Holiday Spirit!

Hello Bloggy friends!

I have been absent from posting- not because I don't think about it, but because my hands have been super busy lately! And while I am a pretty decent multi tasker, I haven't figured out how to crochet and type at the same time!! 

My days are filled with spending time in classrooms all over the district and my evenings are filled with my feet up, a hot coffee, and a crochet needle in my hand!

I am super excited about the popularity of my work- from blankets I have made, to cozies that crack me up, and to custom orders that I love filling!! 

I am very thankful for all the kind comments and wonderful feedback I have received in my etsy shop!

 

I am VERY excited about a listing I have for the holidays!

With this listing, the buyer receives a gift certificate to give to a special mom or mom to be. After the new year, she can come to the shop and chose from two styles of chevron baby afghans in colors that SHE CHOOSES!! 

Yep! She gets to design it!! And I do all the work! There are some color names and choices listed- but they are just for convenience. She can even send me pictures of the baby's nursery, and we can work together to make a perfect match! 

This certificate also includes the shipping to ANYWHERE in the US!! 

When I thought of this idea, I figured I would list 10 certificates, this would ensure that the Mom choosing her designing her afghan wouldn't have to wait too long. As of today, there are 9 left! 

Thank you to Heidi from My Not So Elementary Life for the certificate!

 

These would be perfect to print and put in a card OR to send digitally! {and no one would tell on you if you bought a certificate for yourself!} I am really looking forward to the color combos I'll get to work with! AND to see pics of those babies with their afghans! 

This Holiday Special will be available right up to December 25th. After that it will be removed. I'll still have custom listings, but  they will have regular shipping charges.

While you are there in my shop today, be sure to check out these popular guys! Coffee has never been so cute!! 

Rudy the Reindeer

Shimmer the Snowman

Georgie the Gingerbread Man

I'll be sure to mark them in the store when I feel like they can no longer reach you by Christmas!! 

Also be sure to "like" my shop's fanpage on Facebook. I always post there when I add new items, too! Miss Squirrels Facebook Fanpage

With the break coming in just 9 days, I'm not sure if I'll have another blog post up- but I'll have my fanpage updated with how many gift certificates are available.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me with the venture- whether it has been through a purchase or your super sweet comments! Feel free to Tweet, Pin, Post, Like, Favorite.....i.e. Share :)

 

Wishing you and yours the best,

Squirrels

A Tuesday Giveaway!!!

Today is Tuesday!

That means a few things if you live in the "Nuthouse" (get it? cause we're Squirrels) 

Anyway- you know it's Tuesday here because one out of three Littles will come home and tell me that it is Taco Tuesday Fundraising night for our cluster of schools at the taco joint down the road. 

We also know it's Tuesday because I will tell that Little "No." 

It is Taco Tuesday for all 3 schools and they have 4 parking spaces in front of the  building. 

Nope.

You can also tell it's Tuesday because two out of three Littles will get off the bus with two things in mind.

1.) I have to get a snack before I die.

And

2.) I have to remind Littlest Little that it's Towel Tuesday! 

I swear, if they worried more about what they were responsible for instead of what the others were.....you know where that's going, right?

Littlest Little has limited chores. Cause he's little. (Duh?) He's getting bigger though- so along with trash, we gave him another chore which is to wash, dry, fold, and put away the towels in their bathroom- on Tuesdays.

It's a pretty big deal- to him. It may be a BIGGER deal to the other two, cause they feel like they're supervisors now! (We know my thoughts on "supervisors")

"Don't forget the towels! It's Tuesday! Did you get the towels out of the dryer? Remember to fold them in thirds"

(Hmmm- they sound like someone else I .....nevermind)

You also know it's Tuesday around here cause We The People get the TV back tonight!!! There is nothing but football on the tube Sat- Mon!!! Ugh. It is a small celebration when you realize that you get to use the remote!! 

I am gonna watch the crap outta some Dateline and 20/20 and maybe some Snapped! (He hates those shows..... Cause he thinks I'm taking notes!)

Watching football over the weekend though DID give me the opportunity to play around with some yarn ! At the urging of Mrs. Wheeler- I started making  pumpkins. And they turned out pretty cute! 

While I listened to him go on and on about this player and that coach, I just crocheted away.

