Friday, September 20, 2013

Five for Friday {9/20}

When I started this blog at the end of the school year, I was only part-time, now this year I'm full time (yay!!!) but I never thought I would become such a bad blogger. Like so bad that I should probably have to sit in bloggy time out, so here's a quick Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

1.) I'm still super overwhelmed with everything. I'm trying to get ahead yet I'm still behind. Right now I feel like I'm in survival mode & not teaching the way I want to because I'm trying to stay afloat with all this curriculum & trying to make it work for my kids, who are classified & very below level, like 3rd & 4th graders reading at 1st & 2nd grade reading levels. Plus I'm in a constant state of worriedness because I know my first eval is coming soon since I'm non-tenured.

2.) Here are some pics of my kiddos, on different days, doing some centers.
Reading, with their "special" reading glasses, sorry they're hard to see since I had to cover their eyes.

Making Silly Sentences with Morgan from First Grade Fresh's  Silly Sentences for Work Stations pack

They're having fun making silly sentences & practicing picking out the subject & the predicate.

Having fun practicing recognizing sight words with my Sight Swat game.
3.) Took our little guy down the shore to see the firetrucks (which were already gone by the time we got there) during the Fireman's convention, but we still had a lot of fun walking the boardwalk & taking out little guy on the rides.

This was Labor Day at the annual carnival we go to, he just loves the rides.

4.) My room is finally just about complete & I will have a reveal soon & I'm going to try & blog at least once a week. I've got to get better again, so I can come out of time-out. :)

5.) Ok, it's movie time with the hubby, we're watching World War-Z. Yay! You know I love Zombie (like) movies!!!

Have a great weekend, we all deserve a little R&R!!1

Friday, September 6, 2013

Five for Friday {9/6}

How about a little Five for Friday? 
School started this week. Need I say more, I'm pooped, & I didn't even have any kids this week. I'm a resource teacher & I won't begin picking my kids up for Language Arts until Monday. Am I ready? Absolutely not! But I've been up at 5:30 every day this week, this is so not normal for me. My body & eyelids are screaming at me for getting up so early. 

My building is having a MAJOR technology FAIL! The computer lab is pretty much the only place that can print, but the internet is shaky, so make sure you have your flash drive. I still can't log onto my computer using my login info. I'm getting in on a temporary sign in right now. I don't have a phone or printer & my Smartboard needs to be hooked up. So all in all it makes lesson planning a little tough because I can't print in my room, but I'm making it work & it looks like we'll be kickin' it old school next week...no technology. 
I think I'm going to change my job title from "Teacher" to "Gumby." Is there any other profession that has to be as flexible as us?

Yesterday my supervisor handed me a summer reading project that one of my students completed during extended school year & that's when it clicked that I should probably read those books, so I can grade their projects.
So this weekend I'll be reading the following:
4th grade summer reading
 I've actually never read "Because of Winn-Dixie" or saw the movie.

And I already read this book, it took me about 20 minutes. My poor, low third graders, I'm sure struggled through this.
3rd grade summer reading 
Here are a few pics of my room. I've added some things since I took these last week, but I'll do an official room reveal after I get paid next week. I'm making a trip to Ikea, hopefully they still have those wonderful looking stools that I've seen all over blog land this summer. They will be perfect for my small table & I really want the polka dot rug. Fingers crossed they still have those things.
Straight in from the door

From behind my desk

From behind my small table

My Welcome banner


This past weekend was my cousin's bachelorette party. It was the whole weekend & I'll let the picture below show you what kind of time we had.

First, me with the bride-to-be on the way to Atlantic City.

Now here is her before & after shots. I love this pic so much. Best picture ever!!!!
Left: Before leaving the beach house
 Right: On the shuttle bus on the way back to the beach house, about 5 hours later
Amazing...I know! It was a lot fun & felt good to get away for the weekend!

What do you have to share with us? Make sure to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching and share.

Monday, September 2, 2013

September Currently

I know I've been quite absent lately, not even blog stalking {sigh}, but there's just so much to do to get ready & not enough time.

So today I'm linking up with Farley from Oh Boy Fourth Grade for the September Currently. {I know I broke the unspoken rule of not double posting in one day, but I wanted to link up with Farley & I needed to start my Sharpener Giveaway today, be sure to check it out.}


Listening: Watching "Hotel Transylvania" while trying to quickly get this post out, then move onto work stuff {sigh} & listening to the sounds of my toddler babbling in his crib, when he should be napping.

Loving: My cousin's Bachelorette Party was this weekend, yes the whole weekend, with different activities everyday. She's very Type A, but it was wonderful to not be mommy this weekend, even though I did miss my little guy.

The soon-to-be bride & I on the party bus on the way to Atlantic City, Saturday night. 

Thinking: Now that I have a full time job, again, it's time for my little guy to go to pre-school. He's 2&1/2 & yearns to play with kids his own age, I know he'll be okay, but I'm still having trouble with the thought of leaving him.

Wanting: Why does it always rain on Labor Day? Every year the small town my dad grew up in has a carnival & we ALWAYS go on Monday night & of course it's raining right now. It needs to clear out before tonight, this is family tradition & I struggle with not doing it.

Needing: Like a mentioned before, I have a full time position this year. FINALLY!!! My part-time district hired me as a full time resource teacher for language arts for 3rd & 4th grade. I'm so excited, but I feel like I still have a million things to do & prepare & not enough money or necessary materials, so I'm freaking out a bit. My type A personality rearing it's ugly head, again, that it all has to be ready before the kids come on Thursday. I literally had to write a note on my dry erase frame on my desk to breathe that it'll all get done.

Loving Myself:
1.) I love to read & really want to keep reading for fun after school starts & the craziness begins.
2.) Since this is my first year full time & I am a mommy, my goal is to not stay late every night at work. The last of the buses should leave by 3:30 (I have bus duty), so my goal is to leave by 4:30 or sooner, at least 2 days a week or more.
3.) Now that my paycheck will substantially be bigger, I really need to keep up on manicures & pedicures, as a treat to myself.

Remember to check out my giveaway of The Quietest Classroom Sharpener ever. It's now offered in precious pink, super cute!!!

I hope everyone is having a great long weekend & if you're headed back to school this week, like me, good luck!

ANOTHER Quietest Classroom Sharpener GIVEAWAY!!!

Yes you read it right, I'm hosting another giveaway of The Quietest Classroom Sharpener, from Classroom Friendly Supplies

Now you can get this fabulous sharpener in Precious Pink, if you're heart so desires!!! Or you can still get it in red, black, blue, or green...the choice is yours!

If you just can't wait to see if you win this sharpener or not you can head over to Classroom Friendly Supplies and order one for yourself and here's the best part about the new Precious Pink sharpener, Troy the owner of Classroom Friendly Supplies, will donate $1 from the sale of every Precious Pink sharpener to two charities fighting against cancer. Check it out here

Here are the rules for the giveaway:
  • You must "like" Classroom Friendly Supplies on Facebook
  • This giveaway is not open to international residents, US residents only, sorry. 
  • You must be comfortable with providing me with your name, address, e-mail address, & color choice of sharpener.
  • See the Rafflecopter below for your chances to win.

Good luck!!!



a Rafflecopter giveaway