tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25212847609410305132024-03-13T20:50:39.604-07:00Teaching in the ValleyLizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-21650753559105888662013-10-01T22:23:00.002-07:002013-10-01T22:23:23.469-07:00October!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yay! It's October My favorite month of the year! Fall foods, fall weather, Halloween, pumpkins, apples, leaves changing - I love it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bummer that none of it really happens in Arizona. And let's be honest, drinking apple cider and munching on pumpkin muffins is not the same when it's still in the upper 90s. Plus it's kind of hard for leaves to change colors when I mostly see palm trees and cacti around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And P.S., burning a leaf scented candle is not the same either.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But no matter, I still October. Plus my class is going on a field trip to a farm in a few weeks to go pumpkin picking. I'm hoping it'll be at least a bit cooler so I can pretend that it feels like fall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyways, with a new month brings a new Currently. I have missed the last few but no way would I miss October!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listening: Full House may or may not be one of my favorite shows. And lucky me, it's on every night for a few hours. I still laugh quite frequently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loving: That Fall Break is so so so close! We have a full day of school tomorrow. On Thursday, the kids go home at 11:15, but we have parent-teacher conferences until 7:00! But it's all good since on Friday, we can leave at 11:15. Then it's hello Fall Break!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thinking: Bedtime soon! We have been taking standardized testing today and yesterday and it is so exhausting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wanting: Some new cute and comfy flats. I have plenty of sandals and lots of boots, but not too many flats that I can actually stand wearing all day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needing: A massage. That would feel oh so wonderful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trick or Treat! A Treat - I'd highly recommend Bath and Body Works candles. They are so great. And sometimes they have a deal two for twenty, which is a stellar deal since they are normally twenty dollars for one! I snagged two at the last sale =)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your turn! Go link up! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/10/currently-october.html">Oh Boy Fourth Grade</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-4388216779142197202013-09-11T06:42:00.001-07:002013-09-11T06:42:36.973-07:00Guest Blogging<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am guest blogging today at Teacher Mom of 3 today!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go check it out to hear about how I keep my kids' voices down during small groups!</span><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-84809067766829018802013-08-25T18:48:00.001-07:002013-08-25T18:48:34.767-07:00Some Things I'm Loving<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no tired like beginning of the year teacher tired. And of course, one of my little <strike>germ monsters</strike> adorable firsties got me sick already!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At eight days in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Immune system, where were you?! You let me down. I even gave you extra vitamins!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, I seem to getting better with each passing day. Just a pesky cough and runny nose left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, (a bit late to the party I know...) I'm linking up with Katie from Katie Did What for her weekly Things I'm Loving series</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Kitchen Accessory:</b> These ceramic pots. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Evan and I purchased these after our wedding with some of our Kohl's giftcards and let me tell you - they are the best ever!! Nothing (and I mean nothing) sticks to them. Not even scrambled eggs!! They have a ceramic coating on them so food literally just slides right off. And there is no Teflon either so you don't have to worry about eating gross flaked off bits. If you are in the market for new pans, I'd definitely recommend them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Clothing: </b>Since it is still a million degrees in Phoenix right now, I am looking for ways to stay cool. For some unknown reason, people just do not wear shorts here. Like ever. Unless you are a teenager, small child, or working out. Even though it frequently is over 100 degrees. So I am looking for other ways to stay cool yet look work appropriate. I got these adorable shirts yesterday from Kohl's and American Eagle. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL5W9kDquFDmjhYwOWdENVwt_Cmnnku5KEZRiTJJ2fs3cRUZY1GU59WfPmkg11-aQwR3Gj-qECbpe_nn5SxTYRQ7yfaSjYFWJ9FSICQ6Trgi9q-BSkbY319mKJlXLW5OUzlKvY8y79Z0/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL5W9kDquFDmjhYwOWdENVwt_Cmnnku5KEZRiTJJ2fs3cRUZY1GU59WfPmkg11-aQwR3Gj-qECbpe_nn5SxTYRQ7yfaSjYFWJ9FSICQ6Trgi9q-BSkbY319mKJlXLW5OUzlKvY8y79Z0/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kohl's was having an awesome sale on LC Lauren Conrad line (which I adore). 65% off most of the stuff!! Say whattt?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I got the white lace one and the blue beaded one for like $14 each?? The white one with the flowers was more but it was so cute and so sophisticated and I loved it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The black and white stripe one is from American Eagle, who is also having an amazing sale - 40% off everything AND free shipping if you order online. Seriously these sales should be illegal. But I am excited to have some breezy shirts to wear to work now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Restaurant: </b>PF Changs. I feel like PF Changs is a place that I'm almost embarrassed to say that I love it as much as I do since it's so Americanized, but it is just so good! Evan and I went there for lunch yesterday - lunch specials, yay! - and this happened:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoK4CIPjnAhD8Ex6zh7yKAypZbLaNDx1pWo1Zmv6Qu_7N8lBFa2ZzgZKESGkV15GXxVwCeoBmhHbMTTAycCyaev8QwR_-Na_wjLgrZj-1Bh5nFjwcK8_Zgkd1cBBefHfTCeeMquYRxhs/s1600/great+wall+of+choc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoK4CIPjnAhD8Ex6zh7yKAypZbLaNDx1pWo1Zmv6Qu_7N8lBFa2ZzgZKESGkV15GXxVwCeoBmhHbMTTAycCyaev8QwR_-Na_wjLgrZj-1Bh5nFjwcK8_Zgkd1cBBefHfTCeeMquYRxhs/s1600/great+wall+of+choc.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't take that picture. Who has time to take pictures when something looking like that arrives at your place. The Great Wall of Chocolate. So good. So heavenly. So Chocolaty. And so unhealthy too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Marlee Moment: </b>It is no surprise that Mar Mar is mischievous. She has eaten too many things to count that dogs should not eat including palm berries, Legos, and socks to name a few. She also is sneaky. She will grab something and then trot away under the bed ever so stealthily. Evan and I were making breakfast and we emptied out an egg carton. I put it in our recycling and look who grabbed it out.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAcaDa8sVL6YzuF5tI3a7eMF78rMJnOVRh0tKDShvSKQmlVeN0_TKdu-AkeD5oKFY6KLnNCT11QflmuoK5tLGsSbGnzOwYGDOj8lRSexEmC6E700s2-wWMiHHkCtP0svw0NUGfOoLC2g/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAcaDa8sVL6YzuF5tI3a7eMF78rMJnOVRh0tKDShvSKQmlVeN0_TKdu-AkeD5oKFY6KLnNCT11QflmuoK5tLGsSbGnzOwYGDOj8lRSexEmC6E700s2-wWMiHHkCtP0svw0NUGfOoLC2g/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She was convinced it was for her! Her cuteness won of course and we ended up letting her play with it until she started to eat the cardboard. Then it mysteriously vanished, never to be seen again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Back to School Activity: </b>I love reading aloud to my kiddos. In fact, it was probably one of my most favorite things about teaching and here's why. Not only do I get to be overly dramatic when I read, I teach kids what is in our classroom library and that is how favorite books are found! I always read some Mo Willems and Pete the Cat books at the beginning of the year (crowd pleasers and teacher favorites). This year, I had my kids do an activity inspired by another blogger (if you know who, please let me know since I can't remember). We read Pete the Cat - I love my white shoes and then they got to color in a Pete the Cat and his shoes. Then we did a cut up sentence. The kids wrote the words and then I cut and mixed up the words. Then they glued them in the right order. They turned out so cute!! Plus a cut up sentence allows me to quickly assess students' writing/spelling abilities and their ability to reorder a mixed up sentence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I love my rainbow shoes."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-uiv-fKkxEEUfuGS0b0njdsH82Qdo4wQl4pcAOLEtfQ22neELCAsTBw8inu7tuuSQ6oWRMEg54wYL9BkaIJYPLLrpFxITd9ofVqPf6ANr4kOOCYhVQk66J7HCFm-ag1VfbSRXIBUmas/s1600/photo+(20).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-uiv-fKkxEEUfuGS0b0njdsH82Qdo4wQl4pcAOLEtfQ22neELCAsTBw8inu7tuuSQ6oWRMEg54wYL9BkaIJYPLLrpFxITd9ofVqPf6ANr4kOOCYhVQk66J7HCFm-ag1VfbSRXIBUmas/s320/photo+(20).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I love my purple shoes"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seriously, how adorable!?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your turn! Go link up!</span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-71746984688257090672013-08-10T18:46:00.003-07:002013-08-10T21:50:30.358-07:00Classroom 2013-2014!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really though (and I mean REALLY thought) that setting up my classroom would be easier the second time around. Move a table here, put a bookcase there, bulletin borders up, school supplies away? Right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WRONG! It took my forever to get my room just right. I think I spent four full work days slaving away - pushing furniture around, putting books away, stapling (and restapling) bulletin boards. However, I do love the layout a lot more than last year so that's a win right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyways, here are some pictures!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">View from the front door - the listening center is off to the left and the whole group area is off to the right.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJmEFkSYtkPRzSQTsoQzl-WJYDM7hSzQpBArNHFcxTWysowI_UWBVSkcsbqxnHXPf6p0FCOMQFHBGkMWVkUkpqigrU-t0tMZWl76gTnH22PuK2A0AlV8Jwrh3jvuB6ZG2ns0gv1dFW6g/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJmEFkSYtkPRzSQTsoQzl-WJYDM7hSzQpBArNHFcxTWysowI_UWBVSkcsbqxnHXPf6p0FCOMQFHBGkMWVkUkpqigrU-t0tMZWl76gTnH22PuK2A0AlV8Jwrh3jvuB6ZG2ns0gv1dFW6g/s320/IMG_0604.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My classroom library. Right behind the library are the student computers - to avoid curious eyes from watching other students on the computers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_MWPk6bpJLIM_rUdSs2KNeG-RV0VhhJ6_3FjvsHel0pUetTJ-GUXYfOAV_BQxpGczvSPjUuEYJHHquuNMMJlJhdXWw97Wzw1ZPwH3tUDzeP2-MskQ97skuMQtRkvLvHJOO6IJETYqn4/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_MWPk6bpJLIM_rUdSs2KNeG-RV0VhhJ6_3FjvsHel0pUetTJ-GUXYfOAV_BQxpGczvSPjUuEYJHHquuNMMJlJhdXWw97Wzw1ZPwH3tUDzeP2-MskQ97skuMQtRkvLvHJOO6IJETYqn4/s320/IMG_0606.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My small group area. I like being by the windows =)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVccemd76780MIFZgdQJsDA7foeBv74_TegJMGUjTs0h-pvNCFI8JipeTTYSkUNzRrO95ZYr3zoCL-g49zP7Ks5s4GhrkalGVjI6UPN8deyfbjCGoyuJtu66wY3tcvisclCzF-Aa2z2bU/s1600/IMG_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVccemd76780MIFZgdQJsDA7foeBv74_TegJMGUjTs0h-pvNCFI8JipeTTYSkUNzRrO95ZYr3zoCL-g49zP7Ks5s4GhrkalGVjI6UPN8deyfbjCGoyuJtu66wY3tcvisclCzF-Aa2z2bU/s320/IMG_0607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whole group area and Activboard (which is now working! Yay!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">School started on Wednesday and I love my kiddos already! I have a really great group of darlings, although I had forgotten how kindergarten-ish they still are! I'm used to my well-trained first grade-almost second graders and now I have to start all over again. But they really are sweet and pretty cute! And one of them is even from Milwaukee! I got pretty excited when I saw that on her paperwork! I currently have 26 kids on my roster but one hasn't shown. Even with a first grade position cut, I still started off with the same amount of little first grade friends as last year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's to a happy and successful year!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-60029785444710274762013-07-21T13:58:00.001-07:002013-07-21T13:58:38.384-07:00It's been awhile...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's almost been a month since my last post!! But lots has happened since then...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. I got married!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On July 6, I tied the knot with my wonderful new husband Evan. It was such a perfect day. Everything was so wonderful and I am sad that it's all over. We were blessed with great family and friends surrounding us that day as well as beautiful weather.