Not Your Everyday Hand Sanitizer

So the first week of school I have a student compliment me on my Lilly skirt. And now I receive this from another cutie pie...


I mean, how cute can hand sanitizer get?! (Honestly, I never thought I'd ask that question... LOL)

Bevy

Monogram Friday... Read on, you'll get it!

Remember when when you were in college and you had a t-shirt for EVERY OCCASION OF YOUR LIFE???  I had fraternity party t-shirts, band party t-shirts, my girls' school (to be PC:  women's college) party weekend shirts, other college (especially if I dated a boy who went there) t-shirts... OMW, I'm surprised we didn't have one for every time we breathed!  I have since removed myself from all of these worn items. (Except for one, and that's another story!)  I am just not a t-shirt kind of girl any more.  Guess that's because I am a (very) early 40s lady now.

Thus, the dilemma arose every school year for me:  the school t-shirt dilemma.  Every Friday, we teachers are allowed to wear jeans - as long as we are wearing a C******** C***** Elementary t-shirt or a shirt that has the school name on it.  (And those are usually those asexual non-preppy polo type shirts.  Yuck.)  I know this promotes school spirit, and I know that it is a little treat we are given.  I just don't do t-shirts.  And as much as I love, love, love my school, I just don't do t-shirts.

So what's a preppy teacher to do?  Well, I came up with an amazing plan last year. (And my wonderful principal did approve it!)  You see, I love a good monogram on a cute scoop neck Eddie Bauer or Tarjay tee.  So... take a peek at what my monogram is every Friday!

Score one for preppy teachers everywhere! 
(And a big smoochie for my BFF who did the monogramming...)

Born to Hand Jive Baby!

It is that time of year, and I have loved reading about what you and those of you who have children are doing as the school year is ending. This year is rather bittersweet as Sumter is leaving the elementary school he has loved ever since we moved here. Although he is looking forward to middle school, he does not want his fifth grade year to end. (And our last day is Thursday!) For the fifth grade production this class did a medley from the musical Grease. How cute they all looked! Sumter was so cool in his white t-shirt and jeans like a T-Bird. And the girls were all precious in their Pink Ladies get-ups!

Here is Sumter and a Pink Lady cutie-pie!
(This was post-show and he had already untucked his t-shirt.)

These cute kiddos also did an amazing waltz for the
fourth and fifth grade chorus number
immediately before their production.
It's only 15 seconds, so you MUST SEE IT!!!

Sumter and his fellow T-Birds

If you have more than 15 seconds, here is "Hand Jive". 

The kids really didn't sing, they just danced their little fannies off!

It really was great and I was so proud.  Other songs they danced to were "Grease Lightnin", "Beauty School Drop-out", "Those Magic Changes", and finally, "We Go Together".  How fitting that was the last song they performed together as a grade as that was the last song in the musical!  Sumter and his buds were happy, but were also a little sad.  Glad they still have the summer!

What's in Your Wallet?

Three more days… and half days at that!  Which really just means babysitting and coming up with “educational activities” for the children to do between the parties, grade level plays/musicals, and awards celebrations.  What’s a teacher to do?

Well, I actually DID do something for the past week that I hope and pray will be a life lesson for my fourth graders.  (And it did tie in with our Math standards!)  I borrowed from Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.  (If you don’t know about him, you need to!  My husband and I took his class last year.) My students learned how to budget, write checks and use debit cards, and were introduced to the evil “Overdraft Monster” and his partner-in-crime, the “Interest Oppressor”.

Below is a copy of the checkbook and Debit Card we made.  (Sorry the quality isn’t that great… took it with my cell phone!)

It was great teaching them about how debit cards are much safer and have less risk than the evil credit card.  They even started calling it the “C Word” and yelled it out whenever I said the word “credit card”!  We calculated how much the “Interest Oppressor” charged if you only made your minimum credit card payment each month… and were shocked that a $199.00 IPod Touch would actually be $225.00 and would take one year and three moths to pay off!  You might not even want it anymore!  You might want a new version!

