Strawberries and Football

This week my first graders have been learning about and using their 5 senses. Today we finished it up by having a strawberry investigation. Each student got a strawberry and had to talk/write about how it felt, smelled, sounded, tasted,and looked. Kind of a fun way to finish 5 senses.
touch

taste

smell

sight (with magnifying glasses)

anchor chart
written response

In other news...

GO PACK GO!

Are you ready for some football? We sure are!

Our Labor Day Weekend

What a wonderful 3 day weekend we had.

It was sooooooooooo relaxing. I'm not kidding. So chill and exactly what was needed.

Friday Night

We went out to dinner with my family to wish them bonvoyage on their trip. Yummy Mexican food is always alright in my book. Then we went to Best Buy to buy a couple new movies for Reagan. Friday night's movie was "Babe". Do you all remember that one? "That'll do pig, that'll do". Aww so cute.

Saturday

Saturday we got up early to take my car to the dealership to get the Reagan's door/lock fixed. This child loves to break everything .... grr... 250 dollars later.... We grabbed a little breakfast at IHOP , dropped off Nick's car to get his tires rotated and oil changed, and then we napped. A lot. I love naps.

Saturday night's movie was Rio. I LOVED IT! Probably more than Reagan, but still. So cute.

Sunday

More naps! More playing. More laziness. Amazing.

love this

We bust out Reagan's Halloween costumes from the past 2 years. The baby pumpkin was obvi too small but we thought we'd try Elmo. Hilare. Too small. But we made it work.

Monday

We spent Labor Day with my inlaws. A little bbqing, swimming, and watching the little guys play was fun for all. Reagan came home exhausted! Success!

That night I got hit with a major migraine. For all those who have been reading my blog for awhile.. It had been a good 2 months migraine free! (I switched my birth control to the loseasonique (sp?) So I'm only supposed to get my period every 3 months.... which would hopefully be 1 migraine in 3 months. hmmmm.) But boy did it hit me hard last night! It stuck with me this morning and I ended up calling out sick. Boo. It went away around noon and I was able to get some cleaning done around the house. My sister came over after her dr. appt to give me her ultrasound pictures! So excited. Can't wait for the big reveal.

Lately in first grade....

I haven't blogged about school much lately. Probably because it has been all I eat, sleep, and breathe. I think its funny how most people think teachers do the same thing every single year. When in all reality we change what we teach and how we teach it all the time. We are all students at heart and keep learning how to better ourselves for our own students. And this ... is why we are so exhausted all of the time. Okay. Off my soapbox!

Here are some things we have been up to (that I have taken photos of!) in our first grade classroom.

For the first week of school's homework I send home a little person from Lakeshore with directions for the parents and child to work together to make it look like the student. Then they have to write about what makes their child so special. It's always a sweet getting-to-know-you activity and makes the kids feel really proud.

The first week of school we also read "The Little Engine that Could". We talked about how we should never use the word "can't" in our classroom. (Such a pet peeve of mine... "But, I can't!!") We then all go outside and bury the word "can't" so it is no longer allowed to be said.


We then come back into the classrom and make our own "I can trains". The kids have to write 2 sentences about things that they can indeed do.

This week one of my teammates found the cutest little hippo from blogland and we used it to fit our needs. We had our kids make circle maps about all of the things we did during the first week of school. They then created a hippo that hung in the windows with the sign, "Hip, Hip, Hooray. We're in first grade today!"

(Don't mind all the DIBELS mess outside of my classroom. Clearly benchmark testing was being done!)

This week we have been reading and learning about ants. The class made paper ants and labeled the body parts. We also created a tree map about ants. I loved their vocabulary!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Hi friends!

It's Wednesday and since I haven't linked up in a while with sweet Jamie I thought I would do so today! What are you loving lately??

I'm loving that our Disneyland vacay is booked! I seriously can't wait to see Reagan's face when he sees his favorite characters in person. Any Disneyland advice you have would be greatly appreciated! (I've gotten a bit from facebook friends and the web.... but I would love any help!)

