Our CC Year

We had a wonderful year of Classical Conversations.  This program and our community has blessed  my heart so much through the years.  I just love it!

Edy's class

AG's class

Our wonderful community!

The moms gave me the sweetest gift--a frame filled with gift cards to some of my favorite places!

End of Year Celebration

My little Memory Master testing with her tutor.

We are gearing up for another year at CC.  I am looking forward to it...and so are the girls.

Teacher Treat--Free Printable

It's that time again--time to start another school year! Although my kiddos are homeschooled, we attend Classical Conversations once a week.  Wednesday will be our first day and we are SUPER excited! Typically, I make something for the girls to give their tutors and/or caregivers, but this year I am AG's tutor so that makes things a little different.  Easy fix:  I'm taking a little treat to my fellow tutors (one being Edy's), and Joy's babysitter.

When I was a public school teacher, I loved a little treat now and then.  Those Snicker bars and Dr. Peppers really came in handy on that first week of school!!! 

There are tons...and tons...and tons of teacher gift ideas floating around Pinterest.  Here's another one to add to the mix...

[8X10 printable] It's going to be an AWESOME year!!!  I just know it! Linking up: It's Overflowing, Hip Homeschool Moms

MDO Spring Program

Thursday, the girls sang in the MDO Spring Program.  

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree--AG was in her element...

 

 

 

 

I didn't record the actual program (Graham was in the back with his camera), but here's a little exerpt from rehersal.  (far cry from the actual program)

  MDO Spring Program from Leslie Hale on Vimeo.

After the program, we enjoyed some refreshments.  Everyone (and by everyone, I mean everyone) stopped by to tell AG how well she sang.  She ate it up and later I spotted her "working the room" by walking the perimeter and letting people dote on her!  She's a ham!

I don't want to leave Edy out--she did good too.  She sang occasionally and did her hand motions occasionally and really didn't care that her big sister's performance was getting OSCAR and TONY award-winning buzz.

"A" is for AVA!

For about a month, I have been working with Ava on the letter "A". Yes, she knows her alphabet, but she can't recognize or write any letters. We have practiced writing some letters to no avail. I finally gave up and thought we would try later. A couple of days ago, as I was cleaning off the back porch, I spotted an "A" that AG had written in sidewalk chalk. I thought it was a fluke until I spotted a lot more.  You may also notice that she is learning to write her name. The "V" is upside down, but it's a start!

The Pledge

Pledge from Leslie Hale on Vimeo.

"Good" Note

Ava Grace received a good note yesterday. In lieu of her recent behaviors, I was excited. Here is what it said:

Ava is such a joy to have in school! She keeps us on our toes! She is also great at saying "I'm Sorry."

Well there you have it! A "Good" note! If you want to call it that! I'm one proud Mama!

RED!!!!!!!!!!!

Ava Grace has been having a bit of a rough spell in her behavior. "Terrible Two's" are in full swing around here. Graham and I have been in "discipline mode" each day and it is so difficult. We know that discipline is what is best for our little girl, but that doesn't mean that it is easy.

For the past few weeks, Ava has settled in nicely at her new school. She is gaining a lot of new vocabulary, she can draw and identify a circle, she can recognize the letter"A", and she loves her teachers and new friends. With that being said, each day that I have picked her up for school, her daily report has been NEGATIVE! There is a spot for teachers to mark whether the child's behavior was GREEN, YELLOW, or RED. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what those colors mean. For the past two weeks, AG has received a RED each day. I have been very discouraged by this. In fact, I talked to the "after-care" teacher and told her that we were willing to help in any way...I just need to know what negative behaviors are occurring from AG so I can reinforce at home.

The "after-care" teacher talked to AG's teacher (whom I don't see because she leaves before I pick her up) and the teacher corresponded with me through letter. She said that AG had not been on RED each day. She said that her class was learning the color RED and she had been circling that color to let the parents know what they were learning at school! Oh My Goodness! It was like a big sigh of relief. So, for two weeks, I had been a basket case trying to decide how I could handle my child's negative behaviors.

Although, AG has not been on RED daily, she is still having some issues that we are "chalking up" as the "twos." We are; however, continuing to press forward with the discipline even though it can be tough. It is our duty as Christian parents, right?!

We love you, Sweet Pea! We are praying for you and want nothing but the best for you!

To Go or Not to Go, That is the Question.

 

I am coming up on my ten year high school reunion.  I think it would be fun to see people I graduated with-- Plus, I'm curious about where people are and what they are doing.  However, I'm on the fence. I'll be six and a half months pregnant and I don't know if I'll be motivated to come.  Are any of you Magnolia High School Class of 1999 people coming?  If you went to your ten year reunion, are you glad you did?  If you didn't, do you regret it?  I want some input.

Ava's First Day

AG made it through her first day of preschool. She cried a lot when I left her and that was hard for me, too. When I picked her up, the director told me that she shed a lot of tears, but loved playing outside and playing with the other kids. On the ride home, Ava Grace was very talkative. I could tell she was glad to see me. When I unpacked her backpack, I noticed that she had colored a picture with cats, hats, mats, etc. There was a big letter "A" and a lower case "a" on the page. When I pointed to the letters, she said "Aaaaaaa." So, despite the sadness, she still had some fun and learning. I'm expecting tomorrow to be a little harder, but by the end of the week, I bet she will be fine. If you think about it, say a little prayer for her tomorrow.

Back and better than ever!

