Tag!

I am so glad Allyce over at Teaching and Life: At the Beach tagged me.  I finally finished my LPs, although my ADD got the best of me.  I tried...really tried hard not to finish them and instead check out Facebook and Pinterest a bazillion times.  But alas, I finished them.  I certainly haven't finished all the crap I included in them, like shapes to cut out and what not, but I'll get to it!

I was going to work on our new bathroom sign in/out system.  BUT, I left all of my pockets at school!  Ahh, I was so upset!  The hubby told me to just relax and do them tomorrow, but there is no way I'll be doing them tomorrow!  Here's a sneak peak:

Here's what's going on in 3B:

• Some of us like to write our name all fancy in the bathroom (like in all dots). 
• Some of us like to not write our name at all.
• And some of us like to write other students names.

It just annoys me.  So, I took down our sign in/sign out sheet and they will now have sticks to move on the cabinet.  FYI: I added paper and border to the other side in case your OCD is going crazy looking at that picture!

So anyways, this is why I'm glad I saw Allyce tagged me so I could distract myself from being upset at leaving the pocket charts at school.  So, here's how it goes:

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!

12 Fun Facts About Me!
1.  I collect rocks.  I've been collecting them since I was a kid and I have some pretty awesome ones if I do say so myself!  When I was younger, my sister threw away a lot of my rock collection because it was in a shoebox (my storage system at the time).  I give her a hard time about it to this day.  Oh, and when we went to Atlanta for our 1 year anniversary we went to Stone Mountain.  I picked up lots of pieces of granite even while they were warning us to get off the mountain due to an electrical storm...
2.  I have been with my husband since we were freshmen in high school...about 11 1/2 years! 
3.  I am a directions whiz.  You will not get lost with me.  I even recognize places I went to as a kid.  When my dad's old boss had a kid, they took me to visit the baby.  I must've been like 8 or 9 maybe?  Now I live out in the area they live and I recognized their turn off and everything when I was driving one day.  My mom couldn't believe it.  I had the NYC subway system figured out in like a day...well at least the trains we frequented...I also fell in love with NYC when we were there and I would LOVE to go back one day.
4.  I am an old woman!  In reality, I'm 25, but I have little to no desire to go out and am quite content spending my weekends at home.  I'm also in bed early, but that has a lot to do with when I get up...
5.  I lived in the same house for all of my life.  My parents have lived in the house since the 70s and still live there!
6.  I have a HUGE family!  Seriously.  My dad is one of 9.  I am the youngest grandchild (# 31 I believe)Here's a picture from my grandmother's 95th birthday party.

This is the grandchildren and their spouses.

This is just the grandchildren (no spouses).  We are in order of age with the oldest grandchild being in the top right corner and the youngest (me) in the silver shirt next to my grandmother.  If you counted, yes, there are only 24.  Some have passed away and some couldn't make it.

These are the great grands (and this has grown since then!).  It's funny that some of the great grands are older than me, even though I'm a generation ahead of them.

7.  I am such a nerd/dork.  You may not see it if I'm not totally comfortable with you, but if you're in my family...watch out!

8.  I love T.V.  I always have.  I'm quite content to sit on the couch and watch TV and be on the computer all day.

9.  I was bald as a baby.  Like, until I was 2.  You wouldn't be able to tell now with my thick, curly hair. 

10.  I used to be a dancer.  I went to an arts infused elementary school.  Actually, the middle school I went to was an arts middle school and my major was dance.  Unfortunately, I didn't like the dance teachers I had in later years and a lot of the kids were pretty mean so I ended up switching to a "regular" school for high school.

11.  I'm allergic to pretty much everything.  I knew I was allergic to pollen, but I went to an allergist a few years ago and they did the whole back prick thingy.  Their words when they came back to check on the results:  "Wow, you're lit up like a Christmas Tree."  Yeahhh

12.  I am a dog lover.  Gizmo is 13 years old!  I actually think it might be safe to say I like dogs better than most people.  Is that bad?!

Here's Allyce's Questions:

1) What technology do you wish you could have in your classroom?  I have a SMARTBoard, but I would really like the SMART Response clickers.  Or iPads (which some schools in our district have).

2) What is your favorite grade to teach?  I've only taught 5th and 3rd.  The each have their pro's and con's, but I'd definitely go with 3rd.

3) Do you eat in your staff room?  HA!  I WISH!  We have to eat lunch with our kids.  And we only have 20 minutes for lunch.  So, that means basically by the time I've heated my lunch and shoveled it into my mouth, it's time to go.

4) How many elementary schools are in your district?  Oh boy Allyce...I had to look it up!  We have 53!

5) What is your favorite way to spend a day off?  Either getting things done around the house or doing absolutely nothing!

6) Where do you go when you need to think? Or just completely relax.  I don't really go anywhere...I just do what I normally do (get on the computer and watch TV) and usually go to bed early.

7) Do you use standards based grading at your school?  Yes...we aren't supposed to assess anything that is not standards based.

8) What is your FAVORITE dessert?  I cannot possibly pick just one!  Lately though, I've been loving ice cream sundaes with all the fixins (I use frozen yogurt instead of ice cream)

9) What is your guilty pleasure tv show?  I love reality TV:  Anything Kardashian, Real Housewives of NJ, Real Housewives of OC, Millionaire Matchmaker, Storage Wars, Pawn Stars, etc.