These children learned the value of saving their money and the idea of delayed gratification.  It was funny hearing the stories they told about their parents…  Made me think I need a few parent/teacher conferences!  (Or maybe not… Pawley’s Island is calling me name…)

Tuesday's Kitchen Inspirations

We are celebrating the countdown to summer with decorated numbers on our refrigerator.  I printed out the numbers in fun fonts and Jackson colored them.

We are on "Days until school's out... 6".  

How can this NOT be inspiring?!?!?!

 

She Said I Had a "Dream Class"

I wasn't planning on writing a "Part II" to my last post.  However, I received many more than a few posts about how important manners are to all of you... and a few bemoaning the manners of today's children and the fact that our schools are not doing enough to help with the epic proportions of disrespect and gratitude among our children today.  Just wanted to let you know that a few teachers are doing their part, yours truly included. 

A few days ago, I had quite a scare in my classroom:  I thought my computer had a virus.  I totally teach through my computer and Smartboard.  Horrors!!!  The IT person from the district (God bless her!) finally came in the midst of my teaching my fourth graders and had to interrupt me to ask questions throughout the twenty or so minutes she was there.  When she left, she commented to me, "You have a dream class.  I have never seen such polite students."

She is right.  I do have a dream class.  (Sure, they drive me crazy sometimes, but they are nine and ten-year-olds!)  In all my years, I have never had a bad class.  Never.  As a whole, I have always had a good, if not dream, class.  And I'm going to tell you why.

1. I expect my students to have good manners.  I expect them to say "yes, ma'am" and "no, ma'am".  If they don't they have to repeat themselves until they do.   My class discipline letter states this as well.  In it, I tell the parents that it conveys an atmosphere of respect.  Our town has many northern transplants, and I have yet to have any parent complain.  I also tell them that I expect "please" and "thank you" from each student as I will use those words with the children as well. 
2. Our classroom rules are created by the students.  Every year, we come to the conclusion that all rules are based on treating others with respect and showing them good manners.  Therefore, the class always includes one that says "We will only say things to others that will make them feel good."  (Too bad all the kids from those horrible Disney and Nick shows don't follow that rule...)
3. Whenever we have a speaker/visitor come to our class (we've had three so far), I have every student write a "thank you" letter.  We brainstorm on specific things we learned or enjoyed from their visit.  Every letter must be at least five sentences and share how much they appreciated the visit.  This teaches gratitude and showing it to others.  The children love hearing about how much the recipients enjoy their letters - and I get a writing grade!
4. I am "Mom" from 7:30 until 2:15.  I will love them like a mom, and only expect the best from them... like a mom.  Sometimes when I get onto them, I tell them, "I'm treating you just like I treat Sumter and Jackson."  They laugh and say, "That's because you are OUR mom from 7:30 until 2:15!" 

Now I can't speak for all teachers - or all schools for that matter.  As a matter of fact, I wish our school had more to say about manners.  But I can't wait for everyone else.  I have double duty as a parent and teacher.

And... I love having a "dream class".

Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally

OK, how many of you remember that phrase?  If you can, you'll get 5 extra points on your next Math test!  Let me jog your memory... think back to fifth grade.

Evaluate  8 + (2 x 5) x 3⁴ ÷ 9 

Please - Parentheses

Excuse - Exponents

My - Multiply

Dear - Divide

Aunt - Add

Sally - Subtract

I have been sitting in the dining room with our fifth grader, Sumter, going over his homework.  Thank goodness he has my math genes and thinks that math is just a big puzzle.  I can remember working out the problems, making sure I did all the operations in the correct order - and loving the challenge.  (Oh no!  I was a math nerd!)

Sumter is putting together a few problems for me to do.  I'll let you know tomorrow if I still have the math "edge".  Oh... and did you get the right answer?