End of Year: Mother's Day, Graduation & Memorial Day

"The days are long and the years are short." 

-- Gretchen Rubin 

Have you contemplated this quote for a while?

Or is it as new to you as it is to me? 

I get it. I understand it. 

Ms. Rubin's thoughts were in response to parenting, 

but I think that they apply equally well to teaching. 

How can we be coming to the end of another school year? 

The days are indeed long....

but wow!

That year was especially SHORT!

Have you ever pulled into your garage, turned off the car and then fallen asleep sitting right there behind the steering wheel? 

Raise your hand if you can identify.

Spring always means school visits for me. 

End-of-year festivities. 

Author-Illustrator presentations galore.

And plenty of conference workshops, 

the occasional keynote and TRAVEL galore!!! 

There's nothing like a spontaneous group hug, 

from a totally new group of students, 

to make you want to pinch yourself and squeal! 

But now it is officially May. 

The end is in sight.

It is time to consider how to conclude the year in good order.

I have been gathering up a collection of little good-bye poems. 

Here are several that could be applicable for you to use.

These are all sufficiently sweet and appropriate. 

They inspired me for certain. 

I decided I would try my hand at writing my own little poem. 

Here's how it turned out. 

You have my permission to print it, 

and sign your name to the bottom. 

Here's a clever decorated classroom door. 
Perfect to review the year in a glance.

Two of the songs that I have written are truly perfect for your EOY celebration. 

Every year I hear from oodles of teachers using them.

"You're Wonderful" is the sentimental favorite: self-esteem!!!! 

"Red, White and Blue" is also being used for patriotic flair.

Both are typically performed using sign language. 

My songs and books are available at TeachersPayTeachers

I just received these next images on FB. 

It is such a thrill to learn that I was chosen as the featured author, 

for the spring Art show in preschool. 

This first beauty was made in response to my picture book, 

"You're Wonderful"  

{look in the lower left corner to see it by the bulletin board.}

This is the first time in my memory that the self esteem message of my song & book combo, was extended to the creation of three dimensional 'portrait' sculptures. 

Take a look at these custom hats! 

When I make my school visits, I bring my quilts

that I design and sew --- 

which we have scanned for my picture book illustrations. 

For the last two years I've volunteered with our church

at an after school tutoring program with the BIG kids. 

They appreciated meeting a 'REAL' author, too! 

BEFORE graduation rolls around, 

you're going to need to get some Mother's Day love created. 

Here are some quick thoughts.

 

And finally some inspiration for Memorial Day! 

Again. My work is available at my own website and at TpT. 

Our crazy adventure over at Wobble Seat.com continues to gather steam and get traction, in the whole #AlternativeSeating movement. 

We distribute these rocking stools that can be ordered in 10" and 12" and 14" and 20" sizes. 

For most PreK + K children 12" would be best.