Test Ready

This week I collaborated with our school librarian to help our kids with last minute test prep.

First we read "Testing Miss Malarkey" with our older students. I loved trying to explain to them what a ditto was.

We also read "Hooray for Diffendoofer Day" with our younger students.

Next we had some fun practicing some "brain breaks" we created for all the teachers.
This was a great TPT purchase I encourage all teachers to buy:

Check out the entire project here: http://third-grades-a-charm.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html

To end I got to put my yoga certification to use by putting the students through a guided relaxation exercises and basic stretches. We even had some fall asleep!

Introducing Flat Stouie!

As you may have guessed I am an animal lover, so when Nashville PITTIE asked me to create a project that would help reach students across the world and combine my love for dogs I jumped on it.

This year for reading in schools day, we had Stouie, a READing Paws therapy dog and NashvillePITTIE Ambassador dog, visit school. The students loved reading with him.

So we decided to create a "Flat Stouie" inspired by Flat Stanley. Students get a flat version of our pup Stouie that they can take with them on trips, introduce to their own furry friends, etc. They can also mail their Flat Stouie around the world. When someone receives him they will take a picture with him and then write back to the student sharing their adventures. This encourages to the student's to learn more about where they live, etc.
 I am so thrilled about this project. Here's how I am rolling it out:

Flat Stouie created by J.H. 4th grader

*All students in 4th grade will get a Flat Stouie packet to have this summer. The packet includes the Flat Stouie, letters, and a fun state fact sheet, and more to fill out. I picked 4th grade because it was one of my 4th grade students that designed the official "Summer Flat Stouie."

*I will give the parents that attend my last two parent workshops on encouraging summer reading and writing a free packet.

* The students that mail their Stouie, blog about it, write about it, etc. will get to attend a special party in August with the real Stouie. How will students show me they completed the project? Well they can:

 *write/upload a picture to his Facebook page:  

www.facebook.com/FlatStouie

  *Instagram a picture #FlatStouie

  *Upload a picture to Twitter with the hashtag #FlatStouie

  *e-mail so we can blog about it

    stouie@nashvillepittie.org

http://pinterest.com/pin/11047961555729411/

This project is great for encouraging reading, writing, critical thinking, math, geography, and more! I really want my students to research famous celebrities, politicians, and other owners of pits. Wouldn't it be amazing for someone like Kevin Bacon to have a picture of his pit with our flat pit. That's my dream. In fact I created a board of everyone I want to meet Flat Stouie: http://pinterest.com/nashvillepittie/famous-pitties/

If you are interested in having Stouie visit your school just email: stouie@nashvillepittie.org and if you want to start your own project at school you can buy the entire 20 page packet on my Teachers Pay Teachers page here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Flat-Stouie-Packet-variation-on-Flat-Stanley

**Half of the proceeds will go to NashvillePITTIE and help us fund Stouie's trips to your school.

This summer we will be working on a book to go with the project so stay tuned. 

For those of you haven't heard of Flat Stanley read more here: http://pinterest.com/pin/272045633713867431/. Also when I looked him up on Pinterest the pins were endless.

B.I.O.N.I.C.

Believe It Or Not I Care

One of my favorite things about the ASCA School Counselor monthly magazine is the National School Counselor of the Year issue. Why? I steal all the ideas that make them an award winning counselor like this one.......

Currently- I am getting to know you.

One of my favorite parts about Beg Borrow Steal is her "currently" idea.

From Beg Borrow Steal

I love this cute, quick activity for so many reasons. First, it's like a live journal. It would be so much fun to keep all of these in a journal to just flip through. Second, it's an idea just made for counselors to steal and use. Here's how I have used it:

My Fav New Books

Tonight I got to hang out with two great ladies! I needed it and I had so much fun spending the night with coffee, chocolate, and books. It was fun to explore Barnes and Noble and catch up on cute books. Here are my two favorites:

First is "Flora The Flamingo." This word-less book has the most beautiful, artistic illustrations. As Shep pointed out it, it would make a wonderful animated short film. It's fun, sweet, and made me smile ear to ear.

Next I found "Stuck." This is a sweet story about a boy who get's his kite stuck in a tree and decides the best way to get it out is to throw things into the tree to shake it out. Of course each thing he throws in just gets stuck. I think this could be a fun story to discuss problem solving and if at first you don't succeed...throw a cat in a tree  (jk!)

Vote For Brooklyn!

Vote here to make Brooklyn Nashville Lifestyles Magazine's Reader Choice Pup: http://nashvillelifestyles.com/contests/cover-dog-readers-choice-awards#
Just click on the red "cast your vote" link and type in #15!

Counseling the Counselor Prt 2

This weekend/week (yes it's only Monday) has been incredibly rough for me personally (and for my sweet, cherished pups.)

Thanks to DL Henry for this picture.

 In the middle of what was already a trying time one of our families lost their home and three beloved dogs to a fire. I was devastated for them, and immediately thought to myself "I can't handle this!" Not because I had too much on my plate, but it was hitting so close (too close) to home. I was heartbroken for the family and my heart ached so much for the 1st grader that I didn't know if I could talk to her without crying. I called our social worker and said "help!" Before she could make it in today my precious student came to see me. I made it through five pages of "The 10th Good Thing About Barney" before I felt the tears streaming down my face.

I felt awful, I felt unprofessional, I felt as though I was being hurtful not helpful. I debated going home, but wanted to stay for her. We made flowers together.  Three, one for each dog lost, and we decorate the petals with her favorite memories of each dog. One of the dogs was pregnant at the time and she shared in one way she was happy they passed away because it meant they didn't have to give up the puppies and now they could all be together forever. I could barely say a word.  I was just guilt ridden. Our librarian told me at lunch she was glad I stayed, that I was what the student needed, that it was ok to be honest and real with her, to show her I care.  So today I ask counselors the discuss the following:

1) Is it ok to show that much emotion to your students? Is it ok for you to cry with them?
2) If it's not, is it ok to refer out?
3) How do you balance your personal and professional lives?

If you live in TN you need to read this:

Update: A special thanks to everyone who supported me this past week, because of your action, Rep. Gilmore stated that she is withdrawing HB 621, the ill-conceived bill that would have arbitrarily demonized pit bulls. I love you guys so much for helping us protect our babies, our rights, and help bury ignorance.