Ahh... Those Kids...

Wow! Counter space! Can you believe it?
The results of last Friday's 'cleanse.' (Remember, I'm trying to stay organized!) 

 
Sometimes when walking by the boys' restroom a teacher just has to shake her head and keep walking... Today action noises (like you would see printed in a comic book) were coming from the fifth grade boys' restroom. I saw at least one boy enter, so whether he was entertaining himself or together some boys were entertaining each other, I didn't stop to figure that out. Today I just kept walking.

I l-o-v-e when my kids write me reminders!
"Put it on my computer," I tell them. "That's where I'll see it."

Tomorrow is our annual Poetry Cafe. Two of my boys are reading a poem together and have practiced it so much that they almost have it memorized. "Homework, oh homework, I hate you! You stink! ..."  Couldn't help but think of David reminiscing the recitations in front of his Uncle Bill. I'm sure David wasn't reciting Jack Prelutsky or Shel Silverstein though!  I should definitely incorporate poetry in my classroom more often. I think it really does help with fluency and, for the most part, the kids really enjoy it. It's a beautiful sight to see my lowest reader reciting a poem from memory... fluently!

 The kids had so much fun creating these friendly, pop-up warm fuzzy notes 
for the 4th graders who are state testing this week. Aren't my kids sweet?
Aannnd... word on the street has it that the 4th graders liked receiving them.