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYhdmS4vUWXqM4ppFFSUTMYe2loTC4sH49AhRQHIc5Y009jkPVMYW2Q9LZPi0Utxj4zcxKSbvOnt-OMHn3_vCfXiD3PcCspJe5tdjT3fKLJpzkdlKpPaZCUpGxHI08sJa60Fz9xvbVyk/s1600/cake+smush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYhdmS4vUWXqM4ppFFSUTMYe2loTC4sH49AhRQHIc5Y009jkPVMYW2Q9LZPi0Utxj4zcxKSbvOnt-OMHn3_vCfXiD3PcCspJe5tdjT3fKLJpzkdlKpPaZCUpGxHI08sJa60Fz9xvbVyk/s400/cake+smush.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_Ja0nFjPFR1shMuREDBWWxHGRNJi8El7KNEDs7aULvx7fvjRwJNomGmIeAj9PvDGVJp3oHUC5N7oHYkHknRLlH8mIVnvsFS50EJOWfSodnsSkQiyUCThl_sQmcEGUuDuCGStmynTUpI/s1600/sparklers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_Ja0nFjPFR1shMuREDBWWxHGRNJi8El7KNEDs7aULvx7fvjRwJNomGmIeAj9PvDGVJp3oHUC5N7oHYkHknRLlH8mIVnvsFS50EJOWfSodnsSkQiyUCThl_sQmcEGUuDuCGStmynTUpI/s400/sparklers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Honeymooning in Paris!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Evan and I spent a week in Paris on our honeymoon. It was truly a special, romantic, whirlwind honeymoon. I now understand why a lot of couples go to resorts where they can lay around all day and rest. But we had a blast! Especially since it was France's </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fête Nationale aka Bastille Days and this happened:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpBzrUh_eL4ULv2NQYO5U7kXN3ju91Z-s-q9VY2RgBR0OdbEPFOYkL9Z3CrIW0Ct1zoyHhejmAmu8DQbXx0ul1l7PtpSH1M22APNvVBi7CDTWqEjnmppJFQI0yYZ_k3mOYEhzCDbfnpE/s1600/eiffel+firework.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpBzrUh_eL4ULv2NQYO5U7kXN3ju91Z-s-q9VY2RgBR0OdbEPFOYkL9Z3CrIW0Ct1zoyHhejmAmu8DQbXx0ul1l7PtpSH1M22APNvVBi7CDTWqEjnmppJFQI0yYZ_k3mOYEhzCDbfnpE/s400/eiffel+firework.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Back to Phoenix.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boo on this one but I have SEI class next week and Evan has frogs to care for so it was kind of unavoidable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Back to School...Soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">School starts up on August 7 and I have a week of trainings and meetings and such beforehand. I'm excited to work in my room but not so much for hours of endless meetings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. And I am now no longer a first year teacher! Woooo! Second year teacher over here! So in order to celebrate, I'm linking up with Latoya for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKtARA6GTbBK7RtvLD7LFHtQQJJt339m-yGz6iNoV_Myq54OcD9U6Qyro38FYhriFogJyjhoH3OqnhLMomm4gC6KUORnZwDWZh1Q1KAKRicVZAKztw38eCH7oP_mKyo6vm3_e8ZyYvvI/s1600/linky+party2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKtARA6GTbBK7RtvLD7LFHtQQJJt339m-yGz6iNoV_Myq54OcD9U6Qyro38FYhriFogJyjhoH3OqnhLMomm4gC6KUORnZwDWZh1Q1KAKRicVZAKztw38eCH7oP_mKyo6vm3_e8ZyYvvI/s320/linky+party2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So fresh from the mind of an old-new teacher, here we go!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVE2zFXj5Wg1qgGB7fAG0QOWLmXP54LWE0zD0nkmKio18OP-8-A82_46iTNeTYAep44eOLS3aqyTloZEY_q_J88tOs-1pIlr1RrND1uuPVq9rxJ-EEhBxMMTJJuZoOuRyEv9wSKLlZCE/s1600/advice1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVE2zFXj5Wg1qgGB7fAG0QOWLmXP54LWE0zD0nkmKio18OP-8-A82_46iTNeTYAep44eOLS3aqyTloZEY_q_J88tOs-1pIlr1RrND1uuPVq9rxJ-EEhBxMMTJJuZoOuRyEv9wSKLlZCE/s400/advice1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Buy, beg, borrow and steal: </b>Obviously, being a new teacher probably means that you don't have a lot of teacher things and supplies. But just because you don't have it, you don't necessarily have to buy it. Borrow it from someone who isn't using it/looking to give it a new home. Beg for things, "steal" ideas and make them yourselves. It's hard to look on Pinterest and see beautiful, perfectly matched classrooms with themes and coordinating library baskets. But that's ok. If I had been obsessed with matching things and making everything perfect, I probably wouldn't have had a paycheck for a month. My classroom definitely wasn't the cutest one on the block but it did its job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Always remember why you chose teaching: </b>So there were definitely many, many times where I would sit at my rainbow table, head in hands, asking out loud (to no one at all) what was I doing? Why did I pick this profession? It's too hard, annoying, difficult, time consuming, etc, etc. Then I would remember that I am a teacher because I want to help kids learn so they can go to college and be successful. And sometimes that would get me through the tough times (and when that didn't work, a martini or ice cream was a pretty good second option!). You can't forget why you are a teacher or else you'll get sucked into Doomsville USA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Never stay too late:</b> You've heard of some teachers being the first to arrive and the last to leave, but that's just not a feasible option. We're human. We need down time, time spent with family and friends and pets, time to rest, time to shop, time for you. And if you are always staying at school until 6:00 or 7:00, spend 30 minutes driving home, and then you have to make dinner and probably do more things for school, only to fall asleep at 9:00. I stayed at school late for the first few months or so of school, but once I got a better handle on things, I made it my goal to leave at 5:00. And then 4:30. And then 4:00. And I was much happier leaving at 4:00 than leaving at 6:00.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Find some great teacher friends:</b> It's so important to develop a good support system at school. It's so much harder when you don't click with anyone. You have no one to cry to or talk to or snag ideas from. It can be hard to put yourself out there, but be friendly, polite, and kind to everyone! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Make copies a week in advance: </b>I used to make copies every morning. And every morning, there would be a line at the copiers. Especially since our copiers are very old and often one or both of them are broken. So I started making all my copies on Friday afternoon. Is it fun to be staying later on Fridays making copies? Nope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it makes the whole next week go so much smoother. Everything is all done and ready to go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Be true to yourself: </b>Last year, I found myself and my opinions of things being easily swayed by other teachers. I felt that since they had so much more experience, education, years, etc. that they much have been right since I had just started off. But I finally realized that my education and my experiences were valid, worthwhile, and had truth to them. I remembered what I learned and what I felt was best for my kids and began to do things the way I felt would be best beneficial for my kids. I am still always open to new ideas and am willing to try new things, but I can also recognize when something just isn't me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, your first year is hard. I can't even tell you how many people told me it'll get better next year. So here's hoping!</span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-65699609707852337912013-06-22T20:25:00.000-07:002013-06-22T20:25:15.144-07:00Some Things I'm Lovinnnnnn'<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I am linking up with Katie over at <a href="http://www.katiedidwhat.com/">Katie Did What</a> for her Saturday series linky party.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX_jrc5abfrGuQin31zr25Hmwx3Dlz5vH6DIObIfqpy-5lUzDiz8smIurq0Z8mQH4OjdOJQQcIfvRqBIjNqGZ8PF3SsS31z_XjN5yq7kerAF-yvoOJ2692nd4WwT942-nUo17u2oFVM4/s1600/magsliz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX_jrc5abfrGuQin31zr25Hmwx3Dlz5vH6DIObIfqpy-5lUzDiz8smIurq0Z8mQH4OjdOJQQcIfvRqBIjNqGZ8PF3SsS31z_XjN5yq7kerAF-yvoOJ2692nd4WwT942-nUo17u2oFVM4/s320/magsliz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fiesta Bridal Shower!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sooooooo....some things I am loving:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Parties: Last weekend was my wonderful fiesta-themed bridal shower and today was a dear friend's graduation party. I love catching up with people that I haven't seen in awhile. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TV Show: So it's probably super silly, but one of my favorite things to do on a day off is snuggle under a blanket and watch Price Is Right. Basically it's not a sick/holiday/vacation day unless you watch PIR. I am so bad at the games though but my sister is so good. When we were younger, it was the highlight of a sick day to watch PIR. So needless to say, I have watched it every day this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Store: Etsy. I have ordered/looked for inspiration from Etsy so much in the wedding planning process. I ordered our guest book, and the bridesmaids gifts from Etsy and I am so pleased at what I've got. It's all so adorable! PS I just made chiffon flowers to wear in my wedding, and I semi-contemplating quitting my job to open a full-time Etsy shop (and by semi-contemplating, I mean wishful thinking).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Food: So I have been to two parties from this past Saturday to today and I have eaten way too much delicious food. But one thing that is, of course, at all parties is sheet cake. Like the big cakes you get from grocery stores that are one layer. Now, I love sheet cake. Almost more than any other cake, even homemade cake. If my parents hadn't insisted, I totally would have gotten sheet cake for my wedding. Something about it is just different than other cakes. And I love it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drink: So even though it is summertime, I am obsessed with drinking hot tea every morning. It's almost my favorite thing about the morning. And my dad is a tea-making guru. Basically, he makes the best tea. And it's soooo good. It's this tea that we accidentally discover when we were in Alaska two summers ago. It has a distinct flavor that is both sweet and savory and really hard to describe. But it's the best tea ever. The end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Makeup: Part of my favorite thing about not working is not wearing makeup. It's nice to let my face be free, especially since the wedding seems to be causing major breakouts. But one thing I must do is wear nail polish on my toes since I almost always wear sandals in the summer. And I love my signature color of neon pink. It's by Sinful Collections, it's like $3, and I think it's called 24/7. It's so bright, and it's a big pop of color for drab and dreary days. It's basically my fav and the only color I wear on my toes.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-9435935945687268752013-06-21T11:20:00.001-07:002013-06-21T11:20:02.456-07:00Friday Letters<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So one of my new favorite bloggers Katie over at <a href="http://www.katiedidwhat.com/">Katie Did What</a> does something called Friday Letters. So I'm taking a page from the book of Katie today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Friday Letters</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dear Jillian Michaels</b>, You are a beast. The 30 Day Shred is no joke. But you make me laugh with the things you say during the workouts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite?: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">JM: The neck is not invited to the party - just the abs!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwV7OkmL6n_bzImwdaXGZJX-4N7Iutyxon9pL-JlcQDjIM7DYwj4NpZ3Q9ERrOstAdDViUgUvlETMXH0dL7USuXjKQ8fd4B-YvTkRppjXGBre8hD2gauMMYFidNSWVHiIbXtFn80sD3c/s1600/30day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwV7OkmL6n_bzImwdaXGZJX-4N7Iutyxon9pL-JlcQDjIM7DYwj4NpZ3Q9ERrOstAdDViUgUvlETMXH0dL7USuXjKQ8fd4B-YvTkRppjXGBre8hD2gauMMYFidNSWVHiIbXtFn80sD3c/s1600/30day.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dear Wedding Planning</b>, Yikes you are exhausting and are too...something for someone like me. But we only have 15 days left of our relationship and then you and I are done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dear Wisconsin Weather</b>, So in case you missed it, Phoenix is almost always sunny and cozy. So all of this chilly weather and rain and clouds and doom and gloom? No thank you. You better shape up for July 6. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKX6d8KU7m8D9Zc0qCauhhvr-lE8WU2PJtmEmXmYj3pS5SxdK6UCuqFfTKLfgZ8ev9HI-ERHRxoPsAccU2u6vPXyanwKkVdEzliVFMDGnzOoPisLsWZuaF0JWHwuNOoS1SgD2fZ34lz4M/s1600/WIeather.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKX6d8KU7m8D9Zc0qCauhhvr-lE8WU2PJtmEmXmYj3pS5SxdK6UCuqFfTKLfgZ8ev9HI-ERHRxoPsAccU2u6vPXyanwKkVdEzliVFMDGnzOoPisLsWZuaF0JWHwuNOoS1SgD2fZ34lz4M/s320/WIeather.png" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yuckkkkkk.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-72134320592080184312013-06-12T08:55:00.000-07:002013-06-12T08:55:13.122-07:00June Happenings<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lot has happened since my last post at then beginning of June.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Summer School</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I taught a week of summer school for second graders going into third grade that focused solely on math, specifically mental math and math strategies. Which is hard for me since upon teaching summer school, I realized I don't have many mental math strategies. I always do the standard algorithm in my head and I just assumed that everyone did that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nope. