Bloglovin' and Monkeys

So, I have to admit that I am not very technologically savvy when it comes to blogs and codes and all that stuff (I know...don't tell my teamies - they think I know it all, lol).  So when I started seeing all this stuff about Google Reader going away and Bloglovin' being the new thing, I jumped right over and set up a Bloglovin' account.  I was able to import all my blogs I follow (ummm, yeah - all 1171 of them!  I have a serious problem, I know...).  What I'm not sure about is how to make sure this blog is on Bloglovin'.  Do you have to do anything special?  I did find a little code on Bloglovin' so I'm putting this here (hopefully it'll work):

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Is that it?  Can somebody out there let me know?

On another note, I woke up today and checked my email and found out that I had won this:


Yep!  I won the whole pack.  It came at just the right time, too.  I hadn't picked a theme for my classroom yet, but now we know what it'll be.  Since I'm only teaching math/science next year, we'll do a "Monkeying Around with Math and Science" theme.  Yeah!!!  If you want to check this pack out for yourselves, visit Sharing Kindergarten. 

Big Changes Are A'Comin'!

We have some BIG changes comin' next year! Of course, we will be doing the CCSS, but  our school will also be departmentalizing K-6th.  We each have 2 subjects (math/science or ELA/social studies) and we will team with the person teaching the opposite subject.  I will be a math/science teacher next year! 
   I wasn't so excited about this change at first - I really like keeping my own little group and really bonding with them.  But, after thinking about how much more in-depth I could get just focusing on 2 subjects, I changed my mind.  Now, we just have to figure out the logistics.  You know, the little stuff - how are we going to manage their supplies, backpacks, cubbies, folders, etc.  One of the things we had to figure out was our behavior charts.
   We use the colored behavior clip charts that many of you use.  Well, our dilemma was to figure out how to move the clip chart with the children so that the other teacher would know how their behavior was that morning.  I think we've come up with a solution.  We are going to take a file folder or plastic 2 pocket folder and clip every child's clip across the top with their name facing inside the folder.  This will be the "Ready to Learn" section.  If a student receives a warning, their clip will be turned backward (name facing out).  Along the left side of the folder will be the "Good Work" section, the left bottom side will be the "Great Work" section, the bottom right side will be the "Outstanding" section, and the right side will be the "Teacher's Choice" section.  It would look something like this:

I know, I know - yucky Iphone picture.  Just imagine it all pretty with some cute labels (just type in "behavior clip chart labels" on TpT and you'll get tons of cute ones!) and the clips across the top.  We also thought that if we really needed to let the other teacher know something specific, we could write it on a sticky note and put it inside the folder so we wouldn't have to have a whole conversation in the hallway. 

So, I'm curious - do any of you out there switch classes, and if you do, how do you manage the behavior issue?  I would love to hear from you!

Oh!  One more thing!!!  How many of you out there would love to get professional development credit for trying out ideas that you find on some of those awesome blogs out there?  My teaching buddy and I were at a district training today and the district people were asking how we would like to see professional development structured for the new year.  We said, we would love to get credit for trying out new ideas that we find online and then we would write up where we found the idea, how we implemented it, what worked and what didn't for us, and what we might change for next time.  We emphasized the fact that this would be easy for the teachers to do, it doesn't pull teachers out of their classrooms for workshops, it would really allow teachers to customize their professional development to their own teaching style, standards, etc, and it's free for the district.

We weren't sure how it would be received, but hey - you gotta try, right?  The awesome part was that they seemed REALLY interested in the idea!  HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE???!!!!  Seriously - PD for blog hopping... I would have so many PD points, I could re-certify forever!

Currently...I'm on summer break!

I finally made it!!! Summer break is here!  What better way to start off summer than with a Currently?  So, here goes:

Listening: I love the show Chopped.  I totally cannot cook, but I do collect cookbooks and love to watch cooking shows.  They take some of the weirdest foods on this show and make some things that look really good.  I would love just to be able to take some normal food and make something good...oh well!

Loving:  Yep, summer is here!  It totally snuck up on me!  But I definitely need some rest and relaxation.

Thinking:  So tomorrow is the first official day of my summer vacation, but do I get to sleep in?  Nope - I get to get up and go to school at 7 am for a safety patrol field trip.  Down to Orlando with a bunch of sixth graders I go...prayers would be appreciated.  Oh, and did I mention there's a tropical storm coming through as well?  Yeah...

Wanting:  This summer my hubby and I will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary.  We have some really close friends that also have their anniversary the same month as ours, so we decided to just take a trip together and make it a family trip.  We'll be spending some time in the mountains in Tennessee (where we took our honeymoon).  I can't wait!

Needing: A nap!  We only have a day and a half to pack everything up at the end of the year.  Half day yesterday and a full day today.  How long do you guys have to pack things up?  I got it all done, but I am beat!

3 vacay essentials:  Summer is really the only time I get to read, so that's what I spend most of my time doing.  I did get a Kindle last year, so that should make things easier when I'm packing.  I also have to have internet access.  There are so many great blogs out there that I have to keep up with what's going on!

So how about you?  What are you doing Currently?

Just Tryin' To Make It...

