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I got a  card from one of my ELL boys. It said I love school. I love to learn. That was amazing!

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I just want to give a shout out to Mrs. Overton. She asked me in January if I would like to start a sewing class with some students to put the sewing machines into good use. Two students finished their projects last week. They were so excited and told me, "Thank you" several times with huge smiles on their faces. I love to sew and share this art with the students. Thank you Mrs. Overton for asking!!!

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I had to be out of my room the afternoon of the Valentine's Day party for training. I was worried about leaving my class on such a hectic day, even though my daughter was my sub. What a thrill my return was when I found out that my class had an awesome day! Audrey spoke of their growth, in both behavior and academics. They were more independent, mature, and focused. Music to my ears! It is difficult to notice growth sometimes when with the students daily. An "outsider's" view can be a blessing! Oh how I love my first graders and my sub, too!!💜💜

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One of my non-verbal students that hasn't shown growth in any subject/class this year, showed growth 2 out of the 4 days on a language goal. I am so proud of this student. It may seem like a baby step, but to his team, this is giant!  #celebratethesmallthings

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Our class made a Flipgrid on what LOVE IS.....  If you need a good laugh or a good cry come check it out! :) We also have been keeping a close eye on the Winter Olympics.  My class reminds me everyday to check the medal count our and see how  Team USA is dong.  My littles are watching at home. LOL  The coolest thing this week was a boy in my class has discovered a chapter book he loves and he will not put it down!!  His mom even told me in person how it has changed him at home.  Now, I do have to say it is over his head on reading level, but he is very excited and so am I!!!

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I have a 1st grader that has  a hard time focusing on checking the right books out and usually bounces all over the library and ending up in trouble.  He isn't purposely not following rules, he just gets so excited to have the freedom to roam among bookshelves, he can't focus on the spine of a single book to even notice the dot colors.  I have struggled every week on how to manage him better.  He usually ends up with no books or books I have picked out for him at the last second, which ends in tears.  This week he finally picked out two books ON HIS LEVEL and checked them out BEFORE time was up.  I felt relieved knowing he finally got it!  He finally picked his own books with the right dot! Hooray!

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I have a student in class who is autistic and struggles to communicate, but this week he had a breakthrough. When I call roll in the morning, I have the kids say something funny or kind back to me. It's become a fun little game first thing in the morning. This student would usually hide his face under the table and or just stare at me. He's not defiant in any way, he's just processing what everyone else is doing and deciding if he would like to respond. I am so happy to say that he's finally beginning to verbally respond and join in on what the other students are doing. One of the lunch ladies also commented that he finally spoke back to her. I'm so proud of him,  because I know this is hard. It also makes me really proud of my other students because they were just as excited as I was... maybe even more excited. It shows that we are a family and we love each other.
On a personal note, I had a former parent stop me and tell me how much of a difference I made in their child's life. Little did that parent know how much I needed to hear that.
Blessings come in all different ways. This student had been a blessing to me and it's good to know that he felt the same way about me.

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Well, it was the longest short week ever! Haha! We got to enjoy another Geoshow. It’s basically an interactive, virtual field trip. They are super cool if you haven’t done one yet. Our party was a super success and I actually got a compliment on how calm they were. We also earned a PAW party and we just finished the BFG so the kids got to watch the movie. It was fun for them to see how their visualizations came to life and also to compare the book and the movie. 😁
On another note,  I have been sick for about 2 months straight now and 4 rounds of antibiotics and still not better so, I am kind of in survival mode at the moment. I don’t want to be and I would appreciate prayers. I just can’t kick whatever it is I have. If you talk to me and I just smile or don’t respond appropriately, don’t take it personally, I just can’t hear you.

