Monthly Goals: Back to School Edition Linky!

I am very excited to be linking up with Jess over at  I {heart} Recess for her super fun linky party today! This was great for me to set a few goals for myself rather than have A ZILLION and one things in my mind that I would like to do!

Personal: Something I always put at the bottom of my list: me time and workouts! I want to focus on RELAXING when I can and boy-oh-boy do I need to get back on the workout and healthy eating bandwagon! I think I can...I think I can!! )

Organization: This may is hard to admit...but I am TERRIBLE about waiting until the last minute to post my grades! I mean I grade things every week, but posting online...not so much!  Please don't tell me I'm the ONLY one!

Planning: Two words: stay ahead! I am a professional procrastinator... I think I work better under pressure. Well, that's my excuse!

Professional:We are required to keep a class website at our school. Here's the thing though: of ALL websites, ours is without a shadow of a doubt the HARDEST to navigate of ANY website EVER! I am pretty good with technical stuff too. Did I mention I have been to two website trainings...that weren't even required to figure out the dang thing? UGH! Now that I have entered the bloggy world, I don't want to give it up! I love all the support and ideas we share as teachers. I think once a week is an achievable goal...don't you?!

Students: One of my goals every year is to instill the love of learning in my little nuggets. I try to make our learning as fun and engaging where they can't wait to learn something else. Another goal is to help them understand that we are all different and learn differently. Some of us learn quicker than others and some subjects are easier! Last year I had a child who came around January and completely disrupted our mojo we had going. He was the kind of student that all the teachers knew around the school and not because I had told them about him, he showed himself to them! I had so many students get frustrated with him because they didn't understand that he was "different" and couldn't catch on like they could and sometimes couldn't control his actions. I even found myself frustrated at times. I hope to create a learning community where my kiddos are loving and accepting to every one...even the ones who are "different."

Motto:"Every day may not be good...but there is something good in every day." This is such a positive outlook and I LOVE it! We all have those days where everything we would like to achieve in the classroom just doesn't happen how we plan it. Good news is that every day we get a fresh start!  Don't you love that?!

Can't wait to read all of your goals! If you haven't already, head on over to Jess' blog to link up! She does an awesome job of explaining how to do so! :)

Thanks for reading!

Sunday Smorgasbord!

Hello friends! Time to share the randomness of my week with you again! If you haven't already, head on over to Fabulous in First's blog to join up and share your random happenings of the week too! :)

 

{ONE}

 

Well, sadly I didn't accomplish much in my classroom this week. AH! What is the deal?! I still have a few weeks, but a lot to do. Maybe if I quit promising pics of progress, progress will ACTUALLY happen?!? Good thing stressed is desserts spelt backwards! Mmmm...Extreme Moose Tracks sounds good right about now! ;-)

{TWO}

Before

After

Although I didn't accomplish much in the classroom, I did accomplish some things around my house! This year I purchased and built my first home! I have lived in it about 5 months and thought it was time for a little sprucing up! This weekend I added a little curb appeal to my flower beds with the help of my not-so-little brother! I am pretty happy with how it turned out! :)

{THREE}

I bought a sewing machine in March and this summer I have finally had the time to try out a few sewing projects! I began by sewing the ever-popular chevron pattern curtains for my bedroom and now I have taught myself to sew burp cloths! I can't even count the number of my sweet friends that have little buns in the oven, so I thought this would be a good project to try! Here is my VERY first burp cloth! I am pretty happy with how it turned out...just don't look too close! ;-)

{FOUR}

I went to my hometown, Birmingham,  Friday night to spend some time with some of my closest friends! It was such a great time! Now that I am living in Huntsville I don't get to see them as much as I would like, but when we do get together we just pick up right where we left off.  It's funny that our gatherings usually end up with the boys downstairs (watching some kind of sporting event) and the girls upstairs (snacking and chatting), so there aren't any boys pictured here lol! I guess when you get married boys still have cooties! ;-) And by the way...this isn't the best pic, but we were trying out an app. Meg & Cindy might kill me for putting this on here lol! SOWWIE! <3

