Happy Memorial Day!

Yes, I know it's late but, I am having some internet problems. (Gotta love technology!) However, I wanted to give a shout out to all the men and women who have served or are currently serving to protect our country. There are many mililtary men in my family that have stood on the front lines. I am not that brave. I am thankful for those that are much more brave than me! As soon as I get my internet but up and working I will get back to my bloggy self! Until then, Happy Summer!

Well, ladies and gentleman....this concludes the 2011-12 school year!
                                           The End.

(Yes, I do hear the clapping in the background and all the hoots and hollers....LOL).

Bittersweet Day at AHS

Well, today was really bittersweet. As I have already mentioned, this evening was our sixth grade graduation. I started teaching some of these kids last year in fifth grade and then moved on to sixth with them. It is amazing to see how the children have changed in such a short period of time. Last year, some of these kiddos came to me with little chubby faces, a goofy kid smile, and rather weird. They are leaving me this year as mature young men and ladies. The guys have experienced voice change and are taller than me. The young ladies have taken on their preteen bodies and are all boy crazy. Amazing. As I sat on the stage with my two co-workers watching each one of these precious babies  receive their diploma, I choked back tears but felt like one proud "mama." There are three students that I will really miss. They stole my heart without even trying....Sarai, Emily, and Tyler. I had never met Emily's mom until tonight. She speaks very little English but said to me,"You are a very good teacher. Emily loves you." That broke the dam....the tears fell and the burning lump formed in my throat. I tried to tell her that Emily was a very good girl and I was so proud of her and will miss her terribly. Emily translated and without hesitation, her mother grabbed me and hugged me like we were old friends. We both sobbed. I know all of my babies will do fine in high school but I will surely miss them! All of my love to the Class of 2018 at Appalachian School. Follow your educational journey wholeheartedly and remember, "You'll never know just how close your dreams are until you reach out to touch them!"

As I was leaving graduation, my precious husband sent me a text that said, "Can you call me?" As soon as I waded through all the parents, I called only to find out that my sweet Uncle Bobby had lost his battle with cancer and has travelled to that heavenly paradise to gain his wings. As a child, I spent MANY nights at his house. I love you with all my heart, Uncle Bobby. I miss you already.

Thank you to Miss Sara from the Miss Elementary blog for the One Lovely Blog award. She has the cutest owl themed blog! I am going to return the favor and be a good neighbor in blogging world!

After you are given the One Lovely Blog award:

1. Follow the blog who give the award to you....
2. Mention that blogger that has given it to you in a blog post....
3. Pass on the award to 15 new blogs...
4. Make a list of the new blogs so others can be a good bloggy neighbor and visit around!

Thanks again Miss Sara! (By the way, I always have on my teacher goggles...not just for cute things that I see to purchase, with trash (Pringles cans make great pencil holders...3 or 4 icing cans grouped together make a great organizer for colored pencils), yard sales, and thrift stores! One man's junk is another man's treasure!

OK, here are the blogs that I have found that deserve the One Lovely Blog award:

1. Mrs. Cassidy's Classroom at classblogmeister.com
2. F is for First Grade at http://fisforfirstgrade.blogspot.com/
3. Learning is Something to Treasure at http://learningissomethingtotreasure.blogspot.com/
4. Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher at http://amber-polk.blogspot.com/
5. Critters in the Classroom at http://crittersintheclassroom.blogspot.com/
6. Mrs. Jump's Class at http://mrsjumpsclass.blogspot.com/
7. The Apple Basket Teacher at http://theapplebasketteacher.blogspot.com/
8. The Teacher Wife at http://theteacherwife.blogspot.com/
9. A Teeny Tiny Teacher at http://ateenytinyteacher.blogspot.com/
10. Clutterfree Classroom at http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogpost.com/
11. Teaching in High Heels at http://teachinginhighheels.blogspot.com/
12. Little Treasures at http://littlelearnersinc.blogspot.com/
13. Seusstastic Classroom Inspiration at http://seusstastic.blogspot.com/
14. Teach 123 at http://teach123.blogspot.com/
15. Conversations in Literacy at http://conversationsinliteracy.blogspot.com/

Whew! What a journey looking for blogs! I got great ideas though and plan to go back to some of these and grab some buttons! Well, it's 12:54 a.m. and America's Most Wanted on the t.v. I think I'll go to bed now! LOL

