Does Santa Know What You're Thinking?

This week at school I read my third-graders a story about a girl who wouldn't tell her family what she wanted for Christmas. She insisted that, "Santa knows what I want!" I asked my students if they thought Santa could tell what they where thinking or if they had to say what they wanted out loud so he would know what they wanted. Their opinions were mixed, but I had one student who exclaimed, "Santa can't tell what you're thinking, but Jesus can! And He can tell Santa!"

My "Cute" Voice

Teaching 3rd grade I've definitely learned that "kids say the darnest things." Today at lunch recess I could hear a few first grade boys playing in the bathrooms. So I called into the bathrooms kind of sternly, "Boys, you need to go outside. We don't play in the bathrooms." Standing by me was this innocent little first grade girl who promptly commented to me, "You have a cute voice!" Haha, thanks! I'll have to speak sternly more often!

School's Out for SUMMER!!

Day 2 of Summer and it's completely awesome. I had such a fun year teaching this group of third graders. I honestly teared up Friday morning as I was hugging them good-bye. I totally will miss this year and this group, but did I mention that IT'S SUMMER!!?? I guess that a pretty good consolation. :)
Friday morning after we bid our darlings good-bye, the faculty and staff all packed up and headed for Mimi's Cafe for "Viking Island Survivor." At the end of each year there are always a few changes. Teachers retiring, transferring to different schools, staying home to be mommies, and we have to say "good-bye" to some sweet friends. So this year our reading specialists arranged "Viking Island Survivor" as our way to bid those leaving farewell. Someone read a tribute to each person leaving and then after each tribute we "extinguished their torch" (which consisted of everyone making fizzing noises) and someone announced that, "the tribe has spoken." It was really cute. I'll miss seeing those friends every day. Hopefully they'll visit every once-in-a-while.

My fun principal, Sylvia