Currently - January 2016

It seems like as I get older, each year seems to go by faster and faster!  Can you believe it is already 2016?  2015 was a really good year for me, and I am hoping for the same this year as well.  It is not just a new year, but a new month, which means it is time to link up with Farley for Currently!

We finally broke down and got a second game system which has helped eliminate quite a few power struggles and fights.  If I could eliminate the fighting altogether I would be a happy Mama!  If you have any ideas I am open to suggestions!

I am sipping my tea from a brand new Disney mug - my souvenir from our Christmas trip to Disneyland. We had so much fun!

We even got to spend some time with one of my older sons and his girlfriend.  They live in Los Angeles, so they met us at the park.

We definitely had a good time, but it was also exhausting!

Vacations are never long enough, are they?

Being a mom of 6 boys, I am always making sacrifices and buying things for them, but I never do things for myself.  That is one of my goals this year, to do a little more for me.  On the top of my wishlist is a new purse.  I have only bought Wal-Mart purses, so I am planning on getting myself a nicer one.  Any suggestions?

I head back to school on Monday, so it is time to get my head back into the game and get some lesson plans done.  I did get next week's plans completed before vacation, so I am hoping to stay a week ahead of myself.

Which brings me to my word for the year.  I need to be more intentional.  I often do things as they come up, sort of like a firefighter putting out fires sometimes.  This year, I would like to be more intentional with how I spend my time.

Hoping you have had a great New Year, and I look forward to sharing with you in 2016!

Currently - July 2015

I am so excited that tomorrow is July because that means it is almost time for the SDE and TpT Conferences!  I can't wait!  It is also time to link up with Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade for this month's Currently!

You're probably seeing a reoccurring theme of Vegas there aren't you?

If you are going to Vegas, I hope to meet you!  If you can't go to Vegas, stay tuned to the blog, because I will be sharing my notes just like I did last year!  Also, a group of my TpT/blogging friends and I have also joined together to share even more on our Facebook group.

 

Simply join the group and follow along for our posts throughout the 9th and 10th!

Currently June 2015

Woo Hoo!  Today is my first official day of summer!  I was very sad to see my kiddos go on Friday, but I am happy for the break and happy that I will see them again in the fall as I am looping with them to 4th grade!  I appreciated the gifts and love they poured on me as well!

It is also the first day of June, which means it is time to link up with Farley for Currently!

My 19 year old (who moved to Los Angeles last fall) came to visit for graduation.  We were so excited to see him, and Tyler was especially excited to show off how much he had grown since Palmer left.

When I went into my classroom today, I found these laptops on one of the tables.  Another teacher who has been using them is getting iPads, so we now have a class set.  I am excited for the possibilities!  Any suggestions?

And speaking of iPads, I decided to get a new one and pass my old one down to my boys.  I am so excited!

Be sure to head over to her blog to share what you are Currently doing, and to make a donation to Wimberley!

Currently May 2015

I cannot believe how fast this year has flown by!  We only have this last month of school left (we get out May 29th).  The next few weeks will be a blur though because we have SBAC testing this week, one regular week of school, MAPS testing the following week, and then the last week of school.  I'm just hoping I can survive! LOL!  Now that a new month is upon us, it is also time to link up with Farley for Currently!

Listening: Luke has a buddy spending the night, and they are currently watching YouTube videos on our tv in the living room.

Loving:  If you are following me on Instagram, you may have already seen my two boxes full of books from the book fair! If you are not following me, you may want to because I have gotten together with a group of other bloggers and we are having a special FREEBIE giveaway tomorrow on Instagram.  Don't miss out!

Thinking: As I said before, we have a ton of tests coming up, and I always stress this time of year!

Wanting: Enough said!

Needing: I love my class and teaching, but I am ready for a break!

Summer yes, hope, dream: I am super excited to be going to Vegas again this year for the TpT conference!  I am also attending the differentiated instruction conference from SDE right before.  I hope I can squeeze in a visit with my 19 year old this summer.  He moved to Los Angeles last August, and I haven't seen him since Christmas.  It gets so hot here in the summer, I would love a pool one day!

What are you Currently up to?

Currently - January 2015

Can you believe it is already 2015?!?  For me, 2014 seemed to fly by!  Anyway, it is also the first of the month, and that means it is time to link up with Farley for Currently.

