Five for Funday?...My Motivation for Summer Reading!

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It’s Five for Friday a little bit late (ok, maybe A LOT late!).  Let's call it Five for Funday! 

There have been many things keeping me busy this week and I am behind on reading my favorite blogs.  Not to mention that I missed helping out some awesome blogging buddies and their giveaways happening right now!  

You have to check out all FOUR DAYS of the amazing Sabra’s giveaway at Teaching with a Touch of Twang:

and the wonderful Jessica at Literacy Spark's 200 follower giveaway:

 

I wish I haven’t been out of the loop for the past couple weeks but you know how it is…end of the school year (last day was Friday…YAY!!...although I will be back in Tuesday to try and organize what I didn’t get done!), two little kids, and more extended family health issues. My husband’s grandfather passed away Firday night. He was 83 years young and we just loved him.  My husband and I lived in the apartment in the second floor of his house for four years when we were first together.  Our favorite pastime was eating dinner with them (just about every night) and then playing pinochle with grandma and grandpa (grandma passed a couple years ago).  He will be so missed but we know that he is no longer suffering.

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching to share some of the "happy happenings" of my week!  These are not really related to teaching but they are my "main events":)  I will be back more this week with some educational stuff you may actually be able to use!

My daughter had her dance recital last weekend.  There were shows Saturday and Sunday night and just about a full week of rehearsals at night prior to that.  She had so much fun and all the girls did such a great job!  Although it was a fun time, it was also exhausting (you KNOW what I mean, dance moms!J).  She has now come down with a cold and fever which seems to always happen after dance recital week.

Monday was a full day of school and then Tuesday I took a personal day to go with my daughter’s class to the zoo.  We had so much fun.  Our good friends have two girls and one of them is in Lilly’s class.  They discovered that they all had the same dress and decided to wear them that day!

The students last day was Wednesday and this is what my living room looked like on Tuesday night:

Yep, it was a LATE night!  I was so lucky that my husband helped with a couple things!  I will be writing a post about some of the end of year “Made Its” on Monday so I can link up with the fabulous Tara at 4^th Grade Frolics!!!

On Thursday, I took a half personal day in the morning to see my daughter graduate Kindergarten….SNIFF, SNIFF!  The real tear jerker was when they sang:

“I’ll love you forever.

I’ll like you for always.

As long as I’m living,

Your baby I'll be.” 

Oh my goodness!!  I didn’t even have a Kleenex ready!  What was I thinking?!?

Here she is in her cap and gown:

Here is the whole family of four:)

When school was out for the summer on Friday some of my colleagues and I drove to have lunch at the beach (on Lake Erie) and toured this house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright named Graycliff!  It was absolutely gorgeous and is in its 4^th stage of renovation now.  I will have to go back when they finish the restoration (stage 5 will be the inside).  What a great way to end the school year!

Since my summer has officially begun, I can't wait to dig into some of my summer professional reading.  I am participating in two book studies this summer and, I don't know about you, but forcing myself to be accountable by doing a book study is good motivation to get into gear!!  This is a great way for teachers to motivate each other and share ideas over the summer.  I am linking up with my BBB Joanne at Head Over Heels for Teaching for her weekly Spark Student Motivation Linky that she hosts every Saturday!  Be sure to check out some other ways teachers and students are motivated!

I just started reading "Guided Math" and am participating in a book study with my girl, Tina, from Croft's Classroom!  It is amazing so far and I can't wait to read more.  Tina will be starting this book study the week this week!

I am also participating in the wonderful Sabra's (Teaching with a Touch of Twang) book study on  Word Nerds!

I also can't wait to read Aimee Buckner's Notebook Connections: Strategies for the Reader's Notebook.  that arrived this week.  Last summer I read her Notebook Know-How: Strategies for the Writer's Notebook.

Are you participating in any book studies over the summer?  

Check back tomorrow for my link up with Monday Made It! :)