One... Little... Word

Good morning!  I was up fairly early today pouring over a few of my favorite blogs via Bloglovin', and read about this great link up party via Primary Powers.  My friend Kim over at the Finding Joy in 6th Grade (great gal... great blog... go follow her if you aren't) was sharing how hard it is to pick just one word.  How you have to mull it over a little and think about how it will stay with you.  Last year, my one word was easy:  FAITH.  I knew there would be a lot of changes for my family in 2014.  We would be living in a new state, with new jobs, and a new home, new schools.  I needed Faith a lot in 2014 with all those life changes.  Now in 2015, I've had to think a little differently about my new word.  It's had to roll around a little in my head.  What do I want to accomplish this year?  What will settle me when stress wants to take over?  Here is what I think will stick with me this year:

I've listened to The Secret and The Power while making my morning commute to work in December.  I know that some people think it's hokey, and a pile of junk, but it came into my life at a time when I needed something to grab on to.  With the stress of holidays, EQTs for my own children, and my husband up to his ears in Marching Band- Bowl Game planning, I needed something to set my soul for the day, and these books did the trick.  I found myself waking in the morning and projecting gratitude outward into my life.  Thanking the universe for the health of my family, and the love I had for them.  Thanking the universe for the prosperity of my TpT store and the abundance of success I was having at school with my class.  And, well, it came back to me.  Here is one example:
If you read about my crazy December {HERE} you know that I took my daughter to New Orleans to play in Tuba Christmas in Jackson Square.  The rehearsal was at Loyola University.  No problem getting there, great parking spot up front, beautiful area.  I had to ask someone how to get to the French Quarter.  A mom who was there waiting for her husband and son started to give me directions, then realized they had changed some of the street names.  Because her family was already going to be heading down there, she jumped in the car WITH ME.. gave me directions to get to the French Quarter, showed me where to park, invited my family to eat lunch with her and her family, and kept track of where we needed to be in Jackson Square.  Random Act of Kindess?  You bet!  But I firmly believe it was because I projected gratitude and kindness out into the world, that when I NEEDED it, it returned to me.
Ok... I'm done.. THAT was a lot for ONE. LITTLE. WORD..
but hey, if you are at a crossroad, and need a little nudge, then maybe my story will help you!
Happy New Year!

8

Vegas.. Classic Fun and Friendship

Phew!  I think I've finally recovered from my weekend in Vegas!  Last week was pretty crazy with a long road trip, and then a quick flight to Vegas.  I think I was crazy trying to do so many things!
Vegas, my friends, was an AMAZING time.  I loved meeting so many people, sharing thoughts and ideas about TpT, but more importantly TEACHING!  I learned so many things, and had such a fabulous time.
I had a great time meeting up with some of my BBBs.  Diane from Fifth in the Middle was my roomie!

We are laughing in this photo, because we had just been photo-bombed by Erin from I'm Lovin Lit.

Sorry that one is blurry, I just couldn't resist!

We started the day with a keynote address by some of the behind the scenes people at TpT;  including the founder, Paul, who was so kind and friendly, and Deanna Jump.  She shared a really heartwarming story about why she started sellingon TpT, and I loved the prayer that she shared with us:  "God, if you show me the way, I will do the work."  It was really inspiring to see what a group of amazing minds can put together and create.

I was eager to start the sessions, with such an inspiring start to the day!

By far, my favorite session was Erin's from I'm Lovin Lit.  Even though I've known her for awhile, and we talk frequently, it was great to finally meet her.  She is funny, and amazing, and her husband is too. Her session was informative and I really went away with quite a few things to think about.  I know I will continue to learn from her.  

Here are a few of my BBBs at the Teacher's Happy Hour that TpT hosted.

 

Finally, it wouldn't be Vegas without the wonderfully weird, and wacky!  Check out this 80's rocker:  

I called him the Light-Bright Guy.. 

Plus I had a chance to go with Joanne {Head over Heels for Teaching} and Holly {Fourth Grade Flipper} to see Shania in concert... FABULOUS!

Stop by and visit A Burst of First and check out all of our Vegas fun!

5

Two for Tuesday: 7/1 July Math Madness!

