Currently November 2014

I was looking at some of our Accelerated Math (AM) print outs and noticed that we are over 25% of the way through with this school year.  I know I should have realized that since we finished the first quarter, but somehow seeing that had a bigger impact. This year is literally FLYING by!  It is already November and that means it is time to link up with Farley for Currently! I am so excited to be her sponsor this month!

Listening: My boys have been elaborately sorting and trading their Halloween candy all day long!  They even paid some taxes to their parents (without even being asked!).

Loving:  I may have bought three new pairs of shoes this week when I went to buy Luke new shoes.  But I NEEDED new boots, ballet flats, and mules, so totally justified - right? LOL!

Thinking: One awesome thing about teaching in Nevada is that we get a day off in honor of Nevada Day - which happened to land on Halloween this year!  Woo Hoo!  Nevada Day is technically October 31st, but they changed it to the last Friday of the month for celebration reasons.  I am loving my much needed three day weekend!

Wanting: As I sit typing this, I am wanting a new office chair.  This one has definitely seen better days!  It is on my Christmas list this year, so hopefully Santa comes through!

Needing: I have a half day sub this week for professional development and I have to prepare lesson plans for it.  Am I the only one who HATES planning for a sub??? Especially on a PD day - it seems like double the work!

Reading: I have been wanting to read Number Talks forever and luckily our admin purchased a book for each grade level to share.  I am the lucky one to have it first!  I will share some ideas I learn when I finish it!

What are you Currently up to?  Link up and share!

September 2014 Currently, Labor Day Sale, and Upcoming Giveaway!

We have already been back in school for a full two weeks so far,  and now it is September! The first of the month means it is time to link up with the one and only Currently from Farley!  I love her camping theme this month - perfect for Labor Day Weekend!  Even though our only camping trip this summer was a bit of a dud - we got rained out!

That would be the view from our tent...

Anyway, back to Currently:

Listening: It seems like my boys are constantly wrestling around!  Joys of being a boy mom!

Loving: After having the same students for two years in a row, I was worried about what the new batch would be like, but I am loving them!  I have some great personalities this year. I just forgot how young brand new third graders are compared to end of the year fourth graders.  Lots and lots of independence training going in right now.

Thinking: To say that my boys are animal lovers would be putting it mildly.  A few weeks ago they brought home a stray kitten that was so tiny and not really ready to be momless.  They have nursed him back to health, and I was hoping to give him away, but he is so stinkin' adorable that even I can't say no.  He is here to stay.

Wanting: Ahhh!  The pain of back to school blisters!  Just once I would love to find a pair of shoes that leaves me blisterless and comfortable for the first few weeks of school.  I've been eyeing the Tieks for ever, but am worried about the cost - are they worth it?

Needing: A fellow teacher and I took a science course this summer, and part of it includes a field trip to the hot air balloon races.  We are making model hot air balloons using tissue paper to launch at the field trip.  I am worried that we won't get them done in time...

3 Trips: I would love to go to Tahiti, Ireland, and Mexico.

On another note - I am celebrating Labor Day Weekend with a sale!  Head on over to save 20% today only! 

And, I am blown away that I have reached over 700 followers, and I will be hosting a giveaway next week in honor of that.  If you have a TpT store and would like to donate to the giveaway, fill out the form below:

Speaking of Teachers Pay Teachers, one of my friends from the TpT Sellers Conference, Nancy of The Apple Bucket Teacher has gotten her store up and running! She is hosting a contest right now, so head over and show her some love!

June 1st means Summer Vacation has started (our last day was Friday May 30th) and it is time for Currently with Farley at Oh boy Fourth Grade!

Listening: Luke is obsessed with Song Pop right now.  I am amazed how many songs he knows without help!

Loving: Summer Vacation couldn't come fast enough and I am so glad that it is here! I definitely needed some time to recharge and get a few projects completed.

Thinking: I am switching grades for the 4th time in 4 years!!!!  Even though I taught third grade the year before this one, so much has changed as we are now completely switched over to Common Core and will be taking the Smarter Balanced tests this year. I have sooo much to do to be ready!

