January Currently

Happy New Year! Here is my 2015 currently!

I am linking up with Farley from Oh Boy Fourth Grade!

Listening to silence - I am waking this morning to silence. My kids are sleeping in – I have three teenagers – so I won’t see them until noon. My husband is quietly watching television and I am working on my computer. I love the silence. I rarely get to hear it!

Loving my vacation! I really enjoy teaching, but I do need my vacations. I find myself rested and reinvigorated to teach the next few months when I have a break. I went to Albuquerque the first part of my vacation to visit family. It was so fun – love that part of the family! Now we are back and getting things done around the house and shopping. Few more days before I return to school.

Thinking of a new year in the classroom and TpT. I can’t wait until our field trip to the Star of India. Student, parents, and I will sleep on the ship for the night and experience what the passengers to the “New World” experienced.

As far as TpT, I had a great first year. I am looking forward to another year filled with products and milestones.

Wanting to finish my latest project: By the Great Horn Spoon. I am creating a visual support for the book along with questions for each chapter. I am using the book in January and need to finish the product soon.

Needing to clean up my house. In December, we finished the tile floor and had carpet installed. Now, I need to put everything back. A lot of stuff is still in the garage and it keeps staring at me. Such a huge task, but I need to get working on it. Maybe I will do a little today!

Yes to eating right! Like most out there I need to get back on track of eating right. I have let myself go and need to rekindle my healthy eating habits.

I have already started last week as soon as we returned from the relatives. It is always hard to eat well when you aren’t at home.

Maybe to reading more! I wish I had more time to read. I have a few books sitting here ready to be read – it is just the time – work, kids, TpT, housework, etc. are always first. Oh well, I will keep trying to fit some reading in.

I wish to have a great year! This past year came with some challenges. I am looking forward to a better year! Thinking positive and moving forward!

Thanks for stopping by – I hope this New Year is a great one for you!

New Year's Resolutions

It is almost New Year’s and you know what that means – time for New Year’s Resolutions. I am linking up with Second Grade Nest to give you my resolutions.

First, I want to learn how to create my own clip art. I bought a scanner a few months ago and have started an Adobe account. So the next step is to try it out. I am not an artist but there are a few things I could draw. I want to use the artwork in my classroom and for my TpT products. So, wish me luck!

Next, I want to get my office organized. I have piles of papers that need to be filed or trashed. I have been in an extensive remodel of my house and needless to say, my paperwork has suffered with all the moving around. I just carpeted the rooms, so it is time to organize the office. I am going to purchase a new file cabinet and get started. Yeah!

Surprise, Surprise – I want to eat better and exercise more. Lately, I have been eating more than usual because of all the holiday parties and family visits. Plus, I haven’t been to the gym in the last few weeks. I love how when things get crazy, it is so easy to drop eating well and exercising. Oh well, I am geared up and excited to get back on track!

Next, on the remodeling road is to complete my master bathroom. We just completed our floors with travertine and carpet this fall. Right now, my husband is installing all the baseboard and molding around the doors and windows. But this year’s goal is the master bath. We just need tile everything and install the cabinets. We have the fixtures and tub already. The shower is functioning – it just needs tile too. So as usual, it is time and money. When I get my tax return we will have the money and then by then my husband will be done with the baseboard and stuff – so he will have the time - lucky him!

Finally, I signed up for my new Spanish class. I am super excited – it is with my favorite instructor, Carmen. I learn so much from her. This is a conversation class - something new for me. Two classes to go and I will be ready for the test. I am almost there!

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you have a wonderful year ahead!

Sunday Scoop - 12/7/14

Happy Sunday! Here is my Sunday Scoop!

This week I am linking up with the gals from 

Teaching Trio.

 Three things I have to do:

1.   I have to put my house together. We just got carpet in 6 areas of our house – five bedrooms and the living room. So needless to say, I have a lot of furniture and stuff in the garage and patio that needs to go 

back in its place.

 2.   I have to write a practice test for my students on fractions. I am using NY engage math to do common core math, but I like to have a practice test so the students are prepared for the test. We are still learning how to do math with common core. My students still struggle sometimes with what they are being asked to do.

3.  Laundry – not only my weekly clothes but linens and blankets. I have cleaned out rooms that stored some linens and blankets and I want to clean them before I put them back.

Two things I hope to do:

1.   Finish my TpT product I am working on right now. 

I am making a visual presentation for the book By the Great Horn Spoon. When I have read the book in the past, it helped students to have a slide show of vocabulary of words they didn’t really know. For example, I would put up pictures of paddle boats or pantaloons. Now I am going back and adding questions to the PowerPoint.

2.  I am hoping to have some extra time to read some books I bought. They are in Spanish. I am continuing to improve my Spanish so I become bilingual. The book sitting next to my bed is El Libro de la Vida (The book of Life). It is about a 3^rd grade level – just my speed. I know most of the words, but as I tell my students, reading improves vocabulary. So, that is what I am doing – in Spanish.

One thing I am happy to do:

1.   This Wednesday for our staff’s professional development we are all going bowling. My principal is having us do team building by bowling and having pizza together. I am looking forward to having a good time with my colleagues. We are always talking and working together to help students. This will be a 

fun change.

Thanks for visiting! I hope you have a good week and Happy Holidays!

Currently December!

The holidays are here and I am so excited! I am linking up again with Farley at Oh Boy 4^th Grade for December Currently.

