Making the Most of the End! Five for Friday

Happy Friday!

 I can't believe how fast this week went for me. 

I'm down to only next week and then my long maternity leave/ summer break is officially coming to an end. 

I am feeling so many emotions..... 

but I'm trying to make the most of each day that I have left. 

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday again today! 

It's been a fun week. Make sure to make it to the end of my post to watch a cool video!

ZOO DAY! 

On Monday I met up with some old teaching friends at the Milwaukee Zoo.

Hudson did great, and slept through most of it....

However it was great to spend the day with old friends!

I have been really enjoying our beautiful weather this week. 

We've been spending a lot of family time on walks around the neighborhood.

Hudson was a little crabby one night so I put him in the carrier instead of the stroller. 

He loved it!

Our baby selfie!!!  

I spent some time at school this week. 

Sad, but true... it can never all be done when you start back.

I finally got some things accomplished. Here is my favorite spot right now.

It's not finished, but I'm loving the polka dots. 

I played a new game with some friends this week. 

It's called "Word on the Street." 

I actually think it would be a great addition to my classroom. 

Have any of you played it? 

I was nominated for the ALS Ice Water Challenge this week. 

By a 5 year old.  The cutest 5 year old on the planet.

Of course I couldn't say no. 

Now I know there has been some controversy with this whole ice water challenge. 

Some people think it's great to raise awareness...others think you should skip the challenge and donate the money you would spend on the ice instead. 

I can see both sides.  

We did both.

My husband and I donated, and accepted the challenge. 

Did you hear that no matter what people think...that it's working? 

It has been reported that the ALS foundation has shown a considerable increase in donations since this started earlier this summer? Whatever works, right??? 

2 week countdown! A Peek at My Week 8*11*14

Happy Sunday! I just did my planning for the week and have realized that I have 2 weeks of summer break left. Now, I know a lot of you are heading back already, and I should be happy that I still have some time, BUT...

 I'm feeling NOT ready! 

 EEK! 

I really should get something accomplished in terms of my classroom. 

After last week being a hot mess, I hope this week is different!

So I'm trying to be prepped and ready to go.... here is a Peek at My Week. 

I'm linking up with Jennifer from Mrs. Laffin's Laughings today for her weekly linky. 

Check it out!

This week I've got a lot of business planned but also some fun stuff for pleasure as well. I think it's a good mix for one of my last weeks of summer. 

Tomorrow I'm taking Hudson to the Milwaukee Zoo.

Now, I know what you're thinking.. He's 3.5 months old.. what will he get out of the zoo? 

My thoughts exactly..however I'm going more for me..and bringing him along. 

I'm meeting my very very very best friend who used to teach with me at school who moved away...

Far Away.... to Washington.  

She's in town with her little one and we're meeting at the zoo because we live over 3 hours apart. We're also meeting another teacher we used to teach with and her little girl too. 

Milwaukee is a good middle point for all of us. Pray for no rain!

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I've got an Edcamp scheduled for this week in Oshkosh on Wednesday. 

It's still up in the air though if I'm actually going. 

I really want to go, however others I was going to go with aren't able to anymore. 

I might take the opportunity to try to work in my classroom this week.

I need to badly!

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This week I'm also working on getting some team stuff put together. 

I'm taking over as team leader this year, and have really big shoes to fill.

I'm nervous, but trying to be on top of things. 

I'm trying to finish up our yearly overview calendar so we can get ready to meet on the 20th.

I started to make a team calendar.... :) 

I also have some craft projects in order this week that have been in the works for what I feel like is EVER!

I haven't been able to link up for a Monday Made it in a few weeks...maybe again next week? 

I'm going to put together my teacher toolbox this week...{hopefully!!!}

I've also got a project idea with all of these leftover formula tubs.... any guesses as to what I'm going to make????

We're also planning our first road trip to Madison to visit my husband's parents. They've come down to see us a lot since Hudson was born but we haven't been up there. 