Today was my first day back to school with students. Many of you may remember that I looped up with my 5th grade students and will be teaching them 6th grade. When asked to loop, I didn't know if I was up for it. It was a FABULOUS decision! I am so glad that I did. This was the best first day of school I have ever had. My kids already knew most of their procedures and are about ready to get started on learning.

I couldn't believe how much the kids changed over the summer break. They look older, taller, more mature. I posed several questions to the students to start our day. One question I asked was if they noticed anything different about me. One of my boys raised his hand and said, "I think you look taller!" I had to laugh. I've been the same measly height of 5'2 since 8th grade. I told him, "No, but I am a bit wider." All of the kids just looked at me with strange glances. Needless to say, they were excited. One of my sweet boys said, in a sad voice, "Does that mean we are going to have a substitute?" He doesn't always click with subs.

It was a great day. I hope it is a sign of things to come.

Meet the teacher night

Tonight, Ava Grace went to her new school to meet her teacher. When we dropped her off at her class, she never looked back. She immediately started playing with the kids. Graham and I left her for a while and went to orientation. I am so pleased with her new school.

C-ya 5th grade

Tomorrow will be my last day as a 5th grade teacher...at least for another year. Next school year, I will be taking on a new challenge--looping. I'm going to be teaching my very same students in my same classroom next year. The only difference is that I will teach 6th grade curriculum.  I will be a 6th grade teacher for the first time. I am excited to see how well this "experiment" works out. For now, I am concentrating on my last day of school with the kiddos. I'm also getting geared up for my fun-filled summer with my little girl. Whoohoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1-to-1 computing grant

In January, I wrote a grant to receive 30 laptop computers and a hand-held video camera for my classroom. I am so excited to announce that I was one of the applicants selected. This means that each of my students will be able to use their very own computer each day.

I can't even tell you how much this will impact my lessons and the students' learning! Soon I will write a post all about one-to-one computing and how it impacts the classroom, but for now I'm just going to be pumped that I got the grant! This is so AWESOME!!!!!

Are you sick of those high paid teachers?

I, for one, am sick and tired of those high paid teachers. Their hefty salaries are driving up taxes and they only work nine or ten months a year.

It is time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do...babysit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage. That's right...I would give them $3.00 an hour an only the hours they worked, not any of that silly planning time.

That would be $15.00 a day. Each parent should pay $15.00 a day for these teachers to babysit their children.

Then, that's 15 times 25 = $375.00/day

But remember they only work 180 days a year. I'm not going to pay them for vacation.

Let's see...that's $375 times 180= $67,500.00/year

(Hold on, my calculator must need batteries!)

What about those special teachers or those with Master's Degrees?

Well, we could pay them minimum wage just to be fair. Let's round it off to $6.00 an hour. That would be 6 times 5 hours times 25 kids times 180 = $135,000.00/year

Wait a minute, there is something wrong here!!!!

I wonder if legislators have really considered this!



This was e-mailed to me a couple of years ago and I printed it off and put it on my bulletin board. Teaching is NOT what it used to be. Those summers off--that is spent getting professional development hours to keep our licences.

Forget the days of teachers sitting at a desk and barking out orders. Let me paint this pictures for you--I have a classroom of 28 children, 3 of which receive special services, 14 of which English is their second language, and 5 that came to me reading on a 1st grade or below reading level.  I am expected to send them on to the 6th grade ready and equipped for 6th grade level learning. There is no time for sitting! No sir! No Child left behind!!!!

Just a vent session! It seems so unfair that schools like mine and the one I came from are falling through the cracks even after ALL of the efforts to see that these kids achieve success!!!

Book Character Day

Book Character Day was so much fun. The teachers had more fun than the kids.

The Lion, Witch, and The Wardrobe
(We got 3rd place)

One down...36 to go!

This was my first week back to school. Compared to previous years, this has to be my favorite first week of school to date. I can't believe I am saying that considering my condition...

Monday, I got to school about 6:40 to prepare for my new students. I begin to feel sick, (achy, sore throat, head ache) but I thought it was just my nerves. Throughout the day, I felt worse and worse. I thought...this CAN'T be happening (all you teachers out there know, the first day of school is the MOST important day of the year). I needed to make a good impression, but all I wanted to do was put my head on my desk.

Tuesday, I woke up without a voice...I mean, NO voice. WHAT???? Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to go over procedures and teach with no voice? Well, to answer the questions...you don't, but somehow I managed to get everything I wanted to do accomplished.

Wednesday, a little better, but not great.
Thursday, no change.
Today, a little better.

Somehow, I made it. Plus, I think I made a positive impact on the students, taught my procedures, and even started in on my mini-lessons. My students are SO sweet. For the first time in a couple of years, I feel like they act like true 5th graders.

Getting Ready

It's that time again and I am really getting excited. I will be meeting a lot of my students tonight at "Meet the Teacher Night." I am looking forward to this year for many reasons, but one major reason is that I have a new classroom. The past four years of my teaching career, I have been in the smallest classroom at the school. I was in the smallest at Horn Lake and I have been in one of the smallest here in Fort Smith. It is really hard teaching 28 big fifth graders in such a tiny space. This year, I am in the largest classroom at our school! I am pumped. My classroom theme again this year is "Smileys and Polka Dots" (no particular reason, except that it's cute). I am proud to say that I made the curtains. But I must say, I had a little bit of "expert" help. Here are some pics of my massive new classroom!!! All it's missing is the kids!