TPT Cyber Sale

So I kind of dropped the ball at the end of the week and never got to the rest of my thanks. Honestly, I got hung up on K and then just stopped. We'll go with Kind parents (of my kids) and Sales (I LOVE Black Friday shopping)!

Speaking of sales, I'm sure you've heard:

I've got my store set and ready to go! Many store, including mine will be 28% off as long as you enter the code TPTCYBER at checkout. And don't forget to leave feedback tonight so you have some extra credit to shop with! We all love a good deal, right?

Go fill up your cart and get ready to shop!

A Week of Giving Thanks: Day 4

It's day 4 of Blog Hoppin's Week of Giving Thanks, and today is the letter N. This one's my favorite, and it worked out perfectly that it happens to be on Thanksgiving Day

I'm SUPER thankful to announce that our little family is growing!

It's true! Keagan will be a big brother (actually in early June, but possibly May), and our family will be blessed with one more little cutie! I've been chomping at the bit to share this since early October, but I wanted to wait until I had another good check-up. I'm 12 1/2 weeks along now and doing just fine. Keagan has been cute. He's starting to talk to the baby and wants to know its name. Now I'm just anxiously awaiting when I can find out the gender to really start preparing for this baby.

And this may have been part of the reason that I've been so MIA here recently. Between just being exhausted and not being able to share my most exciting news, I just couldn't come up with anything else to write. Hopefully now that the cat's out of the bag, I'll be able to share a little better!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

A Week of Giving Thanks: Day 3

It's day 3 of Blog Hoppin's Week of Giving Thanks, and today is the letter A.

When I first moved to Richmond almost 9 years ago, it wasn't so amazing for me. Moving hours away from all of my family and friends was difficult because I had so many strong relationships. Steven's family is awesome and immediately made me feel like I was a part of them (to the point that we joke who they like more), but friendships were tough. I wasn't surrounded by many people my age that I felt like I could share common interests with. Honestly, it took me about 5 or 6 years just to start feeling like I fit in.

Now that we've started going to Remnant (our church) and gotten plugged into a community group there, I can truly say that they are awesome people. I could call them up to hang out whenever, and we genuinely enjoy getting together to talk, eat, or just do whatever. Monday night was our Thanksgiving dinner, which I almost missed because I had Title I night. When I got there late, I was immediately calm and relaxed. I've missed that.

A Week of Giving Thanks: Day 2

It's day 2 of Blog Hoppin's Week of Giving Thanks, and today is the letter H.

I'll be honest. When I looked at the number of students I would have this year, I had a few panic attacks. I have 30 children in the 4th grade alone. And this is supposed to be small group services - 52 kids in three grades does not equal small group. At least not well.

However, I have to say that for the most part the students have been working hard and trying their best. We have our days, obviously, and we have a long way to go, but I've actually been enjoying my crazy schedule and the amount of work that these students have been putting in. Hopefully the momentum will continue through Christmas and the Spring semester!

Oh, and I'm obviously also thankful that my Thanksgiving break has officially begun!

A Week of Giving Thanks: Day 1

Can you believe I'm already posting again? I ran across this cute little linky from Blog Hoppin' and decided it was perfect, simple, and sweet. Every day for the rest of the week, I will try to do an acrostic with the word THANKS, adding something that I'm thankful for each day. Today is T.

I love my school and teaching, but we haven't had a break since Labor Day, and I'm just a little worn out. Tonight is actually our Title I Night (I know, I probably should have scheduled for something different, but this was the best we could do in the time we had), so I will be at school until around 8 (hence one of the reasons I actually have time to blog). BUT I can handle all of that because Wednesday is a break, and I can enjoy family time! Plus our Title I Night is an author visit, so most of my work has been beforehand. Now I just have to lend a helping hand to the author and make sure she gets paid. I can do that.

What are you thankful for?

Five for Friday before Thanksgiving

Well, I'm still sucking it up at this consistent blogging thing, but I'm still trying. Today I'm home with a sick little boy, so this was the perfect time to at least do a little Five for Friday. Although I'm not exactly sure what I've done that's actually worth sharing.

Last week, I went to a baby shower for one of my friends and co-workers. We've been having quite the baby boom at work since last April (7 babies born already and about 4 more on the way before the end of the school year). It's been so much fun! I should actually take a picture of our baby wall at work. Yes, wall. It's a little crazy!

I was ALMOST finished with my Thanksgiving on Thursday unit with my 3rd graders, but I guess we'll have to wait for chapter 10. That was going to be today. We have school Monday and Tuesday, but I'll be doing running records for a teacher who is out until Christmas unexpectedly. At least that means that my short week will be even easier (although possibly a little boring).

