G-chat on Gmail

This week one of my students came up to me and said "I have a great idea for Will!" He was so excited and once he told me the idea I had to let Will know. So I had Joe get onto "G-Chat" and talk to Will. The conversation went like this:
Joe is typing as "me" in the conversation.

me: okay....

Joe Paez is going to talk to you

here he is...

Will: Cool

Hi Joe.

me: you shoud do a monster bande

Will: Playing guitar and drums and stuff?

me: yes

Will: Ha, cool.

me: and a singer

Will: Yeah.

For sure.

me: ok

Will: Is that what you want to spend your tickets on?

me: yes!!!!!!!!

Will: hahahahahahahaha

Cool.

How about I start drawing it this weekend?

me: I have 42 tickets

Will: Wow!

Joe, that's fantastic.

Mrs. Strong has been telling me how well you are doing in class.

but I didn't know it was that good.

Way to go.

me: I know

Will: Cool.

I'll start doing some sketches this weekend.

I'll post them on my blog so you can see.

me: and can you do a monster scatbouding

Will: What's a scatbouding?

me: scateboarding

Will: Oh, skateboarding.

Got it.

I can do that one after the band.

Sent at 12:03 PM on Thursday

me: will I got to go to lunch and after lunch I will be mite be back ok

Will: Okay.

Have a good lunch.

me: you are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:]

Will: hahahahaha

Thanks.

I think you're pretty awesome too.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

me: see you later bye dude

Will: Bye

This conversation made Joe's day. He was bragging all day about how he got to talk to Will. It was awesome and I am so glad for modern technology to allow this 5 minute conversation to happen and make the day of one of my students.

September's TOP TEN list

I never thought I would like 5th grade as much as I do. I was so attached to my 6th graders, and yet this year has been the best year of my teaching career.

This is my SEPTEMBER top 10 WONDERFUL things about 5th grade:

1. I have 22 girls and 12 boys. This you would think makes for a lot of drama. But instead my room just smells better, and I get to see a lot of really cute cute outfits everyday.
2. Reading: they love to be read to, and I love reading to them. It is awesome. They love comics, which makes Will super excited.
3. They are still young enough to get excited about earning tickets. They are like gold.
4. I have the BEST mother helpers. They threw me a huge surprise birthday party last week, and help me each day during CENTER time. I couldn't ask for anything more!
5. I don't have to deal with "who likes who"...yet...
6. I work with THE BEST team - BLYTHE BUSH is an intern from UVU and she is awesome. We work so well together, finish each others thoughts, and just have such a great time.
7. KALEI ATAGI is my aid. I get to work with one of my best friends each day. That ROCKS!
8. I have found out why I love teaching again.
9. I can ring a little bell, and instantly they get quiet. Pure joy right there!
10. I don't have to write sub plans once a week because I am NOT the Literacy Coordinator at Canyon Crest this year.

I am sure that October's TOP TEN will be even better!

Here are some pictures from the last month in Mrs. Strong's 5th grade classroom:

My Surprise Birthday Party

Each week Will designs writing prompts and my students love them. These pictures are of them working on their "Treehouse" designs. Check Will's site for more information about these creative writing prompts.

Fall is for Football

This past Friday night was Timpview Highschool's Homecoming game. Will and I went to the game. I saw a lot of past students. My first class of kids are now Juniors in high school. I am feeling older and older.
But the best part of the night was when a group of my cute 5th graders ran up to me and gave me a huge hug! I love my 10 year old students!

Introducing Mrs. Strong's 5th grade class of 2010-2011

My new 5th grade classroom

After about a month of work in a classroom that was a disaster I have created with LOTS of help the following classroom:







I have a lot of people to thank. But Will is the person who has been the largest supporter of my room. He again created my name tags for my students - MONSTERS of course - and also was there to deal with the heat, no AC, and the smell this whole summer. Thank you William I love you!
Go to Will's blog to see more about his art and the wonderful things that are happening in his life.

Doorstep Surprise

Sometimes you get a surprise on your doorstep - Flowers and Candy. The best kind of surprise. Also the best when you know the person who dropped the surprise off at your door. Thank you Tanei for listening to the spirit and making my day brighter.

Delta, Utah

Can you believe there are places in the United States where people live in a beautiful area with hardly any people, and no Target in site? Believe it. On Monday will and I attended a lovely funeral for Katie Strong's Mother-in-law. It was a great service and I was so glad that I went and felt the spirit. There were moments where I found myself drifting off into a sea of memories from my own Mother's funeral a year ago.

The Funeral was in Delta, Utah. About 90 minutes South West of Provo. On our way to Delta I told Will that I had to take pictures of the cute little towns that you would pass on what is known as "the loneliest highway in America."

All about Nohea

Cutest girl is the world - no one compares. This picture is dark. She was LOVING the sprinklers. It was adorable, she would run up to them scream and then laugh and run away. The video is kinda showing that, but more just showing how darn cute she is!

Franken-stuff

Will has been designing, making, and stuffing what he calls Franken-stuffs for months now. He is so talented at making these adorable plush toys. I am going to post a few pictures here, but you should check out Will's Blog for more information and also the names of each Franken-stuff.

Here is the photo shoot:

July 2010 is done and gone

July 2010 went by so fast - way to fast. I can't believe that I go back to teaching full time in a short 3 weeks. I need another 2 months at least...

July has been really busy in the Strong house. Will had his final BFA show and reception on July 20th. It was wonderful and so many people came to support and see Will's illustrations and stuffed animals. (Jennifer Heldenbrand and her husband Dave took pictures for us and as soon as I get them I will post them)

I have been starting to get my classroom moved, set up, cleaned, and organized for the new school year. My new 5th classroom was a disaster. It was left in a horrible condition and made me even more frustrated that I am having to move grades. But Will's parents were wonderful and helped me start the massive clean out. Will also came in this week and helped me put up boards and get the ugly orange walls covered. There is still a lot of work to be done but at least I have started...

One JOY in my life is my friends, who have turned into family. I love them all so much. Every Sunday we have "family" dinner and for the record WE CAN COOK. We cook really good food and desserts. It is AMAZING!

Here are some pictures from July with more to come of the Art Show ASAP.
Happy August to everyone!Will thought he would CONQUER the Rice Krispie treat. He made no joke like 5 batches of different types of treats.

Sunday Dinner's at the Wyatt's can be very crazy but oh so much fun. This is a fruit bowl Will and I brought one Sunday, and this was not the best part of the meal. We always have some type of amazing meat, sides, dessert, and of course entertainment.
The Entertainment this week was the burning of Jake's old ratty shirt that he has worn non stop since well like FOREVER. It had pit stains that could not come out, and was so see threw he always had to wear another shirt under it. Jake I love you, but the shirt will not be missed.

Nohea - Cutest baby in the world. I am teaching her how to say Spider Man. She is just so much fun, and so darn cute.
She makes every ones life happier just by being allowed to watch her grow up. Setting up the Show: It was in the main gallery at the BYU HFAC. Thanks to everyone who helped make cookies, help Will get his art hung up properly on the way (with the proper equation to hang the pictures), and of course for the love and support.


Jason and Nohea

And that is July 2010...done and gone.