The heat and baseball!

For the last 3 weeks it has been hot. Not just hot, but extremely hot. Temperatures have been in the upper 90's every day. With the heat index the temps exceed 100 degrees. Mix baseball practice with the heat and you have one grouchy momma! We even tried to have practice at 9 this morning, but it was still unbearable. AllStars games don't even start till June 27. I can only imagine how hot it will be then.



This afternoon Daniel went to stay the night with one of his friends who is also on the baseball team. Pat decided to take me to a movie and dinner. We rarely get a date night, so this was nice. We saw Hangover II. We loved the first one and this one did not disappoint. It was even raunchier than the first. There are several movies coming out that I can't wait to see. I enjoy watching the previews just as much as the movie.

My plan for next week is to work in my classroom on Monday, take Daniel to pitching practice on Tuesday, and lunch with a teacher friend on Friday.  This is my plan, but you know what they say about plans.......

This week

After spending days reading a bunch of other teacher's blogs, I came to the conclusion that mine is soooo boring! I'm o.k. with that for now. However, I would love to do more. I've got lots going on right now though. I plan to totally change how I teach reading and writing next year. My plan is to go the "workshop" route. The setup is similar to how I taught balanced literacy and Read 180. I love small groups. It gives me a chance to really get to know my kids and gives me an opportunity to do what I'm really good at which is document. I want my class to be fun. Last year my children loved small groups. They complained when something got in the way and we couldn't meet in small groups.  Another thing I'd like to do is provide a place for resources I make to help with documentation. I'm big into finding the form that is perfect. If I can't find it I make it.



This week has turned out to be busy. I forgot about a mandatory workshop on Monday, so yesterday I spent all day in a workshop learning about Dibels Next. At times it was boring, but there were interesting parts. Lots of changes and most were good. I love that they changed Word Use Fluency to DAZE.

Today I'm having lunch with a friend who is moving to Germany. I've tried not to think too much about it. Michelle and I met 3 summers ago when her oldest son played on my husband's summer little league team. Both of our boys would be 4th grade students at a brand new school. My son had attended the same small school I had been teaching at for years. We had only lived in our home a year and Daniel didn't know very many kids. He and Michelle's son became really good friends that summer. We also found out they were just a day apart. Had it not been for Michelle, Daniel would not have been able to attend the new school. She helped us out by getting him on the bus for me every morning since Pat and I had to leave so early every morning. For the boys' 10th birthday we had a joint birthday party for them. They were in different classes so we invited both classes. We also had our family and friends and they invited a few friends they knew here.  Our boys would go on to play Spring baseball and golf together for the next three years. Pat and I went on vacation with Michelle and her husband and another couple we all became friends with. Although I knew the day would come when they would receive new orders from the Air Force, secretly I hoped they would stay here. I know they are excited about their new adventure though and they're used to moving every couple of years. I'm holding the tears back till June 24th.

As far as the rest of my week, I plan to label more books and keep up with this house. Just as soon as I get something clean, some other part of the house gets dirty! Next week I start spring cleaning. Maybe!

Can you say obsessed!

Lately I've become obsessed with reading teacher blogs. This is definitely something I would love to do. I've found some great blogs and through those I've found others. The following blog is just one that I stumbled upon, and I'm so happy I did! You can see it here:






  Mrs. Randall is giving away a gift card to Bed, Bath, & Beyond for those that like and comment on her blog. Take some time and see what she has. I've spent hours reading through all of her posts!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

It has been so busy I haven't even had time to keep up with this! Let's see where I left off.
I started my new job and love it!!! I love being in a school that values the teacher's opinion. Working for a principal that treats you with respect. Talk about changes though!

My kids did well on the state test in spite of having multiple subs throughout most of the year. Now we're getting ready for a new school year starting in just 2 weeks. The summer has flown by. I've been working in my soon to be old classroom for the last 2 weeks. Boxing up and throwing away the various things in my classroom. Some of it mine, some of it the other teachers, and some of it from teachers of years past. I will be moving into a temporary building for the first few days of school and from there into a brand new wing! A classroom that will be all mine. No ghosts of teachers past lurking in the corners and shelves. A place I can make my own.

A new classroom needs a new theme so this year I'm decorating my classroom in zebra stripes and hot pink! I've been scouring the sister cities for anything zebra striped. What I can't buy, I make! I have been working for two weeks on signs for all four 3rd grade teachers. Tonight I finished and I'm rather proud of how they turned out.

My name came out a little crooked, but it just adds to the character!

Changes

Today has been a bittersweet day. Yesterday, I found out that I got the job I had applied for in November. My principal talked to the other principal and I found out after school that I had the job. So, today I had to resign from my current position so I can be hired at the other school.
Tomorrow is my last day at my school. I've been there for 7 years. It's been "home" to me. My baby started school there. So many memories. Everyone has been so supportive and understanding. I'm going to miss them all. That's why I've been a big blubbering mess throughout the day.

Monday, I start a new school with new students. A new principal and a new routine. Change is good and I think I'm ready. It's hard doing this in the middle of the school year right before testing. Change is good.

I haven't had much to say. Work has been real busy. Add the usual everyday home stuff and it's twice as busy. I've had to be out of my classroom for two days just to DIBEL test at other schools. The great thing about it is getting home by 2:30 both days.
My MIL was hospitalized on Monday. She's had a few blackouts and with the last one she fell and hit her head. They've checked everything and can find no causes. They are going to look at environmental causes(carbon monoxide, gas leaks, cat litter).

I did have a chance this past weekend to work on some projects. I worked on a clipboard for niece's 11th birthday. It turned out so cute!

The ribbon going around the edges has peace signs. She's so going to love it!

The other thing I started was Daniel's Valentines. He decided he didn't want store bought Valentines this year. While looking through the February issue of Scrapbooks, Etc. with me, he saw the suckers made to look like flowers. I used my Cricut to make the scalloped circles after I couldn't find a scalloped punch in town. The other circle was from a 1 1/2 inch circle punch I got at 40% off.

Just 32 more to go! It really did turn out cute!!! I can't wait till this weekend when I can make the rest and play with my scrapbook toys!

Happy Birthday, Snakes!!

I'll start off by wishing my crazy BIL a Happy Birthday. He's 42 today! We had a nice afternoon watching the Vikings whoop on the Cowgirls and eating enchiladas.

Yes ladies, he's single!

Now for the good stuff! My goal over Christmas break was to clean up my scrapping room. It's really a small room off the kitchen. Two summers ago I painted the room beige and did black accents.  It's gone through a lot of changes since then. I did manage to get it cleaned up days before going back to work. I haven't had a chance to scrapbook though. I've been working on projects for my nieces and am about to begin work on Daniel's Valentines.  I'll post some before and after pictures of my room.

This is what my room looked like before I painted. The wallpaper pattern is little blue country ducks.

This is what it looks like today. I need to find space for the 19 inch TV that Pat brought home from deer camp. It's to reside in this room till next season. My plans for tomorrow are to get the things needed to start Daniel's Valentines and find a place for that tv. Maybe next weekend I can scrapbook!