Things I Love About School

Thirteen Things I Love About School

1. The kids
   
2. Things the kids say


3. The progress they make through the year
   
4. notes from the kids
   
5. 22 little smiles all smiled at the same time
   
6. 22 little smiles aimed at me
   
7. kid drawings
   
8. the way these kiddos are ready to share and try
   
9. the willingness they show to help others
   
10. they way they love to hear stories read to them
    
11. my new bigger room -when I moved to 2nd grade I left the room I had been in for 19 years in first grade and moved to the second grade hall, wow!
    
12. the teachers I work with, they are so great, good teachers and good friends
    
13. our principal, she is awesome, and I don't usually use that word
    
14. the small school setting

Childrens Books I Love

Children's Books I Love

Dogzilla by Dave Pilkey The kids in my class love this book and they always beg for re-readings. It has a rating of "Too goofy for adults" so what's not to love? It is full of puns that are just, well, goofy! The author used pictures of his own pets for the illustrations.

Kat Kong by Dave Pilkey Ditto above

"There Are Rocks in My Socks," said the Ox to the Fox by Patricia Thomas I use this book to teach rhythm and rhyme. The children love the pictures and the funny story.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff The kids love this book. I like it a lot and use it for enjoyment as well as predictions. Felicia Bond illustrated it.

The Mitten by Jan Brett Jan Brett is my favorite illustrator of children's books. I have a collection of her books. This one is great for sequencing and I use it for extensions. The kids write what might happen if more animals cam up.


The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett Love the illustrations.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle This is a great story for science and for sequencing. The illustrations are great to discuss the different methods illustrators use to create their pictures. I like anything by Eric Carle - lots of great stories and teaching opportunities.

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister I use this book to start a discussion on friendship and sharing.

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni This is a great story and I use it when we are practicing measuring
Leo the Late Bloomer by Leo Lionni This is a wonderful book. We read it and discuss how every one is special in their own right among other things. The kids love Leo and relate to him. Lionni has several other books I really like as well.

The Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin This is such a funny book, many re readings are demanded. My kiddos keep a dated diary of school happenings after we read it.

Click, Clack, Moo By Doreen Cronin This is another very funny story by Cronin. Most of the children don't know what a typewriter is! We write letters after reading this a couple of times.

Aunt Flossies's Hats (and Crabcakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard This is a wonderful, warm family story with great illustrations. We discuss families, extended families and how families are alike and different. Then they write about a fun memory of a time with their family.

The Lorax by Dr. Suess This is a great book for rhyming, as are all of Dr Suess' books. It goes beyond that to environmental issues.

The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Suess Great for discussing how arguments can get out of hand.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomi de Paola I use this when we teach Texas history (The Texas state flower it the Bluebonnet) along with a couple more books from this wonderful author.

Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats We discuss setting, the illustrations, how practicing helps you gain skills, etc. this is a lovely warm story.

I could go on and on. There are so many great children's books. I use lots of them in my class to foster love of reading, model fluency, discuss setting and author's purpose, instruct everything from writing to math to science, to use as art instruction, for retelling, etc.

A List of Funny Movies I've Enjoyed

A List of Funny Movies I've Enjoyed

1. Big Trouble staring Tim Allen from the Dave Barry novel. Loved the book. Loved the movie.


2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding - the differences between these two families, the two cultures, makes this a wonderful, funny movie. Go rent it today.


3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail - my sister and I try to watch this every year. It has even been made into a Broadway play called "Spamalot."


4. A Christmas Story - "You'll shoot your eye out!" I watch it every Christmas, but have yet to read the book. I have to do that.


5. Dracula, Dead and Loving It staring Leslie Nielson. Imaginative remake of the old Nosferatu movie which was the first screen adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.


6. Young Frankenstein - not only is this a hysterical movie it,also, is a Broadway musical. "Walk this way!" "No! THIS way."


7. Caddyshack staring Chevy Chase and Bill Murry.


8. The Gods Must Be Crazy There are some very funny parts in this movie.


9. Strange Brew The Adventures of Bob and Doug McKenzie


10. Miss Congeniality


11. Evolution - David Duchovney, the critics only give it a C+ but I thought it was funny.


12. Arsenic and Old Lace -Cary Grant


13. Airplane - "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley." I use this line. My friends have picked it up and use it too. I have it as a ring tone. The movie may be too silly for normal people, my husband hates it. No one has ever accused me of being normal.

Things I Love About My Pets - A List

Things I Love About My Pets - A List

1. Rusty is sooo happy to see me come home after work. It makes me warm inside to see his little wagging tail (such as it) and know he is truly happy to see me.

2. I love it when Jenny, my old white cat, sits in my lap and purrs. Or when she crawls up on my side when I'm sleeping and purrs. Of course she wakes me up a little, but, well, she's purring.....

3. Bob is sweet when he sits on the arm of the couch by me. He is not a lap cat but likes to be near.

4. When Dallas comes in he always wants pats before he goes to check the cat food bowl.

5. Rusty loves to play tug of war and it is fun to watch his simple joy in this game.

6. I like the way Dallas talks. He is a very vocal cat and lets you know what he wants. He says, very loudly "CHOOOOOOOOWWWWW" when he is hungry. He says "OOOOOOUUUUT" when he wants out. If I'm not quick enough he says, even louder, "OOOOOOUT NOOOOOOOOOW." If he wants pats he walks down the hall calling "MEEEEEEow."

7. Rusty makes me laugh when he jumps in my lap with his Nylabone and shoves it in my hand for me to hold while he chews it.

8. It is funny to watch Rusty snuffle Dallas' face. Dallas puts up with it and has never swatted Rusty.

9. They are so much comfort and company.

10. Bear and Rusty love their treats so. Rusty is fairly easy to teach tricks to due in part to his love of treats. It is fun to have Rusty practice his tricks.

11. Rusty sleeps on my lap when we are watching TV. If Jenny isn't already there. Then, if he really wants on my lap he sits on the ottoman and whines till she is so irritated she leaves.

12. I love the way Rusty twists his head back and forth when I am talking to him.

13. All of these things make for a fairly entertaining day.