Keeping Up With Kirbys

To say we've been busy would be an understatement.  It's funny because if we are home at least one day out of the week it's considered a slow week.  I'm not complaining. I love my family and the time we spend together. I do have a small confession though...I've been running around like crazy mom that I almost forgot about getting my Mother's Day gift ready at school. It seriously became a last minute gift but I think it turned out precious and hopefully none of the mommas felt as though they were a last minute thought.  Hobby Lobby had everything I needed. 1) 1X1 mosiac tiles 2) ribbon 3) necklace loop (this is not the official name) 4) Modge Podge 5) strong ceramic glue (to attach the necklace loop) Considering I was running a little behind I'm happy this project was fast and easy. The kids wrote an "I Love You" message on the back of the tile and then Modge Podged their picture to the front. I made 1X1 pictures in Mic...

We just cannot get enough of the book Pictures of Hollis Woods !  Have you read it?  It's been a fantastic book that has generated so many thoughtful and meaningful conversations within my classroom.   Is it bad that I secretly LOVE it when the kids beg me to read....ONE....MORE...CHAPTER...PUHLEEEAAZZE?!   I t makes my teacher heart happy, happy, happy.  We spent some time writing letters to Hollis giving her helpful advice. I have the most thoughtful and kindest kids! We've looked for similarities and differences between Hollis and a close friend of ours. Wow, I learned a lot about their friends! Student partners had jobs that I assigned from my Literature Circle group packet from the fabulous 4th Grade Frolics .  They completed and shared their questions, connections, and favorite parts with the class to create their own discussions. I LOVE this packet! It has been a fantastic unit to use with my literature circles so I just change...

It's finally here....the BIG. TEST. DAY. My fabulous fourth graders will be sharing everything they have learned so far this year. I told myself not to get nervous or worried but goodness my tummy feels like butterflies are wrestling. The littles at our school thought they'd leave us some LOVE and ENCOURAGEMENT. Awww! My kids LOVED all the notes that were personalized to them. They were cracking me up because they couldn't figure out how    the younger kids knew their name. ;-) We all wore capes on Friday and left a little note with a fun new pencil for our SUPER writers.  {click here for notes} I tried to keep myself busy this weekend and not spend too much time reading and rereading this book...boooorrriiinnnggg. I'm not sure why I felt the need to reread this but I did. So we took our little princess to see Disney Frozen on ice. LOVED it!!   Then we came home to watch the Kids Choice Awards. Of course after watching everyone get ...

So....where do I begin? Well, I have finally finished all my classes for my master's degree.  I've turned in my ARP paper and I'm just waiting to hear from the university. It has been weird making plans to do something without first checking to see how much I should read and how many papers I should write before I make plans.  I have so much {mind} time. It's great! Mind time.....my mind has been racing with ways to get my kids prepared to be a BIG 5th grader.  I want to fill their learning gaps and help them to continue to grow and learn. Let me show what is going on in my classroom. After my students' last test I printed out each individual student's data chart for that assessment.   They placed this chart in their data folder and highlighted the objectives that they scored below 75% on.   I have placed tubs around the classroom filled with activities and games that will help reinforce the objective that the student struggled with and need...

I cannot believe we are ending 2014 and beginning a new year. I'm anxious, excited, nervous, scared.... Freaking OUT . <-not really. 2015 is going to bring so many new changes whether I am ready for them or not, so I guess I better get ready.   This new year will bring my baby's graduation and life as a college student. Wha?!  His heart  is set on USAFA and we should hear from them in January. He is seriously marking off the days on his calendar.  He has also been offered a paid visit to West Point Academy in New York and will fly out to visit them in March.  I think the key word right now is PATIENCE.  He's put in all the work and now he has to be patient. {I have to be patient} I obviously love pictures more than him. I feel like that will be my mantra for the 2015 year.  {PATIENCE}  I plan to finish my masters this spring. {patience} I have one more class and my ARP to complete.  Oh, and there is this big test that 4th gra...

Well it's here...it's here, Christmas break is here!!  It seems as though it's here too fast but I am so thrilled it is.  I've linked up with The Inspired Apple to share a little Christmas Conversation. Stop by her blog to join the conversation. I thought I'd share a little about our last day of school until next year.   We had a wonderful classroom Christmas party. I'm beyond thankful for an organized and caring room mom. She truly made the difference.  We did a book exchange and I will be honest.....I have NEVER had a good experience with these. {the book that everyone wants} {the book that no one wants} Seriously, kids crying and upset because they want the book that their mom bought or another student's book because it pops up and their book doesn't.  After a few years of this I said "Nope, never again."  -(maybe because that was Kinder) This year my room mom suggested it.  I didn't want to be "bah-humbug...

Tomorrow is the last day before the break, it's a half-day, a busy day and a sugar filled day.  This year it actually snuck up on me and I almost didn't make anything for parents.   We have been completely engrossed in our novel, A Single Shard. { check it out} It has been the best book ever!!  I'm so happy my teamie convinced me to read it to the kids.  The kids and I have had so many wonderful conversations.  It's the kind of book that they beg you (yes, beg!) not to stop reading.  We just finished it on Wednesday and I was a crybaby mess!!  It is a tear jerker.  The sweet kids would get up and hug me and then get themselves a tissue to wipe their own eyes.  It is the kind of book that changes the way kids view reading. When we finished the kids could not get enough.  They wanted to know more and they REALLY wanted this book to be a movie.  I think they will be emailing the author soon.  I made a thinglink for the...