Today was a sad day...

It's the little things in life, right?  So imagine my dismay this morning when one of my girls asked me to sharpen her pencil.  No big deal you're probably thinking...my reply to her was "Sure, bring it to me and I'll sharpen it for you."  She went across the room to my desk where my world's best sharpener from Classroomfriendlysupplies.com is ALWAYS located in the SAME spot on my desk.  "It's not here..."  To which I replied "What do you mean it's not there?   It should be right there on the left side of the desk."  Needless to say, this led to a whole class search where all my students were looking in every nook and cranny trying to hunt down our favorite sharpener.  I was out sick all week last week and during that time my tape dispenser AND my stapler disappeared.  I assumed that one of the subs must have accidentally packed them away with their belongings unknowingly...either that or there's a hot monopoly for stolen staplers and tape dispensers.  It's very frustrating to be having things disappear from off of my desk.  I know that in the grand scheme of things these aren't the most expensive items, but these things add up.  I hate to think that there may be a student in class stealing things.  I sent home a newsletter and mentioned that some things have gone missing, perhaps brought home by accident, and if seen please send them back to school.  The only other alternative that I can think of is that one of the night cleaning staff may have taken them.  I can't for the life of me figure out why they'd want them...maybe they want to play school at home?  Anyway, at least I'm not alone in my sadness over the loss of my sharpener.  One of my boys came up to me towards the end of the day and said "I miss your sharpener already, that's the only one that ever really works."  Who knows, maybe tomorrow we will be pleasantly surprised and they will be returned...one can hope anyway.  On a different note, I also think that I deserve a medal for my restraint this afternoon.  Another one of my girls came up to me at the end of the day and asked if I would like to hear a joke.  Seeing as they are eight and nine years old their jokes are usually safe.  She proceeded to ask the following:  "How do you tell a boy snowman and a girl snowman apart?"  At this point in my mind I was thinking "Oh boy, here we go...how do I get out of this one?"  My reply was "I have absolutely no idea."  "If it's a boy snowman it has snow-balls!"  And yes, she was most definitely referring to a certain part of human anatomy.  I maintained a straight face and said "That is not the type of joke that is appropriate for telling in school.  Please don't repeat that to anyone else."  Her response?  "But my mom told me that one."  Oy...These are the moments that led me to select the name for my blog! Have a great night! =)
~Heather~

Brrr!!!! New product, and a giveaway!

Baby it's cold outside!  Here comes another round of bitter cold in New England, and with it some more snow.  I will definitely not be sad if we end up with a snow day, as I am recuperating from a nasty cold and strep.  After getting a second antibiotic I am finally starting to feel more like my old self.  (Finally!)  I have thoroughly enjoyed my day off in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  My favorite quote by Dr. King is "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."  How true this is for so many situations in life.  Along with cuddling on the couch with my pup and watching an NCIS marathon (love NCIS!), I put together a valentine themed multiplication facts practice game: Purrr-fect Products-Multiplication Facts Practice for my third graders.  I included all facts from the 1's to the 12's.  I think it's important for our third graders to work on the 11's and 12's even though they do not have to master them by the end of third grade.  Each year though I have some students who really seem to absorb their facts quickly, so the 11's and 12's are a great extension for them.  We will be using these flash cards in our math workshop rotations.  I will be able to easily differentiate which facts my students are working on.  I will simply put selected sets of facts in certain groups, that way my students will be working on the facts that are at their current levels.  They'll be using these cards in a couple different ways.  One way will be to match the fact card to its correct product card.  They will also be playing multiplication memory with the cards as well.  Towards the end of the week when they've had a chance to become very familiar with their current level of facts they can even take turns quizzing each other with the flash cards.  

  

I showed my fourth grade son the set when I was looking at it, and he thought it was adorable...I have to agree! =)  I love the graphics from mycutegraphics.com  She's great!

Seeing as I haven't been very regular lately with blogging, I'd love to give away a few sets of my Purrr-fect Products-Multiplication Facts Practice!  I will send a free set to the first 4 followers who comment and leave their email address! =) 

Still here...

Man, I feel like I haven't posted in forever...because I pretty much haven't!  I'm sure I'm not the only one who by the time the day is done and reorganized, I'm finally heading home exhausted.  This year I am really trying to focus on making sure that I spend more time with my family, they are my number one priority first and foremost.  I went back to school after Christmas break feeling pretty refreshed and rejuvenated...and it lasted for a little while seeing as it was a three day school week last week.  This week is our first full week back since vacation and it has been BRUTAL.  On top of being so tired I am now coming down with some kind of bug...fingers crossed it won't end up being the nasty flu that seems to be everywhere right now. (I'm thinking it's just a nasty cold thankfully.)  Even being so tired and worn down I have to say I love my group of kids this year.  Each day there is something new that they come out with that makes me laugh and appreciate their unique and precious personalities.  Just today one of my ESL girls randomly came up to me, gave me a hug, and said "I love to be near Mrs. Michaud, she makes me feel like home." <3  And that right there folks is why I do what I do.  I think that it's so easy for us to get caught up in all of the day to day stresses that we all face, and we often forget where our students come from, and what they go home to each night.  I am very thankful that I get to be a bright part of their day each week, because they definitely make mine brighter. <3

~Heather~