Extra Yarn

The Caldecott Award books for 2013 were announced recently.  As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I knew it was one I had to have.

If you replace the knitting for crocheting, it sounds just like me!

My students at school even think the main character, Annabelle, looks like me.  What do you think?

Anyway.  Love the story, love the illustrations.  Every yarn-crafter needs a box of yarn like the one Annabelle uses.  (Though I think my yarn stash is kind of like this box...!)

From Booklist

*Starred Review* This understated picture book is certain to spark the imagination of every child who comes upon it, and what could be better than that? Annabelle lives in a black-and-white world, where everything is drab, drab, drab. So imagine her surprise when she finds a box filled with yarn of every color. Armed with the yarn and knitting needles, she makes herself a sweater, but after she finishes, she finds that she has extra yarn left over. After knitting a sweater for her dog, her classmates, and various (hilariously unsurprised) bunnies and bears, she still has extra yarn. So, Annabelle turns her attention to things that don’t usually wear wool cozies: houses and cars and mailboxes. Soon an evil archduke with a sinister mustache “who was very fond of clothes” hears about the magic box of never-ending yarn, and he wants it for his own. Reading like a droll fairy tale, this Barnett-Klassen collaboration is both seamless and magical. The spare, elegant text and art are also infused with plenty of deadpan humor. Klassen (I Want My Hat Back, 2011) uses ink, gouache, and digital illustration to fashion Annabelle’s world out of geometric shapes, set against dark, saturated pages, and against white as the town comes to colorful, stitched life. Quirky and wonderful, this story quietly celebrates a child’s ingenuity and her ability to change the world around her. Grades K-2. --Ann Kelley

Lame

Yup.  That's me.  Lame.  Lame-o.  Lame-o-rama.

I guess I've been living instead of blogging about it?

I have done some pretty great things.  And some normal things that are worth writing about.

But I'm also a little lazy.

But I'll get the writing bug back again one of these days.  In future posts to come, I've got to tell you about:

• Washington DC highlights (yes, again!  I LOVE that city!)
• Quick jaunt to Vegas for the Deaf Nation Expo
• Wicked!  LOVE that show!
• Starting school - and how I'm going to end up with a split-personality disorder by the end of the year
• The Knit & Crochet Show - LOVING it right now!

That's all for now.  I'm feeling a little lazy again.  :)

It's time for summer...

Yes, I'm ready.

Ready for summer.

I think that we should shorten the school year from 180 days to 170... that's when I really started being done with school this year.  The kids have been a little trunky since spring break 5 weeks ago... and last week, everything seemed to come to a head, and I'd had it.  So had they.  But... we still have 3 more days to get along with each other.  Well.

So I was thinking that I needed some reminders as to why I actually like teaching most of the first 170 days of school.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Last week, my students were writing their letters to next year's teachers to introduce themselves and to serve as a first impression writing piece for their new teacher.  We brainstormed a few minutes about what should go in each paragraph of their letter... about themselves, what they liked about 5th grade, what they're looking forward to in 6th grade.

I was more than a little surprised to read how many students said something to the effect of "Miss Ferrin is a big reason why I liked 5th grade so much!"  There are always a few kids who you know that's true for without them saying so, but to see it in writing was more than a little shocking, especially the kids who wrote it.  Ah, shucks!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Last Friday, we went on a field trip to Timpanogos Cave.  That 1.5 mile hike is a killer - especially when you are an old-ish, out-of-shape person such as myself.  There can be a lot of support found in 11-year-olds yelling encouraging words from on top of a mountain.  "Hey, Miss Ferrin!  Are you okay?!?!  Do you want me to come down there and help you get up there?!?!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 My kids are really fun this year.  There are, as always, a few stinkers, and a few parents I could really do without, but for the most part, this has been a good year.  My kids have interesting things to share, tell funny stories and jokes, laugh at themselves and with one another, and are hard working most of the time.  Each group is different, and I don't have a favorite - but this year has definitely been memorable.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And while I do look forward to summer - a lot - the change that comes with the end of the year gives me a little anxiety.  I trade in my 33 darlings now for new ones in the fall... (and, let's be honest, some of them I'm not so sad to lose, but others I will definitely miss)  I am moving classrooms... (to a bigger room, which is good, but moving is still so stressful!)  I'm losing a friend on my team... (only to a team down the hall, but still...) and have to get used to someone new...