{FIVE}

Do you Birchbox? I just got my first one in this week and love it! I am currently on the waiting list for Ipsy. I heard the only difference is they send you real sized products instead of sample sized. Once I get an Ipsy box in I am going to decide which I like best and let ONE of the two be my treat each month! We all need to "sharpen the saw" every now & then...right?! What do you guys prefer? :)

{SIX}

Last, but not least, I wanted to remind you that I created and uploaded a few products to TPT this week! If you have a super hero theme or are a whole brain teacher, head on over to my TPT store to check them out! :)

Hope you all had a WONDERFUL week! Can't wait to read your posts!

Thanks for reading my randomness!! 

New TPT Product!

Hello friends! Friday is here again I am baffled by how quickly the summer is flying by! I seriously just had the ::dunn, dunn, dunn:: sound go off in my head! Ha!

Ok. Am I the only one who feels like all they do is walk circles in their classroom?? I was there today and seriously, I think all I accomplished in 3 hours was making a larger mess!! Hopefully next week I will get my act together and get some things DONE!

Now time for a shameless plug... Last night I uploaded a new TPT Product! It is a super leader themed poster pack for Stephen Covey's 7 Habits for Happy Kids. If you're interested, head on over to my TPT store to check it out!

Hope y'all have an AWESOME weekend! 

Thanks for reading!

 

I'm Diggin' It!

 

I am linking up with Christina tonight to share some of the things my kiddos were diggin' last year!

{1]

I lucked up last summer and scored some of these babies at Walmart to use for a classroom incentive with my kiddos! My "Special Supplies" reward was a favorite last year!! I even had to add a second set of super supplies because they were such a hit! Seems like these can hardly stay on the shelf now in stores! If you don't have any in your classroom...RUN!

{2}

This was one of the MANY craftivities we completed last year! I can't tell you how many packages of construction paper and glue sticks we went through! It was so cute to hear my kids excitement when I told them to take out their scissors and glue! :) This craftivity was adapted from the product created by the fabulous Amy Lemons! She is not only an amazing teacher, but such an inspirational christian woman!

{3}

Last year I did a celebrity theme in my classroom! My kids could hardly wait until it was their week to be the "Celebrity of the Week"! I am changing my classroom theme to Super Leaders this year. Looking at this pic makes me want to change my mind because they loved it so much! Let's hope my new kiddos enjoy the new theme just as much!

{4}

What teacher ..ahem.. student doesn't LOVE Junie B?! This series has ALWAYS been a favorite in my classroom. I love to read in my best Junie B. voice and listen to my kiddos giggle! Is there anything better than the laughter of a child?

{5}

 

My kids LOVE the Whole Brain Teaching chants! Last year was my first year full force with WBT and I was amazed!

Right now I am diggin' the teacher blogging gig! 

What did/are your kiddos dig in your classroom?? I can't wait to read your posts!

Thanks for reading! 

WBT Super Leader Rules

Happy Wednesday! I love Wednesday's during the summer because that means I am done with my summer job for the week! I work summer care at my school, and as much as I love my littles, it wears. me. OUT!

Well, last night I posted about my first TPT product! I wanted to show you how I decided to display it in my room to give you a better idea of how it could be used. At the beginning of the year, I spend the first few weeks focusing on the class rules, words, and gestures used with WBT. I hope this is a great tool to refer to while teaching my students the rules. I am also working on a few other super hero themed products that I hope to post in the next few weeks!


So, what do you guys think about my first TPT product? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for reading!

My 1st TPT Item!

Hello blogger buddies! This made me laugh! I feel like all I have been doing is blogging, working on TPT documents, Instagramming, and pinning on Pinterest here lately!

And..ahem...speaking of TPT items...I have some EXCITING news!!!

Oh-my-lanta, y'all!!! I am SO excited that I have just uploaded my very first TPT product! Please tell me I am not the only dweeb here!

