Snow days!

I saw this fun linky on Literacy Spark's blog about what is trending. With our Polar Vortex weather we've been having there have been a lot of snow days all over the country. We are on our 8th snow day this school year. I was looking at the calendar and we've only been to school 6 full days this semester and 2 days with 2 hour delays. I missed 2 of those days when my niece was born. So snow days have definitely been on my mind. I was really hoping that this week we would go all 5 days but when we left at 10:15 on Tuesday I knew this wouldn't happen.

So here's the deal with our snow days. We go an extra 30 minutes a day to have 13 days built in our schedule. It sounds crazy but I live in the mountains and there are some back roads that don't see the sun and they stay frozen over. The thing that stinks about this is if we don't use them we don't get the time off at the end of the year. This is my 7th year in the system and there has only been 1 year we've used more an 13. We have a winter break in February over President's day weekend and that can be taken away if needed. I was kind of over the snow but this snow we just had is beautiful and my hubby got to stay home for the day is it was nice. Here are a few pictures from a walk we took in the National Park.

It was cold! I thought about taking a picture of my whole outfit as my #ootd because it was pretty awesome. I was wearing a lot of layers mad my hubby' puffy jacket. I looked like Cookie Monster. 

It has been really hard getting any momentum going this semester. My kids are struggling with remembering the things we have learned this year. I had plans of starting a few new things this semester. I wanted to start Read to Self and rework my math block. I also wanted to work on planning my small groups better. So this week, I had my small groups all planned out. Monday I was able to meet with my groups, introduced Read to Self and reworked my schedule. It was great! Now if I could a full week in, I think I would feel better about it. I'm at a loss about how to proceed with my plans. We started a new unit in reading where we have 6 sight words and introduced short I. I am feeling behind but I think if I push my plans go the next week I will be giving my kids a better chance at mastering these skill. What do you do when you have unexpected days off? Be sure to check out the party at Literacy Spark. 

Five for Sunday

I wanted to link up on Friday but I ran out of time. I was busy after school trying to get ready for next week and then my hubby was ready to head to Myrtle Beach when I got home. We made a very quick to trip to celebrate his dad's birthday. It was fun trip. Now I'm riding in the car typing this on my iPad hoping it saves to the app even though there is no internet connection.

1. Tuesday we talked about MLK and read The Crayon Box ThAt Talked. The kids picked one color to draw a picture with and we talked about how if we were all the same it would be boring.

 

2. We had a snow day on Wednesday and my dad and I spent some time with my nieces and sister. This is my newest niece. She actually had her eyes open.

3. Thursday I had to leave school early for a doctor appointment and we were 2 hours late. So I was only at school for an hour and a half. In between school and doctor appointment I spent a little time with my girls again. I found this great freebie from Mel at From the Pond for tracing lines. Soph and I had a lot of fun practicing our handwriting. Look at how well she holds her crayon.

 

4. Friday we were 2 hours late again so I crammed a lot of sight word practice in a short amount of time.

5. A picture from the beach. I never thought I'd been on the beach in boots and a heavy coat. It was still beautiful even though it was cold.

So that's my Five for Friday post. Be sure to head over to Doodle Bugs Teaching and check out the party. 

I hope to be back later this week with some sight word ideas and apps for the iPad. I've had a hard time getting into any kind of rhythm teaching with all the snow days and delays. So here's hoping for a five day week!

Monday Made It on a Snow Day

We we're suppose to go back to school day for a work day but it snowed and it's cold so no school. I haven't done anything school related all break and it has been great. But I'm probably going to have to do something today. Maybe. Netflix, my iPad and the couch have been really good over break. I have done a couple of craft projects so I thought I would link up with Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics.

This was my inspiration from Pinterest.

http://pinterest.com/pin/167055467401747649/

It's a calendar that you keep for years. You write one thing each day and keep adding to it. I had pinned this a while ago but decided a new year was the perfect time to start it. 

I used index cards and my paper cutter to cut in half. Then I used scrapbook paper to go in between each month. I went ahead and put dates on all the cards so all I would have to do each day is write my memory of the day.

I am trying to use things I have and not buy new stuff so I got the idea to use a gift bag and cut the top off. I then decorated it with washi tape. Here's the finished product.

The other the project I completed over break was a blanket for my new niece who will be here a week from today. I am so excited to welcome her into the world!

So those are my projects for winter break. I need a new wreath for my door so I might work on that today instead of school work. Here are a few pins that have inspired me.

http://pinterest.com/pin/167055467400661884/

http://pinterest.com/pin/167055467401084533/

Only Valentine's day rather that Halloween. Red or pink rather than orange and black.

Be sure to head over to 

Fourth Grade Frolics and see everyone else's Monday made its.