Play Day

*Heart Flutter* I love to see things like this!

 

Today we had our Play Day (field day) at the school. Thankfully we had good weather until the very last event and even then it was short lived. I had a lot of fun today and pretty sure that I won the teacher of the year award for participating in the dance station. I was pretty cool for knowing the Macarena. I had to explain to them that I wasn't much older than they are when it came out. Doing it was like ridding a bike!

 

The students were very excited to show me all their tricks and accomplishments over the year. Each station was something that they had worked on at some point during the year. I was impressed with their mad hula hoop and jump rope skills!

 

Amazed at how well they get along while jump roping!

 

Thankful Thursday

Lately I have been thankful for:

 

Teacher appreciation gifts.

 

Card games that help students practice their math skills.

 

 

The Tiger Parent Organization that spoils us all year long, but especially during Teacher Appreciation Week.

 

 

Having friends to discuss books with. Books are meant to be shared.

Napping: Pleasure or Curse

No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap.

-Carrie P. Snow

 

 

Today I took a four hour nap. Now you are thinking that I must have had a rough day. Not really. Next you might be thinking that there isn't anything wrong with a four hour nap. I agree, there isn't. Unless it starts at 4:30 in the afternoon!

 

I don't know what happened! I laid down to rest for a few minutes and before I knew it, it was 8:30! That's normally the time I am thinking about going to bed.

 

It is now 3:01 a.m and I have sought after sleep since about ten. Epic fail.

 

I have caught up on all of my Internet interests, played a few games and thought about all the things I need to do both at home and school, along with plans for the summer and the next school year.

 

Wednesday could be a very interesting day for everyone involved in the 4th grade!

 

P.S I hope that I am not giving naps a bad name

Just as Long as We're Together

Today I had a "this is why I teach" moment. On Wednesday last week, I recommended "Just as Long as We're Together" by Judy Blume to a student. I know that Judy Blume's books can sometimes be taboo (I just finished reading Forever and informed my fourth grade students that they were not allowed to read it until they were 40,) but I felt that she would really connect to the book. She acted like I gave her a million dollars! All she did this weekend was read and came to school full of comments and wanted to talk about it all morning, even in the middle of math!

Once we had a chance to actually talk about it, she told me that she really felt like this book touched her and she wanted her own copy. She promised me that she would read it again when she got older. She felt that she could connect to the characters and that it may prepare her for things to come.

I have gone ahead and arranged for her to have her own copy. I love these moments when kids get excited and find their own *heart flutter*

What book made a difference in your life, either as a child or as an adult?

Favorites Friday

Some of my favorite things:


Celebrating the end of the week with Breakfast Burrito Friday.

 

Naming and loving on OTHER people's animals.

 

 

Walking down country roads with friends on a beautiful spring day.

 

 

Eating popcorn, sipping wine and sitting on the porch swing.

 

 

 

Spreading Love

 

As I mentioned yesterday my sister sent my class a letter in response to their letter to her. In the letter was a little something for me too! OH my! What a *heart flutter* that was! She had come up with a list of 30 reasons she loved that I was her sister. I will share a few with you. (They are all so good, but you wouldn't understand all of them.)

• You only like to ride on one side of the car
• You taught me naughty words in sign language
• You smell good
• You save stuff on your DVR for me
• You push me to embrace my  inner artist
• You help me find my successes
• You call me "Erin Molly"

I have read over this list numerous times today and my *heart flutters* every time I read it! I even shared it with a few of my students who are kindred spirits.

My students loved getting a response in the mail and felt special also. It just goes to show that even a small task can make a world of difference!

*Heart Flutter* number two for the day. We had our field trip today and while walking along with one of my students she said to me, "Ms. Wilson, I know why you planned this field trip today. You aren't grumpy on Thursdays!" Oh how scary it is how much they notice and listen to me! Thursday's are usually a pretty good day for me and it was neat how she had noticed that or listened when it was talked about over the year.

Challenge: Make a list for someone special in your life and give it to them. You will be surprised at the impact it will make!

May Day

Once again May first and May Day have snuck up on me. For a few years now I have wanted to do something for this fun day even though I have not ever received or given a May basket. Sadly, since it is such a crazy time of year, the day is upon me before I can get anything together!

Today Mother Nature has blessed us with big, fluffy, wet snowflakes! It snowed most of the day but wasn't too cold. I am thankful for the moisture even though it is keeping me from wearing my Chacos and sitting on my newly remodeled porch swing. I do worry about our field trip tomorrow to the Wildlife Sanctuary, but if nothing else, it will be an adventure.

Today I have a fun *heart flutter* to share with you! Not too long ago, my sister was having a hard time and I wanted to send her a smile. So I had all of my students sign a card for her and we mailed it. Well today, in my mailbox at school, I found a response! My students are going to be so excited. They really like my sister and talk about her often. I had to contain myself and not open it yet until the kids are with me.

 

 

Thank you Erin Molly for the *heart flutter* and making my students and myself smile!