Here's the result:

I added them to my Etsy, too this weekend.

 

And then turned my kitchen table into mailing station!!

Even though Halloween is only a couple weeks away, it will be Fall for a while still!

I plan on adding several more styles and colors....maybe even some turkeys and trees!  You can follow my Etsy to see when they are added.

To share  all this pumpkin  cuteness a little quicker- I'm going to send one to one of my Etsy followers, one to a FB fan page for my Etsy shop, and one to a Pinner! Check out the Rafflecopter below to see how you can enter!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9321e6954/

 

I'll announce the winners as soon as the contest ends!

 

So now this hasn't turned out to be such a bad thing that he had the remote all weekend!!

I can't wait to come back and announce the winners!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Interview with A Squirrel

This evening finds the Squirrel household in the middle of Fall Break.

Do you get a "Fall Break"? I know there are a lot of schools that are out just for the Columbus three day weekend.

Not us- they give us a whole week.

That is one weekend + a school week + another weekend = 9 days.

Nine days that we are home together.

This time last year,  I was singing the praises of this break. I couldn't wait to have the time off after the nine weeks to recuperate. And the Littles were uber excited, too.

 

This year has proved to be the same- for them. They could not wait to get off the bus Friday so they could have these nine days to sleep in, stay up late, and hang out. And they have done exactly that.

They sleep pretty late. They stay up way too late. (And I am also up late- so that is some super quality time that we are having together (insert sarcastic face here)).  And they are hanging out. At home. In the house. 

It is chilly and drizzlely and cloudy and drab. So no one comes to the door to invite them to go OUTSIDE and play. Boo. I mean, I am all about friendship and bonding time. And I am sorry that they are not getting it because of this wretched weather on this nine day break that we are having together.

Do you see where this is going? I'll just end that with, It's been a long break so far.

 

I have made use of this time at home looking around online for jobs that are available in my area. I have gotten my resume all pretty and professional. I've even uploaded it to a few openings. I even got a "first round interview" for a state job that looked pretty good.

Have you looked for a job lately? Whether it's a teaching or non teaching position? Have you put yourself out there? It has been a long time since I have - and it is a little different.

 

For example, this "first round interview" that I speak of is what they call it. What it really is though is a list of 20 questions that enable you to shoot yourself in the foot and disqualify yourself from the position immediately so that they don't have to meet with you.

Some of them were your run of the mill things I remember hearing while sitting across from a real live person a million years ago like "What do you think your best quality is ?"

I thought that was easy enough.

I am a brutally honest person. (I left out brutally). But that's a pretty good quality to have  in an employee, right? I threw in few other descriptors so that it sounded cool.

And then I was stopped in my tracks by some of these other questions.

 

What type of supervision do you like? What frustrates you most with a supervisor ? How do you handle it? What type of person is the hardest to work with? Why do you think that is? How do you stay organized? How do you feel about deadlines? What is your working style? And then the dreaded- What do you consider to be your two biggest weaknesses?

 

What the what?

 

Let's take this from the top.

 

What type of supervision do you like?

Well, honestly, (I already said that I was honest) I kind of like to be unsupervised. And is it really going to matter? If I say I don't like them, will they go away?

 

What frustrates you the most with a supervisor?

Um, the part where they are supervising me- we established that, right? I mean, tell me what you want me to do, then let me be and if I do it- we'll be happy together.

 

What type of person is the hardest to work with?

The one that's always hanging around- you know, the supervisor guy.

 

Why do you think that is?

Cause he's creeping me out.

 

How do you stay organized?

Depends, what am I organizing? Seriously, are we talking writing down appointments, or am I sorting beads? Am I taking notes? Writing a grocery list? Or organizing my thoughts? Cause I can write a hell of grocery list- the kind that takes The Mr. down every single aisle and the items seem to fall into the cart because I have organized this list so flawlessly. On the flipside, I can  forget what I am saying 12 times in the same dinner conversation because there a million thoughts in my head and I cannot express one coherently.

 

How do you feel about deadlines?

Well I'd rather they not be so concrete. I like a little leeway in my deadline. I like terms like "around 12:00" and "near the 16th" and "some time tomorrow". Those are all perfectly good deadlines.

 

What is your working style?

Um, I'd say I am "Glitzy Transitional". I figure it's MY style and I can call it what I want.

