Bday Giveaway Winner

I am so excited to announce the winner of my first giveaway a $10.00 Target Gift Card! I am thrilled to share some love on my bday! Thanks to everyone who entered. 

The winner is #8. (I have no idea why it is not showing the resulted number.) (((SORRY)))

Kelly B aka Queen Bee! 

from Busy in Kindergarten

I will be emailing you in a few!

So, I just have to share a few moments of my day with you. I have a teething 16 month old, so she was up most of the night and would not go back to sleep. I typically tend to her myself and let my hubby sleep, but after being up with her off and on for 2 1/2 hours, I gave up and pulled the it's my birthday and I need some sleep card and sent daddy to fight with her. 

I get bday loving from my girls this morning and when I get them to school the oldest proceeds to tell her teachers it's mommy's birthday. So I get happy birthday's from her teachers and then my oldest says, "We are going to Cracker Barrel for supper." I ask her if her daddy knows about this and her reply was no we have to tell him. The teachers ask why Cracker Barrel and her response was so they will sing to mommy then give her ice cream. Can you tell where she has been on her bday? Anyways, once I leave daycare, I text her daddy to tell him of her plan and he agrees it sounds great and of course I agree, so we proceeded to travel to Cracker Barrel for supper tonight. I love my family!

At school, my fellow teachers and our two assistants decided that we would have fresh grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream sandwich cake for lunch. I loved it! Somehow a few weeks ago when we all were sick, I had discussed how I love grilled cheese and hence a great lunch was produced today!

I got some hilarious cards which made my day. BTW it's my 30th and I am the youngest in my grade level and tend to give a fellow teacher a hard time she is only 37, but still when we talk about the when we were in school it's always fun to poke at how I don't remember that or something along those lines. So needless to say the cards were priceless as I am having to face the fact that I am no longer 20 something:) 

My sweet kiddos at school had a ball all day long. I thought I had escaped my assistant's birthday spanking ritual, since she was not in my room at snack time today, but right as we were preparing for snack she comes in and they all had to sing happy birthday and she had to give me my bday spankings. It was fun listening to the kids try to decide how many I got (50, 1000, 23, etc) Luckily for my bottom, my assistant decided I needed 5 just like most of them get on their bdays and one to grow on! The kids LOVED this part. 

So with all that being said..... 

I am curious as to how your birthday activities go when your birthday falls on a school day and the kids know about it. 

Please share!

Wild Eagle and a fellow blogger's giveaway!

After one of the WORST week's ever, I have had a pretty good weekend! Friday we didn't have school, so the hubby and I decided to take advantage of it and took the girls to daycare and made the trip to Dollywood for Season Passholder's Day! We didn't get passes last year due to having a newborn, and the year before that I was pregnant and didn't get to ride anything. Well I made up for it on Friday. Dolly opened the newest coaster and the first of it's kind in North America (Wild Eagle). It's a winged coaster where you sit in a seat and your feet dangle and nothing is above you! The track is in the middle of the two sections. It was AMAZING! Well worth the 2 hour wait that we had to wait since we were not crazy enough to pay $750.00 for a VIP pass. While we were waiting in line at one of the many points they strategically stopped us at along the way, it began raining. A man waiting in the group with us had a revelation. He said, " I make fun of women on Black Friday, and yet here I am waiting in the rain to ride a new roller coaster!" It was great, I did see him after he rode and as we all said it was well worth the wait. It is the smoothest coaster I have ever been on in my life, and I LOVE roller coasters! If you get a chance travel to Pigeon Forge, TN and go to Dollywood, you won't regret it! I am so lucky to live close enough to go multiple times a year!

Now I am working on copying and cutting Easter themed workstations for the kids to do the next two weeks. We sadly do not get Spring Break until Good Friday and the week after! So I guess it's back to work I go, while my girls are taking a nap, I should get as much as I can done. 

Passing the word along... Go check out Tammy's giveaway at 1, 2, 3, Teach With Me, her friend Nicole is in on it with her Rowdy in Room 300.

Don't forget to enter my bday giveaway! I know it's not much, but I was excited to get 30 followers by my 30th bday, so I figured anything we can win for free is fun!

B-day Giveaway

When I started blogging back in January I made myself a personal goal to have 30 followers by my birthday. I am super excited to announce that with the help of Laura at Kinder Kraziness~featuring me on her Someone New Sunday blog. I have reached my goal. So with that I am going to giveaway a $10.00 Target gift card.

To enter: Follow my blog and leave a comment saying you do. (1 entry)

Blog about my giveaway and leave two comments

saying you did with the link! (2 entries)

Enteries will be taken through midnight on Monday, March 26th. I will use the randon generator thingy on Tuesday, March 27th to pick a winner!

Good Luck!

Blog Comment Number Question

I am wanting to do my first giveaway, and I would really like to figure out how to get the numbers beside the comments, so that when I use the number generator thingy, it will be easy for me to see who won! I know it's probably something very simple, but I have tried to figure it out the last thirty minutes with no luck. Please help.......and my post tomorrow will be about a giveaway!

