You're the "balm"!

I've teamed up with some friends to share with you some great Valentine's ideas for a variety of grades.  We hope you will find some cute ideas to use in your classrooms!

I have been at schools before that make Valentine's Day a big deal, with a special dance in the afternoon.  My current school does not do that, which I like.  We have monthly virtues, and this month it is "kindness and friendliness".  How perfect for Valentine's Day.

Being that I teach grade 4, we will probably have a little afternoon party with some snacks and Valentine's exchange.  Most of my grade 4's like to exchange cards, but some are beginning to be "too cool".  

I really have a cute idea I *WANTED* to share with you.  Unfortunately, I need to share the beginning stages... with science fair, and my IGNITE talk, and book studies and all the rest of it, these little gifts just aren't finished yet.  So sorry!

I bought these raspberry lemonade Blistex at the dollar store.  Can't beat a gift that costs $1.25 when you need to buy 30 of them!

What I am planning, is to print out these 4x4" squares and use a glue dot to attach a lip balm to each one.  I've got a lot of packages to open up!

I think it will be a really cute alternative to all the candy treats that are out there.  It will also be a good mini lesson for my ELL students on puns.

EDIT: Now that it is the weekend, I was able to get these babies done!  I changed it up a bit.  In the end, I bought whole sheets of sticker paper.  I made pieces that fit the chapstick.  I am happy I realized I will have 26 of these things rolling around the floor, so I put their names on them.  So happy with how they turned out!

 

What are you doing to celebrate Valentine's day in your class?  Be sure to click the links for more great ideas!

An InLinkz Link-up

IGNITE - Finding the Balance

I was recently asked to give an IGNITE talk at the first of these events put on by our school district.  Perhaps naively, I said yes.  If you have not heard of IGNITE, check their website. 

 The premise is that you speak for 5 minutes, with 20 pre-created slides, automatically changing every 15 seconds to be timed to your speech.  Honestly, that was the freaky part.  I hate being off time!

I had decided to give a talk about finding balance, and if that was even possible for people.  I suggest that we focus on all that brings us positive energy, and that if we make time for those things, the happiness and good should follow.

 

When I arrived, I was semi-nervous, but was excited.  However, I quickly realized we had no power!  Nearly half of Fort St. John was without electricity!  My anxiety level rose a bit then.  Luckily, I was in a room full of resourceful educators.  A generator was hooked up for the slides and microphone and the rest was done via candlelight.

The event took place at Whole Wheat and Honey, my favourite coffee shop, after hours.  You can see the house was packed! That's not me speaking in the top image, but that lightbulb is part of my talk.  I reference the positive energy I get when the light comes on for a child in my class.

I was able to spend the evening with this crew of lovely ladies.  I am not sure how these pictures turned out so bright, when really it was so dark in there!  Good flash, I guess.

I hope I was able to inspire a few of my colleauges with my simple message:

 

 

Currently February

February is here!  I love when the first of the month occurs on a weekend, as I am usually more likely to link up with Farley for her Currently linky.  Just a bit more time to sit back and reflect on those weekend days.

If you haven't read Farley's blog before, you must!  She has lots of great ideas, and writes in a way that is fun to read too.

  Now, here's what is currently happening in my life:

  Listening: To the furnace.  It is -24 C today.  These cold temperatures are getting old.  It needs to start warming up.  I know it did last week, and that was wonderful, but it just teased me and now I would really like to start seeing some grass.
Loving: That it is the weekend.  I rely on these days to recharge and catch up.
Thinking: I really need to practice my speech.  Sure, I wrote it, but it would be nice if I had it at least sort of memorized before I presented Tuesday night!
Wanting: To go somewhere warm.  See my "Listening" comment.  We will, in March.  But, March seems really far away right now.
Needing: To get some school things accomplished.  I need to make some thank you cards for science fair, do a bit of marking, create some files for ipads....
Pageant Title: My "Needing"comment made me feel semi-overwhelmed.  I'm off to get some things done around here.  Happy February!