Made Me Smile Today

Happy Monday! This morning my class and I discussed which day of the week was our favorite. No one seemed to like Mondays, but they don't bother me too much. What do you think about Mondays?
Either way, I had a moment today that made me smile.
During read aloud, we are reading Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin and everyone is enjoying it very much. I have one student who doesn't mind reading, but doesn't get too excited, ask for read aloud each day. Today he informed me that he isn't excited for read aloud anymore. I thought that my heart was going to be ripped out, but then he said,
"I don't think that Rose is going to get what she wants and that stinks."
He is invested in the character and the story!

I don't know how the story ends, but I am hoping that Rose and my student get what they want!

Long Time No Blog

Hello! It's been a few days and boy have they been busy! I am pretty excited about today since I have the whole day ahead of me without any plans! At first I wasn't sure what to do with myself! Monsters Inc. is providing background while I explore my blog world some. Thanks to these ladies, I was motivated to write my own blog post!

What I have been up to lately:

I have been hanging out with my two boy friends the past two weeks. We have gone on a few walks, cuddled and had some gratifying tummy rubs.

Molly came to visit this weekend to do our "traditional" St. Patrick's Day 5k and she made two new friends. Molly laid down on the floor to give Wellington lovins and before anyone knew, they were cuddled up! I think both dogs were sad to see her leave this morning.

I've:
~ been dreaming about projects
~ sharing cups of tea with old friends
~ getting to know Rose and Rain with my students
~seeing my students grow as writers while they do a better job at the Slice of Life Challenge than I am
~laughing with my sister over a giant strawberry sopapilla
~made a new friend
~told parents how proud I am of their child

This next week my biggest adventure is our first round of state testing. The rest of the time I hope to find some other adventures and get a few things checked off of my to-do list!

What have you been up to lately?

March 2015 TBR List

Here we are again looking at another month! This is the time of year when I start writing 2014 on everything instead of 2015 since the excitement of the new year is gone. It is also where we face some of our snowier days and I tend to read more when it snows.

What I didn't get read in January, I got caught up in February! It's been a big month for reading! Here's what I read in February:

• Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library 
• Crossover (the 2015 Newbery winner and a book with a one-word title) 
• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry 
• The Green Mile (A book with more than 500 pages)
• Where the Red Fern Grows (my traditional read aloud. I think I was the ONLY one crying!)

Adventures to come:

Current read and am LOVING it! I wish that my cold wasn't keeping me from reading because I really want to be reading! I love the voice. Plus I like that the story takes place during Hurricane Katrina, since I (nor have my students) haven't read anything set during that time.

My sister's new job found her traveling which found me dog sitting the two rat dogs (that is my term of endearment for them...really.) As my payment/thank you, I asked her to get me a book each time she traveled. This one came from Austin, Texas. Have I mentioned that I was born in the wrong era? 

This book is part of the Reread 2015 plan. I didn't read this one that long ago, but liked it a lot. If I remember correctly, it only took me a day to read.

Santa brought me this book off of my wish list! I have probably read more James Patterson books than I have any other author. It helps that he writes a book a week! Still making my way through the Alex Cross series.

I grew up reading The Babysitter's Club by Ann M. Martin, so I was excited when my class voted for this as our next read aloud. I hope it is good!

Going to read this one with the sisters. I am having a hard time finding a copy and I am still trying not to buy anymore books. Thankfully, my librarian loves me and is on the search for a loaner.

Whoa, that's a big list for a busy month! We will be starting state testing this month and since everything is so new, I don't know what to expect. This may cut into my reading time. OR it could be my escape from such a crazy month!

What is on your March TBR list? 

They're Excited, I'm Excited, We're All Excited

Again I have found myself with something every night it seems lately and my poor blog has taken a hit! I was pretty excited when I found myself some time and something to write about!