I'm loving that my sister is already 20 weeks! Half way till the baby arrives. Even better? Just 1 month until her gender reveal party! I would be happy with either a boy or a girl. If it's a girl I can finally spoil a little princess. If it's a boy, Reagan will have a built in little buddy. It's really a win-win!

I'm loving that this weekend is a 3day weekend! We don't have much planned- but that sounds heavenly to me!

I'm loving that October is right around the corner. We throw a pumpkin party for our friends and family every October and I'm getting excited!! I need to start planning that party! You can read about last year's party here and here .Then there is Halloween ! I think Reagan has decided on being Buzz this year. Need to get that ordered! Another October celebration ---- Nick turns 30! He says he doesn't want a party or anything, but I think I should plan something!

I'm loving the book I'm reading. The only problem is it is huge... and I still have like 200 pages left. Oh, and I have 3 library books on my nightstand- so I'd better get reading fast!

There is a ton I could write about right now... loving lots. But I need to log off and do some Etsy shopping. :) XXOO

Reagan videos

So I finally figured out how to upload videos to Blogger.

Youtube. Hello.

Here are two that I have filmed recently! Enjoy!

For Valentines day last year one of my students got me this singing flower. Yes. It is singing Ashley Simpson's L.O.V.E song. Reagan became obsessed with it and he dances to it quite a lot. Who knew. I thought it was going straight to Goodwill.

Here is Rea Rea singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Mother of the Year

Nick had a big test on Saturday (he passed!) so Reagan and I went to run some errands. (I'm hosting my sister's gender reveal party in 1 month so a trip to Hobby Lobby was in order.)

It turned out to be a DISASTER!

Seriously. The terrible twos came back and this time- straight from hell. Let's see. 1) He was throwing a fit for having to ride in the cart. So I gave him a bribe, yes, I do this. I had some teddy grahams in my bag. He proceeded to dump them all over the floor...on purpose. 2) He jumped out of the cart (yes. scared the you know what out of me). 3) He ran through the store screaming NO. And just a reminder- Hobby Lobby is huge. I left the cart, threw my bag over my shoulder and sprinted after him. Everytime I thought I was close to getting him he was sprint down a different isle. I was freaking out. Oh ya. As he was running he was knocking things off the shelves. I finally caught him and spanked him so hard. 4) I put him back into the cart and had to hold him down. He proceeded to slap me across the face. Seriously? What was going on?!?! He took my items from the cart and threw them out.

I picked him up and carried him out of the store with him kicking and screaming. We both got loaded up into the car and both started hysterically crying. And yes, we both cried the entire car ride home. I'm sure the cars next to us were getting a good chuckle.

OMG. There are times when this mom job is soooooooo hard.

In other news. We booked our first real family vacation. Disneyland. I can't wait. Now please, please, please Lord let Reagan be well behaved. Because a tantrum like Saturday's CAN NOT happen at the happiest place on earth.

Meet the Teacher

Hi friends!

I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin' for the Meet the Teacher link-up!

Tell us a little something about yourself......

My name is Mandy. I've been married to Nick for 5 years and we have a 2 year old son Reagan. I have 2 doggies -Hunter and Lily. I am super close with my family and actually live down the street (like literally 9 houses away) from my parents. I love the color pink, reading, reality tv, and hugs from my little man. I graduated from college in 2005 and got my Masters and Reading Endorsement in 2009.

Nick and I on our wedding day

Rea Rea on St Patricks Day last year.

How long have you been teaching?

This is my 7th year teaching! And all in the First Grade. I seriously ADORE first grade and will probably teach it forever!

My classroom this year

You might not know....

If I wasn't a teacher I would probably be a party planner. I love it.

Pictures from Reagan's 1st birthday party

Pictures from Reagan's 2nd birthday party

What are you looking most forward this school year?

I'm looking forward to learning new things and trying them in my classroom! A new year is always a new adventure!!

What do you need to improve?

My main goal this year is math. I think I am a pretty good reading teacher and get my kids to benchmark or exceeds in that area. But I would like to try and move more kids in math!

What teaching supplies can you not live without?

Mr. Sketch markers, chart paper, children's books, music, bins and baskets, pocket charts, my chimes, etc. The list could go on and on!