hadley and I when we finished. Hadley and I jogged/walked but we made it the whole way!! Yippee she jogged more than I did with a backpack on that weighed about 10 lbs. But hey she’s 30 years younger than I am. LOL.

It was such fun and there were soooooo many people there. I will doing it again next year, and this time I’m making teacher friends join!!

As promised I have picked my random number generator has picked a winner for my 25$ gift card….and the winner is….

œKaryn

A is for Apple B is for Blog
Kideducator@comcast.net

And this is my random number generator

Congratulations Karyn! She's not as mean as she looks!

19 more days of school for me! I’m officially in count down mode! 

A Box Full of Spring and A Giveaway!

You know what is a great way to end a lousy day? To come home to this box on your doorstep! I have been so jealous every time my bestest buddy tells me about all the great stuff she has been getting from Oriental Trading, but now it’s MY turn!!

I came home and found this box on my doorstep, and I tell you after a long day of dreary weather and icko testing it really made me smile!

I am already planning a springy fun patio party to show off all my goodies! I am a party planning fool and Oriental Trading makes it super easy to make them cuuu-uuu-te!

This picture does not do the contents justice. There are pretty bandannas/ napkins, spring green plastic wear, a super cute banner, fan decorations, and the cutest little lanterns (I’ve got to have more of those), and sweet little snack cups with polka dots!! POLKA DOTS peoples!! I love it ALL!!

And what’s even more exciting? They gave me a 25$ gift card!! 25$$$!!

Wellll I thought about keeping it and getting more of those super cute lanterns and polka dot snack cups, but nah… I’m too nice for that (stop snickering I really am). So I decided to give it away to one of you!

Here’s YOUR chance to get some super cute snack cups and little lanterns.

All you have to do is leave a comment and I’ll pick a winner this Sunday. Leave two comments if you share this somehow (Facebook, Pin it, Tweet it, Blog it), for an extra chance! Just leave a comment saying you did! 

If you don’t want to wait until Sunday for your polka dot cups head over to Oriental Trading today and check out all the super cute party things! We use their items a LOT at school too. They always have creative things for the kiddos to make, and great treats for treasure boxes and carnival fun!

Good Luck! And Thank You Oriental Trading!! 

I have to tell you my funny from today. I was leaving our office today when a little second grade girl came in. She met our secretary at the door holding her side and almost crying. She tells the secretary in the whiniest of voices "myyyy side realllllly hurts, I thiiiiink I pulllled a muscle." sniff sniff The secretary puts her hand on her shoulder and says with grave concern "oh no where were you? on the playground?" "Nooo," the little girl wails "I was taking a timed test."

I had to get out of there fast! I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to pull a muscle. 

Gotta love kids!    
This review is solely my opinion I was not compensated in any way from anyone to post my thoughts and opinions on these products. 

POW Day

Are you required to teach about Prisoner of War day? We are not required to but it was requested that we do so by the state and the principal. It was today. I found out about it today.

I contemplated allllllll day how in the world I could teach first graders about POW’s. How can I explain that? I knew what I could say, but would they understand?

So after a lengthy discussion and some remembering about Veteran’s Day (and reassuring many times that no the veterans were not put in jail because they were bad), we decided we could write a poem about our POW’s.

We have been working on poetry this week and started with Acrostic poems yesterday. So we thought making one about the POW’s would be perfect.

We knew that POW would be pretty easy, and that we shouldn’t use prisoner, or war.

This is what the kiddos came up with. I was very proud. Mr. Principal was happy. And hopefully the state will be too.

Proud of our

Outstanding

Warriors  

Pretty good huh? The only part I added was “of our.”

Let me know if you were requested to observe POW day in your school.

The next one we are “requested to observe” is April 19^th that was the day of the OKC bombing. That’s a sad one.

In other news it was 80 degrees here today…and we’re expecting ICE tonight. Seriously?? Somebody needs to drown that ground hog!!