December Currently!

H.O.W. on earth did it get to be December?!?!?!  I feel like we just started school! 

Maybe I'm getting old (keep your comments nice!) but I swear time is flying by these days!

For those of you who read regularly, I am ONE CLASS away from my Master's Degree.  I have school Wednesday night, then . . . . . .

WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!  I'll be D.O.N.Z.O.!!!!

Can you tell how happy I am????

I wanted to explain that part to you before you read my December Currently.  I am always thrilled to hook up with Miss Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade to bring you this wonderful monthly post.

 Listening ~ I am currently listening to the poor dog next door.  We have, how can I say this politely?  NOT NICE neighbors!  They don't take care of their home and they don't take care of their kids (5) and they certainly don't take care of their dog!  I feel so bad for the lil guy.  He's always outside barking to get in.  If they don't want to care for a dog, why on earth did they get one?!?!?!  Sorry, rant is over!

Loving ~ Did I mention I only have one more night of class left???

Thinking ~ My birthday was last Friday so my wonderful hubby took me to the Pocono Mountains for a little getaway.  We desperately needed it (see below.)  While we were away, we visited a place with over 100 outlet stores.  They had every store I could think of.....from North Face, Coach, and Ann Taylor to Nike, Gap and Fossil.  Needless to say my wallet came home a whole lot emptier but it was a blast! 

Wanting ~ My hubs currently works 2nd shift which causes quite a problem for us.  When I leave for work he is sleeping.  When I get home from work he's already at work.  When he gets done I'm sleeping.  Do you see the problem?  I'm hoping a position in his field becomes open on first shift so we can have a real life again!

Needing ~ I started with a horrible cold last Monday night and although I feel better I can't seem to get rid of the cough!  Stocked up on cough drops tonight so hopefully that will help!

Giving ~ Our school offers a Holiday Program which I run (in all my spare time!)  I can't wait to start shopping for the kiddies I picked.  We are helping over 100 of our students this holiday season.  All of the teachers sponsor a child/children and purchase gifts for them.  I have a whopping 8 kids this year to buy for.  I love that I am financially able to give back!  Each one of my own children sponsors a child too!  I'm a proud mama!

Well thanks for stopping by and checking out my currently.  Now that school is {almost} over I will definitely be getting some products made again.  I have a list longer than Santa!  Have a great December!

P.S. Did you like my color scheme?  I'm such a nerd :)

CYBER Monday!

I don't know about you but I've been wish-listing things all night! I'm surprised I haven't broken my mouse yet!

Well, if you live under a rock,

......... buried under a mountain,

......... under 20 feet of snow,

you may not have heard the BIG NEWS!

      

YES SIR!  

Tomorrow is CYBER MONDAY!  

Do you know what that means?

Savings!

BIG SAVINGS!

I am SUPER excited about this.  This is a big opportunity for me to stock up on allllllll those things I've seen that I will DIE without.  Well, maybe not die but they will definitely make my job easier!

I thought I'd show you a few of the things in my store that might help you to make your job easier!

 

This product is one of my best seller's!  These Editable Newsletters come in two different themes ~ Polka dots and Chevron (Plus a BONUS black and white.)  These make putting out a monthly newsletter effortless!  Click HERE or on the picture to see this product.

                     

         

Another one of my best seller's is my ULTIMATE Binder!  As you can see, I have two versions of this to suit your needs.  The best part........both are completely EDITABLE!  You can add all of your personal information and print.  Just click on the image you like to view the product.

 

My Interactive Math Journal for Kindergarten will help your students acquire those important foundational skills in a hands-on way.  Activities include counting, skip counting, basic addition and subtraction and much more!  Click on the picture to view this product.

Don't forget - I'm offering 20% off of EVERYTHING in my store.  When you enter the code: TPTCYBER, TpT will give you another 8% off!  That's 28% off of EVERYTHING!  You can't beat that!

Happy Shopping!!!!

