Valentine's Day Revisited (a.k.a. A Confession)

Valentine's Day was well over a week ago. But it's still February and that means we can still have our rooms decorated with cute hearts and teddy bears. I still have quite a bit of chocolate left in my desk, but don't tell anyone. I've even been known to cram a few a mouthful a few mouthfuls in my mouth before walking outside to pick up my kids after lunch. "Whaaaaat? I smell like M&M's? Oh you kids are too funny!"

For our math time on Valetine's Day, we graphed our conversation hearts. I realized then that my copy was quite simple. I remember making it on a whim several years ago. On the day of the big day this year, I was a little embarrassed about it. This could be why I'm just NOW writing about Valentine's Day? I took pictures anyway and today it was my focus for a new product in my store. I just couldn't see myself using that hand-drawn paper ever again!

Click the picture above for a free download!

So I may be a little late getting this to my readers, but better late, than never, right? And since I'm so late getting it out, I decided to make it even sweeter, by making it FREE!

Here are my embarrassing photos:

I'm also happy to report, that I was invited to guest blog on Mercedes' blog Surfing To Success. She has some great upper grades ideas over there as well as a HILARIOUS story and linky. 

Halloween...Evil or Good?

I realized today that I haven't posted in quite some time! I think I'm finally getting into a routine in my new school/classroom/grade level/curriculum/way of life. The ridiculously hot weather last week must've drained me physically enough to confuse me into thinking it was still summer!

And then it hit me...OH MY GOSH! October is almost over! This means...AAAAAHHHHH!!! Halloween!


Halloween is either one of a teacher's most dreaded holidays, or the most celebrated.

For some, it can be the perfect excuse to decorate the classroom in spooky ghosts and goblins, create lesson plans using candy, plan a unit on pumpkins, a safety lesson, or even take a field trip to a pumpkin patch! The possibilities for Halloween are endless!

For others, it means kids so excited about the possibility of 30lbs of candy, that the moment the calendar shows Halloween, it's all they can think about. This is a holiday without a conscience. Whether you are good or bad, you'll get candy. And then there is the issue of costumes. How are the students going to focus when a witch's hat is blocking their view of the board? What should I go as this year?

Where do I stand on this issue? I'm neither for nor against. Each year I feel whatever I feel. Some years Halloween excites me like I'm still a kid and I go all out. Other years it encroaches on me too quickly and I treat is as another day...with less patience.

This year, the latter is ringing true. I had full intentions on making a go at making October a fun-filled month...but I let all the other more important things get to me first. You know, standards, focus walls, observations, assessments, trainings, trainings, sub plans, and more trainings. A girl barely has time to sleep!

On which side of the Halloween fence do you sit?

P.S. Join me at Teacher's Notebook for my Halloween Giveaway. If you have a Halloween giveaway you'd like me to add to this blog post, comment below with a link!