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I am going to give a shout out to an old program that is meaningful, motivating, and sometimes controversial...AR.  We have just finished a 3-week unit on I Survived the American Revolution, 1775.  The students were engaged beyond my wildest hopes and dreams!  This spurred one of our unmotivated, lower reluctant readers to want to try the I Survived Series.  Not only is she unmotivated in reading, she does not complete work in virtually every area.  Her name resides on both our boards for missing assignments on a daily basis. Even though the books are above her current DRA level, she was allowed to check out one of the books. She finished it in two days, tested on Tuesday, and made a 100. She could not wait to check out the next. However, in our class, you must read a NF book between F books. So she fulfilled that requirement speedily to get to the next book which was a slightly higher level still. She finished it Thursday in AR, and was dying to take her  test.  She was only able to answer 5 questions before the busses came.  Friday she bounded in and wanted to take her test first thing.  I told her she had her morning work to do.  She wanted to stay back from specials. I wouldn't let her.  We had independent time, and she wanted to take it then.  I told her when she was motivated to get X amount of assignments off the board, she could test.  She began working quickly and conscientiously to do just that.  Yes, she got to take her test before she went home.  Yes, she got a 100.  Yes, she took home another I Survived book.  And, yes, I believe when done right, AR is an amazing, motivating program that truly impacts a child's development in reading.

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For having such a hectic week we had LOTS of wonderful, amazing moments!
-Since spring pictures made our Tuesday extra wacky, I ate lunch with my class in the cafeteria which was filled with funny conversations! We kicked off our Olympic unit and throughout the week watched gold medal performances. My excitement is rubbing off and several parents said their children have been asking to watch the Olympics at home- especially the event they’re researching.
-Wednesday Carlette came to lead us through our penguin craft which the kids LOVED! They wanted to read to them and take them around the classroom to work ALL week. Miss Allison taught an awesome cadet lesson and and our Valentine’s Day party was so much fun! Our room mom brought a fruit tray instead of lots of sugary food and the kids loved it!
The most special part about our party was our sweet little Baylee was sick and couldn’t come. Several different students made comments about how they missed her, how they wished she was hear and how they were sad she wasn’t here because she loves parties and crafts. It was so so sweet! Love was definitely in the air!
-Thursday was Penguin Palooza Parent Night!! I had 14 families come to view their child’s life-sized penguins, watch their PuppetEdu presentation and enjoy penguin snacks! (Plus this was the only “normal” day all week and I actually got to teach ALL day!😍)
WHAT A GREAT WEEK!!

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I'm working with a student who lacks self-confidence so we've been working on how she answers me. I explained that I would like her to tell me her answer instead of asking me. The first couple of days I reminded constantly but then it clicked with her and now she corrects herself!!
#lifelessons
#morethanacademics
#girlpower

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Neon Read On. The kids used highlighters to edit one another’s writing for peer editing. They constructed similes and metaphors. They sang a Neon Read On rap song. They labeled elements of poetry. I am so thankful to Robin and Lisa for loaning me their black lights. It couldn’t have happened w out them. Mrs. Farkas also told me about cheap lock boxes at Walmart ,so I bought two of them.Our Valentine’s Day pictures were in one and our jewels were in the other.The kids listened to a Voki that gave them their breakout mission. We had a BLAST!It seriously took everyone’s ideas and resources, so it was a group effort.Thanks everyone

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I tried a new way of reviewing for Evaluate with my class. After whole group review, I pulled small groups and did a more personal review with small groups and allowed them to ask questions about concepts they still didn't understand, and the growth for those students that have completed their evaluate has been tremendous!
OH! AND I WAS APPROVED TO GO TO GYTO IN SAN DIEGO!!! SUPER EXCITING NEWS THIS WEEK!
#BATTERUP

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In all of my years of teaching - I have been invited by students to ball games , plays, art displays, and graduations. This is my first invite to church . And I’m going because this little boy asked me and if he thinks I’m important enough to ask, then he is important enough for me to go sit with him during service.

By the way- I was his preschool teacher several years ago.  The kids just called me Miss Beth since Mrs Lundstrum was too long to learn to say. 5 of my previous students attend Carver and they think it’s pretty neat I’m there now too.

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We have been working hard on Xtra Math and this week we are really starting to get a lot of smiley faces! Friday we did our first Breakout Hannah Farkas style! It was challenging and I knew it would be but they LOVED it and said they wanted to do more.

