Anticipation

Ok, this is killing me!!! I just watch the electoral votes slowly creep up!

I'm on the edge of my seat! I have watched this election cycle for Months!

I'm so thankful to live and work in a country where we can exercise our right to vote.

The USA rocks!!! No place like home!

Getting Rid Of The Old and Beginning With The New

Guess what?

Guess....

I got rid of my teacher desk. 

Yes.

I know.  I know.  I busted my butt  for 4 years to earn that desk.  And then I tossed it.

Yep.

I did it!

Mr. Shawn (our wonderful custodian) hauled it away under one condition:  I could never ask to have it back. 

It's a done deal. 

Now we have space for something way cooler than a teacher desk!

I have two super cute over sized chairs at home that no one uses.
So,   I announced to my hubby that I was taking one of "my" chairs to school.
(The other one will make it eventually!)

I can't wait to get it there!  I want to create a super cozy reading nook-coffee house style. ;)
It will be so nice to have a comfy place for me the kids to sit and grade papers read.   




My firsties and I have set out on our very first writer's workshop! (Let's Write About It: Halloween)

I know, I know, I really should have gone ahead and started with Thanksgiving!

I'm doing the best I can! ;)

It has been FABULOUS!
We've made it through our brainstorming bubble map and idea organizer.
Monday we begin our rough draft!
I hope by Friday that our final drafts are complete.

Then I'll give them some time off before we tackle Thanksgiving.

The kids are so excited about writing like "big kids."

I'll post pics of our finished product ASAP!

Meanwhile I have more goodies to share! Check it all out at my TPT Store!

Make N Stuff Guilt Free

Hey all! Hope you have enjoyed your weekend!

I've been a busy bee creating some fun center activities for my classroom! 

The greatest thing I have done yet (as far as blog world and TPT) is to create a TPT store!

 Check It Out!

Let me just say that I get so excited to see how many times my freebies are downloaded! 

But more than that, because I can share my ideas via my precocious  precious firsties and TPT, my hubby doesn't fuss about how much time I spend back here making stuff!  Slap a $1 on whatever it is and all of my guilt is gone!

(Who am I kidding? I don't feel guilty at all!)

I want to SHOUT from the roof tops how incredibly blessed I am!  From my awesome family, to my undies, I am so THANKFUL! 

God is good.  If there is anything in your life that is weighing you down, or causing doubt in your heart, know this: YOU CAN DO IT.  You can't do it alone, but you can do it with Christ by your side. 

Jesus has brought me through some tough times. He has kept his promise.  He has NEVER let me down. 

I can stand before my students with love and patience because He put me there.

I offer you encouragement.  Keep going.  Don't give up because he won't give up on you.

Sending you love and hope...

 

Rock-N the Boat

There is no time like the present.

Over this past summer I was a CRAZY blog stalker and learned a lot about The Daily Five.  I caught the fever.  I was so disappointed with my reading block last year that I knew I had to change it up.
I bought the book, read it in two days.

 I was SOLD.

I didn't know how I was going to do it.  I just knew that I was.  I was beside myself with excitement. 
So much so, that I convinced my bestie co-worker to take the plunge with me. 
She caught the fire too. 

We are smoldering!!!

We LOVE LOVE LOVE The Daily Five!  It is the best thing since sweet tea!

We love D5 so much that we tossed the idea around about implementing something similar in math.  (We use Go Math)

Well, my bestie co-worker (Adventures in First With Mrs. Key) came to me yesterday and said, "Let's Do It!"

I agreed. 

She was willing to jump with me.  Who am I not to return the favor?! :) 

Here we go, wish us luck!  If any of you implement something similar to D5 during your math block, I can use ALL the help I can get!

 Resources are WELCOME!

Please share! 

On another note:
I put together a Go Math Chapter 3 Review/Study Guide (2pgs).  Thought I'd share just in case you might be able to use it.

                                                      Chapter 3 Review









 Things My Kids Say:   Mrs. Forehand announced, "Boys and girls, we don't have time to stop by the bathroom before lunch. So, I'm going to give you a squirt of hand sanitizer.  The alcohol in it will kill all those yucky germs."

"Mrs. Forehand, my momma drinks alcohol.  I didn't know beer could kill germs!" exclaimed a very bright little girl.

 Many hushed whispers went around the room.
("Her mom drinks beer?"  "What's beer?"  "You can drink alcohol?) 

