I Am So Mad !!!!

[Mary G.]

Just wouldn't you know it. I come to school today ready to have a great day with my little 2nd graders before the Easter holiday. I get up here, busy in my classroom, getting ready for lunch. Out of 5 second grade classes, I'm the last to go to lunch. I get my class ready to walk down the hallway, and HA!, to my surprise, there are the other 4 classes going to lunch all wearing the cutest Easter hats you've ever seen. Yes, they were having an Easter parade all the way to lunch. Apparently, they've had some parents busy at work making, painting, and decorating these beautiful Easter bonnets. You can't imagine how shocked I was, and to be honest, how mad I am. I don't know why we weren't included. This is not the first time. I will say that anytime I have a great idea, I share it, and if I don't share it before they see it, they'll come and ask for the pattern. Some how this road doesn't run both ways, if you know what I mean. My little children, many of them relocated from Katrina and with very little left, were very disappointed that they didn't have a bonnet, too. I've got to somehow make it up to them. Does anyone have a great idea I can borrow??? I told them we'd do something in May, just to give me time to get something together. I'm at a loss..maybe just too mad to think clearly. Do you have any thing I might use? Thanks so much. My little kids have been through so much this year, several have lost family members, most lost their possessions...it would have been nice to send them home today with a bonnet to brighten their Easter. I know I'm still rambling, just stewing, I guess.

 

[linda2]

here's an idea

I can just imagine how you felt. I know EXACTLY what you mean by the "two way street", I have been in your place in the past. Here is an idea for something fun-we do a camp skeeter. I got the idea out of the old Copycat Magazine. You do camp activities like games, crafts, food-of course, and the kids really enjoy it. I always do it the last week of school. In the past I have bought cheap sun visors(ordered them from Oriental Trader or bought them at Joann's Fabrics) and the kids decorated them but I stopped that due to cost and trouble. We even made decorated t-shirts several years but also have stopped that due to time mostly.You can have kids bring an old white t-shirt and tie dye them too. If you want more info. and this sounds like something you would like to do post your email address and I will contact you directly and mail you copies of things I do. I usually do it one day during the last week of school but you could do it anytime. It is best if it is a nice, sunny day. :-)

 

[hescollin]

Petunia

Another fun idea. Make a flower sentence. A white circle about the size of a saucer, write a noun --cat, dog or whatever. Cut out pedals to put around the center, on each one write an adjective.... two leaves and write a verb on each one (something that the noun would do) Make a stem 24 or so inches long and write a sentence on the stem using the words on the flower. Must use both verbs, two adjectives. Example. The black and white dog ran and jumped to the gate.

 

[hescollin]

Petunia

Take large brown bags and cut down the center back from the top to the bottom. Cut circle hole in the bottom of the sack for the neck. Cut a circle at the bottom of the sack on each side for arm holes. Have the students take home the sacks and decorate them as bugs. They are so cute. ladybugs, black beetles, grasshoppers and etc. Have some black ovals and extra bags for students who forget to bring there vest back.

Hatch some butterflies, ladybugs, frogs and etc

Grow a sweet potato in water

Practice writing spelling words on the sidewalk with sidewalk chalk.

Buy some bedding plants. Help the students repot one in a cup to take home for their mothers. Maybe make one for each of the cooks, principal, and secretaries and don't forget the janitor that cleans your room.

Read Stone soup and make a crockpot of stew.... It smells so good cooking all day.

Don't do one thing. Try to do something showee and special everyday. We only have twenty days of school left.

Be sure and make May baskets ---May 1st. Pop popcorn for filler, pretzel, cereal, lollipop. Use a paper cup or milk carton from lunch decorate and add a pipe cleaner handle.

I love the sunvisor idea....

 

[hescollin]

Petunia

E mail me for more ideas...

 

[Beateach]

Ole!

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Make serapes/ponchos out of paper. Really Good Stuff sells paper sombreros that you can put together and decorate. Purchase an inexpensive pinata at K-mart or a party store, fill it with candy, and let the fun begin.