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hardly anyone does that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">News to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone has these super clever strategies that involve rounding, compensating, estimating, etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still like the standard algorithm though and will probably continue with it because I tried to use other strategies. Really tried. But I always got stuck somewhere in my head when using a clever strategy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But anyways, it was hard for me to teach mental math because I don't really do it the way we're supposed to be teaching kids. But we started off doing a mental math problem every day to get the kids' brains working. They would solve the problem in their head and then talk about how they solved it/the strategies they used with a friend. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist9_npbpitwyAflQ6-BNHQqkxtWEzhyFlP2vKs-UQeIbf81GDkPkZdezSWk5LkX6KBU_Uelw-QZ8QKKbGcjPHvwTnnhbSJCB5r_6DSnNvf_sWFwhFTHNW-WgMgIPCzz32_N7W7jmPpRs/s1600/photo+(20).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist9_npbpitwyAflQ6-BNHQqkxtWEzhyFlP2vKs-UQeIbf81GDkPkZdezSWk5LkX6KBU_Uelw-QZ8QKKbGcjPHvwTnnhbSJCB5r_6DSnNvf_sWFwhFTHNW-WgMgIPCzz32_N7W7jmPpRs/s320/photo+(20).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These two girls are discussing the strategies they used to solve the problem. Which sounds tricky. But the kids actually did a great job explaining what they did in their heads to get the answer. Obviously, first graders would need a lot more scaffolding to be able to successfully share. Because my kids' favorite strategy was "I did it in my head."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then we would make a list with the strategies they used, starting with the most basic and going to the most sophisticated. The kiddos would then record their thinking in their math journals.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWS5eQ9BmAlLJRr13D_A9YTqU14z_z4q_79RtoN9vkJmE2V07tHCS8SMxkS0y3DhB9Puu30CDf2fkANgXfrYD0T7aU48GWwb0oS0ITvBbB_Fs9pY49wzQOMNqkXSpbBsWiQUqqikyKea8/s1600/photo+(21).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWS5eQ9BmAlLJRr13D_A9YTqU14z_z4q_79RtoN9vkJmE2V07tHCS8SMxkS0y3DhB9Puu30CDf2fkANgXfrYD0T7aU48GWwb0oS0ITvBbB_Fs9pY49wzQOMNqkXSpbBsWiQUqqikyKea8/s320/photo+(21).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next was a minilesson where we taught the kiddos some more strategies they could use besides counting on, which was by far the most popular (but least sophisticated) strategy. We taught them about making tens, doubles, and tens frames. The students would have time to practice the new strategies with the teacher, with partners, and independently.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEE7MmuW-O788q6a2zgk-n2hUSCv5UZgIDp4NYeDwGa-U1s6gOIp6kf4NYsZgfTtPxNPJND9jlIhhcVrO0hDABrSvL054S2vYBHcGeL2PLGR796xOkn6hjq5d-9wTAJthZtGalfQ7vZg/s1600/photo+(22).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEE7MmuW-O788q6a2zgk-n2hUSCv5UZgIDp4NYeDwGa-U1s6gOIp6kf4NYsZgfTtPxNPJND9jlIhhcVrO0hDABrSvL054S2vYBHcGeL2PLGR796xOkn6hjq5d-9wTAJthZtGalfQ7vZg/s320/photo+(22).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here we are working with part-part-whole mats and manipulating the cubes to make groups of tens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also made posters that we hung up around the room for the kids to look back to whenever they needed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnEcRKKglAvG56YmqT6NSbs3sGbVu3huzXcbjG4LfZ7lLUtFsu2I8MwdBfRqKz1UpnvFgwO89T9RIL7kbp5e1aMMD2G2RwHgNqPWUWsS6hxUWwDCzBrnKnO2ZQfru9KXrdynRLNSePwc/s1600/photo+(24).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnEcRKKglAvG56YmqT6NSbs3sGbVu3huzXcbjG4LfZ7lLUtFsu2I8MwdBfRqKz1UpnvFgwO89T9RIL7kbp5e1aMMD2G2RwHgNqPWUWsS6hxUWwDCzBrnKnO2ZQfru9KXrdynRLNSePwc/s320/photo+(24).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last, we ended the day with centers that reinforced these skills. The kids loved centers since they were playing games and having fun.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu76e1QFCUjL2a1989pOqYSwocG76kV022HQtQZcz-3hRBbnfB3j_65cHqlEiLRkED6okzFCKjzxMULSssQdGLZu15mIv2HKgG6uCUpbLuJl8CuiNmzMrgJA6H2GM3XVBG5gX2F-hBoI/s1600/photo+(23).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu76e1QFCUjL2a1989pOqYSwocG76kV022HQtQZcz-3hRBbnfB3j_65cHqlEiLRkED6okzFCKjzxMULSssQdGLZu15mIv2HKgG6uCUpbLuJl8CuiNmzMrgJA6H2GM3XVBG5gX2F-hBoI/s320/photo+(23).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of that happened in the mornings. In the afternoons, the teachers had PD about how to teach math so it was more meaningful for students. We then took our new learnings and planned for the following day. I learned a lot from teaching summer school and I am super excited to take a lot so much of it back to first grade. Things that I definitely am going to incorporate are math journals, mental math time, and a math strategies/vocab wall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Phoenix --> Milwaukee</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also returned to Milwaukee on a red eye flight. Which was, of course, delayed. It wouldn't have been too bad except with the time change, I didn't arrive until 1:30 or something? Thankfully, I have wonderful parents who came to get me even though it was super late at night. Plus I feel bad about leaving Evan and Marlee. But with less than a month to go before wedding day, some</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">one has to get this planning going. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Wedding</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thankfully, Pinterest and Etsy have been amazing resources. What would I do without them? Here are some of my ideas/inspiration.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsYtscJjpu2TmeaodWhyphenhyphentwnd0yUa3BjMSJ5q4zTfl9MFeeTijzE9ssdCx6Wv-La3m_zHMuRV862iPhE00N1Ou88ppYZ2Pjtre2mK_2be0tcLcbX2BX_LLdCr6sb7qFXVO2dv_xgValvo/s1600/poms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsYtscJjpu2TmeaodWhyphenhyphentwnd0yUa3BjMSJ5q4zTfl9MFeeTijzE9ssdCx6Wv-La3m_zHMuRV862iPhE00N1Ou88ppYZ2Pjtre2mK_2be0tcLcbX2BX_LLdCr6sb7qFXVO2dv_xgValvo/s320/poms.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Pinterest: <a href="http://theflairexchange.com/easiest-pom-diy/">Here</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRrGDWBB6pcAltW9Ia6bKrm_R-o-C-mKM3keko3hRnAuSzQg_78roqpelwIfE-WZ9x_V_UfctbDR4OEHFyyqgoTdBDd_G_8NNQKyOuaUwWFAvcie9aN-kJwku5QjKoGtG-ddRahAFC5A/s1600/flower+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRrGDWBB6pcAltW9Ia6bKrm_R-o-C-mKM3keko3hRnAuSzQg_78roqpelwIfE-WZ9x_V_UfctbDR4OEHFyyqgoTdBDd_G_8NNQKyOuaUwWFAvcie9aN-kJwku5QjKoGtG-ddRahAFC5A/s320/flower+balls.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Pinterest: <a href="http://www.afloral.com/Silk-Flowers-Artificial-Flowers-Fake-Flowers/Sunflowers/7-Sunflower-Ball-in-Yellow-with-Hanger">Here</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEEkDz_s3tt1nJ0ItZ51fsizoo1y47nw796xRHhF4TBVjqQcniI3FhzFThzXvcD3IuMkze2stlgcyjIu0pmS6CidNzALNKvZ-l_oSx7QH6jAyPiXZXwIRs8Z4vdC2c4PUrY0gJjfBZ-E/s1600/Guest+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEEkDz_s3tt1nJ0ItZ51fsizoo1y47nw796xRHhF4TBVjqQcniI3FhzFThzXvcD3IuMkze2stlgcyjIu0pmS6CidNzALNKvZ-l_oSx7QH6jAyPiXZXwIRs8Z4vdC2c4PUrY0gJjfBZ-E/s320/Guest+Book.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Etsy: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/151365229/wedding-tree-guestboook-wedding?ref=shop_home_active">Here</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfe60U13uDqH8sZ_nWGDeXifte0ddnJaaPSX8GO6X_AVxhGnF9IXHNXdao1TWcAwHir6CZG1UoK6Pw5kDVzxNtsSu7keISDiiNOMyaPFpK-ourQLCBFfGya8l3Euc8VMyCfYiFNIYycw/s1600/photo+(25).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfe60U13uDqH8sZ_nWGDeXifte0ddnJaaPSX8GO6X_AVxhGnF9IXHNXdao1TWcAwHir6CZG1UoK6Pw5kDVzxNtsSu7keISDiiNOMyaPFpK-ourQLCBFfGya8l3Euc8VMyCfYiFNIYycw/s320/photo+(25).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ampersand: TJ Maxx</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIfSjVCRti-vsIr9yC1IZepEIIVxjc_zIdR-5AiS0qtSFbkFp-nJ4e8TofNzKiFSOAIf4qDvnZ7NsRnCuU795fR5DGa8TqGNegV-xVldLegFy5buOhsX5T4cT9W2dbmXVwQQ0HWeshKo/s1600/milk+glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIfSjVCRti-vsIr9yC1IZepEIIVxjc_zIdR-5AiS0qtSFbkFp-nJ4e8TofNzKiFSOAIf4qDvnZ7NsRnCuU795fR5DGa8TqGNegV-xVldLegFy5buOhsX5T4cT9W2dbmXVwQQ0HWeshKo/s320/milk+glass.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Pinterest: <a href="http://diyreal.com/faux-milk-glass/">Here</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Busy days for sure! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-12406532263321499022013-06-01T19:28:00.000-07:002013-06-01T19:28:10.997-07:00June Already?!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ahhhh, the sweet sounds of summer vacation! I have officially been on break for one week, and it is glorious. Short lived though since I am doing summer school next week and then heading back to Wisconsin where the real work will began aka getting this wedding all set.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But since it is June, that means Currently!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqLYqgEnTEexBAlc06oCcMjD3BmvvWehUnkibYZyjRyMH79qs10CqYEmZBAJYucQox2vShhka60HwwnfHhKlr2XAfBvhUUm1Noakvj8Urjpu7RbLAKYCSdinGPq6Gc206jfbYfEGntVc/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqLYqgEnTEexBAlc06oCcMjD3BmvvWehUnkibYZyjRyMH79qs10CqYEmZBAJYucQox2vShhka60HwwnfHhKlr2XAfBvhUUm1Noakvj8Urjpu7RbLAKYCSdinGPq6Gc206jfbYfEGntVc/s640/Slide1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listening: When Monk was still making new episodes, my family and I would watch them together. Brings back some good memories...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loving: That I am on summer vacation. Although I still feel like I should be doing something school-related. So much so that I started making library labels for my books. It's a big job since Microsoft Word doesn't seem to like cooperating with me and the label template. But I'm making it work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thinking: We have a busy day tomorrow. We are going to look at (and hopefully purchase) Evan's wedding ring tomorrow. I already have mine since it came as a set, but he needs one. And since we are getting married in 35 days, we better get a move on with that. And we have to go to Target to get a few things too and this apartment won't clean itself which leads into...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wanting: I really don't know how so much dust accumulates in one apartment. And I hate dusting. And since it's so much hotter now (it reached 108 today!), we have so much more laundry!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needing: I feel like I say this every time, but this time I mean it! I really need a massage. My neck and back are killing me beyond belief. And I have to get a move on wedding planning. Luckily, a lot of the big things are done, it's just the little details left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vacay Essentials: My parents love to travel and they took my sister and me on wonderful trips. And usually beach lounging was not on the agenda. So my essentials are items that are more for the journey and city trips. First, gotta have a good book to get through long plane rides. And ideally, I take a book that I don't want to bring home so I can leave it somewhere for someone else to read. Then I feel less guilty buying new ones! Second is a travel buddy. When I studied abroad in Australia, I didn't know anyone very well so I spent a lot of time traveling and exploring the city alone. And although I enjoyed parts of that (doing exactly what I wanted), it definitely got lonely at times. So traveling with friends/family/someone is an essential for me! And lastly, a cross body bag. I hate carrying purses and I find them cumbersome when shopping or taking the subway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Weekend!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-3157460028990265432013-05-27T16:16:00.003-07:002013-05-27T16:16:50.818-07:00Next School Year...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I have officially survived my first year of teaching!! And I didn't jump out of a window or drive off the Grand Canyon! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Woooo!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But is it sad that I am already thinking about next year?? I can't help it. I mean, this year went really well overall, but there are some things I definitely want to change for next year. Lucky for me, Kim at <a href="http://joyin6th.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-will-you-do-differently-my-first.html">Finding Joy in 6th Grade</a> is having the perfect linky party - What Will You Do Differently?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbfQXG1nUiPAfnN9JsTucv-9wpIndpBpoV_D8f2wpEYpWIzWuKrWkp3_VnYRMBnlovpXfMhI_NiJLLE5mWc-uPeYPJxCVyLTXxBilwboAXDwkrdPs3NPVm0htVO3YxXFK7WZ__hTz6zU/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbfQXG1nUiPAfnN9JsTucv-9wpIndpBpoV_D8f2wpEYpWIzWuKrWkp3_VnYRMBnlovpXfMhI_NiJLLE5mWc-uPeYPJxCVyLTXxBilwboAXDwkrdPs3NPVm0htVO3YxXFK7WZ__hTz6zU/s400/Slide1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was definitely too sweet with my kids at the beginning of the year. Luckily, I had an amazing class so it wasn't too detrimental, but I might not be as lucky next time. So I need to toughen up right away and let them know that there are consequences to sad choices.