Stop Bullying! A Bug and a Wish

Bullying and teasing...both words just bring dread.  Unfortunately, it seems that students have to deal with both more than anyone should have to.  I always begin my year by discussing both of these topics with my students.

As teachers, we all want to put a stop to bullying and teasing before they even begin.

This book deals with both of these topics.

Karen Scheuer is a 2nd grade teacher who knows firsthand how bullying and teasing have been increasing over the last several years.  She decided to write a book to address both of these.

In this wonderfully illustrated tale, a little boy named Tyler is teased by the other boys. His good friend Danae encourages him to give the boys a bug and a wish. What could she possibly mean? When Tyler finds a ladybug and a dandelion seed, he thinks that this is what Danae was talking about. As Danae helps Tyler learn the true meaning of her advice, Tyler finally understands the solution to his problem and hopes that  there will be NO MORE BULLYING!

This book is great to have in your classroom to use in your classroom to read to your students.

 Get your own copy here.

Please help spread the word about this book by pinning, sharing the Facebook post, and tagging your friends.  Let's help get the word out about this book.  It's time to stop bullying and teasing.  

Helping do my part to make school a fun and safe place for our students is just...

My Kind of Teaching!

Settling into a NEW (and I Mean EVERYTHING NEW) School Year!!!

It is just the beginning of September, and we have already finished 4 1/2 weeks of school.  That's CRAZY, isn't it???  Midterm progress reports will be sent out this week... WHEW!!!!

It has been a busy, stressful, and overwhelming beginning this year.  In fact, in 27 years of teaching, I don't believe I have ever felt this bad.  

We have new math and new reading series.  Those are the only 2 subjects I teach, so I have been spending 12-14 hours A DAY teaching and preparing.  Thank goodness that I'm finally feeling like I'm getting the feel of how it's working and what I need to tweak and add for my students. Things are (hopefully) falling into place.

In addition, we have a brand-new teacher evaluation system in the state of Georgia.  It no longer matters if you are a teacher of 27 years or a brand-new first-year teacher; the evaluation process is the same and is MASSIVE.  I just "might" be one of those overachiever teachers, so this is adding to my stress level, too!

Just know that if you are out there feeling like the beginning of the year is stressing you to the max, you are NOT alone!  It happens to the best of us!!!  :-)

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let's move on to bigger and better things.

Did you know that I have started a new monthly newsletter?

It's filled with pictures, samples, ideas for your classroom, a freebie, and much more!

I am really excited about it.  It's the only way I could think of to make sure that I'm connecting with the people who read my blog, follow me on Facebook, and/or follow me on TPT.  If you are interested in receiving this and haven't signed up, just send an email to cvautrot26@gmail.com, and I'll add you to the mailing list.

Here's a little part of what I included for the month of September:

I have a review section each month to show you how I use one of my products in my own classroom.  This month highlights my daily math spirals for 2nd and 4th grades.  I even include a sample month for you to try it out for FREE!

I mentioned above about our new reading series and also the new teacher evaluation system.  Our new reading series is Wonders by McGraw Hill, and I am LOVING it!  It's massive and a little overwhelming (especially when there has been NO training), but I am beginning to get it figured out and finding what works best for my class. 

Part of the evaluation system is having our standards and other evidence of what we are learning posted.  I made this focus wall to highlight the weekly skills and strategies.  The "I Wonder..." is my little play on words of the name of the series.

It doesn't matter what reading series you use. If you would like these headers, click here to download them for FREE.

I enjoy learning; I really do.  I strive to be a lifelong learner and love learning new things.  However, more than I enjoy learning, I LOVE sharing what I've learned with others.  That's what I'm all about.

That's just...

Loving and Inspiring for the 27th year...

Hi Y'all!!!

I'm back in school already.  Can you believe it?
I have had THE. MOST. AWESOME. WEEK!!!

I don't *think* I am jinxing myself by saying that!  haha

I've been making some posters to share with my classes to inspire them and begin their day off on the right foot.  I was really thinking about how the students are already REALLY inspiring ME to be the BEST I can be.

I mean, really, stop and think about it.  What other profession can you think of where you have 20, 30, (or in my case 75 because we departmentalize) people who cheer you on each day?

Kids don't look at us and think "She is skinny, beautiful, looks like a movie star, etc".  No, our students look at us with love, admiration, and respect when we treat them with love, admiration, and respect.  I would love to be skinny, young and beautiful, but that's just not going to happen.  However, when my student's leave my room giving me fist bumps and telling me, "I LOVE your class!"  "Math is so much fun!"  "I can't wait to come back tomorrow!"  I feel 6 feet tall, my face beams with joy, and I feel energized like I'm 25 again.

Isn't it WONDERFUL to have people that feel that way about you?  Isn't it only right, that in return, I give them everything I can?  After all, I want them to feel that way about me and my class for the next 175 days! (and forever!)  :-)

I have a former student that was in my kindergarten class (my 3rd year of teaching when I WAS skinny and young... HA).  She still visits me during every single year of Meet the Teacher Day, 24 years later.  Knowing that I made enough impact on her 5-year old little self is so inspiring to me.   I only see her that one time a year, but she brings me so much joy and sets such a good tone for the beginning of my year for me to remember, that I can and DO make a difference in my students' lives.

I am SOOOOOOOOOO blessed to do what I love to do.  I need to remember every day that when I go to school this year, no matter how tired I become or anything else that gets in the way, that God gave me a calling and a purpose in life.

WHAT I DO MATTERS!!! 

There are 75 students out there whose life I can touch.  

Who I can inspire.

Who I can love and show God's love just by loving them.

There are 75 students out there who MATTER.

I want to be a light to them.

I want to inspire them.

And in return?

Well, I get to feel beautiful, skinny, young, awesome and LOVED through their eyes.

The eyes of a child. 

Our most IMPORTANT contribution to the future!

What you do MATTERS!

You are IMPORTANT!

Go and inspire your students this year.  :-)

Feel free to right click on these posters to save and print for your classroom.  If you would like all 100 of them, you can click here to find them in my store.

Trying to love and inspire my students for the 27th year of teaching, well,

that's just...

Hide and Go Seek Blog Hop!

The Teaching Tribune bloggers have teamed up to bring you amazing freebies and the chance at one of two $50 TPT gift certificate as well as a custom door hanger (for a US winner). We will select one US winner and one international winner for the gift certificates!

As you play Hide and Go Seek, you will hop to 20 blogs where you will collect freebies. Hidden in each freebie is a school supply with a price tag. You will need to collect all 20 supplies and add up the price tags. Once you have the sum, then you will enter to win a $50 TPT gift certificate as well as a custom door hanger at the final stop, The Teaching Tribune.

If you are looking for school supplies to fill your backpack,  then you are at the right place! Start by downloading the recording form.

 

My Kind of Teaching is the 8th stop as you play Hide and Go Seek! 

Are you ready? Well, what are you waiting for...get seeking! =) 

Now all you need to do is download my freebie and find the school supply! Then you will complete a circle with the other bloggers to collect their freebies and school supplies. 

Click the Find my freebie button.

This freebie is an add on to two of my products.  You can find them here and here.

You can complete the loop by starting at the first blog or continue on by visiting the next stop. Either way, you will make a complete loop to all the blogs, freebies, supplies, and final prize!

Don't forget to become a follower of our blogs and TPT stores as you continue on. You never know what we will be doing next! 

Just click either picture below to continue Hide and Go Seek!

Make sure you make it to the final stop at The Teaching Tribune to enter to win!

I've also got a little something extra for my TPT followers later today, so be sure to click the "Follow Me" button!  :-)