Monday has a a headache...

Monday has given me a terrible headache.  No joke.  As I type, every click of the keyboard makes my temples throb.  I can't take the "Excedrin Migraine" med that ALWAYS stops my headache because my pain didn't start until 8 p.m.  If I take my favorite over-the-counter, I will be up all night long.  So I have to settle for Grocery Store acetaminophen.  Yep.  Which means I'll have a headache all night long.  Sigh.

My day started off really well...considering that I went to bed last night at 1:30 am.  (Spring Break really messed up my sleep schedule!)  I woke up on time, had all of my things packed and ready to go.  Even my new haircut was jammin'...until I walked outside.  Humid southeast Texas weather = flat hair.  No kidding.  By the time I got in my car, my hair looked like I didn't bother to fix it.  Yay.

When I get to school, the wind is blowing hard and I do everything I can to get from the car to the building without losing my loot. (Hair is a lost cause, at this point.)  As soon as I walk in the building, the heat and humidity hits me like a wave.  The district tries to save money by turning off the air system over extended holidays.  So our two story building feels like an oven until about 11.  Yay x 2.

My quarters actually had a good day.  We worked on some pre-STAAR activities and I taught them a game or two.  It felt good, even though some things didn't go as planned.  Yay x 3.

After work, I get back into my "workout routine" that I am paying for every month.  I haven't been to the gym in 4 weeks and it's time to get back into it.  Can you say pain in my thighs and shoulders now????  Yay x 4.

Definitely a Debbie Downer day for me.  But hey...tomorrow's a new day.  There's a forecast of strong thunderstorms and flooding.  I bet my hair will look great...until I walk out the door.  Ha ha ha!

Leaving the pity party...

I just want to share a quick picture of the tracking cards some of my struggling quarters use to track their reading.

I attach highlighter tape on each side of the card.  The colored area highlights the text students are reading.  It really helps some of my struggling readers, as well as students we suspect have some form of dyslexia or Irlen's Syndrome.  I used these types of cards many, many times when I taught first.  It's definitely something to try if you have that one student you just can't figure out!

I leave you with this:

"Bambling Bumbling Band of Baboons!"--Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Always,
 
[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Well that was fast...

 I just can't believe my spring break is over!  I feel like it just flew by!  I was really lazy relaxed this week!  However, I also feel like I got a lot of things accomplished for my students.  I downloaded a lot of stuff from TPT.  I have awesome lesson plans for this coming week.  I made A LOT of things for the students to help pump them up and get them motivated for STAAR Writing! This is my "bucket" that I'm taking to school tomorrow!! YES.  I did that much!

I got so much done and very little of it required actually physical labor! HAHA!  A bunch of cutting, gluing, sorting...but things I could do from the comfort of the couch!

I am most excited about their Tuesday "pep card".  I was stalking one day this week (comfort of the couch, remember??) and I got the pattern and directions from Mrs. McKown at Little Literacy Learners .  (The star is a graphic from www.mycutegraphics.com, per her website).

Like any good stalker  teacher, I had to make a few tweaks.  Her idea suggested using Mentos and wrapping foil around that, but I couldn't find them anywhere!!! So I used one of my husband's wrench adapter thingys (I'm sure there is a formal name...but I wasn't listening...) and rolled it up in foil.  Then, I stuffed the foil tube with M&Ms.  It actually worked like a charm and I love the final product!!

 So, I am ready and exited to get back to class!  Tomorrow I will introduce "Go Fish--Parts of Speech Edition".  I think the students will love it!  It is my original idea, so if you're interested, I have placed it on my "Free Printables" page.

Have a safe, fun, fabulous Monday!!

 I end with a quote from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: 

"It's a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up."--JK Rowling

Don't I know it!!!

Always,

 
[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Waiting...

I spent the morning with one of my good friends and her little girl.  We had a nice lunch and spent some quality time talking.  We also went to Target, where again, I spent too much money on my quarters!! !  But it is worth it!!

Scott and Austen left earlier this afternoon to drive to Dallas for a car show.  (I don't know why...I just nod my head...) So that means I have the house to myself for the night!! ::squee::

However, Megan texted me from Alabama to let me know that, instead of stopping on her way back from Ft. Bragg, she and her friend (also named Megan...go figure) are driving all the way through!! WHAT?!? Ahhhhh....what it means to be young again.  But, as every parent knows, you can't rest until your children do.  So I am staying up, slaving away on STAAR surprises, game making, and lesson planning until she walks through my front door!  To all parents out there...your babies are ALWAYS your babies, no matter their age!  She is wrestling with sending her husband off to war, so I just want to hug her.  As you know, you're only as happy as your unhappiest child.  Think about it...

Anyway, I did make her (and myself) a surprise!  She is finishing up her education degree in December and, in the meantime, she may substitute.  So, I made ID badge holders!  I think they turned out pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself...

 They are cute buttons glued to the top of extendable badge holders.  I'm sure they won't last forever, but I tried! Ha ha!  I added the yellow ribbon with the blue button to remind us that 2LT John is away and we are waiting on his safe return.  I'll let Megan choose the one she wants.

I promise to respond to all of your comments when I have a down moment!!  I appreciate all of the feedback and new followers!!  I've added myself as a follower to many blogs since the linky party!  So very excited to really start stalking again!!  (You can only get away with that comment on teaching blogs!! Ha ha!!)

Also...the book "How to Train Your Dragon" is nothing like the movie, FYI.  Now I remember why I love to read books first, then see the movies!

In the spirit of seeing my daughter for the first time in quite a while, I leave you with this quote:

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer.
-- Author Unknown

 She most certainly is!

Always,

 
[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]