NM Bloggy Meet Up!

My first and only Bloggy Meet Up that I have ever done was in ABQ with a blog friend named Melissa.  It was a little nerve wracking not knowing her other than the friendly exchanges we had online about teaching and NM stuff.  She turned out to be a really sweet lady!  Well, it is time for another go at a bloggy meet up in ABQ.  All you New Mexican bloggers are invited to join Melissa and I for a brunch on February 8th.  I'll give more details if you wish to come and join Melissa and I for a gab session on school/teaching/blogging/TpT/etc.
If you wish to check out the super sweet Melissa, head to A Teaspoon of Teaching.



I was thinking that we could make it a Valentine/Heart themed brunch and bring 1 Valentine craft or teaching idea for the grade level you teach.  I will feature you and your creation on my site after the meet up.  Come on NM, join the blogventure!!!

Hope to see you there!

Linking up with 5...

I am linking up with....



Well, it was a short and busy week.  We had to cram a lot of different things into a shorter period of time.  I was able to get some cute decorations on our bulletin board.  We met with our buddies last week (4th grade) and made snow globes.  I love this activity!  I forgot pictures, but here are the ones from last year.




I got the idea from a blog called Ginger Snaps for the Teacher- but if you click on the snow globe above, it will take you straight to the post about it.


The 5K I was going to run this weekend was cancelled.  :(

I found out fairly soon after signing up for it, so there went my motivation!!!

BUT, good news, I signed my daughters up for a community center's theatre acting lessons (which they LOVE).  During the 1.5 hrs they are having fun acting, I am using the community center's fitness center!!!!  It's pretty awesome too.  They have all sorts of fun equipment, but all I used are the stationary bike and treadmill.  I don't know how to use the other stuff yet, so I will have to figure them out next time.



The 100th Day is coming soon.  We are on day 90 right now and the kids are getting squirmy!!! They are super excited and can't wait for the fun to begin.

I use this product from Vicky Moore.


It's pretty cute and comprehensive.



We are working on measurement in math.  I use a packet I created to go along with the unit I am completing.  Click the picture below to check it out.  It includes temp practice, measurement, time and base-10 blocks.

My hubby made me a really fun coffee this morning!  I didn't even ask.  :)
He used stevia instead of sugar.  The whipped cream is soy (we are vegetarians/vegans) and soy creamer.  Yummy (for me)!  It's also NM pinon coffee from a local roaster.  If you haven't tried NM Pinon and you are coffee person, you may want to give it a try for fun.  It's really good.  Click the pic below to get to their website.  They have a variety of flavors too- my fav is Dulce de Leche.

Happy Saturday!

Back to It!

We are back in the swing of things at my school.  It feels like much has already been accomplished since we have returned from holiday break.  In 1st grade, when January arrives it brings with it an increase in pacing and new curriculum to add to the day.  We will be starting our timed math facts tests by the end of the month.  So we are practicing for this in class.  The students are responsible for practicing this at home as well.  I don't know the name of the program we use.  It was not a purchased program from a company.  It has been handed down for years now.  Below is a picture of the worksheets we use for the timed tests.

Many of the kids like the challenge of being timed, but some get very nervous about it.  To combat the test nerves, I teach them breathing techniques to help them focus and relax.  We also do positive visualizations of ourselves feeling very comfortable with the test, knowing a lot of the answers easily, and feeling good about the test when it is completed.  They giggle the first couple of times we do this, but then they ask to do it as the year progresses.  I think relaxation techniques are important for young children to learn.  We live in such a high stress society, we need to help our young ones learn to deal with the pressures they will come face to face with.

I am so glad we have Monday off!  Have a great weekend everyone.

Day 5, and final day

This is the final day of the New Year Linky.  I have enjoyed thinking and planning for the new year with the folks over at Blog Hoppin'.  Click below to join in the final day or catch up by doing the other days. :)



Well, organization could be a super long post too.  So I will keep it simple again.  Instead of ideas on how I organize- which I have talked about in other posts, I am showing what I need to do.

1.  I wish to continue to work on organizing and reorganizing my classroom to benefit the students and myself in the most efficient way possible.  I have been pretty good about this so far, so hopefully I can continue to be on top of this.

2.  I wish to get more products organized for TpT.  I have revised one of my products this weekend. MLK Day is coming up and I am trying to be organized and ready for it.  That in mind, below is a link to the MLK Day writing freebie I have revised in my TpT store.  Just click on the picture to get it.

3.  I need to be more organized about asking for parental assistance.  It always seems easier to do it all myself, but it would be nice to get help too.  Parents enjoy helping and I enjoy the help I get.  Win, win.  It does take some organizing though.  

