C is for Centers

I'm not going to lie. I was dreading going back to school to suffer through another semester of HORRIBLE Reading center work. I don't know what it is with this class! They aren't putting as much effort into their work as they should be. I've been reduced to tears!

My first step to working smarter this year, was to come up with a different center format. I'm not going to say "new" format because it's much like they did in first grade. I'm interested to see if this works.

{Treasures Must-Do/Can Do Center Posters}

{Treasures Center Rotation Resources}

E is for Elf on the Shelf (Pre-Post)

I am working on a real post about our Elf on the Shelf, Jack. In the meantime, enjoy Jack's scrapbook online.

N is for New Endeavor

Since it's the beginning of a new year, and I don't have any Mr. TVs this year, I am changing a few things. My resolution this year is to be more appreciative of the small things.

#1 I am thankful for No Mr. TVs this year.
#2 I am thankful that I have been blessed with a creative brain.
#3 I am thankful that I have been blessed with many great coworkers, friends and family members that support me in all my (legal) endeavors.

Because of those things, my second resolution is to work smarter, not harder. I am adding another feature to this blog (in anticipation of my upcoming 2nd blogiversary). It will become a place to share the resources I've created in the past seven years. Don't worry, I will try harder to share those silly stories as they happen.

I have created a Teachers Pay Teachers store and I have posted my first file for free. I'm hoping that I can provide teachers with a way to work smarter. Please let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns that will help me be successful with this new endeavor.

 Click {HERE} to download Star Cards

Much love and Happy New Year,

W is for Wed Wibbon Week

 

I am just rereading the last post I wrote about the first day of school.  And feeling very lame that I haven't written since then. It's true. These kids are funny, I'm just too busy to blog about it! How do the super bloggers do it all?! I admire them.

Hopefully, I will find the time to write about this year's cute little darlings. In the meantime, I will leave you with a quick update on how Mr. TV is doing.

The Scene: The Office time-out desk. Mr. TV is "taking a break" from his fourth-grade class (has it really been two years?). He is admiring the wall in front of the time-out desk not doing any of his work. Off in La-La Land. 

Action!

Me: Hey Mr. TV. Are you needing to take a break from your class?

Him: ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Me: Hey Mr. TV. It doesn't look like you're getting any work done.

Him: ZZZZZZZZZZZ...I'M ASLEEP!

Me: Oh. Okay. How are you doing otherwise?

Him: HELLO?! DON'T YOU KNOW MY DOCTOR IS IN INDIA? I HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY MEDICINE IN A LOOOOOOOOOONG TIME!

Me: Well I didn't know that. Do you remember how in second grade we talked about how you have to try really hard to make your body and mouth do what you want it to?

Him: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I want to put a disclaimer on our BE DRUG FREE slogans...*Unless they are drugs that the doctor gives you to help!* I'm not going to elaborate if I'm talking about students or teachers...

Happy Red Ribbon Week!

B is for Beverage

My new little darlings started today. I love that they always say "You're the best teacher ever!" and I say "I'm going to tell your first grade teacher!" Their reactions crack me up.

I can already tell these kids are going to be funny. I just feel it.

Here is a quick example:

I grabbed a glass of iced tea at the end of lunch and brought it with me to recess. One little darling (I'm going to need some time before I can think of good nicknames) was curious about my drink.

Her: Ms. Buckler, what are you drinking?

Me: (holding up my clear cup that contained ICED TEA) Um...chocolate milk.

Her: Nuh uh! It's brown! It looks like beer.

Friend: Beer with ice would be gross!

Me: How do you know that beer with ice is gross?

Friend: Dunno (runs off)

Me: It's really tea.

Her: Yeah, I figured. Cause teachers shouldn't drink beer.

Me: You're right, Sweetie. Go play.

Here's a virtual toast to a great school year! I'm going to go have a glass of tea and relax. =)

A is for Addictions

A very rainy summer + a new laptop + an aversion to the sun even when it is out + the ability to ignore the unorganization of my house = a lot of time in front of a computer screen

It is not my fault. I have addictions. I admit it. I am now going to be a commercial for 4 (yes 4!) websites I am now in love with. Do not read on if you give into peer pressure or are easily bored.

This is the definition of pinterest:

So apparently, I'm not alone.

