My father and step-mother came out to Utah from Pennsylvania to visit last weekend. We had a wonderful time. On Saturday we visited Antelope Island State Park. I hadn't been there since October 2005, so I was excited to return. Besides the bugs eating us alive, we enjoyed our visit. I took so many wonderful pictures. Check a few out below.
On Sunday we visited Red Butte Garden. My brother and his fiance plan to get married there next May, so they wanted to show my father and step-mother the grounds. It was absolutely gorgeous! I've been to Red Butte previously, but not when everything was in bloom. I went picture-taking-crazy and ended up with over 150 pictures. They turned out so amazing. I want to share them all, but it's too much work. Here are my favorites.
15 days of school left. DIBELS test tomorrow. CRTs on Thursday & Friday. Biography Report Wax Museum next Thursday...along with Bike, Board, & Blade Day. No school next Friday or the following Monday. Zoo field trip on the 29th. Town meeting (class play) on the 30th. Half days June 4, 5, & 6. I am losing my mind at school. My kids are absolutely nuts...for the last 4 weeks. A few of them could see the stress rolling from my ears and made me coupon books for 10 minutes of silence and help during recess. So nice to have some of them looking out for me. =]
Thanks for all of your support that you've been giving. I appreciate all of the advice you've given and especially loved hearing how you cope with hypothyroidism and gallbladder (or gallbladderless) issues. It's so nice to connect with others, even if anonymously over the internet. As soon as school is out and I have more energy, I'm going to start running and hope that helps with energy!
I have high hopes to be able to clean something this week -- anything would be great, really. I've been so busy printing, cutting, laminating, and cutting again for centers that are math and language arts related. I'm out of ideas on what to do with my kids now that we've finished our math and language arts programs. Centers are a lot of work the first time around. Good thing I'm taking the time to laminate them so they'll last a lot longer. Any teachers out there have any ideas to share on things to do with your class at the end of the year?
I am exhausted, writing this at 11:20 p.m. and I have a killer sunburn on my shoulders from Red Butte on Sunday. My bad for not thinking this beautiful weather in May could burn me. (I regret it now, for sure!) My school's arts showcase is this Friday evening, so I've been working non-stop at school, trying to get everything ready. Each class creates a display for each student and then a class "quilt" with one art project. Ours turned out great. I can't wait to show you pictures after the showcase. I love being part of an arts focused school, but it's a lot of work this time of year!
I have some really great projects that I can't wait to get my hands on once school is out! I'll be back in-motion on here before you know it. Have an amazing Tuesday!
Gorgeous photos! I especially love the one that looks like a fairy garden, with the stone pathways. SO perfect.
ReplyDeleteWe did DIBELS at the beginning of May. Luckily, though, we get out next week. The past couple weeks we have been doing mini-thematic units. We did one about plants, last week was weather, and this week is dinosaurs. We have been doing a lot of watercoloring and watching science videos on Discovery Education. I feel like I am just babysitting and herding cats at this point. Best of luck!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics! We are down to 4 1/2 days (but who's counting??) and ours have been wild since testing finished. You just have to keep them super busy and not give them a moment of unstructured time. That's when trouble starts. I did 2 math units after testing "to teach them what they need to know for 5th grade." I'm spending the last week doing math-inspired art projects. I found a book called "Math Art." It has some great ideas. My students have really enjoyed them. It's nice being able to take some time and do fun stuff.
ReplyDeleteI am with you! I teach kindergarten and we have 12 days left, 3 of which are half days. This may be too young for kiddos, but my kids each make a card for an adult in the building. It can be the principal, secretary, another teacher, lunch helpers, etc. It has a big sun on the front and the inside says "You are my sunshine because..." and they write them a note or letter and then we waste time, I mean, go pass them out:) We also do the top 3 things they want to do before 1st grade in the fall. We take our words off the word wall by playing games like guess the word I"m thinking of or hangman to take up some time as well. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWow...awesome pictures. What kind of camera do you have?
ReplyDeleteThese photos are breathtaking! I wish I could travel there with my man! Good luck with the end of the school year.
ReplyDeleteAmanda Rose
http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com
I am a technology teacher and we have Comic Life on our computers in our lab. As an end of the year project I have the kids make a comic about memories from that grade. They make one box each with text or speech bubbles for Math, ELA, Content, Technology, and then one other item of choice. Then they use the iSight webcam and take photos of themselves holding items or with other props that go along with their comment. They always turn out really cute! And the kids love doing them. If you have Comic Life, feel free to email me and I'll send you the templates I have used. If not you can always do one of the following online tools http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/comic-creator-30021.html Or put a superhero twist.....We had a "SUPER" year....http://marvelkids.marvel.com/games/play/75/create_your_own_comic Possibilities are endless! carrietrudden@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are beautiful, thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteMy camera is a Canon Powershot SX130IS. You can read about it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZSHNG8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thenesteffect-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003ZSHNG8
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