Thanks

In Serious Need of SPRING BREAK....still two weeks away:(

Today was by far one of my WORST teaching days EVER!!!! This morning, I review similar questions from our 9 week DEA assessments that we will be taking at 1:30. I think the assessment will be easy for students. Our morning math journal questions come straight from the same format that is on the test. Students have done great with it. The tricky questions we have went in depth over how to correctly answer them! I am stoked because I know they know the information...... I am sure you can see where I am going with this post. 

This afternoon, we go to the computer lab and get started on our assessment. My kids do HORRIBLE!!!!!! They can not answer the simplest questions. The ones that I assumed they would get without any trouble. I get so frustrated that I quit walking around to make sure everyone has answered the question before we go on to the next one. I literally about cry in the lab because I know they know the answer but for whatever reason they don't answer it right. We have been taking computer tests all year long, they know how to work the mouse, and how to listen to the question and click the answer they want....... SO why on earth are they missing these questions. I now know how the upper grade teachers feel with the dreaded state assessments that are given in April. The kids honestly don't care if they get the answer right or not. And now that teachers job's depend on getting good test scores, it makes me SICK. I am furious when we finish the test and head back to class. They can't walk in a line, they can't be quiet in the hallway, they can't sit at the rug where they were asked to go when they entered the classroom. Once I get everyone to the rug, I tell them how disappointed I am and that I had expected better. Yes my kids that did great look at me concerned, but the ones who bombed the test could care less about what I am talking about. I give up let them go to centers and snack. While I go back to report card testing. When it is time to clean up, they leave the room a mess, and most had forgot to eat snack, so they rush to get it. I take centers from them for the rest of the week. Luckily it is a short week, cause we have an early dismissal Thursday for Parent Teacher Conferences, and Friday we have NO SCHOOL!!!! 

At the end of the day, I am so close to a breakdown tears and all, because I KNOW they can do better. They just don't want to. This is very scary to me, I mean they are in kindergarten, not an upper grade. If I can't get them to care in K, how in the world is it going to be when they do reach upper grades. 

I want to contribute their behavior to our unreasonably warm temps (last day of winter and it's 82), and the fact that since returning to school in January we have had 3 days off. I know they are tired of each other, they can not work together, they tattle on everyone over the stupidest things, they are loud, they don't listen to me or any other teacher at school. I am at a loss on what to do with them. I want to believe that it's not just my class, and I am told it's not, every class is acting the same, but I am on the verge of a break down. NEVER in my 7 years of teaching did it actually come out of my mouth that I think I could QUIT! but today I actually said it to my assistant. How am I suppose to enjoy teaching when my students don't care, or won't even try. I love my job and I know that tomorrow will come and we will start a brand new day, I am just scared because tomorrow I take my Language Arts 9 week test in the computer lab. If I thought the math was going to be easy and they bombed it, I really am not looking forward to the language test. I am going be positive and hope for the best in the morning. 

Sorry about my venting post. I feel somewhat better getting it off my chest. I know that I too am needing a break from my kiddos. At this time, I am counting down the days till the end of the year! Spring Break can not come soon enough. Too bad it's not till April 6th.

Handwriting help NEEDED!!!!!!

So, as I start looking at the calendar and planning what I need my kiddos to be working on to make sure they are as prepared for 1st grade as I can, I come to a sad realization:( Overall I feel this year's class is leaps and bounds ahead of other classes I have sent on to 1st grade. Since I became a blogger and see what other k kiddos are doing, it has moved me to push my students harder. My kids are reading daily and doing a wonderful job at it. They can draw decent pictures and write sentences to match it. In math they are able to complete most of the problems I give with minimal assistance, I am VERY happy with the classes overall progress.

Now with that said I have a handful of students who I can't for the life of me get to write neatly. Some are boys and some are girls. I have tried having them sit out of play centers in the afternoon and redo the work, but it still comes out sloppy. This group of kids honestly could care less. I have taken centers away and it still has no effect. 

I have to admit that I probably haven't pushed them as hard as I should have, but now as I everything we do, makes me think are they ready for first I am about to scream. I know the 1st grade teachers will kill me if I send these students onto 1st writing as horrible as they do. I KNOW they can write better, but they are my rushers who rush through everything and could care less if they have to do it over again. The next time they still don't do any better. I am at my wits end on what to do to make them CARE and want to be a neater writer. 

Please if you have ANY suggestions on how you promote quality handwriting in your classroom please share. I need any help I can get at this time:) Thanks.

Heather

Family Time

Today was a great day! My hubby typically works on Saturdays this time of year, but he had the day off today. We decided since the weather has been wonderful we would take off to Gatlinburg, for a mini hike with the girls. He is really getting into hiking and biking as am I! I want my girls to grow up with an appreciation for the nature that is around us. We are fortunate to live very close to The Great Smoky Mountains and spend time in the mountains when we can. I can't wait till Spring and Summer!

