Currently April

Happy April All! 

Ok so I put "don't ask" under listening to the Spice Girls but of course that probably only piques your curiosity more. I randomly caught Spice World on tv yesterday as I was sitting around doing nothing cleaning. It brought back memories from my early teens and so now I've been blasting the best of the Spice girls for the better part of an hour .{Don't judge me!}

You're here! FINALLY!

I love my students but this teacher is TIRED! It's been a long time since Christmas break and we still have quite a ways to go before summer break, 50 more days, not that I am counting or anything. *Insert shifty eyes*I am excited to take this time to just R-E-L-A-X! You know, read some grown-up books. (Not that I don't love a good picture book. Picture books are my JAM!)

I am also cheering on my UNC Tar Heels! No I didn't go to school there but I was born and bred a Tar Heel basketball fan! There was no other choice.

I'm definitely WANTING these report card comments to write themselves. It's the end of the 3rd quarter. I think we all have pretty much run out of new ways to say the same things.

I won't do you the honor of posting poor Maci. Besides, I don't think she will appreciate me posting pics of her untamed mane. Trust me, I better check this one off my to-do list soon!

What are you up to? Link up with Farley and share your April CURRENTLY!

It's CURRENTLY Time!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!! (Yes, I just sang that!) 

Okay, well maybe not the most wonderful time but it is certainly my favorite school month of the year! Why? Because it's full of celebrations! Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day, 100th day, Leap Day! I get so excited just thinking about all the exciting things we will learn and celebrate in the classroom. I'm sure you will be hearing a lot from me about what we are up to in my classroom but for now let me tell you about CURRENTLY...

If I'm being completely honest, I CURRENTLY need to get in the bed! I am super tired and I feel like I'm coming down with something so I need my rest. But I couldn't go to sleep without linking up with Farley to share my current state of affairs so here goes...

It's a rainy spring night here, so I'm here listening to the steady beat of the rain rather that numbing my mind with the numerous useless hours of television I usually put in. 

I have been working FOR-EV-ER on my report card comments and I'm glad to be finished FINALLY! It's so hard putting a positive spin on a negative comments sometimes and that just sucked the life out of me tonight. 

Now I put that I NEED to go to Target but people let's be real, no one NEEDS to go to Target. Yes, I need a few things, but I have been to Target 4 times  in the last two days to help put some nice touches on the office space that I am creating for myself.  Realistically I should have put needing to stay away from Target. We will see how that goes!

What are you up to? Link up with Oh Boy It's Farley and share what you've got going on!

HELLO 2016!

Hello Friends....

I love every new year! It is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. Who doesn't like fresh starts? 

I know that I definitely do because even though I am throughly enjoying my class this school year, I have had to abandon my poor little blog due to health issues to start off the school year and having to take on additional tasks since. Needless to say, I needed this winter break something serious! And "break" I did! I have done nothing but rest, relax, shop, spend time with family, and my personal favorite watch lots of football. ( I have to soak it all in because the season is almost over) The only time I didn't spend breaking, I would get up and start decluttering different parts of the house for a few hours at a time. You know how when you start projects like that it always seems to get more messy before it gets more clean. Yeah, well I'm at that stage but it's okay because I know I've made A LOT of progress.

I don't really believe in making resolutions but making a list of things I HOPE to accomplish each new year (hence my one word).

I hope to spend more time with my blog. I have gotten to know some amazing people this year through blogging and I want to continue to take time to share my experiences with others and learn and grow as a teacher through blogging. I also hope to have the courage to do things I have never done before but always wish I would have done. I have a tendency to play it safe and stay in my comfort zone. And finally I hope to have plenty of adventures in 2016!

Now it is your turn….link up with Oh Boy 4th Grade to share what you are currently up to!

I'm out of hiding....Here's what I'm CURRENTLY up to

Hey, hey, hey!

I didn't even realize it was September until I saw that it was time to link up with Farley at Oh Boy4th Grade for a new currently! Where did August go? I have spend countless hours the last few weeks in my classroom getting projects and planning done. I'm in Virginia and school has not started yet, so this months currently will be completely school related.

I am LISTENING to my dishwasher and the dryer run. Last night I was TEACHER TIRED ya'll! I got home form working in my classroom and all my house chores went out the window. Hopefully I will not have another long day like that. I'm up early so that I can get to school and get out early.

