Five for Friday- March 18th

Hey, hey, hey! Happy Friday! 

I'm linking up again with Doodle Bug's Teaching to share 5 little snippets of my week.

After a mini freak-out over papers and messiness everywhere,  stuff literally overflowing from students' cubbies, I whipped up a few reward coupons for neatness and organization.  There were some very excited students when they found a coupon waiting for them on their cubbies on Tuesday morning.  It also motivated some of my Messy Marvins to shape up their work spaces, because, man, they wanted a lollipop, too!  #bribery

I'm knee deep into my weather unit in science, and this week's focus as been on the water cycle.  We've done so many fun things- experiments, writing, songs.  Our favorites were shaving cream rain clouds and water cycle bracelets.  A full post will be coming on all things water cycle!

A few months ago, after being fed with the amount of plastic grocery bags we had lying around, I ordered a couple of reusable tote bags from Baggu.  I love them!  They're so bright and pretty.  They fold right up and get stuffed into a small pouch.  I can easily keep two bags in my purse.  The large one that I have is great for our Costco runs.  I'm definitely going to be ordering more.

Two Sundays ago, I had a Google Hangout with my TPT mini-tribe: Molly, Kelli, Becky, Caitlin, and Brynn.  We worked together to get ourselves set with goals and visions.  A year ago, I would have never imagined that what has been a hobby for a while would have turned into something so valuable to me.  I've learned a tremendous amount over the past year, and I have learned so much from those girls!  When I met them for lunch at a Panera last July, I would have never guessed that we'd be doing so much more in March.  What a blessing my tribe has been to me!  Wow!

(old picture, but same fabulous women!)

My little girl and I had a date last weekend to see my district's high school production of Cinderella.  It was fantastic!  A few girls from my first two classes of first graders were in the musical.  It was so wonderful to see them perform.  Such talented beauties all grown up!
Julia absolutely loved it!  She was beyond excited and loved the prince and silly step-sister.  It was a little long for a 3 year old, but she did a great job.  We don't get many mama-Julia dates, so it was really special. 

So, that was my week...how was yours?  Good, bad, crazy busy?  I'm super pumped for next week's 3 day week before Easter.  We can do it, Teacher Friends!
Be sure to check out more Five for Friday posts over at Doodle Bug's Teaching blog.  Thanks for stopping by!

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Five for Friday- Feb. 26th

TGIF! What a dang week!  Too much indoor recess for this teacher.  I'm linking up with Doodle Bug's Teaching for another edition of Five for Friday, sharing a five random tidbits of my week.

My little boy turned two this past Saturday, and we celebrated his birthday over the weekend.  I cannot believe my Ben is two!  He is such a cutie, cutie pie.  He loves trains, football, carbs, and his doggy.  I am one lucky mama.  I'm not really one for huge, elaborate parties, but I cannot resist that party aisle at Target.  So many polka dots! So many stripes!  I think it all turned out pretty well.  Everyone had a nice time, especially the birthday boy.

I launched my money unit at school this week.  We pre-test and group homogeneously for each math unit.  I teach the second lowest group out of six.  Pennsylvania Common Core has removed money from first grade, so many of our kids have zero to little background knowledge about money.  Most of my group does not even recognize the coins.  We have a lot of hard work to do.  I always use touch points for coin counting, but I'd love a few new ideas for coin recognition.  What works for your kiddos?  

I picked up this utility vest from Target a few weeks ago after wanting one for a while.  J.Crew had an adorable one, but it was out of my budget.  Target came through for me, of course.  I am loving it!  It goes with so much.  I'm all about layering in my outfits. #mombod

I've been teaching my government and election unit over the past two weeks.  It's a pretty quick one.  I LOVED how these little guys turned out!  I found the adorable idea on Pinterest courtesy of Cara Carroll.  Look at that curly black hair!  So cute!

Pretty is as pretty does has always one been one of my mottos.  Our behavior and actions will always outweigh our physical appearance.  Looking nice and put together is really important to me.  I am not a beauty queen by any means, but I try really hard to do the best that I can with what I've been given. I've been thinking really hard about my actions lately.  The way I react to situations, the way I treat others, the way I accept my responsibilities, the way I treat myself.  This is where true beauty comes from.  I had been working really hard to lose a bit of weight and make better choices, and I had fallen off the wagon the past three weeks.  This week, I vow to be prettier.  Eat prettier foods and get back to gym. Use pretty words, less grumbling, more celebrating. 

So, there you go...a little bit of my week.  How was yours? Follow along with me throughout week on Instagram. 

Pop over to Doodle Bug's Teaching for more Five for Friday posts!

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Five for Friday- Nov. 6th

Hellooooo, Friday!

After a super busy but long week, I'm linking up with Doodle Bug's Teaching for....

 

 We began our Pioneers unit in social studies this week.  Today I taught a lesson on Davy Crockett.  At the end of our lesson, we did a directed drawing of Davy Crockett.  How cute are these little guys?!?!  Every time we draw, I'm blown away by the talent in my classroom.  In addition to some things I already had, I used this fabulous freebie by KinderGals. My kiddos rocked the was/could/had chart!

Last week, I wrapped up our unit on the skeletal system just in time for Halloween.  I planned a bones party for the kids, and they LOVED it!  We made these cute little skeleton cupcakes and q-tip skeletons at our party. 

Going right along with the Pioneer theme, my grade level took our annual field trip to the Landis Valley Farm Museum in Lancaster, PA.  It's a pioneer village.  The kids had a fabulous time experiencing life as a pioneer.  The wagon ride was their favorite part.  Those gentle giants, Ben and Maude, were so sweet. 

Today I ordered a kit from Oriental Trading to make our own class quilt.  I'm so excited to do this project again.  I haven't done it in a few years.  The supplies were a little pricey, but the markers last for a while.  I love how the quilts turn out, and the kids get so proud of them.  I can't wait to see all 6 of them from our 6 second grade classes hanging together. 

 

 This past weekend, we went to my cousin's wedding.  It was the first time (I think) that we've had both of our kids at wedding.  They LOVED the dancing!  Julia would not get off the dance floor, and she wanted to dance with her little brother all night long.  She got a little miffed when another little girl wanted to dance with him.  Haha!  My family and I were loving it.  

So, there you have it, 5 random details of my week.  Click over to Doodle Bug's to see who else linked for for Five for Friday! Thanks for stopping by!

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