10) Do you play a sport?  No.  I used to be a cheerleader (ever since I was like 2 and a mascot!).  Yeah yeah, some of you don't consider that a sport, but it definitely kept me in shape!  I also used to be a runner.

11) Pets?  Gizmo!  He is seriously the best dog ever!  He is 13 but you'd never guess it!

12) What is your very favorite childrens book?  I really like The Lorax because of the message behind it (and I'm super stoked it's going to be a movie!)

Here are my questions:

1. What state do you live in?
2. Do you collect anything?
3. What is your favorite color?
4. Do you do anything work related on the weekend?
5. What is your favorite food?
6. How long is your commute to work?
7. If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
8. How do you spend your time when you're relaxing?
9. How many weddings have you been in?
10. What is your favorite place you've visited?
11. If you weren't a teacher, what would you be?
12. Kids...do you have any?  How many do you have/want?

I'm tagging these people (apologies if you've already been tagged!):

Ginger at Ginger Snaps

Amber at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

Debbie at Second Grade Swamp Stories

Haley at Following Optimism

Barbara from The Corner on Character

Sarah at Waiting on the Butterflies

Staci at Let's Teach Something in Kindergarten 

Heather at Loose Shoelaces

Delighted at First Grade Delight

Meg at Third Grade in the First State

Staci aka Ms. Squirrels at Going Nutty

Dee at First Impressions

Extensions and Gains

So, how would you like to have 2 hours added to your school day?

What?  You wouldn't?  You mean, you wouldn't want school from 7:30-4:30?  Well why not?

Okay, how about let's add 20 days to your school year.

Not that either?  You don't want to work an extra month?

Well folks, believe it or not, that's what's {possibly} on the table for me.  No decisions have been made, but they're considering that for a group of schools in my district.  Not the whole district, but some of the under performing schools.

Initially, they wanted to add two hours to the school day AND add 20 days to the school year.  Kill me now...

Luckily, it looks like they won't be adding 2 hours to our day.  I mean, when would we have faculty meetings, go to grad classes, and other PD meetings (like one I have once a month from 3:30-5:30).

We had a meeting today after school and it looks like they'll be adding 20 days to our school year next year.  It's definitely better than 2 hours to each day, but I don't feel like my summer break will be long enough.  Usually, by the time school starts back, I'm ready to go back.  I'm not sure I'll be ready after a month off.

I'll be sure to keep you posted.

On a positive note, we had our Math MAP test today.  Do y'all take the MAP test?  My kids did really good!  I'm so proud of them.  Some of my kiddos went up in the double digits (17 & 25 points!).  They all had a goal of going up at least 6 or 7 points and I was super proud of them.  I am nervous/excited/anxious for tomorrow's Reading MAP test.  There's so much pressure (on us) for the kids to do well.  We're kinda judged on it (not formally), but there is definite pressure.  Do y'all take any tests that have pressure, aside from state tests? 

In other news, I was shocked when I came out to my car this afternoon.  Can you figure out why?

What on earth?!  Why do I have pollen on my car in January?!  Granted, it's been unusually warm (70s), but still!  I couldn't believe it.  I even made the hubby come out and see my car as soon as I got home. 

Also, I was super excited this morning when I got a comment from Haley over at Following Optimism. 

She gave me an award, and not just any award, but a favorite follower award! 

Looking at Haley's blog, I'm super honored she chose me because I don't feel like I've read/commented any of her recent posts!  I've been slightly slacking in the blog stalking department lately.  Anywhos...I totally feel like we could be BFFs IRL.  Her blog makes me laugh and she posts lots of freebies (my favorite!). 

I am supposed to pick 2 followers to award this to, which is tough!  I love all of my followers! 

Holly is SO sweet!  Plus, she has so many freebies!  I just love her blog.    Also, you must check out her A Day in my Shoes post.  I am totally with her on the hair determining my morning (although I don't wash  mine in the kitchen sink ;)  Is it considered cheating if she's already received it?  I hope not...

Chrissy is SO nice!  She always leaves the nicest comments and I love checking out her blog!  I keep meaning to participate in her A Photo a Day, but I always seem to forget!  I think we could totally be BFFs IRL since we both do not like vegetables.  Hers is a texture thing, mine is just me being picky :)  Head over and check out her blog!

Okay, I am going to try to stay up for Modern Family.  It's not lookin' good.  I am tired and have a full day tomorrow:  work, meeting (3:30-5:30) & HOA meeting at 6. 
Happy Thursday!


 

Antonym Match-Up & More Geometry

I've done it again.

I've waited until Sunday to do everything on my To Do list, including laundry and school work.  Blahhh

This post will be super quick because I need to iron all my crap.  Ugh...

I had to come up with a word study to do this week, so I thought I would work on synonyms and antonyms.  I had a Synonym Match-Up that someone so kindly shared (no clue who...if it was you, puh-lease let me know!).  So, I based my Antonym Match-up after that:

Antonym Match Up 1

So, if you shared a Synonym Match-Up that looks just like this (and even has a lot of the same words!), please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due.