Wanting: My boys (who shall remain nameless) broke my ipad screen.  While we were at the movies today I saw an ad for a local company that fixes them.  This is definitely on my wanting list!

Needing: Even though I have a ton of projects on my to do list for my classroom and TpT, I need to make sure to carve out some R&R time this summer.  

Summer Bucket List: 1. The TpT conference in Vegas of course!  I can't wait!  I finally purchased my plane tickets today so now I have everything covered and just have to count down the days.  I have been looking over the conference materials that the speakers have uploaded to TpT and I can't wait to learn!

2. In keeping with the R&R theme we are planning on a family fun trip to the Bay Area.

I'd love to hear what you are Currently doing, so be sure to link up!

Currently May 2014 and a Giveaway!

May is here!  Yeah!  Last month of school and then time for a much needed vacation!  Time to link up with Farley for Currently!

I am listening to Phineas and Ferb in the background - they boys love that show.

I am loving the Starbuck's Chai I am sipping as I write this post - I am seriously addicted!  

I am thinking about all the things I have to do this weekend:

• baseball pictures - Luke
• baseball game  -Tyler
• cleaning the house
• shopping
• haircuts for boys
• new work shoes for hubby
• planning for next week

Calgon take me away!  I seriously need a time genie to give me just a little more time!

I need  to go to Staples - they are having some awesome sales - particularly on grading pens and dry erase markers.  I didn't want to buy anymore dry erase markers for the year, but we are down to 14 and I have 21 students - it causes problems.  I might get a jump start on next year's supply shopping as well.  I swear the kids eat dry erase markers!

My surprise shout out is to Alison from Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'!  She has got to be one of the sweetest bloggers around, and she leaves the best feedback!  Sometimes you feel like you are blogging to yourself when you get the silence of crickets, but she always makes me feel appreciated!


Stop by and show her some comment love!

And now for the giveaway!

I am joining with Table Talk With C&C for a great big giveaway to celebrate 1,000 Instagram followers - Woo Hoo!  I am donating a Winner's Choice from my store, and there are tons of other prizes, so head over and enter!

Currently - April

Happy first day of April!  That means it is time to link up with Farley for this month's Currently!

When he woke up this morning, Luke (my 8 year old) came into my room shouting, "Happy April Showers!"  I asked him if it was raining and he said, "No, but isn't today April Showers Day?"  Love it!  He thought today was a special day about April Showers.  As a teacher of 4th graders (who is dreading  looking forward to all of the April Fools jokes I will hear today) I really appreciated his take on today!

Our state tests are next week, so I am frantically planning ways to review that aren't too painful.  I have a few ideas up my sleeve, just hoping for enough time to pull them off.  I think that is a common teacher problem - we all need more time.  I'm thinking teachers should be blessed with an extra hour or two each day, don't you think?

Speaking of CRT's, our teachers put together a video for our students.  So embarrassing, but so fun.  It was nice being able to goof off with fellow staff members because we rarely have time to do that (see the time thing again???).

I have been seriously jealous of all of my blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram friends who have been enjoying their Spring Break already.  We still have 3 more weeks! This teacher 

is seriously NEEDING a break!  I am not looking forward to the week in between CRT's and Spring Break - at all!  The kids will be fried!

Farley asked as her last question what our hours are - We are in school from 8:30-3:15 Mon-Thurs and then 8:30-2:15 on Fridays.  On Fridays we have professional development in the morning so we have to be there at 7:00 (upside is we get to go home at 2:30). We get out of school May 30th this year which means we only have a month left of school after Spring Break.

HAPPY APRIL SHOWERS DAY!

February 2014 Currently, Big Sales, and Big Giveaways!

Where is this year going?  I can't believe the school year is more than half year and that it is already February and time once again for Farley's Currently!

I think most of these are self-explanatory, but which one of the three things do you think is a fib?  Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see if you were right!

Did you know that Teacher's Notebook is having an amazing sale for SuperBowl Friday??  I have all of the items in my store marked down to celebrate.  I'm not a huge football fan myself, but I do Love a football sale!

(This adorable sales banner is from Teaching in The Tongas and she is having a sale at her store as well.  I LOVE her clip art!)

