It's My {Bloggy} Birthday!

Two years ago I started this blog on a whim.

Well actually, it was two years ago yesterday, but I'm posting this today due to the Bright Ideas link up from yesterday. June 21 is actually my most favorite day of the year, and not just because it's my bloggy birthday. It's midsummer-- the longest day of the year. I just love all the sunshine we get today! I worked at a living history museum while in college and a few years after, and we always celebrated midsummer with good friends, live music, and tasty foods and beverages. I have such happy memories of midsummer :)

Anyway... It's my Bloggy Birthday!

I am forever grateful to all of the friendships I've made while on this journey and all of the classroom/teaching ideas and inspirations that have come from this whole experience. Thank you SO much to each and every one of you... you really know how to make a girl feel special :)

To celebrate, I thought I'd share how I celebrate birthdays in my classroom. I love making a big deal out of students' birthdays. I think it builds classroom community as well as self-esteem for the birthday person. I've also included a freebie for you!

First, the birthday person gets to sit in my special teacher chair. This is a big deal, because NOBODY sits in my chair!

Don't mind the mess. This pic was snapped on the second to last day of school!

Next we all sing to the birthday person. I ask a very important question before we start: do they want the Birthday Song with cha chas or with no cha chas? Personally, I'm not a fan of cha chas in the Birthday Song, but I know the kids love it, so whatever...

Next I ask the birthday person... If you could have anything in the world for your birthday, what would it be? I like to encourage outrageous things :) I write down the list of potential birthday presents. Here's an example of one student's list:
I've gotten lots of fun present ideas in the past: a mansion, a pool, a limo, a unicorn... and of course some realistic presents: iPod/iPad, Lego sets, American Girl doll, etc. I will also ask for favorite colors, because we will be making a birthday book and we need to know how to decorate the birthday page!

Then the birthday person will choose a helper or two to pass out birthday treats. I encourage healthy snacks, in accordance to my district's policy, but birthdays only come once a year, so I really don't mind if a parent sends in 24 cupcakes :) They will go wash hands while everyone else starts making the birthday book.

Each student gets a page. They will choose a gift or two to "give" to the birthday person. They write first, making sure it's a complete sentence, then draw a picture of the gift and decorate the rest of the page. Here are some examples.
One of my pet peeves is that I don't like it when kids start eating the snack before everyone has one. It's just not good etiquette. So they are not allowed to eat until we make sure everyone who wanted a treat got one. Then the birthday person announces that they can eat, and we all say "thank you" as a class. After all, we are here to celebrate a birthday, not to get free food from the birthday person... :)

I forgot to take a picture of the final birthday book product, but I will take all the pages, add a front and back color with construction paper (or you could use card stock) in the color of the birthday person's choice, bind it with the comb binder in the teacher work room, and write "Happy Birthday (student's name)!" on the cover.

I've made the birthday page an editable freebie for you! There are four options: 6 candles, 7 candles, 8 candles, or 9 candles. Yes, I do make sure I have the right number of candles for each child. I'm pretty sure the kids don't even notice, but it makes me happy :) All you have to do is type in the student's name in the last balloon. If you have Hello Fonts, I used HelloHandMeDown; otherwise, just use what you have :)

Click on the pic for the freebie! Make sure you click the black arrow in the upper left corner of Google Drive to download the file to your computer. When you click on it, it should automatically open PowerPoint, and you can edit from there :)

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! I just treated myself to a blog makeover! RUN, don't walk, over to Megan at A Bird in Hand Designs and get yourself on her waiting list. She is incredibly talented, easy to work with, affordable, fast, and in general, and an all-around awesome person! You won't regret it!!!

Thanks again for joining me on my blogging journey! Here's to the next year!