As I type this, I'm pretty sure I downloaded Teeny's Antonym Sort a while ago and am thinking I should totally use that with my lower group.  Well rats...now that I look at it, I already have.  I wonder if they would remember...

We're incorporating this into our S.S. because I don't have enough ELA minutes so I have to have an ELA component in S.S. (reading and writing is not enough).  Soooo, we either have Word Work, Writing, or Fluency.  Okay, let's be honest, the fluency component hasn't been too prevalent.
Let's switch gears to Geometry.  How many of you are EDM users?  I really liked it a while ago, but I am so over it.  I am tired of it not applying to our state standards.  My kiddos will finish Chapter 6 this week. 
What? 

Oh yes, of course I have taught every single lesson in Chapter 6.  riiiiight.... 

I looked at the test and am so annoyed.  Our district is big on only testing standards...so why should I use the EDM test that includes solid figures and decimals, which they don't have to know.

So, I'm not.  I made a review for their test and it looks like I'll be making it myself (which might be frowned on by the EDM lovers out there).  I know, I know...you're supposed to teach each lesson for exposure purposes.  But I need my kiddos to know what they have to know for the state test. Yes, I am one of those teachers...it's the sad truth.  I feel like I have to be.  

On a side note, we take our MAP tests this week.  I may feel slightly close to hyperventilating every time I think of it...

Anyways, here's the review sheet I'm using (for their HW).  I'll share the test with you when I make it.  Let's see...the test is on Thursday so I'll probably be scrambling to make it Wednesday night!

Chapter 6 Test Review

Yeah, there's one random division question in there.  It was on the EDM test which I thought I would use until I went on to page 2.  Hopefully you can use it...I know some of you mentioned that you'd be teaching geometry soon!

Okay, I'm off to be a good girl and iron all of my crap professional clothes and finish the laundry....ugh, gag me!

P.S.  Anyone watching the Drew Peterson movie on Lifetime tonight?  I enjoyed a long day of Lifetime watching which is probably why its almost 8:30 and I'm just getting done with all my work.  Procrastination at its finest :)

OH, P.S.S.  Have y'all heard of Google Friend Connect ending?!  I couldn't believe it when I saw it on another blog and sure enough...confirmed by Wikipedia.  I also got an email about picnik closing...what is happening?!  I don't know how this new Google+ works... :(  For those of you wondering, Google Friend Connect is what most (if not all?) of us use when we follow a blog. 

Anyone have any information to share? 

Cheers to the Freakin' Weekend

Have you heard that Rhianna song?  Hubby hates it, but he also hates most pretty much all music I like.

I am so glad it's the weekend!  I know it was only a 4 day work week, but ohmyword, my kiddos were in rare form. 

Tuesday was an okay day.  We just switched our guided reading groups so I got a group of kiddos I haven't had yet (I have an associate teacher who takes half the class and I take the other half for guided reading).  I had some tests to do with my new friends, so I let the others read.  Well, in the other guided reading group, one of my kids refused to go to the group.  Insisted on standing and not joining the group.  He then proceeded to start talking to my kids who were picking out books.  I felt like I was in the twilight zone! 

Wednesday was okay, but they lost their recess.  Here's why:
They are absolutely silent in the morning (for the most part) while they eat their breakfast and do their morning work.  Well, we had a big report card fiasco and the principal came in to ask me what ended up happening with them.  I'll be darned if my kids didn't start talking to one another and whatnot while the principal was in there!  I mean, they weren't being crazy loud or anything, but that's not the point.  When I'm talking to an adult, that is not an invitation to do as you please.  So, they lost their recess.  Now, in all honesty, if they had done well the rest of the morning, I probably would have let them go out.  BUT, they didn't.  I don't really recall too much of what happened, but needless to say, they got a stern lecture by yours truly and had to put their heads down.

Let's fast forward to Thursday morning.  I was talking to someone at the door (same time of morning) and they started acting the same way again!  So (you guessed it), they lost recess again.  Don't even get me started on my Thursday.  It was crazy!  I definitely needed a drink when I got home.  I was more than ecstatic when the hubby suggested we go to Los Reyes.  Yum-O!

Friday was much better and when I spoke to someone at the door, they were quiet!  Lesson learned :)  After school, I went to happy hour with some coworkers and it was lots of fun and it's always nice to have a chance to talk to some of the adults I work with!  Especially some of the ones I never get to see.  You know, the ones who don't have rooms near you and you don't have lunch together.  I must say, I am totally jealous of those of you who have a duty free lunch!  I can only wish...

Last night we watched Never Been Kissed.  Oh Michael Vartan...that's all I have to say I'm sure...Then, we got sucked into Law Abiding Citizen.  Have you seen this movie?  We saw it a while ago and were surprised it was only rated 1.5 stars.  It's a really good movie, albeit slightly disturbing.  Then today, we used a gift card and saw Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.  It was really good and just brought up all of those emotions from 9/11 that I don't think will ever go away.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend.  After not going to bed until after midnight last night, I'm pretty tired.  Plus, the hubby is watching C-SPAN coverage of the election from today.  Yawn.  I'd much rather be watching Home Improvement (which was on earlier).  LOVE! 

