Currently ** January 2015

2015, seriously? Wasn't it just 2000?! In 2000 I was...

* A freshman in high school

* Turning 15

* Listening to 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Britney

* Watching Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, ER, the final episodes of Boy Meets World and 90210

* Dancing on the first (and only) dance team at our high school

...oh my!! 

Okay, enough of that lovely flashback, I will withhold sharing scary photos of this point in my life. 

I am CURRENTLY wicked excited by making into Farley's linky in the first 30! That's a first! Woohoo!!

<< Insert happy dance here >>

Listening - For anyone following me on Instagram, I just finished Parenthood and I didn't want to start anything new because I need to focus on planning for the next couple of weeks, so back to an oldie but goodie, it is! 

Loving - A local college has an accelerated MBA program that puts student teachers in the classroom from January to the end of the school district's year (not the college's spring semester). So my student teacher, who is just about my age, will be gradually working up to a 2-week take-over, but will then stay with us a co-teacher for the rest of the school year. I am thinking that this could work out VERY well! I am so excited to plan for small groups and so much more with another teacher in the classroom! :o)

Thinking - January is going to be a busy month: Busy weekends - Patriots play-off tickets!, RETELL coming to an end and capstone project to complete, student teacher joining us. I would like to plan ahead, we'll see how this goes. Also, I cannot help but think about having about 9 weeks until testing starts...UGH!!

Wanting - For those of you who noticed in my little introduction, if I turned 15 in 2000, that means I turn 30 this April! Eeeeek!! I have very mixed feelings about this birthday. But I plan to make this year a fun and memorable one for sure! 

Needing - RETELL to be all done! Two more classes and a capstone presentation...I think I can, I think I can...

Finally, 

YES - I will run my first 5K for my school the day before my 30th birthday. 

MAYBE - It has been 3 years since I completed my Master's program and it's time to start something new. I am just not sure what something new will be. Sometimes I think about Administration, sometimes I think about a Doctorate in Education. Maybe this is the year to make a decision. 

I WISH - To expand my itty-bitty TPT store. This should be more than an I wish, but I just cannot find the time to sit down and create the way that I wish I could. Hopefully this turns out to be more and I become more accomplished on TPT, we'll see. 

Have a safe and fun New Year's Eve and Happy 2015 Bloggy Friends!! 

Labor Day Link-Ups

Happy Labor Day! Happy September! Happy Monday! Happy Back To School Week! 

Why is it that in the summer I think, "I will finally have time to blog," and then in September I think, "Where did the summer go; why didn't I blog?" School starts this week, so it seems appropriate to kick-off school year blogging with Farley's Currently and Mrs. Laffin's A Peek at My Week! 

LISTENING: I have never watched Glee on TV, but as I working on all things school related a couple of weeks ago, I was looking for some Netflix background noise. OMG what I have been missing for the last few years?! Music, Broadway, movies - Glee is all of my favorite things rolled into one show. <3

LOVING: At my school we only have one week to set-up our classrooms. It stresses me out, but I managed to get MOST of it done this past week. There are still some little things that I will work on tomorrow and Wednesday, so hopefully Wednesday night I will be able to share some pics. I LOVE how it turned out this year! :o)

THINKING: About my To Do list...so many things that I still need to do before the kiddos come to school on Thursday. 

WANTING: As excited as I am to meet my new 4th graders, I would love one more week. But we all know that teachers are never really "ready," there is always ONE MORE THING to do, so I'm sure that even with another week, I still wouldn't be "ready." 

NEEDING: Along with one more week, I could also use a few more hours in the day. We haven't even really had our first week yet and I am already exhausted...oops! 

3 Trips: Disney - Yes, you read that correctly, I am 29 years old and have never been to Disney. One of these days...

Nashville - My best friend lived in Nashville a couple of years ago and with her schedule and my school schedule, I never made it out there. She is a travel nurse and fell in love with Tennessee so hopefully she will return and I will get to visit this time. I sure do <3 my country music! 