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8oi1Z_IsqwA-JZ7pwMiuL5t3jB3bSzw8X2LJj1DJWaP-8YRyrvisWjnv3gzbyV2l3WRWwEfUKG1ZMgmEoCo8ROI7s22abyBUb0eF1w0Uk8Ddg1CHbyh24LEjSgvqI63t8otE5c2gWp4/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8oi1Z_IsqwA-JZ7pwMiuL5t3jB3bSzw8X2LJj1DJWaP-8YRyrvisWjnv3gzbyV2l3WRWwEfUKG1ZMgmEoCo8ROI7s22abyBUb0eF1w0Uk8Ddg1CHbyh24LEjSgvqI63t8otE5c2gWp4/s400/Slide2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still can't get over how much paper accumulates over the course of a day. So. Much. Paper. All. The. Time. Before school ended, I tried to get my filing cabinet somewhat organized and I have gotten a ton of plastic paper trays to help combat the paper monster. I also need to recycle things that I don't need right away too instead of stacking it up somewhere in case I "might" need it later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fluency is a big deal in Arizona. In fact, a new law was recently passed that if a 3rd grade student is falling far below for fluency/RCBM, that student will automatically be retained. Just like that. Parents and teachers have no control over it. So it's really important that my students make their fluency goals so they have an easier time reaching fluency goals in the later grades. Fluency at my school is a struggle for kids. Only 8 of my 21 students achieved their fluency goals and I had the most growth in first grade!! Not too hot at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So right away, fluency is going to be a huge focus of mine. I've got some ideas mulling in my head so hopefully it will help out my kiddos!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsD4Vz-fz4jY9PN8cXHnCHLsA3LCnpGbaO_5EbH-y6qKcOh68N1lPUnMqXlRMqNjuQ9jtfB93Ms4B3_g6ySZebdkLtfgrWqnCKGD0hvNFCSuUBeEBSSK3481yMzeCKACAJhzJuR0puFsM/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsD4Vz-fz4jY9PN8cXHnCHLsA3LCnpGbaO_5EbH-y6qKcOh68N1lPUnMqXlRMqNjuQ9jtfB93Ms4B3_g6ySZebdkLtfgrWqnCKGD0hvNFCSuUBeEBSSK3481yMzeCKACAJhzJuR0puFsM/s400/Slide4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was a lot better with math journals in the beginning of the year, but as the year continued on, we did them less and less until never using them. Next year, I want to do them (ideally) daily, but at least a few times per week. I've got some great resources from TPT that I am planning on putting to use.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What will you do differently next year?!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-81173212456334706832013-05-22T20:59:00.005-07:002013-05-24T06:01:53.317-07:00Classroom Library Organization {Part 1}<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a confession. I, Liz, am a children's book-aholic. I don't really know how it happened. Well actually I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever since I got into the School of Education and saw my first practicum teacher's beautiful book collection, I knew that I had to start finding and collecting quality books for my future students' library.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I began to scour library book sales, my old books, thrift stores, and basically anywhere else to start finding awesome books. I never paid more than $1 per book (unless it was a truly special/favorite book of mine) and my collection began to grow and grow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am really proud of my classroom library, Suzy, especially being a first year teacher. I can thank my cooperating teacher for showing me the huge importance of having an extensive classroom library. She was on the committee for picking the Charlotte Zolotow (I think that was the one...?) award winner and she got heaps of books to review. I learned a lot about high quality lit from her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now the problem with having an extensive library is how to organize it. Suzy didn't really organize her books for the kids. She just had assorted books in various tubs and each kid would take one tub and be able to read a huge assortment. Books that were not out for looking at were alphabetized by author in a cabinet. I knew that I wanted some more organization, mainly so I could find books quickly when I needed them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year, I did book colors. Each book had some colored dots on the black that matched a genre tub. Yeah, didn't really work well. It was difficult for the kids to put away and books were often not in the appropriate bins. So yesterday, we scraped (and by we I mean my kids) off all the dots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next year, I want to do sticker labels that I've seem on other teachers' blogs. It seems like it's a much better way to find and categorize books plus it seems easier for kids match the sticker label with a picture and words to the right bin than a color. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJ4joTSC9CWxjqvHrrlsdFUfSRencPF1R5E6b3oCaELc6idvn1WYR9OPRIbSwaXgB7ik34gOFpPT06vhhYD3uaciI0oVzRIRH_RtOj_ZF8s_juiJu5gU5yTAHXwG5tNCovJYr1kxi2Ds/s1600/photo+(19).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJ4joTSC9CWxjqvHrrlsdFUfSRencPF1R5E6b3oCaELc6idvn1WYR9OPRIbSwaXgB7ik34gOFpPT06vhhYD3uaciI0oVzRIRH_RtOj_ZF8s_juiJu5gU5yTAHXwG5tNCovJYr1kxi2Ds/s400/photo+(19).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look how sad my room looks! It is getting so empty! I haven't gotten that far yet, but I did sort and box up my books by category. Basically, my room was a hot mess after school since I wanted to create more categories for my books. For example, instead of having an animals bin, I want to have more specific animal bins. Like dogs, cats, bears, etc. Instead of having a blanket non-fiction bin, I broke that up and matched by category so students will find mixtures of fiction and non-fiction in the bin about dogs. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRmhWmIqw7cQ8CG4tUuw57_0DnL8CPDxNHDddfyd5g9gc1JVGC7MOLsssJFRGTyf1_GRrjlN_3rqTQ4lVnJZX30iHebOh80uRhMOJVH2mwehnWeDp-g5a90JcHuQ8Vv7qysaP2c29exM/s1600/photo+(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRmhWmIqw7cQ8CG4tUuw57_0DnL8CPDxNHDddfyd5g9gc1JVGC7MOLsssJFRGTyf1_GRrjlN_3rqTQ4lVnJZX30iHebOh80uRhMOJVH2mwehnWeDp-g5a90JcHuQ8Vv7qysaP2c29exM/s400/photo+(18).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yikes, it was such a chore. Thankfully, all the books (with the exception of the books that fell in the sad box called Random Books) now have a home and a new category and have been neatly put away in the closet for the summer since my room is getting painted (and the LAST thing I want is for my books to get all painty!!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ro0mfy9E1uLPlc3Ocp083yLhlm7W14UmH6nEknGSY3qS1fHmKXdcpa1jt11xk6IPxEdWZ8rhY8KkKhc6dJowBGoDL8vWpmiKhpdZyRSWVyBF2IjY2cDG2nxHDEXSxpWK0Q7DWf0K8yI/s1600/photo+(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ro0mfy9E1uLPlc3Ocp083yLhlm7W14UmH6nEknGSY3qS1fHmKXdcpa1jt11xk6IPxEdWZ8rhY8KkKhc6dJowBGoDL8vWpmiKhpdZyRSWVyBF2IjY2cDG2nxHDEXSxpWK0Q7DWf0K8yI/s400/photo+(17).JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will also need to get more bins and baskets too but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Plus all the labeling and stickering of the books. Yikes, I am tired just thinking about it. It truly is a labor of love, but so worth it. I love seeing my kids get excited to read books that I read to them already or see them, especially my lower friends, reading books for fun that they picked.. When we were picking off the color labels and sorting together, kids kept coming saying "Remember when we read this book?!" or "I loved this book!", Music to a teacher's ears. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I only have two more days of school (both of them being short days too!!) until summer. Then I start summer school in a week and then head home to get everything in order for the wedding!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy last days of school!</span></div>
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-57021010794339047212013-05-18T19:38:00.000-07:002013-05-18T19:38:07.620-07:00Weekend - Scholastic Warehouse Sale<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know about anyone else, but did this past week seem to drag on and on forever??? Needless to say, I am so glad it is Saturday! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Evan is away on a conference near Boston until Wednesday (he left this past Wednesday at the crack of dawn) so it's just me and this cute face until then.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9xODfWAtkuMfjlwmiH82A6e1rzJznVkYZL_OzjPx_gdot9WUmYzuaP99wiQXlVsla4sHDVv1ElhTRpotRS3nL_vGoGjK2MZnPY6lF5UjC_HpGQjV4YY9CvdGtMQHq9VdWibFdklF6sI/s1600/photo+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9xODfWAtkuMfjlwmiH82A6e1rzJznVkYZL_OzjPx_gdot9WUmYzuaP99wiQXlVsla4sHDVv1ElhTRpotRS3nL_vGoGjK2MZnPY6lF5UjC_HpGQjV4YY9CvdGtMQHq9VdWibFdklF6sI/s320/photo+(15).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have spent a lot of quality time cuddling and spending time at the dog park. We both love the dog park. Marlee loves it because she gets to run and play with lots of other dogs. I love it because it wears her out and I get more sleep. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Corina at <a href="http://www.surfinthroughsecond.com/2013/05/scholastic-warehouse-sale.html">Surfin through Second</a> blogged about the Scholastic Warehouse sale that she went to last weekend and that's where I went too!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From what I gathered, the book sale happens a few times a year and I noticed that almost all of the products I had seen earlier at our school book fair (which I think was two weeks ago but I don't really remember...?). Anyways, everything was 50-80%, which was awesome! It was really difficult to not throw everything into my bag. Especially YA fiction. Even though I'm too (technically) too adult for YA fiction, I think I will always love it. I didn't get any though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are aisles and aisles of books - all sorted - plus they had some novelty school supplies and adult books too.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv43IPa6YVNq2KLb3Ku-gDLpm0cM-iQR-0IlFG2gL9DvjpfmvLEona3LKmA_WF4BZT6T4OtXifKFK-VNOFSjntWcty34mEdoaY1sc0QhF74bCbC3q7v7XFxZDs9r1k6TmFpvDQthh0oT8/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv43IPa6YVNq2KLb3Ku-gDLpm0cM-iQR-0IlFG2gL9DvjpfmvLEona3LKmA_WF4BZT6T4OtXifKFK-VNOFSjntWcty34mEdoaY1sc0QhF74bCbC3q7v7XFxZDs9r1k6TmFpvDQthh0oT8/s320/photo+(14).JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tried to really limit myself with the fiction books, but I got a few of my favorites plus some non-fiction books and three adult books for me. Marlee, of course, was oh so interested in them. Actually, after I restacked them, she proceeded to lay down on them. Silly dog!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I was super pumped to see that What does the X-Ray say book was written by second graders at Longfellow Elementary School in West Allis, Wisconsin, which is super close to my house! So of course I had to get that one!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow is just housework and cleaning and some school stuff. I was able to get report cards finished today and my awards for the awards ceremony on Monday. Hopefully I remember to take pictures of that!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Weekend!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-49262490917978183822013-05-10T17:48:00.001-07:002013-05-10T17:48:18.486-07:00Five for Friday and Winner!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first Five for Friday! I have always wanted to do F4F but I never get my act together during the week to take enough pictures. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sUhc65tU4P13LT6sy9yMkmcWc9aA-d9VVHjnWjTxyYEpSBOCqMLwWurmtSH6c9vj74FbhjltVI63Nuz7uFMtIwonSQ3OIxkbRidM1Q9kRLz84Pgs4Jfgi3vxSsXNX05-cwNOcF9EvVA/s1600/F4F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sUhc65tU4P13LT6sy9yMkmcWc9aA-d9VVHjnWjTxyYEpSBOCqMLwWurmtSH6c9vj74FbhjltVI63Nuz7uFMtIwonSQ3OIxkbRidM1Q9kRLz84Pgs4Jfgi3vxSsXNX05-cwNOcF9EvVA/s320/F4F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Winner of my Giveaway!! Congrats Kelly Beam Brown!! I will be emailing you soon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. We made these for Mother's Day. After searching the 99cent store for ANY sort of craft-y type thing, one of my teammates and I decided on flower pens. Here is the finished product:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb4tA7Mb5KbOH-H5gkm59qsuAOQFS_EOiUzxpJaiXyQT4bwbm-N-wKNdEG69koXV11cJ_eeavH0fjuIxX3lV0oXUPpo76lTXDvrfi-Z6qcroi66U7XOR0veSXh1pu52JDbweXJj_1180/s1600/flowerpen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb4tA7Mb5KbOH-H5gkm59qsuAOQFS_EOiUzxpJaiXyQT4bwbm-N-wKNdEG69koXV11cJ_eeavH0fjuIxX3lV0oXUPpo76lTXDvrfi-Z6qcroi66U7XOR0veSXh1pu52JDbweXJj_1180/s320/flowerpen.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They turned out pretty cute. We also made mini notepads (just stapled paper that the kids decorated), a thank you letter, and a picture of Mom. We then decorated a brown lunch bag to put everything in and then we stapled it shut to stop any curious Moms from sneaking a peek!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. We have been doing some How-To Writing and one of my kiddos wrote about how to make a gingerbread man cookie. And then flip it over and I see that it's the runaway gingerbread story. Yep. He wrote that in the directions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm3FxVPMTLDQVjJGq1bRjkRbgc22P3lJCEAQ7kMksKTYTdiOOKSrz3_JinXBY66PS7eZnQ5qJqXysVg_7CbCRC8EoRSOPtKiyPnKKTUHJlJbph5543dviXN_S_E-kHuI2WRagYDovLhc/s1600/photo+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm3FxVPMTLDQVjJGq1bRjkRbgc22P3lJCEAQ7kMksKTYTdiOOKSrz3_JinXBY66PS7eZnQ5qJqXysVg_7CbCRC8EoRSOPtKiyPnKKTUHJlJbph5543dviXN_S_E-kHuI2WRagYDovLhc/s320/photo+(11).JPG" width="239" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. One of the (few) enjoyable things about living in Phoenix is the beautiful weather. Evan and I have been eating meals outside since like April...?