HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

I would like to take the time to say Thank You to all the veterans for giving their time, leaving their families to protect everyone elses’, and most importantly, I would really like to thank the one who have given their lives. Happy Memorial Day to everyone!

Nathaniel Bacon, William Berkeley, & Susquehannock

If you’re a history buff, then you know how these three guys relate to each other. If you’re not, then here’s the skinny. In 1632, William Berkeley was governor of Virginia. Nathaniel Bacon, a wealthy plantation owner, was his right hand man. Bacon (of the famous Bacon’s Rebellion) wanted the Indians land. However, since Governor [...]

What Will My Quickening Experience Be Like This Year!!!

What will my Quickening experience be this year? I am so looking forward to this. I am eagerly awaiting the experience. I remember the first year when I had my Quickening experience. I could not believe how intense the experience was. It was like all the information I was trying to absorb during the year [...]

This Time…

So many times I’ve begun this journey; so many times I’ve failed. Oh, but this time would be different, I told myself. And somehow, I knew that it would be. Today, May 18, 2011, is the re-beginning of my journey. Yes, I did say re-beginning. Hello, New Beginning!

Ghirardelli For Everyone!

My 4th graders are finishing up Chapter 9 in their Social Studies book, “Oh, California”. One of the immigrants we’re studying, who came to California to seek his fortune in the gold mines, was Domenico Ghirardelli. Thankfully for all you chocolate lovers out there, he didn’t make his fortune in gold. He made it in [...]

A McGyver-Like Presentation!

You know how McGyver was able to make a bomb from a chocolate bar, a rubber band, & something else? Well, that’s what I felt like yesterday. I was able to throw together a presentation from some string and two pieces of bubblegum. Well, it wasn’t that drastic, but I only had a granola bar, [...]

It Still Surprises Me!

It sill surprises that all my students bought into my classroom management system. I use Lakeshore Learning money. They get so excited during payday. They relish counting their money. They count it like it’s real. Even though I’ve been using the Lakeshore classroom money for three years now, it still surprises me how much they [...]

What I Like About You!

Since it is nearing the end of the year, I”m thinking about the beginning of next year. So, today I polled my students and asked them what they wanted to change about the class. This is what they said they did not like about the class: Slow internet connection, Not enough field trips, No math [...]

It Took All Year, But…

It took all year, but Olive Boy has finally come around. He has stopped the incessant arguing while I’m trying to help him. He easily admits his faults now & takes responsibility for them. I had a rough year with him, but it is so nice to see the results of all the work I’ve put into him. [...]

Looking & Feeling Really Tired!

Lately, it seems no matter how much sleep I get, it’s just not enough. More than one person today has commented on how tired I look. I would say that I really need to get some sleep, but I keep doing that and still feeling like I have not. I’m going to try it again [...]

What Do You Get When You Combine A Mother with A Teacher?!@#$

My daughter, being the Beggin’ Bessie that she is, keeps asking for money to join all these different websites. I, being the wonderful teacher that I am, did what any mother would do- I charged her the $4/monthly fee. (Only time will tell if she wants to spend her own money next month.) But before [...]

Just Do This!

My daughter, in all of her 9-year old wisdom, gave me an unsolicited answer to a very complicated question. “Well, Mom,” she said, “you can fix it if you just …” The rest doesn’t really need to be written. It’s what people do. They give unsolicited advice, thinking they’re helping by minimizing. Now, I’m not [...]

Happy 4th Blogiversary to Me!!!!

Happy Anniversary to me Happy Anniversary to me Happy Anniversary to meeeeeeeeeee Happy Anniversary to me! I cannot believe it was 4 years ago that I started this labor of love called Special 2 Me! I’ve been through a lot and I’ve documented it, to the tune of over 1400 posts. WOW! Here’s to four [...]

The Past and Present!

Oh, how I love PDs that actually get your juices flowing, motivates you and makes you raring to go. I had a PD today that did just that. It was a wrap-up of 6 months worth of writing instruction with a writing coach. I learned so much today and this whole year. I can’t wait [...]

Xtra Math.com

Just the other day, I posted about the summer slide and how to avoid it. Well, I discovered a great way to help combat it. Here’s the latest website that I signing Phillise up for. It’s called Xtramath.org. I’m also requiring my students to sign up for it for the summer. That way, I can [...]

Lakeshore Learning-Buy 1, Get 1 Half Off!

Here’s the newest coupon from Lakeshore. It’s valid from 5/21/11-5/22/11. Present this coupon at time of purchase. ©Lakeshore coupon code: 4005 Offer valid 5/21/11–5/22/11. Purchase one item at regular price and receive the second item of equal or lesser value at 50% off its regular price. Valid on in-store purchases only. Limit one coupon per [...]

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone. I hope your day was fantastic!

Examination of Conscience!

This post is in response to one of my posts from a couple weeks ago regarding Reconciliation. The student in question & I had a chat right before Confession on the day before Spring Break. He said that he wasn’t going to do confession. I called him and talked to him and told him that [...]

Behavior Challenges in the Homestretch

I just read an article by this name on the Responsive Classroom website. I’m happy that I found it because I am indeed having behavior challenges in the homestretch. And here I thought I was the only one having this problem. The problems aren’t really bad. The main problems I have in my classroom is [...]

A Chat With A Grateful Parent

This post is a continuation of A letter from a grateful parent. At the Parent-sponsored Appreciation lunch, one of the parents thanked me for working with her son. She told me that she loves how far he’s come on an academic and personal level. She even said she sees a difference in all my students. [...]

A Letter From A Grateful Parent

Yesterday I had my students make birthdays cards for Peter’s mother. Well, today I got a pleasant surprise as Peter handed me a Thank You card from his mother. In the note, she thanked the class for the birthday cards & thanked me for doing such a fantastic job with her son. It felt really [...]

Resources for Transcontinental Railroad

If you use Houghton Mifflin’s Oh, California! there is a small poem regarding John Henry that is a perfect tie-in to Chapter 7 (which is all about building the transcontinental railroad). If your students are anything like my students, then they will become curious about John Henry. Thankfully, I already have the John Henry Book [...]

4th Grade Gold Rush Resources

This is one resource I found to be especially useful for researching the CA gold rush and Civil War. The title of the book is The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War by Leonard L. Richards. ISBN #: 978-0-307-26520-3

You Betta’ Recognize! (or Looking At Pocahontas Through New Eyes!)

Since my 5th graders are studying Pocohantas, John Rolfe, & the colonists, I wanted them to watch Pocohantas before Spring Break. However, I could not get my hands on it. I tried frantically to find anyone with a VHS tape or DVD of Pocahontas, to no avail. Many told me they had it, but no [...]

Snap Back to Reality, Part Whatever!

Yes, I am back from Spring Break. The break was way too short. I definitely could have used more time. That’s okay, though, there are only about 7 weeks left in school. Boy, I cannot wait for summer. This summer, I am putting Phillise in cheerleading with my niece. Not only that, but she’s going [...]