 

And then comes the question that ensures you will receive the "While we thank you for your application....." email....

 

Your weaknesses.

I HATE this part! I have always hated it!

It never fails that I would sit across from admin during an eval and throw myself under the bus!

"What do you think your weakness was for this lesson?"

And then I would INEVITABLY say something that she hadn't noticed!!! (Way to go, Squirrels!)

 

It's the worst to have to think of things that are wrong with you and then tell them to other people who do not know you.

I should have put something like "I have a need to become closely attached to my supervisor". Maybe that would help me out in that department. Because no one is going to write "I have a tendency to be late three or four times a week and I like to steal post it notes for my collection in my junk drawer at home." Ugh.

 

I am very curious to see what the "second round interview" is like. Will I have to get out of my "kajamas" for it? That would be pretty sweet if I didn't. I also can't wait to find out how many rounds there are! And is there a bonus round? A speed round? If so I will just yell BIG MONEY! NO WHAMMIES!!! That should make me a shoe in, huh?

 

 

Who knows? It's a crap shoot.

We'll see what they all say when they write me back and thank me for being so honest!

 

Well it's time to start thinking about how the Squirrels are going to spend DAY SEVEN of our WONDERFUL Fall Break together! Hope you have a great weekend coming up!!

 

 

 

A Squirrel-a-versary

So here it is - three years since my very first blog post! It doesn't seem like that long. 

Maybe because my blog has been so dusty and neglected as of late. I totally blame social media ( blame shifter)- seriously! 

I think of something and then BAM! I can post it on Instagram- or BOOM! I can put it on FB. And it's so quick and easy.

Technically, the blog is easy, too. It all comes from my phone. But my mind is more likely to throw out a random quick thought vs a long commentary. And for those of you who know me, quick and random are the way my brain usually works! 

It has been an adventure of sorts being out of the classroom this year. It was a hard decision to make- but I'm very confident I did the right thing. I was reminded of just "how right" I was when I was putting away a few things in my room today and opened a drawer of my jewelry armoire. 

What I saw was a little alarming. (Don't worry, it's not anything bad or inappropriate). I opened the drawer to put away a bracelet and here it was. Boom.

My One Little Word card that I made three years ago when I did the OLW project with my first grade class. I made each person, including myself, a card to carry to remind us of the word we chose. 

The word we chose that would make a change in our lives.

My word was Prioritize. It was my goal to change some things in my personal and professional life to ensure that I was putting all the right people and projects first.

Just sitting down and making that list back then was such an eye opener! I "let go" of sooooo much drama! I realized that much of the hard work I was doing was SELF INDUCED! While there is definitely a set of standards I was expected to meet- I was piling on even more. 

So I fixed it back then.

I made changes.

I left bags of school work AT SCHOOL. And I opened my eyes and realized that what I sometimes thought was my worst, was someone else's best- and that was ok! 

I was (and still am) happier for taking a breath and working through all of that. 

My OLW card popped up a year later when I switched purses. And then again on the dryer one time. Once I found it in the junk drawer in the kitchen. 

I'm glad it doesn't have a "formal home". If it did, then I wouldn't get these great reminders every once in a while.

So much has changed in the last few years. And I can attribute that to prioritizing AND to that sweet reminder charm that was under my card- 

HA HA!!! Gotta love a squirrel! 

I'm sure I said it at the one year mark and then again at the second- this little blog had made such a change in my life! I've learned so much from so many and have made some lifelong friends! Love you ladies!!

Hope this day finds you right where you want to be, my friends!! 

WTH Wednesday or Save the Hot Pocket!!!

Yep- WTH Wednesday!

(Most of the events in this post actually took place on a Tuesday- but I was too tired and too busy to get on here!) So I am declaring this a WTH Wednesday post! 

I have been watching all the posts on {insert social media name here} about going back to school and I love it! I love seeing all the rooms and decor! And I love seeing how excited everyone is to go back. I have been in a few rooms that look like they are straight off of Pinterest and one that could have been on a iFunny. Yikes.
 

Needless to say we are in full swing here at the Squirrels household! 

With my schedule being very different this year, I have had to set new and more stringent guidelines for getting out of the house in the morning.

WTH? 

WHY, WHY, WHY is it so hard to get them to understand that they have to move at a reasonable pace?

