Jen's Notebook

My best friend thinks I have an addition. I know, your thinking it’s garage sales because of the title of this entry. But no!!! It’s buying things for my classroom and students. She says I spend way to much of my money on things for my students. There is no doubt that she is right. But, as all teachers, I want to give my kids a fun learning environment with as many of the extras as I can. And if you want your students to have the extras, your childes teacher has to buy them. With huge cutbacks in education, the expectation is that teachers will buy all the extras (and a lot of the essentials) themselves. Is this right? Of course not! But I am still constantly going to garage sales, the Dollar Store, Clearance Sales, etc. and buying things for my students to use in class. And I would bet if we took a poll of teachers in America, we would find that I am by no means the only teacher giving back. Teachers love what we do and we put ours hearts and our pocketbooks into our work. Happy Sunday!!!

I received the cutest gift today from one of my students. A bag full of Smarties with a note from her that said “Thank You for making me a Smartie!” It was adorable and even more adorable  was after she gave it to me and she added, “Teacher, there’s enough Smarties for you to share with all of us at snack time. I counted!” 🙂 She made my day!!!

I have to wonder why it is that I always wait until Sunday afternoon to get my little things done for my classroom the next week. Is it just me? Let me give you an example of my afternoon for today. I need to go to the store and buy potting soil, Marigold seeds, and fake flowers for our Mother’s day gifts (which mind you, we are planting the flowers tomorrow), I need to make an example of the small book I am making in the classroom, I  need to read a chapter for tomorrow’s book study, and I need to finish retyping my portion of a new assessment for our grade level at school. Mind you I could of done some of these things earlier in the week on my way home from work, or before dinner, but no I always wait to rush around while I am doing my laundry and cooking dinner to finish these things up? Is this normal?  Probably!!! So, what ever  last minute things you are doing today to get ready for your new work week, I hope you will allow your self at least one or more fun, frivolous moment in the mix. Have a great Sunday!