Dare To Dream #tptsellerchallenge Week 2

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to share my post for the TPT Seller Challenge. Week 2 was to DrEaM bIg! 

I actually started working on this post at the beginning of the week and things got crazy

• 4th grade graduation on Wednesday
• Last day of school on Thursday
• Summer job began on Friday

So here it is...

Inspire others: I feel so inspired by all the amazing bloggers, TPTers, IGers that I follow and hope to someday be a part of inspiring others with my products/ideas. 

Pay off my student loans: Because I HAD to attend a private college and LIVE there (its as only 15 minutes from my house) and then attend this same college for grad school, I have pretty hefty college loans. I wouldn't change my college experience though, everything about it was amazing! :o)

Get my doctorate: Someday...

Travel: I don't travel nearly as much as I would like to. I would love to go on another cruise, I have never been to Disney, I dream of visiting Hawaii...anywhere warm and sunny is on my list! 

Thanks again to Amber, Ashley, Emily, and Jen for creating this super challenge! 

Thanks for reading! 

Makeover {MADNESS} #tptsellerchallenge Week 1

I did it!

I took the jump and joined and the TPT Seller Challenge started by these amazing ladies:

 

I was beginning to get nervous that I wasn't going to complete the first challenge (makeover a current TPT item) in time because I am still in school. Our last day is this coming Thursday. 

But...I did it! 

And I couldn't be more excited about it! 

I cleaned up my Brag Tags and added a couple more sheets to the product! 

I cannot wait to be out of school now so that I can work on updating the rest of my Brag Tags and adding to my to store! 

Thanks for reading! 

Jumping on the Bandwagon...or Pirate Ship

In an effort to get back into blogging regularly, I am excited to share that I am joining Amanda, The Primary Gal in her Learn Like a Pirate book study! 

In Chapter 1: What is a Student-Led Classroom? Paul describes forward-thinking teachers as teachers who "want to encourage students to take on more responsibility and ownership over their learning." That's ME! I mean - I want this for my students, but I have yet to accomplish this fully. 

In reading, I use a merged Guided Reading/Readers' Workshop model and I started Guided Math this year. In reflecting on these times, as well as writing and social studies, I find myself thinking that my students do a lot of small group, collaborative work, but I feel like they do not have complete ownership or responsibility over this work. 

Paul mentions that student-led classrooms are classrooms where students are making decisions throughout the day without consulting the teacher, although they understand that the teacher does have the ultimate say. This does NOT typically happen in my classroom. In fact, it freaks me out just a little A LOT because I am a self-proclaimed CoNtRoL fReAk!! 

I am so excited to continue reading Learn Like a Pirate, especially because Paul also describes student-led classrooms as having teacher-led instruction, through mini-lessons, in the middle of the lesson. Again, I stopped to reflect. I mean, I begin my lessons with a turn-and-talk about a question, or a quick initiating activity, but the "beginning" of my lesson is typically teacher-led. 

Paul does not make it sound like this is just a wave-your-magic-wand classroom management strategy, he makes it perfectly clear that, as with just about anything, these skills need be modeled and practiced on a daily basis in order for them to become habits. 

At the end of the chapter, Paul suggests that you begin building relationships with students before they even enter your classroom. We often talk at school about walking by students in the hallway in the morning and saying "hello" to them, only to receive silence in return. I will keep trying, keep saying my "hello" and "good morning" and compliments in the hallway! 

Like what you've read? You'll love this book! The first chapter is quick and easy, you have can catch up in no time! Click on over to The Primary Gal and link-up with the book study. I love reading everyone else's thoughts on this book! 

Happy Reading! 

Five for Friday-ish

It has been a very long time since I have blogged and even longer since I linked up with Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. 

I am trying to get back into blogging regularly and think this is the perfect way to start. 

A couple of weeks ago I was inspired by one of my favorite IGers, Rachel at Third Grade Cupcakes. She posted the most adorable countdown to PARCC, so I borrowed and tweaked this idea to use as a countdown to MCAS. 

Monday was 2 days to the test and the kiddos were able to choose their own seats. 

Continuing with our MCAS countdown, one day before testing, kiddos were able to write with pen for the day! 

Wednesday brought the first day of testing. And with the first day of testing came motivational letters from my students parents. Extra Special Teaching has a Parent Testing Letter freebie on TPT that I sent home with all of my students and the looks on their faces when they received their parents' letter were priceless! Click on the link below to check out the great resource! 

