Headed on a jet plane.....

Vegas for a week baby! I'm so excited. This will be my 3rd time there. No blogging until after then.

I usually go on a trip each summer, ever since I was a little kid. I remember when I was 5 and visted my Oma in Germany (she's here right now and going with me to Vegas and my parents), I had to do homework for kindergarten.

As I grew older, I kept a travel journal and I love reading them now. I even recieved a cool camera that basically is a Kodak instant camera, but was for kids and was cool and the picture came out with stickers so I'd write something and stick the picture on the journal page.

Journaling is great for kids as they practice their writing skills, get out their thoughts, and have memories that will last forever as long as they have the journal/diary. So if you know a kid going on a journey, vacation, or traveling, help them out by telling them to journal. Even if it is a journal from the Dollar Store :)
I'll post a pic from my last trip. Pray for me that I don't get sunburned or heat exhaustion, it's going to be 109 degrees!

One of my fave pics I've ever taken in Vegas(ok so I've only been twice before this trip) and it looks fake almost.

The lions in the MGM. It's free and you walk under! I'm def going there this time.

When I get back, I'll post pics. I'm going to the Grand Canyon as well and possibly Death Valley. Yay!

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Busy bee

So the last few days have been nuts. The Germans (aka my Oma and her friend) are here and will be here for a month. My dad retired yesterday. It was an amazing party with tons of people; in fact the room was full and people were out in the hall! Shows you how my dad has impacted the community *wipes away a tear*

And then Relay for Life is tomorrow and Saturday. Tomorrow is my Oma's friend's b-day. Saturday after Relay I have an open house at a friend who shares my b-day with me as he has come back from the flying fighter jets. Also a BBQ that day.

And Sunday I pack for Vegas Baby and will be in Vegas for a week. Whew! I almost need a vacation for my vacation lol. I am a busy bee!

Hmm can't think of anything teacherish at the moment so I will post a recipe instead :)

3 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour (that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) mini chips would be the best
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

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Always thinking like a teacher

Even though I don't have my own classroom, I'm always thinking like a teacher. I'll be at the store and see someething and think, "Oh! That would make a great __________ for the class" or "that would be perfect for __________".  

I do sometimes get asked by teachers for ideas since I work  in several schools and 2 different school districts. My non-teacher friends always joke around how I'm 'such a teacher' or 'there goes the teacher' lol. I don't mind, I take it as a compliment.


So it's no surprise when I'm sitting at my dad's desk (most likely the last time ever, see retirement blog) and I ask him what he's taking home or what he's leaving and I spot his rolodex and I thought of a brilliant idea. I asked him if he was taking it and he said, "It's all yours!"

So my idea is this.....the Rolodex already has the alphabet in it for sorting names...and it has a lot of spots for cards, so why not make it a sight word/vocab wheel of fun? So for the  younger grades, put sight words...plus it'll be in alphabetical order, or better yet, have the kiddos put them in the slots to work on order. For the older kids, they can put vocabulary words on a card, maybe draw a picture on the back or something, and then tada! You have a wheel of vocab/sight words and you know the kids will have fun turning the wheel to find a word :)  This could probably even be used for word work (Daily 5!) 

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Tooth Time

Well I had a root canal, yikes! Not fun but wasn't too painful. My cheek was swollen and now I'm dealing with the tooth being a bit sensitive. I go back in tomorrow to get a filling or two and to double check on the tooth and get fit for a crown (hmm a crown...does that mean I'm really royalty? lol).


So in honor of going to the dentist, I created a tooth tally chart. Keeping track of how many teeth students have lost is fun. And I know for most states, kiddos need to know how to tally, so you can get two birds with one stone with this!   It's really simple layout....you could even put it on a tooth shape paper or cardboard or something. I've also seen teachers with little tooth cutouts and put them in the calendar and write the kid's name on it and then they can take it home.

So here is the link:  Tooth Tally   I made it 2 pages. The first page, the months are in the order most schools are in. The second page has the months in order chronologically.


Oh and before I forget...in my blog that had the 'Round the Room Reading link (my blog title was Ok...), I finally got it to say 'share' on Google docs  so anyone with the link can go look and the title should be straight now woohoo!

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Mmm peanut butter

I apologize if you have nut allergies but I HAVE to post this recipe.  I've bene making this a long time and it is my most requested recipe to bring to get-togethers. It's easy and not that many ingredients and is delicious!

Krispie Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of corn syrup
12 oz crunchy peanut butter (creamy works ok too, but crunchy is better)
5 cups of Rice Krispies

Recipe:
Cook and mix sugar and corn syrup in pot over medium heat until the mixture is somewhat clear and not too grainy. Add in the peanut butter. Remove from heat. Mix in the rice krispies. Spread into wax paper lined 9x13 pan and press into bars. Let it cool. Enjoy!

