Classroom stuff. . .

Each year I spend way too much time and money on redecorating my classroom.  The kids love it and are always talking about what my classroom theme will be next. ;)    I wish I had pictures of all of my rooms, but I don't believe I do. Here are a few. . .


This was the year that I did a 50's theme!  We had SOOOO much fun with this!  EVERYTHING we did this school year revolved around our theme.  I even came to school in a poodle skirt one day! :)

Last  year I had an "All American" themed classroom.  We were able to have two soldier friends that we wrote and emailed back and forth with.  The kids really learned about what it meant to serve our country.  It was GREAT!

 And this year. . .well, I thought it would be fun to use some owls! 

"2nd Grade is a Hoot!"

Every year I place a picture of myself when I was their age in my classroom.  I explain to them that I was once their age and that I understand how scary it can be sometimes. 

Another Basketball Season

After weeks of practice the Shires basketball season is officially underway!  Tonight was our second game of the season.   The boys have worked very hard and are doing a great job.  Andy is hustling and giving it his best - that's all I could ask for!  

#10

Look how much taller the other team is! Yikes!!!!!!! Andy still
had four rebounds.  Go, Andy!

Home Sweet Home

Dad and I (really, he's doing most of the work) are working on some much needed maintenance at my house.  I really don't know what I would do without him!  The trees have been trimmed, the landscaping all trimmed and cleaned up, the backyard re-sowed, and the back porch is getting some new rails.  I still have some painting and cleaning outside that I want to get done next week while I'm off, but things sure are looking better. 

Ahh ~ Home Sweet Home! 

Thanks, Daddy!

I made a new friend today

We have days set aside at school each year that we devote to 'Community Service'.  Each class decides what they are going to do and they stick with a project all year long.  It has taken several years to find a way to truly reach out to our community, but the rewards are paying off.  The kids are learning a sense of community and responsibility to our citizens.  This year my class, along with the third graders, are sponsoring an assisted living center in Goodlettsville.  We have scheduled visits where we go and spend time with residents and help the facility in some way.  Today was one of our days and we had such a good time!  We made an autumn craft with our 'new friends', read them some of our own fall poetry, read them a book, played Crazy 8's with them (per their request), and then had lunch with them.

One of the sweet residents really took up with us today.  She loved working with the kids and invited them into her room to wash up before lunch.  We couldn't tell her no, so we made sure that we had a teacher with our students and helped everyone get their hands washed.  Her room was so nice.  Mrs. Hicks and I immediately spotted an antique pie safe!  After all of the kids were settled at lunch I thanked her and told her that I would love to see the pie safe up close.  She was thrilled!!!  She took my back to her room and showed me the pie safe (which was her grandmothers) that she had worked to restore herself. It was beautiful!  While I was in her room she showed me amazing pictures of her mother, father, husband, son, and daughter.

She told me that her son had been labeled as a slow learner when he was in elementary school but had gone on to college (Auburn to be exact) and earned a degree in architecture.  With a very somber look on her face she told me that she lost him in a car accident just after he graduated. Then she said, ". . . and you know that I went to his elementary teachers and principal and told them what my son had accomplished!"

 I think I may have made a new friend today!

Kindness Matters

Andy and I had a "Date Night" Friday night.  I took him to the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman to see Josh Turner.  To our surprise, Riders In The Sky were there too!

Of course we made friends with the sweet family sitting next to us.  They were a special set of grandparents from Alabama who brought their 17 year old grandson there for his birthday.  They had driven down for the day and were having a blast!

Now, we didn't have really good seats.  Okay, okay, we had really BAD seats.  We were on the very end and couldn't see much at all!  My sweet Andy didn't complain - he was a real sweetheart about it.  Josh Turner was scheduled to come out during the last thirty minutes of the show.  Just before it was his turn to perform the sweet gentleman beside us leaned over and said, "Son, you and I are going to switch seats!  You get up and come over to my seat so you can see."  I tried to talk him out of it but he said to me, "Ma'am, I'm a Granddad - I know what I'm doing!"  :)   Thank you sir, you made my kid's night!

Kindness Still Matters!