The girls seemed to have a great time. It was their 1st hike. We started with a bathroom break and got some trail maps to plan future hikes at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Then headed back toward Gatlinburg to the Gatlinburg trail. It was a nice trail next to the water. It was very good seeing other children on the trail and at the visitor center knowing they were going to be hiking, too. It made my heart melt because the parents want their children to enjoy nature.

It is disturbing when in August when we start school and go outside for our educational break, and many students immediately begin to complain that it is too hot! They don't want to run and play outside. They want to stay inside in the cooler building. It bothers me when you show them a computer in the room and you can't keep them off of it, but to do anything physical forget it. When I was little sure we had video games, but when it was warm enough to be outside, we were outside. We were running around, playing ball, going to the park, going fishing, catching fireflies, anything that meant we didn't have to be in the house. We would hate when the sun began to set, because we knew it was almost time to go inside for the night. But the next day if it wasn't raining we were outside again.

I understand that as parents we can't let our children run outside and play while we work in the house like my parents used to; due to the cruel people who want to hurt children being out there. But is it that difficult to take time and spend it with your child. I see so many parents who would rather set their child in front of a video game or tv, just so they don't have to deal with them. This makes me mad. These children will never understand or appreciate nature because what you see on tv doesn't let you feel nature! You can't breathe the fresh air!

My girls are going to grow up in a technology driven world, and yes they have video games and watch tv. BUT they are going to be able to share stories at school about going to the park, and camping, hiking, biking, and fishing, and anything else they show an interest in that is outdoors. I can only hope they enjoy the outdoors as much as their daddy and I did when we were little. We are going to show them and take them places we never were able to go, and I hope they enjoy it and want to do more. I just wish my kids in my classroom were given the same opportunities with their families.

So I leave you with this thought.......When was the last time you got away from the real world and enjoyed NATURE?

Top Ten Award and New Student



I am super thrilled to have gotten my 1st award. Beth Ann from Taming My Flock of Firsties, gave me the Top Ten Award. Thanks Beth Ann, you made my day!

Now to find ten bloggers to share the Award.

I love the ideas that Alessia comes up with!

I am a new follower to Arianne, and I am loving what I have seen so far!

Lory has super cute activities!

Lindsey created the cutest Super E (CVCe) unit!

Buggy in Kindergarten

I am a new follower of Tangelia at Buggy in Kindergarten. She is a fellow TN blogger!

First Grade Magic 

Mrs. Nunley is another new blog I am following!

I love Randi's ideas!

I recently enjoyed Barbie's Write the Room Post!

I love her blog design!

Kelly is a new blogger and I am enjoying her posts!

Please check these wonderful blogs out for fresh new ideas.

Onto school news. I received my newest Student on Thursday. This has been a tough year for me as I have had the revolving door of kindergarten. I have had 7 new students and 6 students leave. Sadly three of the six fit both groups. It is hard getting new students all the time. I have to get more organized, because it takes me forever to get the new student all the things we use in our classroom. Please share your secrets on what you do to prepare for new students.

March Currently

It's time to join Farley's Currently. I love this. It's so nice to stop and think about each of these questions every month. And I love how she keeps us thinking with the random last questions.

My students have been strange this week. Monday was one of the best days ever! I use behavior clip chart and all my kids ended on green and above. Then yesterday just the opposite, I only had 5 out of 19 on green or above:( Today they were more normal. All over the chart and mostly above green. I am hoping that tomorrow goes well. It is a full moon, and we all know how changes in the moon and weather make behavior horrible!

Have a good one!

Heather

March Already!

I can't believe it's March already. Since we came back to school in January, school has seemed to drag on since we haven't had but one snow day, and yet it's MARCH!

I love the fact that my bday is at the end of the month and most of the time we are on Spring Break, sadly this year we don't get break till April 6th.

I do not like that March has came in like a Lion with the storms that attempted to come through East TN last night and this morning, and they are calling for more bad weather tomorrow:(

I do like that March typically means warmer weather is on the way, granted us having temps in the 50-70's in Feb. not sure what that will mean in March. I LOVE that we SPRING forward with our clocks and get an extra hour of daylight!

Now onto the school portion of this post. I have a LOVE/HATE feeling about it being March. I am buckling down on my students trying to get them as ready as I can for first grade. I am finding out that some students seem to know what they are doing, but yet they have no clue. I have a group this year that is LAZY. I know they CAN, but they WON'T. It is very frusrtating when you know that they are not ready for first and yet they know too much to stay in kindergarten. I hope that we get new report cards next year to go along with the common core, and that parents will more easily see their child is not ready for first grade. 

I will be sending home my rest mats tomorrow! This excites me and saddens me. I love that we will no longer be resting because I can use that time working more with students preparing for first grade, and most of my kids are not very good resters to begin with. I hate that I lose that quiet time that I assess my students whether it be on the computer DEA testing or report card testing or getting students to read to me during that time.

So my question to you is does your system have rest time in kindergarten?

If they do, do you phase it out by the end of the year, or keep it all year?

With us going to common core next year, I could totally see us getting rest time potentially taken away so we could focus more on academic areas. So would love to hear your comments on rest in Kindergarten.