7 gifts you can give that don't cost money

I gave this exact writing prompt to my students this week. Twas hilarious and utterly adorable! Examples:

give them hand-me down clothes
you can thank them
give them books
tell them you're thankful for Jesus
rake their leaves
invite them over for dinner
make them a homemade card

and last and definately not least...
give them something that's free


Merry Christmas to everyone!

My plans during our 2 week break-
sleep
exercise
get my life back into shape (gotta love being emo)
catch-up on school stuff
relax
go christmas shopping
run
fix my ipod
hangout with my family!

The Daily Five

This is what I was trained on this last week. It's a new and improved, successfull, student friendly, teacher friendly "literacy centers" program. It is amazing. I am not yet doing it in my class but I plan on reading the book over Christmas break and starting it in January. Here's the gist. Instead of doing "centers" students do five things everyday during the daily five.

1. Read to self (Silent Reading) at independent level
2. Read to someone (at independent level)
3. Word Work
4. Write
5. Listen to reading

Meanwhile, you the teacher are doing guided reading groups with a mini-lesson between each group.

Look it up. Buy the book. Read it and implement it if you want your students to succeed at reading and writing. Happy Teaching!

give thanks and update

First and foremost is school (of course). I am loving being a 2nd grade teacher at BHE! I have quite the group of students. We can just say that I am learning A LOT about discipline and that I feel very run-down by the end of the day. But it's all worth it. I love seeing the students' growth and I love their sweet spirits. This month we are learning about the number line, place value, contractions, and much more. We just finished Thanksgiving writing. The kids thought it was funny to put that they are thankful for a toilet in their writing, and yes, almost every kid did, and yes their writing is hanging in the hall. Gotta love it. We are almost done reading Charlotte's web, we have had 3 new students since I started, Halloween was a blast, I spent $900.00 on school supplies (which was luckily funded by the school), and what other random facts... Parent teacher conferences went very well thank goodness, and I got the flu sniff to stay healthy around these cute little buggers.

Half-marathon
I beat my last time by 11 minutes! My legs were so sore I could hardly move afterwards and I was almost in tears the last 2 miles. Wimp! But I did it!

Baby hungry
Yes the time has finally arrived that I have actually thought "happy thoughts" about having a baby. (I've been in the very anti-baby, don't even think they're cute stage for quite some time now.)
But yes, I want a baby and we'll just have to wait for a couple more years until we are "financially ready." Being a teacher is most definitely helping with that one ha.

Thankful
family
friends
prayer
blake
laughter
summer
music
kids
chocolate
funny movies
nature
weekends
a warm, safe home
food
a healthy body and mind
family again
family again
chocolate again
oh yes, ice cream

Opportunity only knocks once

As some of you know, I have a new job! I am now teaching at Bloomington Hills Elementary- 2nd grade! So here's how it happened:

My mom's friend is a principal in the district and her friend mentioned that there was a job opening. A teacher's mother had died and she decided that her family needed her to be home. After I found out that the opening was at Bloomington Hills Elementary, (where I was last year) I had to at least apply for the position and see what happened. Two days later, I was hired for the position, and then 5 days later I started teaching. Whew!

My first week has been very tiring due to super long days and nights of preparation at the school. I honestly feel like I have been there for a month, not a week. But I love the kids. I love the school. I love the principal and I have the best 2nd grade team ever! Wow, they are amazing teachers!

So there's the scoop.

“Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity”

Our temporary new school

The Dixie Center

Well, school is here and our new building is not. So the next 2-3 weeks we will have school at the Dixie Center. Yeah, it's going to be crazy and rough and hectic, but just one more reason to look forward to a wonderful, brand new school! We had our Back to School night last night, and it was great meeting the students of Vista. We are going to have a fun and exciting year!

When you're here, you're family...

and families are forever. Hence the fact that I will STILL keep my job at the OG while teaching. So really why? Well, I've decided to put my teacher's earnings towards our bills, savings, and all other expenses. However the OG money will be for SPENDING!!! That's right. All the money I earn goes towards whatever the freak I want at the moment!

Opening a new school is CRAZY! but fun

Yes indeed! I got offered ANOTHER position...


Health & Fitness teacher
Vista Charter School


and...

I took it!