The "B" Word {and a geometry freebie}

There's been lots of talk in the W household lately about the B word. 

No, not the bad word...although that definitely escapes my lips on occasion from time to time frequently.

Nope, not babies either, although we have been talking about that.  I think I'm a little more eager to talk about them than the hubster :)

The B word I'm talking about friends is the one we ladies don't like to hear...

Budget.

Yep.  The hubsters is on a money/investing kick and wants to discuss a budget.  Well, he said not really a budget per se, but more of a "let's pay ourselves first (by saving) and then we can spend the rest how we'd like."

So, our goal is to save at least 12% (although he wants 15%) a month, including our retirement savings.  Currently, I'm saving about 8-9% in retirement.  I do need to make sure I send some money over to my Ally Savings Account each month.  I normally only do it if I have extra money left over.  Also, I think since we're so young (25) we're going to put more of our money into stocks than just sitting in a savings account. 

Plus, I think we're going to start putting some money aside specifically for our kids' college fund.  Yeah, no kiddos, but we want to be ready.  The hubster was really lucky in that his parents saved enough to cover all of his college.  My parents had pretty much none saved so I have student loan debt.  Thank the lord I was a smarty pants and got loads of scholarships, otherwise I'd be in some real big debt!  We'd like to be able to pay for our kids college so they won't be in debt (like me).  Luckily, I've been in school the past year so I haven't had to pay anything and I should be able to cut $5,000 off for teaching in a Title I, or high needs school (I believe you have to teach 5 years in a school like this...I'm on my 4th year of teaching).
He's on a big kick because of a book he read that we got from Goodwill. 

Sidenote:  I ♥ Goodwill!  I got lots of books for me and my classroom.  Check it out!

(The Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul is for my friend)

All of these books plus 2 for the hubby for only $7.99 (we had a 10% off coupon since we donated to them)

So, that's what's going on with us.  I remind him that we probably have a lot more saved up than most people our age and that (contrary to what he thinks), I am quite frugal.  I mean, I LOVE these places:

1. The dollar bins at Target (seriously took so much willpower to not buy anything when I swung in there on Sunday for a B-Day card).
2. The Dollar Store
3. Goodwill
4. Ross (even though I do NOT like that they limit you to 8 items in the fitting room.  I mean really, who takes in less than 8 items?  My size fluctuates from brand to brand so I normally have at least 2 of each item in different sizes.  I hate having to get dressed in my clothes and come back out and trade...ugh!)
5. Gap Outlet (Their sale in the summer is awesome!  I spent an average of $4 this past summer for all of the things I bought!)
6. Plus, pretty much everything I ever buy is on sale

I have really enjoyed reading what everyone's days are like.  Isn't it amazing how everything, like start times and duties required, varies from place to place? 

So, in math, we've been talking about Geometry.  Lines, rays, points, intersecting, parallel, triangles, etc.  Tomorrow, we're going to make some anchor charts (which will be nowhere near as cute as all of you peeps out there) to help us remember these and then we're going to review using our dry erase boards.  Do you use dry erase boards in your room?  My kids L-O-V-E them, but I do not love dealing with dried out markers, "he has my marker," etc.  However, they know I am all out of care and if there's a problem, they'll just have to use paper. 

Before I left Friday, I was looking around for a good review sheet for my kiddos to do for homework.  Well I'll be darned, but I couldn't find anything!  So, I made this little baby up.  Feel free to grab it!

Geometry

Yeah, see #20?  I was kinda running out of ideas!  I usually put 'D. None of the above' as an answer choice, so I just had to say 'Not a line.'  Let me know what you think and if you grab it.

I have been watching Wife Swap all freakin day and I love it!  There has been a marathon on all day and I'm loving seeing some episodes I've never seen before.  The announcer just cracked me up.  There's a squeaky clean family and he said in order to not cuss, a boy in the family replaces bad words with vegetables so the announcer said "What the squash?!"  Ohmiword, LOVE it!  What have you done today?

I can't believe some of you had to work today...that's insane!  Hope you have a great day tomorrow...we've already made it to Tuesday!

A Day in My Shoes

Ms. Klohn over at The Adventures of a Sixth Grade Teacher is having a linky party!  You know I love a good linky!

Here's a typical day for me:

4:20-4:50ish:  Wake up.  It all depends on how I'm going to wear my hair and if I have to shower in the morning.  If I have to shower, it's closer to 4:20.  If I just have to wet my hair to style it, it's more like 4:40.  If I'm wearing my hair up, it's closer to 4:50.

5:00:  Head downstairs and eat breakfast.  I also usually get on the computer for a few minutes to check Facebook, e-mail, and blog stalk of course!

5:20:  Head upstairs and get dressed.

5:40-6:10:  Leave for work.  It all depends on if I need to get there early.  Tuesday I will definitely be getting in as early as possible because I realized on my way home from work yesterday that I forgot to bring home a lot of things I need for my lesson plans.  Ugh!

6:10-6:40:  Arrive at work.  I like to get in early and TCB before my kiddos come. 

7:10:  Kids are released from the cafeteria.  I meet them at the door and they come in & unpack.  The kids eat breakfast in the classroom and they have morning work to complete.  Last week I started PASS (our state test) review for our morning work.

