Happy Saturday! It was thundering here earlier but no rain yet. I would LOVE some rain right about now.
Yesterday was our Patriotic Assembly. Lots of parents, police officers, firefighters, and women and men of the military. We sang, listened to poems recited by upper graders, had a moment of silence, and sang some more. I really wish I could tell you that it was moving and meaningful. But to be completely honest . . . it was hard to feel all of the emotions that I needed to when I had 30 kiddos telling me that they were hot and thirsty about 30 times each. I also got a lot of “When is it over?” “Is it almost over?” We had made cute headbands to wear and these headbands barely resembled anything but trash about halfway through. Between me spraying them down with a spray bottle and their own sweaty brows, they basically disintegrated!
As you can see, it’s a big deal. It lasted right up until about recess time. And believe you me, we were all fired up about possibly not getting it . . . since we had sat outside in the sun for almost two hours already. TIME TO PLAY! The powers that be let us play all day!!! (well, at least we had every recess)
Our church is having a big thing tomorrow to remember 9/11 so that will make up for yesterday. I DID feel bad for the kids – it WAS really hot. And meanwhile, I had parents standing in the shade behind us AND hanging out in MY air conditioned classroom drinking all kinds of cold drinks. I was jealous. And a little annoyed with myself that I had not locked my door. I didn’t even know some of the parents in there. FOR REAL. Which reminds me that a couple of years ago during this assembly, one of my parents took her toddler into my room. I didn’t know until she came out and asked me if I had a stapler. Hmmm. A stapler. In my classroom. Pretty sure that’s a yes. However, she needed the stapler because her toddler tore some borders down off of my bulletin boards. You know, the border that I used a LEVEL to staple up on the wall????!! As I type this, I am just now thinking that I am a bonehead. You think THAT would have taught me to lock my door. DUH.
To combat inclement weather schedules, Reagan over at Tunstall’s Teaching Tidbits told me about a TV program called Adventure to Fitness. It is perfect for Indoor Recess! I’m on board! I’m excited! I google. I search. I find. I begin to create my account and guess what? California is not on the list of states to choose from. There are only 43 states listed. I do NOT get this. I am about to say that I am from Texas and use my sister’s school. She is not a teacher there but her kids go there. I mean, honestly! Do they think Californians only exercise outside? I just do NOT get it. If you know anything about this, please help me. Poor Reagan. I’ve already emailed her about this – I don’t know what I expected her to do but I just needed to vent to someone. This is now my new obsession. I need this program. I MUST HAVE THIS. I even want it for regular old PE. We don’t have PE teachers so this program could be my PE teacher. SIGH SIGH SIGH.
My agenda for today is to stay in my pjs and blog and stalk and eat and maybe nap and watch a movie. Husband’s on board, too. ๐ I made some cute mini bookmarks for my AR sign ups in the classroom. This is a fantastic management idea from my friend Heather (Hi Heather!) who just went on maternity leave. She had her 4th baby boy on Thursday!! I am happy for her but I am going to miss her while she is gone. She is promising lots of lunches so that is making me feel better. Anyways, when my kids are ready to take a test, I have them sign up on the whiteboard under the sign “AR Sign Up”. Pretty clear. But it’s not that easy. First, they really have to dwell and agonize over which color expo marker to use to write their name. Second, they have to try to write their name in cursive. And then rewrite it. Third, they have to argue with the person behind them or in front of them that they are next. YES, they ARE. And on and on. So Heather made some mini bookmarks, stuck a magnet on them, and passed them out to the kids. Now they grab their magnetic mini bookmark from their pencil box, slap it up on the whiteboard and only argue about whether or not they were next. So I had to copy Heather and I’m trying this out on MONDAY. ๐ I couldn’t copy Heather exactly, though, because she’s at home with a cute little baby so I made my own. AND I found OWLS! I don’t know if you know this but I love owls! Although if a live one were to come within two feet of me, I’d freak out and probably throw my purse at it. They freak me out in real life, as do pretty much anything else that flies around and could poop on you from above and/or make a nest in your hair.
But these owls are pretty darn cute!
