Wisdom for New Teachers

Today I am linking up with Deb Thomas from Fabulously First to offer my words of wisdom to all the new teachers out there.  I hope you come and link up too! Click here or on the picture below and you will be taken to the Wisdom for New Teacher's Linky Party. 

My Poor Abandoned Blog - Five for Friday

          I decided it was time to quit procrastinating and get to blogging! It's  not like I have a life that keeps me terribly busy...I just have not any desire to do anything in the blogging world.  Does that ever happen to anyone else?

          Anyways, I decided to link up Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. I'll try not to bore you too much!

I am trying to recover from surgery that I had a last week.  These 3 little ones have been my constant company during that time.   There is never a dull moment when the puppy is awake!!  I'm not sure if you can see it in the picture or not, but  Samson (4 months old) is sitting on top of Shadow. This of course creates issues with Dingo (Grandpa) and then he starts his annoying barking. After a few minutes the cuteness kinda wears off and I have to get my handy little squirt bottle out. Works miracles let me tell ya!  I don't even have to use it most of the time.  hahaha

I'm still in shock from getting this in the mail a few days ago. You would think they would be courteous enough to wait a week or so before attempting to put you in shock!  I'm convinced they have made a BIG mistake.

My stack of school stuff has not went down one little bit since I brought it home a couple of weeks ago!  Time is, however, running out!  Grade Cards are due Monday!  They are right on top...surely I can accomplish that in the next few days!  

I am so blessed by my friends and family.  They have provided meals for my husband I ever since my surgery.  It started with BBQ from my bestest teacher buddy and it still continues.  My refrigerator runneth over.  I would show you pictures of all the food...but it would take too long.  Trust me... we never wanted for a meal.    

Last, but certainly not the least important thing that happened to me this week was being contacted by Oriental Trading.  In the near future I will be reviewing some of their Mother's Day products.  They even mentioned providing $$ for a giveaway on my blog!  That brought a bit of sunshine into my week.   Check our some of their Easter freebies have by clicking the picture.

Okay, that took longer than I expected and it totally wore me out.  I'm going to take a short nap before attempting to get out of this recliner.  

See you at the Linky Party!

What's Your Favorite Nut

It's that time of the week again when Ms. Jessica over at A Turn to Learn hosts her weekly linky party of things our students say.  Please come and share!  

We were making a graph about our favorite type of nut.  As I was listing their favorites, one student told me his favorite was a banana nut.  I'm thinking to myself that he probably was confused about what I was asking him.  After a bit of discussion, he almost had me convinced that there was such a thing as a banana nut.  I finally realized (with the guidance of some of my other students) that his favorite nut was a cashew!  Of course, a cashew... don't we all think of a banana when we see a cashew!!!  

Today I was handing out a paper to my students and I said "here is your hundreds fart."  I realized immediately what I said...and was hoping they weren't  listening (which had been the case all day!) ...but nope...I think everyone of them heard it... They laughed like it was the funniest thing ever... which of course made me laugh.  One of my students then said "I love it when you laugh!"  Hmmm...maybe I need to laugh with them more??

Okay, it's your turn.... Come and link up and share by clicking the picture below. 

Funnies from Firsties

Don't you just love it when your student's make you laugh?  Here are just a few precious moments...

I asked my students if they knew why we didn't come to school on Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)... One of my sweeties raised her hand without any hesitation and said that was easy.  It was all because of the Father/Daughter Dance (which was Saturday)... they would be way to tired to come to school on Monday.

After reading a book about teeth, I asked my students if they had ever had a cavity.  One little girl raised her hand and told me she had one and it smelled just like a BBQ.  hmmm.... 

A few weeks ago I was checking to see what books one of my students had at her desk.  When she came back, she immediately noticed that they were gone. I told her that I needed to look at them for a few minutes.  She said "Soon, you are going to be a smartie like me and  know everything I know."

This came from a student I retained last year.  "I love your class and I want to always stay in here.  Pretty soon, Ill be driving myself here."  

Two of my little girls had a disagreement and it was creating problems on the playground.  I asked them later if everything was okay between them.  One of them said "Yes, we made out."  Her face got red and immediately said ... "I mean we made up!!!"

I didn't realize that A Turn to Learn hosts a weekly linky party for cute things our kiddos say.  Click on the button below find out all about it and to share one of your funnies!

Back to School Jitters Linky Party

Every single year about this time, I start getting really worried.  You would think that it would be less frightening after 17 years of teaching...  But it's not!!!  In fact, I think it might get even worse as the years go by. (I think my husband would agree with that statement!)

Thursday is the first day of school and I'm definitely starting to get nervous!!!  A few minutes ago I came across a linky party that even addressed the issue.  It was comforting to see that others also have their issues too.   I decided to take a short break & join the Back to School Jitters linky party over at A Turn To Learn.

Now I'm going to spend a few hours working on things that are on my extremely long LIST of things I have to do!!!  

I would love to read about your back to school jitters.  Click on the button below to find out how to link up.

My Teacher Story

As far back as I can remember, I had a desire to be a teacher. As a matter of fact, when I was in second grade, I wrote a book to my family for a Christmas gift (I shared this in a previous post).

I had some amazing teachers while I was in grade school. I also had some pretty crappy ones. I remember being laughed at when I tried out for a part in a play. They didn't know I was still out in the hallway when they started laughing about how awful I was. It was pretty crushing for me and I never ever tried out for anything EVER again!! I think the crappy teachers were the ones that made my desire to become a teacher even stronger!


The journey to become a teacher though, was a long one. I was raised in a large family. We were very poor, but we had lots of love!