Why the heck are there fifty-eleven alarms set? For three people?? 

The halls start sounding like some jerk set every alarm at Radio Shack 1 minute apart around 5:30am! There are iphone alarms, iPad alarms, iPod alarms, oh- and a few ALARM CLOCK alarms, too! 

Hopefully the routine will set in quickly.
 

I've got the Littlest Little showing me what he is going to wear the night before so that I can be sure they are at least clothes that are suitable for outside wear.

I've had him place his "Deo for the B.O." next to his toothbrush-
 

"Dear Lord, please make sure he remembers to brush each day. And if not everyday, then at least M-F, cause I used to work at his school and I don't want people talking about my smelly kid with the butter teeth.

Amen."

We are all walking out the door right at the same time most mornings. I have told them that there is absolutely NO FIGHTING in the a.m.!! They can pummel the crap out of each other when they get off the bus, but if any one of them makes us late in the morning, they are ALL grounded! So they need to form a bond. Quickly.

I guess I shouldn't give so much leniency for after school- for it is in the mere minutes of After School Bliss that the story I am about to share takes place. (Also the inspiration for bringing back my WTH Wednesday)! 

I was at a high school yesterday, so I was home fairly early. I got here right before they got off of the bus.  So I did the obligatory "How was your day? Let me see your planner spiel" with all of them. (When it's time for stuff like that, it feels like I have 37 Littles and not just 3!)
It's right around this time that they all start squawking like little birds that they are starving. All of them choose something different, of course, and that is when I inform them that they are all on their own.
I'm chatting it up at the table with the boys and Chickadee (who at this point has made her after school snack - a hot pocket- and then retreated to her den) comes up to get something to drink. We are all laughing and joking around- being silly- (imagine that) when she takes off through the living room and down the hall.

(Insert slow motion footage)

There was a laugh, a screech, and then a THUD!

The laugh was when she realized that our sweet little Barkley might be in her room enjoying her hot pocket that she left unattended to come get her drink.
The screech was the noise she made when she tripped WHILE RUNNING down the hall. Her speed was too great and she was not able to stop as she rounded the corner- so she stopped herself with her body.
That was the "Thud".
Her hand slammed into the corner of the wall.

(Resume regular speed).

So this is where we are now.
 

Yes, that's right, Chickadee, look away. Look away.

Yep. One Urgent Care Clinic visit, a few xrays, and a thumb splint later, this is where we are.

WTH?! Have I not been telling you for the last 17 years to NOT run in the house? Has this not ALWAYS been a rule? And why would you leave your hot pocket on your bed?? That makes it fair game for Barkley!
We are in the little room at the Dr.'s office and here my beautiful, seemingly intelligent daughter is telling the Dr that she thinks she broke her hand.
 "How did it happen?" (I always hate it when they talk directly to the kids- I am always afraid they are going to say some "buzz word" that will trigger the Dr. to push a panic button and send in the DHS SWAT)!
But I dodged that scenario when my ding dong doodle daddy of a daughter replied:
"I was trying to save my hot pocket."

The good news is - no fractures. We go BACK to the Dr on Friday. They think she may have torn ligaments. I don't even know what that means. One of my friends said it might involve physical therapy for rehab. ?!?!?!?!
Are you kidding me?
Because of a hot pocket?

I told her I was going to make a poster that said NO RUNNING and put her on it then tack it to the end of the hall. Who would have thought that I was still going to have to remind them all of that rule this far into the game?

I think we must all take a moment to acknowledge that, while it was originally thought that this guy was a Guilty Gus and up to no good with his hot pocket thievery antics, he was in no way charged with any crime in this matter. He continues to roam freely through the bedrooms, scavenging for hot pocket crumbs.

 

{No hot pockets were harmed in the making of this post.}

Ready or Not BTS Blog Hop

 

 

Good Morning and welcome- It's my turn to share something great for our
 It's time for Back to School Blog Hop.
I went back and forth about what I should share.
And I decided to share something that worked like a DREAM for the last two years I was in first grade.
It was when I made the choice to go to COMMUNITY SUPPLIES. Just the mention of it used to make me worry what the kiddos would say and the fit the parents would throw because "Those were mine!" .....but I was VERY pleasantly surprised to find that with some great organization and a fool-proof routine, they would catch on to this system quickly!
Below are the pictures from when I made that transition, along with some excerpts from the blog post that shared this wonderful way of keeping up with supplies!