Mrs. Forehand smiled ever so sweetly, "Sweetie, it's not the same kind of alcohol.  Now, let's go eat lunch."

Yep! My Cheeks Froze

It was cold Saturday night! Oh my goodness! I didn't think daylight was ever going to come!


But with that said, the boys had a blast! And so did I!

It was back to school today. ROUGH!!! Being spoiled for nine days has its consequences!

I missed my kiddos very much.

For whatever reason, I told my kiddos my first name! The look of shock was PRICELESS!
"Mrs. Forehand, We didn't know you had two names!"

Such simple things mean so much. It's all about building relationships. My students would travel to the moon and back for me, just as I would for them.

Have you ever told your students your first name?

Freezy Cheeks!

 We are up and at 'em this morning getting ready for our primitive camping trip! Very excited! However, I might be rethinking this whole thing tonight when it's 48* outside and I have to go "you know" in an outhouse type device... Whew! my butt has chills just thinking about it!



Things My Kids Say: "Momma, when I grow up I'm going to be a gambler." 
"You are going to be a what?" 
"Yeah, a gambler.  I heard daddy say that he used to go with his ex wife and it was a lotta' fun." 
"Oh, you did.  What else did daddy say about his ex wife?"
"That she was prettier than you.  Hahahaha momma, I'm just kiddin'! Daddy didn't say that!  No, momma don't call daddy!!!"




P.S. We do not support gambling nor have I ever been gambling.  And I hope my son does not follow in his father's (pre-good wife's) footsteps. 

Too cute not to share!

Not a Monster in Law

I woke up to a nice surprise this morning. My mother in law stopped by to say she was taking me (and the kids) to lunch! What a sweetie! Yes, you heard me correctly-my mother in law. No, she isn't out to get me! She's not a monster at all!

On the contrary, she is one of my dearest friends. When Steven (the 'ol ball-n-chain)and I first got together, she said to me, "Honey, he may be my son but he's still a man and if you have to give him a good cussin' every now and then, it's all right by me. A woman's got to keep her man in his place. Just don't tell me what ya said." From that moment on, our friendship was sealed in fate. I couldn't have asked for anything better! But I must add-sometimes I do tell her the good stuff! ;)

Thirteen years later her son and I are still going strong! Well, I gotta run and get my FREE lunch and pack up for primitive camping! That should lead to an interesting post!



Things My Kids Say: "Mrs. Forehand, when my daddy watches football, he says the "F" word and throws the remote when they don't get the ball!"

All in a Days Work

I've been working harder than Santa's top notch elf!

 

Whew!  I must say I've been enjoying every minute of it!
 My students will be crying "No more Mrs. Forehand! We can't take it!"
And in my evil teacher laugh "Rahahah, write students write!"
I have lots to share!

Cub Scout meeting tonight ow-ow-owwwwww! ;)  Just looked over at the table and remembered I have to sew five little hand prints to our flag! Oopps! Better get on that- As soon as I get back from Wally World.  I need pick up some  modeling clay (the boys will be making snakes tonight) and I don't know about you all, but I have gotten to the point that I hate having to step foot in that place.  Yes, they have great prices and everything I need in one place yatta yatta yatta, but I just hate it!  Guess I'll have to put on my big girl panties and get it done.
 "Do it for the Wolves! Ow-OW-Owwww!"

                                                     Let's Write About It: Thanksgiving

Let's Write About It: Christmas

 

Can I just say that I am having a blast! I soooo needed this week off! ;)  We are just hanging out and sleeping in!  To celebrate all this fun I'm having, I would like to share a freebie with you!  But there is a catch! Isn't there ALWAYS a catch?! Follow me and enjoy this little freebie! Check out my TPT store.  The ideas are rolling in! I hope you can find something you can use! Check back often-Juices are flowing! Hehe!

Halloween Free Writing Paper

I created this packet to take students through the writing process using graphic organizers and fun clip art.  It's an easy way to get them writing! Check it out, Just in time for Halloween!  I will have Christmas coming soon!

 

Let's Write About It: Halloween

 

 

Thank you! And Happy Wednesday!

 



Halloween Fun!

 

 

 

 



Skully's Bones!

Go Big or Go Home

It's been a long time... CRAZY doesn't begin to descibe the week prior to Fall Break!

Well, as the saying goes "Go big or Go home" I have jumped into the wonderful world of Teachers Pay Teachers.  I have uploaded one freebie and I am working on my first sale item! This is all so overwhelming much fun!  I will continue to work out the kinks and work on creating some totally cute things for us all to use in our classrooms!
Thank you for your love and support!
One crazy lady-
Signing off!