He's going to meet his great-grandmother for the first time, and also get himself a picture next to a sign in Hudson Park. 

Wow...full week!  I'm excited though, and hopeful to get a lot accomplished, while still enjoying the last few days at home with my hubby and baby! Check out Mrs. Laffin's blog for more people's schedules and check out what everyone has going on! Have a great week. 

Back in Business- 5 For Friday 8*8*14

Happy Friday! I've been absent all week.... my computer crashed, and I decided to take a few days off to get my butt in gear and actually get some things school related accomplished. I'm happy to report that my hubby was able to fix everything THANK GOD!.... but it was pretty scary for awhile. I did a back-up immediately so hopefully if my trusty computer decides it is in fact on it's last leg...I will have what I need.  So I'm back again and in full swing for the weekend and hopefully the next week ahead. Here's what I've been up to this week. I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the Five for Friday Linky!! :) Happy weekend!

Well I finally did it.... I ordered an Erin Condren life planner. I wasn't going to, but after opening up my teacher bag from last year.... 

It. Had. To. Happen!!!  

No seriously! I had a calender for home, work, Google calendar, and a pretty one that I made from Snapfish for the house that I stole and took to school. 

I just had to get everything together in one spot, especially now that I'm going to have Hudson to worry about. Man let me tell you, an almost 4 month old has quite the social calendar!

No but seriously.. 

I love it! 

I went for the life planner this year and used washi tape to break apart the weeks. The idea came from a fellow blogger Stephanie from 3rd Grade Thoughts. She posts pictures on Instagram all of the time of her awesome planners, and has also blogged about using them. I really loved her ideas...be sure to check them out! I have separated my week into 3 sections.

One for School.

One for Home.

And any extras that I need to keep track of.  

My week isn't very full right now, but when I'm back at school I'm looking forward to having everything in one spot to reference!

This week I had a first.... I went to an edcamp. Anyone ever been?

I had a great time meeting up with some colleagues from work and also meeting other educators from the area.  I went to a session that talked about using math workstations that I can't stop thinking about. 

I am really looking to doing my math block like that this year. 

Wish me luck...I will be sure to share my journey..... Be on the lookout!

Because I have no a ton of free time I decided to give my classroom a new look this year. I also really wanted to get it up and running. I have never been this late on getting it setup. I really have not been feeling productive at all. I needed to get some stuff done. 

I just needed a change. 

So I figured now was the best time to do it. 

So I found myself at the craft store buying fabric.

The plan was to use this fabric for my bulletin boards..... 

I couldn't!

Why, you ask? Well the blue fabrics made me feel like I was going to get sick when my husband put them up. True story! Like dizzy sick... Ugh! I guess I didn't think of that when I purchased it. So only three boards are half done because I don't have any borders to match my new colors.  

So that leads me to the next picture:

I went to my classroom. 

This is what it looked like when I got there.

This is still what it looks like now.

I was frustrated about my bulletin boards.

I got nothing done. 

Sad-face.

On a slightly happier note.. I did finish a product that I'm really excited about! 

A 180 Day Writing Prompt Book

I've had smaller versions in the past, but they were falling apart, so I wanted to make new ones for this school year. I decided to make one large one! This book has 180 different writing prompts to use in your classroom for the whole year.  

I made it into a book to put in the writing center, 

but you can use it for whole class journal time too. 

Prompts cover a wide variety of subjects and also cover different genre's of writing. There are narrative, persuasive, creative, story starters, character education prompts, how to writing and more.  

I've put mine together as a book with a binding machine, but you could easily hole punch the pages and put it together with three rings too! I plan on making 3 or so for the classroom to put in the writing center for Daily 5 writing time. I was so excited to get this done, as it has been weighing on my mind for awhile. It feels good!

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! :) Thanks for stopping by!

What??? Where's July? Currently August....