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I had all but 2 kids get a 100 on their spelling test this week

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Since I was gone most of this week I’ll share what I enjoyed about Nashville. I accompanied Jim to the National ASA (Assiciation of School Administrators) Conference. Last night we went to dinner with several supts from around the state ( Monett, Mexico, Festus, St. Louis area, etc. ). It’s nice to know there are so many people that are just as passionate about public education as I am. Every district has its own challenges and ways of dealing with them. The food and music were pretty awesome as well!

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I saw smiles on faces of kids who thought that they wouldn't enjoy learning the Virgina Reel. That was so much fun to teach. Even though this was an exhausting week for Steve and I, we were able to connect with students and see smiles. If you are having a stressful week, just play scoot with the kids and you will laugh. But I an very sore. Need to remember to wear the correct shoes.

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This week was exhausting and fun all at the same time. I've come to the realization that while it's crucial to be rigorous and prepare my students for MAP testing, it's also important to realize they are only 10 years old. I tried a new Valentine's Day activity in my room, and it will now be something I do every year. We made compliment bags. I am not known for being the "sweetest" lady in 4th grade (which is fine with me 😁), but watching my students beam with pride while they read the compliments their classmates wrote about them made my heart happy. I realized that some of my kids probably don't get compliments outside the classroom, which only fuels my fire to love them a little more. I also overheard a student call me a ninja because I teach them things and they don't even realize they are learning. LOL!

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Kindergarten had special visitors from Neosho Family Dentistry! Its always funny when non-teachers ask a large group of kindergarteners if anyone has a question... #stories #welcometoourworld #thestruggleisreal

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I started a new behavior management system because the group of students I have this year need constant reminders and rewards. It seems to really be helping and they seem motivated!

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Got a new student this week who just needs to be reassured that he is safe and loved. Gave more hugs in one day than usual and it just brought reality back to my job. Sometimes it’s not about content or fancy lessons but just about knowing that you have made a difference in making a student feel okay about the cards they were dealt!

Also had a great time getting the kids excited and learning about the Winter Olympics!

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Started Reading Recovery with this kid, who in group was uninterested and disruptive. He is LOVING the one-on-one attention and already applying himself so well. I see growth in his future and I'm happy to get to build this relationship with him. His first book that he is writing is about things he thinks are awesome. Along with Xbox 360, monster trucks, opera 🤣, he says, "and coming with you everyday." Awwww...we took a selfie for his book. 💕

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We loved Reading Rocks at Jefferson Street campus.

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I feel like I had a major breakthrough with a student. I have a student that has been somewhat of a struggle all year. He’s got an attitude and a big lack of effort when it comes to school. One of the things I learned (actually I’ve probably always known this, just realized its importance) at GYTO is that relationships are crucial! Since GYTO, I’ve made it a priority to say Good morning to each student and shake their hand before they enter my class each morning! I’ll pick a few of them to ask how their evening was. For this particular student, I believe it’s made a big difference!!! He worked hard this week on getting his assignments (even missing assignments) completed without a single complaint or attitude! He’s smiled more, clipped up several times, and even earned a house point!! I believe there’s some truth in the following quote,
“Students don’t care how much you know until they see how much you care.” John Maxwell

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I started doing Pictures-A-Day with my students and one of mine that is hard to motivate owns them. He makes inferences that wow me! Our picture was of a squirrel and bird playing chess in the snow and he said someone had gone camping and set their toys up to play chess and forgot them and someone's deer/hunting camera took the picture!

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We have been learning about famous non-Missourians and I had a student bring a book from home about Abraham Lincoln. She went around to the other first grade classes to read them her book. She was so excited and her mom messaged me thanking me for making her feel so special the last few days. 😁

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I went to a wedding.  It was the wedding of the letters Q and U.   The kids loved it and so did I.

I got stopped by a little one in the hallway asking me when I was going to write her back. That just proved to me that the Carver Post Office is meaningful.

I also spoke to an acquaintance who said she goes to 14 schools in the area for work and all 14 of them have mentioned to her that they needed to be doing what Carver is doing. She specifically mentioned our slide, Pirates of the Carrverbean, the firemen/policemen greeting our kids and the morning bus rides.