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Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year, What's ahead, & Currently

I wish you all a super prosperous and happy new year!  It's New Years Eve  around 8:15 and I decided to write this one last post of 2012 (yup, I'm a party animal...don't hold that against me).

I've joined Michelle's "What's ahead 2013. Visit Making It As A Middle School Teacher to join the fun! Here is what's ahead for me in 2013!  

Oh and then there's Farley's Currently..... apparently she has a life because she posted the January Currently early.  Well I refuse to be number 7, 568 so I needed to get to it right away.  Make sure you go to Oh Boy 4th Grade and link up now!
I'm embarrassed to say I finished a whole big bag of peanut butter m&ms!  Which is why I will be joining Weight Watcher (AGAIN!!!!) this week.  

For my OLW (one little word) I chose Encouragement.  I am very discouraged with our world today.  It makes me sad that there are so many people who feel unloved, unproductive, and useless.  I am making it my goal to encourage others.... from my own family to strangers and everyone in between including myself.  I have a habit of taking care of everyone but myself but as my mom (and my doctor after a recent health scare) said to me, "If you don't take care of yourself you will not be around to take care of your family".  So I will start with encouraging myself to "stick to it" and take care of me! I will find a way to encourage someone, anyone at least once per day.

Love you all!

Sunday, December 30, 2012

First 12 in the Last of 12 Linky Party!

As I reflect on 2012 I thought it would be fun to post the first 12 blog posts of 2012!  I'm sure a lot of the "old" posts will have subjects that pertain to right now anyway!  I would love if you join my linky!

 Here are the rules:
  • You must use the linky pic above
  • Your blog post must link back to mine
  • List your first 2012 blog posts starting with the earliest
  • Use Farley's rule of 3! (comment of the first 2 people who link up before you and comment of the 1 person who links up after you)
Ready, Set, Go!  Here are my FIRST 12 IN THE LAST OF 12!
  1. 1/01/12 ~Hahaha, my first 2012 post is a linky party...Farley's January Currently
  2. 1/14/12 ~It's report card time again
  3. 1/16/12~ I had a huge appreciation giveaway
  4. 1/21/12~ And then the winner were announced
  5. 1/23/12~Messy desks and the "Froggy desk fairy" 
  6. 2/04/12~Some Valentine Freebies
  7. 2/06/12~ Farley's February Currently... It's funny how now I don't sleep on the first of any month until I link up with Farley's Currently so I can be in the top 50 instead of 7,689!
  8. 2/08/12~ A fun 100 day activity
  9. 2/10/12~ Spelling City Review
  10. 2/11/12~You know you're a teacher when...
  11. 2/18/12~Fun Picture Writing prompts I shared!
  12. 2/24/12~ Teaching life cycles in my classroom (using the "cotton pickin'" Boll Weevils)
Apparently, I started out the year with a lot of linky parties. That's funny since I am ending the year with one and I am planning on joining some of the New Years linky parties!
I look forward to reading your First 12 from the Last of 12!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

We have some catching up to do and CANDY!

Boy, do I have some catching up to do!  It seems like I haven't blogged or posted on Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies Facebook page in ages!  I had bronchitis on top of my allergies and it kicked my butt!  I'm on the mend now, so no worries!

Soooooo, lets start with the weather.  I grew up on the east coast (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey) but now live in South Texas.  Here in San Antonio it doesn't feel like we have 4 seasons like I did growing up. South Texas seasons should be renamed to "I'm melting hot"(3/6 of the year) , "Wow what a great day warm"(2/6 of the year), and "WooHoo it feels like winter coldish"(1/6 of the year).  Today is "WooHoo it feels like winter coldish". Right now its 39 degrees and the high should only get to 50!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the colder weather!  However, on Christmas day, my son was wearing shorts.  I miss having a white Christmas but I love living in Texas.  How is the weather where you live?  Did you have a white Christmas?

Right before the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy I was planning on blogging about an awesome opportunity that came my way but considering the circumstances I didn't think it was right so I waited. However, it's not fair to Spangler that I waited this long so I will share my post now and will do another activity with the remaining candy ASAP for Valentines day.

Spangler Candy, the makers of Dum Dums, Saf-T-Pops, candy canes, and circus peanuts, sent me a giant box yummy Dum Dums lollipops and some candy canes for me and my students to use in a craft or recipe. When the students saw the great big box they were crazy excited!  I explained to my students that I wanted them to think of a creative way to use the Dum Dums in a Christmas craft.  I had several suggestions and we voted on our favorite one... introducing the DumDums Christmas tree!

Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes and here are just a few of the student samples.   After the students started these I thought it would be really cool to do the same thing but have enough lollipops to have a countdown to Christmas.  Every day in December you would eat one DumDums until Christmas!  I may try that with next years group!
Thanks to Spangler Candy for this opportunity.  You can see even more fun recipes and crafts by visiting Spangler Candy's craft idea page   or their holiday recipe page.

I don't want to make this post too long so I will stop here but be reassured I am back to blogging and back to "normal" routines...whatever that may be.  Come back Sunday evening to see what Christmas fun my students and I had.

Until then my friends,

Saturday, December 15, 2012

My heart aches...

I am heartbroken and don't even have the words to explain how sad I am.  Yesterday, I learned of 2 different children, that I personally know, who not in safe hands.  My friends (who are all educators) made sure these 2 kids got help and were going to be safe.   Then the shooting in CT......... I just don't have words.  All I can say is I'm praying!  I'm praying a lot! I am praying for every single person affected by hate. (Thanks to Nikki from Melonheadz for the remembrance pic above)

A fellow blogger and friend Erica shared this poem on her blog

 And finally I thank Farley from Oh Boy 4th Grade for thoughtful idea. Please join Farley, Me and several other bloggers in a day of silence for teacher bloggers on

Sunday, December 16, 2012,
by only posting the picture below on your blog 
and titling your post as "Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary" .


Hugs to all of you!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Currently...

Yes, I already blogged today (click here to read the post & pick up a freebie) but it's the 1st, so you know that means I must participate in Farley's December Currently. Hop on over to Oh Boy 4th Grade and join the linky party.
O.K. back to blog stalking before I start grading :)

The Season to be Merry (with a freebie)!

Merry Christmas!  Happy Hanukkah! Joy to the world...........happy happy happy!  I truly love this time of year but not everyone is always so cheerful, especially stressed out teachers.  Many times the teachers students have "holiday fever" and are grumpy, needing vacation extra energetic and extra unfocused on school work.  I have learned the more  we stick with our normal routines the better! However, who wants to go through December without fun activities? Well, I guess the Grinch but besides him everyone wants to decorate and have fun - without the stress!
(knocking on wood) Throughout the years my classes are well behaved and work hard during the holiday excitement.  My secret? Keep with the curriculum but plan one fun activity a day and do the activity at the end of the day.   Christmas activities can be used as a bribe.......yes, I said it. I'm not to proud to bribe my students.

My fourth grade team, a.k.a. The Fab Fourth, has already planned our fun!  Here's some of what we have in store (with help from Pinterest)...