I do not have the tables I wanted, so I used my desks to make "tables".

They are in groups of 5.
There are 4 "tables" so far this year.
They use these table #s for various things, I will share those.

At each table there is an A,B, C, D, E.
It is on your nametag  to help you remember.
I might say "I need the Es to go get your table bin".

So the Es would go get the bin (only four people up).

 Let's pretend we are coloring something.

I keep the crayons in these little travel soap containers. They fit perfectly. They will actually hold all 24, but I take out all but the main 12.

The red violets, blue greens, and dandelions are saved for other projects.

Those little "crayon boxes" live in a table bin.

 

The table bins live on a cart.

So now we will pretend that the Es have gotten the bins and taken them to the table.
Whoever takes it to the table, passes them out.
I might call the Ds to put them away. (again, only four people are up).
If you are the person putting them away, you make sure you get one from everybody at your table.
5 friends. 5 boxes.

What if someone is missing a color?
They can go to the crayons and get the color they need to put inside of the little box.
I painted them, but am not loving them, because they are too "yellowy".

Notice how two very distinct colors live in the same drawer.
Also if you find a crayon on the floor, you can just put it in the correct drawer.

Now let's pretend we are working on something that needs scissors.
I have learned my lesson.
Scissors used to live at their desks (first 5.5 years of teaching).

I can't take it anymore.
The cutting of the clothes. The hair. The paper that WASN'T supposed to be cut.
Not to mention my aversion to metal- I can't handle that noise when they
open/close
open/close
open....AGHHHHH!

So the scissors live in a separate bin.

They are in the four little bins on top of the shelf. Each contains the # of scissors to match the # at the table.
If what we are working on needs scissors, I will put that little bin in the table bin before we start.
That way when the Ds come get their bin, they have what they need.
The same with glue. It isn't in the bin, unless we are going to use it.

What about pencils?
We can't be up ALL the time taking pencils and putting them back!

Pencils live........



in the CUPS! See the cups? Cups are good.
There are only three things that can be in your cup.
A pencil.
A dry erase marker.
The coins from behavior system (that's another post).

What about keeping that cup from falling off?
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH VELCRO!

The cups take up a tiny little space. Pencils don't roll off onto the floor.
NO ONE has to "dig" in a pencil box to find anything.

We only use yellow pencils- because they are community.
See how nicely they stick up out of the cup?
At the end of our day a friend just takes 'em right out, puts them in the
please sharpen me can, and then another friend puts one sharpened pencil in the cups
each morning. If you need a new one during the day, you just trade out at the cans.

This is how nice it looked while they were at lunch.
When we are finished, someone  from that table will put all those boxes in the table bin and then the table bin will go back to the cart.
And all will be right with the world.

Whooo is coloring so nicely???

A few questions I have gotten from fellow teachers

What about the pencil boxes they brought in?
Those are in the closet with a set of markers in them.
We do not use them that often, so they don't need to be in the way.
.
What about the books and notebooks?
Notebooks are in a literature stacker (which I am considering a bin for each table)
Books live in cubbies when not being used.

What if they need supplies for a center?
If crayons, scissors, or glue is needed for any activity- it will be in the center box.

So, now you all think I am this crazy Hitler Teacher who doesn't let anyone use anything EVER.
I promise I am tons of fun- we do a lot of fun things- I promise:)

I have just based this system on my previous experiences.
They cannot interrupt your instruction with noise from supplies that are not in their hands. (They will find other ways to do it, but now they must get creative) :)
The less distraction, the better.
They all have to take ownership of our room. We want our room to reflect the type of students we are:
Neat
Careful
Organized

It really did work so well- and it did away with all the distractions that came from things being in front of them all the time. When I taught K, I tried right away to do community supplies, but it all just ended up being a bunch of broken crayons in a crappy caddy in the middle of the table! It only took me 6 years to get it all together!

Hope you have found lots of great ideas and freebies to help you on your Back to School Adventure!


Your next stop will be with Jennifer from The Teacher's Open House- Click on her Button below to head over and see what she has for you!