Listening: The boys are watching Girl Meets World in the background.  It is still funny to me that I used to watch Boy Meets World when I was younger and now they have a spin-off that my boys watch.

Loving: There is something about not having anywhere to go or be that has made me strangely productive.  Hopefully I can keep that going once we return to our normal schedule.

Thinking: My vacation is slowly coming to an end, and I need to start thinking about planning for next week.  I have a few things already ready, so that is at least helpful. I did some copying before vacation so I wouldn't be rushing around the first week back.

Wanting: I may have become a tad bit obsessed with my planner and all of the youtube videos and now I think I must have these markers:



Needing: The worst part of this vacation is that my hubby has been in the hospital for a good portion of it :(  He came down with pancreatitis and is still in the hospital.  We are hoping he can come home today!  Once we got him a phone charger he has been keeping me (and all of his Facebook friends) updated with posts of him and his food - LOL!  The updates are nice, but I'd rather he be home with me and the boys!

Yes/Maybe/ I Wish: These all seem to be travel related!
Yes: I had so much fun at the TpT Conference in 2014, I can't wait to do it again in 2015!
Maybe: It has been a few years since we went to Disneyland, so I would like to go again.  Also, since my 18 year old just moved to Southern California in August, it would be a great chance to visit him as well.  We will have to see how the budget works out.
I Wish:  I would LOVE to go to Tahiti.  It looks so beautiful and warm.  Our temps are cold today, so maybe that is why I am dreaming of beaches!

What are you Currently up to?  Link up and let us know!

Currently - December 2014

Where has this year gone??? It is flying by, and already the last month of the year!  Time to link up with Farley for Currently.  If you don't read her blog, (first of all where have you been??) you must because she is so funny - and she keeps it real!  Love her!  I swear her Currently templates get better each time! 

 

Listening: One thing about living in a house full of boys is the fact that I rarely get to pick what we watch on tv, which is probably why I have my internet/blogging addiction - LOL!  So tonight is a wrestling night, so that is what is on.

Loving: I am loving the Cyber Monday sale on TpT!  I may have just purchased a thing or two, or maybe 20!  Too bad my wish list is still miles long!  May have to make a return visit tomorrow after I catch up on some feedback! At least I remembered to use the code this time (I have forgotten a time or two!). TPTCYBER if you didn't know!  Have you purchased anything yet?  I may need to add a few more items to my wish list - I have a serious addiction!

Thinking: Even though December is a short month as far as teaching goes, I feel like we have so much to get done in the next few weeks.  Our power was out this morning which did not help matters much, but, what can you do?

Wanting: I am desperately wanting to feel better so I can get everything done that needs to be done this month.  I started feeling sick Thanksgiving morning and was in full blown yuckiness by the evening.  I even ate dinner in my pjs!  Luckily we just had family over because I was not the best hostess! I should have known it was coming because I had 6 kiddos absent the week before - one of those occupational hazards - Colds and flu!

Needing: It's December - enough said, right?

Giving: I am jumping on Farley's bandwagon with the Random Acts of Christmas Kindness!  I will be giving some in my real world life and some here on the blog.  I have several giveaways I am working on this month and a freebie or two up my sleeve, so stay tuned!  Remember to stop by on the 6th for my monthly TpT gift card giveaway!

Don't forget to head over to Oh' Boy 4th Grade to share what you are Currently up to!  If you don't know how to join a linky, I have a tutorial here.

Currently November 2014

I was looking at some of our Accelerated Math (AM) print outs and noticed that we are over 25% of the way through with this school year.  I know I should have realized that since we finished the first quarter, but somehow seeing that had a bigger impact. This year is literally FLYING by!  It is already November and that means it is time to link up with Farley for Currently! I am so excited to be her sponsor this month!

Listening: My boys have been elaborately sorting and trading their Halloween candy all day long!  They even paid some taxes to their parents (without even being asked!).

Loving:  I may have bought three new pairs of shoes this week when I went to buy Luke new shoes.  But I NEEDED new boots, ballet flats, and mules, so totally justified - right? LOL!

