100th Post

I never imagined I would reach over 300 followers when I began this endeavor a little over 8 months ago.  And here today I am posting for the 100th time!  It's amazing.

For this special post I have an announcement!

No I am not pregnant, or dying, or anything like that.

I kind of look pregnant because I've been sitting around eating chocolate and designing my new blog for my blog design business.

Here for the first time ever...

The Honey Bunch Blog Design

The amazing Misty from Think, Wonder, & Teach is working with me in this little endeavor.  She helps people find perfect elements for their blog design which frees me up to focus on the design process.

And then, we have the talented 3 AM Teacher, Michelle, creating custom design elements for us as needed to ensure that each client gets a design that is uniquely theirs.  She created the adorable smarty pants for Ms. Smarty Pants blog.  You've got to see them.

Best of all, we are having fun and making new friends in the process.

I hope you'll come check us out and see what you think.

And if you are looking for new blog digs please consider us.

Winner, Winner, Time for Dinner!

Just a quick post to announce the winner of the Starbuck's gift card.  Then I'm off to eat dinner...not chicken though!

Thank you to all of you who entered my giveaway.  I wish I could afford to buy you all a coffee and then we could sit and chat for literally hours!

Yeah, yeah, get on with it, I know!

I will send you an email anash and get your address so I can mail your card tomorrow!  Congratulations!!

Story Map Freebie

Here is a story map freebie for you to enjoy on this beautiful almost spring day!

Just click on the picture and grab it from my TN shop.

Don't forget today is the last day to enter my giveaway for a $25 Starbuck's gift card.

I created a new logo for my blog design.  I'd love to know what you think.

Subjects & Predicates Freebie

I went to bed the other night and a song popped into my head about subjects and predicates.  So naturally I grabbed the phone and made a quick voice recording so I wouldn't forget the tune or words.

I don't even try to whisper or hide it from the hubs anymore.

He knows I'm nuts and loves me anyway!

It isn't going to be on Billboards Top 10 (or 100 for that matter) and you won't see me or Adele performing it on the Grammy's but it's easy and to the point which is what my kids need.

If you'd like a copy click on the picture and you can snag it for free from my TN shop.

And if you do decide you can use it please leave me a little thanks.

And don't forget to enter my giveaway for a $25 Starbuck's gift card before Saturday midnight.  You can enter by clicking here.

Giveaway #1 & Awards

Yippeee!  In my week-long absence I've gone slightly past 300 followers and received a plethora of awards.
Actually two probably doesn't count as a plethora, but I did get those two awards from a plethora of people.  So that counts.

Plus, I just love that word, plethora!
It reminds me of one of my favorite students, a boy with Asperger's who had an amazing vocabulary and a true love for words.
This young man taught his classmates words like brackish and plethora in a way that I never could have.

So, on to the giveaway.

As mentioned before I am giving away a $25 Starbuck's gift card to one lucky person.

Here's how to enter:
1)  Follow my blog.  (1 comment)
2)  Blog about this giveaway.  (2 comments - be sure to leave a link to your post)

That's it!
Do one or both it doesn't matter to me.

Giveaway ends on Saturday, March 17 at midnight mountain time.
The winner will be announced on Sunday.

Now onto the awards.

I was gifted with two wonderful awards by some amazing bloggers.
A few of these bloggers are new to the bloggy world so please show them your love by checking them out.

I received this lovely from Rebecca at Teaching First, Michelle The 3am Teacher, Krista of Stellar Students, Chrissy at Buzzing with Ms. B, Vicky from Traditions, Laughter and Happily Ever After, and Chrissy at Read Write Sing Kindergarten.

The rules for this award are to:

1. Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.

2. Pass the award on to 15 other lovely bloggers.

3. Follow the person who sent it to you.

I am passing the "One Lovely Blog Award" on to these blogs (which are new to me):

Brenda

Tiff at Family of Educators

Courtney at 2nd Grade Snapshots

Barb of It's About Time Teachers

Mrs. K.

Jessica

rk at dear wellington

Pam at My Second Home

Ms. Jordan

Kayla

Sandra

Kris

Ms. Pretzel

Patricia at Primary Practice

Keri

This little award came from Latricia at Wild About Second Grade, Jessica from Glitzy in 1st Grade, and Marissa of WILD About First Grade.
,

Now I get to pick my top ten blogs.

Not easy to just pick ten.