 

 

Five for Friday {July 25}

Another summer week has passed. It hasn't hit The Littles yet. They are still pulling all nighters {on the xbox}, staying out all night {in the driveway}, and sleeping in- like waaaayyyy in.

I don't have the heart to break it to them that this coming week is their last week of freedom- maybe I'll break it to them next week. 

This week I posted a few projects from my first grade room. {scroll back}

I haven't been super crafty this week- just cooking {which I hate} and crocheting.

Pic #1 is a snapshot of my biggest cooking fail this week. Bought the wrong cornmeal and ended up baking a frisbee.

Pic #2 is a failed attempt at cooking canned biscuits on the panini press. They were also flat- as a pancake- pretty much just smaller versions of the frisbee pictured above. 

Pic #3 is bread that I couldn't mess up because it was already baked at the store! I even had a helper in the kitchen who buttered and garlic-ed it and we got it in the oven.

It burned. Really. 

Family reviews:

"It hurts the roof of my mouth."

                        -Littlest Little

"I'm not eating that."

                         -Chickadee

"If you let it soak in the sauce for a minute it's not so bad."

                -my favorite (I mean , Middle Little)     

                  

Pic #4

Something I surely couldn't ruin this week!

With all the heat and lack of rain you would think that we wouldn't have so many tomatoes. But we do! My neighbor's birthday is tomorrow and I am giving her the gift of some fried green 'maters... If I don't burn them.

Pic 5 {and 6} have to do with all the heat and humidity. Littlest Little and I broke out the wii this week- just too hot to be out there!! 

Take at look at my Mii.....hers grouchy!

I forgot how "angry" I made her forever go when we used to play this thing all the  time. 

I need like Mii therapy- some anger management!

I especially needed some counseling after we busted out the Mario Kart! While I DO have gold on all the levels (because I am just that competitive), it has been a long time! I forgot how much I despised Rainbow Road. 

I guess I will have to practice when they all go to bed this week so that my Mii can stop being so grumpy! 

Enjoy your weekend!! 

"No-Sew" Sewing for Your Classroom





Holy Humid!

I don't know where you are reading this from, but hopefully it is from somewhere cool and breezy AND DRY!

When I left to walk this morning, it wasn't too bad- but by the time I left the house to run errands around 8am it was so humid that it took your breath away when you walked out the door. WTH?

We didn't even go to the pool today- there was no sense in going- you were already wet when you walked off the porch!

So it was a good day to get caught up on some housecleaning (bleck).

I also read lots of blog and insta posts about redecorating the classroom! (That was in between cleaning jobs)

If you have fabric leftovers from all the decorating that you are doing, I have a VERY SIMPLE {and stress SIMPLE} way to make a great curtain for that little rectangle window on your door.

In our building, it became mandatory that the window be covered at all times.

No peeking.

Ever.

I guess I could have painted the window- but I wanted a pretty curtain.

And I wanted it to be "pretty" from both sides!!

Below are the directions from when I made it-

{Remember..... SUPER SIMPLE!}

First here is the finished product

(gotta have a goal)

Measure and cut the fabric to the size you need.

Take the two fabrics you are going to use and put them both

"pretty side" in (facing each other)

I folded the edges over (about an inch)

and just ironed a nice crease

(yes, I said "iron"- please forgive me)

After I got nice creases, I pulled them apart.

Leave the bottom fabric on the board (in my case it was the floor)- don't laugh, but

I don't even OWN an ironing board!!

One of the Littles actually asked, "Who did you borrow that from?"

when he saw me take it to school!-

Back to the craft-

You have pulled them apart, now take the fabric that was on the inside and lay it

on top of the piece that is still on the board.

Ok, now the "pretty sides" are both on the outside.

See that BEE-U- Ta-ful bottle of fabric glue sitting there?

Take that and run it along that inside crease that you made.

I pressed it with my fingers first-

then ironed it again (note to self- and all others....Do not let that iron

sit too long in any one spot)

Then I just let it dry, hanging on a chair!

But look at how clean those edges are!!

I couldn't have sewn it better myself!

So now  no matter what side you are on, you get to see the "pretty side"!

And this can be for ANY size curtain.

I made this two years ago and it was just  as perfect as the day I made it when I packed my room up at the beginning of this summer.

I love projects that are easy!