I could not believe how hard my kiddos worked this year on THE TEST! In 8 years, I have never had a group of kiddos that worked as long and as hard as these kiddos! These students earned themselves a little treat after testing on Thursday! 

This treat contained a fancy mechanical pencil, scented Crayola marker (we are obsessed with all things smelly!) and a brag tag for Excellent Effort on ELA MCAS. I was able to use the adorable Valentine treat bags that I never used on Valentine's, too! :o)

Finally, it is that time of year in 4th grade when spring fever sets in. I have a handful of difficult boys in my class this year, and lately they are in serious need of taking more control over their behavior. In order to review how to have good character, we have been reviewing character traits with read alouds and finding evidence of these traits in our Wonder read aloud. 

 Thanks for reading! XoXo

100 RAKs to 30

In college we celebrated 100 Days to Graduation. 

Over break I was thinking about New Year's resolutions and turning 30 in April. 

Combine these memories and thoughts and you have my personal challenge: 100 RAKs to 30. Each day for the 100 days leading up to my 30th birthday, I will complete one Random Act of Kindness. 

I started on New Year's day by scouring Pinterest for RAK ideas and compiled my own list of 100. 

Yesterday was day 1 of 100. One of the DJs on our local station is running Boston to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. My first RAK was my donation to Broadway's Boston Marathon team for St. Jude. You can check out his story here. 

I will be sharing my progress via Instagram in the hopes of holding myself more accountable and inspiring others to complete RAKs. 

Finally, for day 2, I am sharing my list of 100 RAKs, to hopefully give others some ideas and share ways to Pay It Forward! 

Thanks for reading. 

Happy Sunday (it would be happier if we had a few more days of break)! 

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!! 

Sunday Scoop

It has been so long since I last blogged, that I was unaware of the Sunday Scoop linky, from Teaching Trio. I discovered the linky through Lisa over at Grade 4 Buzz and fell in love with the blog Teaching Trio. The ladies, Kristen, Juliet, and Cassie, have the most adorable blog going on. I am so glad to have discovered this little treasure! :o) Click on the link below to check out this brilliant blog and linky for yourself! 

Happy Sunday of Winter Break! Enjoy a free and careless Sunday night. Thanks for reading! 

New Year's Resolution and Goals for 2015http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lWSy1uFy9r0/Ur9d0YHr2CI/AAAAAAAAPvs/Y2vC9Yhu6JA/s320/Slide2.JPG

OMG, I have been MIA for much too long! I'm pretty my last 4 or 5 posts have all begun that way, but as you will all notice, 2015 WILL bring me back to blogging. I was really loving it when I got started and am looking forward to making the time to get back into it. 

So what better place to start that by linking up with Jessica at Second Grade Nest to share my goals for 2015. 

I would like to take a class or two to earn credits towards my Master's +15. I am debating about a second Master's (in administration), CAGS, etc., but it wouldn't hurt to take a class or two before I decide my next step for sure. 

Blogosphere "profession" - I will blog at least twice a week, but hopefully 3 times a week! 

Get in shape! Get the gym/run at least 3 times each week. Also, I have been wanting to run a 5K (not much, I know...it's a start) and our school has one in April - that will be my first. 

I shouldn't even admit this, but I will be 30 in April and I don't cook. I can bake, I can handle apps, but dinners - YIKES!! I will learn to cook, and hopefully like it, this year! 

At almost 30, I have never been to Disney. This is the place that I would like to visit this year. 

Oh dear, I am not brave in trying new foods. If I'm trying to get in shape, I should try to eat healthier, so I'm going to say that I would like to try to improve my like for vegetables. 

I would like to learn how to sew. 

Craft. I love to be crafty, but I am always so busy that I don't do enough of it. I need to slow down and take more time to do the things I am pinning, instead of just pinning the pretty crafts! :o)

I already I mentioned that I want to run my school's 5K. I know this isn't huge, but I have never been much of a runner and I am pretty out of shape, so I think that my school's 5K, on the day before my 30th birthday, is the perfect place to start. 

Now, click on the link below to head over to Jessica's blog, Second Grade Nest, and share your Resolutions and Goals! 

Thanks for reading! 

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)