Okay, I know this should have gone under "Look At Me" around my birthday, but since it all went down at school, I had to tell you guys!

The Highlander and I agreed to not do birthday gifts this year, since my birthday always falls after our summer financial drought (September) and his is always after our Christmas drought (January). So, I went to school on the 27th not really expecting anything.

When I got in, 5 of my kids from LAST year came in with a box of cupcakes they had made AND frosted all by themselves! They sang to me, then had a few younger brothers and sisters holding up a banner they made with all their signatures on it. As I was gushing over how cool it was, one of them went "Ooo, let's get the whole 5th grade to sign it!" So, they held on to that, but made me open my present, which was a little ceramic fairy music box. I noticed she had a spot on her head and asked about it and the ringleader of this little band said, "Yeah, she had a crown that broke off and the knob to the music part is broken. We were kinda hoping you wouldn't notice that because we know you like fairy stuff from your earrings and your trailname (yes, I had made young boxers out of last year's class, too!) :-)

I promptly got teary eyed and said I didn't notice a thing!

I found out later from one of their moms that they had just REMEMBERED my birthday on their own and had been planning what to do about it every since school started this year! For kids who'll just be turning 11 this year, I was REALLY flattered that they remembered after a whole year. We did NOTHING special for my birhtday when they were in my class, so how they knew, I'll never know!

The rest of the day was great, too. The Highlander yelled out of the car that it was my birthday to my principal, who bellowed "Well, the WHOLE SCHOOL'S gonna know NOW!" and proceeded to shout it into every classroom as he walked in and THEN sang to me on the morning announcements and told all the kids to do the same if they saw me. So, I got musical interludes and hurriedly sketched homemade cards all day. My favorite was from one of this year's students, who made me fake money in $1,000,000 denominations. Another girl had colored a cute little purse for me, so I now have it up on my desk as my "retirement fund"! :-)

Yay kids...and Highlanders! ;-)

The (still feeling the love nearly a week later) Sprite and the (still giving her love year 'round) Highlander

Fantastic Story!

About six years ago, I was sitting in a classroom working on plans when my whole second grade crew and their classroom teacher walked in and sang happy birthday to me, then each of the kids gave me a homemade birthday card....yeah that is a nice feeling :-)

I try to encourage the kids not to do much for my b-day, because I don't do much for theirs. I do give them alittle something, just to let them know i remembered. Last year one of my most difficult students MADE SURE that I got flowers for my birthday. I still have the sprig of eucalyptus that was in the arrangement on my shelf...and I kept it until the flowers fell off.

I remember that when he has given me a really hard time, that he is not a bad kid, just difficult at times.

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I try to encourage the kids not to do much for my b-day, because I don't do much for theirs. I do give them alittle something, just to let them know i remembered.

I'm not even THAT good! Someone has to basically TELL me it's the kid's b-day before I remember...and THEN I sing the song as loud and and BADLY as I can to make them laugh. It's my "thing"! ;-)

We have a nice computer porgram that is part of our attendance/gradebook that reminds me a day or two in advance...I cheat.

Our art teacher has a great schtick where he comes in and sings VERY badly, and VERY loudly to whoever has a birthday. We all pretend to hate it;)

Awesome story! 5th graders are the best! That's what grade I teach and I love 'em!

We have a nice computer porgram that is part of our attendance/gradebook that reminds me a day or two in advance...I cheat.

I am the self confessed birthday moron...I never remember birthdays and just tell the kids up front so they know...then we make a big joke out of it when I do remember...a little late.

I need the name of this attendance/gradebook program. We had Aspire last year and lost it due to funding or some other red tape mumbo jumbo. Would love to have another one!

Mama Huntin' and Lovin' Teachin' Dog

It's called powerschool. The system adopted it after last school year....'s ok, there are some things I don't like about it though.

Half way through my first year of teaching, I got pregnant. I was really small, so it took awhile for me to start showing, but once the kids (middle schoolers) found out they were so excited. They threw me a baby shower. It was so sweet!

They threw me a baby shower.

Been there, done that...I was about 8 months pregnant and had to leave to go get my son and take him to Children's to get stitches!!? The principal told me get back after we were done at the hospital if I possbly could and he spilled the beans about the kids' surprise they had planned for me. I had no idea! ANYWAY, luckily my hubby took son home after stitches and I went back, only to get "silly stringed" as I came in the door! Good, good group of kids. They don't make 'em like that anymore! :)

The kids at my five schools all know that I'm getting married during Christmas break this year. It will be interesting to see if the students have anything planned at school the week before break.

Of course, it usually takes them until about March to ask when my birthday is, then it's too late since it's in November....... I only have one student (who's now graduated and is in high school) who remembers since her birthday is on the same day! She usually calls to wish me a happy birthday.

Of course, I'm a wallflower, if they remember, that's fine. If they don't, that's fine too!

Music Woman

The kids at my five schools all know that I'm getting married during Christmas break this year.

When I got married, all of my kids made big signs with my new name on them and put them over every single thing they could find that had my un-married name on them, so when I came back to school there were these big signs everywhere. :) It was really cute. They also made me a big card and asked me a gazillion questions that only 8th graders would ask. (Are you pregnant? That's why people get married, right?)