I am LOVING the crate seats I just finished making. I cannot tell a lie! I have had all of the materials to make these crate seats since 2012 ya'll! and I am JUST NOW finishing them. Yes just now at 6:00 AM on September 2nd, 2015. It's one of those tasks I've been meaning to get  to. #dontjudgeme

I am THINKING I still have about a gazillion things to get to before the first day of school. I am forgetful. There I said it! I make lists, and then, lists for my lists, and then completely forget where I put my list so I'm lost. Did you catch all that? Yesterday I spent the better part of 30 minutes looking for my keys at work so that I could leave and get lunch because yet again I called myself putting them in the right place and forgot. The day before it was my purse. I completely left it at work when I went home for the night. I don't know how I made it to adulthood or how I function. ANYWAY, I just have a bunch of little tasks left that I am NEEDING to get done. (Do you see what I did right there?!)I have little things left like putting things out for Meet the Teacher tomorrow night and I have to gather all my first week of school read alouds. Hopefully I can get these tiny details done before Professional Development today so that I don't have to think about it when I should be listening. #yallknowwhatImtalkingabout

I am WANTING to meet my new students. I will have 23 sweet little faces this year. 3rd grade is lucky with the high numbers this year. We each have between 23-25 and counting. I know that's not much to some but we typically don't have more than 20. (K-3 get the low numbers around here) We usually get a  boatload of registrations on Meet the Teacher night so we will see if I meet 23 sweet little faces or more.

I think my 3 GOALS are pretty self explanatory and things that teachers across the world strive for. Let's hope I can say I accomplished all three at the end of the year!

Happy School Year All!

August Currently

The end is near! It's already time to link up with Farley for the August Currently which means school is right around the corner! Is anyone else going in to over drive creating new things for your class, finishing professional development books, and blog stalking reading for new ideas? Well besides that here is what I am currently up to...

I'm listening to my *NSYNC Pandora Station. OMG! I feel like I'm 16 again! Plenty of Boy Bands, Britney, and even S Club 7...am I showing my age?

I am loving all the pictures and goodies I got at the Virginia Bloggers Meet Up yesterday. I shared a little bit about that in my previous post. But let me tell you, we had some AWESOME sponsors and I had a blast chatting with everyone who came. I love any opportunity to meet new teachers and get goodies for my classroom.

I need to get my classroom done but progress is at a complete stand still due to the fact there is a summer camp at my school and my classroom is actually being used...sigh! 

I am wanting to hear from my principal! I was called in a few weeks ago and told that I may have new opportunity for next school year but the decision wasn't absolutely final yet. So now I wait. And wait. And wait some more! I cannot even take this waiting. I am the most impatient person ever when it comes to waiting so this is good practice. I hope that I get it but I will let ya'll know as soon as I know. Keep your fingers crossed for good news for me :)

I am needing to go to the grocery store! I am avoiding that place like nobody's business today because it's Saturday and it's the 1st of the month. I cannot even handle to amount of traffic in the store but I have absolutely no groceries. It's sad when your summer school kids notice you don't have your normal snack because you ran out so they ask their parents if they can bring in snack for you. That's a hot mess ya'll!

My Back to School Random Act of Kindness is to put together welcome bags for the two new teachers to my school.  Everyone appreciates a school t-shirt and a few cute classroom goodies. I'm planning to have them ready and waiting on their desk before new teachers start back.

What are you up to? Link up with Oh Boy 4th Grade to share your current status!

July Currently

Hey everyone! Can you believe it's July 1st already?! I only know because Target is setting up that Back to School section that I have a love/hate relationship with. Ya'll know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, July 1st means it's time to like up with Farley and share what I'm currently up to :)

Right now I'm LISTENING to the FIFA World Cup semifinals game. Will the US women's soccer team play Japan or England? I feel so invested in this game. If you didn't know I'm completely into sports. I played soccer starting at age 5 so I live vicariously through these women.

I am LOVING this summer break. I've fallen into a nice routine of hanging out, reading, working out, and napping. I probably should be a little more productive but why? We have August through May for productivity right?! I'm THINKING I have about a million and one things I need to accomplish for school and around the house but like I said I have August through May for that :)

I am WANTING to workout so bad! But I am NEEDING to go to the doctor. On Monday I had a normal day as usual, I went to tutor and then came home to take a quick nap before going out to play tennis. When I got up I noticed my foot hurt a little and thought it strange but that I would walk it off. BAD IDEA! By the time I finished playing I realized I was really hurting so I came home and iced my foot thinking I'd be okay in the morning. I was also wrong about that. Any pressure on my foot hurt so I knew my workout for the day was out of the question and I had no time to go to the doctor then because I had to a summer school prep day which turned out to be a LONG day of walking limping around a HUGE building (our summer school is being housed in what used to be a high school) and moving materials around all day on a bum foot. Ouch! I decided to rest again today, (Can you tell I do not enjoy going to the doctor?) but will make an appointment if there is no change by tomorrow.

I'm an All-Star at making others laugh. I am usually the resident comedian in my social circles. Actually I'm usually comedian all the time. I am apparently funny, even when I'm not trying to be according to teachers and students around school.