I have always thought that once the fabric goes up in the classroom, the room immediately starts to come together- then you have to do all that other teachery-stuff.

The stuff that makes you sweat and fuss and scream and cry....

ok, back to the fun stuff!

Enough about me

What's your favorite part of getting your classroom together? Would love for you to share!

Happy Decorating!

 

 

 

 

Easy Word Wall

Good Evening!

It is Monday!

I wish that meant something super special, but it doesn't.

No special dates on the calendar- not counting down to anything.

It's just Monday.

I have been "watching" everyone begin to get their rooms ready for the year! I even had to run up to my "old school" (that sounds weird) today to pick something up and there was a parking lot full of teachers who could not wait to get into their rooms and start getting them ready for the new school year. We start here on the 6th of August- so that is right around the corner!

It sort-of -(I stress sort of) kinda -almost -in -a- way made me sad that I do not have a room to prepare decorate this year.

As stressful as that part is, I think it is one of my favorites! Not always the fave of The Mr. though because sometimes it involved ALL NEW decorating- like new colors, more fabric, new containers..... I actually got put on "fabric restriction" once.

Sadness.

I thought that if I couldn't share new ideas, that I might be able to share a few things that have worked for me in the past- and maybe, just maybe, it might be something that will help you out while you are trying to get your room ready for the year.

When I switched to pink/green/black my last year in first grade, I had to recover my Word Wall. And since I was documenting yard by yard what I was doing with all of the fabric, I shared how I was changing it.{ I will link the original post at the bottom of this one. }

There was never really  a place that I could make a my word wall home when I was in my first room (nine years ago) I had a huge blank wall, but I didn't want to have to fool with tape or Velcro.

So instead, I purchased a sheet of foam insulation. And I covered it with (what now looks like Day Glow) green fabric. I used my staple gun to get the fabric on, and then I used a little hot glue on the back.

Now, had it been free "hanging"' it would never have stayed on the wall with just the hot glue- but there was a counter top right below that held most of the weight. So the hot glue was just sort of tacking it into place.

When I moved to my new room, there was an air conditioner right below that space that I wanted my Word Wall to live. Instead of hot glue this time though, I used six command strips. Yep, just six.

When words moved from the easel to the board, I just used my stapler. And they stayed.

 

The board even moved with me when I made my move to fourth. I just added a few more strips!



Super easy to do! And it doesn't necessarily have to be a word wall, it could be any type of bulletin board. The main thing for me was the fact that it stayed in place and all the cards that I put on it did, too!

 

This was originally posted as Word Wall Woes Wiped Away back in August of 2012. (Seems like it wasn't that long ago!)

 

Check back over the next week to see other projects that  might help you out!

 

Happy Monday!

Five for Friday {July 18}

Hello, Friday. Nice to see you again. Although I would be happier to see you if you hadn't shown up the way you did. I mean, you sneak up on all of us, and then you have the nerve to waltz in at only 77 degrees just covered in clouds. You do know that it is July 18th, right Friday?
Just checking.
Let's just try to get your crap together before next week rolls around, 'cause two Fridays without the pool are unacceptable.

I am linking up today with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the Five for Friday- even if there wasn't any sun to take pics in.

I did take advantage of the cool weather and opened up the windows to get some fresh air blowing through here. I stayed in bed for a bit and finished Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens. I discovered her after I read all of Gillian Flynn's novels and asked for recommendations. Courtney from Swimming into Second recommended her- so I ran out- bought the first two, read one of them in ONE DAY! I am starting Always Watching when I finish this post.

 

Let's see, Pic #2 is from dinner. We made "Elvis" sandwiches.
There was a 'friendly" sandwich competition while we were at the beach with our family this summer. Even though my entry was delicious, and the others put a lot of hard work into theirs, this was the one that ALL the children declared the WINNER.
I personally don't think it is fair to intro peanut butter AND bacon on the same entry where children are involved. She may as well have covered it in chocolate syrup and sprinkles!!!!
{wait, there's an idea}

I would show you an end result, beautifully crafted sandwich- but there aren't any to speak of! They didn't last long at all. I even drove a nice warm sandwich up to Chickadee because she was at work. She was giddy when she came to the car and squealed "I'm gonna see if I can go on break RIGHT NOW!" {she had been at work for an hour}
{And yes, she works at a restaurant, and yes, I take her food. I know- it's weird.