Vegas - I hate gambling would love to see and do everything else in Vegas! 

Now for a Peek at My First Week back at school. 

Last week we had 9 new 4th graders register for school, today I will prepare things for the 3 new kiddos that will be in my class as well as various other back to school tasks that I still need to finish. These tasks are being planned a family BBQ that I will most definitely be making time for today, too! 

Tomorrow we will have our district convocation and then some time to work in our classrooms and first staff meeting of the year. 

I am looking forward to some district PD on close reading. I have done my own reading on close reading, but I am looking forward to what our literacy coach has to share with us. 

Day 1 with kiddos!! YAY!! 

Day 2 with kiddos. Procedures and routines are the name of the game this week. My first chapter book read aloud will be "No Talking" by Andrew Clements. We will be doing some community building such as Saving Fred and some Toothpaste words. The kiddos will also need to take a couple of Math tests, placement test and end of the year benchmark to test to be used as a DDM. It will be a busy, but mostly fun, couple of days! 

Thanks for reading! :o)

July Currently

I can't believe it's Currently time again! I love Farley's Currently linky, but it just reminds me of how fast time flies. Although this is a pleasant first of the month, it is also my first full week of vacation. And of course I use the term vacation very lightly, because I am still working this month; August will be my real vacation. 

I think things are pretty self-explanatory this time around. I had jury duty for the very first time today - I am 29 years old and this was my first one! Luckily I was at one of the smaller courts in my area and we were all dismissed by 10:15. Yay! I am also very lucky that my amazing summer boss told me to enjoy the rest of my day when I called to tell her I was on my way to work! :o)

As for Toby Keith, one of our local country stations posted a link on Facebook yesterday to a 4th of July ticket sale. It said that lawn tickets were on sale, but when I tried to Toby Keith link I actually found some mid-pavillion tickets for $20 each! So exciting!! 

Finally, I claimed an old, rather disheveled looking bookcase from school a couple of weeks ago. I was planning on purchasing one, so when I was this one looking for a new home I simply couldn't resist. Aside from being in dire need of a new paint job, it is in great shape. I also plan to bring home an old rocking chair from my gram's house that I will paint to match my bookcase. 

Thanks for reading! :o)

Currently - A Peek at my Week

Today's post will be a linky 2-for-1! I am linking up with Farley's Currently *yay* and Jennifer's A Peek at my Week! 

I am LISTENING to Army Wives on Netflix. This used to be one of my favorite shows, then when they changed the cast, I decided I wouldn't watch it. I caved and watched season 7 the other day, so now I had to start over from the beginning again. 

I am LOVING our 10-day forecast! It finally looks and feels like spring here in Western Massachusetts! :o) My allergies are not thrilled, but I will deal; I love the springtime! Those are finally 60s and 70s that I see! 

I am THINKING about the 39 days that we have left of school. Yes, you read that correctly...THIRTY-NINE days! We start school after Labor Day...teachers begin on Tuesday and students begin on that Thursday, therefore, we still have 39 days to go. Our last day is June 26th. 

I am WANTING a day at the beach. I am pretty sure that if I were to look back at all of the currently's that I have posted in the last year, they would all have something about the beach in them. Hopefully Memorial Day weekend! 

I am NEEDING to get organized for Mother's Day. I have shopping to do for Mom and Grandma...and with the test-prep, Poetry Night preparations, and Student Treasures publishing that we have been working on, I haven't started my Mother's Day project with my kiddos yet. I have lots to do this week. 

SURPRISE, Theresa and Robyn! I adore Pinkadots Elementary. These two ladies have outstanding ideas and are lots of fun to follow. If you don't know them, head over and check out their amazing blog. During this teacher appreciation week, I would like to thank you, Theresa and Robyn, for inspiring me to be a better teacher with your incredible ideas. :o)

Now, for a quick, peek at my week! Jennifer at Mrs. Laffin's Laughings hosts the weekly A Peek at my Week. This is going to be a pretty exciting teacher appreciation week! 

