Another New Year's Linky Party!

I've linked up with Jen at The Teacher's Cauldron for another fun "resolution" party! Her blog is one of the blogs that inspired me to create my own! It's wonderful, be sure to check it out if you haven't yet!

This party is pretty simple, which I like. One resolution for life in general and one for blogging!

Life: Well, I could think of many resolutions for life. I mean, don't we want to improve everything we do??? I'd love to make time to finish projects around the house and decorate. I often find that decorating and designing the house comes last on my long list of things to do. However, I've gotten some cute decorations for Christmas and I can't wait to continue working on several rooms in the home.

Blogging: I want to BLOG more in general. I need to at least blog once a week. On another note, I'd like to continue to create things for my TPT store. I only have a few things on TPT however I've gotten great reviews and sales. I'm excited to try to make a few more things for my store.

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment, I'd love to add more blogs to follow!
xo

2012's Blog's Best and Brightest!

Hello Everyone! I'm linking up with Christina at Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge! for a superb linky party to celebrate 2012 and to discuss goals and aspirations to achieve in 2013! So here we go...

I began blogging this summer. I had always admired other "teacher" blogs and bloggers. I never thought I would be able to create a blog. Well, thanks to The Honey Bunch Blog Design I was able to achieve a beautiful blog that I am so proud of! They make beautiful blogs! 

It's amazing what a nice looking blog that your proud of can inspire you to write and keep up with the blogging community. I have to admit, I haven't blogged as much as I've wanted to. Especially when the school year began, I found it difficult to keep up with. However, I have enjoyed what I have posted and the feedback I've gotten. I believe the most popular post I've done was Made it Monday! Here I posted about my own lesson plan book I created for my new TPT Store!

YES I have a TPT store. Though it is small, I've had some fantastic reviews and sales for some of my products. I hope to continue to learn how to make things beautiful and create more fun projects! Some of my favorite things I've created are my lesson plan book and my writer's workshop binder sheets! Check them out! 

My goals for 2013? 

*Continue to BLOG at least once a week! I wake up early enough everyday and enjoy a nice cup of coffee? Why not blog about what's happening at school?

*Create new items for my TPT store. I'm really into the Common Core at the moment. (I know, I'm a nerd..) However, I want to create a few literacy products that are Common Core aligned. 

*Keep in touch with more bloggers, follow more bloggers, and hopefully have more followers! :) I want to share and create a larger community of fellow teachers. Let's talk!

Okay, now it's your turn. Be sure to link up! :) Happy Saturday my friends. I'm off to plan and get ready for next week. I'm beginning a Fantasy Unit (remember I only teach reading at the moment). Anyone have any good suggestions

2 Days..

Who's counting? I'm really only joking, because I've had two snow days this week...okay maybe I'm not. I'm super excited to have a little time off! I've been browsing the TPT store for some fun activities for these last few days. (My lesson plans are by the wayside and totally messed up because of a snow days Monday and Tuesday.) I wanted to share some GREAT packets I purchased. If you are a fellow fourth or fifth grade teacher you will LOVE these two literacy packets!

 Christmas Common Core Literacy Activities!

Christmas Common Core Literacy Pack! 4th and 5th!

I'm using these today with all of my 50 something students. I think they will love them! These cute activities inspired me to make a few things on Christmas Break. We shall see what I come up with! :) I can be pretty crafty...

Have a wonderful day! xo

Snow Day Number Two!

Snow day number two this week. Total snow days so far this school year: three. It is miserable outside! I am so thankful that I didn't have to go out and drive in this stuff. We have about 9-10 inches so far! I didn't want to go outside yet, therefore I have taken a quick snapshot of a piece of my backyard. Notice all the snow piled up onto our picnic tables!

Yesterday I made quite a few sugar cookies, read, watched several versions of a Christmas Carol and Miracle on 34th Street. What was I to do on my second snow day?  So far this is what I've accomplished:

19 little goodie bags for my 19 very special 5th graders. 

I miss my students. I often wonder what they are up to during snow days and vacations. I hope they are having a wonderful snowy day. With the recent events that occurred in CT, I can't wait to give them all an extra hug and smile when I get to see them tomorrow (hopefully).

I'll leave everyone with this positive thought:

Happy Holidays!

Well hello fellow bloggers, it has been a while. A long, long while. Actually, since October! I've missed blogging oh so much. To be honest, it has been the last thing on my to do list lately. Some of you that follow me may have noticed in previous posts that this year I've moved from fourth to fifth grade. That was an adjustment in itself, however, I was eased by the transition because I already knew the students. The biggest transition for me this school year though has been the new departmentalized model we've been trying.
At the beginning of the year my principal suggested trying the departmentalized model because of a workshop he had attended. My other team members are loving it, however, I am loathing it. I am teaching purely "reading" everyday...all day...
Needless to say, I am becoming bored. Which makes me sad. I realize now that I loved teaching all of the subjects throughout the day. Many say that teaching one subject is much "easier" but I would have to disagree.
Yes, one only plans for one subject. However, there is no connection between subjects. It is like thinking with a one track mind. I enjoyed finding common connections and threads amongst subjects. It was so delightful to thread through reading, writing, and content. It felt more natural.
I also miss the classroom management and classroom culture I had last year. I feel as though I don't know my student's as well as I did last year. This also makes me sad.

Question of the day:
Has anyone else taught using the departmentalized model? What were your feelings about it? Experiences? Pros and Cons?

I have a snow day today! You might see me later on here...it seems to be a perfect day to get caught up on some blogging!