I don't have many more exciting things that I photographed today.  After I got some time to relax reading, I had to play chauffeur for a bit.
Some of you may have seen who watches me leave and return all day.
This is new to him. The piece of furniture that used to be in front of this Little's window has been moved. So now Barkley has prime-people-stalking-property right up there in front of the house.

He has also discovered that his little behind actually fits on the window sill! He currently is the new neighborhood watch!

I did have a little in between time to start a new project today. I can't read with any background noise. (I am THAT teacher at PDs who WAITS for everyone to stop talking so that I can read what we are supposed to be reading. I swear, I take NOTHING in if I hear other stuff while I am reading)
So when The Mr. is watching baseball or soccer or something else that I am not interested in, I can crochet. This keeps me in the room with him vs. leaving to read in another room.
Crocheting has saved our marriage- not really- but it sure makes me look interested in what he is watching. {brownie points}

Reading back over this, it seems my cloudy Friday was a little fuller than I had originally thought. Here's to hoping that yours was great and that the sun returns tomorrow!

WTH Wednesday Returns!

Happy Summer, Ya'll!
It has been over a month since my last post- so much has been going on!

I'm not complaining- we were gone for a week of that month at the beach in OBX.

HOLY RELAXING! This is our second year to meet family there.

Why the heck have we not gone EVERY year??? Oh Wait, I remember!

Cause the Littles were still little! We currently travel "kid paraphernalia" free! They even pack their own bags!

 
 This is the house that the MIL rented for the week- that's our room. We slept with our door open most nights just so we could hear the ocean all night. {and then it rained really horribly one evening and the floor got kind of wet...} I digress...

It was a week long adventure that I wouldn't trade for the world! We got to hang out with cousins that we don't see too often. We did a little ghost crab hunting. We watched the sun set. I swam past the first break- I know WHAT THE HECK was I thinking??

And we played games and had food competitions- 

{my egg salad was a hit}

Only 339 days until we return.

It was time for the 4th when we returned. So we headed to a neighboring state fair for fun and fireworks. 

I was kind if dreading it because of all of my healthy choices lately. 

And wouldn't you know it, you can smell funnel cakes and corn dogs from MILES away! At least I can- I may have been part bloodhound in a previous life.

I thought this pic was funny because he was hesitant to ride and then when he got on, the ride got stuck! 

(I really DIDN'T think it was funny. In fact, I think I may have had a for reals anxiety attack. And for the rest of the night, I could "feel" rides that they weren't even on! It was just an overwhelming sense of tense and jittery combined)

We did make it all better by heading over to the wrestling event that was at the fair. 

Where the heck have these been all my life!?!?

We had a blast!

By the time fireworks came around we were too tired to go sit and watch, so we "ooed and awed" as we walked back to the van!! 

So that takes us from when I last blogged to the fourth. 

Hmmmmm- there's two weeks from the fourth til now.

Somewhere in between there- some BIG decisions were made.
Like life changing ones.

It has been coming for awhile- change, that is. I needed to make a choice about my next steps, OUR next steps as a family.

WHAT THE HECK are you doing, Squirrels?!?!?

Well, with a clear head and plan in place, I resigned from my classroom position on July 8th.
{I know, right! Is she crazy?}

Kinda.

On that same day, I was hired by my system as  a substitute teacher. And I am currently working on the paperwork to get back in school and finish my Masters.
Insane.

I have the support of all the Littles and The Mr. Littlest Little is sad that I won't be in his school full time- but I will be there often enough.

I just felt like the time was right- they are all  big enough that I can do this.
I hope I am big enough that I can do this! Me in the classroom? Yikes! I'm a teacher's worst nightmare- at least I am mine!!! Ha! Seriously though, I am excited about getting into all these classrooms! I can go to high schools, middle schools, different elementary schools. I have only taught in this one for the last 10 years- so it will be cool to see what's going on out there!

For now though, they have three weeks of summer of left. So we have it on our calendar to make sure that we are soaking up all the sun we can, pool days, water park days, bike rides, etc.The Lazy River attendant KNOWS that when Squirrels floats around to the beginning, she is NOT trying to get out- just push her back into the current and let her float!
 

Hope that everyone is having a great summer, too!!!