Hollywood Ending!

So I have done an end of the year celebration/awards ceremony since my 2nd year teaching.  I love throwing a celebration for the kiddos and it's a great way to close the year out!  After two years of a luau theme I decided to change it up.  The reason I decided to change it up....

Have you heard of Sarah Cooley?  She is the very first blogger I started following 2 1/2 years ago.  I love her.  There is absolutely nothing she puts out that is not age/grade level appropriate and, let's face it ca-uuuuuuute!

This little packets came with everything you would need for an end of the year party; end of the year memory book, autograph book, party signs, awards, and is filled with great classroom decor ideas!

Here's my twist to Sarah's party:

View from the door.  The shelving in the middle of the room kinda got in the way but we made do!

Here are our handprints.  I, sadly, had nowhere else to put these.  We just used our handprints on black construction paper.  Then, I wrote their names with a q-tip.  I hate how the names turned out but it had to do. :/  

I decided to make a "celebrity wall."  This is one of my gifts to the kiddos.  After asking what each kiddo wanted to be when they grew up, I wrote their answers on a small chalkboard and snapped a photo.  Then, I printed their names, cut 'em out, and viola!  Adorableness! 

And here's a view of the Hollywood snacks! Yumm!

I copied Sarah's idea of writing "Hollywood" on butcher paper with a wide paint brush.  It made the absolute perfect background for friend photos, award pictures, and everything else! :)   I got the red carpet from Party City! 

I had this stack of goodies on the tables for the parents to take home.  I stacked their Marvelous Monday Folders, Summer Packets, their Hollywood Ending Memory books, and a CD copy of our class movie and individual pictures.  Extremely time consuming making those CD's but I will always do it. The parents just love getting photos of their babies! :)

{If you swing by Sarah's blog or store, be sure to tell her I sent ya!} 

The party was a lot of fun but I am so glad it's over.  Now I have 3 half-days ahead {that's just 12 total hours} with my kinders. 

Happy {last} Tuesday...to me...and all the other teachers experiencing their last Tuesday! :)

Duck Dynasty Love

I know some of you lovely ladies love some Duck Dynasty!!

Well, one of my dear friends has entered her daughter in a contest to be in a commercial for the upcoming season.

The contest is coming to an end and it's getting really close.  I need your help.

Can you PLEASE go vote for sweet and precious KyleeRay?!

{how cute are those boots and tutu?? *love*}

You are allowed one vote every 24 hours. Now I know you do not know this adorable little girl or have any reason to help her win a contest, but I do know that you must love children {or you wouldn't be teaching} and you would love to help me out, right???!!! :)  

On a completely different note.  I have been slightly MIA lately because of a really exciting new adventure that I am taking on.  

Here's a sneak peek:

YAY! Happy Memorial Day {weekend}!  Be safe!

all from one

This is absolutely in no way school related.  I'm into my ears in end of the year movie making but took a break and snagged this:

I never realized that one little bikini top could do so much!  Who knew you could do so much with so little fabric! Simply genius! 

Try not to get all tangled up. :)

Off to finish up school work. 

9 days to go for me!!

AHA!

Five years of teaching and I finally got to see the lightbulb turn on! :)

I've experienced kiddos having those little 'aha' moments when things just finally 'clicked' but none to this magnitude!

Last Friday {yes, I realize it is 3 days later and I'm just getting around to sharing...busy much?}, I was working with a sweet little kinder on adding.  We have been adding/subtracting since the beginning of the school year.  This little sweetie has struggled ALL stinkin year on understanding the concept of addition.  It just didn't click with him.  I tried a bunch numerous different approaches/strategies/games, etc.. even had another kinder try to explain the concept of addition to the sweetie and nothing was working. 

I, honestly, had given up hope.  This sweet little buddy will be spending another year with me {which makes me one of the happiest teachers as he melts my heart} and even though I still work with him one-on-one and in small group, he has not been my 'main' focus the last couple weeks.  

Well, last Friday we practiced Gumball Math.  If you have not heard of Gumball Math then you need to check it out ASAP! It's a great way to get kiddos to practice their addition and subtraction fluency, all while making it a fun game/competition.  Since I'm kindergarten this year I am only having my kiddos complete the sums/differences to 5 pages.  I also started out by letting them complete the first page with no time limit. I just wanted them to practice.

Well, sure enough seconds into our practice round I get "Mrs Caffee {he leaves off the "Mc" part every.time.} I can't do it, help me!"

I told him I would only help him on three.  I first gave him the option to use cubes or use his fingers.  He chose cubes.  Fail.  He started building towers.  Onto fingers.  I first pointed to the top number and told him to hold up that many fingers.  Then pointed to the bottom number and told him to add that many more fingers and then to count them ALL TOGETHER {do you get that I really emphasized this part}.  He looked at me, looked at his fingers, and BAM! lightbulb moment.