The UC

I'm not a Utah County native.  I don't want to be an immigrant even.  I'm plenty happy being a daily in-and-outer.


I guess there are just some things that I just don't quite understand about the UC.


1.  A few weeks ago was the Hope of America 5th grade performance, the Freedom Festival kick-off event.  I drove down with my lovely team and ate dinner at Zupas.  Can we say "I'm-more-religiouser-than-you" any louder than long, silent, bowed heads in prayer in a restaurant?  Not just a little quick short bow of the head.  I'm talking about a few minutes worth of prayering.  In a public place.  With someone sitting across from her.  In a crowded restaurant.  Really?


2.  Shed hunting.  This came up in after-school conversation the other day.  Two people with master's degrees don't know what this is, the two people from Lehi UC did though.  Do you?  Better yet, if you don't, what image does it bring to mind?  And no, the Lehi-er didn't put bullets through any storage units in case you were wondering.


3.  Bad driving.  Maybe the problem is all the construction going on in the south UC, and by the time people drive to north UC they're still driving strangely.  Maybe.  Or maybe it's just an extension of Utah drivers as a whole.  Meh.


4.  BYU.  And okay, I'm a Utah girl, so everyone's obsession with the Y is not normal to me anyway.  But everyone on the BYU bandwagon?  All they're really doing is making life that much more exciting for Utah fans, with Utes thinking that their lives are in danger - especially in Provo.  Which reminds me - I forgot to switch my plates when I was driving around there last week... no harm done though - what a miracle.


5.  University Boulevard vs. University Parkway.  Really?


6.  Speaking of streets, I don't get the UC address system.  13 summers ago, my lovely little city decided they were going to finally re-address the city to match the rest of the county.  What a relief!  I really don't enjoy driving down a street in the UC and find that it's called something different at the other end.  Talk about confusing.  Everyone gives directions in the UC according to landmarks because street addresses are a lost cause.  If you can find the Purple Turtle, you can find anything.



I guess there are a few good things about the UC.  But only a few.

1.  JCW's.  Yum-o!
2.  Proud Utah fans baring their colors boldly.  And putting their lives in danger each time they do so.
3.  My great school.

Yeah, that's about it. :)

The Pickle

I've been on the same team as Ryan for the past 6 years, in both 3rd grade and 5th grade.  I can't remember exactly when he acquired the pickle, but it's hung in his room for a long time.

For April Fool's day, it's tradition on my team to do something big to Ryan.  Why pick on him?  He gives great reactions that keep up coming back for years.  Last year, we borrowed a set of twins from 4th grade and put them in Ryan's room as new students.  He even administered our reading assessment to them!  We also told him that we left something in his room, and if he didn't find it soon, he'd soon know it.  He scoured for a few days and came up with nothing... which was probably good, since there was nothing left to begin with.

Yes, we're childish.  Especially around each other.  We can't help it.

So this year we knew we had to outdo ourselves.

Jami cut down the pickle.

I hid it.

Then the fun started.

Ryan started receiving emails from a strange address... inna_pickle@whatever...

Your pickle is safe and secure.  For now.

Watch out - or the pickle gets it!

Two is company... and three's a crowd!

I've escaped!  Too bad your car was locked, I might have taken it on my adventures in the real world!

PDC TLC

These people look familiar... Maybe I'll be up here one day too!

My spring break... I played at the school playground.  I looked for you but the school was locked up tight.

Spring break... I went to visit some family.  I think I must be adopted!

Spring break... A nice long leisurely Sunday nap.  Ah!

Congrats on graduating!

Home sweet home!

Nearly the whole school was in on it and loved it.  It was fun to share the pickle's adventures with others, and even funner to tease Ryan about it.  He took it well, but is glad to have the pickle back safe and sound.

iPad...

Oh how I love it!

I'm going to test out some blogging from my iPad using blog press. I'm not sure that I want to type essays here (great news for you!), but maybe it'll work for capturing a few thoughts.

Here's a few pics from my photo roll so I can see how it works...



