Family Fun

Will's parent's were in town for Graduation and we went to Thanksgiving Point. It was a nice warm day and I got some great pictures.













I love my family! So much.

Cotillion 2010

"A Night in Paris" was the theme of this year's 6th grade Cotillion. And a night it was. My favorite class of all time danced the night away, looked beautiful, danced divine, and flirted up a storm. It was such a fun night and I am so sad that this is going to be my last Cotillion.
This year was also special for me because I was able to have my dear friends at Cotillion with me. Kat Wyatt and Kalei Atagi were 6th grade tutors so they were invited to the big night. This made Will happy because that meant Jake Wyatt was also invited.

And now on to the picture and video show...

Introducing...

William McLean Strong III*, Graduate 2010
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Brigham Young University

Will is done. Oh happy day!
It has been a joyous weekend. I am so proud of my amazingly talented husband. Thank you Mom and Dad Strong for coming and spending the weekend with us, we love you dearly and enjoyed the whole time you were here. Especially when you came into my classroom and brought treats to my 6th graders. That was the best!

BYU COUGARS!

*At convocation Will thought it would be funny to add "the III" to his name. Who knows who the "I" and the "II" is?

Now on to the real world and being a grown up!

World Fair 2010

Each year the 6th grade students learn about the countries of the world and then put on a World Fair for the school and families to attend. This year was exceptional. My students went the extra mile to make the day a very educational experience for the whole school.
Will and Quin Swallow added to the excitement by having a green screen with different world wide tourist attractions where students could take pictures at. It was a blast!

Stop Talking Please

So guess what I did today...I pulled a stinky move on my class.
They were SOOOOO talkative today. I warned, I took away recess...I was fed up...so I said I am changing seats around. They whined, I knew I won. But when I made the list and turned it over on my desk, under books I might add, one of my students stole it and took it out of the classroom and showed everyone. Yes, not cool. And of course being the teacher I am I found out.
So tonight before I left Will and I put the classroom in military style rows. Yup, boy girl boy girl.
They are in for a treat tomorrow. I bet the talking will stop!

What do you think?

Stuffed Animal's

About a month ago Will got into designing and building stuffed animals. It has been an adventure ever since. He has turned our little condo into a factory of stuffed animal making masterpieces. He is really talented at this new artistic style. And my 6th graders LOVE giving him ideas for new stuffed animals and plush toys.




Other than the mess it has created in our condo, it does make you smile watching the magic of stuffed animals come to life.

Gratitude of Change

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude." -Thomas S. Monson.

This week was full of changes.
I have been teaching 6th grade for 5 years now. I know the inside and outside of the grade. I love 12 year old's and I understand them.
Canyon Crest, where I work, is going through many changes. We are loosing teachers because of the economy and millions of dollars in budget cuts. Therefore we have lost quality teachers this year. The 5th grade team of teachers consists of 2 interns, and 1 veteran teacher...they are all leaving. Which leaves the 5th grade empty. This past Tuesday my principal asked me to change grades.

I will be teaching 5th grade next year. I am going to be teaching a new curriculum, in a new classroom, with an intern from UVU, mentoring and teaching the intern how to teach, and hopefully enriching the lives of 10 and 11 year old's.

At first I was really upset about the thought of having to change grades. But after much thought, prayers, and many conversations with Will this past week I must conclude that I am excited to be moving to 5th grade. I am ready for the challenge, for the change, for the blessing of having a job, for finally stepping out of my comfort zone, and for helping the 5th grade ROCK! Because I have to be honest if I am going to go to a new grade, I am going to make sure that it is awesome!

My only worry now is...moving my classroom, learning a new curriculum, and having some time to relax this summer.

My Favorite: William

Thank you William for coming into my classroom every Friday and spending time with my kids.
Thank you for bringing comics into the world of 6th graders.
Thank you for enriching the lives of the twenty-three 6th graders who I love and adore.
Thank you for creating monster stuffed animals and bringing them in to show my class.
Thank you for creating crazy bonus questions on their spelling test.

"If you could draw any monster what would it look like?"

Thank you for loving me the way you do. Thank you for making me smile. Thank you for telling me I am beautiful even on the really hard days. Thank you for being my biggest fan.

Thank you Will, you are my favorite.

(Pictures to come)

My Favorites

This year my class is a blessing in my life.
They make me smile, they make me happy on the cloudiest days, they know how to totally get me off topic when I am teaching, they know what to say when I am getting upset at them, they really are my saving grace this school year.
Thank you Mrs. Strong's Class of 2010 - you are truly one of a kind!

I know that you are not supposed to have a favorite class but...all rules are meant to be broken right?

California Orange Dreaming

The last month has gone by so fast that I have not even had time to sit down and post some really happy moments.
Will and I traveled to California over President's Day Holiday Weekend. We only told Rebecca we were coming so the whole trip was a huge SURPRISE to everyone. It was such a wonderful weekend and just what the doctor ordered for Will and I. We both honestly can't wait to live in California on a permanent basis.

I also learned over this trip what a true California Orange tastes like. And now I am addicted and consider myself an Orange snob! I never have liked oranges, but right fresh off the tree, you have to be a crazy person not to enjoy their sweet smooth wonderful taste.