Sunday, November 1, 2015

FREE! Thanksgiving Word Mats

Happy Thanksgiving, a bit early!

You can grab them HERE!

This semester in graduate school, 
we've been digging into the importance of vocabulary instruction.
My kindergartners think play dough is a treat!
I try to include one station each week that includes this tool. 
At the moment, we are creating with "pumpkin pie play dough".
(I use this recipe and add spices.)

Later, I will use these mats with Expo markers 
to reinforce letter identification and formation.

I hope you are able to use and enjoy this freebie!

Monday, October 5, 2015

October Currently

Thank you, Farley, for keeping my blog current! ;-)


Oh, Homeland. 
You are messing with my grad school assignment timeline!

I am loving grad school.
But the "wanting" is a result of the disconnect 
I see between my learning and 
the expectations that are part of my job.
Enough said.

My sweet daughter is a senior!
(kleenex, please)
We enjoyed the Homecoming festivities with her,
over the weekend. 
All of these "lasts" are just.so.sad.

What's up in your corner of the world?

Friday, July 3, 2015

Currently July 2015


I have five weeks until I report for duty.
To-Do List:
Sleep Late
Read More Books
Print/Cut/Laminate/Cut
Start PiYo
Get A Massage
Organize the Stuff

That All-Star thing?
I am a Kindergarten Cheerleader!
I am a believer in
laughter, fun, creativity,
community, memories. achievement,
growth, friendship, support, 
reading, writing, experimenting,
play.

This will be my third year in an urban public school and
I'm committed to blogging about the 
amazing things 
that are happening in my classroom.
Please stick around and celebrate with me!

Monday, June 29, 2015

How To {ROCK} As A New Teacher ~ Linky Party!

I met these wonderful teachers on Instagram :-)
(Me on IG @readwritesing)
I'm preaching to myself...
* Every year, I resolve to put things back into the correct binder, the right box.
Instead, I toss things into the handiest box and cart the next set of goodies 
into my classroom. I always think I'll have time in the summer 
to leisurely reorganize things; I do not! 
Set up a routine that will help you to keep your resources organized. 

* I'm heading into my 18th year of teaching and I still consider planning to be
"fun". However, my husband and children do not think it's fun to watch me 
cutting and laminating through a Saturday evening. They especially don't 
enjoy watching me give an entire Sunday over to prepping for the week. 
Keep one day for youDo not give up on your passions and hobbies. 
Yes, you are a teacher. But, that's not your whole identity.

* Hang on to the receipts for classroom items. 
Even if tax credit becomes a thing of the past, you will benefit 
from knowing how much you spent on your classroom. 
Also, and I say this with respect to the amazing teachers who make a nice 
amount of $ by selling their products, do not try to create a dream classroom 
right out of the gate. Unless you have a trust fund, this is impossible. PLUS, 
you need to know the limitations of your building, district guidelines, etc., 
before you start hanging things from the ceiling or dragging in extra furniture.

 * Don't try to be someone else. 
You probably have an ongoing list of things you want to 
try, buy, teach, create; you have Pinterest boards filled with 
ideas and pictures of beautiful learning spaces. 
Just be you. You will evolve as the years go by. 
Every class will teach you something new about yourself and 
show you something that you want to improve. 

* Don't hide in your room. 
Keep your door open during that first week of set-up; 
the friendliest teachers will be coming by to say hello 
and ask how they can help you. 
(And, um, Ms. Gossip may show up at your door, too.) 
Be wise as you meet your colleagues. You'll soon figure out who is who.
 *I know you will not be able to resist spending money on your new students.
Remember, books are always worthy of our money! 
We may be using technology in new and creative ways, but, 
IMHO, nothing will ever replace a book in the hand of a child.

One more thing...
Have FUN!

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Currently June 2015

Hello! 
Grad school took over my life and the blog went silent. 
If you are still here, thank you!
Link Up HERE!
You should see the mess that I have stacked in the lower level of our home.
Theme boxes, books, papers, props...
I'm starting to lose sleep because I know it's down there, waiting to be organized!
I do this every year, and every year I regret it. 

In other news, I'm racking up "A"s in grad school
-and loving the Literacy Specialist caseload- 
but I'm soon glad that summer is here. Keeping up with the summer grad classes
AND finishing the school year with my wound-up kindergartners was tough.
I might get some sleep now, lol!

Thoughts about this school year have been rolling around in my head.
Reflection is good for the soul.
I'll be back soon to share what I learned!

Happy summer!

Saturday, February 14, 2015

ABC Love Cards~Freebie

Pin my newest creation and download for next year!

ABC Love Cards can be found HERE!




This is sweet as a Valentine card, 
but can be used at any time of the year.
Enjoy!

Saturday, January 3, 2015

January Currently

A big thanks to Farley for creating Currently and keeping it alive!

Listening…. Ahhhh, it is close to midnight and I do not want to let go of Saturday.

Loving…. In little bits here and there over the break, I worked on report cards.
They were due yesterday, by the end of our first day back at school.
Thankfully, it was a work day! 

Thinking…. The better part of this evening was spent in reading.
When the tears began to silently stream down my cheeks,
I snuck into the kitchen with the computer to finish reading 
"The Matchmaker", without waking my husband.
I'm so glad that I chose this to be my first read of 2015; the book is excellent!

Wanting…. goes along with Needing….and Maybe.

Yes…. I'm going back to school!
~MAed Literacy Specialist with Reading Certification~
I'm wondering if I should have taken one class, not two, this semester.
I'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions for successfully making it through 
grad school while teaching full time and managing life :-)!

I wish…. Doesn't every kindergarten teacher have a book in her/his heart?
Maybe I will someday write books for the children I currently teach-
books in which they see themselves and their own 
unique, beautiful, strong, special stories.

Happy New Year!