Happy Friday!

Friday, September 13, 2013 2 comments
I know I've been MIA lately, but when I saw this last night I knew I had to take the time to share. I haven't been stalking many blogs lately either, so sorry if I am the millionth person to share this.


Happy Friday... and remember you DO make a difference every single day.
Go. Be. Awesome.

Year Two...CHECK!

Monday, June 10, 2013 4 comments
Last Several Friday's ago (I started this post and then summer happened and I forgot about it... yikes!) I finished my second year of teaching. I can't believe how fast time has been flying since I graduated college in May 2011. I have two years of adult world under my belt and I must say... its not too shabby. I think it helps that I found a job that I really enjoy. I don't always enjoy the big girl expenses and decisions... haha. But overall, my life of a grown up isn't too shabby.

What I learned in year two of teaching.

From day one, be consistent. 
This is in regards to decisions and behavior. 

Smile, EVERYDAY. 
We have been implementing the 7 Habits at my school and they use the phrase...
"You carry your own weather." This is so true. No matter what is going on, I need to always choose to be happy for my kiddos.

It is impossible to stay organized. (In my world anyway! Hah!) 
We get SO many papers, students turn in so many papers... what do I do with it all? This is one of my goals for the summer.. come up with a system to stay organized.

You don't always have to re-create the wheel.
In an internet world where there are SO many resources,
I am learning that I don't always have to come up with ideas myself.

Have a life OUTSIDE of school.
I tend to stay in school mode long after the kids have gone home for the day. I need to know when to leave everything school related alone so I can go have some fun.

Never wait until the last minute... or at least try not to.
No matter how hard I work to try to get ahead, I always seem to be running to the copier right when I get to school in the morning to make that extra set of copies. I don't know how this happens because I try to be prepared for my whole week.

Always have a plan B.
You never know when the copier might break, the power might go out (this for real happened to us several times the year.. yikes!), or when the technology won't cooperate. Always have a back up plan in mind. How can you teach this technology driven lesson without technology? How can students complete a worksheet without an individual copy of their own? Several times this year I wouldn't have survived without a back up plan. 

Well, there ya have it... just a few things I learned/realized during year 2 of teaching. It is hard for me to believe that I have been teaching for two whole years! Craziness. Now I need to get back in the grind and start working on things for next year... I have not been very good at that so far this summer.
Happy Monday... aren't Monday's so great during the summer months? =)
Have a fabulous, relaxing week!

Remember Me?

Monday, April 15, 2013 5 comments
Does anyone else feel like they are CRAZY BUSY right now?
From the minute my feet hit the ground each morning until I go to bed, 
I just don't seem to ever stop.
Lesson prep, meetings, working out, and the attempt of a social life is wearing me out! Hah!

I feel like during my absence in blog world I have missed a BUNCH. 
I hope to catch up this week. 
This weekend I rolled out my first new product in over a month!
I was super pumped to add another craftivity to my store... I will share later this week!

I thought it would be fun to link up with Flying Into First for her "getting to know you" linky party.
During my absence I know I have to be missing out on some FABULOUS new blogs! 


TOPIC - Skittles Game
Here is the code:
Red- Favorite Ice Cream Flavor
This is somewhat a trick question because I love ALL types of ice cream... 
anything chocolate will make me happy! =)

Orange- Favorite Memory from College
My favorite college memory would definitely have to be the spring break trips I took with the Christian organization I was involved with.... such a fun and worthwhile spring break.

Yellow- Favorite Sports Team
If you read my blog at all, you know Im a bit obsessed with with Alabama Football.
I spend all of my savings on football tickets each year. Hah! Totally worth it! 
Green- Favorite Fast Food Place
CHICK-FIL-A... I eat it WAY to much! 

Purple- Wild Card(Tell anything about yourself)
I am OBSESSED with Kenny Chesney. Favorite singer of ALL time. Hah!

Well, that was FUN! Now I'm off to check out some other bloggers.
I promise to be back this week to share my new TPT product...
AND... whenever I share a new product, I give a copy away!
Check back later this week for my new product giveaway.

Only 6 more Mondays until Summer!
Make the most of your Tuesday... before you know it, it will be summer!

I need a break... a brain break!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013 6 comments
I have recently started incorporating Brain Breaks in my classroom whenever I can tell my students are losing focus, getting sleepy, or the opposite... getting antsy. My students LOVE these breaks, and they know that if we take a quick break, we have to immediately get back to work. After our break, I immediately get back into what we are doing, so there is no time for distraction. I really think it helps keeps my kiddos engaged and I wish I would have started it sooner. 

Today I wanted to share my kiddos current favorite brain break. 
It is a dance from Ice Age called the Continental Drift.
The dance is super cute and I catch myself and my kids humming the song 
and dancing the dance at completely random moments.



Because I am new to the idea of brain breaks my supply is limited.
What do you do for brain breaks?
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE some new ideas!

On a side note, 7 days until Spring Break AND our final 9 weeks started Monday.
Where in the world has this year gone? It has FLOWN!

I think it's time for a GIVEAWAY!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 23 comments
This post is short & sweet.
Yesterday I mentioned that I thought it was time for a giveaway...
& today I bring you the giveaway! 

Okay... the GIVEAWAY lowdown:
Up for grabs is a $15 Teachers Pay Teachers gift card.
I think all of us have wish lists a mile long so hopefully this gift card will help someone out! 

How to win it:
1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow my TPT store.
3) Leave me a comment.
4) (For bonus points) Blog about it.

That's it! Do one of them, do all of them!
Winner will be announced on Valentine's Day!
I'm off to a conference tomorrow so I'll be back this weekend sometime!
I hope everyone has an amazing rest of the week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Also, everyone keep your fingers crossed that I can figure Rafflecopter out once the giveaway is over! This is my first time to use it for a giveaway! Hah!)