Teacher's Notebook is also having a HUGE giveaway where they are giving away 40 $25 Gift Cards!

The only thing better than a sale is winning a sweepstakes!

And speaking of Sweepstakes and Giveaways- I have donated one of my favorite items (Kicking It Math Multiplication Facts Fluency)  

for this giant giveaway from Rosie's Rambles and Joy in the Journey!

In addition, I am also hosting a giveaway soon in honor of reaching over 300 followers, if you would like to donate, please complete the form below.

And now, the truths and a fib - the fib is that I was the Student Body President in High School.  I did not start my political career until my 30's and I really am on the City Council in Fernley, NV! I was the youngest person (and the first woman) ever elected :D

Ringing In The New Year With January 2014 Currently and a Giveaway!

Happy New Year!  I think this last year has flown by!  Hopefully next year will be a bit more leisurely!  Anyway, the first of the month means time to link up with Farley for Currently!

We have had a nice and relaxing Christmas vacation so far.  We hosted Christmas Dinner at our house on Christmas Eve, then went to my brother's for Christmas morning, followed by a buffet dinner, and a quick trip to my Sister In Law's house that night.  Two days later we went to Dave and Buster's and the mall because it was Tyler's Birthday and he is now a teenager!  ACK!  Where does the time go?

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!



In honor of the New Year I am having a sale in both of my stores!  20% off every item in both stores:

Teachers Pay Teachers 
Teachers Notebook

While you are there, remember to follow my stores for a chance to win a $25 TpT gift certificate!  I have a giveaway for store followers every month :)  Just a little thank you for being a follower!

I am also having a giveaway at Teacher's Notebook for my newest product
  You can enter here.
There are also a lot of other great giveaways from other sellers as well.  I have already won two great products!

Thank you so much to Sheree from Peterson's Pad for the awesome sales button.  She is also having a sale in her store today!

November Currently and $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway!

Oh my!  I am super late for the party, but I couldn't miss Currently!  So late or not, here it is :D

I am finally starting to feel better after an almost 2 month bout of being sick with bronchitis!  No fun!  And my classroom is showing the wear - I have had no extra energy, so I have just been kind of shoving things into cupboards and drawers (please tell me I am not the only one who does this!).  Anyway, I am looking forward to an extra weekend day to get in there and get things back into shape so I can find things again!

Next week is also my GRE test!  I am super nervous about it!  I am applying for a PhD program so I have to take it.  I didn't need it for my Master's but I need it now. I have been frantically studying during downtimes and even my students have offered to help me!  Love them!

For my yummy pin I am sharing what has quickly become one of our family's new favorites.  With a lot of kiddos it is happy to please everyone, but this one really does, and it is super easy for busy school days.

It is originally pinned from no.2 pencil (I'm a teacher of course, I have to love a website called that right?)

Besides teaching things, I think I pin more recipes than anything else!

And last but not least - time for my monthly Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway! Just my little special thank you to all of my followers! I am so thankful for all of you! a Rafflecopter giveaway

October Currently

Wow!  October already!  And... I am super late for the party, but I can't miss Farley's fabulous Currently!  So here it is..

 

Our district has set aside monthly collaboration time for teachers at different schools to get together to share ideas for teaching our common units.  Each month a different teacher from each grade goes and brings back what they learn.  This month is my month, so I will be going today.  I always hate having a sub because it is more work.  I also have a challenging class, so I usually come back to bad notes :(  But.. on the bright side, I am excited to work with teachers that I don't normally see on a day to day basis.

I have been sick for most of September and I am just over it!  I am on day 8 of the antibiotics and just starting to feel a slight improvement.  I just want the sickies to go away!

As my treat for you I have a problem solving freebie for you to download over at TpT!

 

 

 

  You can download it here

 

And... don't forget to enter to win the World's Quietest pencil sharpener (now in pink) - in the color of your choice here.

September Currently

My poor neglected blog!  The past two weeks have been so busy with back to school craziness that I have not had time or energy to blog at all!  Luckily, it is September, and Farley has come to the rescue with her Currently!  They are so easy to do - even the most energy zapped among us can do it!

Currently - August and TPT follower Giveaway!