I always knew that if I wanted to go to college, I would have to pay for it. I'm not sure why I never applied for scholarships, probably because I of my fear of being rejected!!! So... after I graduated from high school, I quit my Tastee Freez job (which I absolutely loved) and found a job making $431 a month!! I was rich. I bought clothes, jewelry, shoes (oh my!!!), traveled, saved money, wasted money, etc. After about 8 years I was done. I hated my job and so I cashed in all my savings and thrift plan money and moved off to go to college at Central State University (which is now The University of Central Oklahoma).

 

Two years later I was broke. But I did have a a start to the education I needed to become a teacher!!!


Fast forward several years. I married the most wonderful man in the entire world. 

He started a new business shortly after we were married and money was tight nonexistent.   I worked for a few years, but I still had that burning desire to teach.  He could tell how unhappy I was and so he encouraged me to go after my dream. So, I did!  A few years later I graduated from Oklahoma State University.

I did my student teaching at the same school that I am currently teaching at. The first two years I only worked a 1/2 day. During those two years, I never really felt like it was MY classroom. Finally, I was hired full-time and that is when I realized my dream had come true.  I was a teacher!

And that my blogging friends is my teacher  story...and I'm sticking to it!

If you haven't already linked up to Janaye over at Tales of Frogs and Cupcakes for this linky party, click on her button to see how. I would love to hear your story too.

Shhh!!! These Are My Guilty Pleasures

When I first saw this linky party, I almost passed it up.  I immediately thought I didn't have any guilty pleasures.    But I have to confess.  I do!!!  Then I began to debate whether they could be shared or not.  Am I safe to share them???  Will you tell???  Pinky swear you won't, or just totally ignore this post.

I love to sing and I have a karoake machine that I absolutely love.  I think I can carry a tune most of the time, but there are those moments when I'm all by myself (well except for the dogs) and I become a star like you wouldn't believe.  My dogs are my audience of course, but their ears make all sorts of movements.  I probably should keep my teaching job, because I notice they never stay around too long after I pick up my microphone.    

During the summer, I love to take little power naps.  Okay, maybe they are more than little power naps, but it's summer and I need to rest up for the upcoming school year! 

My absolute favorite type of candy is Twizzlers.  Oh my goodness.  I seriously love them.  One of these days I'm going to have to stop eating them.  I simple can't control myself.  They disappear and I seriously look around thinking that I dropped some of them on the floor.  I'm done with them.  I promise never to eat it again

                                           ...until next time.  

Blogging.  I feel like a sponge that trying to absorb everything that the blogging world has to offer.   I love every minute of it.  But I end up spending way way way too much time on my couch.  In fact, I'm afraid there is a permanent imprint on my couch (I hope my hubby hasn't noticed!!)    Is there such a thing as being a blogaholic.  Is it possible to follow too many people?  I may need help on this one.  Professional help!  I'm not kidding!

I have yet another guilty pleasure. Do you watch White Collar with Matt Bomer!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! He is a such a cutie. Would you just look at those beautiful eyes!!! Gorgeous!! However, I must admit that this guilty pleasure somehow doesn't quite feel right anymore. I'm going to blame it on being blindsided recently and seeing him in a movie that I can't even believe I sat through. Let's just say I'm trying to deal with it!

Now it's your turn. Get yourself on over to The Resource Room Teacher blog and link up with the rest of us bloggers who are openly admitting their guilty pleasures.

Must Have Picture Books Linky Party

I absolutely love picture books!  I switched rooms with my bestest teaching buddy at the end of the year, and I was shocked how many books are in my library that are mine!!!!   Wow!!!  I'm not even going to tell my husband about that!  While I was unpacking them, I found myself reading them.  No wonder it took so long to unpack my room!  

The Teacher Wife is having a Picture Book Linky Party. I almost decided not to link up because I know what it will happen. I need to be strong! I cannot afford anymore books! Seriously!

I want you to know that it was extremely tough for me to only pick a few books!!! After several hours of picking and changing my mind... here are ONLY 5 of my favorite books:

Underwear is one of my favorite picture books. I look forward to reading it at the beginning of each school year. It is a fun read-aloud which the students love! After reading the book, the students become very creative as they dress their zebra in their choice of underwear. It's amazing what items they come up with to decorate their zebra's underwear. If you would like a copy of the pattern we use click here.

I didn't discover Round Trip until I was in college.  It quickly became one of my favorite picture books.   The entire book is in black and white.  When you reach what you think is the end of the book, you flip it over and continue reading the story.   Each time I read this book, the students are amazed when I turn the book over and continue reading.  I love watching their faces!!  This book disappears quickly off the shelf and the children love looking at the pictures.

Silver Packages is definitely a book that you will want as a part of your library.  I cry every time I read this book!  It is a Christmas story, but not the typical story that is often read.  It is a story about giving back and appreciating what we have.  

Charlie the Ranch Dog is an adorable book that my students LOVE!  He lives on a ranch, with Susie (his terrier friend). Ranch life is hard work and Charlie makes sure that Susie does her job right!!     My students think this book is hilarious! When I read this to my students, it just seems natural to read it like a cowboy would. 

Last, but definitely still one of my favorites is Pete the Cat. After listening to a video on YouTube, this book quickly became a favorite of mine. I had it pretty bad, my husband thought I had lost it. The words were in my head and they wouldn't leave!!! I quickly ordered the book and shared with my first grade students. They quickly fell in love with Pete too.     Will I ever stop reading this book to my students? "Goodness No!"

Now it's your turn.   What are your favorite picture books?   Click on the button below to link up!!