4.  I need to be more organized with my time at school, as always.  I'm sure many of you can relate to that statement!  That might just be a teacher thing.  We are never truly done work until it's summer time!

Well, lots planned for the last 1/2 year of school...guess I better be gettin' to it!

Day 4 of the New Year Linky

Day 4 is about our Professional New Year.  Phew, this could potentially be a 3 hr long post...so I will streamline it down to 4 things.  Click below if you wish to join in the linky.



1.  I wish to write down more!  I need to improve my note taking skills.  I begin every year ready to go with note taking, but each year, I get busy and think I will remember all the details of all my students.  Well, if you are like me, you forget stuff.  I do everything I can to be the best teacher I can be, but sometimes I forget stuff.  I'm human.  So, I am reinvigorated to write more notes on my kiddos.  I even have my binder all organized and ready to go again.  Yay!

2.  I would love to go to a conference this summer.  I don't know if I am going to be able to swing it, but we'll see what I can work out.  I sure would love to go back to a Vegas conference.  Although, I don't like Vegas- the place.  I am a person who is very professional and a bit reserved- so Vegas creeps me out a ton, but I sure love all the amazing conferences they host.  I'd love to go to one about reading or math or even 1st grade in general.

3.  I continue to try hard to leave work at a reasonable hour!!!  My goal at the beginning of the school year was to get out by 4:30, which has proved to be hard.  I was doing great for awhile, but then October I failed a little, November I failed a bit more, and December I failed a lot!!!  I am cutting back on my 2 daughters' after school activities for this last 1/2 of the year.  I am hoping this will help me be more mindful of time and allow for more home time.  They are just doing 1 activity a week, until swimming begins in March.  Although by March, school and home don't feel so crazy for me.

4.  Grade faster!  I am working on getting papers graded right away.  I read on someone's blog (sorry forgot who) that they don't have a bin to turn in work to, as they have the kids hand it to them right away, they grade it, and then they hand it straight back.  I am not going to do that, but I will try to hurry it up and get work graded right away so I may return the work more quickly.

Well, that's enough for now.  I have a lot to think about and plan for, and hope to improve myself professionally, as we teachers are always doing.

Day 3- New Year Linky

I am joining the New Year Linky again for Day 3- Fitness.  Click the picture below to join too.


I enjoy doing 5K's but don't necessarily enjoy running.  I know, that's weird.  Oh well, the 5K fun makes me run.

I expect to continue with my 5K adventures.  My next one will be this month and is called Polar Bear Winter Dash.  It will benefit New Mexico Voices for Children.

Below are a few of the runs I have done this past year.

Run For The Zoo, my kids and I do this yearly

I also dance, usually jazz but I sometimes take ballet too.  I tried hip-hop about 4 or 5 years ago.  I used to do that sort of thing when I was in high school (93/94)....but I laughed myself right out of that class.  I looked absolutely old and ridiculous!!!  Oh well.  Made for a good laugh.

I hope to continue my dance adventures this year.  

Day 2 of Blog Hoppin' Linky

I am joining up with Blog Hoppin' to do the 2nd day of their New Year Linky.  Click the picture below to join in too.



Well, I love crafty stuff.  I enjoy making hair bows for my 2 girls, sewing is fun when it's summer, and I have been scrapbooking since...forever.  I also enjoy doing crafty stuff for school, although don't find time for it often.  Below are a few things I like to do and hope to continue to do this coming year.

Bows for my kids

Puppet for Word Work in class

Skirts for our 50's Day celebration that I sewed

Worksheets/Packets

for my TpT store (although I have not had time to do a lot lately)

Freebies for other teachers to use

Below is a page from a MLK Day Writing freebie found at my store. 

Click on it to check it out.

Have a nice Thursday!

2 linkies to start 2014

I am joining up with Blog Hoppin' in a linky for 2014.

Click the picture below to join in too.


Today is Day 1- Fun and Family

Honestly, I don't do resolutions.  It just ends up being sad news when I don't do it.  So, I am going to phrase this as wishes instead.

I wish to spend time with my family doing fun things this year.  I would love to go to Cali this year.  Maybe during the summer months.  We love to camp and always have fun at the beach.  So why not do both?!?
It's just good fun hanging out with my 2 cute girls!

 
I am also linking up with Farley for January's Currently.  Click below to join in with her.

Most of the above is self explanatory....

Wanting- my dogs are not good on leashes.  1 dog is very old, but it never hurts to try to work with them.  The other dog is 9 mths and working on learning a variety of lessons.  He is very smart, so it will come as long as we remain consistent.  

Memory/Tradition-  We go to Disney for Christmas often, and this year was one of those years.  We had a blast!  We looooove all things Disney.  Next Disney adventure, I want to do the cruise ship "Dream."  Fun stuff on that boat!

Have a wonderful new year everyone!