Where have I been? and Currently, July!

I am sure you have been wondering where I have been.  At least let me think that you have so I can feel important anyway!  I had to take a mini-break from the blog.  Seriously - this is what happened right before school ended....

This is what happens when I get too much on my plate.  With only having a 1/2 time assistant, testing, report cards and other end of the year hoopla - I simply couldn't find the time to blog.  

Also, 

Achieving an A in 2 Grad School classes with all that on my plate in condensed 5 week Summer Session classes after being out for 8 years...yeah.  I have started 2 new ones and school is a.lot.of.work.  

In addition to that, 

I live at the pool with my 2 kids and my nephew and sister.  As much as I enjoy blogging and creating TpT materials, I can tell you how much fun it is being at the pool instead :)  

I am not going to promise any regular blogging for the Summer even though I feel guilty for not blogging, but I will check in from time to time when I have a minute :) 

On to July's Currently!

I am hanging out with my sweet Elijah and he wants to watch The Backyardigans.  Such a cute little show! :) 

The best thing about Summer for me is being in my pajamas and sleeping in!  I love not having to get ready first thing in the morning and having time to just relax!

I have A LOT of Grad School work for this week.  It overwhelms me just looking at it.  I really need to get started!

Not only do I need to get started, I want to get all that work done! 

One of the projects I really want to do this Summer is organize my kids rooms and sell some of the excess toys we have.  I haven't quite gotten that motivation yet, though!

Last but not least, my tip is to do what you can and don't over extend yourself!  I blog when I can,  I pin when I can, I work on TpT stuff when I can. At the end of the day my family comes first and the rest is just icing on the cake.

Are you still with me?  If so, I'm having a 20% off sale in my TpT store!  This will be the last one for a while!  Stop by if you like :) 

Teacher Blog Tuesday - June 25th

It's teacher blog Tuesday!

Today's guest blogger is My Kinder Garden.

1. Name of Blog and Link? 

My Kinder Garden 

2. Tell us a little about your blog and why you started it.
I just started my blog so I still have a lot to learn. I wanted to promote educational ideas, products, and activities.

3. How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching for 14 years. I have taught 1st grade, 4th, grade, and kindergarten.

4. What grade do you teach?
Kindergarten

5. What is your favorite thing about teaching? 
I love watching the students learn and grow. It is such a great feeling at the end of the year to see all the accomplishments that the students have made.

6. Where else can we find you?
Pinterest
TpT
Twitter 

7. If you want to include a freebie, what is it and where can we find it?
Here is a freebie for letter recognition.

Stop by and follow My Kinder Garden and scoop up her freebie!

Teacher Blog Tuesday - June 18th

It's teacher blog Tuesday!

Today's guest blogger is Andrea from:

I Heart Kindergarten

1. Name of Blog and Link?
I Heart Kindergarten 

2. Tell us a little about your blog and why you started it. 
I’m fairly new to the blogging world! I started my blog as a way to connect with other teachers and share ideas. My blog mostly has posts about what we've been doing in the classroom.

3. How long have you been teaching? 
I've been teaching Kindergarten for 13 years.

4. What grade do you teach? 
Kindergarten

5. What is your favorite thing about teaching?
I love seeing my kids smile when they've discovered they can do something new! The transformation that kindergartners go through from the beginning of the year to the end is amazing!

6. What else would you like to tell us about?
I love teaching math! It has become my favorite thing to teach over the last half of my career. I’m always exploring new ways to teach those Common Core math standards.

7. Where else can we find you? 
Teachers Pay Teachers
Facebook
Pinterest

8. If you want to include a freebie, what is it and where can we find it?
My newest freebie is CVCe Spelling Fun!

I love reading about other teacher blogs!  Stop by and follow Andrea's blog and grab her freebie!  Thanks for guest blogging!

 

Teacher Blog Tuesday - June 11th

It's teacher blog Tuesday!

Today's guest blogger is Jen from:


1. Name of Blog and Link?
Diving Into Learning

2. Tell us a little about your blog and why you started it.
I started my blog last summer. I had followed many education blogs for a while and decided I wanted to start my own. I love the blogging world and all of the great people I have “meet.”

3. How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching for 4 years.

4. What grade do you teach?
I have experience working in lower grades. Last year I taught pre-k full time, this year I’m splitting my time between pre-k and helping out our kindergarten and first grade classes.

5. What is your favorite thing about teaching?
I love those “light bulb” moments when a student all of a sudden figures something out, especially if it is something they have been struggling with.

6. What else would you like to tell us about?
I love blogging about the hands on activities that I have done in my classrooms. One of my favorite blog posts is about one of our science activities. We did salt paintings where students made a design with salt and then painted it with water color paint. It was such a fun activity and students were so excited and proud with their results. Here is the link to the blog post.

7. Where else can we find you?
 Pinterest:
Facebook
TpT

8. If you want to include a freebie, what is it and where can we find it?
Here is the link to one of my freebies! It is a spring numbers game focusing on numbers up to 30!

Stop by and follow her blog & grab her freebie!  Thanks for guest blogging Jen!

 

Teacher Blog Tuesday - June 4th

It's teacher blog Tuesday!

Today's guest blogger is Amy from:


1. Name of Blog and Link?
Eclectic Educating

2. Tell us a little about your blog and why you started it.
I started my blog to collaborate and connect with other teachers. I wanted to develop relationships where I shared information, but also learned from others. My blog is called Eclectic Educating because I work with grades K-5 as a Title 1 intervention teacher. I post lessons for a variety of grade levels. You will find a little bit of everything!

3. How long have you been teaching? 
I am just finishing my third year.

4. What grade do you teach?
Title 1 intervention grades K-5

5. What is your favorite thing about teaching?
My favorite thing about teaching is the wonderful relationships you develop with your students. As an intervention teacher, I have the advantage of being able to work with students for more than one year. I get to know their parents, learn about their lives, and see them in afterschool activities. I really get to know each one of my student's unique personalities and come to love them for the amazing individuals they are.

6. What else would you like to tell us about?
As an intervention teacher, I work primarily with reading and math. With reading, I am a firm believer in the power of teaching students to use reading strategies. In my math instruction, I believe in moving from the concrete, to the pictorial, to the abstract. Manipulatives can make all the difference!

7. Where else can we find you? 
Twitter
Pinterest
TpT
Facebook

8. If you want to include a freebie, what is it and where can we find it?
Multiplication Five in a Row

I have to agree that manipulatives are a great strategy for students that are struggling!  Stop by a follow her blog and grab her freebie!  Thanks for guest blogging Amy!