Below you will see pictures of things I have actually made using the inspirations (or "pinspirations").
Key:
First picture: Pinspiration
Second picture: my version (sorry for the iPhone picture quality)

$97.99 sold-out version on ModCloth turns into my $4.99 from Salvation Army version. Now to find the perfect time to wear them.

Easy-peasy no-cost operation signs from The Teacher Wife.

Smarty Pants full of Smarties candy from The Inspired Apple

I needed to use my bulletin board to make a new focus wall (see below) so I needed some other ideas. Using The First Grade Parade's idea and signs from Mrs. Dillard, I created my new Bucket Fillers set up.

I knew I wanted to create a Focus Wall for our Treasures reading series, so I adapted Frogs, Bees & Under the Seas' to work for me.

 





My students always love to be silly, so these cheers and chants from The Apple Basket Teacher were perfect. I made them into cards that kids can pick when they answer questions correctly.

I also loved some of the organizational pins I found:

I never would have thought of using binder clips to keep my Mimeo/Elmo cords from getting lost. Genius, Unplggd!

One of Meck Mom's many ideas. Okay, so it wasn't such a sacrifice to eat Chinese food to get my containers. Honey Chicken...mmm...

One of the most popular pins I saw on Pinterest was milk crate stools. Mrs. Clemens and I decided to make them. Here is our version:

 Yeah, so The Boutons' crate stools are actually finished. Ours will be...eventually.

And finally, I really wanted to be able to give myself a new pedicure, but luckily, my lovely aunt gave me a new manicure. You think my students will get that I like ladybugs?

You can join the pinning fun too, just click the "Follow Me on Pinterest" button to the right. I can send you an invite, but I can't be responsible if you become an addict.

I also found Vistaprint.com and did several orders for FREE stuff. All I paid was shipping. Totally worth it. Here are a 4/13 of the things I made:

1. Tote Bag (free!)
2. Car Magnet (free!)
3. Mouspad (free!)
4. Postcards turned into Star Cards (free!)

I'm hooked. They've gotten a customer for life.

I stumbled upon a very cute website for fonts called LetteringDelights.com. I got "Scribble Kids" for 50 cents and proceeded to make labels for almost everything on my shelves.

One last addiction to talk about is Teacher Tipster. This guy is absolutely hilarious. He teaches first grade and obviously loves his job. He has made all kinds of videos that demonstrate his tips. I recommend watching:
The Hallway Song, Brain Chains, SillyBrations, and Magic Trash. Then, I recommend you find several hours to watch the rest of them and join his Facebook page. He is just fantastic.

Okay, I think that is all for now. I am as ready as I'll ever be for my darlings to start tomorrow. I am looking forward to sharing some hilariously random things that second graders say and do with you.

And as always, thanks for supporting my addictions. (Teaching, blogging, children's books, Cherry Coke, ladybugs, chocolate ice cream, pinterest...)

M is for Moms

This week's writing topic was about our mothers.

The students were given an interview form to gather some information about their mothers to use as their details.

I thought it would be pretty cool if I had my mother call and answer the questions on speaker phone.

Since my mother doesn't understand that my whim is her command, I had to improvise during our writing time.

I told my students that her favorite color is yellow. She likes to vacation in the mountains. And her favorite holiday is Christmas. I also finished the sentence "My mom likes it when I..." with "make her laugh because I am her funniest child."

My mom decided to call at her convenience, which happened to be during math, but we conducted the interview anyway. My students loved hearing her on the speaker phone.

These were my mom's answers:

Don't worry. I asked her permission to forge her signature. This time.

So I was 1 for 4, but I'm not even sure my mother knows what she likes...

I did not complete the other portion of this assignment though. The students were supposed to draw a picture of their mothers on the back of the page.

This was one (rather accurate) drawing:

This is a drawing of this guy's mother at the beach. It was raining and windy.

 I'm not sure if Mom is frowning because a) her umbrella is flying away, b) a giant clam is on it's way to devour her, c) a huge bird is flying directly over her, d) a coconut is about to drop on the family Cadillac, e) deadly looking stingrays swim around in shallow water, f) there are spiky waves headed her way, or g) her son is in the cabana safely eating a sandwich.

I especially enjoyed Curly Top's portrait of his mother. There is just something about it that screams love.

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Or maybe that was just me screaming...

Have a wonderful, lovely, fabulous Mother's Day!