 

Ok....now for something 'teacherish' lol. I was shopping yesterday and saw one the 5th graders (well now they are actually 6th grade if you count it) and he completely ignored me...but I know he knew who I was as I am always at his school and have been in his class several times the last few years. He was just acting too cool lol. I swear they get an attitude when they go to middle school, so hats off to middle school teachers! That's why I purposely got elementary only in my license. 

 

If you have any requests for recipes, let me know :)

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Family

Well Sunday (my birthday) we had a family reunion and though at times I was bored, I was also interested.
See, everyone had 2 minutes to talk for a family video we made. Well some people talked way longer than scheduled lol.  Mine was brief and they even applauded for my birthday hehe :)

I knew this side of the family came from the Czech Republic but I learned a lot more. I learned they liked to use to make dandelion wine. And that they made amazing poppyseed pastries (no wonder why I love poppyseed so much, it's in my blood!)

I knew my grandma (she was the Krupicka) had 9 brothers and sisters and that her and 2 are living. Well all this piqued my interest so I did some digging around on ancestry.com...well rather the chatboard.

I found out that my great- grandfather Krupicka had 12 siblings! I found out his parents' names...and even my great great great grandfather's name! 

The most amazing thing was that I found my great-great grandfather's name on a ship manifest that went to Ellis Island... July 2, 1902. I am just so amazed. So now I'm trying to find info on my grandpa's side as they also came from the Czech Republic and I think I found my great-grandma on the manifest. All these people had passed away before I was born.

It's all so interesting! I've started writing down on my grandma's side, the family tree. Maybe I'll find a program to plug all the info in. Lots of kids and twins run in the family. Oregon, Texas, Illinois, and Minnesota are the main states they are in.  I may check out myheritage.com and try their free builder.Can't hurt anything :)

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Happy Birthday....to me!

I turn the big 26 today, lol.  I went out last night with some very good friends of mine and we went out to eat and just had a great time talking and eating.

Today is super busy and that is why I celebrated last night. I have a family reunion and several grad parties today. Which means I don't have to cook!  I do love cooking and baking but it's nice to have a break. Hmmmm never thought about posting recipes on here too....*grins* that'd be another good thing to do in case my Google docs thing doesn't work out lol.

Woke up to having my FB wall blasted with tons of birthday wishes. A gal could never feel so loved lol.  Parents said they don't have  a birthday present for me but are willing to go halvsies on an iPad! Woohoo. And I opened a card from my grandma from Germany (I'm her only grandkid) and the money I got will definitely help me with that...so I think an iPad it is!

First recipe (in honor of my birthday) are some chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies:

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3 cups oatmeal
• Waxed paper

Directions

In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened.

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Ok....

My first attempt on Google Docs. It looks fine to me but when I tested the link on my mom's computer the title looked a little off center....oh well.  Drat...I just clicked the link and it's still off center. Any tips? Ideas? I keep trying to adjust and it's frustrating me!!!!! Gah! Oh and I tried clicking so it's not private for just me and that you guys can save it but it says " Sorry, sharing is unavailable at this time. Please try again later."  Silly computer...don't you know it's lovely to share?

 Oh and I made W-Z closer together because I doubt you'll have that many things that start with those letters.


This is something that as a sub, I love if I need an extra filler.  Teachers can use this for word work (Daily 5 baby!)

Here goes nothing!

'Round the Room Writing

Oh and how do you guys make it nifty and show the pic of the document and then can click on it and go to Google docs? I still have much to learn from you blogging wizards lol. Thanks :)

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Another blog's give away!

Check out this amazing give away from KindergartenWorks:
Darn link with cute ticket  didn't work for me but here is the blog itself!  KindergartenWorks


Fantastic!

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Teacher Retirement

Today was the last day of school for my fave school district. There was a retirement party this afternoon for a 2nd grade teacher and a 3rd grade bilingual teacher. Both very lovely women. I was given a personal invitation by one but invited by everyone lol. See what I mean about them making me feel like family?

 I was so hoping the 2nd grade teacher's position would come open but then they had to do the moving of teachers and so that didn't come to be :( I went up to her after we ate, had cake , and all the speeches. She told me that her school is very lucky to have me as  a sub and that all the kids adore me and then we both started tearing up!

The 3rd grade teacher and I chatted and she said that any school would be lucky to have me and if they didn't hire me then they were stupid lol.

I did have a good time and I will miss them...I have phone numbers for a few of them and we are planning to me at some point in the summer hopefully.

Oh I almost forgot to say that one of the best things at the retirement was a song that a 3rd grade teacher wrote. It included every staff member...from custodian to office personnel and it was fantastic ( a little long, but fantastic!)!