7:30:  Morning news comes on.

7:45:  Review morning work.  Breakfast should be thrown away by now.  After morning work is reviewed, we have our morning meeting.

8:00-8:40:  Social Studies.  We incorporate a literacy component, such as writing or word work.

8:40:  Get ready and leave for special area

8:45-9:25:  My break!  The kiddos are at special area.

9:30-11:00:  Voyager Rotations.  Each group has a 30 minute rotation at three stations:  Voyager Reading (me), VMath (associate teacher), & Ticket to Read or VMath Online (computer)

11:00-11:30:  Guided Reading (one group with me, the other with the associate teacher)

11:35-11:55: Lunch (this usually lasts until at least 12 though because of long lines).

12:00-12:20:  Recess (again, this is usually backed up because of lunch)

12:25-1:05:  Science (on Fridays we go to the Garden Classroom during this time until 1:30).

1:05-2:15:  Math. 

2:15-2:20:  Pack up.  Play Find It Fix It & have our daily raffle drawings.  Winners of both get to go to the prize box.

2:20:  Dismissal.  I walk my kids.  I drop the after school kids off at the cafeteria and drop off my bus riders at the bus loop.  Then, I wait with my car rider (who used to go to after school and I totally wish he would so I'd be done sooner :)

3:00-3:45:  Leave.  Sometimes I leave before 3, sometimes it's closer to 4.  It really just all depends on how messy my work area is!

Just for fun...here's what my afternoons look like:

When I get home, I work out if I'm going to (which I actually did last week...whoop whoop!)  Of course, I blog stalk and get on the computer. 

Around 5:30ish, I'll get dinner started so we can eat between 6 and 6:30. 

Then, I work on the computer or watch T.V. until I go to bed, which is usually pretty early.  I try to get in bed between 8 and 9, although I have definitely been asleep before 8 before!

Of course, I hang out with my husband and the Giz when I get home, but figured that went without saying!

Oh yeah, and I have class this semester on Tuesdays from 4:15-6:45 so I'll also be doing that. 

I hope you head over and link up!  I love seeing what other people's days look like!

Under Construction

I am toying around with my blog design so if it looks funky...that's why!  Hopefully all of this work wasn't for nothing!

Call Me a Clutter Buster

I'm hooking up with Jodi over at the Clutter Free Classroom again.  This week, we need a plan for how we're going to declutter.  I really like Ms. M's rules.  If you haven't seen them, check them out!

Here is my plan:
1.  Organize my flash drive.  I kind of started this, but it needs to be arranged.  Here's what I'm currently working with (probably hard to see)

2.  Move or make most files in filing cabinet electronic.  I would really like to use binders to organize units, but I just think it will be easier for me to do it electronically.

3.  If I keep a paper copy, only keep 1.  I'm real good at keeping extra copies of things for next year.  The only problem?  Next year, I don't think to look and see if I've already got it. 

4.  Anything that is recyclable, gets recycled.  Anything I think someone else might like, goes in our workroom.  We have lots of student teachers in our building this semester so hopefully they'll get some goods.  I gave away lots today!

5.  Take care of papers as I get them!  I am so good at piling, but I need to take care of them ASAP. 

Those are my rules, give or take.  However, I am proud to show you all of the work and progress I made in my room the past two days!  Thursday was a PD day (only half day) and today was a workday.  I LIVE for these days!  I get so much done!  Check it out :)

I am exhausted!  But, I feel so much better.  Plus, it's a 3 day weekend...whoop whoop!

I hope you head over to the Clutter Free Classroom and link up!

I Did It

Surprisingly, I wasn't too sore yesterday.  My legs actually felt fine, but my upper body and arms did not feel good.  I took my clothes to work today to change into.  Tomorrow we have a PD day and Friday is a workday so I have big plans.  Including updating my word walls (regular and math).  They may not have been updated since our last workday back in October...yeahhhh.  So I decided to write out the words before I left for the day so I would just have to cut them out & laminate tonight. 

As I was working, I saw my workout slipping away.  Here were my reasons.

1. I had to go by Bed, Bath, & Beyond to get a gift card for a coworker who is getting married.
2. I had to cut and laminate the word wall words.
3. I wanted to finish my report cards.

I realized I could go to the store tomorrow.  I also knew I had to work out because I had already planned on ordering Papa John's for dinner and I couldn't justify ordering pizza if I didn't work out.  So, I forced myself to do another day of the 30 Day Shred.  I was able to do more today, but was still pretty sore. 

I feel pretty productive because this is how my afternoon/evening went:

1. Work out
2. Order pizza
3. Cut out words and line then up to be laminated
4. Eat dinner
5. Finish laminating
6. Finish report cards
7. Shower
8. Cut out lamination
9. Blog stalk & post
10. Watch The Middle, Suburgatory, & Modern Family.  I'm never up for these during the work week!

What do you do on your workdays?  Ours are set aside for report cards, but I always have mine done so I can work in my room and TCB.  I'll have the afternoon of tomorrow to do some work and then I have class.  I just realized this post is totally random and has no point, but I'm trying to post more often.  I am worn out so I'm heading to bed before I get too engrossed in Happy Endings.  Happy Thursday which means it's practically Friday!

