Five For Friday! January 8, 2016

Anybody else out there still doing this on a daily basis?

I know I am, and will be until the end of March:(

But, I digress, it's a new year and time for a link up with one of my favorite linky parties! I'm joining up with doodle bugs teaching  for her weekly 5 for Friday link up.

I put my file cabinet to use! I moved my jobs board here so that I could use the whiteboard space for reminders, homework, and our monthly character trait.

I am starting a "Problem of the Week" for my math early finishers. Hopefully I can stay up with creating these posters and laminate them for future use. This should be an extension type problem with a challenge added for those early finishers and gifted students. I will be making a blog post on this soon, as I work out the kinks. I am excited to see how my kiddos do!

I've been working on a HUGE teacherspayteachers project. It is a year round spiral review for all third grade ELA standards. Right now, I have the first 7 weeks done and I will post it when I have nine weeks done. Hopefully, I can get that done by the end of January. I was hoping to have it up for the new year, but it's taking a lot more time to create than I anticipated. My teammates and I have been using it, and boy are we seeing magic results! My other teammate is also creating one for Math. I will post both links when they're ready :) Also, I am in need of a catchy name - so if you can think of one for me, you'll get this pack for free!

I saw this on Facebook over break, and knew I needed to try it in my teeny tiny classroom ...

So I did, albeit it's a tad different to fit ...

There's a row of five in the front  ( my five most distracted ), two groups of 8 and a group of 4. I'll see how it goes this week - hopefully I can handle this and not go back to the two rows facing each other!

My teammate gave me the greatest idea - she's turning 40 this year and is doing a 40 things I will do in the year I turn 40 challenge. She thought this would be a great way to do resolutions with the kiddos at work! By doing something like 8 things I will do in the year I turn 8 or 9 things I will do in the year I turn 9.  I'm going to do one too, and as soon as I think of some good things this weekend, I will post a blog about it. Hopefully I can stick to my 28 things I will do in the year I turn 28!

What did you accomplish this week? I'm glad to be going back to a routine, but not so sure about setting an alarm after two and a half weeks!

Home Office Love

This winter break, I took on my office as a project, and boy oh boy, am I in love with the results! I'm just going to leave a bunch of pictures here for you to swoon over. I am still working on a few little projects and am looking for more cute things to put on my shelves... but until I find what I'm looking for (and invest in some more gold spray paint) I'm going to be happy with what I have finished!

Before:
When I bought the house, it was a little girl's room, since I don't have a little girl, I figured it would be the perfect spot for my office. With all that storage, I couldn't go wrong!

I left it that green for the time being, but knew that I wanted something bright and inspiring. 

So, I gave into the coral and gold craze.

After:

I have been so inspired to work lately, because I love this room! I have been organizing files, prepping TPT projects, and working hard at getting ready to go back to school. 

What inspiring projects have you taken on lately? I would love to see them! 

Winter Writing

Hi Y'all! Two posts in one week! That's gotta be crazy talk!!! I guess these extra few days of winter break have got me singing the boredom blues... I know, I know... I shouldn't say these things... because on Thursday I will be like ...

But, I can't complain... I only have a two day work week this week, so it will be like tiptoeing into the kiddie pool to get back to the swing of things.

This break, I have been working on a lot of projects for my classroom, and for TPT... I've gotta doozie of one in the making, and hopefully by Monday, I will have the first installment ready for upload. But until then, I have been working on another little freebie for my followers out there...

My teammate and I started creating weekly writing assignments that the kids can work through pretty independently by this time in the year. I have seen a lot of great results for published writing, and love that it only takes a week! Each day has a focus - depending on the type of writing that the students' will be working on. It takes them through the writing process and helps students to work independently.

So, here it is! Click on the Free! Button for your download. If you use it, I would love to get some feedback from you :)

I've been a little busy ...but here's my January Currently!

Opps ... I haven't blogged since September. Yikes

What can I say, a new house, new school, new grade level, new puppy ... they kind of all got in the way... but, I promise ... I'm going to try again! It's a resolution, so I at least have to try!

I'm starting back with an easy one, and one of my favorites - Currently. I know, I'm late to the party ... but I'm not so late that I'm unfashionable, right?


So, here it is!

Listening: I really don't care for either of these teams ... the only reason it's on and I'm slightly paying attention is because Kellen Moore (the quarterback for my beloved Boise State Broncos during most of my four year tenure) is the starting quarterback for the Cowboys right now. He's not doing so hot, and it makes me a little sad, but it is Bronco History.

Loving: I am a lucky person. I was lucky to be hired on at an amazing school this year, and I have had so few headaches compared to years in the past (figuratively) we work hard, and believe in teaching bell to bell - that means no extra crafts or class parties the week before Winter Break, but it also means that I get three extra days off - I don't have to go back to work until the 7th and it's so relaxing to know that I can spend a little extra down time with my pups and the boyfriend watching football today.

