Imitation wasn't flattering

Someone is claiming my freebie! I checked the freebies on TpT, and someone has a Valentine's Day bingo that includes my words in the same order, and don't you know those directions sound just like what I said.
I sent her a message. I wonder if she will comment or just take down the product like I asked her to.
Good thing my niece was here when I found it or I would have said some very not nice words.

Update on the Dolphins

I ended up making only three dolphins because I just didn't have time. My class measured them on Thursday, and two of the other classes measured on Friday.  Not exactly what you leave for the sub of the fourth class on my team. Anyway...it turned out great!

I used one box of fadeless paper and three bottles of craft paint, about 60-90 minutes of drawing, painting, and laminating, and cutting per dolphin, and when I am tired of looking at them (it could happen) I can roll them back up into the box for next year.  Way better than measuring a desk with cubes and paper clips.

My son's class did this on Friday, and he told me at lunch that he really enjoyed it and all of his friends told him I was awesome for making something like this. And then he said thank you. What a sweetheart!

If anyone is interested in getting a set of 3 life sized dolphins, let me know.

Valentine's Sale at Teachers Notebook

Check out my holiday sale at Teachers Notebook on Valentine's Day items. The  Heart Tangram Set, Bingo boards for 20, Valentine Kitten Cause and Effect, and Sweet Treats with oi and oy are on sale for a few more days.

The Problem with Inspiration

When my daughter had friends over this weekend, we rented Dolphin Tale. So then we found Seewinter, but couldn't see anything but the items at the gift shop. And the teacher resources. Which led me to NEED to have my students measure the length of life-sized dolphins. And now, only four days later I am painting dolphins in my kitchen! My children were surprised that I was using my square kitchen tiles as a grid to feel to guide my drawing. My daughter put down her book (Hunger Games (briefly)) and my son just stood watching me for almost 20 minutes. And after that one dried and I rolled it up, I started on dolphin #2. And as soon as my husband is done fixing school lunches, I'll be starting dolphin #3  .My goal is four dolphins, painted and laminated before math class tomorrow at 8:05.

Valentine Heart Tangram Puzzles

I've been working hard. I think this has turned out very well. My school is only allowed to have 30 minute parties for the holidays, so we need to be educationally appropriate the rest of the day. The kids know it's a party day and it's all they can think about so we end up looking for something that will keep the kids focused on learning and the holiday at the same time. Please check it out!!

More Prefixes

My low group were fine, my above group were fine, but my on group are a disaster. So I came home and made something new. I'm going to partner a low, on, and high to work together.
It's too beautiful to be February.  We made it to 70 degrees today. Unbelievable.

One girl asked when she was changing the date on the chalkboard if we had to change the year to 2013 because we were in a new month. Yikes! Time does fly!

Taking them home

My kids know they are the most important ones in my life. But they realize they share me with 20+ other chldren that are also my kids every year. Grumpy moods, runny noses, fights with friends, values about right and wrong are shared by us all. Problems and joys go both ways. I have a guy that I carry home with me every day. He was "normal" until about the end of October, and then things went crazy,  As frustrating as it is to try to teach a class around him, he is still part of our class and I worry about him. We can't find anything that motivates him, or any consequences that he recognizes. His parents are running him to all sorts of doctors and analyists, and I can't imagine what it would be like if one of my two children were going through this.  Could a different environment help them through the struggles? Will guiding them be enough?
My daughter and a friend approached her teacher and guidance counselor today about starting a "We Stomp Out Bullying " campaign, and having the students sign a shoe cutout to display in the cafeteria. They decided they wanted to do that all on their own. She rocks.