My Body Will Not Be On Speaking Terms With Me Tomorrow

I know, I'm technically breaking that unwritten rule

Thou shalt not blog more than once a day

However, my first post was at 5 a.m. this morning and that was a lifetime ago as far as I'm concerned. 

Yeah, so about that Currently Linky I posted.  The whole, well-rounded thing.  See post title.

I decided yesterday that I needed to start working out.  I'm sorry, but it is just so dang hard.  By the time I get home, I'd much rather stuff my face with chocolate covered almonds than work out.  Today, I may have done both.  Baby steps people, baby steps.

Back when I was student teaching, I worked out consistently.  I was a runner back then.  In fact, here's a picture to prove it:

This picture was taken after the Cooper River Bridge Run.  It's a 6.2 mile race in Charleston that goes over a huge bridge.  It was my longest run ever and I totally had tears in my eyes when I crossed the finish line because I did it.

Ugh, how skinny was I back then?!  The sad thing is, I thought I had weight issues. I yi yi.  I read somewhere (don't remember where but I'm pretty sure it was a blog) that "Today's fat picture is tomorrow's skinny picture," or something like that.  Ain't that the truth. 

Anyways, when that picture was taken, I had been running consistently for about a year.  I picked it up in late April/early May and did it every other day unless it was raining.  I was nannying then during the summer of 2007 and even ran on an afternoon that was so hot my mp3 player actually stopped working.  Anways, I'm getting off track.

Now student teaching is certainly not the same as full time teaching, unlike what I thought.  I thought student teaching was so tough. 

Yeah...right. 

Although I will say the school I did my student teaching in and the schools I've taught in are night and day.  The latest I ever left while student teaching was 4:00 and on my running days I took my clothes with me and changed at the school.  Then, on my way back to my dorm, I stopped off at a local park and ran a mile.  Usually it was only a mile, but I made myself do it.

I realized, the only way I'm ever going to work out is if I do the same thing.  I have to take my workout clothes with me and change at school.  Otherwise, when I get home, my butt is going on the couch instead of upstairs to change.  So, that's what I did today.  I totally didn't expect the hubster to be home since he had a 3:00 doctors appointment.  Well, he was.  He noticed my work out gear and in all honesty, I was just going to call it a day and lay down...I was tired!  But, he said he'd work out with me so we busted out Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred.  Have y'all done this before?  Kill me N-O-W.  There may or may not have been a few several constant expletives coming from me during this 20 minute session.  I can already tell tomorrow is going to be rough, particularly on my arms and shoulders.  Ugh.  I will say, I did have a lot of fun working out with him so I may force him to be my workout buddy.  He definitely does not need to know that I snuck in a handful of chocolate covered almonds while he was upstairs changing.  No.  That stays between us.

How was your Monday?  I have successfully managed to do zero schoolwork and it's almost 9:30.  I need to get myself in gear.  Also, thank you so much to those of you who have nominated me for awards!  I have actually already received them, but here are my posts from then :)

Liebster Award
Versatile Blogger Award

Please check out these wonderful bloggers if you have not already done so...they are all totally fab :)
Meg at Third Grade in the First State
Miss W at Miss W Teaches
Haley at Following Optimism
I feel like there were more, so I am really sorry if I didn't list you...leave me a comment and I'll update this.  I can't seem to find the others but I felt like there were more than 3. 

Okay, I really need to get to work.  Hope you had a great Monday!

January Currently

I am so excited about the feedback I got about the Clutter Free Classroom Project.  I'm so glad many of you either already do Find it, Fix it, or are going to try it.  Don't know what I'm talking about?  Check out the post here.

Also, I know a lot of you left comments about awards and I will be checking those out this afternoon! 

I woke up early this morning because I couldn't sleep and I noticed Farley put up her January Currently.  I actually went to her blog yesterday because I was wondering when it would come about.  Not only is she doing her monthly link up, but you have a chance to win an awesome prize!  I am super excited...not that I needed a giveaway to participate.  I love these each month!  I'm also really proud because it used to take me 45 minutes to do this post and I made my currently in under 10...yay...progress!  Here's what I'm currently up to:

Okay, so my OLW may count as two, but not really.  I need to try to remember to spread my focus out.  Usually my job and grad school consumes my time.  I need to remember to start focusing on working out, spending time with the hubsters and Gizmo, and just being more well-rounded. 

I really hope you head over and link up :)

The Embarassing Before Post

Before I get started, thanks so much to those of you who commented on my last post.  I'm definitely looking into an external hard drive now!  The good news is our internet is fixed, thanks to me.  I rebooted both the router and our modem and that worked.  My hubby works on computers all day, but is really kind of incompetent on them at home. I don't get it.  Does that mean when we have a kid I will be incompetent with it?  In all honesty, I think he's just always scared he'll mess something up, but sometimes it is a little frustrating adorable. 
I'm taking part in the Clutter Free Classroom's Challenge.  Are you?



Week 1 is to take the Before pictures.  I'm slightly embarrassed.  I haven't checked out anyone else's to see how I compare, but the worst part is that this is not NEARLY as bad as I've been in the past.  I used to, especially when I taught 5th, have random piles all over the classroom.  Now, I just keep them cluttering up my work area. 