It's The Ice Cream Shake

Wow What a Weekend!

To kick things off, I spent the better part of Saturday cleaning house/getting ready for my hubby's birthday bash/Alabama game throw down.
We had a blast, complete with my little sis scaring the bajeezus out of about twelve kids. At around 9pm I noticed she had disappeared along with all of the kids. I found her in the kitchen telling the kids about the very nasty and scary goat man.  Please let me make a note here that she is going on thirty, yet found this highly entertaining.
Ten minutes later we here a mob of kids headed to the shop (where our festivities were being held) screaming "mommy mommy the goat man is coming!"
It was so funny awful! How dare she do that!   The kids laughed, parents glared laughed it was all in good fun.
Sunday I awoke to 50 pounds of grass so gracefully tracked into my house from the night before, lesson plans, and a PowerPoint to write for the second time (Braden accidentally deleted the first one.) ARGH!
I managed the lesson plans and the PowerPoint... I decided to skip out on the grass and do a movie instead! I mean who cares? That grass will still be there, right?! ;)
Batman was awesome! I'm such a superhero fan! I do have to admit that it crossed my mind "what if someone came in this theatre with a gun? What would I do? ".  It can be a very scary world out there, but we can't stop living or live in fear.
Live and let live! Enough said.

Let the count down to Fall Break begin!!!! Two weeks and counting!!!

Homemade Applesauce

We have had the best week learning about Johnny Appleseed and all about apples! We have made Johnny, tasted and graphed various apples, and made homemade applesauce! If you have never tried homemade applesauce, oh my goodness you ABSOLUTELY have to try it! I am not an applesauce fan, but this was amazing!

12 (small) apples peeled and chopped
3/4 C. white sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 1/4 C. water

Put all ingredients in a crock-pot and cook all day! ( Started it at 9am and we ate it at 2:15pm.)
The aroma was delicious.
On that note, happy Friday everyone!

Let me start by saying, yes! I know I'm only supposed to post ONCE a day, but I wanted to invite you into my world! Happy peeking!


Last night I took Braden (my 7yr. old) to a Boy Scout meeting and when we got home I had an official Cub Scout. A Wolf to be exact.  He was SO EXCITED! 
There is a camping trip scheduled for Oct. 20th and he insisted on packing LAST night.  He did not care that it is a month away. He needed Band-Aids for his friends (just in case they cut themselves with pocket knives) at THAT very moment. 
Now, I must say that Braden has never shown any interest in sports-you heard me right-never ever!
Seeing him this excited has totally guilted me into believing that YES I can bait a hook, and YES I can take a fish off the line, and YES I can sleep on the ground-without my feather bed!  

Honestly, Really, No joke-I am happy he has found something he is interested in and excited about. 
Monday we get to meet everyone in the Pack and find out who our Den leader is.  (I feel like I should be scratching or licking something ;) haha! )

It's amazing what you will do to see that your children are happy.
That holds true for my own two children, as well as, the 18 I teach everyday. 

Until tomorrow
Ow Ow Owooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Come on in and take a peek!

                                                     

Johnny Appleseed

Johnny Appleseed

The project was a hit! The kids had so much fun!

Ranting and Reveling

 Time: 7:05 am     Place: My bedroom    
With my wet hair tied up in a precarious ponytail and an iron in my hand,  I shout across the house for my two lovelys to get their butt's in gear because we only have twenty minuets before we have to leave for school, when ALL OF A SUDDEN my power goes out!  Much to my horror, I am left with a wet rat's nest and one wrinkled pant leg.  What is a girl to do?  I must admit that I momentarily had a laps of judgment and considered blowing my hot morning breath on my pants to "release" the wrinkles.   
To continue my wonderful Monday, I forgot to go to computer lab.
 I hope there are no conspirators out to get me... I'm beginning to wonder...
On a brighter note, I explained to my students that we would be studying Johnny Appleseed.  I went on to say that we would be tasting apples and making homemade applesauce.  I instantly became God of my universe.  They worship the ground I walk on (at least when food is involved)!

A Whole New World

Well, this is all new to me.  I am very excited to be here.  I look forward to raving, ranting, and reveling in the fact that I am a first grade teacher! 
Coming Soon:
Crazy Tales From a First Grade Classroom!