I want you to know

Maybe you saw this on Facebook a while back. A teacher had her kids write her a note that started, "I want you to know..." Well, towards the end of the year, I did this.

I am going swimming this summer and going to Plymell with Raegan.

I'm going to miss you when it's summer.

I am going to be on swim team.

I had baseball practice yesterday

I want you to know what Minecraft is

These are just a sample -- I particularly LOVE the last one!!
This boy would often tell me stuff about Minecraft, and I just had no idea what he was talking about!

Several little friends told me about something they were going to do this summer - go swimming, play with a friend, etc. Some told me they weren't going to be coming back to our school next year - the one above where she says she's going to Plymell. Some were a little kiss up -- I'll miss you, you're the best teacher. One I couldn't read, and another didn't make sense. 

And then -- there were three that broke my heart. One boy told me he wasn't good at school. One student told me someone was hitting them, and another said a student from another class was calling them names. 

I really like to know what's going on with my students. Like my Minecraft friend, I know what he's interested in. 

But sometimes, in the ebb and flow of the classroom, and students who are a bit quiet or shy, I just don't find out things I need to know. 

I liked this and I plan to do it more frequently next year. It's a simple and easy idea that only takes 5 or so minutes. And it gives me a lot of information.

Summer Bucket List

Yesterday, at 4 o'clock, I was trying to decide whether or not to take my morning shower. Mind you, this was 4 pm! Ack!! Trust me, I was busy, just dirty {and probably stinky!}.

So I'm only a week behind on this little linky party, but here it goes anyway:

School: Yes, this is The Year where I really do some exploring on math stuff. I think last year, we were told we were going to do Engage NY, and I didn't really think it would last. But apparently I was wrong, because it's back this year. I have some books, and I know some blogs that do some good things -- I just need to get going on this! 

My daughter told me someone told her my name, Sara Sanders, sounds like a super hero name. So that got me to thinking -- I'm going to see about doing some super hero stuff, keeping in mind, I'm not one who goes all out decorating. 

And I always like to plan through Labor Day -- just helps me A Lot with the first of the year stuff. 

Personal: Yes, cleaning out my basement was why I was dirty and stinky at 4 in the afternoon. Does anyone else's basement just become a catch-all, for everything?  For a while, every summer, my daughter and I would work on the basement... and it would feel like that's all we would do all summer. So then we decide to take just one week and go at it hard. I'm all by myself this year, but I'm halfway through. And doing pretty good with it.

Fun: It hasn't gotten too hot here yet {forecast is for 100 this weekend, though} and my hubby's out of town this week {he doesn't like anything that even comes close to warm!} so I've eaten supper outside -- and loved it. Just relaxing and all my bird friends talking to me. 

And phone a friend - yep - done that twice, no wait, three times. A chance to sit and visit with a friend I haven't seen in a while - terrific!

If you're interested, or want to see what others are doing:

Happy Friday!

End of the Year Video

I've been slowly trying to wade through all the "stuff" on my computer. I made the monumental decision to leave alone all the pictures -- oh my goodness, there are a lot of those! 

I've left for last my SCHOOL folder - and it's a Yikes! I've saved all sorts of things -- there was a time when people were giving away all sorts activities and files they had made, and I took everything! So there are files of things I don't even know why I saved them. 

But... as I was going through things, I found a powerpoint "video" I'd made last year and as I watched it, I sort of said, "darn it" to myself. I remembered {!!!} to take pictures of all the "good stuff" that year, so I had some shots of a craft we did at the first of the year, Apple Day, our new desks, leaf pictures we made, Thanksgiving turkeys we made with pasta, traditional gingerbread people and houses, the goofy things they did on the last day before Christmas break, and so on. You get the picture, I bet. I remember showing the video on the last day of school -- what a nice way for them to reflect and remember what we had done in 2nd grade.

This year, my life was pretty hectic the last month, and I remember thinking to myself, "I ought to do that video thing. But it's a lot of work for just a few minutes of happiness." So I didn't do it, and I sort of regret that now. 

So I was thinking, one way to help that video become a reality next year, is to do part of it before the last month {or even last week!!} of school. Like, brain storm here! I could do the first half of the year over Christmas break. And I'd be half done! Oh, what a thought!  

I guess as I'm reflecting on this, I realize that the video is a nice way to close down the year. And the kids seem to enjoy seeing themselves, and remembering what we did. So that needs to go back on the DO list.