 Hey everybody,
    I know you probably think I dropped off the face of the Earth, but no, I'm still here.  Things have just been SUPER SUPER CRAZY around here.  I was offered and accepted the position of Director of Women's Ministries and Missions at our church.  With that and with all of the craziness that is the end of the year, well...you know!
   For those of you who are out and already enjoying your summer - soak up some sun for me!  We only have 6 1/2 days left.  I'm hoping that once we get out for the summer, I'll have more time to get back into the blog world.  Until then... thanks for sticking with me!

My Faves

So I am actually online on a Sunday when I can link up with Latoya over at Flying Into First Grade. I'm loving these linky parties, but I have only gotten to do one of them. Things have been really hectic lately (even this week when we've been on spring break). I think I need another week to recover from spring break. Anyone else with me on that one?  So, anyway, this week is all about our favorites.  Here goes:

Favorite Place to Shop

Yep, most definitely.  They have awesome clothes, home stuff, candles, etc. for AMAZING prices.  I actually found a brand new skirt on their clearance rack one time for $1!!!  It wasn't in my size, but I bought it anyway.  Who can pass up a deal like that?  I ended up giving it to someone for a gift.  And yes, she loved it!

Favorite TV Show

Ok, so you have to understand that I am a TV junkie.  And yes, I have TONS of favorite tv shows, so we'll break this down by decades!

1950's

     

Yes, I was definitely born in the wrong decade!

1960"s

1970's 




1980's





I was an 80's kid, so there were really too many to put here (you remember Saved by the Bell, Alf, Cheers, Knight Rider, The A Team, and who could forget PeeWee's Playhouse, lol)! Cosby however was my absolute favorite (and I still watch it almost every night.  Gotta love TV Land!).

1990's

I was soooo into 90210.  I mean, how could I not be?  They were in the same year as I was in high school.  Yep, we graduated together!

Now

 

Yep.  I will admit - I am a tv addict!

Favorite Sweet Treat(s)

 

Yep, I could literally sit down and eat a whole box of these!  And they're even better with vanilla ice cream (which completely defeats the whole 90 calorie thing, but soooo good!).

 

Again, I could eat the whole bag at once (and actually have - shhh!  Don't tell on me)!

Favorite Food

 

Love me some Mickey D's fries (but you have to order them extra well done with lots of salt - don't question it, just run out right now and get some that way.  You'll never go back!).

Favorite Restaurant

So you might think, based on my favorite food answer, that my favorite restaurant is "The M" as we call it, but you would be incorrect.  Actually, I have 3 favorite restaurants and they are all about 900 miles away.  

   

They have the most amazing steak sandwiches.  They are so good they actually have a "Great Steak Send-off" each year when they will pack some steak sandwiches in dry ice for you and ship them anywhere in the country.  YUM!

 

   

For those of you from Cincy, you know - you can't beat Skyline!  I love their chili sandwiches (think cheese coney with no hot dog) and you have to order extra oyster crackers to go with them.

  Flub's Ice Cream

Ok, so you could argue that this is an ice cream stand and not a restaurant, but it's my post, so I'm including it!  And every time I go, this is what I order:

 That is pure heaven!

Too bad my spring break's over or I would so be heading back home to Ohio.  Man, now I gotta wait until the end of June to get these.  

Now go link up and share your faves.  Maybe reading yours will make me forget about mine!

click here

 

Some"bunny" Loves...

Christina over at Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge is hosting another fun linky.  This is the



 

So, I simply could not narrow it down to just one blog (I tried.  Really, I did!).  I was able to pick my top two, so here goes:

 

The first choice is my buddy Rebecca over at Teaching First.  Not only does she have a really cool blog name (we're sorta blog twins - except that she makes some really awesome stuff and has some great ideas), but she was one of the first bloggers to regularly comment on my blog.  Then, when I took sort of a blog break, she was the only one to "check up" on me by leaving me some encouraging comments.  Thanks, Rebecca.  You've got to check out her blog!

  My second choice is Nancy over at First Grade Wow. I love Nancy because of her kind and generous heart.  She makes awesome packs and activities that are so much fun.  The best part - she gives these things away for free!  Now, don't get me wrong, selling things on TpT is a great way to earn some extra $.  But there are some teachers who don't have the extra money to buy things like that.  A few while ago, my hubby and I were in a bad financial situation (and actually ended up filing bankruptcy) and I remember looking at the things on TpT and wishing I had even a few extra dollars to buy some things.  It was about that time that I discovered Nancy's blog.  It just warmed my heart that she was willing to share her creations for free.  Please head over there and check her out!

Coming Clean

The 2 truths and a lie linky was soooo much fun!  As a recap, here were my 3 statements about me:

1. I spent a month in Europe after I graduated from high school.

2. Since I moved to Florida 15 years ago, I have never been to the beach.

3. I met my husband at a pool tournament.

Most of you chose #2 as the lie.  Guess what....that one is actually true!  The lie was #3.  I actually met my hubby through some friends and thought that he was too young for me (he has such a baby face).  I was in the middle of a pool tournament when I found out he was only 1 year younger than me.  When I heard that I asked him out and the rest, as they say, is history!  Here is a picture of us celebrating our 13th anniversary a couple years ago.  We'll celebrate our 15th this August!

 

Spring Break has officially begun!!!