Are you a Whole Brain Teacher? I discovered WBT about 3 years ago and am IN LOVE with this teaching method! Last year was the first year that I was really comfortable with this style of teaching. My oh MY did I see a difference in my students learning and engagement throughout the year! If you haven't heard of it, google it! I highly recommend researching and learning about it! I started by watching a million few videos on YouTube and went from there. A few videos I recommend are: Miss Freundlich- She is AMAZING! Mrs. Shipley- Kindergarten? Say WHAT?? :) And multiple, multiple more!! Chris Biffle, the WBT originator, even has a channel! YouTube and Pinterest are overflowing with WBT videos and ideas!

The product that I have uploaded is the WBT classroom rules. This year I am doing a super leader theme to go along with the leader in me program that my school is implementing. If you're intrested, hop on over to my TPT store using the link below and feel free to use my FREE product! All I ask is that if you download it, please follow me on TPT! I know I don't have much right now to offer, but in the next few weeks I will have much more super leader themed products to share with you! EEK! I am having a total dork moment. Judge me all you want! ;-)

WBT Super Leader Classroom Rules

Thanks for reading & happy almost Wednesday! 

Sunday Smorgasbord

Is it really Sunday again? Time needs to slow down, for realz!! I am joining up with Michelle at Fabulous in First to share the randomness of my week! 

{ONE}

I was able to work in my classroom 2 days this week! It was a total mess when I got in there! It is still a mess, but slightly more organized! I am really hoping to get more accomplished this week and have some better pictures for you next week.

{TWO}

I started working on what will be my first TPT items! This year I am doing a super leader theme and needed to update my behavior clip chart and other classroom decor! Tune in soon to check out my products on TPT! Exciting! :)

{THREE} 

Two of my best friends from college, Laura Beth & Sam,  visited me in Huntsville this weekend! I'm super sad we didn't get a picture together! WAH! They attended a Kindergarten conference and I was super jealous that they didn't have something for us firsties! It was a short visit, but I loved every second I had with them! There's nothing like Mexican, margaritas, and P.J talk time with the best friends around! By the way, check out Sam's blog & show her some love! She just updated her blog design! :)

{FOUR}

 

On Saturday, I had a much needed friend date with my sweet friend Katelyn! We went to Pepper Place Market & brunch at El Barrio. I love that girl to pieces and don't know what I would do without her! Y'all. Oh my goodness am I a sucker for a good farmers market!! Gorgeous flowers, fruits, veggies, jewelry, etc! I love supporting local farmers & other businesses! We have decided this will be a monthly occurrence for us. Oh and by the way, I have also decided my new favorite flowers are sunflowers!

{FIVE}

Today I dropped my little bro off at a 4 day baseball camp hosted by Auburn University! Can you tell he was excited? I am just hoping his "end of the world" sounding alarm clock we got him actually wakes him up in the mornings! That boy could sleep 'til dinner time if no one bothered to wake him up before. Hopefully this will be a great experience for him and help him become a better baseball player! We are so blessed to have this opportunity for him to attend at no cost thanks to his wonderful counseling program! And this camp isn't cheap, folks! It has been a very tough year & a half for us after losing our daddy unexpectedly. I can't explain how much it joys me to see him smile and be excited, because they have been few and far between lately. I love him with all of my heart and am so happy he has this opportunity! 

{SIX}

I want to leave this post with a little reality check for myself. I don't know about you guys, but I am often overwhelmed with the beginning of the year. Decorating, lesson plans, relating information to parents, the list is unending. I have already had a few sleepless nights worrying, planning and brainstorming. As I prepare for the beginning of the year, I am going to keep this quote in my mind because this is what it is all about. Yes, the planning, decorating and communication are important, but sometimes I lose focus during the storm and the most important aspect of my job is lost in the mix. It's all about difference that I make in my students lives. The reality is we are sometimes the only positivity out babies see in their day and I want to do my best to be all that I can for them. Not only their teacher, but their supporter and encourager.

Thanks for reading!