Monday, July 28, 2014

MMI - July 28

 I cannot believe I actually got around to having things to share on Tara's Linky. I made a few things I need for  my room.

 I made new schedule cards. Don't you just love Melonheadz clipart? I just have to add the time and/or days when I get my official schedule in August.



The snake is for our Zookeepers that care for our animals in our life lab. 


My second project took frames I bought at Michael's from graduation party displays to classroom displays. I used fluorescent paper from a pack I bought at Target early in the spring.




My next project was labels for my book bins. I still need to print the rest of the numbers, but I have a Make-it Take-it workshop on Wednesday. I get to use their ink and lamination for free. I am going to take advantage of that. These should look great on my new neon bins I got from Really Good Stuff. I got them with a grant from Adopt-a-Classroom.  I also purchased a few of the neon ones from Big Lots because I know my class size will be somewhere between twenty-five and thirty. Figure it doesn't hurt to have extra even if they don't match.



My last two MMI projects were my herb garden and a salad. I had an old tub that was peeling and rusty. I used the last of a can of black paint from last year's MMI projects. The best part about the herb garden is being able to have fresh herbs in my cooking. My favorite? Fresh basil that I used in a tomato and mozzarella salad. Yummy! It is for dinner tonight.


What will you make to share today?

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Trying Times

I have not been very good about blogging lately. I haven't had time or been in the right frame of mind. Things have been difficult. I normally don't share many personal stories here, but need to "talk".

School got out June 18th. I headed to school that Friday to finish paperwork, grade level orders, etc. when my phone started exploding with texts from family. My fourteen year old niece was in intensive care following several strokes. After multiple batteries of tests, she was diagnosed with Moyamoya, a congenital condition where blood vessels fail to form correctly in the brain. She was sent from Orlando to Boston Children's Hospital for evaluation for brain surgery. She will have surgery next week hopefully. The delay was to allow brain swelling to go down, and to give her the best chances of full recovery. 

Since that diagnosis, more bad news came to our family. A brother-in-law had a heart attack and a former b-i-l was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. 

Then the unimaginable happened early this past Friday morning. The older sister of the Moyamoya patient had a house fire. Her five year old daughter did not survive. Our family is distraught. It is never easy to lose someone, but it is always compounded when it is a child. The stress has gotten to my father. He was hospitalized with heart and respiratory problems. 

Sunday was my youngest daughter's graduation party. A celebration with a huge gray cloud overshadowing all. Lots of stress and so much sadness. 

As we prepare to lay our little angel to rest, please pray for my sister, her daughters, and my family in general. We can use it.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Another Monday

Wow! Funny how time seems to slip by during the summer, but can crawl at a snail's pace during the school year. I am struggling to stay focused, and to get things accomplished. Here it is another Monday, and I hardly have anything to show for it. Haha!

I do have one thing I made for use in my classroom. I am determined to beef up my Daily 5 Reading/Writing Workshop. I decided to make some writing journals. Students will be able to write during their work on writing time.







Monday, July 7, 2014

Monday Made It - July 7th


I have been on break a couple of weeks. but was hard to get myself motivated to make anything with our break starting so late. I have also been planning my youngest's graduation party. Many of the things I made have been for the party. Some I may share, others probably not.

After seeing so many chalk paint projects, I wanted to try it for myself. I found the supplies I needed at JoAnn's most were on sale. I had a 40% off coupon for one item that wasn't on sale, the chalk paint.

I made a large letter to hang on my door or wall. I kind of like it on the wall. It takes away from the horrible seventies dark paneling that I hate. The letter is one of the cardboard molded letters - it is big at 24". The bow is a faux burlap wired ribbon. I made it and attached it with jute string. It took one spool of ribbon at ten yards.



My next project was to paint two frames with my chalk paint. I painted one layer. Let it dry, then a couple of hours later, added a second coat. After the paint dried, I used wax to add a low sheen. Ignore the empty frames. These will hold photos of my daughter from graduation. I loved the ease of use of the chalk paint. I may try my hand at making some of my own with supplies I have around the house. The frames will sit on a shelf in our living room after the party.



The last project was a redo. Two years ago, I made a bunting to hang in the room. It fit my black and white scheme. I hated that it was dreary. Last year I added pops of color (neon) to the room but not to the bunting. The new bunting is bright! I cannot wait to see what it looks like hanging in the room. My room at the moment is in the hallway with freshly waxed floors keeping me out.

     Old    


New


I think it goes nicely with my sharing stool and milk crate benches I made last summer, don't you?


What have you made? Link up with Tara and show us.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Currently July 1st

Wow! What happened to June? I hardly blogged at all with our make up days, packing up the room, finishing paperwork, and finishing my "portfolio" for my evaluation. I have been reading blogs, just haven't had much time to blog myself. I have some ideas in the works.


With summer came a change in schedule. Not quite sure what each day will bring. I do like watching The Chew and food shows for inspiration for easy meals with fresh ingredients. I tend to cook more when I have my days free. 
We had quite a storm early this morning. Areas west of here had tornado warnings during the night. It is cloudy and muggy right now. May need one last shower to squeeze the moisture out of those dark clouds. The farmers and my lawn can use the rain.
The weather man insists the sun is coming out later. If it stays cloudy, I may get creative. IF the sun comes out, the pool gets cleaned. I hope the sun is shining when I finish. I have hardly been outside since my last Currently. 
Hubby and my youngest are working on Friday. I will probably spend the day creating or reading. I have a pile of books I want to read this summer. Most are kids books, but some are professional. I also have a gift card from a student to Barnes and Noble. A trip to B&N may be coming soon. 

Link up with Farley at Oh Boy, 4th Grade to share your Currently.
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