What are you up to currently? I'd love to hear from you!

March Currently

March is FINALLY here! It definitely came in like a lion and hopefully will go out like a lamb! Did you hear that Mother Nature?! That means NO MORE SNOW! Now don't get me wrong I love the white stuff just as much as the next person and who wouldn't love a snow day off from school right. HOWEVER, Since February 13th we have only gone to school for one full day! I'm not even sure I know what my students look like anymore and they have probably grown an entire foot since I've seen them. Well maybe not, but seriously, it's time to get my teach on! I struggle with long breaks off of work. I always have to be teaching. I teach Saturday school now (which I haven't been to), summer school, and I tutor year round. So it's time for me to get the lead out and get back to doing what I do best, teaching the babies! Any who it's time to link up with Farley for the March currently! So here goes...

I'm listening to my classical music so that I can get down to business and stay focused. I love my playlist with my fellows Debussy, Vivaldi, Chopin and Bach. :)

I loved my Snowcation but as you read above, I have been out of the classroom for way too long. I miss my students and I'm ready to get back to work!

I definitely should be working on my lesson plans right now but my creative juices are not flowing. I'm waiting for some super inspired lesson to pop into my head so in the mean time, I've been on IG, texting my college besties, watching college basketball, cooking, reading, giving my student teacher feedback on her lessons for the coming week,  giving my dog a bath, updating my store banner on Teachers Pay Teachers, and everything else EXCEPT my own lesson plans! I promise to get down to business as soon as I finish this. I PROMISE!

I desperately wanting it to be summer! I need the sun on my face, flip flops on my feet, outdoor concerts, and an ocean breeze. I LOVE summer time! Since we still have another 3 months or so until simmer, my friend and I are going to find something close to summer for spring break. We are heading to Florida to visit a friend who used to work with us but moved to be closer to her family. We visit her whenever we can. No matter how many miles are between us we will always be The Dream Team!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2015 Friends! It's time to link up with Farley for my January Currently. So here's what I'm up to...

I am a super HUGE football fan. College, professional, you name it and I'm watching it. While my team is the Dallas Cowboys, I love watching all football. So tonight I am plopped in front of the tv watching the Panthers and the Cardinals go at it. I am going to be so sad when football season is over.

My Winter Break from school has been R-E-L-A-X-I-N-G! I made of point of not doing anything I did not absolutely have to do. Now I didn't completely abandon school work although I did take a serious vacation from it. This week I tried to stick to my regular planning/school work schedule. So everyday I took 45 minutes (my school planning time) out of the day to do what I normally would if I were at school; grade papers and plan. Other than that I didn't do much. I enjoyed time with my family and friends,  read,  lounged and watched movies and old seasons of Grey's Anatomy, and took plenty of naps.

I am SOOOOO not ready to go back to school next week. I think if I were going back to a teacher workday that would be a good transition for me. I am dreading the Monday Copy Machine Line! We do not have access to our school building so I have a ton of copies to make along with a laundry list of other things to get done before my precious kiddos arrive.

A back massage right now would be AMAZING! I've been hitting it hard with my workouts and my back could use some TLC. I think a trip to Massage Envy will be in order soon. 

They say "Failing to plan is planning to fail" which is so true! If I don't have my meals for the week prepared already it's all down hill. I have to settle for school lunch (yuck) or I just get takeout for dinner which adds up and is completely a bad habit. One of the books I enjoyed over the break was It Start With Food. I'm going to try my hand at eating clean. My biggest struggle is with sugary treats. I LOVE THEM! I always tell my friends "I don't know how I would be able to give up sweets, I work at an elementary school." If your school is anything like mine there are ALWAYS treats and women hoarding a stash of chocolate for *special times*.  So my goal tonight is to get this shopping list complete so I can get ready for a successful whole 30 days of clean eating. :)

Last year one of my resolutions was to make time for myself by actually taking a day or two off of school to run errands, go to appointments, or to just simply have a me day. At first I kept making excuses about why I couldn't take off....we had too many snow days, this month is short, I can't leave my student teacher alone, standardized testing is coming...I dread writing sub plans, but more than that I do not like leaving my kids with a sub because I want them to learn EVERY DAY. I don't like busy work. I need a sub that I trust to teach in my absence. I went into this school year with the same goal since it was still technically 2014. I have successfully taken 3 days off (one each month) to accomplish personal things and it's been great! I hope to continue this in 2015! It's important that I take care of myself so I can be my best for my kiddos each day.

December Currently

This is my first and last Currently of 2014. It's never too late to try something new right? I always see the monthly CURRENTLY link ups with Farley but I haven't sat down to do one myself. So here goes nothing...