Listening: to “Christmas with the Kranks”. As my family is sitting here watching the movie, I am working on my website and blog. I am actually watching too. I don’t know about you, but I have trouble watching TV without doing something else. It is like, I get bored – go figure. So I am usually doing something while I watch TV – correcting papers, working on the computer, etc.

Loving: new carpet in my house. My husband and I are in an extended remodel. We made our three bedroom, two bathroom house into a six bedroom, 4 bathroom house. We just finished the tile floors and sealed them Thanksgiving morning. So, tomorrow the carpet is coming! I am overjoyed. I feel like I will have a “real house” now. We have been on concrete for two years. It just takes time and money, but at least it will only need minor details after the carpet goes in. Here is a picture of the newly sealed floor.

 Thinking: about the next 3 weeks. So much to do in school and out. At school, we have a Book Fair, toy drive, preparing auction item, and Holiday Party (and that is all on top of teaching). Then of course, there is shopping, decorating, and holiday parties.

Wanting: to start Holiday Cards tomorrow with my students. I am involved in the Holiday Card exchange with Projects by Jen. She does it every year. Each group has 30 teachers. Your class is to create and send out 30 holiday cards to all the people in your group. Then my class receives 30 holiday cards from classrooms around the country (sometimes the world). It is great to be involved in the project. She has other great projects during the year too. Check Jen out at Projects by Jen.

Needing: to figure out what I am teaching tomorrow. I enjoyed my week vacation so much, I am in denial about going back – Ha! Ha! I know I am starting a new module in math and continuing activities for Daily 5. I am going to be doing a writing piece on Native Americans and a Weather Newscast project with my kiddos. But I haven’t ironed out the details. I am going to have to work on that after I do this post.

Giving: hope to family members. Unfortunately, my husband has an uncle who has cancer. We have decided to go visit them this holiday vacation in Albuquerque. Both my husband and I have each lost a parent to cancer. It is always a difficult time, so we want to go visit him and the family.

Happy Holidays to all!

Sunday Spotlight!

Happy Sunday Everyone! 

Thanksgiving is around the corner!

I wanted to highlight some Thanksgiving products that I created for my classroom. In my classroom, the early finishers participate in math centers. My Thanksgiving Math Activities covers Multiplication and Division using Common Core Standards. When students are done, they can work on these task cards. They are mostly word problems, since my students need extra practice with those.

 

 

I have a set for 4^th grade and one for 5^th grade. If you teach a 4/5 combo as I have, you can get both grades as a bundle for a discounted price.

Each has an answer sheet for students to fill out and an answer key.

If any of these products interest you, I will have them on sale for the next 24 hours.

The teacher I would like to highlight is LeAnn. She and her sister, Jody, are the creators of Thank a Teacher. They have many products that are made for 4^th grade. I especially like the Native American units. It is always hard to find well written text for 4^th graders on California Native Americans. 

Check out Thank a Teacher.

Five for Friday!

Happy Friday to Everyone!

       I am linking up with Doodlebugs Teaching for my “Five for Friday”. It has been a busy week and only one more to go until break – yeah!

       I finished my report cards and started conferences with parents. Our report cards are a new version to align with Common Core Standards. I used Google docs this year to have my parents sign-up. It worked great! I sent the link through email and posted it on my website. The parents were able to go to the page and sign-up!

       Working on Native Americans in social studies. We are reading and seeing how each region of Native Americans is effected by their environments. We also have been creating an interactive notebook on the Native Americans.

       My students had a test today on the capitals of the U.S. That is what I will be correcting this weekend. My students are always anxious to find out their scores – so I try to grade them quickly.

       I joined “Project by Jen” for her annual Holiday Card exchange. I have done it before. It is fantastic! You have your class make 30 holiday cards and send them to all the classrooms in your group. You will, in return, receive 30 holiday cards for your class. My students loved receiving holiday cards from classes around the country (and a few from other countries).

       Finally, I am happy the new Student Council members at our school started the recycle program today. They are all trained and the custodian said they did a great job! Yeah!

Currently November!

Happy November Everyone! I got my November Currently up today – yeah!

Listening: to Big Bang Theory in the background. My hubby and I love this show. We have all the DVD’s, so we just rotate through them when we can’t find anything good on TV to watch. I am working on the computer while he watches. I find myself laughing as I listen.

Loving: the mock trial my students participated in today. We went down to the Federal Court and the students did a mock trial in a courtroom with lawyers, a court reporter, and a judge. It was fantastic! My kiddos were so attentive and they did such a great job! This was my first field trip there – definitely going there next year.

Thinking: about grades. Our grading period ended on Halloween. So, now I have to start putting my grades together for report cards. Also, starting next week, I have conferences with parents. I have a few busy weeks ahead. Thirty conferences for thirty children.

Wanting: more time in my day. I am, like most of you, overwhelmed with all I have to do each week. From personal to teaching to needs and responsibilities. I love it, but if I only had an hour or two more in the day. Well, the good news is, it always gets done. Don’t ask me how.

Needing: to go shopping. I need to go to Costco tomorrow. I have several things I am out of in the house. Plus, this time of year, there are some good deals.

Reading: Memoirs. My students wrote memoirs this last month and now I have the fun job of grading them. The good news – this is last assignment for me to grade and then I am completely ready to do report card grades – excellent!

Thanks for stopping by! Visit Farley’s blog at Oh Boy 4^th Grade to read others who have participated in the November Currently!