So on Monday morning, I need to laminate these super quick, cut them out, and stick a magnet on them so I’m ready to go. If you’d like to make your own, just click on the picture! ๐ The clipart is from DJ Inkers and the font is DJ Light. (I don’t know what’s happening with google docs right now but it is not happy with this document. It is working but it’s not five pages of seven bookmarks each. It’s more like . . . a few here and there. ???? I am done trying. If you want it neat and organized, let me know and I’ll email it to you.)
I am off to stalk some of your blogs now! ๐
Jill says
I just went to the Adventure to Fitness website and my school wasn't on there either – so I clicked on the link to say that my school wasn't there. It said they would review it within 24 hours. Did you already try that?
Marvelous Multiagers!
Hadar says
I knew you were in Ca!! woohoo!! I hope you get it all worked out because that sounds like a great program!
Hadar
Hadar says
Oh, and can you email me the owls? They are super cute! misskindergarten@hotmail.com
Thanks ๐
absees123s says
I love a good pj day as well! Aren't they the best? I would love those bookmarks emailed if you wouldn't mind..they are precious and I love me some owls! :O)
absees123s@gmail.com
Thanks so much!
Cindi
Erin says
Oh my goodness. THANK YOU for sharing about Adventure to Fitness!! This might be GREAT on my smartboard! We've had so much rain recently that my students had almost zero recess their whole first week of school! Our pre-school program has a "motor room" so that is helpful when we can't go out but I think they'll love this!
I'm sure you can sign up with your e-mail address and just pick any state and school! While they had my state and school district listed, they only had 2 schools listed from our district, neither of which I work at, so I just picked one! You should definitely use Texas!!
Reagan Tunstall says
You are so funny! I am glad you emailed me. I was excited to have email from a blog friend. Maybe they think Californians have perfect weather and they are jealous so they choose to exclude you? In any case thanks for mentioning me. I think I may blog about the program too. It is awesome and FREE!
Reagan Tunstall says
okay I blogged about the program and mentioned you too! I forgot to tell you that on our back to school night a parent from my class came in with one of my yardstick frames from my bulletin board all in pieces in her hands. She asked if I had a glue gun to repair it. Then she confessed that her two year old had pulled it down and wrecked it.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah says
Ugh!! Sounds like a great presentation but not super mindful of the population that you were service! 2 hours in the heat is CRAZY…or really 2 hours in general is CrAzY for wee people to sit! AND BE GOOD!
I am off to check out the PE program!! How completely awesome! I agree that its crazy that you dont "need it in CA! What is that all about!
And I have to say….that I LOVE your owl tags…MOSTLY b/c your first one is my daughter's name! I have rarely seen it before she was born 3 years ago and now its coming up all over!! How sweet! My own silly happy today!!
Thanks for sharing….Chin up! You gotta jump back in tomorrow!!
Hugs!
Sarah Hetrick
http://www.mrshetrick.com
Kim and Scott says
Oh, Happy Day! I just wanted to let you know that I have chosen you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Stop by my blog to check it out!
Kim from:
http://starbucksstandardssharpies.blogspot.com/
Lori Faas says
Hi Kristin! I received a Versitile Blogger Award and wanted to pass it on to you. Thanks for being so inspiring to me. Head over to my blog!
Lori
http://bee-the-change.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Davis says
Thanks for your inspiration! I've chosen your blog for The Versatile Blogger Award! Head to my page to check it out!
Kim @ http://carriedawaykindergarten.blogspot.com
Kristen says
I just got your comment last night and wanted to stop by and give some love! You are right up the road from me in CA! Your assembly looked good on Friday, minus the parents hanging out in your room! My school didn't do anything to remember that day. My daughter's school did a big thing, but she's only 5 and has no clue as to what's going on! Sorry to read before that your district is in PI. We've been in it before and it sucks, but if you play the game and do what they want, it gets better and then they eventually leave you alone! Good luck!
Kristen
Corey Levenson says
Hi all!
Corey here from Adventure to Fitness. I know this is a very old post, but wanted to leave a reply in case anyone hasn't checked back on our site in a while. Since about mid-2012 we have been available in all 50 states! So for those of you who had problems finding your school/state, I highly encourage you to go try again.
And if you still can't seem to register, send us an email at techsupport@adventuretofitness.com. We respond promptly to all emails and will definitely get your school up and running with Mr. Marc!
Thanks for the love!
Best,
Corey Levenson
Director of Public Relations
Adventure to Fitness