Edited using the Snapseed app.




One of the ways I spent some time during spring break... More on that later...!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Disneyland - Best of...

A little late, seeing as how we were in Disneyland in December... but here it is!



Best ride worth waiting an hour in line:  Midway Mania

Best ride worth Fastpassing twice:  Star Tours

Best ride with no line so you can ride it 3 times in a row:  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Best time to get to the park:  8:15 am

Best time to stay at the park:  12:10 am

Best popcorn stand:  Main Street, 12:05 am (they cook it there until 12:30 so you can get some on your way out of the park!)

Best thing about getting a 'Happy Birthday' button:  Everyone - cast members and fellow Disney go-ers - wishes you a happy birthday!

Best place to watch World of Color from:  We didn't find it... we went twice and had rather tall people standing in front of us both times... what?

Best holiday rendition of a ride:  It's a Small World

Best thing about mentioning it's your birthday when you make reservations for the Blue Bayou:  Chocolate mousse

Best thing to eat so you don't have to eat anything else for the rest of the day:  Monte Cristo sandwiches from the Blue Bayou

Best Fantasyland ride with the longest line though I can't for the life of me figure out why it's so much longer than every other ride's line:  The Flight of Peter Pan

Best scare:  Tower of Terror

Best (worst?) song that got stuck on my head:  Mad Hatter's Teacups jingle

Best song to sing along with on the ride:  Yo-ho, Yo-ho, a Pirate's Life for Me!

Best advice overheard given from mother to son:  "Don't cut off your own arm with that light saber."

january blargs

i am so glad january has come and gone.  it is an awful month.  i've never particularly cared for january, but this one seemed to drag on and on and on and on......

i ran out of my monthly copy allowance at school about a week too early.  probably a good thing for my students, they haven't had near the homework load they would have with a few more copies.

5 january sundays.  5 january mondays.  5 january tuesdays.  only 4 january saturdays.

no snow.  not that i really love snow anyway, especially driving in it, but it's just so mug-ugly out there.  brown, dead grass.  brown mountains.  dirty cars.  ugly.  at least with some snow on the ground it cleans things up a little bit.


but i guess there have been some good things about january too.

weather - lovely outside-recess weather.  i remember a january a few years ago when the first two weeks were spent in inside-recess.  i thought i was going to go crazy then.  this is much better.

5 january mondays - but only 3 at school.

scrapping at hale center theater with joee and tammy and others.

an item crossed off my bucket list - going to a sundance movie while it's at sundance.  my cousin ended up with 2 tickets he didn't need to "your sister's sister."  joee and i went up.  not a bad flick overall.  not quite the experience i was expecting, but it was okay.

12 projects I'm going to make in 2012

I saw this idea over here.... and thought I'd give it a try right here!  (If I've done it right, the pictures should link to their somewhat original form... I'm hoping I've pinned them right on Pinterest!)

12 Projects I'm Going to Make in 2012

1.  Love this.  I made a similar one for the water cup that I keep at school with the lid and the straw (you know the kind?) with the school colors - but I love this idea.  Wouldn't it be cute to make a new one for each season?  Or month?  Or subject we're studying?

 

2.  How fun would this be?  Wouldn't this be a great last-day-of-school-shirt?  So easy and cute.  It'd be great for more precise work, and for those (like me) who are tie-dye dumb.  Bleach pen.  Love it.

3.  I have always wanted one of these!  They are so expensive though when you see them at boutiques or in catalogs.  Now's my chance...

4.  Another cute one to do with the kids in my class - maybe for Mother's Day?  These look so fun!

5.  Ok, so this might be a 'buyer' instead of a 'maker'.  But so clever.  Why didn't I think of this?  What book should I use?

6.  I have major cord issues at my house.  And at school.  And everywhere I try to plug in anything.  So handy.

7.  A travel essential.  So easy.  I hate how plastic-y travel bags get sticky and icky from a recently used toothbrush that you have to pack because you're leaving the hotel in 5 minutes.  This definitely eliminates some of that ick factor.

8.  So cute.  Basic hat pattern, a little embellishing.  I definitely need to make one for all the little Utes that I know!