We have a PD day on Thursday in the morning and then Friday is a workday so I fully intend on tackling this crap stuff organization issue then.  Of course, I'll never get to even half of what I hope to.  I always have big plans for these days and I always end up leaving asking myself "How did I just spend the last 8 10 hours?  What the heck did I do with my time?"  Then I remember, I have severe ADD at work on days like this.  If you walk in my room, it will look like a bomb went off.  I've got 10 different things going on because as I work on one thing and walk across the room to finish it, I see something else I totally forgot I needed to do or that is really irking me, so I start working on that and it's just a viscous cycle.  And of course I like to socialize and talk to real life adults since I never get to do that on a normal workday.  Of course, going out for lunch is included so I should subtract like 2 hours for all of that...

Anyways, enough rambling.  Here are my befores:

As you can see, most of my clutter is near my desk.  Big shocker I know.  The rest of the room isn't very cluttered because we play Find it, Fix it every day.  I don't care if we've already been announced to dismiss, we always play it.  If you are not doing this, you must.  See how big that must is?  That's how super duper important it is.  The kids are totally motivated and it takes mere seconds for my room to look at least presentable.  The cleaning lady always compliments how nice my room looks and it's all thanks to my kiddos.  I teach a scripted program and I was meeting with the consultant after school.  She came early when my kiddos were still in there and she saw us playing this and she couldn't get over how awesome the idea was.  It is a lifesaver.  Now I don't feel overwhelmed walking back in my room at the end of the day.  I was going to say I actually do feel overwhelmed because of all the stuff in that picture, but let's be honest:  I just don't care to tackle it at the end of the day. 

Well I'm off to try to be productive.  We have the hubsters company party tonight.  They've been pretty lame the past couple of years so I don't have high hopes.  This year though, it's at the aquarium, so hopefully we can walk around...that'll be cool.  Hope you have a great day....I loved sleeping in today!

P.S.  Make sure you link up!

Slow Internet & A Few Questions

My internet is super slow tonight.  It either times out on pages, won't let me click on things, or makes things show up funky.  It has really put a damper on my blog stalking. 

Do you have an external hard drive?  I don't think we have too many things on our computer but I just can't figure out why it is so dang slow.  Maybe we need to reboot the router.  I'm sure you're enthralled with reading about my slow internet, but I had big plans for tonight's post.  Okay, maybe not big plans, but I had plans. 

For example, Laura from Kinder Kraziness awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award.  I'm pretty sure I'm a bad award recipient.  I've noticed lots of blogs that have received awards and they have them all on the sidebar so nice and neat and it's obvious they've gotten the award.  Well, I've actually received this award before, but it was back in like September.  However, when I received it, I'm not sure if I ever actually told those 15 people I nominated them.  In fact, I'd be willing to bet I didn't.  I would link to the post, but again, the slow internet prohibits me from doing so.

Here are some questions I have:
1.  See above-do you have an external hard drive?  I have a USB flash drive, but am curious about these hard drives...are they good, would you recommend, etc.
2.  Blog design-I put a butt load of work into designing my button (which I'm not even sure if it works) and my header, but I'm wondering if I should totally redesign it all.  I would ideally like to figure out how to do something on my own, but that takes a lot of time.  I know some of you have paid to have someone do yours-were you pleased?  Did you think the price was worth it?  I'm also 99.99% sure if I tried to do it myself, it would totally look like I did it myself.  Yeah, you know what I mean.
3.  Do you already feel like Winter Break never happened?  I totally almost fell asleep on my way home from work today.  Which is really sad because a had a Cherry Coke Zero at our faculty meeting after school.  The hot topic today:  uniforms...do we strictly enforce?  What about kids that don't have them, etc.  I have to admit, as I sat there nodding my head, I felt a teeny tiny bit like Kristin (pun totally intended).  Again, I'd link to her post about this, but I refuse to wait 10 minutes for the page to load. 
Speaking of Kristin, I was super excited to see we have the same taste in books.  I totally feel like we could be BFFs IRL if she didn't live on the other side of the country.  I know she does since I totally read up on the beach meet up her, Hadar, and some other fabulous ladies had.  And she took a day trip to Malibu. 

So I suppose those are all of my questions.  I can't believe I've been on the computer since I got home and haven't done one thing for work.  I spent a good 30 minutes photoshopping a goofy family picture to send to my MIL...ahh, the time I can waste :)  We're almost to the weekend!

P.S.  I REALLY hope that is the correct link to Hadar's blog.  If not, I'm slightly embarrassed, but I blame it on the internet...it wouldn't open it up for me!

P.P.S.  Do y'all use the spell checker on blogger?  It drives me batty.  Why does internet need to be capitalized?  And I had some spelled correctly and I guess it just chose to ignore the last letter.  Okay, just wondering if anyone else noticed these idiosyncrasies. 

First Day Back & a Freebie

Well, I did it.  I survived the first day back.

Okay, I'm only kidding.  It really wasn't bad.  I was glad to see my kiddos and enjoyed hearing about all the goodies they got for Christmas. 