August? What? Already????? School starts in 17 days!!!

Linking up with Farley for August Currently to lament celebrate the end of summer:

 

Listening: My boys have a friend spending the night and they are in their bedroom singing Cruise - too funny!

 

Loving: One of the parents of one of my students is a professional photographer and she will be shooting our new family pics (minus my two oldest boys who are grown up and moved away - sniff!) in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.  I will share pics when we get them. We will also be hitting an Oakland A's game while we are there.

 

Thinking, Wanting, and Needing: There is just never enough time to squeeze everything I want to get done in! I really should be tackling my to do list!

 

My Back to School Must Haves: 

 1. My 31 teacher bag - I would be lost without it.  It carries everything and keeps me nice and organized.

 

2. My personal laminator - I am not the only teacher at my school with a million things to do!  Sometimes having a personal laminator really comes in handy.

 

3. I love these Personal Word Walls I just got from TpT.  I can't wait to use them!

 

 

 

And now.... My contest!  Do you see the tab at the top of my blog that says $25 TpT Gift Certificate Monthly Giveaway?  I giveaway a gift certificate each month to a lucky TpT follower.  All you have to do is follow me on TpT to be eligible!

 



 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

July Currently

Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade has big vacay plans, so she posted Currently early - which was perfect for me since we are headed out to All Stars this morning and I have NO IDEA how long we will be gone!

Listening: With a house full of boys and a sports obsessed husband - I am surprised that this isn't ALWAYS my listening response!

Loving: I am not motivated to exercise - (at all!) but I know that it needs to be done, so I am loving the fact that I have been getting up every morning to run on the treadmill, and I was able to go to BodyPump class this week! I LOOOVE Body Pump but with our busy schedule I don't always get there.  YEAH ME!

Thinking: Tyler made All Stars for baseball this year, and we are heading out this morning.  The way All Stars works is if they lose two games they go home, but if they win, they stay until they lose. So... we have no idea how long we will be gone for!  We have packed enough for 5 days and figure we will find a Laundromat while we are there if we need to.  Packing is always so nerve wracking trying to make sure you don't forget anything.

Wanting/Needing: Yeah, these two are combined.  I couldn't make up my mind if it was a want or need.  Anything over 100 degrees is just WAY TOO hot! While it is exciting to be involved in something record breaking, a heat wave is just not my idea of fun!

Tips: Blogging can seriously take over your life if you let it.  As soon as I discovered you could schedule posts ahead of time, I definitely took advantage.  It allows me to still be with my kiddos and share with all of my readers.  Family needs MUST come first. :)

Don't forget to enter my Blogaversary Giveaway for a $25 TpT Gift Card and other great prizes!

May Currently

Where is this year going?  How did we get to May already??? Not that I'm not thankful that it is almost time for summer - but it has just breezed by!  And... that means it is time to link up with the always fab Farley for Currently!

April Currently

Is it really April already??? This year is just flying!  In honor of April, I am linking up with Farley's Currently. Aren't they so adorable?  She really does an amazing job with them.

 

II love getting a glimpse into everyone else's life too!  Head on over to link up!

February Currently

Yep, it's that time of the month again - time for another one of Farley's Currentlies!  It seems like it was just yesterday when I completed January!

I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan since I was in first grade - well, specifically a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader fan! I love watching the behind the scenes view.

I am so glad that taxes are done! Prior to teaching I worked for a CPA firm doing taxes, so I usually am really good about gettting them done early - you would be surprised how many people wait until the last minute. We are getting a refund, but it will be delayed due to the new tax laws - grrr!

Our family will be rooting for the Niners this year because we are big Kappernick fans.  We are big Wolf Pack Fans (my alma mater) and were able to see him play when he was here. My boys also got to work with him during football camp and he is a great person!  Right after he signed with San Francisco a local store had a fan signing, and even though it was only scheduled for two hours he stayed until every fan had an autograph!

I ALWAYs want Starbucks  - major addiction :D

It seems like I always need to do something for the classroom.

And... last but certainly not least - my pet peeve - I hate whining!  I want to scream - Just fix the problem or move on, stop whining about it! GRRR!

Be sure to link up your own Currently here.