Sunday, April 7, 2013

Spring Break Shenanigans & A Very Important Question!

Today, I am blogging some bittersweet news...it is Sunday, the very last day of my Spring Break. Please don't get me wrong, I am SO excited to see my sweet little sprouts and my awesome coworkers tomorrow! It's just...I DON'T WANT SPRING BREAK TO END. I've gotten used to sleeping in until 9:30, puttering around, eating lunch for as long as I'd like...waking up tomorrow at 5:15 is going to be an epic struggle! I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of things quickly though!

Anyways, here are some things I did over my Spring Break...

I spent a few glorious days back home in Williamsburg, Virginia...it was SO good to see my family! While home, I took advantage of my historic hometown and sent postcards to all of my little sprouts...I hope they liked the surprise! The ONE thing that I will never forget about my fifth grade teacher was that she sent me a postcard from Vail, Colorado over a break. It made such an impression on me that she thought about me inside and outside of school, and I want my sprouts to feel the same way!



Tomorrow we are having Mathapalooza...the third grade classes are rotating through all of the third grade classrooms, and we are each teaching a fun lesson on a topic that will be covered on our benchmark tests next week. I am reviewing 3.MD.1 with all of the little nuggets...I can't wait to scrape all the rust off of their little brains when it comes to elapsed time on a number line! I made a fun Four Corners review game for the students to play...I will be posting it on TpT soon!

Today was a balmy 75 degrees in good old Fayetteville, so I laid out at the pool! I want to warn you to put on sunglasses before you look at my shocking whiteness...oh well, have to start somewhere!


Woo Hoo!

Here is my important question I would LOVE to have answered...how do you link up with/participate in linky parties? I have no clue how to grab a button or get ahold of one of the big graphics to edit (i.e. the Currently... that everyone likes to do) I know it's a dopey question, but please bear with me! I'd love your help and input! I hope you have a fantastic day!

<3 Kelsey

12 comments:

  1. Hi Kelsey! I completely feel your pain about not wanting break to be over! We start ours next week (the 15th) and I am counting down the days. I, too, love my kiddos, but it feels SO great to regenerate and rest. :) As for linky parties, if you find one (they are often listed in the TPT forums) you can submit a link to a blog post you have. I am still new to this too... but so far: I've posted about what I'm doing in class, I include pictures and links to my products in TPT, and on a linky party I just copy my blog link there. Then you usually get to crop the picture you want to choose. Keep me posted on how it goes and I'll let you know if I find any good parties! I have a couple posted on the sides of my blog. Have a great week back!

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    1. Hi Stacey! I totally agree! I feel SO much better after the break...I was definitely feeling a little frazzled before we let out! It was nice to have some me time :) I'll definitely have to poke around in the forums to link up! I feel so technologically un-savvy...I'll get there someday! :) THANK YOU for your help! I hope you have a great week as well!

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  2. Hey Kelsey! I just found your blog on TPT!! I think sending your kids postcards is super touching. I am sure they were grinning from ear to ear! :)

    If you have time hop on over to my blog!
    Katie
    Mind Sparks

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    1. Hi Katie! I'm glad you found my blog! I surely hope the postcards made my kiddos happy...or else they were wondering why I'm still bugging them from hundreds of miles away haha! :) I'm following your blog now!

      Kelsey

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  3. Oh, and the graphic... I just dragged it from their post onto my desktop. Then uploaded it that way. Not sure if there is a better way or not?

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  4. The first linky I joined was from TPT as well. I just followed the instructions on her blog for how to do it.

    We often rotate classes for things as well and I think it's a great way for the kids to get to know other teachers!

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    1. We rotated our classes for a Holidays Around the World activity, and it was a great time! Our grade level was trying to brainstorm fresh ways to review, and we figured a change of scenery/teacher could do the trick! :) It will be great to chat with some little acquaintances as well!

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  5. Kelsey,
    I LOVE that you sent all of your kids a postcard! What a great idea.

    As for the linking up for parties, it's SUPER easy
    1. Choose a Linky
    2. Copy the Linky graphic by right clicking on the picture and choosing copy
    3. Right click in a new blog post and choose paste. The Linky graphic will now be in your blog post box.
    4. Highlight the Linky graphic and click the link button in the post tools bar (at the top of your post) and type the blog URL of where you're linking up to so when people click on the graphic they're directed back to the origin.
    5. Write up your post, double check for spelling and grammar then post it.
    6. Go to your blog post for the Linky party by clicking on the title of that post. Now the website in the navigation bar is the permalink (or permanant link) for that particular post. Copy the permalink.
    7. Return to the Linky origin and link up. You will enter your permalink, blog name, and email address. Then you'll choose a picture to represent your blog.


    I hope that makes sense. It's a lot, but once you've done it once, it's super easy. I'm happy to help you out if you need some more help... My email is:
    Reyesremarkablerants at gmail dot com

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    1. Wow! What a huge help...I am all about step-by-step directions, and you just hit the nail on the head for me! I am definitely going to try to participate in a linky party soon, as opposed to just reading them! Thank you, you are AWESOME! :)

      Kelsey

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  6. Kelsey,

    I love your blog! This was my first year teaching 3rd, and I love it! I love the idea of mathapalooza.

    Although I just started blogging, stop on by!
    http://eltigger.blogspot.com

    Andrea

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  7. Hi Kelsey! I've just become your latest follower! What an awesome teacher sending kids postcards!!! Man they must have been excited!

    I'm glad you asked that question about linky parties- I've worked out how to link in... but I can not for the life of me work out how to set it up so when people click on the "linky picture" on my page it takes them to the linky party!

    Hopefully I'll work it out soon- I'm about to go and read those instructions a few posts up very carefully!

    x Serena x
    Magic Mistakes & Mayhem

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