I wasn't as tired as I thought I would be.  Well, let me rephrase that.  I wasn't as tired this morning as I thought I would be, because I can do one night of minimal sleep.  I didn't get tired until I came home and sat down to check facebook check pinterest blog stalk do lesson plans.  Yes, I've gotten lots of lesson planning done...sure.

Something notable that happened today was I found out I'm losing one of my kiddos.  Tomorrow.  It kills me.  This particular student had a rough year in 2nd grade.  This kiddo is so bright and so sweet and I was just really sad.  I had an all boys class today since both of my girls were out, although I'm pretty sure one of them is also gone permanently.  Again, another sweetheart.  Plus, these two students are two of my higher students so that's another reason I hate to see them go.  I know they would do well on the state test and make our school proud.

Okay, off of that soapbox, I just had to share. 

Thanks to those of you for your comments on my last post.  Chrissy B, you literally had me laughing out loud.  My things do the same "whee" trip from school and back.

It was freezing here today.  I refused to go outside.  My kiddos were thrilled to find out we would have indoor recess.  Do your kids like indoor recess?  Mine love it for some strange reason.  I like it because I can sit and try to get organized while they're playing.  I allow two kids to play on the SMART Board and this was an interaction I heard today between them:
A:  It's my turn!
B.  No, it's still my turn.  You gotta give a brother a minute!
Then, they accidentally hit the orientation button, and of course just randomly hit a few of the centers.  It was nowhere near oriented and I had a good laugh watching them try to navigate writing and erasing.  SO funny.

The hubsters loves the show Storage Wars.  It has been on pretty much since we got home.  Have y'all seen this show?  It is kind of addicting. 

I feel like I should share something with you, since you had to deal with my rambling.  Not sure if it would be helpful, but it would probably only be to those of you who have a bathroom in your classroom.  This is what I used.  It seems to work and the kiddos know if they yell the issue out then they have to take care of it.  Maybe this is helpful?  I don't know.  Hope you're doing well!


Bathroom Sign In

Why Do I Do This To Myself?

Ugh, kill me now!  I told myself when I brought home all of this work that I should do it in the beginning of my break so I wouldn't be trying to finish my lesson plans, grading, and filling out paperwork today.  Did I do that?  Of course not!  Please tell me I'm not the only one.  I know there have to be others out there.
Okay, well lets be honest...I bring home lots of work all the time and never get to any half of it.  It just makes me feel productive to bring it home, even if it never leaves my car :)

So today, after seeing USC kick some butt in the Capital One Bowl, I have been working on redoing my long range plan all day.  Then I had to finish my lesson plans. 

I do have to say we have been very productive in cleaning out our house.  Seriously, how did we accumulate so much crap?  Well, I know.  I'm a hoarder.  Not like the people on that show, but I keep boxes that things come in, just in case they don't work and I have to take it back and receipts from 2009!  What?!  I also kept everything from when I taught 5th grade.  Why do I need 20 copies of a test on Forces & Motion?  How bout just keep one and if I end up teaching 5th grade again, I'm pretty sure they'll still have copiers then :)

We have a large Goodwill pile, including a whole other pile upstairs and an even larger trash pile.  I-yi-yi.  I'm embarrassed to put all of the boxes and old school things at the road! 

I'll leave you with this beauty.  I ♥ Alshon Jeffrey, even if he did get ejected from the game!



I'm off to be productive...or at least attempt to be :)  If you had to go back today, I hope it was a good one.  Tomorrow is going to be rough for me!

Getting Older

So, it's New Years Eve and I have spent the entire freaking day working on cleaning the house.  And it still looks awful.  I reminded the hubsters that it has to get worse before it gets better.  Ugh, I just want to blink and it be done.  I am achy all over from scrub mopping our bathroom floor which probably hasn't been mopped in a year...GROSS.

We could've gone to my parents house, but I prefer not to be out and about on NYE.  Last year was really nice.  Can you guess what we were doing/where we were based on the picture?

We were on a cruise!  It was super fun, BUT we had to disembark the next morning, so we couldn't party too hardy.  Plus, we're old.  We're both struggling to stay up now.

Well, we're not old, but we act like we're old.  My family always jokes that they have to call me before 8 or I'll already be asleep.  I'm content staying home as opposed to going out.  These are the reasons I say that we're old.

Another thing that made me feel old?  One day at work, one of my kids was talking about how long they could hold their breath.  It, naturally, reminded me of the Friends episode where Joey has been holding his breath for 6 minutes (but has been breathing through his nose the whole time) & then freaks out when Chandler (I think?) plugs up his nose.  So I'm thinking out loud and I start to tell my kids about this show called Friends.  Well I about fell over when they all said "Oh yeah!"  I teach in a high poverty school and my kiddos are not the type that would just watch Friends, at least I didn't think.  You know what they told me?  It's on Nick at Night.  Did y'all know this?  Back in my day, the shows that were on Nick at Night were I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, & The Brady Bunch.  What the heck is Friends doing on there?  Well sure enough, I just watched it on Nick at Night.  Couldn't believe it.  Totally makes me feel old.

Okay, the ball is about to drop just dropped and then I'm hittin the 'hay.  After I read a little bit of course.  Speaking of which, have you seen The Best Endings?  It's a new blog all about reading and books.  I am in love!  Go check it out :)