Happy Tuesday friends!  I've been super busy since my summer vacation started, big news is brewing, but I'm not quite ready to share it yet.  I do want to celebrate though, so I'm putting two of my Math products on sale for 50% off!
This Common Core Math Pack for 6th grade is a great way to teach your students how to track their test scores  if you are grading by the benchmarks.  I have students put the checklist sheet in their interactive notebooks and when they get tests back, they enter their grades for each standard.  I print the labels for my planbook, and the cards are great for objectives.  This is a great product if you are thinking about your APPR and how you can include your students in tracking their own learning!

The second product I'm offering is my Expressions and Equations Math Pack.  This is a set of 120 problems.  There are 10 different categories for Algebra Expressions and Equations.  It is perfect to challenge your middle school students.  You can use the cards in centers, as scoot or as computation task card review.  My students LOVE using these cards.  I pull them out at the beginning of the year during my Algebra unit, and then I use them again as review before our state assessment.  

Stop over and see The Teaching Tribune and check out what else is 50% off!  There are some AMAZING deals happening today!

1

Two for Tuesday: 50% Off Two of my Products!

Today I'm linking up with the Teaching Tribune and offering two of my favorite math products at 50% off.

Fractions are a tough concepts for students.  So today I'm offering two fraction products.  The first is my new Fraction Pop Ups game.  

You can play this game as a whole group, place it in a center for small groups, or have students work independently to solve the problems.  I've even included a formative cut and glue which can easily be place in an interactive notebook.

The second item is my Wacky Wordies Fraction Task Cards.  This set of cards are great for solving fraction word problems.  They have been developed with the Common Core rigor in mind.

Of course, if you make a purchase, I'd love feedback as well, and if you have questions, please ASK!

Have a great day!

0

Wordless Wednesday 5/14

I'm down to about 30 days left to teach.  This is how I'm feeling.

How about you?

13

Surviving Spring to Welcome Summer Blog Hop! {FREEBIE}

This week I'm teaming up with a few of my BBBs to share a few tips for surviving the end of the school year.

 I was so excited to do this post because we are almost finished with our state assessments, and we still have 9 more weeks of school.  Many of my students think that once our assessments are over they don't have to work anymore, so getting these survival tips early is so great for me.

Really, what I want to tell you is... RUN.. I mean RUN.. to your nearest Dunkin, Starbucks, Coffee House, and get yourself a nice 'Cuppa Joe!  Every teacher at the end of the year needs that little extra kick, and coffee will definitely help.  But really, as much as WE need that little extra something something, our students do to.  I try to make as much of my class period as interactive as possible.  That's why we create Student Survival Kit Lapbooks at the end of the year.

I use these Lapbooks to help my students reflect on what they have learned from their experience in sixth grade, and to help me launch my new school year.  My Smarties create a lapbook which I place on my students desks in September when we start back to school.

My freebie for you today is a page from my Student Survival Kit Lapbook.

You can have your students fill these out as morning work, share them in your morning meeting or ELA time, and then save them for your students in the fall.  Place them on the desks of incoming students, or mail them home with your Welcome letter and give them a little preview of your classroom and who you are as a teacher.
Just Click on the Pic above to download this freebie and don't forget to continue on the HOP!

Stop by and visit my friend AMC at Looking from Third to Fourth and grab another Freebie!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

4

A Peek at My SHORT Week! Terrible Tudors, Figurative Language, and Math Review

Happy Sunday all!  I'm doing a quick link up with Jennifer over at Mrs. Laffin's Laughings  for a Peek at My Week Party!

We have a short week.  Only two and a half days until Spring Break... We... can... make... it!
I'm spending a little time tying up some loose ends before we leave because when we get back we have our HUGE THREE DAY #thisteacherisstressed Math Assessment.
So here goes:

I am finishing up a unit on the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation.  My Smarties have loved learning about the feudal system, Magna Carta, Da Vinci and Martin Luther.  I'm reviewing with a little Middle Ages Bingo tomorrow and showing them this funny video about Henry VIII and using this Terrible Tudors video.  My class LOVES these!

Next, I'll be finishing up my Geometry unit by teaching volume.  We'll be finding the volume of a few rectangular prisms using food boxes.  I teach a surface area lab using this, but it will have to wait until after our assessment.  We just don't have enough time!

Next I'll be reviewing for our assessment using Task Cards.  I'm concentrating on Algebra and Ratios because those have the biggest emphasis for our test.  I'm using Algebra Multiple Choice Task Cards, Algebra Wacky Wordies, Ratio and Rate Multiple Choice Task Cards, and Wacky Wordies Ratios and Rates.  I'll be adding in Integers and Rational Number review after break.