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDp3P4g4GBRs-mFJw4Ad5wCDm3tw1ZCbjFC9gv6Vf3vk24PJi5fOlo3fdIGhXvuM-Cr0MnWq94I_ABecjLBdafZQe_4fmdVKx0culYF3sr7GtgHNvYllVCoIm3BwXCGg3EUUQ0N4JPCU/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDp3P4g4GBRs-mFJw4Ad5wCDm3tw1ZCbjFC9gv6Vf3vk24PJi5fOlo3fdIGhXvuM-Cr0MnWq94I_ABecjLBdafZQe_4fmdVKx0culYF3sr7GtgHNvYllVCoIm3BwXCGg3EUUQ0N4JPCU/s320/photo+(12).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. So I may or may not be the only teacher still doing reading groups. But they are my favorite time of the day! I always include sight word work, especially for my lowest sweeties. I love these letter tiles!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ7v7fRy2kOEfga9-mYrOl4KTaY283lP4JtJX33bLntvJwZsP2EpciOdBm6-7IYZK_6at3Gl52H23Sogs6Cku3MhbRBSZiPGjCKcL5sbi3rL9hhSu-EXrBda4GmVwpCXpF6eISjH2j-U/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ7v7fRy2kOEfga9-mYrOl4KTaY283lP4JtJX33bLntvJwZsP2EpciOdBm6-7IYZK_6at3Gl52H23Sogs6Cku3MhbRBSZiPGjCKcL5sbi3rL9hhSu-EXrBda4GmVwpCXpF6eISjH2j-U/s320/photo+(13).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your turn! Go link up!</span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-39621498302811686672013-05-07T22:15:00.002-07:002013-05-08T15:54:40.373-07:00How I Became a Teacher<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After reading <a href="http://theinspiredapple.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-i-became-teacher.html">Abby's post</a> and with it being Teacher Appreciation Day/Week, I am writing about why and how I decided to become a teacher.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like most kids growing up, I definitely wanted to be a teacher at many points during my life. But I also wanted to be a plethora of other things including a farmer (my sister and I had this whole plan to buy an old barn near our house...and then it got torn down), a librarian (because I wanted to scan and stamp books) and a fashion designer (since I am a fashionista). But I never really felt a true calling for anything or felt that I was destined to do anything. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was all set to enter college in Fall 2007 going in undecided and just working on some gen eds until I could figure things out. However, before I started college, I went to Nicaragua with my church on a mission trip to teach a combination of ESL and Vacation Bible School to residents of one of the poorest cities in the country. Two of my good friends were going too so I thought it would be a great time spent with friends. Boy was I wrong. It was a great time, but it was so much more than that. It changed my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While there, I developed a love of teaching and giving knowledge to people who don't have it and need it in order to be successful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All I wanted to do was help these wonderful people in any way that I could. And the best way for me to do that was to help them learn English. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We did basic English words like days of the week, colors, numbers, and worked with Biblical stories. Everyone was so hungry to learn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I worked with kids and adults and they were some of the kindest, most grateful people I have ever met; they just wanted to learn and absorb everything that they could. Although I was only there for a week, I felt such a calling to pursue education and teaching when I got back to America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when I got back to Wisconsin and went to college orientation, instead of doing undecided majors sign up, I went to the School of Education with the pre-education majors. I signed up for classes and got information on applying to the School of Ed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After having a tough time with the first three semesters of college, both academically and emotionally, I got my act together and started being more successful and getting decent grades. I started volunteering at a local elementary school as well as joining Jumpstart through Americorps. Jumpstart is a program that sets of college students with preschool "buddies". These preschoolers are at risk for falling behind in kinder so we worked with them on beginning literacy skills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My adorable Jstart Buddy Luv'ly!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in the summer of 2009, I was accepted to the School of Ed!! I was so excited that pretty sure I acted like these people: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started in the program in Spring 2010, all pumped and ready to learn how to be a teacher! That semester was a rocky one though. I actually withdrew from the program for a day. We had been going on school visits and I just could not believe what I was seeing. I was shocked to see these poor kids learning in environments that were so boring and uninspiring. I felt that it wasn't for me at all and I dropped out of the program. Well, of course, God had other plans and the very next day on our very next school visit, I see an amazing teacher teaching fractions in such a way that was engaging and fun for students! So after frantically calling my advisor I was able to withdraw my dropping of the program before it went through. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I continued to go through the rest of the five semester program, having no doubts that I am meant to be a teacher.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I graduated from UW in Spring 2012 and luckily had a job teaching first grade in Phoenix after attending a job fair put on by my school. Evan and I moved down here and it's hard to believe that my first year of teaching is almost over!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way. I have had lots of teachers from my elementary, middle, and high school teachers to college professors and TAs. Thank you also to my wonderful cooperating teachers who have shaped me into the teacher I am today. Thanks to the wonderful mentor teachers who have shown me the ropes of having my own classroom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With Teacher's Appreciation Week, thank you to teachers everywhere for working so hard for the needs of your students. For staying after school late, spending your own money so your students can have a little bit more, for what feels like herding cats, for smiling when you feel like screaming, and for everything else that you do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just remember that although it doesn't always feel like it, you are making a difference in someone's life every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for all you do!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-72301324433452519162013-05-05T19:28:00.000-07:002013-05-05T21:48:23.112-07:00My First Giveaway!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How is it already Sunday?! Seriously, the weekends always seem to fly by so fast! Nothing too special happened this weekend. A little shopping, a little dining, a little school work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been avoiding a lot of things lately, mostly wedding things and end-of-the-year things. It's just too much to do both right now. My goal is to get the wedding invites out by next weekend and to cross some more stuff off of the end of the year checklist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know if yours is the same, but my school requires so much to be done. I remember at student teaching, my awesome CT Suzy's idea of cleaning was putting things in the closet and shoving things in the sensory table. Whereas I have this endless checklist of things. Plus my room is getting painted so everything has to come off the walls. Boo!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Onto exciting news - it's giveaway time here at Teaching in the Valley! I reached 100 followers awhile ago but was so bogged down that I didn't really have time to celebrate. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But now that things have reached a lull for a bit</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Some wonderful bloggers have graciously donated some wonderful products. These lovely ladies are thoughtful, creative, and wonderful! I have gotten so many great ideas from reading their blogs and because of that, they have helped me become a better teacher. It's time to let the giving away begin!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One lucky winner will win:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxQdUXt-qnZwe4phSaPfzgW5e1dMpPniCycs8EIpCS6zPSLhkoW70-4BcbaYxEO0NI8keknklRng-zqtiAD3btHnesKEEv_y8_AKi21XwDH0jcpF5dYRQvR5ntvgfAZc3s7LAQihFpjI/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxQdUXt-qnZwe4phSaPfzgW5e1dMpPniCycs8EIpCS6zPSLhkoW70-4BcbaYxEO0NI8keknklRng-zqtiAD3btHnesKEEv_y8_AKi21XwDH0jcpF5dYRQvR5ntvgfAZc3s7LAQihFpjI/s400/Slide1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c96ae80/" id="rc-c96ae80" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-78768277992405728432013-05-01T20:37:00.004-07:002013-05-01T20:37:45.618-07:00May Currently<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">T-Minus 17 days until summer. And it's May. So that means it's Currently Time with Farley at <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/05/may-currently.html">Oh' Boy 4th Grade</a>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8NJzT7WIqNigj7dnbD4wHdX8AqIFH2ociP0vJZ8kgHBVZpIGjFNQrMqpqQxRgeMAAP64getwWeD5IGAnZOoGJfI79XpbMVbcOm_4QTVzEqVi5DqduZY5EdtUc13IMMBO85NoJAE3x8E/s1600/CurrentlyMay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8NJzT7WIqNigj7dnbD4wHdX8AqIFH2ociP0vJZ8kgHBVZpIGjFNQrMqpqQxRgeMAAP64getwWeD5IGAnZOoGJfI79XpbMVbcOm_4QTVzEqVi5DqduZY5EdtUc13IMMBO85NoJAE3x8E/s640/CurrentlyMay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listening: There has been this annoying fly in our apartment for the past few days and it's so obnoxious. It just keeps buzzing and buzzing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loving: Summer is so close! Only 17 school days!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thinking: My kids had their fluency tests yesterday and a lot of them did so great.But I still have a few who just didn't make any growth. And I still have some who grew but still are far from our benchmark. I keep thinking and wondering what else I can do to help them as well as get ready for next year too. Fluency is so tricky because I feel like it has just become a big deal and it's so new and difficult to teach. But I'm trying my best!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wanting: I am sick. Again. Boo. If I could count the number of times daily that I get coughed on and sneezed on...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needing: A massage and some meds to just feel better and ease this feeling of I-have-gotten-hit-by-a-truck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summer Bucket List: I am getting married (66 days!) this summer. It's so close yet seems so far off. And I want to read more. I have so many books that I keep buying but haven't read yet. And I just got two new professional development books through my district, and I'm excited to read them. I just need the time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your turn! Go link up!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-22680997219942454822013-04-30T17:29:00.001-07:002013-04-30T21:57:49.915-07:00Next Year Planning...(!)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will admit, it was weird writing "Next Year" as the title of this post. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly because I have way too much to focus on that is happening before August (end of the year, wedding, etc., etc., etc.!!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And secondly, because this year cannot possibly be coming to an end. But the official countdown (not like I'm counting) is 18 days of school left. That's it. The big 1-8. Yikes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the year is beginning to come to close, I have really started thinking about what I want to do differently next year. A lot of what I did this year was what I saw my cooperating teacher doing in student teaching, heard from other teachers, or kind of made up as I went along. Now that I almost have one solid year under my belt, I know some of the things I want to do differently next year. Here's a rough beginning list:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Toughen Up A Lot Earlier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the beginning of the year, I definitely had New Teacher Syndrome. I was <strike>kind of</strike> flying by the seat of my pants. It was a miracle just to make it through the day. And my class saw that. They knew that I was a hot mess and knew that they could get away with behavior like talking while I was talking, not doing their jobs, playing in the bathroom and at the bubbler and all of those <strike>annoying </strike>things kids do since </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had few consequences</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in place.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Next year, hopefully I won't be so crazy and I'll have a better handle on things and be able to strict right from the get go. I'm not saying that my management was bad at the beginning of the year because no one told me that it was. However, I can see a huge difference in how my kids act now to how they used to behave at the beginning of the year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm going to start off strong with laying out my expectations and if they aren't met, there will be consequences. Period.