End of Year- part 4

Just when I thought I was done, I think of other things that I forgot!

At our end of the year assembly, I was surprised with this:

I was excited and it was very cute how excited some of my little people were too! One friend came over [after talking to his family, but that's not the point..] and said, "Congratulations on your award!" AAWWWWWEEEEEEEE!!!

And now I digress to the first week of May, Teacher Appreciation Week. Although my little friends show every day with cute pictures or sweet words, they did not fail the actual week of Teacher Appreciation Week.

Isn't this an adorable cardigan?! He was so proud that I wore that day too! I also got the blue-ish necklace. It is one of those rolled-paper necklaces.

This friend's grandma told me she was so excited to pick this hat out for me. I wore it all day too.
[a sidenote to this gift--- a different student (6 years old)  informed me that this is a pimp hat. "My mom has one like it too and she says it is her pimp hat." I dared to ask him if his mom was a pimp and he told me no, so just because I have a pimp hat, I am not necessarily a pimp. He also did not know what a pimp was so I encouraged him not to use the word.]

And aren't these SOOO cute?! I heart them. He told me, "My mom got you these because she thinks you went to school there."

For the last month of school, we were talking about going to first grade. One friend expressed that he never wanted to leave my class. I told him he was too smart be in kindergarten forever and he would do just fine in first grade but was always welcome to come visit me. {This child had a rocky year and was the only student in my class to receive the Most Improved Behavior Award.} Anyways, he started hugging me around the time we started talking about first grade--before that he was too cool for such nonsense. On the last day of school he told me he would miss me, gave me a huge hug and didn't want to let go. I told him he would have a great summer and would forget all about me when he got home and played. So he started off down the hall. He kept turning to see if I was watching and waving again. Sometimes he would even run back down the hall for another hug. We did this several times before I followed him down the hall talking to him (telling him I would call him sometime this summer to check on him) and getting ready to head outside for my duty. He hugged me again and headed out the door to walk home. When I could no longer see him, I turned to head outside for duty when I felt something attach to me again. It was the sweetest thing ever.

End of year- Part 3

The following pictures are little projects we did at the end of the year.....

Even though space in not part of  kindergarten curriculum, I enjoy it and it is something exciting to teach and learn at the end of the year. For a little over a week we talked about our solar system. We read books about the planets and then drew the planet to add to our picture.

My school is now a PBIS Model school. PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Intervention Supports. Being a model school means that other schools who are looking into the program could come and see it in action at my school. PBIS basically helps you recognize students behavior in a positive way (which is what we all try to do, right?!). Each year our school hosts the Rotary group for lunch. This year our 'theme' was to showcase our PBIS, so my kids were asked to draw a picture of our code of conduct, which is Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Ready to Learn.

These girls are in class making the right choices.

One is helping the other

They are ready to learn... outside.

This student is in the hallway showing his hallway procedures.

He is helping his friend up.

They are at the rug (our rug actually had numbers on it like this orange one).

A very sweet family in my class gave each student a goody bag. Each bag had a beanie baby, little trinkets and candy. The girls got a princess wand and the boys a pirate hat. I showed the kids what they would get in their bag and also that we would be writing thank you notes before taking the bags home. On the board, I wrote some of the words they might need and then let them decide how to proceed.

Though my year with my babies is over, I will always remember my first kindergarten class. The list of don't care for gradually disappeared as the year went on. Did my patience get better or did they grow up? I hope they enjoyed their time in my class as much as I enjoyed them. :)

End of Year Part 2

On Thursday, May 19th, we went on a field trip to the Tulsa Zoo. Our school collects Box Tops for Education and money raised from those was spent on sending our kids to the zoo. This year our school raised $2800 (which is the most we have raised)! So each child had a little over $9 spent on them to go on the field trip, which means our field trip was FREE! They each received a little goody bag from the zoo too!

The elephant was getting a bath

My favorites! the otters!

How precious!!!

2010-2011 Kindergarten team

This is our one last group picture shot on the last day of school. Aren't they precious?!

Long overdue, end of year wrap up!

Here is part of the last 2 weeks of school... in pictures.

Mother's Day paintings

Mother's Day gifts~ the flowers are made out of their hands :)

Our kindergarten program

The following are pictures from Truck Touch. The day was a success! So far, I haven't thought of any vehicles that didn't show up!

Tulsa FD with the Pink Fire Truck!

Sapulpa FD

2nd year to partner with Oklahoma Blood Institute providing our community a chance to give back

Inflatable fun!

The Life Flight helicopter is in the house!!!

Some of Oklahoma Highway Patrol's Beat the Heat race cars

OHP lake patrol

GO COWBOYS! The OSU Telemedicine bus is a tiny hospital on wheels

Fox, the TPD bomb dog

TPD Bomb Squad

A long time supporter, John Christner Trucking.

A semi from MHC Kenworth

Long time supporter, Bennett Steel hydraulic truck crane

Creek County Ambulance

My sweet new ride! :)

Like My Mother Does

It’s been a while since I updated and days of schools with kids ended today. Tomorrow will be the end of year assembly and a little professional development. While I have lots of other things to write about from school something is a little more important today.



Lauren Alaina may not have won American Idol but her song, Like My Mother Does, struck a chord.


People always say, I have a laugh
Like my mother does
Guess that makes sense
She taught me how to smile when things get rough


I’ve got her spirit
And she’s always got my back
When I look at her
I think I wanna be just like that


When I love, I give it all I got
Like my mother does
When I’m scared, I bow my head and pray
Like my mother does
When I feel weak and un-pretty
I know I’m beautiful and strong
Because, I see myself
Like my mother does


I never met a stranger,
I can talk to anyone
Like my mother does
I let my temper fly
But she can walk away, when she’s had enough
She sees everybody, for who they really are
I’m so thankful for her guidance
She’s helped me get this far


When I love, I give it all I got
Like my mother does
And when I’m scared, I bow my head and pray
Like my mother does
When I feel weak and un-pretty
I know I’m beautiful and strong
Because, I see myself
Like my mother does


She’s a rock
She is grace
She’s an angel
She’s my heart and soul
She does it all


When I love, I give it all I got
Like my mother does
And when I’m scared, I bow my head and pray
Like my mother does
When I feel weak and un-pretty
I know I’m beautiful and strong
Because, I see myself
Like my mother does

I hear people saying
I’m starting to look
Like my mother does






I feel like I can connect to this song. I mean, who doesn’t love hearing a song that reminds them of a person? Obviously, it makes me think of my mom. Makes me cherish the times people tell me I said or did something ‘like my mother does.’ While our time together was short, I love the special memories I do have and appreciate the memories people have of her.