Last, I'll be doing a little fun review practice with figurative language using my Spring Figurative Language Pack while we finish up our Biography Writing.

If you head over to my Facebook Page you can Pin It to Win It.  I'll be picking a winner a little later this afternoon when we get home from soccer.  Just like my page and follow the directions on the Pin It to Win It post.  If you are already following, did you know that Facebook may not be showing all of your liked pages anymore?  If you go to my page {COFFEE CUPS AND LESSON PLANS} and hover over the LIKED button a drop down menu appears where you can GET NOTIFICATIONS.  If you select this then you won't miss any posts.  I'm starting to do more flash freebie notifications there, so you don't want to miss out.  Plus you can ONLY enter the Pin It to Win It through Facebook.

Have an awesome week!  Get out and enjoy the sunshine!

0

Wordless Wednesday: Read Alouds

I'm linking up with Christina over at Sugar and Spice for Wordless Wednesday!

What book is a MUST READ with your class before the end of the school year?

7

A Peek at my Week: I'm on the Bullet Train to Assessment Street and a FREEBIE!

This is the last full week that I have before my Smarties take their ELA assessment.  Although my students haven't amped up the stress zone, this teacher has!

Part of my evaluation as a teacher is based on this test, which I think is ridiculous because I am not privy to information that is on the test.  Things that I think are important to emphasize in the CCSS may not be what politicians in the state believe should be important, but I'm not writing this post on my soap box.  I'm buckling my seat belt on the bullet train and hoping for a smooth ride into the station.
We have been reading and writing about informational text all year long.  Citing evidence and finding/discussing the central idea or theme has been a huge component.  We've also talked about most of the figurative language pieces, but this week a colleague of mine reminded me about idioms.  They were on the test last year..something along the lines of "getting the job was the cherry on top."  Most of our students thought the story was about the girl liking cherries... and not about her accomplishments.  So this week in ELA we are going to focus on idioms.  It will also be a perfect segway for me to teach Poetry in April.  Luckily, this Educents bundle just came out, and it is packed with Poetry and Idioms

It is a total score for $10.99.  I think there are over $70 worth of products in it.  I really like these idiom cards by Jivey.  It matches the idiom with the real meaning.

I printed them multiple to a page and we are going to work in pairs to put them into our Word Work notebooks.  In the Educents bundle there are two different packs of idioms both of which have a matching practice.  I'll use those as a formative early in the week before I  hit them up with a few poems that contain idioms.  Then we will write about what the poem means and practice citing the evidence including idiom meaning.  I saw a really cool pack  about writing nonfiction poetry.  I think that will be an awesome part of our unit post test.  April is going to be a great month!

In Math, I have a little bit more time before the assessment, but I still haven't finished all of my curriculum yet.  Of course!  I'm doing Percentages this week.  I made a little freebie to practice percent of a number.  I'll be using it later in the week.  You can download it if you need something too.. just click on the picture.

I'm linking up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for a Peek at My Week.  Stop by and visit to see what other people are prepping for!

10

Sunday Funday!

Today I'm linking up with two wonderful ladies, Molly at Lucky to Be in First and Deirdre at A Burst of First for a little Sunday Funday!

This past week was super busy for my family because my daughter was trying out for the JV softball team.  This was a lot of pressure because she had to take a screening exam since she is only in 8th grade.  We were so excited on Saturday when we leaned that she had made the team!  Woot Woot!  Now she is vying for the starting catcher spot.  Fingers crossed!

My son also scored 2 goals in a game with his travel soccer club!  We were so excited because he usually plays defense.

Most of you know that I'm a basketball fan.  Above and beyond watching my 'Cuse play, we also follow the Gators.  Yesterday we saw my hubs on TV with the Gators.  As a PhD doctoral candidate, one of his jobs is to travel with the men's team to Atlanta where he is the athletic band director for the trip.  We were glued to the television in order to get a glimpse of him.  We'll be watching the championship today to see him again.

Thanks for stopping by to visit and letting me brag about my family!

Don't forget to visit one of my BBBs, Jivey.  She is celebrating her birthday and a blogging milestone with a fabulous giveaway!

Enjoy your Sunday!

4