Oh, those fairies!

Have you visited Ms. Jessica  for technology tips over at A Turn to Learn?  If you haven't then get yourself over there as soon as you read this!  She rocks!

Back in April she had this post about creating a talking avatar. I missed that one but saw this post about the talking Handwriting Fairy. Oh...my...gosh!  I showed this to my kids and they lost their minds for a minute!  Every time we write they want to see if the Handwriting Fairy has a new message for them.  Jessica has been creating new messages, but I realized that I wanted to create my own HF (Handwriting Fairy) so I could personalize the messages.
So here she is..

So on Friday I began training my kids on how to keep their desks neat and organized.  Then I told them that sometimes the Desk Fairy visits and leaves little treats for neat desks.  There were audible gasps all over the room.  They wanted to know if she knew the Handwriting Fairy and if she will talk to us.  Haha!  So you know what immediately went on my weekend to-do list.  I told them that she's the Handwriting Fairy's sister.
Here she is!  She's a little goth, haha!

This was so much fun!  Thank you to Jessica for the ideas!

You can create your own free account at www.voki.com.  They have created a Voki Classroom feature but it is 30 dollars per year.  I used the free items to create the Fairies above.  

If you give a kid a pencil....

He's going to chew and eat it!  WHAT?  Yep, I have several kiddos that I lovingly refer to as my "woodchucks".  We have gone through more pencils this year than I have ever used.  The "To Be Sharpened" bucket is always full of half eaten, otherwise perfectly good pencils.  I can't help but say...."Hey, you woodchucks! Stop chucking that wood!!"  They don't get it but it cracks me up every time.

So I tried a new strategy this week.  On Monday, I gave each child a brand-new sharpened pencil with their name on it.  I told them that if they can show me this pencil on Friday and it has not been chewed or otherwise mauled, I will give them their very own mechanical lead pencil.  Ooooo, aaahhhh....insert Vanna White waving her hand over a beautiful new lead pencil.  I made it very clear that it was their responsibility to keep up with the pencil.  I would not be swayed by tears and excuses.  I was really surprised about how sweet they were about these pencils.  When they would find one, they would make sure it got back to its owner immediately.  This was amazing because other than that they have been grumpy with each other lately.  WE.NEED.SPRING.BREAK!!

Anyhoo...back to the pencils.  All but 5 were able to show me an intact pencil.  Some of my smarties had hidden it so they wouldn't take the chance of losing it.  I'm giving the other 5 another shot this week so hopefully they'll make it.

The Desk Fairy, Deskerella, also made an appearance this week.  Does the Desk Fairy visit your children?  I have an overall neat group this year so she was able to leave Pixie Stix (I know I'm crazy!) for 12 out of 20 kiddos.  The others immediately got those rat's nests cleaned out.  Hee, hee..

Our reading story this week is The Story of a Bluebird out of Harcourt Trophies.  I made a chart to go with our bird study.   I'm going to try to share it.  Hold on...

Find it HERE

Okay, gonna have to find out how you guys make the picture go to Goggle Docs.  The newbie couldn't get it to work.  :-)

Have a great Monday.  I cannot WAIT to see William Levy on Dancing with the Stars tomorrow night.  

Spring Break starts on Friday at 3:15.  I think I can, I think I can....