Thinking: I know I should get some extra things done around the house since I have a few extra days off... and some cabinets cleaned out at school! 

Wanting: It has been so cold ... like 15 degrees most days. I need some warm weather and no more inversion in my life! 

Needing: I have the greatest students - I received a pedicure gift certificate this year for a Christmas present - that will definitely be used this week for a little added relaxation!

One little word: I hope this word sums up your break as well! I have so enjoyed my time off this break - I had the chance to spend a week at my parents, paint my office a fabulous new color, clean and organize the house a bit, and work on a few bigger projects for teacherspayteachers (I'll post more about that later, but they aren't quite finished yet!) 

OMG... it's already September {currently}

How is it already SEPTEMBER?!?! Seriously, I swear, just yesterday I started at my new school. Apparently not... Apparently I didn't get the memo that August was over and that now it's time for pumpkin spiced everything, ugg boots and leggings, and all things Fall. I'm not complaining. I love Fall ... although I'm not sure how much I'll enjoy raking all the leaves in my new yard. I can tell you though, that I am beyond EXCITED for some football and cannot wait for this Friday's big game against UW.

In my classroom, we have been getting down to business! I am seriously IN LOVE with my new school, my adorable third graders, and the rigor. I've grown so much as an educator the last three weeks that it's INSANE ... I am amazed at how much energy I have when I get home, how much support I receive in the classroom, and how much help my team has been. If I had to decide right now, I would never want to leave.

So, now that I'm starting to have a little relaxation time at the end of my day (even though I had to take my fur baby to the vet for an emergency stick removal from the top of her mouth tonight) maybe, just maybe I might get back to blogging, creating, and reading instead of revamping my schedule for the 8th 12th time, stressing out about tomorrow, and changing lesson plans last minute!

I know I owe everyone a top ten list, but it's just not going to happen until this weekend ... I promise you'll be able to link up to it on Saturday! So, for tonight, I will quickly complete this currently list and then go to bed early ... because, well I'm teacher tired and I deserve it!

Listening -  Missing: The Maura Murray Podcast - since Serial, I've been pretty obsessed with podcasts and NPR. That might be thanks to my boy too... But they make my brain stop thinking about everything I need to get done and focus on something else. I love the story telling, true crime podcasts, and this one fits the bill.

Wanting - Ok, I broke down and bought a pair of cute CROCS, and boy oh boy, I'm never buying another brand of shoes again for these aching teacher feet. They're soft and squishy and just right for my ankle problems. I come home and can actually do things around the house because my feet don't hurt. I'm so happy I could try and do one of those cute leg kick jumps, but I know that wouldn't work out in my favor :) I can't wait to buy another pair {or 5}!

3 Goals - Lesson plans done by Thursday night - I'm hoping to spend less time on the weekends working and more time enjoying my time off. I'm hoping that I can start working on this goal this week. I'd really like to have Sunday to relax :) 

Blog once a week - I need to get back into the groove of things!

Dishes every night - now that there are two people and two dogs, the dishes pile up a lot faster. I need to do the dishes every night and stop letting them pile up in the sink! 

Want to share what you're currently doing/thinking/planning? Check out Oh Boy 4th Grade and link up! 

A little supply list humor

This post is again going to be short and sweet. It's been a long Monday and I'm ready for a shower and some relaxing with my new favorite book: Big Little Lies. I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm very intrigued! I don't usually read during the school year, but I know how much enjoyment I get out of it and am trying to work it into my schedule more. What are you reading?

Anywho... a parent with a great sense of humor sent this little beauty in for our enjoyment and their contribution to the supply list will never be forgotten!

I'm loving my new year so far and the exhaustion will soon wear off and there will be more updates! I can't wait to share all the things I'm learning with you! 

Back to School Madness and a Freebie

Ahhh! I've already failed my weekly blog challenge, and school hasn't even officially started yet! Ugh! Well, at least I only missed it by 6 days :( I have a good excuse though, so at least I can use that! I've been hard at work in my classroom, and it's almost ready for a full reveal, but there are a few more things I am working on tomorrow. So, hopefully sometime on Sunday there will be a big reveal here on the blog. Right now, I wanted to send out a freebie I just created for my class. I have been creating a lot of decorating things, and as soon as they are organized and credit pages are made ... you will get a chance to have them all to yourselves! Tonight, I created a voice level chart... it's nothing fancy, but I think it will work the way I need it too. I found one similar to mine on TPT but; it cut off when I printed it, and me, being the perfectionist I am, had to fix it. I also included an arrow that I am going to use to indicate what level the students should be working at. I will laminate both the arrow and the voice level chart, then put velcro dots on the colored squares as well as the back of the arrow. I am excited for this easy fix! I hope you enjoy!

Click to get your freebie!