What Does the Fox Say...on Valentines Day?!

I know what you're thinking, this is a smidge late.  You're right :).  The past year was a little challenging professionally and ended up bringing lots of changes with it but I wanted to take some time this summer to share a few of our special moments!

Did your students freak out over the song What Does the Fox Say?  Mine did, they sang it EVERYDAY.  On the bus going to field trips, during literacy centers, during independent work in math, while they were writing, swinging, walking, picking their nose...you get the point.  Around the holidays I finally gave in and pulled up the "Just Dance" video and let them get all kinds of weird.

I have to admit, watching kids sing and dance along makes the song EXPONENTIALLY less annoying.  One chilly, well chilly for Florida, January afternoon a 5th grade class saw us dancing (I participated too, don't judge) and challenged us to a dance off.

5th graders versus 1st graders on a Valentines Day dance off to What Does the Fox Say.  

After one full month of trash talking 1st grade brought the HEAT!  I cut red feather boa's to make fox tails for them and used Halloween makeup to draw a fox nose and whiskers on their sweet little faces.  Several of them wore their fox shirts and one little guy even wore his tuxedo!  #fareal

After an intense "dance off" an impartial panel of judges declared 1st grade winners!  

We had a blast and ended up adopting this class as our FCAT buddies.  To help ease the pain of their embarrassing loss to the littles we brought them these valentines.  Snag them HERE to use next year if you'd like!

Last Day of 2013-2014

This year has brought so many changes to our district, school, and my career.  Professionally, this year was a real challenge but it was also incredibly rewarding.  I was nominated for Teacher of the Year and for the Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice.  I got to work with my best friends and one of the most unique, special groups of students I've ever known.

I could go on for days telling you about each of these wonderful little people.  I could tell you about how they sing ALL DAY, EVERYDAY.  Or about how they dance around the classroom because "dancing is better than walking."  I could tell you about how they were always each other's BIGGEST cheerleader, regularly sharing high-fives and kind words even when they didn't win themselves.  They are enthusiastic, funny, kind, loving, silly, full of laughter, witty, smart, hardworking, thoughtful, and SO many other things.  

They taught me to find a way to enjoy every moment I have with a class.  At the beginning of the year I didn't realize that this would be my last class at the school I have been at for 8 years.  I didn't make the most out of everyday, I settled into our routine and grinded it out until I realized that our time together had an expiration date.  At the end of the year I'd leave the school and the district.  I wouldn't get to see them grow into 5th graders.  

In teaching and in life, there is always an expiration date.  Make the most out of every moment you have with your people and find the wonder in all the small things.  Like when a dragon fly lands on your students shirt and then lets you pass it around for some spontaneous show and tell!