Maniac Monday FREEBIE!

Welcome to Maniac Monday hosted by Classroom Freebies!  I'm so glad you could stop by! 

I created these Goal Setting Templates because in Special Education, we are constantly setting goals! The kids work so hard for each accomplishment that it amazes me!  They are also very interested in what their goal is so they can move to the next level.

I decided that I would turn the "power" over to them and allow them to set their goals and track their progress.  They've really taken that role seriously and are now invested in their progress.  It has made such a difference in my classroom and I hope it makes a difference in yours!  Here is a preview of a few of them.

Just click on any of the pictures above to download this FREEBIE!!!!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Don't miss out on the HUGE savings going on TODAY and on MONDAY!!!!

If you enjoy the FREEBIE, make sure to follow my blog for more freebies and great resources!  Thanks!

November Currently

Well I may officially be the worst blogger E.V.E.R. but I can definitely find the time to hook up with Farley for her November edition of Currently!

 

Listening ~ Yes, believe it or not, I'm sitting here typing away listening to my hubs watch a dumb fishing show.  I can't even begin to fathom why people watch shows about someone else catching a fish.  Now, I'm certainly not a fishing-gal (as if that wasn't obvious) but really?  An entire 30-minute show dedicated to catching fish!?!?!  

Loving ~ I cannot believe I'm down to my last 3 classes!!!!  I'm going out kicking and screaming all the way but I'm so darn close I can taste it!  I'm done the first week of December and you better believe there will be a BIG OLE post about it!!!!

Thinking ~ I feel terrible guilt.  About anything.  About everything.  Always.  Since August, I have completely neglected my blog.  And my TpT Store.  And all of you.  I'm sorry!  I think about blogging all the time......does that count?

Wanting ~  I seriously need a break!  A LONG one!  I've been working 12-14 hour days since the middle of August.  Weekends too.  UGH, c'mon Christmas break!

Needing ~  See "Wanting"

Reading ~ I am reading the Pedigogy of Language Development.  For one of my grad classes.  Not by choice.  Synopsis:  Kids are born.  They acquire language.  They speak.  The end.  I just saved you $100 bucks!

Since it's November, the month of thankfulness, I figured I should add a blurp about what I am thankful for.  So here it goes.....

Thankful ~  I am thankful to have a good, solid roof over my head.  I am thankful for a beautiful, healthy family.  I am thankful for me wonderfully supportive work family (I couldn't make it through the day without them!) I am thankful to have a good paying job.  I am thankful for my students (most days.)  I am thankful for my wonderful blog / TpT followers!!!!!

Don't forget to head back to Farley's page and check out the other November Currently's!  Thanks for stopping by!  Happy November!

Whoa!!!!

Yes, I am still alive!

Let me first say I have NO idea how bloggers do it all.  I mean really, HOW do they do it??? 

My schedule: 
    Leave for work:  7:30am
    Come home from work: 7:00pm
    Grad Class Mon & Wed until 8:00
    Work from home:  7:00pm - 10:30pm
    Crawl into bed:  11:00pm

This is my schedule. E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y.!

My weekends are filled with running errands and doing laundry.  Oh, and catching up with my family in between doing lesson plans and making anchor charts.

This is my life!

So, how do these bloggers do it all?  How do they stay current with their blogs?  How do they come up with crafty little posts?  I'm a failure!  UGH!

Unfortunately, I have no cute, crafty idea for you.  Not today.

I will though.  I promise.  I swear!

Life has not been my own since my last post on August 30th.  I started teaching 5th grade Special Ed.  I moved from Kindergarten and while I LOVE it, it has been life-consuming.

I also made the conscious choice to take 2 grad classes this semester.  They are my last two then I'm DONE!!!!  I figured I'd rather be miserable for 3 months than really miserable for 9 months.  So I am just sucking it up and doing it.  Well, I did not realize these two professors would be the most paper-research-lovin' people on the planet!