Our state department of education has some new CCSS resources. One of these resources is a model unit for determining literary themes using Tuck Everlasting. I want to try out this unit, but I know that the majority of my kiddos will not be reading this text independently, so I am tweaking the lessons to use as Tuck Everlasting as a read aloud. We will begin this unit this week. You can find the link to the model unit here. 

This our last week before our math MCAS. That means that this week we will be finessing up our final topic, which happens to be geometry and prepping for THE TEST! I cannot wait until testing is over for the year! 

So much to do. I will be using my writing time this week to complete our Student Treasures book publishing work, the kiddos' Poetry Night presentation boards, and our Mother's Day projects. I completed these Mother's Day projects with my kiddos last year and they came out very cute. You can check them out in my itty-bitty TPT store that is on sale for the teacher appreciation event! 

Tomorrow is my final college class. That means I have lots of grading and grade inputting this week. I cannot believe how fast this class by, but I am looking forward to having the opportunity to teach another class in the future! 

If you follow me on Instagram, I posted this little gem this weekend:

My family, 2 amazing teamies and I will be attending a reception on Thursday to celebrate all of the winners of the Excellence in Teaching Award! :o) 

Thanks for sticking with me through this rather lengthy post. Happy Sunday and have a wonderful teacher appreciation week! 

*APRIL* Currently

My 1st bloggiversary is coming up quickly and looking back, my blogging has been very sporadic...especially since school began in September. I am going to seriously try to get to 2 blog posts a week. I haven't even been reading many blogs and I miss it...I just don't know where the last 7 months have gone. 

It makes me excited that on the 1st of this month I am able to link up with Farley's currently! :o)

Listening: Behind as usual, so I'm catching up on last week's Grey's. 

Loving: Today it was about 55 and SUNNY!! Kiddos went outside for both recesses and P.E. and most of us didn't even need to wear coats! I truly think I suffer from that seasonal depression, because the sun and warmth make me instantly happier and more productive! Let's hope spring is finally here to stay. 

Thinking: This is my first semester teaching a (mostly) graduate class at the college that I attended. Sadly, I found out today that a graduate student in this class passed away last night. Although I do not know her family, I have been thinking of them all day. Such sad news :o(

Wanting: I cannot wait for the beach! It is my happy place!

Needing: Ugh, these new teacher evaluations. Our evidence and summaries are due on May 1st...I need to get moving. 

Kiddos hours: 8:55 - 3:25

My hours: 7:30 - 4:00

After reading many currentlys this afternoon, I am convinced that my district will be one of the last ones to get out of school this year...YIKES! And that was only with 4 snow days. 

Thanks to Farley for giving us something to look forward to every month! :o)

Currently: January

2 posts in one day after not posting for nearly 4 months, I think so!

Let's be honest here, it's not a true blog-comeback without linking up with Farley's Currently.

Here it is:

I am currently obsessed with Britney Spears again. A friend from high school is one of Britney's dancers in Vegas - so cool! I have watched the new documentary a couple of times and have been finding videos on Youtube to watch...it is so exciting to find Sarah dancing away on stage with Britney. My theory is: If I danced with Sarah (high school dance team) and now Sarah is dancing with Britney Spears, in theory I have danced with Britney Spears! Hey, a girl can dream! 

I got the cutest Alex and Ani Buddha ring for Christmas, it makes me happy to see it dangling away on my finger while I type. 

After a full two weeks off (snow days on Thursday and Friday), I have pretty much lived in yoga pants. Work clothes, what are those? 

One of my friends posted this on Facebook this week 

Along with not blogging, I have always dropped the ball on my TPT endeavor. I must get back into creating (or attempting to create anyway). 

And finally, my favorite Christmas tradition in my stocking. I love the goodies that my mom Santa always finds to put in my stocking...it is my favorite part! :o)

As always, thanks for reading! 

Ready or not...it's AUGUST!

