Finally...

How do you bloggers and blog-stalkers do it?????  I have the best intentions to post on a regular basis but this year has been kicking my behind, and it's not my first year teaching!  I have the sincerest admiration for all of you hard-working teachers who can write these lovely and meaningful blog posts while cooking, cleaning, raising families, and of course prepping those fabulous lessons.  I miss all the writing, the comments, the feedback...I would like to say that I'll be on here soon, but I haven't been good with my promises...

I did want to take this opportunity to post about the wonderful Teachers Pay Teachers sale that's taking place on Cyber Monday.  There is a coupon code for 10% off along with my 20% off.  After all, 'tis the season to be merry, and sales are certainly merry.  So click below and check it out!

I hope you and your families have a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving!  As usual I have so many little and big things to be thankful for...which includes having you as followers and readers on my humble little blog.  Thank you again!

Gobble, gobble!

Stress and TpT sale :)

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely feeling the crunch, and school doesn't start until after Labor Day.  All the things that are floating in my head:  the new reading and writing curricula, how can I improve on my math strategies, how can organize and maintain my anecdotals...how many pennies until I fill my piggy bank so I go cash them at TD Bank.  All this stress!

Fun back-to-school commercials

One of my fabulous colleagues sent me the link to one of Target's back-to-school commercials.  Of course I found a couple more that are just as funny.  I hope these clips provide you with some laughter amongst all the stress this month!!

Contest: Target Gift Card!!!!!

So, I'm back to stalking blogs, and I found a new one to add to the blog roll:

In honor of her birthday, she is giving a $25 gift card to Target.  A-MAZ-ING!  Click HERE to enter!!

Where in the world...

After traveling for over a month with limited technology access, I'm finally home!!  I probably should have written a quick blog post in the beginning of July that I had to take a short hiatus to do some traveling and catching up with family, so I apologize for the lack of posts.  I have to say what a crazy summer, but I'm happy to get back to some sort of routine.  I've been trying to catch up with all my favorite blogs (and trust me, the list is long and there are a bazillion posts), and I see that some teachers are already back to school or in their classrooms setting up!!  I have a couple more weeks till I can actually get into my room.  I want to send a little shout out to the teachers that are already hard at work teaching, getting their students acclimated to the routines and procedures (holla Harry Wong), getting their paperwork done (student questionnaires and such), getting ready for Back to School Night, and all that other stressful stuff that is called "the beginning of the year."  I wish you much strength and patience!  To the teachers that are setting up classrooms, I am in definite awe of your creativity.  I'm going through my blog roll, and I am AMAZED by the pictures.  Debbie Diller would be proud!!  All your hard work is motivating and inspiring, and I'm getting a little itch to go back in...

Anyways, I hope to be more consistent with my posts since I'm actually back in the country.  Some thoughts floating in my head:

• TpT sale for ALL of August
• updating my blog roll
• reflecting on the summer vacation
• maybe a giveway?
• being part of a great group of bloggers and educators

So many articles, so little time...

Thanks for reading!!  I'm so glad to be back!

Read along questions to The Book Whisperer

Thinking of Teaching with Mrs. Lyons has posted an interview with Donalyn Miller with answers to the questions below.  Many other blogs have connected with her blog answering the same questions, so I figured I would join in fun.  I can't wait for the book club to begin!  Check out her blog for more information and giveaways!

 

1) What is your favourite book (or series) from childhood?

Little House on the Prairie.  I would read those books over and over and over...

2) What is your favourite book (or series) now?

It's very difficult to select one book, but the first thing that popped into my mind was the Shopaholic books...

3) What is your opinion of e-readers?

I appreciate the existing technology and how it makes life easier, especially when traveling.  However, I will always love meandering through a book store and flipping through books.

4) Finish this sentence: "On Sundays I like to..."

Relax, read some blogs, watch a movie, catch up with friends...

5) Describe yourself in 5 words!

Silly funny crazy teacher lady

6) Hardcover or paperback? Why?

I buy paperback to save some money, but if I really want the book, and it's only available in hard cover, I buy it.

7) Coffee or Tea?

Tea :)

Reading logs for the summer

In my district, the teachers and students are still moving along.  So I've been super busy with my files and end-of-year reports.  Of course I've been procrastinating finishing my files because I've been trying to compile some kind of summer resource for my students (hee hee).  This summer resource is very simple:  mostly reading response activities and problem-solving, since my third and fourth graders struggle with comprehension and word problems.  I wrote a little letter explaining that THIS IS NOT HOMEWORK but a continuation of skills developed throughout the year that can be used AS NEEDED.  Along with this very small packet I wanted to give them a reading log.  So, because I'm new to third and fourth grade, I wanted to see how different teachers created their reading logs (I already know that Beth Newingham has some great resources).  So I Googled "reading logs third grade."  That opened a can of worms...

I scanned the first page of results and these titles jumped off the screen: 

Stop Homework » “I Hate Reading Logs,” says FedUp Mom

Reading logs killed the bibliophile | Woulda Coulda Shoulda