 

[bertie]

bubble day

Bubble Day is always a hit. Just go outside and blow bubbles - buy the large economy sizes of bubble liquid at the dollar store, share it in shallow containers and lids....and get every one to bring in things to use as blowers, even pipe cleaners in circles will work Blow bubbles outside for a while, then come in and use bubble liquid with a little food coloring in it - blow onto white paper and see the lovely overlapping circles it makes for art. Then give everyone sugar free bubble gum to chew....you can even have a bubble gum contest to see who can blow the biggest bubble. Have fun!

 

[NJ Teacher]

Left out

I feel terrible that that happened to you. I hope that you address this "omission" with your colleagues, and hopefully, they will realize the impact on the children if four out of five classes do something special and the fifth isn't included. Why don't you do a Mother's Day Tea? For ours, we make hats out of paper plates and bowls. You take the rim of a paper plate and staple it to a paper bowl. The rim of the plate becomes the brim of the hat. Then, I have my kids paint the paper hats a pastel color, and we glue on a bow made from spring ribbon and flowers from the dollar store. They are very showy. We also made large paper hearts and the students wrote three special things about their moms and they illustrated it. Each student also writes a poem to read to their mom at the tea. We have refreshments, and it is the single biggest public relations thing I do all year.

 

[frstgradetchr]

Ideas

Hi, Would you like Mother's Day ideas? I have some great ones. Some you don't need to purchase anything,just construction paper. The students could make one a day for the entire week before Mother's Day. The mom's love them and your class will be a hit leaving their class with special gifts. My email address is frstgradetchr@bellsouth.net

 

[Jerri]

fun MAY POLE

Let them do a May Pole activity around a broom pole or etc.
Let them decorate and wear bonnets to this and invite them to wear pretty dresses. Have refreshments. Paint outside. Make paper flowers.
Just do ART all day.

 

[Mary G.]

Thanks!

I want to thank you all so much for the wonderful ideas you came up with to share with me. You have me so enthused that I just can't stand it! I'll email those of you that asked me to do so and look so forward to the other ideas you have to share. This is what comaraderie is all about, and I'm thankful for you. My address is abcgail123@yahoo.com if any of you care to correspond. I'd love to have some teacher penpals to share, vent, and just talk with. Is anyone interested in doing a one time letter exchange with my 2nd graders? Since it's so late in the school year, we wouldn't have time for much more than that, but maybe we could set up some penpalling for next year? I just appreciate you all more than you know. Ohhh, I also want to tell you that the father of one of my sweet little girls was killed in a car accident on Tuesday. So, the ideas that you've given to me are definitely going to make her feel better. Ya'll take care and I hope to hear from some of you again.
Mary G.

 

[BY]

2nd gr teacher

One thing we always do the last week of school is a "Read a Thon" day where kids can bring either a pillow and blanket, or sleeping bag (sometimes also stuffed animal, favorite book-labeled). All day long we read in diff ways: start out Teacher reads a book to them, (I set timer for 20 min. intervals, rings, change activity). Next, partner read, next group read-4 or 5 around the circle, next a volunteer reader (either an adult or one of the students reads to the class). I scoot the desks back till the whole floor is bare and they LOVE laying down and reading. If you can get maybe a cafeteria lady or janitor or principal to come read them a story, that is great too! They can even make a book. The other classes will wonder why you're having such a fun day!

 

[Linda2]

I didn't hear from you

Mary G. I got your first email but you didn't include your address so I couldn't send you the Camp Skeeter stuff. I didn't get a response back from you when I emailed again. I just wanted to make sure you knew that I really, really tried to get in touch so I could send it. We are doing it next Wed. during our last week. I hope you had some fun things for your class during your last month. Linda

 

[Kinder Mama]

Kindergarten Teacher

I would like to do the Camp Skeeter with my Kindergarteners but I would like some more information. Do you have anything to send or do you remember which Copycat it came from? Thanks.

 

[Linda S.]

Camp Skeeter

Noticed your message. I am looking for information on Camp Skeeter. Lost what I had when I changed grade levels. Would appreciate anything you could share.

Linda

 

[Tamara S]

Camp Skeeter

I have a ton of Camp Skeeter activities that I would be willing to share. When I taught third grade, we did this at the end of each year. Now that I am teaching kindergarten, I will be doing it again only on a smaller scale. If anyone is interested in the activities and center ideas we did for Camp Skeeter, please e-mail me at TamaraSS@leeschools.net I am always happy to share!