Our 1st Week and a great Tip!

      What a great week our first week was.  We were busy every moment!  It's all about routines, routines, and more routines.  Everyone is  learning how long it really takes from the start of school until lunch time at noon.  Our snack time is a must this year.  Everyone gobbled up the crackers, chips and animal crackers to tie them over until lunch.  This week I have more crackers but have purchased some gold fish and pretzels for a change.
      I read several of my first week favorites last week and the kids can't seem to get enough of them.  I always read the Harry the Dirty Dog books by Gene Zion.  They are very old (written in the mid 50's) but I always find that the kids can relate to this beloved character.  I think getting dirty and taking baths really speaks to the kid in all of us.  My very favorite Harry book is Harry by the Sea.  It is such an adventure going to the beach and getting lost.   I always build the excitement to this book telling the kids not to be absent the day I read it because they won't want to miss it.  Wouldn't you know two kids were out that day.  I add as much drama as I can while reading it that I have the kids are screaming to help Harry find his family.    I just love the twist of a new umbrella at the end.   I love seeing them fight over the 3 copies I have of this book.

Here's my big tip for this year!  Blue Painters Tape!

I love this stuff.  I use it to put my posters up and I have a lot.  I repair books with it.  I also bind the Reading a to z books so that they last longer.  I use to bind my kids paper journals.  I've made balls to toss during morning meeting time games. I use it to mark the carpet for various things and it comes right up. The uses are end less.  I love that it doesn't leave a residue when peeling it off the wall plus it leaves the paint.  So go to Wally World and spend about $7 for a roll that will last you a whole year.  I always buy the thick 2 inch size and just cut it down if I need to.

I love the little monsters my kiddos created this week.  We read the Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas and loved it.

 Here I am my first week back!  The desk doesn't look too bad......yet.  Let's check it out next week to compare the difference.

Remember to be kind!

Claire