Do I Look Like Your Momma?

Ok I know I already sliced today but I figured that didn’t really count because I try to do it every week, and my friend Tammy over at Forever in First is having a fun Linky party… and since I haven’t been to a party yet this summer I decided to link up!

It’s called My Teacher Always Says... I had to laugh at that because sometimes I feel like a broken record, and really want to say- “HELLO!! Anybody listening??!!” instead of what I do say.

My favorite and what I say the MOST to the most kids is “Do I look like your mother?” In other words I am not cleaning up after you and your momma is not coming here to do it so you’d better be responsible for yourself! Along with that one I sometimes look around and say don’t see your Momma in this classroom do you?”

The ones that probably drives the kiddos most crazy is when I just look and them blankly and say “why” “how do you know?” in the beginning I get many blank stares in return, and looks that seem to say “what do you mean why, or how do I know I just told you the answer!!” I’ve even had a few smarties even say that to me; which frustrates them even more when I repeat- “how do you know?”

Another favorite is “show me- don’t tell me.” If you say you can do it, or if you say you’re going to do something then show me, just saying it  doesn’t make it so.

I have to admit I am a bit sarcastic at times, and my sarcasm can be kinda ornery. But it makes for a fun year when there are those kiddos that actually get my sarcasm and know it’s all in fun. Because saying whatever, seriously, or do I look like your momma in first grade is sometimes just too much fun! 

This was a fun Linky you should hop on over to Tammy's and party with us!

It's No Walk in The Park! SOL

I'm Linking up today with Ruth and Stacey for the weekly slice of life story challenge! You should too!

A walk in the park it is not, but it is peaceful and quiet and full of the sweet smell if honeysuckle.  I leave my house and walk the quarter mile down the quiet road we live on. At the end I turn west and head for “Old River Road.” It’s about ¾ a mile past our corner. It’s an easy walk this trip down the country road, not a lot of traffic in the early morning. If I turned east I would run into my school. I choose the other direction, too soon to think about the end of summer.

It’s downhill to my turn around. My legs go faster than the rest of me. Hadley refuses to come along- says I walk too fast. I find this funny since she is almost 6 foot tall and only 19. But she tells me my legs are longer than hers and I’m always in a hurry, must have been from trying to keep up with her and her brother all those years.

I make it to the end, I turn and breathe. The hill, or hills, one small one, one steeper mock me. The first time I had to stop. Often. Maybe I do walk too fast, but I wasn’t then. I could barely trudge up the incline. Today I made it with only a short pause almost to the top of the last one, the steep one.

Finally I round the corner to our road, almost home. In our yard and a quick stop on the porch, the shoes can’t come off fast enough. My toes need to breathe, need to be free of the confines of closed toes. I hear my flip-flops calling and the final stop of my back yard. It’s going to be a beautiful day!

    

Destination- Summer Math Reflecting

I have been reading the book Mastering Basic Math Facts in Addition and Subtraction by Susan O’Connell and John SanGiovanni. Have you heard of it? I have really enjoyed it so far, and have learned so much. Every summer I tend to pick a couple of books to read each summer that I think will help me in the coming year. Usually it’s books about writing or teaching reading, because I hate to admit it but math is not my favorite…and it probably comes across that way in my classroom. When I reflect back and think about our daily math it has never been something I’ve been excited about so as unintentionally as it may be that’s probably what comes across to my kiddos.

SO my vow this year was to work on that and math in general…even though it’s not nearly as exciting as writing…or reading…or art…or writing…and writing…or writing…can you tell what my Favorite subject is??

One of the first things I read that I connected with is the thought of “automaticity.” My school requires that we give timed math fact tests. Which as you’ve probably read from me before… I HATE! I know it’s a strong word…but true. I just don’t see the need of having children doing repeated math facts in a specified amount of time. Have you ever had anyone hand you your checkbook or a bunch of math facts in your adult life and say “here, you have two minutes to get this done!” NOPE! Not me.

But if it is what Mr. Principal says we must do then…we must do. (grrrr).

Right away this book says “Automaticity with basic facts is a goal for our students, BUT alone it is not enough. Students must also understand the facts they are being asked to commit to memory.” Ding Ding Ding!! “they must understand the facts.” Can I get an AMEN!

Another thing I like about this book is the way it is set up. Chapter one starts with understanding addition and subtraction, and then the next chapters break down the how’s and whys. Because like the book tells us “it is important that students attach meaning to the operations before there is any focus on fact fluency.” Love that!