UWA 2012 Julia Tutwiler Elementary Educator of the Year

I am working on my EdS degree from the University of West Alabama. In April I was named the UWA Julia Tutwiler Elementary Educator of the Year! What a blessing that was! Because the university is so far from my home, the dean of the college of education reserved a room on campus for my husband and me. On the day of departure we had the busiest day ever and did not get started on the three hour drive until 8:30 p.m. We had only driven about 20 miles when I started to feel "green." Knowing that I get car sick EASILY, I asked my husband to stop and let me get some fresh air. The wave of nausea passed so I jumped back in the car. We went less than half a block when the wave came back with a vengence. I was so sick and we kept having to stop suddenly which put us further behind on our journey. Finally I got still enough that I went to sleep and we drove on to the university. We arrived on campus at 12:30 a.m. The door had a punch code and I was told that a key to my room would be left on the table just inside the door. Tired and sleepy we quickly gathered our bags, headed into the McConnell House, only to find no key! Out of desperation and with the nausea quickly approaching again, we headed back down the road to a "roach motel" that we had seen on the drive in. No luck. No one would answer the night call. We headed to a similar hotel with the same results. By this time I was really sick again......and panicked that I would have to sleep in the car. I quickly searched online (thank goodness for iPhones) and found a great hotel only 3 miles from the university. The sympathic clerk, a college student, upgraded our room and only charged half price. At 1:45 a.m. we finally got in bed. I slept like a rock all night...no sickness. I woke the next morning and started getting ready for my big day when it hits again! My sweet husband stopped for Dramamine and we headed on to the luncheon. I made it through the entire affair, even ate lunch, without bouts of nausea. On the drive home, you got it....sick again. )o:

6th Grade Graduation

One of the great things about teaching sixth grade in a small school is graduation! Here are some pictures from our very first day of practice. We didn't have the chairs out, nor did we have time to put them out, so the students had to stand where their chairs would be. We have to work on being still, sitting up straight, and learning the school song. However, day two was much better! Day three (today) went very well. Our students will graduate Tuesday night. Sigh...some of these students I have taught for two years since I taught fifth grade last year.......I may follow them to junior high! I LOVE my students! <3

Monster Mansion....

In order to motivate our students to read, we use the Accelerated Reading program. For the last two years I have themed my classroom in Monsters!! (I love Monster Mansion at Six Flags and wanted to bring it here). I made a Monster Mansion for AR points. Each student starts their monster in the basement. Every two weeks, we have a "Monster Moving Ceremony" to see if any of our monsters get to change rooms. We have a 5 point room, 10 point room, 25 point room, 50 point room, 100 point room, 150 point room, and 200 (and beyond) gets to party in the attic. This silly way of motivating students actually work! We clap and cheer for anyone monster being moved!

Indian Captive by Lois Lenski

Well now that the school year is winding down, we have finished our reading textbook (thank goodness!!!). I chased down one of my all time favorite books.....Indian Captive by Lois Lenski. If you have not read this book, it is a must read! Especially if you are a fan of historical fiction. This book tells the true story of Mary Jemison's capture by Indians. Although she is eventually offered freedom, she decides to live her entire life with the Indians. When I brought the book out, my students were not excited.....at all! However, after the first chapter, they were hooked. Just tonight I found a literature circle guide to the book. Can't wait to see how my students answer the questions. I am also incorporating some of the questions from the Bloom's Taxonomy project. If you haven't used that project in the classroom....you should. It's a fun and thought provoking project for students. Here is the link to the literature circle guide: http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/lit_circle_pdfs/indiancaptive_t.pdf Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! (and my students).

Finals are Finished!

Whew! I can finally breathe (until the end of May anyway!). I took my finals tonight (via remote proctor). Ever done that? It is kinda weird having a webcam from a university with a bunch of technology people watching you take a test to ensure you are not cheating! Anyway, enough about that!

We only have a few weeks of school left and I cannot decide what to do with my math students. My friend and co-worker, Cathy Holley, sent me a "Monster Math" project that she does at Halloween but since my classroom is themed in monsters, I am thinking about trying that. Do you have any good ideas on what to do at the end of the school year or what to do for Mother's Day? Remember, I teach sixth grade so I have to be careful about what I pick to do. I will check back with you soon to see what advice you have for  me! Happy May and thanks for being patient with me while I was "away".