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Spelling and Homework. Similarly, I didn't have any consequences/rewards for students with homework and spelling. I tried to tell myself that it's not the kid's fault that homework isn't done, but as time went on and more and more kids weren't doing homework, it got annoying. Now I have a policy where if it isn't turned in, it's lunch detention. And this week, only one student didn't bring in homework. Score!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEiil8f8cZhiKqqikFov1I8QE2SRBinJ255wX2X9RxvS0HLz0xxPH7hR6LsLyGJXfphYV1ZznbKLUS-HbdaytZlbiVdO3vX83ptCg2GpdB63d_ISbLr5nxX8owpGkO8dPBZ_Jv1f_4HA/s1600/photo+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEiil8f8cZhiKqqikFov1I8QE2SRBinJ255wX2X9RxvS0HLz0xxPH7hR6LsLyGJXfphYV1ZznbKLUS-HbdaytZlbiVdO3vX83ptCg2GpdB63d_ISbLr5nxX8owpGkO8dPBZ_Jv1f_4HA/s400/photo+(10).JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And for spelling, a lot of my kids didn't care about doing well on spelling tests. There was no incentive. So I started the 100% Club a few months ago. If students get a 100% on the spelling test, their names get added to our Spelling 100s Club Poster in our room. Every so often (aka once), we have a 100s Club Party. I'll have to have one very soon though since I had like 15 kids get a 100% on our last spelling test. I was quite pleased about that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So for next year - start those off right away!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Parent Contact. Before school started, I had huge hopes of being able to call every parent on a regular basis, just to check in and let them know that their kid was doing awesome, struggling, whatever. However, with being a hot mess, that didn't really leave much time to call parents. So next year, I want to call parents, especially right away to establish good repertoire as well as hound them about homework and other fun stuff like that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. No Sugar Coating.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-skt0ELyPq-BZbk-wriIQSaAAmZHSZ9C1gK-MjhghiMQmUgJsE6SZRC32OjVxQZNfpoiEL5VfExEp1RoGUbgNjepP0FdAc2QCzS9f_7U7kGWvqDvu5NRlI2ENFuGi-ZWG1mIv479M44/s1600/no+sugar+allowed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-skt0ELyPq-BZbk-wriIQSaAAmZHSZ9C1gK-MjhghiMQmUgJsE6SZRC32OjVxQZNfpoiEL5VfExEp1RoGUbgNjepP0FdAc2QCzS9f_7U7kGWvqDvu5NRlI2ENFuGi-ZWG1mIv479M44/s1600/no+sugar+allowed.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, I am not not going on a no sugar diet. I mean that I need to be open and honest with parents about their kiddos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been talking a lot to a kinder teacher at my school who is AMAZING. Seriously, I want to be her. She always has really great parent involvement and her kids leave kinder really high. One thing she does is that she does not sugar coat anything to parents and she's not afraid to tell it like it is. If a student is struggling with reading, she simply states that to the parents and says that they need to work together to help the student grow and do the best he/she can. At the beginning of the year, I was worried about hurting parents and upsetting them, which looking back, doesn't make sense since I feel like I may have given them a false sense of how well their child was doing. So next year, I'm going to try my best to not sugar coat anything since that doesn't help anyone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Be More Involved. At the beginning of the year, I could barely make it through the day, let alone think of taking on any extra responsibilities. So next year, I want to be a part of something at school. My principal just emailed out a few opportunities and I am thinking about applying to be Student Council Advisor. Just something so I am a bigger part of the school and not in my own little classroom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. Calendar. I love calendar, but I don't have a good place to put it where it can be seen well and gathered around. Here is its current location:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBDNRbo85cVYF7fGL7F4DMDaRdJMgGznVqmhjGnNv-DQzvlWxbjPqDYaRJH26r7f-dXyq8xywUDsXZ027Jc8r56pMWLF-y4eCZ3_cP3Ov_WL7UdtdIbn9CWAmNUJBv47IrOaNtX7Swg8/s1600/photo+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBDNRbo85cVYF7fGL7F4DMDaRdJMgGznVqmhjGnNv-DQzvlWxbjPqDYaRJH26r7f-dXyq8xywUDsXZ027Jc8r56pMWLF-y4eCZ3_cP3Ov_WL7UdtdIbn9CWAmNUJBv47IrOaNtX7Swg8/s320/photo+(9).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yep. Jammed in a teeny wall space where literally no one can gather around. Kind of obscured by books and tables. Anddddd it still says March. May is tomorrow. You can tell calendar is one of my top priorities...not. But calendar is incredibly important and I am determined to do it justice next year. Janaye over at <a href="http://frogsandcupcakes.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar%20math">Frogs and Cupcakes</a> has some really great ideas for calendar math that I plan on using next year. Click the link to check out all of her ideas! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Come back in a few days for some how-to writing and my first giveaway! I'm a bit late in the game but I've reached 100 followers! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-18745455407577236012013-04-22T15:16:00.000-07:002013-04-22T15:16:47.015-07:00Unexpected Day Off and My First Freebie!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, it's not a snow day. At least, not here in Phoenix.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Long story short, I was battling a terrible headache for forever (aka for the past five days) and it was particularly bad on the weekend. Like stand-up-and-you-feel-like-fainting-because-you-are-dizzy. Not fun at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This morning I did feel better, but</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I decided to take a sick day in hopes to shake it completely because I have to be at school tomorrow and Wednesday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow is our final day to get our book ready for the <a href="http://www.studentpublishing.com/">Student Publishing</a> program. If you have never heard of it, it's a wonderful, FREE program that lets kids write and publish their own stories. For K-2 students, a classbook is made; for 3-5 students, each student gets their own book. Did I mention it's free?? My kids are really excited about having their book becoming a published book for all to read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we still have lots to do... partially because I put it off for awhile because it was a daunting task to get started. Especially being a first year teacher.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Mental note: Next year, start it earlier!!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some kids have to finish illustrating, we have to finish the cover page, dedication page, and title page. And I have to assemble it all. And put all the kids' pictures on the pages. And take pictures of my newest friends. And print them. Yikes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Wednesday, we are going on a field trip to Cici's Pizza. The kiddos will get a tour of the restaurant, and then they get to make their own pizzas to eat for lunch. Teachers get to as well. Not that I'm excited or anything...I love pizza. And I have never been to Cici's. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I have seen lots of commercials on TV for them. And it always sounds quite delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyways, guess what?! I have created my very first freebie for you all! Last week, my students worked on adding another addition strategy to their math toolbelt - friendly numbers. So I made this little pack up (pretty quickly too for my first time making one) and I am going to share it with you all. Please let me know what you think since it is my very first one! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pretty please and thank you!</span><br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6y7DOsoA1O5dWJ5SFNZUFFfUDQ/edit?usp=sharing"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4R-PMUheuE4mO5cw9gUJgjFFKV7RmtY2UExJEEFIHAY8BiAHvnGLgRHy09uLBLVwkG4seT4xX6Rv40zsvxT8e_ngYYrlCZ4Gq9vU-jBr2b5Ocb3EIqCQakGoHceSKgWVJNh7Svk49Q4/s400/friendlynumbers.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Click on the picture to grab it!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's hoping this headache goes away soon! Hope everyone had a great Monday! I only have 24 days of school left! How about you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-40533821923770658052013-04-15T19:38:00.001-07:002013-04-15T19:38:14.299-07:00Bad Case of the Mondays<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bad case of the Mondays today. Yikes, it was not a happy day. So. Much. Chatter. It was endless. I need to get some Pete the Cat mantra in my brain- It's all gooood. But since that's not on the agenda, in order to prevent a grumpy rant, I'm linking up with Latoya at Flying in First Grade. Because who doesn't love a linky party?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TOPIC - <span style="color: red;">Skittles Game</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is the code:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Red</span>- Favorite Ice Cream Flavor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;">Orange</span>- Favorite Memory from College</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: yellow;">Yellow</span>- Favorite Sports Team</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: lime;">Green</span>- Favorite Fast Food Place</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Purple</span>- Wild Card(Tell anything about yourself)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Red</b></span><b><span style="color: red;">:</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> My favorite ice cream flavor tends to vary quite frequently. But I am a Ben and Jerry's snob so any of their flavors are awesome! Especially Milk and Cookies and Cherry Garcia. So yum!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2iJHWt_KwjelyNKEGbFnEqv1VZwlXtXLSEH40m0xTBLwNM20Ulp8lovsbqheZ7mYwNqzGPyHq1IkRakI3_B3GDmPuD4mpfs9v9UE1G8yB2bI8grT7UpamN18A5qVGqBpfyaKJaFnAwo/s1600/ben+and+jerrys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2iJHWt_KwjelyNKEGbFnEqv1VZwlXtXLSEH40m0xTBLwNM20Ulp8lovsbqheZ7mYwNqzGPyHq1IkRakI3_B3GDmPuD4mpfs9v9UE1G8yB2bI8grT7UpamN18A5qVGqBpfyaKJaFnAwo/s1600/ben+and+jerrys.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: orange;">Orange:</span> </b>I loved getting to know such wonderful people in college. My School of Ed cohort was very close, I had awesome roommates and friends, great girls in Bible Study. I didn't think I would miss it as much as I do...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="color: yellow;">Yellow: </b>A bit tough since I don't really follow sports teams all that much. In fact, I usually want the underdogs to win and/or the team that everyone else is rooting against. Plus I will always love the Badgers!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="color: lime;">Green: </b>I love Culvers! It originated in Wisconsin (go figure) and it is the best. It's slower than McDonalds but quicker than a sit down place. The butterburgers are soooo good. The bread is buttered and grilled with the hamburger part is so delicious! They also have really good chicken tenders. And the ice cream...omg. It's really think custard that they make right there. And there is a new flavor every day. Now I want Culver's. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="color: purple;">Purple: </b>Wildcard. Hmmm...what do I want to tell? I have 29 days of school left and 82 days until I tie the knot. This year certainly has flown by!</span></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-31071919786482296692013-04-05T23:21:00.001-07:002013-04-06T14:56:41.953-07:00Passing the Torch<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to Michelle at <a href="http://the3amteacher.blogspot.com/">The 3AM Teache</a>r, I, along with 80 other wonderful educators, were able to participate in The Reading Olympics. The Reading Olympics is a program that focuses on teaching kids about word roots. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now my school is very strict on what we teach. Like all first grades have to teach the exact same thing the exact same way. And my kids aren't allowed to <strike>do anything fun </strike>cut or paste or color. So I had to totally modify the curriculum to fit that mold aka really shorten it and only do one word suffix. But I was able to sneak in the lesson during phonics and although it was short, some of my kids were able to catch to on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here it is!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiLKvGYaFqg16t2ZThc3ARk55r8WeibAcbcneKmxknPEc4miFPElCbQb77JMN3W8BKwdS8B9T6eKcT0bOBs0mkRM6eKWA3ujRfnTk175K2AAiJX94tid82BKyUqRWqnVx_GofpaYjXCU/s1600/3am_PTT_linky_button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiLKvGYaFqg16t2ZThc3ARk55r8WeibAcbcneKmxknPEc4miFPElCbQb77JMN3W8BKwdS8B9T6eKcT0bOBs0mkRM6eKWA3ujRfnTk175K2AAiJX94tid82BKyUqRWqnVx_GofpaYjXCU/s320/3am_PTT_linky_button.png" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, even though I had to really modify the program, I really liked how the program was set up. It included adorable puzzle pieces that the students could cut and glue together to make new words, demo cards, chants to help the students remember the roots, and a cute little book so students could write everything down and then have a snazzy reference book. Basically, it had everything you need.