Now that I blog, I love the beginning of the month for the great linkies that come with it! Today, on August 1st, I am linking up with Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade and Jessica from I {heart} Recess. 

Here is my August Currently:

LISTENING: I love Netflix. It allows me to have all of my guilty pleasures right at my fingertips. Currently, I am rewatching Grey's Anatomy. 

LOVING: I have been busy with the summer reading clinic that I am working at for 5 weeks. Tomorrow is our last day. This means, ice cream party and Charlotte's Web. Our read aloud was Charlotte's Web and the kiddos cannot wait to watch the movie; most have seen it, but they like it! It's a good one! :o)

THINKING: I go back to school on Tuesday, September 3rd, so after the clinic ends tomorrow, I have exactly one month before I go back to school. I also have mile-long to do lists...ahhhh!!

WANTING: I CANNOT wait to get into my classroom. My family cannot wait either because my belongings are taking over this house. From what I understand, typically teachers cannot work in their classroom until the last week in August, but being a new teacher to the building, I will be allowed in earlier. You better believe that I'll be stopping by on Monday morning to find out when I can get to work!

NEEDING: I have started so many projects, like really started and started in my mind, that I haven't finished because of the reading clinic, that I have a lot of work to do this month. 

And now, my B2S13 goals, 

PERSONAL: I have always been very dedicated to my job. My first few years teaching, I was at school to and through dinner time at least 3 days a week. Now I am beginning a new job, teaching a new grade level, in a new school. I mustn't procrastinate, I must be very efficient, I must try to maintain a real-life, a fun life outside of school! Maybe only one late night at school...or two, maybe two. 

ORGANIZATION: Last year was an off year, no evaluation for me. Now, being a new teacher again, I will be evaluated this year. This will be my first eval with our new evaluation system, so I must be sure to keep my evidence binder up to date so that I'm not scrounging and running around at the last minute. 

PLANNING: With a new grade level comes new standards. With a new district comes real guided reading, no basal! :o) A new math series, too. I am looking forward to freshening up my teaching style and making my instruction more meaningful to how the kiddos will really need the knowledge in their outside lives. 

PROFESSIONAL: In creating my I Can statements for 4th grade, I was beginning to get used to the 4th grade standards. I do not know them nearly as well as I knew third grade. I need to become more familiar so that I am able to make connections and focus on the necessary areas. 

STUDENTS: I find it important to have high expectations for my kiddos, but I also want them to be excited about coming to school every day. 

MOTTO: I am a bit of a perfectionist, I must do things on my own because if something is wrong I would prefer it to be my fault not someone else's. I am rather competitive and I tend to take things personally. I say "it is what it is" all the time, but I need to start living by, it is what is, and not getting so worked up over little things. 

Thanks for reading! :o)

JULY...oh my! Currently and Goals

As I scroll through Bloglovin' and see everyone's post titles it seems this year/summer is flying for everyone. We all seem very surprised that it is ALREADY July! And by already, I clearly mean tomorrow. In any case, July's currently and goals.

First, I am linking up with the famous Currently linky hosted by Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

Listening to One Tree Hill. When all else fails, this is my pick for background noise. The older episodes were so much better than the last couple of seasons before the finale. 

Loving getting ready to be a 4th grade teacher in my hometown. My wallet is not loving this so much, but I am having so much fun shopping for my new classroom!

Thinking about what I am going to do this week at the reading clinic that I am working at. For the last 2 summers I did this reading clinic at my college as part of my Reading Specialist practicum. This year I was asked to come back...and be PAID! Woohoo! It is only 9:30-12:00 for 5 weeks. This year I have 7 kiddos, most of whom are going into 2nd grade. 

Wanting a full day of sun. I tend to post frequently about the weather/my desire to get to the beach. After getting out of school on Wednesday, I had to spend Thursday and Friday preparing for the reading clinic. Weekend weather has not been the greatest here in Western Mass lately and although it has been hot and humid, they have been predicting showers and thunderstorms on a daily basis. This weather is killing the little bit of tan that I did have. 