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Special Specialists

Wow...I was 3 different specialists this week all at the same school. Library Monday, Music on Tuesday, and today I was the computer teacher.

I enjoy of these for different reasons. In the library, this one in particular, I get to use the bar code scanner :D This makes me happy and I don't know whether it's the beep or getting to play with a scanner lol.

Music I like because I get to see kids enjoy it. As I said yesterday, I got show silent films and they loved it. I did forget to say that a kindy came up to me and our convo went like this:

Kindy:  "Miss T, do you sing?"

Me: "Yes, but not very well."

Kindy:" OH! So that's why you always show us a music video when you are here!"
Oh my word that was too funny. The teacher leaves videos to watch but she's also had me lead songs or do recorders..not just videos lol.

And computers is my favorite I think. I love turning all computers on with one click with LanSchool. And watching kids type. Or choose to make a brochure instead of play a game.

If you are looking for typing games, this website has some pretty decent ones: http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/keyboarding_games.html

The specialists at that school rock. I know I won't sub for PE tomorrow as it's the last day hehe. And I'm sad to say the school district cut technology out district wide so the teachers are switching their job titles.

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La, La, La...

I was the music substitute today :)  3-5 had field day so I didn't have them for most of my time. I had only 4 out of 9 classes. Well I had decided that the older kids would watch a silent film (music, it has music...hence watching it in music class) after having talked with the music teacher on the phone last night.  This particular one is called "Go West".

It is funny as a guy is kind of not the brightest crayon in the box and funny  stuff happens to him on his travels.

Well the 2nd graders were laughing so hard they were crying which was making me laugh so I was crying lol.
And the 4th graders were loving it as it pertained kind of to what they are finishing up learning, the Oregon Trail. And then I gave the kinders 3 choices and they picked the silent film! What can I say, they have been introduced to a different kind of cultural art and they love it! Go figure!

What I loved about it was the 4th graders were adlibbing what they thought the character should say. That would be such a great project! Watch the movie and then have the kiddos write their own script...maybe even act parts of it out!

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Graduation time

Man, I've had 2 grad parties this last weekend and have a few more this weekend.

One of the girls this weekend is one that I've babysat since she was just a baby. Now she's valedictorian, going to college, and becoming such a smart, intelligent young woman.

Being in school today, I saw a kinder who was whistling and she was excited that she could whistle. 12 years from now she'll be graduating, but today in her own way she graduated to being a big kid because she can whistle :)

The talent show was today and I was so impressed. We had kids singing, dancing, doing gymnastics, and playing instruments. So talented!

I also saw the cutest thank you poster to the volunteers. The kids formed the different letters to spell 'thank you'. Sooo cute!

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Graduation

Well congrats to the class of 2011!  Several local schools are having graduation tonight. I'm going to an after party and am glad it's only that as I am so tired today!

Today was a super de duper busy day. I was subbing for the music teacher who was going on a field trip with the choir to sing the national anthem at the Timbers soccer game. The kindys had a field trip to the zoo and some TAG students went to the observatory for an overnight trip.

So my schedule was a bit wishy washy. Watched videos for the 2nd and 3rd grade classes. Took 5th and 4th outside since their classes were so small since most went to choir. One class decided to play marbles.

Hehehe in the sandbox...it's apparently the hot spot for marble playing.

Lunch was a much needed break as I had no prep time. And then at 1 was the 5th grade vs Staff kickball game. That was fantastic! Plus it was gorgeous weather for the first time in months (hello, Oregon IS known for rain, but come on!)

So here are some of the staff out in the field.

P.E. teacher saying hello :) Sadly only 3 other classes came out to watch and 2 of them were because their teachers were playing in the game. I couldn't play as I had a class about 45 minutes into the game, but I supervised the kiddos whose teachers were in the game and cheered everyone on. The kiddos beat the teachers 29-26 but I'll pretend I didn't notice a few teachers 'missing' or 'dropping' the ball :) By the way, this is my FAVE school NM. The staff treats you like family. I'm back on Monday...the last Monday of school! Hehehe. 4 more days...we can make it people!

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8 more days...

I can make it right? Another full week of subbing (8 weeks now in a row woohoo!) and I'm tired!
Today I had a 5th grade class and they were getting so disrespectful. And darn marbles issue again...I tell ya, doesn't matter which school! Two boys were arguing over a marble.

 At lunch recess, I got to leave as I only subbed a 1/2 day. There are 5 trees in the black top area and around the base of each, were 5 different marble games going lol.

Substitute tip of the day.... if you have a student that's acting up first thing, when you take attendance, make note of that child so you know their name and can use it a lot. Kind of freaks them out if you know it and haven't subbed for them before lol. I've used this trick since my first year and it never grows old!

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