Aww Thanksgiving Break!

Well, it's that time again!  I almost let it sneak right past

 

 

 me, but  it's Friday check-in on the week of Hannukah

 

 

and Thanksgiving. 

 

 

1.  Thanksgiving Break

 

 

Oh yeah, I've been looking forward to

 

to this little break all month!  I always

 

have a ton of laundry to do, even though

 

we have just a family of three.

 

 

And there is the rest of the housework! 

 

Once upon a time, I had a student ask me

 

what I would do if I won a million dollars.

 

He said, "Would you still be a teacher?" 

 

I said, "Yes, I would be a teacher with a

 

maid and a teaching assistant!"  :)

 

 

2.  Mr. Cowan's birthday!  We had a great karaoke birthday party and then we followed up with a home party.  (His birthday generally falls on Thanksgiving.)

 

3.  This weekend I'm making a name game that I saw Mrs. Watts playing with her class.  Mrs. Watts is a teacher leader at our school and she has an awesome event business with another teacher, Mrs. Nash, here in Tulsa.  Check her out if you are planning a lovely event in the surrounding area!  Mrs. Watts shared a document with me and said I could offer it as a freebie on my blog!  Yay!  Just go to my teachers pay teachers page.  I hope to finish this project by Monday for Monday Made It.

 

4.  Ok, I know a couple of weeks ago we got our tree up, but there was a teeny tiny problem with the pre-strung lights.  Um, they weren't working.  We bought lights to replace the burned out ones, then quickly realized, "Hey, how do you know which ones to replace?"  Well, I'll tell ya, I'm ready to unstring all those lights, because they do not work.  So this weekend, Mr. Cowan will be working on fixing that little problem! :) I love my Moosey!

Light Wrangling Moosey Style!

5.  Ornaments!  Ok, this next number comes with a little story.  Today, when I pulled out another box of Christmas ornaments (insert long story of my mom giving me a bunch of ornaments that she's stored for me since I was born.) and I pulled out this little beaut.

 

I thought for a second, I don't remember Alexandra making this.  Then I turned it over and saw one of my former student's name on the bottom.  In a moment, I flashed back to the day the Girl Scouts pulled several girls out of my class including this little girl.  (For the sake of the story and confidentiality, let's call her Josie.)  Josie came back from Girl Scouts all excited and handed me this ornament she made with her fingerprints.  Josie and I had bonded over the school year and her parents had yet to realize what a gift of a child she was.  I exclaimed that her parents were going to love it and she said, "It's not for them, it's for you."  I insisted she take it home and she said, "Why, no one cares about me at home like you care, Mrs. Cowan.  Besides, if I give it to them, they will just throw it away."  So, of course I kept it.  Everytime I put up this ornament, I say a prayer for this student and her family.  It always brings a tear to my eye.  Remember teacher friends, what we do is important to every child...sometimes (whether it is true or not) that child believes we are the only one who cares for them.

 

Hugs,

Mrs. Cowan

 

Linky Party:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Funday!

Well, here it is Sunday and this is my second post this month!  Yay! 

 

 

Although my new district has teachers assess in a different way.  My district does assessments by watching children in their natural play.  However, I made an assessment for Pre-K to Kinder teachers for my teacher buddies that need to do hands on/one-on-one assessments.  I think it's pretty cool and my first bloggy friends that leave a comment get it for FREE!  What, what?  Yes, I did say FA-REE!  Here's a preview of some of the pages I created.  I have a page for all letters upper and lowercase.  I also have a student page for all the letters, colors, shapes and numerals to 25.  I also included a recording sheet for the teacher, so you can share progress at parent conferences. :)  All for the low price of $2.  If you aren't one of the lucky 5.  Here's the link to my TPT page.

 Well, yes I know it's Sunday, but heck I'm going to do five for Friday just because. 

Numero Uno:  I'm stoked for this blog I found from the Houston Independent School District.  They have a homework calendar for every month, which basically encourages parents interact with their child each day.  I like that most of the activities are play based.

 {Source: Houston ISD}

 

#2:  Like many of you, I'm scurrying around trying to find sweet, meaningful gifts for those I love.  I'm also failing miserably.  The problem is I have this nasty little thing called a budget.  I have grand ideas of what I'd like to get all my loved ones, but the reality is I don't get any more money in November and December than in any other month.  {Le sigh}  So I found this cute little book about making gifts in a jar.  Then {genius} I looked up the topic on Pinterest and found a ton of ideas!  I don't know if I will actually do this or if this is just a half-witted idea.  Have you ever done gifts in a jar or received one?  What did you think, honestly?

 

{Source:  Twin Tough Link}

 

 

#3 I'm currently in L-O-V-E with all manner of scarves.  I know it's the 80's child inside me screaming to be let out, but I just love scarves.  I have a particular love for infinity scarves, but know that my neck truly is too short to wear one right.  I'm strangely intrigued with making my own, but not worried that I can't sew.  (My daughter can!)

 

 

Here's a DIY link to make your own, in case you can actually sew.

 

 

 

#4 In case you haven't heard of it.  Songza.  It's awesome.  It's a lot like Pandora, but it asks you what mood you are in and finds songs to fit your moods.  Loving it!

 

#5  This week, I will do five loads of laundry.  The laundry room is getting out of control. :(  Where do all those clothes come from?

 

 

Have a happy short week!

 

See you soon racoon!

 

Christina

 

Linky Link Ups: 

http://www.iworeyogapants.com/

http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/

 



 



If You're Wondering..

In case you're wondering, I am still alive!  I fell into that teacher swamp land where I seem to live every fall.  I thought this year, I may not visit the teacher swamp land since I'm teaching Pre-K.  Now wait, don't jump down my throat...I know Pre-K is work!  Third grade was work and worry, but a lot of time was spent grading.  Grading homework, classwork and inputting grades.  I thought with this portion of my work essentially removed from my life...that I could have some time to myself to see my friends or blog.  Well, I was wrong!  :)

 

So sorry for hiatus, now let's move on to Doodle Bug's Five for Friday Linky Party.

 

 

1.  This week has been truly fabulous!  I feel so connected with my team and my class.  Here's a picture of us earlier this year.

 

2.  My class is absolutely engaged in our new investigation of our school dog, Kenna.  Here's a copy of our Today We.  (Our school uses Today We's as a way to communicate with families about what's happening in our classrooms.)

 

 



3.  This weekend we are putting up the Christmas tree.  Now, before you start with the old discussion of it's too early.  Let me 'splain my thought process.  If I wait until after Thanksgiving, the tree and all the decorations only stay up for 4 weeks and then I have put all the stuff back up.  So we are going to enjoy the pretty decorations a little longer!  Besides, Christmas is my daughter's favorite holiday, so how can I deny her?

 

4.  I'm so excited to go to professional development at Riverfield   they are bringing a teacher from Reggio Emilia to talk about the philosophy.  I'm so lucky our school has such great professional development opportunities!

 

Isn't this beautiful, this isn't a picture from Riverfield.  You're not allowed to take pictures there. 

{Source}

 

5.  I get to relax on my new couch!

 

Now, all I need are some new lamps!  It's a little dark in here. :)

 

Hope you all have a great weekend!