Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run is an AWESOME organization that works with 3rd through 8th grade girls on self-esteem and self-confidence.  While working on these things, the girls train to run their first 5k.  If I wasn't teaching, I would work in some way for this organization (or, be a professional organizer...I digress.)  I wanted to be a coach at my school, but it would be very expensive for our girls to participate because the fee is based off of the economic status of the community.


Although I can not participate in the organization as a coach, I can volunteer!  This June, I volunteered at the Girls on the Run 5k in Chicago.  It is one of the largest ones the hold.  I was a "running buddy" with a 3rd and 4th grade girl and loved every minute of it.  It was so much fun and a great experience to watch them accomplish their goal!

 My girls I ran with.

 The other running buddies that volunteered for the school we were with.

We did it!

Marathon, again!

I wanted to show you two photos from one of my marathon runs.  I meet a group Saturday mornings at Montrose Beach to run.  It's always a great view!

Marathon Update

Well, I am about a month into MARATHON training.  Is it fun?  Yes and no.  Is it hard?  Yes.  Do you like running in the heat? NO!  The heat would be the worst part.  It makes you just feel like you have zero mojo.  I have never been a summer runner.  Throw in a bad knee and then you have an awesome combo.  I will get through it though!  I went to a kick off session and met the one and only Hal Higdon.  If you know anything about running, he is a superstar!

Shower Cakes

If you know me well, you know I love being crafty.  You also know that I love pinterest.  Well, I have combined the two and began making bridal shower "towel cakes."  I made the first one with some friends for a shower I threw and the second one for my future sister-in-law.  I can not wait to have another excuse to make one...and to try out a diaper cake!

More Love Letters

I received these love letters from some of my girls at the end of the school year.  I throw most of my notes away (I know...I'm horrible!) but I have started taking pictures of some of them.  One day I got a few that I totally loved.  Enjoy!

 Totally cannot figure out how to turn these...

"Dear Mrs. Barnett you are very nice.  I wish that we never had to go to second grade.  I am so sad I totally wish we could stay."

 "Dear Mrs. Barnett you are the best teacher ever!  I wish I could stay with you!  Thank you for teaching us!"

 "Dear Miss B.  I will miss you on summer break.  My heart is going to break.  I will miss you (look on the back)"

"Dear Mrs. B. I will miss you.  I will miss you during summer.  I love how you teach.  I love you."

50 Shades

Did you read the books?  I loved them soo much and I am not afraid to admit it.  I just wish Christian Grey was real!

Chicks

Please forgive me if I have already written about our classroom chicks.  I went through my past posts and did not see any.  I hate to not tell you about these cute things!


We had a new enrichment teacher this year that is WONDERFUL!  She is up for anything and everything.  One day we were talking and we realized that we each wanted to hatch chicks in the classroom, so we decided to make it happen.  We got our school to approve buying all the equipment which included the eggs and the incubator.  We kept the incubator in her room so that grades K - 3 could participate.


We did a lot of fun learning with the chicks and my class was in charge of blogging about them everyday.  The chicks were in their eggs for 21 days, and then were supposed to hatch.  Well, the time came and we thought they may hatch on a weekend.  Someone came to check on them because there are all these procedures to do.  No chicks.  Monday came, no chicks.  Tuesday came, no chicks.  Wednesday came and we thought we had all goners.  I began to prep my class (as I had been doing all along) for the fact that they were not going to hatch.  BUT THEN, my friend Ali came running in because she heard chirping and a tiny hole had cracked on one egg.  You have no idea what proud Mommies we became.  It was a slow slow process, but eventually we saw more cracks and the first one hatched!!


Unfortunately, I was super sick and could not come to school on Thursday when most of them were hatching.  I did get many updates throughout the day and was not sad to miss the ones that did not make it.


I could go on and on, but I think I have written too much.  It was SUCH an amazing experience!!