9.  I definitely need this sign in my classroom.  I may change it up a bit and make one for the principal - "This school runs on ... Dr Pepper."  What's your favorite teacher addicted to?

10.  I've never made one of these.  Ever.  How did I get out of elementary school without this experience, let alone get a job teaching?  I've seen now that Martha Stewart has a nifty little tool to 'help' you make one of these, but I think kids were making them long before Martha's people got the idea.  I do like the variety of colors, too, and not just a classic white snowflake.

 

 

11.  This is way cute.  I was thinking of some different ways to dress up our craft booth at Midvale Days this summer, and thought this would work well.  

12.  I have seen these all over the web lately.  Sooooo cute and sooooo easy! 

Well.  There you have it.  My life's work for the next year.

Now all I need is several days off ... a few weeks off ... summer and I'll be set.

This, in addition to all the other works in progress and wannabe works in progress...  I think I'll start tomorrow...

Weekending - basketball style

I. Love. Basketball.  I love playing it.  I love watching it.  I love seeing little kids playing it.  I love the sounds of dribbling balls and swooshing nets and squeaky shoes on the gym floor.  I love the smell of new gym shoes and leather basketballs.  Not so in love with the other smells though.  Love.  It.

So with the looming NBA lockout, it seemed like a great year to get season tickets to U of U men's basketball, so that I could get my 'fix'.  Yes, they're slated to come in last in the PAC-12.  Yes, they started out the season a little on the rough side.  Yes, they got a new coach who drove some experienced players out.  But... they have improved a ton so far this season.  A ton.  They don't get blown out as often as you'd think.  And they really do play well at times - even for long stretches at times. 

It was quite exciting, then, last Thursday night when the Utes not only came from behind to win over Washington State, they won it in overtime!  What a crowd!  What a game!  What great plays down the stretch!  What great interesting thoughtful pointless commentary from the men sitting behind us!  Woo!  Go Utes!

Friday night, our neighbor to the south, Andy, gave us tickets for the Jazz game against Memphis.  Another team that started out rough, but are looking like they've found their groove.  They won as well, and in great fashion.

Back to the Hill for Saturday's Utah game against Washington.  This game was very back-and-forth, with a few lead changes, but mostly with Utah behind and then sneaking up, and getting behind and sneaking back up.  Well, they almost sneaked themselves into a win, but came up short.  Still, a good game played by a team that is improving game at a time.

Yup.  A good weekend had by all.

Gotta love it, baby!

currently...

currently...

listening... to the hum of my loooovely mini-fridge

eating... cuties

drinking... diet coke

wearing... school-uniform attire and shoes that i should not have

feeling... worn out

weather... sunny, waaaay too warm for january but who's complaining?

wanting... a few more hours in my day

needing... to 'prepare' my room for the fire marshall's inspection tomorrow

thinking... about what i'm going to wear to the ute's black-out game tonight

enjoying... the thought of the weekend

2011 Top 11

In no particular order... and maybe a few more, too...

Travels
1.  Disneyland at Christmas
2.  Colonial Williamsburg
3.  Washington, DC
4.  Civil War tour

The Theater
5.  Wicked
6.  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Movies
7.  Harry Potter Movie Marathon
8.  Breaking Dawn

Hobbies
9.  Reading
10.  Crocheting
11.  Crafting

Family, Friends, & Others
12.  Family
13.  Friends
14.  Others

Technology
15. iPad
16. New Camera

Experiences
17.  Relief Society at the prison
18.  Camp Spike & Wave
19.  Craft Booth at Midvale Days

Because of Mr. Terupt

I really, really needed a good book to read.  Something uplifting.  But quick.  This book was it! 

Because of Mr. Terupt made me re-remember that teaching is more about the tests-at-the-end-of-the-year.  It's more than the book-learning that goes on.  It's more than passing AYP and NCLB standards.  Sometimes being a teacher is just being a good person, helping students on their way in other parts of their lives besides the 'school life'.

The 'telling' of this book is through 7 different student narrators.  What a great, effective way to tell such a great school story.  Of course everyone sees and feels and experiences something different in class.  Yet the commonalities the kids share is incredible.

Loved it!

Totally recommend it!

