Friday, May 30, 2014

Five for Friday- Summertime


      I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for another Five for Friday!  This Five for Friday is especially special because it is my first week of summer!  Last Friday was our last day with kiddos and Tuesday we had a workday.  Then HELLO SUMMER!! So here is what I have been up to!

1.  Enjoying the sunshine! We went camping for Memorial Day weekend.  I have been spending a little time each day running, walking, or laying at the pool!  I just love the beautiful weather we have been having!

2.  All Packed up! Tuesday, I managed to scan the rest of my books into a book organizing app, finish report cards online, and get the rest of my room stored away.  (Sorry, I know it is not a great photo.)



3.  Organizing! So this summer is the first summer I am not formally working.  I am using this time to get things done and organized!  I have a binder I created a couple of years ago for first grade, similar to this.  It has each Common Core Reading standard.  Then behind that standard, I put examples of activities I have done.  This helps a TON when planning a new unit.  I can just pull activities and go!  I found this binder cover set a year or so ago and it was easy to edit and create this tool!  I just finished my new third grade binder, last night!


4.  To DO Lists! I don't know about you, but I write everything down or I have to if I want to remember it at least!  So, usually in the summers I create a summer notebook.  I have different to do lists.  This year, I have three to do lists: one- just a normal list of things to do,  two- TpT products, Three-things to create for next year.  As I finish something I just mark it off.  Each day I try to do one thing on my TpT or things for next year list.  This helps me keep working, while still enjoying my summer!

5.  TpT! I have ideas ALL year for TpT products and it just seemed that this year I didn't have the time to get them created.  If you are like me, I create things that I can use in my classroom and that I think others would want to use as well.  So, I created this product for my kiddos this spring when we were learning about figurative language. It is brand new, so go take a look!  If you still have a little time left this school year, it would be a FUN way to review!



If you are still in school, enjoy your last days/weeks!   

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Wordless Wednesday- SUMMER is HERE!




I am linking up with Sugar and Spice for her Wordless Wednesday Linky Party! 


       This is the FIRST summer that I will not be officially working.  I will be working on TpT products, things for next year, and doing a little tutoring, however, I won't officially be working throughout the summer!  
       I plan to spend a lot of time outdoors and enjoy the sunshine! Here's a little pic from my Memorial Day weekend!  Just a preview of my summer (I hope!)

 What do you do during the summer?




Friday, May 9, 2014

Five for Friday (Field Day, Read-a-thon, GoNoodle, and more!)


      Wow!  What a crazy week! I don't know about you, but I am exhausted!  Between trying to finish up assessments, district paper work, etc. and the crazy activities for the end of the year,  I am one tired teacher!  
      I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching today for Five for Friday!


1. Have you heard about GoNoodle?  It is an amazing website that has quick and fun brain breaks as well as videos that teach students about dealing with stress and teach calming techniques.  There are "yoga" style videos along with breathing strategies that are similar to meditation.  I heard about this from a fellow blogger over at The Schroeder Page.  This was the best find all year!  I  can't tell you how exciting it is to see the difference it is making with classroom behaviors as well as calming students before our state testing last week!

2. Today I got this flower bouquet from a student!  It is a bouquet of cupcakes!  They are cute and delicious!



3. Today was our Field Day!  It was a BLAST! I have a small confession...Field Day is MUCH easier with third graders than first graders.  Shhh...don't tell those first grade teachers!  SOOOOO much easier.  I really enjoyed the morning with my kiddos!

4. Read-a-Thons are AMAZING!  My kids sprawled out and read for over 2 and 1/2 hours!  They did an amazing job reading, snacking, writing, etc.  My fifth grade teacher had these and I loved them.  The kids really enjoyed relaxing after a morning running around outside. (So did I!)


5. I spent an hour after school the other day with this awesome view!  It was 84 and sunny!  I am loving this nice weather!  This serves as my count down.  Two weeks to go...9 1/2 days!  WOW!



Happy Friday!!! 

Monday, May 5, 2014

Teacher Appreciation Sale!!!! New items to check out!



Teacher Appreciation Week!
      Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!  In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week my entire TpT store will be on sale 20% off May 6th and 7th!  Head on over there and take a peek at some goodies!

These are a few of my newer products that will be available on sale.  Both of these are book studies bundled together.  



Happy shopping and happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Saturday, May 3, 2014

May Currently


I am linking up with Farley for the May Currently!  

Listening:  I am watching the local news (how exciting, I know) and watching the weather man!  I am SOOOO ready for some warmer weather.  It has been gloomy and cool here all week!  Wednesday it will be 80 and sunny and I am ready for that!

Loving:  Our State testing is FINALLY OVER!!!! WOO HOO!  I couldn't be happier!  I spent the spring tutoring some of our struggling readers and I couldn't be happier that we are finally done with testing and you can see the stress lifting off those kiddos.  

Thinking:  We have Field Day on Friday!  Yay! I'm now a little worried though that the forecast is saying we might have rain at the end of the week.  I will be hoping for sunny skies on Friday.  I'm also thinking that we only have 15 days left and one of them is Field Day and one is a field trip!  It doesn't get much better than that!

Wanting:  Wouldn't it be awesome if everything that is in my bag would just magically get done?  Papers could grade themselves, lesson plans would magically appear, etc!  I know it always gets done, but I am not wanting to do it this weekend! 

Needing:  I need to finish up on the computer and get heading to the gym!  I have really worked hard this spring to get back in better shape and I love my new gym.  So, off I go as soon as this blog post is done!

Surprise:  I am surprising Teaching with a Mountain View!  This blog has been my life saver this year.  I taught first grade for 8 years and now as a third grade teacher needed some help with quick resources.  Mary has some amazing products on TpT that have been super helpful with my kiddos!  If you haven't seen her blog, hop over there and check it out!