30 August 2011

First Week Fun!

Hey sweet friends!  We’re on the 2nd week here and ohmiword…exhaustion doesn’t even BEGIN to cover it :)  I’m LOVING my class of 21 littles…they’re PRECIOUS.  And full of spunk. 

Our first day was a total BLUR.  The only thing I remember is our annual first day flag raising…and that’s only because I have pictures of it!  HA!  No really, it was hot as sin outside…and it was only 8:30…so that’s a little hard to forget :)  This is one of my favorite little school traditions.  The school’s namesake comes out to say a few words to everyone….our principal says a few things too…there’s a grade level roll call with loud cheers from all the kids & teachers…the boy scouts raise the flag….we say the pledge{s}…and then we head back inside to start the year :)

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When we weren’t talking rules and practicing procedures, we were engaged in fun first week activities from Abby’s Fun With Firsties Unit.  SO much fun!  Hands down, my kids’ favorite activity was Jitter Juice!!!  SO yum!

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We also made the cutest little time capsules.  The kids LOVED this one!  We stamped & dated their itty handprints, measured their height with yarn, and then we had them fill out a little first day info sheet with their self portrait on the back. 

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We rolled ‘em, wrapped ‘em up in tissue paper, and gave them all “Do Not Open ‘til June 2011” labels.  On the last day of school, we’ll open our time capsules and have the kids do the EXACT same activity!!  It’ll be so much fun to see how much they grow and change this year!!

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I know it’s late, but if you want to tuck this little activity away for another year, click on the pic to download.

 

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I was terrible about documenting the week’s events, but honestly…I was too busy to capture any Kodak moments anyway.  I know y’all know EXACTLY what I’m talkin’ about!  The highlight of my week was this gorgeous arrangement from Mr. Spouse.  That sweet man does this every.dang.year and every year it surprises the gravy out of me!!!  Love that man!!!

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If I wasn’t so tired, I’d stay up to share more :)  It’s bed-thirty and I’ve gotta get some sleep before one of my boys decides to wake up 5 times in the middle of the night.  It’s inevitable.  Every time I NEED sleep, I’m up ALL dang night chasing monsters out of closets and scaring away the boogeyman.  Dangit.  I’ll leave you with this darling picture one of my sweeties drew for me today….

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I about FELL.OUT.  I don’t know what my face was saying, but bless her heart…she was all, “You can tell it’s a vase, right?!?!?!?”  And I was all, “OF COURSE, sweetie!!!  That’s EXACTLY what I was thinking!!!!”   HA!!!!!

39 comments:

  1. Cara, I am so LOVING the time capsule! I am a second grade teacher ... any slight little chance in your very BUSY schedule that you would offer the same version labeled with with second grade instead of first?

    Primary Practice

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  2. Would it be okay for you to change it to kindergarten?

    missnguyensclass.blogspot.com

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  3. Your blog made me smile. Glad your first week went so well for you ... even though you're tired :)

    ❀Barbara❀
    Grade ONEderful

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  4. @Patricia & Miss Nguyen...I'd be happy to do that for you! Just shoot me an email at thefirstgradeparade@gmail.com and I'll send it your way :)

    @Barbara...you're too sweet :)

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  5. First graders are the best! I don't know how you kept a straight face!!!

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  6. I love the time capsule idea!! I know you are all kinds of tired and I'm in no hurry.. But would you be willing to make one that reads "first day of school"? I teach transitional kindergarten but that seems kind of long... Thank you so much for sharing..

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  7. Too funny! I was needing a good laugh this morning!! Have an awesome Wednesday!

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  8. Thanks for sharing! Love the time capsule idea. we do something similar so it was fun to see your take on this activity. Do you remember what font you used for the "first day of first grade"? Some of my kids would love it because they could color it in or as they say :make it prettier".

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  9. Love the time capsule idea. My daughter just graduated from high school this past year and we saved hers from pre school. It was too precious!!
    BusyBees

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  10. LOVE LOVE LOVE the time capsule Cara! You're amazing!

    And I'm jealous of the flower arrangement...I tell Mr. Spouse to send me flowers every year and he never does! :)

    Enjoy the rest of your week!

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  11. The time capsule is so cute! I never thought about doing a handprint though! It would be cute to record their height and see if they grow! haha!

    I have a question though...for all your documents you have a cute boarder ... where did you get them?

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  12. Thanks for the laugh. I love the "vase" picture!

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  13. I love the time capsule! Guess what? My husband sends me flowers every year too! So besides teaching in Texas we have that in common too! I always wonder if he will skip a year, but 15 years of teaching and I still get a pretty vase of flowers!