5 more classes.  5 more classes.  I think I can, I think I can.

Life in Special Ed has been quite different.  I love my kids but it is a whole new way of teaching!  Not to mention, 5th grade material is a world of difference from the beginning sounds of Kindergarten. 

So anyway, I have felt terrible guilt over not blogging.  I haven't even thought about a new product.  Seriously.  Not one.

I hope someone is even reading this.  Anyone.  And I hope that I am not drowning alone.  I secretly hope someone else is going through the same thing.  Not that I want anyone to drown.  You know what I mean!

Hopefully, I will post again with witty comments and fun, organizational pictures filled with wonderful, cutting-edge ideas.

Just not today!

High / Low

I am linking up with Julie at A First For Everything to share my Highs and Lows from this week. 

 

This was our first official week back with students. It's been a very weird start to the school year for me because I went from having my own classroom to being a Special Educator.  While I LOVED that this week was less stressful in some aspects, it was a weird adjustment. But a definite high for me was getting to meet my new students.  I got to spend some time getting to know them and helping them with a few strategies.  I REALLY like all of them!  It's such a huge difference from the tear-filled first week of Kindergarten.  I'm super excited about this year!!!!

 

My low this week would actually be the fact that I am overwhelmed!  I share a classroom with the 6th Grade L.S. teacher and she has been absolutely fabulous (and incredibly patient) with answering my 8 million questions.  I also have a great team which I've been texting my random questions to.  None of them have killed me yet so that's a good sign.  

I've come to the conclusion that I am a HUGE planner.  I like to know what I am doing.  Nothing frustrates me more than not knowing what's going on.  News Flash: When you take a new position, you have NO CLUE what's going on most of the time.  I am learning the ropes and I'm feeling a little more confident each day.  I'm sure I'll have it down in no time but it's learning how to deal with the frustration now, which I'm sure will make me a better teacher to these kids!

Want to share your High/Low's for the week?  Head on over to link up with A First For Everything.  Have a great holiday weekend!

Week 1

I am hooking up with Doodle Bugs to bring you Five for Friday!

If you listen carefully, you can hear the loud {{SIGH}}.  I finished my first week in this new position.  And I didn't cry.  Not once!  I wasn't even close.  While I am overwhelmed at times, I absolutely LOVE it!  To give you some background, I just made the transition from Kindergarten to 5th Grade Special Education. I joke with my co-workers that I finally graduated Kindergarten after all these years!  I got to meet with a few of my kiddies on my caseload and I adore them!  It's so neat working with older students.  They can really interact with you and express how they are feeling.  I have a little testing to do on Tuesday but then I am going to hit the ground running on Wednesday.  I'm SO excited!

I FINALLY got some things printed up so I can finish up my room.  You know how you have those loose ends that need to be tied up.  That's where I'm at right now.  Lots of little things to finish.

This is my desk area.....which I LOVE!  But I have some work left to do here.  I just printed the inserts for the white mini-shelves on top of my rolling cart.

So Tuesday morning I'll be able to finish those off.  Now I just have to make the inserts for the rolling cart next to it and this area will be finished.

A few of my students have Writing goals so I wanted to create a reference binder for them to use while they're writing.  It contains lots of graphic organizers, definitions, lists of nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.

My students are reading Frindle by Andrew Clements, in their gen ed class.  I wanted to support them in class so I'm reading it too.  I'm sure you're asking yourself, "Why hasn't she read this book before???"  Well, coming from Kinder, I can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about Tommie dePaolo, Kevin Henkes, Dr. Seuss, and many other children's authors.  Middle School faves....not so much!

I am also reading, "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies so I can try to do a Literature Study with my students.  I'm sure we'll need something more interesting after doing all that Corrective Reading!

Well I think that's all for me today!  In fact, I'm so tired I might just go back to bed!  Hope you have a great Friday.  Head on back to Doodle Bugs to read some other great blogs!