We did the first three together and then I hear "No, no, let me do it by myself"

Okay.  Go for it! I watched him do the first one and he needed a little help.  Then the next one, I saw the lightbulb go off again.  This time, it was the "AHA"

His eyes got wide, he counted all his fingers to add the problem, and WHAM got it right!  I have never seen such a big smile from such a little boy!

We high-fived and he immediatley went on to complete the next problem.

This time he did a little happy dance, told me to "leave" that he wanted to do the next row all on his own.  I watched from a distance.  Proud teacher/mama moment.  The lightbulb stayed on.

Several minutes later he RAN up to me when he was finished and demanded I grade his paper.

He got them ALL RIGHT! Keep in mind, he only had to complete the first two rows.  We still have a ways to go.

This is his "I'm really overly excited and proud of myself but am kind've annoyed that you're making me take ANOTHER picture!" :)

This sweet little boy's mom left for basic training over a month ago.  His dad is also in the Army.  This picture was sent to his mommy via email.

He was so proud.

So was I.

{puffy heart} LOVE when I get to witness those "aha" moments!


Side note:
I finally updated my End of the Year Awards packet with black & white/grayscale pages and added a "Canadian Idol" award! :)
Check it out HERE!  Thank you for all the awesome feedback on the awards.  The kids and parents LOVE getting them!

End of the Year!

I can not tell you how excited I am that the end of the year is upon us! 

Granted it FLEW here, faster than most years, but it's here and I am glad. I have a whopping 16 days left of school and it sure does feel like it!

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say my kids are all kinds of crazy.  

Just think, at least you don't have to get observed tomorrow. :/ For your formal observation none-the-less.  Yes, you read that right.  I'm getting my formal observation for the year tomorrow!  With 16 days left of school!!!!!!

Please say a prayer for me.  I've done all the bribing I can do!

Along with that little bit of stress and tattle-talling kiddos, I'm excited to hand out these bad boys in just two short weeks:

I have given out these silly awards for the past two years and I LOVE them!

Even more so, the parents and kiddos LOVE them!!  They always put a smile on each face and I always hear a little chuckle from the parents. {love}

This packet contains 22 different awards, 2 versions of each {boy and girl specific}, AND I'm working on adding black and white versions of each {should be up in the next couple hours...go back and re-download}!  I've also provided you with a full page or half page size option! All you have to do is print, write, and laminate! 

PRESTO!

Even better news...it's on sale!

Only a couple hours left! Be sure to snag it up! I've spent a fortune already!

Appreciating those less appreciated!

We work.  We work hard.  We don't stop working at 3:15.  We spend half of our paycheck on things to make our workplace better.  We often go to work sick just because the thought of someone else doing our job makes us that much more nauseous.  We are underpaid and often under appreciated.

We are teachers.

This week is all about appreciating those who teach.  So first I must thank my MOM for being my ever present cheerleader!  Thank you to each and every one of you who has impacted my life in some way.  Thank you for making me a better teacher every single day {not just this week}!  :)

To celebrate us, TPT is throwing a wonderful sale starting tomorrow!

I've already got my shopping cart full and it is HEAVY! :)

I also wanted to join in on the fun with Christina and share some wonderful feedback.  Knowing my hard work is appreciated always makes me smile! Here's just a couple from one of my top sellers:

Thank you so much ladies for your kind words! They made my day! 

Join in on the fun with Christina and don't forget to start filling your cart!

Happy teacher appreciation week, friends! 

Currently!!!!

I am so excited about this currently because THIS currently means that I have 20 days LEFT!!!!  This school year has flown by and I am happy that it is coming to an end.  I love, love, love my kiddos but I am drained.

Ok.  Here we go...

The details: 

Thinking:  Well...my hubby and I are planning to start trying for a baby this summer.  For me, that means I have some seriously cleaning/organizing to do. I just won't be able to be "stress free" if I am not overly organized prior to!

YAY!

Wanting:  Well, I'll just say I have some possible new opportunities coming my way and I am really excited for it to all get started.  You will know soon enough friends and I hope you will join me in my excitement when the time comes! :)

Needing:  I'm heading to Tampa, FL {four hour drive for me} this weekend with the hubbers to see some friends and do a little Cinco celebrating on the water!! Living in FL does have its perks! :)

Bucket List:  I do have a mile long summer 'to-do' list but my real goal is to relax.  Find peace.  Take time to just let me be ME.  

With that said, I'm going to go cook my hubby some food and do other things that are not relaxing. :p

Happy **almost** Friday!