    Kim @ saylorslog.blogspot.com

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  14. Thanks again Cara; I can't wait to use your time capsule project with my class :)

    Primary Practice

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  15. Cheers to you! ;) if you know what I mean. My goto is chocolate or Texas Sheet Cake if I must.
    p.s. love the "vase"
    I will be mentally commiserating with you tomorrow! exhaustion has overruled my morning coffee.
    Thanks for your post. You made my decade...I mean night.

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  16. It's not too late! I'm in San Diego and we always start the day after Labor Day. I'm thrilled about the time capsule! THX!!!

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  17. I love love love your blog. Not only is it inspriational and informative, but it is hilarious! Your kiddos are so lucky to have you as a teacher! I teach second grade, and our first day of school is Wednesday Sept. 7th. Could you please email me the time capsule with 'second grade'?
    Thank you so so much! Have a great holiday weekend and take some time to relax.
    Diana
    dianadirubbo@gmail.com

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  18. The time capsule idea is awesome! I might try this w/ 5th graders too. They change a lot from August to June! How cool is that!

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  19. I love the time capsule! However, how do you find the time to do it for every student? Do you have parent helpers? Do you complete the handprints with all the students at the same time, in groups, or individually? What about the string? Do you have students measure and cut the strings themselves?

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  20. I love the Time Capsule idea as well. I am looking for center activities for our first week (which is next week). I see that you have shared a 2nd grade version with some of the teachers that have asked. I would love a copy with the 2nd grade on it as well, if you could! Thank you so much and good luck with your 2012 school year! (I'm using my husband's gmail acct...my email is jgordon@dorchester2.k12.sc.us...you could send it to either acct.) Thanks so much! Jennifer Gordon

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  22. Can I have a copy of the Beginning and End of the year time capsule for Kindergarten? Thanks! Ashley.Exum1@gmail.com

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  23. I love this idea!! I am hoping you would be so kind as to email me the version requested of just first day of school. (I teach a 2nd/3rd grade combo in San Diego :) My email is emmaly.rogalski@gmail.com Thank you!!

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  24. This is so amazing. Could I have a copy for a Kindergarden time capsule? My e-mail is melissajfeller@gmail.com
    Thank you so much!!

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  25. Love, Love this idea....Could you pleasse send me a copy for a Kindergarten time capsule also....My email is kentzi@kulm.k12.nd.us
    Thank you!!!!!!!

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  26. I'm sure you're crazy busy getting ready for school, but if you had a chance to send the Kindergarten version and the generic First Day version I would be so appreciative! School starts for us on Monday, but I just found your great idea today on Pinterest!! Hope you have a wonderful school year. amber_wiggins(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  27. I just found you via Pinterest and LOVE this idea! I know you must be super busy but can I request a generic First Day version? My school starts Wednesday and this is so cute! Thank you! toni.thomas.cm@gmail.com

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  28. could you send me a preschool 2012 one please?

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  29. Hello,

    Is it possible to get a copy of this for Kindergarten?

    Thank you so much!
    Danielle

    dnll.brown@gmail.com

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  30. I know I am YEARS behind (thanks Pinterest!) but could I get this 1st grade one emailed to me? I'm trying to download this and it is coming out with a bunch of lines missing. Hoping you can!

    nicole@journeytojosie.com

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  31. Hi sorry for late posting, but have come across this post on Pinterest. As I live in Australia we start our school year off with reception so wondering if I could get a copy with reception on it. Thanks
    Angie.Madison@moc.sa.edu.au

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  32. I love your Beginning Of the Year Time Capsule but cannot get it to download. Is there a different link I can use? Is there anyway you can send it to me?
    I love your blog thanks so much!

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  33. I found this on Pinterest and absolutely love it! Is there any way that I could get a copy of this for second grade? My team would love to use it. Thanks!

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  34. I would love this for Kindergarten!!! Any chance? :)
    Thanks.
    Nicki@winger.com

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  35. I know I'm years late, but thanks to pinterest just found this time capsule! I'm teaching a K/1 split, so I wanted to have both versions available when we start school in a few weeks. Any chance you could email me a Kindergarten version? I know I'm probably the ten millionth person to ask! :) THANK YOU.
    rundekm@gmail.com

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  36. I am jumping on the late wagon! I love the time capsule and the vase! Would it be possible to get this for my preschoolers? This would be a great graduation gift! Thank you in advance!

    relaxandcraft@gmail.com

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  37. We love this free printable.
    Thanks for sharing.
    We used this last year when my eldest was in grade one.
    Now we are just about to enter grade two (although opting to home school through this year).
    Any chance of getting a grade two version or a generic 'homeschool version'??

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