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like I said, I only had about 15 minutes so I really had to squish. So no book, chants, or demo cards for me =/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead, I introduced the -ed ending bu jumping around the room. I asked my students what I was doing and they of course said <strike>being crazy </strike>jumping. Then I stopped. I asked them what I had just done. They said jumped. I wondered aloud how I would spell it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got the typical answer of jumpt and jumped. We talked about how even though it sounds like a t, it's really an ed and that ed means that it already happened. We then walked, skipped, jumped, and talked around the room, adding -ed to everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I had made a "my school friendly" sheet for them to complete. They added -ed to words, read them to themselves and to a friend and then wrote two sentences using the -ed ending.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCZ2ctEhauEWC539ZmiQl-jfhsxfpd4PCpHIbmJC_dV4MHW1q_4-Qs5ANTLVWKywkLelVSYNLVNQEgiecFb72AiQx_lM-v0scnjZv-a0uWKDkcraMVPh1O-WNpnAq7Qhv25WBf_fZ3AU/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCZ2ctEhauEWC539ZmiQl-jfhsxfpd4PCpHIbmJC_dV4MHW1q_4-Qs5ANTLVWKywkLelVSYNLVNQEgiecFb72AiQx_lM-v0scnjZv-a0uWKDkcraMVPh1O-WNpnAq7Qhv25WBf_fZ3AU/s400/photo+(5).JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was this kiddo's birthday, hence the beautiful birthday crown!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Writing sentences - "I climbed the monkey bars."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, I wish I had been able to do the program how it is meant to be. Although some of my kids benefited from it, learning more Greek roots would have been great for them. A lot of them are ELLs so learning "tricks" about the English language would have probably really helped them get a better grasp of English. Oh well though - if your school is like mine, it is possible to tweak the program to make it fit your precise needs!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">But you can discover the program IN FULL ACTION in more K-6th grade classrooms as you Pass the Torch!! Get ideas, discover the progression of the program, and enter the Raffle for a chance to win ONE of the three prizes listed below!!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b>First Place Winner : Gold Medal</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Prizes: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Complete Reading Olympians Program</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white;">$50.00 Amazon Gift Card</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">50% off Discount Code for a 1-Day shopping spree at The 3AM </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teacher's Etsy store!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /><b>Second Place Winner: Silver Medal</b></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Prizes: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">$25.00 Amazon Gift Card</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">40% off Discount Code for a 1-Day shopping spree at The 3AM Teacher's Etsy store!</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /><b>Third Place Winner: Bronze Medal</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Prizes: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">30% off Discount Code for a 1-Day shopping spree at The 3AM Teacher's Etsy store!</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Pass the Torch!!!</b><br /><i>Click the image below to visit the next blog - Practice Makes Perfect </i></span></div>
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<a href="http://kandclovegrade3.blogspot.com/2013/04/reading-olympian-root-study-program.html"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ71dvr1Gb2nfnfnFuCFpXR7_5uBqhox3bVKumqxIYDSRRGRFd6r7jx6ahLC6g2oUie_PJ9kD9RUBvPQ72DhviAxFmDOTBF5CIGIcfTaPGUX-Ebfw0AIhNWO1_O4I6U67tzbjsJxEpxEY/s320/3am_torch_color1.png" width="89" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-69568332653557685162013-04-01T17:55:00.002-07:002013-04-01T17:55:55.408-07:00Currently<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's that time again! The beginning of a new month. A new Currently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So go link up with Farley at <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/03/currently-april.html">Oh' Boy Fourth Grade!</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listening: HGTV. Specifically Property Virgins. Gets me pumped for when it's my turn to buy a house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loving: That I have Friday off!! Kind of a random day off. Other teachers at my school are convinced district made a mistake on the calendar and given us off Good Friday instead. Oh well. A day off is a day off :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thinking: Whenever I get home from school, I am always starving!! I haven't had a snack yet so I need to get something and fast!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wanting: A massage. But who doesn't?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needing: A manicure. My nails are gross and I've been meaning to paint them but it's so time consuming. And it always chips shortly after =/</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Advice: Probably one of the most important things I have learned this year. Be true to you. No matter what. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy April!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-16185702678541616982013-03-31T18:46:00.001-07:002013-03-31T18:46:31.240-07:00Let's Get Reacquainted!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where has the time gone?! Seriously. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. 8 weeks left of school. Whattt?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Entering the double digit countdown until Evan and I get married.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. It's April. Tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year has been a weird one. It's gone by so fast yet so slow at the same time. It's been really difficult being so far away from Wisconsin and I am still struggling with it every day. One of the other first grade teachers (she's a brand new teacher just like me) moved here from Texas so she's experiencing similar feelings of hardships. It's nice to have someone to talk about it since she's going through the same things I am. Yet I can't believe that my first year of teaching will be over in 8 weeks. My first set of babies are almost ready for second grade! And then I'll start over with some new babies! Ahhhh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Latoya from Flying into First Grade has posted another linky that is one of my favorites since it lets us learn more about other teachers. And since I am so nosy, it's just perfect!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although there are some tough questions this time around...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Favorite Place to Shop</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have two:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Store #1 - Kohl's.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVgS0dk4WWSjwd4yqA6HA8J5s7hHKL4wrv5nxpUgSEagseTZwK4Q88YzFdbd6FkNJjITR1lQjRiKh-xmqspFWZY6ddkG8i4MW3YOucwUisbY-J4oqciWrbD04Xpt1NOwY23Iqz9sKL7I/s1600/kohls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVgS0dk4WWSjwd4yqA6HA8J5s7hHKL4wrv5nxpUgSEagseTZwK4Q88YzFdbd6FkNJjITR1lQjRiKh-xmqspFWZY6ddkG8i4MW3YOucwUisbY-J4oqciWrbD04Xpt1NOwY23Iqz9sKL7I/s320/kohls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can't go wrong with Kohl's. And here's why:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Big selection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Need some shoes? Kohl's has some! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Need a new shower curtain? Kohl's has some!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Need a new bread maker? Kohl's has some!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Need any form of clothing? Kohl's has some.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basically, Kohl's has about 95% of what I need/want. Minus groceries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Cute clothes. I used to not like Kohl's as much when I was younger and in middle school. But now, there are so many designer collections at Kohl's that are great as the Kohl's brands have really stepped it up in terms of style.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Sales/Coupons. I love a good sale and I hate to pay full price for anything. At Kohl's, pretty sure 99% of the store is on sale plus they hand out coupons like there's no tomorrow. My dad always jokes about the time that the store will have to pay him at checkout since we save so much money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#2 - Old Navy</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OOc5iSzng8TEhAm-wgzMVwA8Jr2Da1_b5h2O6O8eguLeseY2MvUc97VjwX2diynsJDBt3snmzaoB0RdP-ezv4JpTW2INoD6ZqzxPZDNUmRCh-RgyRrozaP78xQtN2BGIAHBf-7jQt28/s1600/old+navy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OOc5iSzng8TEhAm-wgzMVwA8Jr2Da1_b5h2O6O8eguLeseY2MvUc97VjwX2diynsJDBt3snmzaoB0RdP-ezv4JpTW2INoD6ZqzxPZDNUmRCh-RgyRrozaP78xQtN2BGIAHBf-7jQt28/s1600/old+navy.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year in particular I have really started to love Old Navy. Now they tend to be a bit pricier than I prefer, but they sometimes have amazing sales! Plus they also sometimes give out those spend $25, get $10 off. I actually have one of those to spend this week! Plus I love their dresses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Favorite TV Show</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yikes. I watch a lot of TV - honestly, it's one of the few things that actually helps me unwind. Especially the drama-filled shows since the characters' lives are usually far more complicated than mine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#1 - Body of Proof.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be honest. When this show first came out, I didn't give it the time of day. Why you may ask? Because Dana Delany had just left Desperate Housewives as Catherine, the crazy woman obsessed with Mike Delfino, who was obviously meant to be with Susan. I didn't watch it until I was home with my parents one evening. They watched it so I watched it too and ended up loving it. It's kind of like Bones or CSI but with more drama.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#2 Speaking of Bones...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsXjrxPpc1jvINoDxqYcJRBPc_JwrPUGXtjk2dkVQYg2Zyp8qNxeRBb2Oj7hx1pPbHIltKLVekC3Xd6GaC8vfANVSlPwYAtfIMSM5VaBQf47zjOsIWupHGpWxGE3RRm8gOxiJMoLJLjA/s1600/bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsXjrxPpc1jvINoDxqYcJRBPc_JwrPUGXtjk2dkVQYg2Zyp8qNxeRBb2Oj7hx1pPbHIltKLVekC3Xd6GaC8vfANVSlPwYAtfIMSM5VaBQf47zjOsIWupHGpWxGE3RRm8gOxiJMoLJLjA/s1600/bones.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Evan tried to get me into Bones about a year ago on Netflix, but I hated it and kept falling asleep during it. But once I was actually able to stay awake during it, I ended up really liking it. Now that Bones and Booth are together, it's a bit less tension-y, but I am a few episodes behind so I'll have to see where tension comes next.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#3 - Degrassi</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now many of you might not know this show because 1. it's filmed in Canada and 2. it's meant for teens. But I love it. I've been watching it since I was in middle school and still love it now as much as I did then. It takes place at a high school called Degrassi and follows the lives of high schoolers dealing with high school problems, both big (like pregnancy, suicide, eating disorders( and small (like relationship drama and fights between friends). I think I will continue to watch it until the day it is canceled for good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Honorable Mentions - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Glee. It would have been my top three, but my love of Glee is based on what songs they sing. If they sing songs that I don't like/know, then I don't like it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. House Hunters. I love House Hunters except when the people are whiny and/or annoying. Like when people moving abroad complain that the homes don't have/look like the ones in America. Newsflash - if you want an American home, then stay in America!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. New Girl - I want to be Jess. The end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Favorite Sweet Treat</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love sweet things, but I feel that I am kind of picky about what sweet things I actually love. For example, cake. I love a good cake. But my favorite cake is sheet cake from the grocery store. Something about the moistness of the cake and sugary-ness of the frosting. But it has to be white or yellow. The only good chocolate cake is the kind that is super chocolately like this one...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPpFRorr8B7VjDf_jeBdE_2WGGJ-CfW7buanhemo3JpDMJCcDkBfNyiKlpwoX0QZ955hYDXPXl1XHyXrCr1aFkK_1Snp79RQtFvCytXNKjwK2HLfVKPHuP5b_47nW6ijkezH6PFElIGI/s1600/graet+wall+of+choc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPpFRorr8B7VjDf_jeBdE_2WGGJ-CfW7buanhemo3JpDMJCcDkBfNyiKlpwoX0QZ955hYDXPXl1XHyXrCr1aFkK_1Snp79RQtFvCytXNKjwK2HLfVKPHuP5b_47nW6ijkezH6PFElIGI/s1600/graet+wall+of+choc.