Jobs - They're so hard to find!

I don't usually just write a blog post without something to share but I just can't seem to stop thinking about jobs. Its that time of year again here in New Brunswick where the job postings come out. I have been out of university for 6 years and I have yet to land a contract! I am going crazy here. I moved to New Brunswick last year and I have just been supplying ever since. In Nova Scotia, I had finally knew a lot of people, had a few long term jobs and had a path to follow. Then my boyfriend decided he wanted to be closer to family, which is fantastic, but I get to start at the bottom again. I have applied two years in a row for this list that you need to get on to get a long term contract and still haven't been accepted. I have TONS of experience, a passion to teach and I just don't know what else to do.

I had an interview the other day for a totally different job and once I left I could not stop thinking about it. Is this really what I want? Teaching is my dream job, can I just give up on it that easily? I spent the entire weekend thinking about leaving the field and then woke up this morning knowing that teaching is where I want to be. I want to have a job teaching kids in my own classroom. I've never wanted anything more.

So where to go from here? I have no idea. I can't do a lot other than apply for the "list" and hope for an interview. Here is to another year of waiting for that job to come up. I've been told "good things come to those who wait." Well I've been waiting for a long darn time so I sure hope there is a job in my future!

To all those other supply teachers who are in the same boat, you're not alone. It sure feels like it on a daily basis when you wake up and have no job to go to but you're not alone and don't forget that. Our time has got to come eventually, until then we keep our heads up and teach our hearts out on the days we actually get to be in the classroom :)

Lego, who doesn't love Lego?

Hello there! What child do you know that doesn't love playing with Lego? I have no children but I'd be happy having some Lego around my house to play with! So much fun and so many possibilities for things to make! I've been doing a lot of helping out with an after school program and the kids are Lego obsessed! I whipped up this game for the kids to play with Lego Blocks and they love it!

Go download it and play with your kids! :)

Lego Land Game

Hello December - Elf Ideas

I'm so sad not to have my own classroom this year - I miss having so much fun with Tinsel! I was going to put him up around our house but I just don't think my boyfriend will buy into the idea - haha!
Tinsel has had some fun over the past three years in the classroom :) I thought I'd share some pictures from over the years for a few ideas - and a calendar for this year! I always find it easier to plan ahead, I don't like leaving this to the last minute, maybe it's the teacher in me :) One less thing to think about every day after school!
Always try to bring your Elf to activities throughout December. A teacher friend of mine told me about one year all the classrooms at her school had an elf and they all showed up on the stage at the Christmas Concert! How freaking cute is that! The kids love that he/she moves around and does fun things so why not let the join in all the December fun!

Elf on the Shelf December 2015

Author Study - Kevin Henkes

Kevin Henkes is one of my favourite children authors! I love all his books and my class always grows to love them as well! I choose to do an author study on Kevin Henkes and there were so many ideas out there in the Pinterest world and teacherspayteachers.

My class really loved using the Smartboard so I decided to make a game for the kids to play after we'd read some Kevin Henkes books. The game is a form of Jeopardy and the kids loved it!

Kevin Henkes Jeopardy

The books included in this game are:

Also, after reading the book Chrysanthemum, I had drew a picture of her and had the students give me some character traits they noticed about Chrysanthemum.

Now go get some Kevin Henkes books and start your author study! :) 

Recycled Art

Who doesn't love making something crafty and recycling at the same time?
I have been working at a daycare since I recently moved and we don't have a large amount of funds given for activities so we like to used recycled materials for projects. The parents are a great help in this as they will save and bring in almost anything we ask.
I was searching on pinterest one day for some ideas to make with bottles (my boyfriend drinks a lot of apple juice!) and it hit me, something to make for the kiddos to actually use at home - a piggy bank! Kids can learn the value of saving money after making a fun craft!

First I had parents save and bring in empty apple juice bottles. You could use any bottle really but I made sure the spout was large enough to empty the coins out of when needed.

I washed out all the bottles and I cut a slit in the side with a sharp knife before I handed the bottles to the kids for painting. 

The first step was to paint the entire bottle - I chose to paint mine pink but some children chose black. I did three coats of paint on mine but they did not have that much patience so some did one coat and others did two. 

Once the bottles dried (the next day), I used a hot glue gun to add googly eyes, ears and feet. I had first decided to use tops of milk jars as the feet but I to collect all of those would take a little too much time so I bought a package of buttons at the dollarstore! 

I put on the feet to keep the bank from rolling back and forth. 

Here are my four feet - pink buttons but feel free to use anything you can think of :) 

And here is his super cute face! 

Some piggy's that the children made! They were pretty excited to take these home :) 

The one thing I didn't think of which I wish I did was to add a pink pipe cleaner on the back as a curly tail! 

Shrinky Dinks

If you haven't heard of Shrinky Dinks, you must check them out! I have made them many times and so many people would come in to buy them when I worked at Michaels. A popular item with kids for sure!
I wasn't sure what type of art project to make with the kids I was substituting for the week before Christmas break. I knew they loved art and I thought an ornament would be an awesome way to make a memorable art project.
I went to Michaels to buy a pack of Shrinky Dinks - I got lucky, there were 20 kids in the class so I bought the pack of 10 sheets and each child got a half sheet :) I also made a template of a round ornament and a large rectangle (bookmark). I photocopied the template and had the students tape the shrinky dink to the template in order to have the same sizes.
They designed and coloured their two shapes, placed their name or initials somewhere and then cut them out. I then punched a hole in each one for the string later :) And into the oven they went!

Here's a few before the oven 

And here they are after! Did the ever shrink! 

 They turned out so darn cute! The kids LOVED them! 

Elf on the Shelf - Classroom Style

Last year while teaching grade 2 - we had the pleasure of having Tinsel visit our classroom on December 1! Tinsel was delivered to the classroom and the box was cold (I had left the box in the freezer in the staff room). The kids were so intrigued by the idea of the box being addressed to us from Santa!
Tinsel was awesome - he did some great things and wished the students well on as many opportunities as he could. He did have to return to the North Pole once as one child had touched him but they soon learned how he worked and no one touched him again.
It was an awesome management strategy so close to the holiday break. The students were so concerned as to what Tinsel was sharing with Santa that they were trying their hardest to be on their best behaviour.

So this year I am subbing in my old class right before Christmas break! And I just have to have Tinsel make an appearance! I found this new Elf on the Shelf cookie sheet and I HAD to buy it!

Now, I've never baked in a cavity pan before so lets just say the first batch was not a winner! I made the sugar cookie recipe on the back of the package. I had an idea that the dough would spread a little so I did not fill the cavities enough the first time. I learned that lesson quick! 

 

After making a batch of royal icing and dying all the colors - they turned out AWESOME! They were a lot of work but I am so happy with the end result! The kids are going to flip - I plan on putting a little note from Tinsel, wishing them a Happy Holidays!

 

And now to wish you all a HAPPY HOLIDAYS from me to you!