Teacher Appreciation Week

So, this week was teacher appreciation week at our school.

I decided that I would just go ahead and make it the same
at Caroline's (youngest daughter) daycare/preschool!  I
used the darling ideas on Third Grade Thinkers...

It was a wild week this week due to the hubby attending a 

5 day bachelor party so I had to be organized!

I was also in charge of my Son's class gifts....

Monday was lotion for Caroline's teachers.
I recieved this yummy breakfast when I arrived at school!!

Tuesday was flowers for the teacher...

 Wednesday was fun drink cups for Caroline's teachers....at my school we had a PTA hosted Fiesta during lunch and our classes wore our favorite colors!!

Thursday was notes for the teacher day....Caroline's teachers got some fun notepads and pens.  

I love this note from one of my 3rd graders....each child wrote such neat notes, wow!!

Friday was gift basket day....Kevin's science teacher got an Orange Tree filled with gift cards and his regular classroom teacher got a memo board....they both recieved a ton of cards from the class!!

We gave Caroline's teachers gift cards for pedicures!

 I received the most awesome bucket that says, "Mrs. Cooper Rocks"!!  All the kids signed it and it was filled with gift cards to all my favorite places: Target, Starbucks, Nordstrom, Amazon, and itunes!!  I also got a pedicure gift certificate which I plan to use before we head off to Half Moon Bay in June!

I feel so spoiled!!  After a small trip to Target with my littles (needed portfolio report folders for open house) and a yummy chocolate cookie crumble frap, I had a ball buying movies on itunes, two pairs of summer shoes, a watch, sunglasses, a cute top, and some Sparkle Stilla eyeliner!!  WOWZA!

What fun things did you recieve or give (if you have your own children)
during teacher appreciation week?

Testing is OVER....

So last Friday this was the scene in my room at the end of the day....

Yes, you guessed it .....movie and popcorn party!

They deserved it....and they were mesmerized the entire time!

Judy Moody Not So Bummer Summer was a hit, 

many had not seen it, I was stoked!

Here is one of my cuties sporting some great earrings she made with paper....

Mysteries in Mrs. Coop's Class

So we started a mystery unit last week....I began by reading 

Nate the Great Hungry Book Club...to get us in the mood!  

Then, each child took a mystery pre-test to show what they

already know about mysteries.....then we came together to

create a chart about what we knew!

Then, I put the students in groups for a mystery book club 

unit of study!  We have been trying to tie in math and other

topics in language arts to keep us ready for the big test 

while still making the topics fun!

Each child has a detective case file which holds their book,

post-it's, and important detective notes pages.  We chose books 

That are below their just right reading level to make this new

type of reading more successful....Nate the Great (for the lowbies),

Jigsaw Jones, and ABC Mysteries.  

Each day the book clubs read the assigned pages, marks clues and 

suspects with post it notes, and keeps track of the timeline of events.

Every couple days the groups meet and discuss the reading...

We tied in some work around the mystery of Harris burdick...by

Chris van allsburg....

The students first read the introduction and responded to it with questions....

then we read the book with the pictures projected using the doc camera...

The kids were so riveted....it was awesome!  Finally, they each chose a 

picture and wrote their own mystery!

Planning sheet came from Amanda Nickerson at 

One Extra Degree.....you can find the entire unit on her TPT store...

We have been reading another mystery as a class during read aloud....

My kids are loving it....but it takes huge dedication as it is over 300 

pages long....we will finish by the end of the year!  And it is so cool

That I found some awesome end of year candy awards.....as well as

A fun pop rocks writing activity to tie it all together!

So for now....

Just 27 days left!

May Currently

Linking up with Farley at Oh Boy Fourth Grade.....I love her humor, blog, and her Angry Birds Math!!

Check her out and link up too....

things that make me laugh during testing

Oh my goodness.....right now I am cracking up!

Day two of testing in our classroom.....

Feeling like a stewardess while passing out snacks....

Raisins anyone?

Cheese and crackers?

Boutique waters?

Gum?

Then....while they were testing I was eating strawberries

and leaving the tops for my four painted ladies.....

As I placed a strawberry in....one flew out....

I almost screamed but instead carefully grabbed it

and put her back in before anyone noticed.

My final thought.....

Why is it water bottles are so entertaining?

Here is what I saw today:

How far a third grader can jam one into their mouth.

How often one can crinkle them to disrupt others.

How creative third graders can be, drilling holes in the top

with a pencil and then drinking from the hole....ewwwwwww!

things that make me laugh during testing

Oh my goodness.....right now I am cracking up!

Day two of testing in our classroom.....

Feeling like a stewardess while passing out snacks....

Raisins anyone?

Cheese and crackers?

Boutique waters?

Gum?

Then....while they were testing I was eating strawberries

and leaving the tops for my four painted ladies.....

As I placed a strawberry in....one flew out....

I almost screamed but instead carefully grabbed it

and put her back in before anyone noticed.

My final thought.....

Why is it water bottles are so entertaining?

Here is what I saw today:

How far a third grader can jam one into their mouth.

How often one can crinkle them to disrupt others.

How creative third graders can be, drilling holes in the top

with a pencil and then drinking from the hole....ewwwwwww!

what i'm pinning wednesday

So along the lines of what I am loving Wednesday.......

Here is what I pinned today...

Super cute summer outfit....I am so ready for summer....only 30 work days left!

Yumminess.....I might have to whip these up for my class when they fill the bucket and 

earn a class party and movie!

Adding this to the to do list...gonna make these for my youngest daughter's

three teachers for teacher appreciation week!  We are gonna miss them next year

as Caroline heads off to TK.....AT MY SCHOOL!

Happy Wednesday friends!