A New Beginning

So...what have I been doing since February???
1. Finishing the school year.
2. Saying good-bye to my best first grade class and saying hello to fifth grade curriculum.
3. Starting my masters - ah yes, papers again.
4. Traveling to Texas for my brother's wedding.
5. Setting up my fifth grade classroom
6. Reading some fifth grade books so I know what I am talking about when I have them read them.
7. Getting ready to spoil a new niece or nephew.
8. Staying up way too late to get in all my Jane Austen movies.
9. Preparing for our camping trip in August - yes, I said camping.:)
10. Sleeping in far too many days this summer.

I know this will probably be my only post until next summer, but at least you know what is going on here.

"Miss E, I don't want to go to 2nd grade. I want to stay in your class forever."

Super Bowl Insanity

I could not believe all of the people out at Wal-mart getting everything for their Sunday night party. Can we say crawling? I am planning to skip watching the Super Bowl and watch the newest Jane Austen on PBS. Hoorah!

Instead of filling up with chippies and sodas, my mom and I will indulge in spinach dip, pumpernickel bread and some mint tea. Yummy!

A lovely snow day!

Oh, how I do love a good snow day! This was just what I needed after an interesting week of craziness. We have had a total of 2 days of school this week and actually I could get used to this.:)
Anyway, I am so glad that I took the time last week to prepare for 3 weeks instead of one. Yippee. Now I have all of February planned and I truthfully feel like I can take a bit of a break.
So today, in the midst of watching Barefoot Contessa reruns as well as The Waltons, I am going to attempt some knitting.
My sister made some awesome cable fingerless gloves and so I am inspired.
Have a great day!

A funny quote for today...
Student: Miss E, I don't feel well.
Teacher: Where does it hurt?
Student: My tummy.
Teacher: Oh, yeah?
Student: Yep, it feels like axes and knives are in my tummy.
Teacher: Wow, that is quite descriptive, I guess you better go home.

Her creativity won the nurse and me over. She went home to get the axes and knives out of her tummy.

Excuse Me, Please...

This week has been interesting to say the least. The students have gotten right back into the routines of what needs to be done at school. This past Friday though we had to have a chat about manners - the waiting your turn to talk speech. I talked to them about the important of saying, "Excuse me, please" when someone is speaking to another person and you want to say something. I also shared that even though you might say, "Excuse me, please", you might have to wait a few minutes until you get to talk.
I guess the little manners talk worked because all afternoon I heard... "Excuse me, please" one child would say wanting to talk to a friend. And the other child would respond, "One moment please, I am talking with someone. I'll talk to you in a few minutes."
Hopefully, this new idea will stick for the rest of the school year.

Other funny 1st grade quotes...

"Ms. E, it isn't a math paper anymore, it is an arithmetic paper."

After a while of looking at a student going across the floor with her ear to the carpet, I asked what she was writing for her math journal.
"Ms. E, the question in math asked how we could measure the classroom with our body or a part of our body. I decided to measure with ears. It is 114 ears across."

"The room is 72 knees across. Ms. E, Knees is spelled n with the vowel pair, ee and then a s."

"I hear a lot of noise Ms. E, don't you think it would be wise if we turned the light to red since some people can't handle yellow - work and whisper?"

While the students were trying to decide how the puppet show should be planned and then performed, one student from "the audience" tells the puppeteers..."You figure out what you want to do, until then we will talk amongst ourselves."

Back Again - but only once in a while

After a long intermission, I am still here, but have been busy with teaching first grade. I have decided that I should document at least once a week all the funny stuff that happens in my classroom. The students are very comical and provide laugh relief at least once every hour. Each one had qualities that make them special. So here's to hoping that I will be a more regular blogger. We shall see...
Happy Saturday and hooray for long weekends.

News Flash...Teacher turns into Barbie

On the way home from school, while I was carpooling with a friend and her 2 year old daughter, I was asked some very interesting questions.

The little girl with her great big eyes and an inquisitive look on her face asks... "Are you done being a teacher today?"

I replied, "yes, until Monday."

Then she asked, "So, now you are going home to be Barbie?"

I wasn't quite sure what she meant. After a quick discussion with her mom, I was informed that I look like her Barbie princess on her dress up clothes, because of my yellow hair.

Too funny! I have never fancied myself to look like Barbie...but hey, I guess after work, I could go home and be Barbie with one exception - I will not have feet with built in heels!

My first sweater...

I know it has been a long while, but I did have to post my first sweater that I knitted all by myself. Picking from a simple pattern, I was able to whip this baby up in about 2 months. Not bad, right? Okay, so those knitting diva's could have probably whipped up this little baby in about 2 days or if they are really advanced within a day. But for now, I am perfectly pleased that I could finish it without help and in my mind a short amount of time. haha!

My niece, Little E was thrilled to have a new sweater. Her comments..."For me. Okay!"

What is the rear view mirror really for anyway? part 2

Last week, my two year old niece asked me what the mirror (rear view) was used for. I told her it was to help you see things when you drive and of course to put on make-up. The next day, as we were driving to church, I asked her what the mirror was for.

Her response..."It's to put on your lickstick, Jecca."

That's my girl!

Grrr....Blogger isn't Working again!

"What is a rear view mirror really for anyway?"

Finally found...Owl's friend, Red Bird

I think this piece of art is remarkable!

Another happy picture.:) I love the nose.

"I am happy in this picture!"

One of my students on Friday made me this picture. It is a self-portrait. I love everything about it. He did a great job and I am so glad that he is happy in this picture.:)

Anyone craving pizza?

Something is in the works here...Hmmm....can you guess?

Some more yummy cookies!

Yummy Valentine Cookies.

yep...They are so yummy. I don't think they will last 'til Valentine's Day.

Coming this afternoon....

Valentine Sugar Cookies!

Scones Anyone?

This was my first attempt at making scones and I was delighted that they actually turned out. I used an orange recipe, but altered it a bit with cranberries. Here is the recipe below...

Double Orange Scones with Cranberries

2 cups flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons grated orange peel

3/4 cup cranberries

1/3 cup margarine or butter

1/2 cup chopped canned mandarine orange segments, drained

1/4 to 1/3 cup milk

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 tablespoon sugar

Heat oven to 400F. Lightly grease cookie sheet. In a large bowl, combine flour, 3 tablesoons sugar, baking powder, cranberries, and orange peel. Using pastry blender or fork, cut margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add orange segments, milk and egg. With fork, stir until mixture leaves sides of bowl and soft dough forms.

On a floured surface, gently knead dough 10 times. Place on greased cookie sheet; roll or pat into a 6 inch circle. Sprinkle dough with 1 tablespoon sugar. Cut dough into 8 wedges; separate slightly.

Bake at 400 F for 15 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

High Altitude:

Above 3500 Feet; Increase four to 2 1/4 cups and bake at directed.

Nutrition Per Serving:

Calories 220; Protien 4g; Carbs 32g; Fat 9g; Sodium 200mg

Recipe taken from Pillsbury: The Complete Book of Baking