Thankful - Linky Party

1.  What are you thankful for in your classroom?

My class this year - I love them!  A lot!
My Promethean board, Elmo and projector - I couldn't teach without them!
Books - a lot of them.  Never is "I can't find something to read" an option.



2. What people are you most thankful for?

My family - I wouldn't be where I am without my Mom, Dad, and Holly
My lunch group - I am sane thanks to Karen, Jami, Ryan, Vickie and Megan!




3. What 3 blogs are you most thankful for?

 What the Teacher Wants - of course!
Read This!?!? - my BFF's new book blog
Heartland Paper - to keep me sane!




4. What guilty pleasure are you most thankful for?

Diet Coke
Chocolate
Dancing with the Stars!



5. What are you most thankful for?

Family, friends, the gospel, a great job, health, and wellness!

still here

yeah.

haven't blogged for a while.

i'm sure a lot of really great things have happened...

school... 33 5th graders... who are actually really quite great...  just time-consuming...

40 books for the school year... most my kids are keeping up... me not so much... this is week 8... and at one a week i am about 3 weeks behind... but i have some really great books lined up...  the new ranger's apprentice books for example...

math class... reading that i skim... lesson plans to re-write... but a lovely wednesday evening that passes by fairly quickly... and the best part is that i can come to school the next day with new ideas for discussion in math.

history class... even more reading that i just barely skim... does anyone get through it all?.. doubt it!... but good knowledge... and my favorite for dinner - golden corral... ick...

crochet class... really great students that don't need lots of help so i can stitch too... coming up with projects that will work is a little challenging... but good...

the utes... started out the season great... and now i have no idea what happened to them... except to say that they could give me a scholarship to fumble 10 times in the last two games... it's probably a good thing that the most important game of the year was early on, and they played a lot better than they really are, and the cougs played a lot worse than they really are...

general conference... was good... lots of things i need to work on... but i have apparently a lot of time to do that now... and not just to 2012 like all my great students say every time someone reports a new volcano or earthquake in the world...  but i probably should be telling you this in person instead of sending it into the great cyber void...

so yeah.

see you in a few weeks... or months... or whatever...

Summer in a Post

Summer 2011

My summer very literally started the last day of school with a red-eye flight to Washington DC, and ended officially just days before the first day of school.  What a great, crazy, summer!

Library of Congress Teacher Institute @ Washington DC w/ me

Computer Camp @ Deerfield w/ 16 kids

Utah National Guard 23rd Army Band @ the Tabernacle w/ Mom, Holly, and JoAnne


Hair Cut @ Joyce's w/ Joyce

The before

Williamsburg Teacher Institute @ Williamsburg, Va w/ Karen and the history cohort

Relief Society patriotic presentation @ the Prison w/ Mom, Holly, and about 30 prisoners


Murray 4th of July Parade @ State Street w/ Mom, Holly, and JoAnne

Crocheting with Achievement Day girls @ Joee’s w/ Joee

Harry Potter movie marathon @ Jordan Commons w/ Mom, JoAnne, and Holly

Sad it's over...

... but happy it happened!

Crocheting marathons @ the back porch w/ Mom

Pops Concert @ Abravenel Hall w/ Mom, Holly, and JoAnne

Pioneer Commemoration Concert @ the Conference Center w/ Mom and JoAnne

Cruising the parade route @ SLC w/ Mom, Holly, and JoAnne

Camp Spike & Wave @ Park City w/ Holly and campers

Gambling @ Las Vegas w/ Charlotte

another jackpot!

Harvest Days booth @ Midvale w/Joee, Holly, Mom, &JoAnne

Riding the new Trax lines @ South Jordan and West Valley 2/ Mom, Holly, and JoAnne

Co-blab-eration @ Deerfield w/ Karen, Jami, and Ryan

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat @ Hale Center Theater w/ Mom, JoAnne, Holly, and Joee

Lagoon @ Lagoon w/ Holly

All this!  Plus the usual… going to the rec center (hem, hem…), sleeping in (staying up late), being lazy, cleaning up, cleaning out, taking stuff to the DI (and watching to make sure they don’t take more than they’re supposed to!), enjoying Tippy’s adventures in the backyard (bird, anyone?), watching daytime TV (She’s Crafty, Matlock, Studio 5, Maury)