Needing to get ready for tomorrow. I have most of my things packed, but we are working at the "homework house," in a rather underprivileged area, so I have to bring most of the supplies I will need/want. So much to think about. 

Tips, tricks, and hints: Do what you love, love what you do. Pretty self-explanatory, no?!

As usual, if you haven't do so yet, click below to link up with one of the best linkies around! :o)

I refuse to go back and read my June goals. I think that I set my "goals" far too high every month and don't achieve them. We'll see how I do this month. Check out Jess's July Goals linky at I {heart} Recess to set your own goals for this month. 

I believe these goals speak for themselves...I don't think I need to add any descriptions. Maybe in August I will be able to tell you about all of the wonderful things that I achieved this month! ::fingers crossed::

Finally, my teacher friend who is the cutest new mom that I know, posted a photo today of my first meeting with Baby Jacob! If you follow me on Instagram you have already seen this cutie pie, but I have to share again! 

Thanks for reading! 

JUNE: Currently and Goals

Happy June, Friends! We are down to 18 more days of school...we're getting there, slowly but surely. Before I get to my June linkys, I have to share some exciting news! A couple of weeks ago I blogged about how my teaching buddy was expecting and that we were so hoping she would have the baby over the weekend. Well, she did not and Friday was her last day of school before her maternity leave, as her due date was yesterday, June 1st! The last couple of weeks we have had some nasty, hot and humid days, and she was a trooper, working right up to the end! I am happy to announce that she and her husband welcomed their little man into the world yesterday, on his due date! I cannot wait to meet this little cutie pie! :o)

Now, onto Farley's June currently...one of my faves!

LISTENING: The weather here in New England has been crazy. Last weekend, at this time, I was bundled up in winter pj's and slippers...today we have the AC on because it is already hot and humid at 7:00 am. Whatever happened to spring? Although, I am very grateful that we are having this weather and not tornados. My heart breaks for everyone affected by the Oklahoma weather. 

LOVING: There are some K-Cup flavors (pumpkin spice) that I can only drink in the fall/winter. French Toast is a winter limited edition, but I found some the other day at the Bon-Ton and they are always delicious!

THINKING: This one is a bit of a teaser, as I won't post yet why I am thinking about Tuesday. It is school/career related, but I will leave it at that. Hopefully I will be able to post on this soon. Tuesday is also the estimated arrival date of my Erin Condren teacher planner...woohoo!!

WANTING: June 26th is our last day of school. It seems like it is still a lifetime away. I know it will go by quickly because there are so many meetings, field trips, events, etc. but it is such a hectic/stressful time of year. 

NEEDING: I have been posting about the beach since I started blogging and although I got to put my feet in the sand on a chilly day a couple of weeks ago, I still have not made it there on a nice summer day. 

Speaking of the beach, a perfect beach day is with my iced coffee in one hand and a book in the other. And of course I need my phone, mostly for picture taking purposes. 

If you haven't done so yet, click the picture below to link up with Farley's FUN linky!

Another favorite linky of mine is Jess's Monthly Goals. Check it out at I {heart} Recess. 

I have to be honest and say I was terrible with my May goals. Hopefully I will do better in June. 

PERSONAL: Although my summer doesn't begin until June 26th, I hope to make more time for fun outside of school this month. 

FAMILY: I live at home with my mom and younger brother still and my poor mother does most of the cooking. I bake, but I rarely cook. I must cook!

HEALTH: I tried the gym goal last month and that didn't go well, so I will try to eat healthier. 

SCHOOL: I haven't begun to pack up my classroom yet, as we still have 3 and a half weeks, but I have been trying to clean-up, purge, and reorganize. 

BLOG/TPT: I have been lucky if I blog once a week, so I need to do better with that. I also need to grow my very itty-bitty TPT store. 