We read Balloons Over Broadway in fourth grade this week. Have you ever read that book? It's about the puppeteer who dreamed up the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. The illustrations are beautifully done, and it's a neat story about a man that most people don't know. The kids loved it, and it's a definite new favorite of mine!

I know Thanksgiving hasn't come yet, but I have a confession. Steven and I are both obsessed with Christmas and are early decorators. We haven't put everything up yet (and I still have my fall decorations outdoors and plan on fully honoring Thanksgiving), but it makes me smile to see the tree and other few decorations. Oh, and I may be teaching Keagan some Christmas songs already...

I decided to watch Catching Fire again during Keagan's nap because I'm going with some friends to see Mockingjay Part 1 tonight! A little bummed that they split it into two parts and I'll have to wait to see the end. Catching Fire is so well done, though. I forgot how much I enjoyed it! Hoping Mockingjay is half as good. Anyone else going to see it?

How many of you are off for break now and who still has a few days left like me?

Five for Friday: November 7

Like I've said before, last month was a whirlwind, and I almost never got on here to post. I'm trying to be better this month, and these weekly linkies are perfect for keeping me on schedule.

This was our little guy's 3rd Halloween and definitely the most fun! He's obsessed with Ghostbusters, so we worked hard to get his costume as close to the real thing as possible. I was a little bummed because I actually ordered a flight suit from ebay, but it ended up being too small. His daddy made the proton pack, and Keagan has had a blast with it! I've been having fun eating all of his candy...

This week was a little crazy because we had Parent/Teacher conferences on Tuesday. The nice thing about ours is that we don't have to come in until noon, but then we stay until 7 so parents have a better chance at catching us. I was able to get all of my plans done for the month, so I was thrilled! It didn't even bother me that I got home well after dark.

I was ready to take a break from interactive notebooks with my 3rd graders, so we are spending the month reading Thanksgiving on Thursday. I have the questions set in my store, and the students are able to work through it with me slowly. It will also give me a better idea at how well they are understanding stories holistically.

Fourth grade has been working on text features. I'll be honest: I'm not a huge fan of teaching them because there really aren't many creative ways to review it. You just have to practice finding them and using them. I created this simple scavenger hunt page and brought in some nonfiction books on hurricanes and tornadoes, and I think the kids enjoyed it.

With fifth grade, we used the story Knots on a Counting Rope to discuss context clues and make inferences. I'm a little bummed that I didn't search earlier because I just learned that I could have had MR. FEENY read it instead. How cool would that have been? Here's the Storyline Online video (or the link if it doesn't work) for your enjoyment, though!


How was your week?

Currently November!

October was a crazy-busy month, and I was a terrible blogger. I think I posted a grand total of 3 times the entire month, and two of them were at the very beginning. November should be calmer, and I hope I'm not as absent. I do promise I've been keeping up with blogs, though!

Fortunately, Farley's blog is a great way to turn a new leaf and start the new month. Can you believe it's already November? I'll be honest, I'm SUPER excited! I love the Thanksgiving/Christmas season with all of the food, family time, and BREAKS actually built into the schedule for the first time since school started.

Listening: Since today is Election Day, we always have parent/teacher conferences. The best part is that conferences are from 12-7, so I get to sleep in! Of course, that really didn't happen for me today because the husband was getting up early for work. Still, I have been to the gym, cleaned, and am now relaxing a little before going to vote and head in to work. I was a little bummed, though, because I forgot Kelly and Michael don't come on until 10, right before I need to head out to vote. Oh well, Today Show will do...

Loving: Tuesdays are usually my day to get cleaning done (we have small group on Monday nights and kind of leave the house a little in a wreck), so it's been nice to get some of it done this morning while I have the house all to myself. I've already vacuumed and cleaned the kitchen. Now I'm working on laundry and may even clean the bathrooms a little before I go. Yay for a clean house!

Thinking: My hair has been in a towel for almost an hour now. It's probably time to go dry it...

Wanting: Cleaning hasn't been bad at all, but it would be nice if it would just take care of itself. Especially putting the laundry away.

Needing: Teachers at my school don't get a break until Thanksgiving, and I'm a little exhausted! Today helps because there are no kids, and I don't have too many conferences. Still, it would be really nice to have even a one day break somewhere in October to break things up. I heard the "s" word in the weather forecast, and I wouldn't be disappointed if it happened. As long as it's on a school day.

Reading: I guess my book is appropriate to go along with the rest of my currently. It's honestly been a good start to the year, just busy. The girls in my small group have been reading through this book, and I would HIGHLY recommend it!

It's all about how God frees us from all of these to-do lists and expectations. He just wants us to have faith in Him and trust in His word. You should check it out!

Okay, I think it's time for me to go finish getting ready now. Are you off? Do you have kids at school today? Or is it a work day for you? I'm curious how the rest of the country does Election Day.