End of the School Year!

Happy - Sad as the school year ends!  Mixed emotions - both for the students and the staff member that is leaving.
Here is an inspirational thought to everyone that works with children.

UNIQUE IN YOUR EYES

Here is a thank-you from all the ordinary children you have taught -

because for you none of us was ordinary.

You told us that each of us was utterly unique - 

that no one quite like us had existed since time began.

That each of us was an absolute necessity in the whole design -

a knot of gold, a flash of crimson, a dazzle of peacock, a gentleness of green.

That we should be proud to be ourselves.

And so we are.

And walk through the world with a firmer step - because of you.

By Pam Brown

Thank you for a wonderful school year!

Kathy

Father's Day

What is a Dad?

A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall

but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes

but instead lets you find your own way,

even though his heart breaks in silence when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who holds you when you cry,

scolds you when you break the rules,

shines with pride when you succeed,

and has faith in you even when you fail . . . 

-Author Unknown-

Victoria Leon has a Father's Day Coupons FREE Sample Pack in her Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  Please click on the picture below.

I have a Happy Father's Day Draw, Color, & Write Tee Shirt Gift Book in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  Please click on the picture below.

Panicked Teacher has a FREE Father's Day Newspaper Project: My Dad Rules! in her Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  Please click on the picture below.

Father's Day is just around the corner.  

Celebrate your dad!

Kathy

If you do not have a Teachers Pay Teachers account, it is free and easy to sign up.  Please click <here>.

Take Time Out To Play!

The last few weeks of school are so much fun!  I'm not kidding.  Testing is over and now there is a little more freedom to play and learn.

I love games!  We learn so much from each other when we play games together.  On the last day of school I have each of my students bring their favorite game to school.  It can be a board game or a card game, but no electronic games.  We spend the day playing and sharing games.  We spread out on the carpet and enjoy each other's company.

I've just posted a new product on my TeachersPayTeachers store.  It's called Think, Spell, Learn - Interactive Spelling Games. (Primary Grades)  I chose my favorite group, whole class, get up and move spelling games.  We play them throughout the school year.

So if you are in need of some spelling games that use high frequency words along with your own spelling words then please take a moment and visit my TPT store and my latest product.  Please click on the picture.  Thank you.

Take Time Out To Play!
Kathy

Happy Mother's Day!

Our good deeds as teachers (and mothers) are like stones cast into the pool of time.  Though they themselves may disappear, their ripples extend to eternity. - AFI Notable Quote

Happy Mother's Day!

Kathy

MEAN SOUP

Are you and your students having a bad day?

This book will cheer you up and chase away those blues.

Mean Soup 

by Betsy Everitt

Horace has had a very bad day. He forgot an answer at school, he got a love note, Lulu stepped on his foot, and Miss Pearl picked Horace up from school instead of his mom. Horace felt mean and growled when he got home. Horace's mother knew just what to do to solve the problem. They made "Mean Soup" to stir away the bad day!

Extending the Reading Experience

Follow-up activity. Pretend you are making Mean Soup in your classroom. Have your students act out the steps in the book. They will love it! Please click on the blackline master below to print out a FREE copy. It will link you to teachers pay teachers where you can download a free copy from Picture Book Reviews With Writing Connections.
There are two pages with two kinds of writing lines.

Brainstorm with your class: What can you do to help a friend who is having a bad day? Then have your students write about it on the lines on the pot. Your students can color the pot black (or whatever color you would like), cut it out, and then hang them up in your classroom.

Happy Reading & Happy Day!

Kathy

DOUBLE JACKPOT! YOU'RE A WINNER!

TPT loves you and so do I.  
You are simply marvelous!  
In honor of your dedication and hard work TPT is having a Teacher Appreciation Sale for 3 days.  Yes, 3 days of shopping until you drop.
May 6 - 8, TPT is offering 10% off of everything you buy!  Plus, I am having an additional sale of 10% percent off of most of my products.  Wow!  That's something you can't pass up.  And you don't even have to leave your house.  You can shop in your pajamas!
Please remember to use the TPT promo code: TAD12, during check out to receive your discount.

Now you have 2 things to look forward to this weekend.  The TPT Teacher Appreciation Sale and the Teacher Appreciation Jackpot!  Scroll to the entry below this one to get your jackpot of freebies from over  130 bloggers.  Click on their blog buttons, but first don't forget to pick up my freebie.  Oh yes, I almost forgot, all freebies will be available for one day, Sunday only!  So rise and shine Sunday morning and start your shopping and blog hopping.  You will feel really good at the end of the day!
Enjoy!!!
Kathy

Teacher Appreciation Jackpot!

Great News!  
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week!
Yay!  Sunday, May 6, is going to be a SUPER LUCKY day in honor of all you wonderful teachers.
This will be the first "Teacher Appreciation Jackpot" day.  This fabulous event will involve over 130 bloggers joining together for an amazing "blog hop"!  The PK - Grade 2 blogs are listed at the bottom of this entry.  Just click on their blog button and hop on over to each of their blogs.

We wanted to show our appreciation for each of you in a very special, gigantic way, so we've all agreed to give away one of our TPT products free on that day, Sunday!  Each FREE gift will be valued between $3 and $8, making the total estimated jackpot amount over $600!

Because so many bloggers are participating, this event will be divided into three grade level groups.  Each of those smaller events is being coordinated by one blogger as shown below:

*PK - Grade 2 - April McNair on A Modern Teacher
*Grades 3 - 6 - Laura Candler on Corkboard Connections
*Grades 7 - 12 - Adrianne Meldrum on The Tutor House

The Teacher Appreciation Jackpot for Sunday has now ended.
Thank you for visiting my blog.  You are appreciated so much!  
Even though my gift is no longer free, I have put it on sale in my TPT store until the end of Tuesday, May 8.  Please visit if you get a chance.  Please click on the picture below.  Thank you!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND ALL THAT YOU DO!
Kathy

HOORAY, A PINATA!

This is a fun book to read to celebrate cultural customs!  The Piñata!

Hooray, A Piñata!   By Elisa Kleven
Clara wants a piñata for her birthday party.  She picks out a piñata shaped like a cute little dog.  She names him Lucky.  They go everywhere together.  She plays with him and pretends to feed him.  She loves him.  The day of her birthday party finally arrives.  She doesn't want to stuff him with candy and let everyone break him.  If she keeps Lucky then there will not be a piñata at her birthday party.  What should she do?

Extending the Reading Experience
Follow-up writing activity.
Please click on the blackline master below to make FREE copies. It will link you to teachers pay teachers where you can download the free page from Picture Book Reviews With Writing Connections.

Make enough copies for your students.  (There are 2 pages with 2 kinds of writing lines.) Have your students write about what kind of piñata they would choose.  What would they do with their piñata?  Then have your students draw a picture of their piñata.  Students can share their writing and picture with a partner or the class.

Happy Reading!
Kathy