"The dog ate it"

As a teacher I hear the best, I mean best excuses for NOT doing homework. I get it all. Here are some of my favorites:

I lost it fighting this kid you said you weren't the best teacher in the school

I was mugged on the way to school and the mugger took everything I had (I live in Provo Utah, come on really?)

Our puppy toilet trained on it

Some aliens from outer space borrowed it so they could study how the human brain worked

I put it in a safe, but lost the combination

I loaned it to a friend, but he suddenly moved away

Our furnace stopped working and we had to burn it to stop ourselves from freezing

I left it in my shirt and my mother put it in the washing machine

I didn't do it because I didn't want to add to your already heavy workload (They are 6th graders, they don't have that much homework, this might work in high school)

My little sister ate it

I really do love teaching not only because I get to enrich the lives of so many wonderful children, but because some days are like watching a live stand up comedy act for free.

Valentine's Day 6th grade style

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue
I am to shy to say...
I like you!

My favorite holiday as a teacher hands down is VALENTINE'S DAY! It is the cutest holiday in the world to be a 6th grade teacher for. There is no better way to celebrate the day than with cute cards, candy, valentines, and secret notes that say "I like you, you are pretty." Celebrating it with a bunch of 12 years old students is the way Valentine's Day should always be celebrated.

I have been teaching at Canyon Crest for 4 years. Each year I have the boys in my class give out red roses and walk all the girls to their desks one by one. It is a huge surprise for the girls, and I don't even let them in the classroom until all the boys are in the room ready to greet the girls with their rose. The past two years I have had Will to help me assist the boys in the classroom while I wait in the hall with the girls. It is so fun to see the reactions on both the boys and girls faces! I just hope that the boys learn from this first "flower giving" experience and realize girls love boys who show chivalry.



For our class party, Will and Jake did "caricatures" of all of my students. It was so fun! And my students love having Will and Jake in the room. Especially when they sing to Elton John and crack jokes out loud! Thank you Will and Jake, again you saved my party.



Another part of our party was playing the game "I know you love me so let me make you smile." I have a couple of hams in my class who really got into it and made everyone laugh!



Valentine's Day was so fun! It is day's like this where I realize why I love to teach 6th graders!

Plus I get letters like this one: (It is typed as it was written)
"Dear Mrs. Strong,
Happy Valentine's Day and thanks for being my teacher your the nicest coolest bestest amazingest and funniest funnest teacher I have ever had. PS: thanks for enduring my annoyingness this whole year."

The Art Show

Will and the BYU illustration students put up a wonderful Art Show at the Health and Justice Building in Provo. It was awesome and I am so proud of Will and all of the hard work he put into it. His paintings really looked great in frames and up for display. It was such a spectacular night! If you missed it you can still go check it out because the Art show is up for display the rest of the month, although you will miss the food. (brownies, cream puffs...)

I took some pictures but not as many as I would have liked. Will had so many people come out and support him, it was great. Thank you! His biggest fan club had to have been the staff at Canyon Crest. Even some of my students came to see the show!

Matthew and Brandon. Brandon had at least 5 brownies! And he gave he a high five because he is usually so scared of me and cries. My goal is to be able to hold him! Matthew told me that Brandon doesn't like him either...what did I do wrong?
Canyon Crest supporters! Thank you Rachel and Seralina!
One of Will's art pieces. I couldn't get a lot of pictures of the artwork because there was tons of glare in the room. This one is one of my favorites! If you go to Will's blog you can see better quality pictures.
Best Friends, Cousins, Adorable, Kinder garden girls - Bailey and Brooklyn.
Some of my students came and Will gave them the tour of the Art show. It was fun to have them there.
Will congratulations on such a great show!

Will's Art Show: FEBRUARY 6th, 2009

Will and the BYU illustration department are having an illustration show. I am so proud of Will and all the hard work he has done to prepare for this event. I was there on Saturday morning, brought bagels, and saw all the hard work in action! It looks great!

INFORMATION:
The opening reception for the Illustration Show at the Health & Justice Building in Provo will be on February 6 from 6-9 pm. The show is part of the First Friday Gallery Stroll in downtown Provo.

Come it will be fun!

(Pictures to come, promise...)