Sidewalk Chalk and Silly Straws! (and FREEBIES)

I can't believe I'm about to type this...

Today was the last day of school for the kids!

It is absurd how fast this year went by!  But those last few days (especially after grades had already been turned in) were a little shaky.  

Yesterday we broke out the sidewalk chalk.  The kids were like, "Where did that come from?!"  I've kept it a secret for the past couple of weeks and was so excited to see their faces light up when I pulled it out of the cabinet.

Here are some pics of the fun we had!

We had a blast!  Then we came back in and the fun continued!

We had our party with lots of yummy food and fun activities!

After cleaning up and going to Specials, the kids came back to these:

I bought the silly straws from the Dollar Tree and 

the powder packets (cherry limeade) from Target.  

If you want the printables to this, click here:

If you want the crossword and word search to match, click here:

I wish you and your students an awesome end of the 

school year and a fabulous summer!!!

Craft "Happy Happy Happy!"

Have you ever had one of those days where it's kind of a "me" day?

Today is that day for me!

I got up at 7:30, got ready, made my coffee, 

and have a plan of attack for my "me" day.

So teaching stuff is taking the back burner today.  

Crafting and decorating is taking center stage!

What's on your Saturday agenda?

It's Memory Book Time!!!

In my best Pauly D voice - "It's Memory Book Time!!!"

Ok.  Sorry.  I'm a dork and YES, I watched the Jersey Shore.

I only have four more days with my kiddos.  They have an autograph party tomorrow during Specials, so we busted out the memory books!

My kids had a blast getting started!  I've never seen them 

color with such focus and determination!  :)  And when 

they started filling in names of BFF's...hilarity!  

Kid #1 - "How do you spell your name?"  

Kid #2 - "Wait a minute!  What?!  

We're friends and you don't even know how to spell my name?!"  

What a hot mess!

If you're looking for a memory book and a super fun way to end the year, 

I have this listed in all of my stores.  Click the picture above for more details.

Ugh...Manners, PLEASE!

Seriously.

I'm ready to stop teaching the CCSS and start teaching manners and respect.  It's so hard to accomplish activities and lessons when certain kids are being rude to myself and their peers.  I think it boils down to the fact that they don't respect themselves.

It's so discouraging to the hear the kids talk to each other the way they do.  No matter how many lessons on manners and respect we have, they still fall back into their old ways.  I have to stop teaching so often to stop arguments.

We're even a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) school.  We have videos, lessons, and discussions each morning.  We have posters all over the school.  We even recite a creed every morning:

As a member of the Ferguson Elementary team, I will always be respectful, responsible, and a role model to everyone.  I treat others the way I would like to be treated, and believe that anything is possible.

Sadly enough, some of these kids are lying each morning when they recite this creed.  Why say it if you don't truly mean it?  I know it's the end of the year, but this has been going on for 2-3 months.

Do you guys deal with this at all??? 

Mother's Day Fun!

"Busy" doesn't begin to describe this week!

But we've almost made it - Friday!

We started our Mother's Day activities today.  

The kids started working on their "Mom, You're FAB!" cards.

Their creativity never ceases to amaze me!

If you're still looking for a Mother's Day activity, I have this one listed in my store.  Click HERE to check it out.

I hope all of you have a fabulous and fun Friday!

Motivation Monday: Sweet Notes of Appreciation

I'm super busy tonight and don't have time for a long post, 

but I did want to share this sweet note from a friend:

It brought an instant smile to my face 

and helped keep me motivated throughout the day!

I hope that ALL of you have an awesome Teacher Appreciation Week!

May Newsletter and New Freebies!

Happy, happy Saturday!

It's been one heck of a week.  But thankfully, testing is over.  

We have Field Day this upcoming week and I'm praying the kids 

can release some of this built up energy.

The May newsletter is hitting inboxes at this very moment!

If you're not signed up, you're missing some fun, exclusive freebies!

I have also included links to several activities for Mother's Day, 

Father's Day, and the end of the school year.  One of my newest freebies 

is a booklet that includes this end of the year poem:

Be sure to click the "sign up" picture above!  I don't anyone to be left out.  The exclusive freebies are just that - they will never be posted on TpT, Pinterest, or anywhere else!

I'm taking the rest of the afternoon to finish up my Math Endorsement portfolio.  Then it's church and dinner time!

I hope everyone has a great day!