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Great Wall of Chocolate from PF Changs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Favorite Food</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another tough one...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It honestly changes. I love pizza because there is so much variety. You can have a normal one with pepperoni. Or you could have a BBQ chicken one. Or a garlic chicken one. Or one with pesto. Or a macaroni and cheese one (For real!). If you are ever in the Madison, Wisconsin area, you must go to <a href="http://www.ianspizza.com/">Ian's Pizza</a>. They have such unique and delicious pizza flavors here such as my fav, Mac and Cheese. They also have other ones such as Chicken Alfredo, Buffalo Chicken, Steak and Fries, Gyro, and Spinach Artichoke - just to name a few!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEEOVZo3dRrA77t2lCOxSwIWp6issaDaBv-4pKKsFtINKmtfklLJskZrZuq5MQRZF-8y-iyLLYEix8TrUS7RoWMGUG8KNaXjF_Zd9L91qajLrACyIFR11qHwTuqN9wLoXPNPjHvnKbDE/s1600/ian's+pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEEOVZo3dRrA77t2lCOxSwIWp6issaDaBv-4pKKsFtINKmtfklLJskZrZuq5MQRZF-8y-iyLLYEix8TrUS7RoWMGUG8KNaXjF_Zd9L91qajLrACyIFR11qHwTuqN9wLoXPNPjHvnKbDE/s1600/ian's+pizza.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Favorite Restaurant</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seriously, all these topics are super hard for me. I love different restaurants for certain foods. Like I love Jimmy John's for their tuna subs, a local place about a block from my apartment called Gallo Blanco for their breakfast foods, another local place called Mary Coyle's for their ice cream and 50s style food, Culver's for their ability to remind me of home, Melting Pot for a special occassion, and Applebee's for their buffalo wings. Which makes it difficult whenever Evan and I want to go out for food since I am usually little to no help since I never know what I want.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your turn! Go link up! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter. Already got a bit of Sunday Night Blues but we have off on Friday. It's our "Mid-Quarter Break" aka the quarter just started and district got the day wrong since in the past, we've had Good Friday off. Oh well, I won't argue with a day off :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-74775415338744699032013-03-24T21:07:00.003-07:002013-03-24T21:07:27.285-07:00Let's Get Acquainted!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the first time I am linking up with Latonya at <a href="http://flyingintofirst.blogspot.com/2013/03/lets-get-acquainted-linky-time.html">Flying into First Grade</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just love learning about other teachers and learning about their lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But that just could be that I am nosy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVqH2NpbEryjyeOfCurs6ItG-PrRa3HubRaHVpzM_yJkRUh7h77v2aRLHnDtXEkh1Fux64g4KmbsBF_C6WlrRu8oX_xvMcVkvHa2m-eaxJCboIljnu-BOVUNKQyh4Mo0dETJkLQiSFqE/s1600/linky+party2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVqH2NpbEryjyeOfCurs6ItG-PrRa3HubRaHVpzM_yJkRUh7h77v2aRLHnDtXEkh1Fux64g4KmbsBF_C6WlrRu8oX_xvMcVkvHa2m-eaxJCboIljnu-BOVUNKQyh4Mo0dETJkLQiSFqE/s320/linky+party2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is about nouns. My favorite person, place, thing, and animal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Favorite Person: My wonderful fianc</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">é</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Evan. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA6I62GA_pO-jIK03TADFmu0SZDPPydItaZTI0qA8i-eoi_0jJ2XalsxybiVaVzM2fN5q8DlZ-OZhAdFRkKnPidei0MIUQ0BnNyn3zO5Co8rPGipPbLH7Hy3PebM80c73mWRh2uyB7V8/s1600/Engagement+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWA6I62GA_pO-jIK03TADFmu0SZDPPydItaZTI0qA8i-eoi_0jJ2XalsxybiVaVzM2fN5q8DlZ-OZhAdFRkKnPidei0MIUQ0BnNyn3zO5Co8rPGipPbLH7Hy3PebM80c73mWRh2uyB7V8/s320/Engagement+Pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He brings out the best in me. I can be a bit high strung, a bit emotional, a bit irrational, a bit impractical, and a bit a impatient. But he really grounds me and brings back to Earth on so many occasions. He can always make me laugh and we have such wonderful times together. And we are almost approaching double digit days until our wedding day. Yikesssss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Place: It's a tie!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For nostalgic reasons, I have to pick Milwaukee. Moving away has made me realize that home is where your heart is and my heart is in Milwaukee. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7vK4gJXCUvA7Wkp0AvNop-NNL8AOxLiHGp7cp7bU79rjiWO_E63qJ-SKP-TTNHaVKdufUaHq87Op93FDY7IuqsEKR1la6YIcrVxgFnPY2vAgjAN-ErNM1Lk6F3LqXjofVOgKhFcnTEg/s1600/mil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7vK4gJXCUvA7Wkp0AvNop-NNL8AOxLiHGp7cp7bU79rjiWO_E63qJ-SKP-TTNHaVKdufUaHq87Op93FDY7IuqsEKR1la6YIcrVxgFnPY2vAgjAN-ErNM1Lk6F3LqXjofVOgKhFcnTEg/s320/mil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But my favorite city in the entire world is Paris. It just never gets old, and if I spoke French, I would love to live there for a bit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZFql15puXC3MSnxP1odTlehLCw3n92FZyntppQ0oRTL8wqoecLXKxt5yktDxfihQiF-obv0e03-G_WyfFY1jcR0ky2pLj85S5H1mYJdfSE4V-nWw1J7CRqiHv7xhLr8Lshc6IwP3s6w/s1600/eiffel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZFql15puXC3MSnxP1odTlehLCw3n92FZyntppQ0oRTL8wqoecLXKxt5yktDxfihQiF-obv0e03-G_WyfFY1jcR0ky2pLj85S5H1mYJdfSE4V-nWw1J7CRqiHv7xhLr8Lshc6IwP3s6w/s1600/eiffel.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thing: Hmmm, tough one. I like a lot of things, but I'm not sure what my favorite thing would be. So I'll just list a few of my favorite things: Tivo (because I always fall asleep during my shows), good food, cozy homes, and my thrift store Fossil purse.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpxQdS6Qnu9Ec14SkNB1BKWDx94Gjy62UzY4fhiMy-W-nGwI0FQEipIpogv2f9wlKqbi-pCiG6dr49LgADDUD3oUBjrpVCRG-ITVfZ9a2gvGL1jCMUlbfgFeHwyacGL5fdbRmv8JrTCA/s1600/purse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpxQdS6Qnu9Ec14SkNB1BKWDx94Gjy62UzY4fhiMy-W-nGwI0FQEipIpogv2f9wlKqbi-pCiG6dr49LgADDUD3oUBjrpVCRG-ITVfZ9a2gvGL1jCMUlbfgFeHwyacGL5fdbRmv8JrTCA/s200/purse.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the day I went thrifting with my sissy Melissa, I told her that I was hoping to find a brown cross body bag from Fossil. I had been looking at them for awhile but they are kind of pricey so I was hoping to find one at a thrift store. She looked at me like I was crazy, but low and behold, there it was! Pretty ironic, yes?</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Animal: I love my sweet dog Marlee. She can be annoying at times - like when she eats random things. To date, she has eaten Legos, socks, a towel, twist ties, paint chips, housing insulation, paper, and I'm sure other things that I don't even want to know. But just look at how adorable she is!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96PMRXHQXKAABwNyynuERqFBcC6xmNsa7rI-DVD97y4iwBS-MC3CRB3GQDW1RRgZPDlrXKyzpvxsc3fcSxbF8jll9aOoc_IIac6pzf_jEhOK8XiRX03_GMDQxMI61LLpdPI2oOTHdzU8/s1600/Marlee+Kisses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96PMRXHQXKAABwNyynuERqFBcC6xmNsa7rI-DVD97y4iwBS-MC3CRB3GQDW1RRgZPDlrXKyzpvxsc3fcSxbF8jll9aOoc_IIac6pzf_jEhOK8XiRX03_GMDQxMI61LLpdPI2oOTHdzU8/s320/Marlee+Kisses.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your turn! Go link up!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-7654343345608384962013-03-21T18:06:00.000-07:002013-03-21T18:06:18.280-07:00Crazy Days<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Am I lucky or what? Every day when I pick up my kids from recess, I am showered with these little yellow flowers. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXnbjF6A98gfA-6AYHYRzuyY7cAOXRLpvTcrzDYR3ViMOOg4mlYHwIYgbI4_3L6zaEJSAlMdo1lRWzLiBkoWzp7CC2rxdUgTuiGjqI6lfib_9kE1wbWw8GombbPC3GZxv5FA9g6FrTx4/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXnbjF6A98gfA-6AYHYRzuyY7cAOXRLpvTcrzDYR3ViMOOg4mlYHwIYgbI4_3L6zaEJSAlMdo1lRWzLiBkoWzp7CC2rxdUgTuiGjqI6lfib_9kE1wbWw8GombbPC3GZxv5FA9g6FrTx4/s320/flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I definitely feel loved when I get handfulls of flowers from my little darlings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But today was definitely a crazy kind of day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like get me outta here crazy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For starters, I got a new students today. A sweet little girl who seems to fit right in to the group. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But that was just oh so exciting because it's been about a month since we've gotten a new friend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And let me tell - you'd think they won the lottery. And it only got crazier from there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because it was school picture day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that means free dress day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And no one bothered to tell me that half of my hair was bunched into my scarf and the other half was free-flowing. So I look like I have an awkward asymmetrical hair cut. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, school ends at 1:15 on Thursdays (instead of 2:30) for professional development. But since report cards are due on Monday, we had a teacher work day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh my, such a wonderful thing. I got heaps of things done! And I didn't even talk to anyone (that much).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And tomorrow is Friday! Thank goodness. Even though I just got back from Spring Break, I feel like it never existed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6m3V18i0OWQkpw2mivkjb19sBlhJQYM4iGt0FRF3PtmV8Gl1jPyOS5FhT4AmkceyXf8Kx5ojdeA-2E8YlE-386ahW_xlZZ4AVQh-z7cOIy7LMuyd9b7HbNgpoTGSLIehlDxQPHyh5Tk/s1600/Liz.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2521284760941030513.post-28534879104394484242013-03-03T16:56:00.000-07:002013-03-03T16:56:01.194-07:00Currently<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yay March! Spring Break Month-My Birthday Month-Spring Month! I love March. And since it is the beginning of March, that means it's time for Currently!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0v2AJgCkUbpJBZ2K_Rv0fVsAVQYEQRZcYgiV337cug3LOQf3ZtJNCd9obtDlHd2cIVc9Fd_2Bgz68-XArAKY_KvkEPQO4Kben6YRKx0tS4SweN4grOKNoUtjaIWteqNaaMV4r_dYlV3c/s1600/CcurrentlyMarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0v2AJgCkUbpJBZ2K_Rv0fVsAVQYEQRZcYgiV337cug3LOQf3ZtJNCd9obtDlHd2cIVc9Fd_2Bgz68-XArAKY_KvkEPQO4Kben6YRKx0tS4SweN4grOKNoUtjaIWteqNaaMV4r_dYlV3c/s640/CcurrentlyMarch.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So since <strike>it's basically never winter</strike> <strike>not a real winter</strike> doesn't get cold here, Evan and I have been able to keep our door open letting in fresh air from outside. And we get to hear birds chirping outside at all times of the year (well I'm assuming so at least since I haven't been here a year. Maybe when it's 64732842378 degrees out, they don't chirp?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spring Break Is. So. Close. Like in a week close. And I'm going to Wisconsin! Yay!! But, state testing is between me and my break. Dragsville USA. I hate state testing. Which brings me to my needing part. My district tests my poor babies on two state tests. AIMS and Galileo. AIMS is for reading fluency and Galileo is for everything. For AIMS, they are tested three times a year, and since my kiddos are young, it goes pretty quick. I think the older kids have to do it for like 2 weeks but my kids just have a day of it. For Galileo, they are tested five times a year. FIVE! Each time takes a whole week plus we are required to do a week of test prep aka practice tests and questions the week before. Which equals to 9 weeks of wasted instruction time! (The first test is like the second week of school so no test prep). NINE!!! And people are on our cases about cramming things into our 15 minute breakfast time? I think not. So annoying. I feel like Arizona's rank in education would improve if they let teachers teach instead of test. Soapbox over now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other news, since it is March, that means Shamrock Shakes are back! Yummy minty goodness that is so good only because it's for limited time every year. I always get sucked in though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My like is loopholes. Which is kinda random, but I love beating the system. Especially when that system has silly rules. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My love is laughter since it can fix pretty much anything. It can fix a sad day, an awkward situation, an angry moment, etc. etc. etc. I love laughing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And my hatred is lettuce. I remember being in highschool, and reading magazines with 602 Dating Tip from Guys, and there would always be a tip about not ordering salad since guys like it when girls eat real food. And I always thought to myself that that would never be a problem since salads are yuck. Except a casear salad. I like those. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week's agenda = state testing for four days and then a who knows day for Friday. Probably some St Patrick's Day things, some centers, some catch up on my own 736 classroom assessments I have to do. Go link up at <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Oh' Boy Fourth Grade</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15507306119644086592noreply@blogger.com3