Recently a former student has been asking me if I was going to participate in the 2015 Slice of Life Challenge. I did it last year along with four girls and enjoyed the project. I wasn't sure if it was something I wanted to do this year since I can't seem to keep my head above water and didn't want to add one more thing. She brought it up again, so I thought I would throw it out to my class this year and see what would happen. I had one little girl in mind who I thought would love this project. And let's face it, sometimes we do things for that one student.

14 students!

So I guess we are doing it! They wanted to start today, and I told them they could, but the official challenge starts on the first. It was great to see their excitement!

I too am going to participate. I don't think I will do so at Two Writing Teachers and through my blog, because I am just afraid it will be too stressful to have that kind of commitment. I can write easier in a notebook that I can carry with me. Plus I am afraid that I won't have very interesting things to slice about for a whole month. Excuses I know.

The checklist has been made. The notebooks have been decorated and now Ms.Wilson needs to buy some prizes. Fourteen prizes to be given three times during the month might be a challenge! If you have any ideas for prizes, let me know!

Celebrating Scott Wilson

Happy Saturday! So glad to celebrate with Ruth Ayres and friends this week.

Today I celebrate this guy:

Today is his birthday! Many years ago a little red headed boy was born and everyone who walked by said, "Oh look at the little red headed baby on Valentine's Day!" (I have to tell that story every year in honor of my grandmother.)

I celebrate the man who:
Sends silly pictures to make you feel better,

Listens all year and showers you with gifts.

Remembers every tree he stood under.
Knows all the good places to take a drive.

Taught us how to camp and enjoy eating in the great outdoors.

 Helped me move into my very first house and then explore the beauty around.

Loves his family.

Happy birthday Scotti! I love you to the more than mashed potatoes.

{2014}

When Fathers Get to Pick

YES! I have NOTHING planned tonight! I can do whatever I want, and what I want is to sit and write a blog!

Today we had our Valentine's Day party at school, and there was excitement everywhere. I was handing out pieces of tape to students to hang up their envelopes when one little girl in line says,
"I don't want to hand out my Valentines."
"Why not?"
"Their stupid."
"What do you mean? What are they?"
"Hello Kitty," she answered with a wrinkle of her nose.
"Why did you pick them out if you didn't like them?"
"It isn't my fault! It's my dad's! He picked them out!"

I couldn't help but giggle. This little girl is not a Hello Kitty kind of girl. I then told her the story of my dad picking out my first pair of glasses.

When I was in the third grade I started the eight year process of braces and the life long journey of glasses. The world should have felt sorry for me for sure! I still remember both doctors appointments to begin the process of getting braces and getting glasses. For some reason my dad was the one who picked out my first pair of glasses. Now keep in mind that it was the late 80's/early 90's, but dad came home with clear plastic frames with colorful confetti and hot pink temples.

I don't have a picture of the actual pair, but these are very similar. You will at least get the idea.
I think that I liked them at the time, but looking back now, they were horrible!

This story makes me smile, because I can imagine my dad and this young girl's dad standing in front of many different options fretting about picking out the right one. They wanted to please their little girls. like all good fathers do.

SOL #6 ~ Random Ramblings

Hello! It feels like it has been forever since I blogged. It has only been a week, but it has been a long week with something every day/night! I helped out with brain bowl practice and competition, went on a walk with a friend, baby sat for a friend, played cards and had dinner with a friend, shared some chicken with another friend, and just been blessed in general with spending time with those I love.

Share your slice and read others
at Two Writing Teachers

This week isn't as crazy, but do have a lot on the calendar. Thankfully SOL fell on the Tuesday that I don't have anything! I graded papers with Kris and then we went and celebrated Taco Tuesday (even though Kris seems to refuse to actually eat tacos on Taco Tuesday) and now I am sitting on the couch watching the last half of the Grammy Awards that I just couldn't stay awake for on Sunday night.

Well, I thought I had more to say, but I think that's all I have. Plus I have four sets of tests to grade, so I better get busy. I hope that you aren't having too crazy of week and can enjoy some time just to be.