I am about half way through this book and I have already revamped my math fact practice for my kiddos and am working on SO much more. I started with the easiest- the math fact homework that I send home for my kiddos to practice at home. I’d much rather spend our time in the classroom on the how’s and whys and exploring the numbers and concepts than a daily, dull drill and kill. I feel that if I can reinforce the understanding of numbers and facts then their time practicing at home should be easy and fluent!

I like that the book says that kids should learn plus 1 and 2 facts first then plus 0 and plus 10’s. That makes a whole lot of sense to this math-senseless teacher J.

Here is the homework practice I made for my kiddos and have added to my TpT store. It is called “Destination Automatic Math Facts.” Because-"automatic” makes much more sense to me than “timed.”

Here is a peek at the first section. It has a homework helper, grouped fact practice tests, data collection, and a few ideas for rewards-cause who doesn’t like rewards. It's all Common Core aligned as well. 

I’d love to give a couple of these away. Like I said it is just the first part (the easiest part) I will soon be adding subtraction and facts through 20.

Leave a comment and I’ll pick a few “winners” (I guess you don’t know if you’re actually a “winner” until you see the product lol)   

I’ll be back with more thoughts and ahh haa’s from my book later!

Petals in My Yard Summer Slicing!

I'm linking up today for Ruth and Stacey's weekly Slice of Life. You should too!

It’s been a busy first few weeks of summer break. I have many different irons in the fire…

a phonics project,

a new math book to read-

ideas popping in my head,

running the concession stand at our school’s basketball camp this week,

planting flowers (finally),

a wedding on the horizon to think about (my son in a year),

daughter home from school,

and time on my patio.

I love summer!

Here’s a poem I “found” in my backyard one morning watching the wind blow the petals of my roses across my yard!

It’s raining rose petals in my yard

the wind rushes through

and throws them into waves

I want to kick and splash

In their midst

Like puddles from an afternoon storm

Splashing, kicking

Puddles of fragrant joy!

I hope you’re having a fragrant joyful summer so far.

A Bestest Teacher Buddy Linky Party

I'm Throwing a PARTY! A Bestest Teacher Buddy Linky Party! Y'all come on in and join the fun, and of course bring a friend, a teacher friend!  

Do you have a bestest teacher buddy? I have a few really good teacher friends that I hang out with at work and sometimes outside of work. There are a couple that have been around so long that my kids think of them as family even today in their adult lives.

And then I have my bestest teacher buddy, who is really my best girlfriend. We became friendly when she was my son’s 4^th grade teacher. And closer when I taught next door to her my first year teaching. I’d like to say she was a big help that first year, but ummm no... she pretty much left me on my own to find my way. "Can you show me how you did that?" She handed me a book. "Do you think that is a good idea?" She shrugged and said "maybe." "Oh I wish I had some of those, how'd you do that?" She'd hand me a copy.  
But she was always willing to listen, and always willing to laugh or cry which ever I needed from her. It seems she knew just what I needed without trying to give too much “advice” as seasoned teachers often do.

The next year I moved to first grade and the next building, but we remained close. She was my daughter’s teacher a few years later, and I tried to help as much as I could and still teach. She had her hands full with that class, but my daughter loved her as much as my son had. To this day if you ask them who their favorite teacher has been they name my buddy. My daughter even wrote about her for a project in high school. 

A few years down the road my teaching partner retired and my bestest buddy slipped into the spot. It has been hands down the best years of my teaching.

We are very much alike, and yet so different too. A student teacher I had a few years ago said we are like an old married couple because we finish each other’s sentences. Of course when she first started in first grade and would ask my opinion or thoughts about something... my advice would always be VERY helpful....JUST like hers was the few years before!  

She is much more than my teaching buddy. She is the sister I never had. She and her hubby have been to all our family events. We spend Christmas Eve together, New Year’s Eve, July 4^th and any other time we can fit in together. Her husband was sweet enough to renew our vows for us a few years a go for our 25th wedding anniversary. There was not a dry eye between us. 

Monday we were with her and her hubby for Memorial Day at “our” lake (it’s really their lake but she has finally learned to share). We had a cookout, laughs and of course tons of “school discussions,” our poor hubbies.

This lady that I call my bestest teacher buddy is a beautiful, loving, Godly woman that has a heart like no other. She makes me want to do more, be more in my life in and out of school. She laughs with me, cries with me, listens to me grich and groan about school, kids, and life. She has shown me what a true friendship is and been an amazing role model for my children. I am so blessed to call her my bestest teacher buddy.

Did I mention that she is also a blogger, and we share the same name? I think it was a match made in Heaven. Even though I like to give her a lot of hell now and then! Read here about how she really treats me! 

Do you have a “bestest teacher buddy?” Link up below and share your story

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.