Wow wow wow wow... can I say that anymore? Seriously July is like the fastest month ever! I just can't even believe that it is August right now.  I'm linking up with Farley and her Currently linky for the month of August, and I feel like I just did one for July!  I just love seeing what everyone is up to right now, especially with school just around the corner. Be sure to stop by her blog to link up or check in on what everyone has going on. 

Listening:  NOTHING!  It's kinda late... in fact pretty close to  pasts my bedtime folks... so the house is silent and still.  The baby is out, the dog is out, and the hubby is out! I've found that my best time for blogging is at night before bed so I'm not interrupted, however tonight I'm barely keeping the lids open! :)

Loving:  The hubby and I are going out tomorrow night for the first time since Hudson was born.  We are going to a wedding! I'm so excited.  We've had a great summer together with the baby, but haven't really had many opportunities to get out the two of us together.  I'm really looking forward to dressing up and heading out for some adult time. 

Thinking- I'm a bit behind this year.... I haven't been to school other than the last week since Hudson was born on April 18th.  I usually have my room ready to go this year and I haven't even been in to start.  I even want to change my classroom decor/theme this year... I better get my to-do list going and start checking things off... or it won't happen!

Wanting- This summer with the "Monday Made It' linky I have gotten a lot of really great ideas of things that I can craft or make.... however finding the time with a new baby hasn't been easy. I love to craft and create things. It's like my therapy.  I really want to find special time to just do that. 

Needing- A mani! I got my hair done and a pedi this week for the first time since the baby and it felt amazing! I didn't have time for my fingers to get done.  I've got my first set of Jamberry nails on the way... I can't wait! I love fresh nails. :)

First day Me:  Monday August 25
First Day Kids: Tuesday September 2

I still have some time before I head back... thank goodness or else I would be in serious trouble.  We have a new calendar this year as well.  We will go from Labor Day to Memorial Day essentially by adding 15 extra minutes to our school day. I am so excited about that.  Just a little nervous for how to squeeze everything in.  


Have a great weekend!

Longest. Week. Ever... With a fun ending!!!

Happy Friday Night! I swear I've opened my computer a hundred million times today to write this post and it never happened. Here I am at nearly 9PM finally getting to it.  It's Friday, or so everyone keeps telling me (man, am I going to struggle when school starts...) so that can only mean one thing: Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching!  Be sure to stop by and check out the new blog design for our Five for Friday host. It's awesome!

So here's my quick... 5 for Friday! :) Happy Weekend Y'all. 

This week I had a two day professional development class on Google.  My brain was fried.  I mean, I literally couldn't look at a computer for days.... which is why I've been a bit absent this week.  I learned some new things, and have a few more things to take with me on my new adventure with using more Google products, including Chromebooks but I am on overload! I felt like I could have used a two day pinterest professional development class after. 

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I made a fun new product this week that I'm going to be using the first weeks of school in math.  Just a basic math center that has students practice addition with regrouping. I plan to make a subtraction one, and then a place value one as well.  If you're interested check it out! I made it with QR codes and without so you can pick what you want.  Look at me using my PD from earlier in the week!

August... where did the time fly??? I'm excited to be participating in my first ever SLANT box for the month of August.  SLANT stands for 'Sending Love Across the Nation to Teachers! If you're not familiar with what a SLANT box is, head over to Jameson's blog: Lessons With Coffee to get some more info.  I'm excited to get to know two new bloggers!!

Speaking of Pinterest again.... I finally got serious and organized my Pinterest boards this week.  I have a lot to do in terms of weeding the garden so to speak, but I'm feeling good about new boards for various subject areas! It's the little things that just make you feel so accomplished. 

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I reached a milestone on my blog tonight... 75...hold that 76 followers!! Pretty awesome and I'm amazed each day to where this journey has taken me in such a short amount of time.  To celebrate, the first 5 people to comment on this post with their email address and go follow my TpT store will receive a copy of my math center that I posted earlier to use in their classroom.  :)  Thanks for coming along with me on this journey. 

Have an awesome weekend!