Fun Stuff

     This is the time of year when teachers can start to get cranky. Let's face it folks, the year has been long. Spring has sprung, and the laundry list of things to accomplish before summer seems to get longer and longer. I would be remiss if I forgot to mention the wait to be given a contract. Even when there is no evident reason to worry about having a job next year, until that paper is in hand, it never feels like a given. In light of all this, I offer up some fun ideas for you after one little boy inspired me. 

    Who doesn't like a fitness challenge?: (You don't have to answer that.)

     O.K.- I like fitness challenges. It is one way to help me pick one small and healthy thing to focus on since the rest of my life is so busy and it gets pushed to the end of the priority list. So as of this morning, I have chosen a 30 day push-up challenge. Why- you might ask? Well, because I challenged a student the other day to accomplish a goal by the end of the year. In all fairness, I felt like I should be challenged too. So, he came back to me with a challenge  to do 1,000 push ups by the end of April or perhaps picking up a car. (I think his teacher put him up to this, since she knows I try to keep in shape.) 

    There is NO WAY I can do 1,000 push-ups by the end of April and not because I couldn't give it the old college try, but I know that my shoulders couldn't handle that. But, what I can do is start preparing for something along those lines and re-visit the old push-ups. I'd like to wow him with a "feat of strength" of some sort for an older teacher. If anyone has an idea of what would look really cool, but not kill me- send it along! Stay tuned on how well I am doing in this challenge. 

    How about a reading or writing challenge? 

    Maybe you need your students to get motivated to finish strong in either reading or writing this year. Perhaps you can help them to do that by either offering up a challenge with another adult (you, if that works) or another student. Read a certain number of short chapter books. Write a hand written letter a week to another person in your family. You could even choose a student to write back and forth with  each week. Other ideas: Journal every day for the month of May. Memorize a long poem or important speech. This doesn't need to bee a class wide project, but can be used to help a student in need or that you know could use a boost. Something to consider anyway. 

    The long and the short of it is that from now to the end of the year we need to stay positive and focus on fun things to get us through. So, think about something that you love to do, or like to do, or have always wanted to do, and add it to the top of your priority list. 

What kinds of things will you do to have fun for the rest of the school year? Do you have any ideas for fellow teachers? Let's hear them! 

Happy Fun Friday! 

PS- I did 15 Modified push-ups this morning in my bathrobe and pajamas.