READ: I have started reading Choice Words by Peter Johnston. An incredible professor that I had for several classes, recommended this book. So far it is wonderful. It is a short book, but a great refresher. For a fun read, I just picked up Home Front by Kristin Hannah. I have read most of her books and I love them all! 

Again, if you haven't do so yet, click on the picture below to link up with Jess. 

CURRENTLY...May & 14 Cows

It was killing me today to sit through a six-hour professional development workshop, with my computer  in front of me and not link up with Farley's May Currently. I am finally home and linking up! :o)

Listening - I am sitting outside in my lovely lime green adirondack chair listening to the breeze, the birds, and my neighbors who are out on their decks! I just L-O-V-E springtime! 

Loving - While I sit here posting, on my deck, it is currently 78 degrees...not sunny on the deck right now, but I'll take it!

Thinking - While I was sitting through PD today, I was trying to check in with my substitute. Luckily my principal let my very amazing friend and colleague cover my class today. She is the paraprofessional in my classroom for MOST of the day and she also did her student teaching in my classroom in the fall. With my tough crew this year, I think we decided it was better to leave someone in the room that knew the kids rather than a random sub. I was able to check in during prep and lunch to see how they were doing, but it still worries me when I am not there because of some of the behaviors. Crossing my fingers that the kiddos had a good afternoon and bringing lots of chocolate to my amazing sub/para/friend tomorrow. 

Wanting - One of the teachers returned from lunch with frozen yogurt today and I have been dying for it ever since. Dessert tonight?

Needing - This week has been great because I have been wearing my spring clothes, which I love! Now the problem is the pasty white skin...I need some color!

Summer Bucket List - Summer job is still up in the air, but I intended to spend as much time as possible at the beach this summer. It is about an hour and 45 minutes from home, so I usually try to get there are least once a week! I know I will do school work as well...so many things already on my summer to-do list!

If you haven't linked up yet, head on over and share what is currently going on with you! 

I'm almost done...I have to share a book that I was introduced to today at my Keys to Comprehension workshop. Has anyone heard of/read 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy? Ahhh-mazing book! I am going to purchase it on Amazon as soon as I post this. It is listed in CCSS as an exemplar text for grades 2-3. Click here to check out the website. Our presenter used this as a model read-aloud lesson...and most of teared up. I can't wait to get the book, I am already planning all of the things that I can do with it. We were actually talking about how there is SO MUCH that can be done with this book that we don't even know where to start. Definitely check this book out, you'll be glad you did! 

Trying a Linky...

So I have been reading even more blogs than usual over the past few days now that I have decided to start blogging myself. I am excited to be joing, or trying to join, my first linky party. Hopefully this goes well, if my linky etiquette isn't up to par yet, I apologize. Please feel free to share any advice!

My first linky party is Oh' Boy 4th Grade's April Currently.

* Listening - Sunday morning, the dryer is running and of course I am catching up on the Grey's Anatomy that I missed this week. This is one show that I have been watching regularly since it began and although I don't watch it on Thursday nights, I never miss an episode!

* Loving - Right now, when I check the forecast, it tells me that Monday will be 70, Tuesday 77, and Wednesday 73! Finally, some warm weather!

* Thinking - I have been thinking about a new laptop for awhile now. I would love a Macbook, but I'm not quite sure I want to spend that much money right now.

* Wanting - A trip to the beach! My favorite beach, The Dunes at Misquamicut, in Westerly, RI, was flooded with Hurricane Sandy back in October. The beach has been restored and I want to get there more than ever this year! Less than 50 days to the Memorial Day weekend opening! Yay!

* Needing - I think that our kiddos, as well as the teachers, need spring break! One more week, we can do it! Our spring break falls in between our two state testing sessions. We have already taken ELA and will begin Math two weeks after break.

* Advice - If at first you don't succeed, try again! As I am brand new to blogging, I didn't really have too much advice. I have tried to start a blog several times of the last year or so and now I finally did it. So I guess the "try again" applies to me!

Enjoy your Sunday, Friends!
Have a great week!