Here they are in no particular order.

Kristin at A Teeny Tiny Teacher

Chrissy at Buzzing with Ms. B.

Kristen at Ladybug's Teacher Files

Kelley at Buggy for Second Grade

Stacy at 2nd Grade Paradise

Jennifer at Herding Kats in Kindergarten

Holly at Crisscross Applesauce

Laurie at Chickadee Jubilee

Courtney at Swimming into Second

Haley at Following Optimism

Now if you've stuck with me this long, thank you very much!

Don't forget to enter my little giveaway.

(If you're like me lately you can use all the caffeine you can get your hands on.)

300 Followers - Oh My!

Never in a gazillion years did I think I'd reach 300 followers!

Well, technically, I haven't yet . . . but I am soooo close!

Especially amazing when I feel like I haven't put anything really creative on here in a long time.

Erika you are not worthy!!

I have this story I've alluded to many times in other posts and everyone I know and love says this is their favorite story from my "past".

I've anguished over posting this story.
I can tell it with great effect and suspense in person.

But I've worried about how it will come across in written form.

I'm know Teeny Tiny Teacher, let me tell you!

But today, in honor or nearing 300 followers, I have decided to give it a go.
Much like I tell my kiddos.
Just do your best.
It's okay if you don't know, but not okay if you don't try.

So I'm giving it a try.

A long time ago, when I was a new teacher, before cell phones and internet were commonplace, I taught second grade in a reservation school.

Yes, that long ago!

In fact some of you younguns wouldn't believe it but the first cell phones were like the size of a backpack!  Not convenient at all let me tell you.  Of course no one could afford one but Don Johnson.  And if you don't get that you can't fathom the phones either.

So back to the story.

I had a rough class.
About half in special ed or title services.
Most qualified for free lunches.
Many just wanted to sit on my lap and get loved.
Little ones would ask what a wedding ring was while looking at mine.
Kids asked if we slept in the car when we went on a trip.

Yeah, it was rough.

It was also rough because of all the behavior issues.
I had a kid bring a loaded gun to school.
Some of my students regularly hid in the park bushes after school and beat up older kids.

But in spite of all that I had some darlings that will always hold special places in my heart.

One day I was sitting at my desk working one-on-one with a little darling named Julian.
Julian was an angel faced little American Indian boy who the bad boys always tried to woo to their side.  Fortunately at that time they didn't stand a chance because Julian didn't have a mean or naughty bone in his body.

My desk was by one of only two windows so that I could enjoy the sun and fresh breeze when possible.

On this particular day in the middle of our work, Julian stopped and gazed at me with his big, beautiful, brown eyes in wonder.

Lost in a dream it seemed.

Then he said, "Ya know Mrs. Schaff,"
pause

"When the light hits you just right,"
longer pause

As this cherub stares at me I am thinking to myself . . .
he is going to tell me how beautiful I am . . .

(Remember people I was a new teacher,
young,
thin,
fresh,
thin,
niave.

Julian blinks and smiles before going on.

"When the light hits you just right,

it

looks

like

you

have

a

mustache."

Smile, dimples glimmer, blink, bat the eyelashes.

OMG!  I have a mustache?!

What?!

Is this kid ill, insane?

No, this is one of my angels.

Picture me on my first break running to the teacher's bathroom to inspect.  Shooting past the principal who wants to ask me an important question.
No sorry, it's an emergency.  Gotta go!

Sure there is some fuzz.
Okay.
But a 'stache.
I think not.

Duck out of the bathroom and hightail it to the teacher's lounge and ask everyone I trust to check it out.
Honest opinions please.
We all know kids don't lie.

Next time I'm at the salon I have a serious discussion with the stylist about waxing.
She'll do whatever I want (of course and charge me) although my fuzz is blonde colored so it's up to me.

Long story short.
I've been waxing ever since.

The therapy for the emotional trauma is way more expensive than waxing, let me tell you people.

I'd like to see this little big boy man today and see if he still thinks I've got a 'stache!
Ah, heck, he'd probably just notice that my eyebrows are growing in places they shouldn't be now.

It stinks getting old is all I could say.

(Now you all know why I didn't care to win Farley's adorable mustache stamp . . . too many bad memories . . . don't go there!  And the hair phobia . . . don't get me started!)

BTW, when I reach 300 I'll be having a giveaway for a $25 Starbucks gift card!