Pimp My Teacher Stool!

My sweet hubby, Chris surprised me one day with this really cool {yet really ugly} 

mechanic's stool he found in the clearance section of the auto parts store for $12.99.  

The next day I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased some fabric, scrapbook paper, 

stickers, and a roll of vinyl magic cover {all under $10.00}.

That evening {as my boys snoozed} I went to work.

An hour and two episodes of Entourage later, voila!

No more ugly mechanic's stool!

My rockin' mobile teacher stool!

I need a VACATION from SumMer vAcATIon!

It's been a while since I've posted. 1. I was REALLY upset about the flood in my classroom {that put me in a nasty FUNK} and 2. I was REALLY, really, busy with the following:

Family BBQs

 

Getting over the SHOCK that my baby boy {don't let the facial hair fool you, he is only 15} 

went from tricycle, to two wheeler, to a BIG four wheeler and is now DRIVING!..sniffle...sniffle.

{Frequent} Breakfasts at our FAVORITE spot in Denver, Pete's Kitchen!!! 

The purchase of my new baby...

it was time to trade in my 13 year old beloved 4-Runner

Soccer tournaments and team tryouts that give "soccer mom" a whole new meaning!  Five days of tryouts and 6, yes SIX weekends at 3v3 soccer tournaments.  This was the final weekend in fabulous Vail, CO.  Luckily we had some down time to shop in town {YIKES} and visit the Betty Ford Botanical Gardens {pictures to come later}.

                                             

MATH IN FOCUS {aka Singapore Math}

We are implementing Math in Focus this year so our math teachers attended FOUR FULL days at the National Singapore Math Summer Institute.  We were lucky to have Dr. Yeap Ban Har, PH.D. as our keynote speaker as well as our teacher for the week.  There were some other great presenters {more to come on what they had to offer}...

Here are just a few snapshots I took from a breakout session that basically discussed what are our {educators} fears of starting this program.  It's amazing and I can't wait to see how our school changes and would love to share ideas with all of you out there that have been using or are just starting out Math in Focus.   

 

  
 

SO, that is what's been keeping me busy {and my mind off my mold ridden classroom, which needs to be ready for kinders by August 22nd}.

Check back soon for pictures of my newly decorated mobile teacher chair!

y Happy Tuesday Friendsy 

Hello Rain, Goodbye Books

I went to my classroom this morning. The sun shining. The temperature beginning to rise.  Just working away at organizing the kagillion trade books that I have acquired over the years. after about 3 hours, my stomach began to rumble with hunger so I thought I'd better call it quits for the day. Tomorrow's another day....I will catalogue titles, cross reference what I have at home, check who borrowed and collect, etc. At least that's what I thought. 

I was back home happily enjoying my ham and cheese sandwich. Then the thunder rolled in and the flood gates opened.  It started out raining cats and dogs.  Then within minutes it turned into elephants and hippos.  I received a call from a staff member at the school's summer camp.  She broke the news that the first floor of the school had been flooded and that my classroom had at least three inches of water on the floor.  I rushed up to the school in the downpour.  This is what I walked into:

Thank God my 15 year old son is as sweet as he is!  He helped me move 17 piles of wet books into a dry room.  I could only snap these few shots of the the piles of lost books through my tears:

You can imagine the heartbreak I felt as I called my principal in tears.  He assured me that the insurance would pay for them all.   Still, my heart aches for my lost books.

Okay.....so now what?

OSNW #1

So I was super excited when the FedEx truck pulled up in front of my house and delivered this fun new toy 

I've been wanting to get a Cricut machine to use in my classroom for some time now {just didn't want to use my son's college fund to buy it}.  But, with all this summer "time" on my hands, I found a way to kill time: eBay! It was a killer deal!  Now I have never known any teacher that passes up *killer deals*.  However, now that I have it here I am scratching my head saying "OKAY, SO NOW WHAT"?  

I would love to hear how you incorporate your Cricut in the classroom.

OSNW #2

Prior to the end of school, our principal told us that we are adopting Math in Focus, the American adaptation of Singapore Math.  I am scheduled to attend a four day workshop at the end of this month to sink my hands into this new way of teaching math.  Here's where my one eyebrow is slightly higher than the other, because I see a ton of Debbie Diller Math Stations {GREAT stuff too} and I'm wondering, Can I incorporate them together?

Scratching my head {again} saying, "OKAY, SO NOW WHAT"?  Any thoughts or ideas...please.

Happy Last Day of June!

I.LOVE.SUMMER.

So, this post has absolutely nothing to do with reading, writing, my classroom, or teaching in any way shape or form.  BUT, it does prove that summer time is a wonderful time!

This is my new friend "Flower".  This little guy hung out with me while I weeded my flower garden. 

I.LOVE.SUMMER.

Hope you are all enjoying summer too!

Frugal Finds

As educators we are ALWAYS looking for good deals, especially since most of us use our own hard earned money in our classrooms.  However, just like you, I am always on the look out for a frugal find.  I am a Goodwill junkie and was lucky enough to find some pretty good finds at the Goodwill this year.  Here are just a few: 

Frugal Find #1- brand new with the tags still on it - because I ventured to the

 Goodwill on a dreary rainy day, 

I hit the jackpot and only paid $8.99 for this great find!

I find a new use for it every year.  Sometimes it's home assessment packets, 

to stickers, or to keeping my days and weeks {and mind} in order.  

 Frugal Find #2 - the wire skeleton to this was found in the "free" corner of our 

teacher's lounge.  Lucky for me, recess break came at the right time!  On one of 

my frequent visits to Lakeshore I picked up the cardboard holders for the 

low price of $12.99.  What a steal!

 Frugal Find #3 - Shopping for a bag at Ross, I was quickly distracted when my 

little eye spied this great item {in the clearance section} to house our 

storytime puppets. $4.99  

 Frugal Finds #4 & #5 - the white cabinet was found as I was driving my son 

to a soccer game, he was quite annoyed when I did a quick U turn for the 

corner yard sale to pick up this  wonderful addition to our home center. $3.00  

The little mailbox ($1.50) was brought back aaaaaall the way from a yard sale

 in Deltona, FL. when I went for a summer visit with my parents.  As I was unpacking, 

I just got "the look" from my husband  : )

Frugal Find #6 - to some this little plastic basket, is just that, a little plastic basket.  

But to the writers in room 5, it's a paper holder for our writing corner, for the very low price of um, yea, F.R.E.E.!

  The latest and greatest Frugal Find #7 - Of course the last place you look 

at the ARC - the top shelf!!!  Two {still in the pack} primary colored 

Util-a-mats!  $12.00 for both.  My husband was just a teeny-tiny bit 

jealous since he just dropped $34.00 on the same exact mats for 

the home gym floor {only not in primary colors}.  

Well the summer has just started.  Lots of yard sales to hit up and days in the 

Goodwill to be had.  I'd love to hear about your great finds!   

The End is Near...FINALLY!

Wow!  I don't know about you, but I have never been so ready for a break!  The last day of school is only 8.5 days away.  With that being said, how many of you have principals already wanting *plans* or *curriculum change ideas* for next year?  We are adopting Singapore Math as one change, so I plan on sitting on my back patio, soaking up the sun~and enjoying raspberry tea while I read, read more, and plan for the new curriculum, and create some great lessons for the SMART Board.  I am looking for any new ideas for group/calendar time and/or ways you all use your interactive boards in kindergarten.

Happy Tuesday Friends!!!