Summer Wrap UP

How can it already be time for another school year?  I think the older I get the faster my summer seems to go by.  With that all being said, it has been a pretty incredible summer.  Here is a quick highlight.


1. I went parasailing for the first time in my life.

I did this adventure with my mom.

It was a blast!

2. As a family we took a vacation to Washington state and then traveled to Glacier Park.  The scenery was beyond breathtaking.

One of the many beautiful landscapes I was able to photograph on our vacation.

3. I did a lot of running and ran a few races.

My running buddy Marie and I.

4.  We had many days hanging out with family and friends.

Hanging out with my Family.  Love summer days filled with fun and laughter.

5.  We got a puppy.

Meet Boomer!  He is an Irish Wolfhound.

Now it is time for me to get back to work.  I have done some set up in my Middle School classroom.

Opening up new supplies.

And setting up bulletin boards.  I tweaked this idea from the one I found on Pinterest. 

My new classroom at the Elementary School is coming along, but I am still waiting for all the things I packed at the end of the year to be brought over to the new school.  I was able to unpack and do an inventory of the new supplies I ordered. It is still hard to believe that I will have a brand new classroom this year.  So exciting!

My mom helping me put paint in my new cabinets.

Tomorrow is my first official day back at school (inservice days) and as usual, there will be a ton to do before our students come in on September 1st.  Looking forward to seeing all the children and hearing about their own summer adventures.

New Classroom!

Cabinets are in place!

Summer School Bugs

Grades 1-4
Two Class Periods
Summer School Lesson

Grades 1-4, Summer Bugs

Day 1:
The first day of this lesson, students spent examining numerous photographs of insects.  To fit for the time period of this summer school lesson, I provided students with a drawing bug idea worksheet. Students could pick one of the bugs off of the worksheet to draw, use the photographs provided to help them draw, or rely on their imagination to draw their insect.

Drawing the bug with pencil.

After the bugs were drawn with pencil, students used black glue to outline their buggy creations.

Outlining bug with black glue.

Day 2:
Students used chalk pastels to color their bugs.  Some tips and techniques were discussed for chalk pastels in the beginning of class.

Coloring composition with chalk pastel.

The last few minutes of class, we went outside and sprayed our pieces with fixative spray.

Student Examples:

Group Photos:

The Final Goodbye

On June 29th, I packed up the last box in the art room.  It was a funny feeling to say goodbye to a class room that I had for 8 years.  I am very excited for the new adventures that will take place in our new school and in the new art room, but I will always be thankful for all the wonderful art moments that were created and enjoyed in this room.

Packing up the last box.

Last photo of my art room in the old building.

My helpers (family) who helped me pack up the last few boxes.

Now, I wait for the email that states I can move into my new space.  :)

Been very busy wrapping up the school year, packing up my classroom and teaching a couple of days of summer school.  Before I knew it, we were hitting the road on our family summer vacation to Washington state.

Now that we are back, I have realized that it is time to do some catch up on blog posting.  The first things that I want to catch up on our my running adventures.

On May 30th I participated in a 10K at my school.  It was a brisk morning, but once the race began I warmed up quite a bit.

Haley's Comet Run with my cousin, friend and her daughter.

After this race, I decided to have a more spontaneous racing summer.  So I made a plan with myself, that I would not sign up for a race this summer until a couple weeks before the event.  My overall goal is to keep the summer a little more free calendar wise and take off a little racing pressure.  Now when I run, I just run for me.  No worries on the time or number of miles.  Just run for as long as like and as fast as I want.  Which honestly is my personal favorite.

The second race, I just completed this summer took place July 3, 2015.  It was called the Fishy Four. I didn't sign up for it until the night before the race!  This 4 mile race was pretty hilly, but had a beautiful view of the lake in Chetek, WI.  I ran this race in one of my more impressive times for a 4 mile race.  Not bad, considering I am not doing any training for time in my every day running.  I completed it 36:07.  My running buddy was close on my heels with a 36:11.

My friend Marie and I at the Fishy Four race in Chetek, WI.

I have hit summer vacation running and am loving every minute of it!