Author Julie Rubini on Hidden Ohio and your chance to WIN!

Last Thursday was fantastic!  I had a sub at school so I could fulfill my Presidential duties and host The Toledo Area Council of the International Reading Association's annual Spring Author Festival.  It was AMAZING!  More than 300 students came through our morning sessions with the author...Woot, Woot!  Our special guest author was none other than Julie Rubini, a local celebrity here in T-Town.  She is a wife, mother of 3, city council member, and a published author!  She is also the founder of Claire's Day.  This is a beautiful book festival event held the third Saturday in May each year at the local Maumee Branch Library.  It began 12 years ago, in memory of her daughter Claire who died of a rare bone disease. Her daughter LOVED reading and Julie and her husband Brad continue to honor that celebration of reading each year at Claire's Day.  I was so fortunate to hear about this treasured author from my best friend Angie, who is a principal nearby that has worked with Julie at Claire's Day.  The best part of Claire's Day is that teachers are able to nominate one student from their classroom who may be below benchmark in reading but has shown improvement, growth and enthusiasm for reading over the course of the year.  I have one such student that is receiving a C.A.R.E. Award next Saturday!  I am tickled pink and couldn't be more proud!  To read more about Claire's Day, click here.

(from left to right) TACIRA's president-elect (Julie Greenberg, Author Julie Rubini, TACIRA President Julie Marciniak)  

3 Julie's! That's awesome!

Julie has since published her first book, Hidden Ohio, an amazing tell-all about our fabulous state!
This book is perfect for intermediate students but also a treasure to primary students for it's Hidden pictures and fun facts about local treasures in our town!

More than 300 students had the pleasure of listening to the author share her fact-findings she included in the book.  After that, students went off on a Nature Walk to explore Wildwood Metro Park.  One amazing stop along the way is this historic school house!  How awesome to see what it was like back in the day to teach and learn in a one room schoolhouse!

Right outside the Pavilion doors, children coming back from their nature walk and having lunch outside....  GLORIOUS day!

The author brought this fabulous "Hidden Ohio" basket filled with goodies made here in Ohio.  It was raffled off to one lucky teacher!

Another AMAZING raffle for one lucky teacher was this fab pink tote filled to the gills with back to school supplies from the ABC CENTER here in Toledo.  Check out the cute SOCK MONKEY theme!!  LOVING it!!!

I couldn't resist purchasing an extra "autographed copy" of Hidden Ohio thinking it would make a perfect giveaway to one of my lucky followers!  If you are interested, enter the rafflecopter down below.

It was an honor serving as President this year of a literacy organization that has touched so many lives.  

Promoting literacy and getting kids and teachers excited about new authors and new books is what I love to do.  I feel so blessed to have been apart of TACIRA and I hope that more teachers like you reach out and find networks in your communities that serve such great causes. 
We are always busy... Crazy schedules, hectic lives, but when it comes to fostering literacy, and nurturing a passion for reading, nothing is more important.
xoxo,

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother's Day Galore on this 5 for Friday!

Five for Friday on Saturday!

#1

Mother's Day Handprint Bouquets

#2

Mother's Day Message in a Bottle

#3

Mother's Day Gift Envelope

I had my parent helper fold 12x18 sheets of construction paper and staple to make these easy folder-envelopes to present to Mom!

First we decorated....

 We took out all our Mother's Day gifts...

And placed them neatly inside the envelope.

I think the Moms are going to be so excited!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

#4

Grandma Rose

Do you have a special reader that comes in each week and reads to your class?  I have Grandma Rose.  She has been such a delight to have this year and the kids adore her so much.

#5

Is it really the Quietest Pencil Sharpener???

I had to test this out for myself to see what all the fuss was about....

 Can this be true?  

A sharpener that is quiet as mouse,

that sharpens so magnificently?

 I will admit, it looks pretty, the kids were loving the color and boy did it get attention when my little Miss gave it a run for it's money....

 My mouth was hanging open,

stunned when she was turning the knob...  

Not a peep.

And within seconds, I mean seconds,

look at how sharp her pencil was!!!

After years of loud, obnoxious electric pencil sharpers...

After years of paying a small fortune on replacing those electronic sharpeners....

This hand-cranked modern marvel has my stamp of approval in Room 102!

Troy, your product is AMAZING!

Why did it take me 11 years of teaching to find you???

My kids were the quietest they have been in months,

listening to hear for any noises that the sharpener would make...

It was hilarious, but seriously, you could have heard a pin drop!

Friends, add this to your back-to-school supply list and pass the good word.  MUST HAVE item for any teacher!

Click here or on the image to visit Classroom Friendly Supplies.

And, THANK YOU Troy for saving my sanity!  Your product is amazing!

Another special thanks to Doodle Bugs Teaching for hosting our weekly 5 for Friday linky!

Darling Doors and Visual Plans for May 7

It was just my usual start to a Monday morning...

Dropped my keys in the parking lot,

leaned over to pick them up,

all my bags slide off my arm and empty into the breeze...

Spilled my coffee,

on my toes,

and new sandals....

As I turned the key in my door, I realized something was very different...

Something very stinkin cute just totally made my day!

 There was the balloons "You're so Special!"

A gorgeous pot of tulips with the sweetest note!

A big, scrumptious Hershey bar and family-size box of Nerds!

And my door, decorated in frogs (which is my favorite animal in the whole, wide world!!)

I was so darn excited after that, I forgot all about the fact my toes were sticky from coffee and I grabbed the iPad to run around the building and grab some pics of all the teacher doors!  

 This is amazing, right?!!  Some very sweet parents came in on Sunday and decorated our doors for us!  Now that, totally makes me feel appreciated!  Thank you Mrs. B and to all my parents who have had made this year such a blessing!  xoxo

And, I'm not done!  Would you look at the size of this bear claw just waiting for me inside!!!!

My principal wanted to start the morning off for us with a "sweet treat"!  

Can you say, YUM, YUM!!!

So after an amazingly lovely first day of teacher appreciation week, I leave you with a peek at the rest of my week!

You can click here if you would like to download a copy for yourself!

Don't forget tomorrow is #TeacherTalkTuesday!

And,

my shopping cart is full with 161 dollars worth of teacher goodness!

TPT or bust tomorrow!  YAY!

Wishing you a very sweet and very lovely

teacher appreciation week!

xoxo,