Thinking: One awesome thing about teaching in Nevada is that we get a day off in honor of Nevada Day - which happened to land on Halloween this year!  Woo Hoo!  Nevada Day is technically October 31st, but they changed it to the last Friday of the month for celebration reasons.  I am loving my much needed three day weekend!

Wanting: As I sit typing this, I am wanting a new office chair.  This one has definitely seen better days!  It is on my Christmas list this year, so hopefully Santa comes through!

Needing: I have a half day sub this week for professional development and I have to prepare lesson plans for it.  Am I the only one who HATES planning for a sub??? Especially on a PD day - it seems like double the work!

Reading: I have been wanting to read Number Talks forever and luckily our admin purchased a book for each grade level to share.  I am the lucky one to have it first!  I will share some ideas I learn when I finish it!

What are you Currently up to?  Link up and share!

Currently July 2014 and Two for Tuesday

Can you believe it is July already??? Where is my summer going?  Time to link up with Farley for Currently!

It is also time to link up with The Teaching Tribune for Two For Tuesday! This week for my two deals, I decided to ask my followers on Facebook for suggestions for the two items they wanted me to discount to 50% off today only.  

So there you have it... My two deals of the day are:

Divisible Me

and

Kicking It Math Multiplication and Division Fact Fluency Program

June 1st means Summer Vacation has started (our last day was Friday May 30th) and it is time for Currently with Farley at Oh boy Fourth Grade!

Listening: Luke is obsessed with Song Pop right now.  I am amazed how many songs he knows without help!

Loving: Summer Vacation couldn't come fast enough and I am so glad that it is here! I definitely needed some time to recharge and get a few projects completed.

Thinking: I am switching grades for the 4th time in 4 years!!!!  Even though I taught third grade the year before this one, so much has changed as we are now completely switched over to Common Core and will be taking the Smarter Balanced tests this year. I have sooo much to do to be ready!

Wanting: My boys (who shall remain nameless) broke my ipad screen.  While we were at the movies today I saw an ad for a local company that fixes them.  This is definitely on my wanting list!

Needing: Even though I have a ton of projects on my to do list for my classroom and TpT, I need to make sure to carve out some R&R time this summer.  

Summer Bucket List: 1. The TpT conference in Vegas of course!  I can't wait!  I finally purchased my plane tickets today so now I have everything covered and just have to count down the days.  I have been looking over the conference materials that the speakers have uploaded to TpT and I can't wait to learn!

2. In keeping with the R&R theme we are planning on a family fun trip to the Bay Area.

I'd love to hear what you are Currently doing, so be sure to link up!

Currently - December 2013

I feel like a blog stalker today - I kept refreshing and refreshing Farley's blog waiting for the December Currently!  This is one of the first times I get to do it early since the first landed on a Sunday - day off!  Woo hoo!  I know - I'm crazy!  Maybe it's the Thanksgiving stupor wearing off?  So without further ado my Currently:

And... I am currently waiting impatiently patiently for the big TpT sale tomorrow, (although I MAY have already purchased a few things that I just couldn't wait for!).  Some sellers are already having sales, so why not?  Just don't tell my snoring hubby!  I am also having a big sale this weekend  at my store with a bonus Buy one get on Free Deal!  Check it out here!

October Currently

Wow!  October already!  And... I am super late for the party, but I can't miss Farley's fabulous Currently!  So here it is..

 

Our district has set aside monthly collaboration time for teachers at different schools to get together to share ideas for teaching our common units.  Each month a different teacher from each grade goes and brings back what they learn.  This month is my month, so I will be going today.  I always hate having a sub because it is more work.  I also have a challenging class, so I usually come back to bad notes :(  But.. on the bright side, I am excited to work with teachers that I don't normally see on a day to day basis.

I have been sick for most of September and I am just over it!  I am on day 8 of the antibiotics and just starting to feel a slight improvement.  I just want the sickies to go away!

As my treat for you I have a problem solving freebie for you to download over at TpT!

 

 

 

  You can download it here

 

And... don't forget to enter to win the World's Quietest pencil sharpener (now in pink) - in the color of your choice here.

September Currently

My poor neglected blog!  The past two weeks have been so busy with back to school craziness that I have not had time or energy to blog at all!  Luckily, it is September, and Farley has come to the rescue with her Currently!  They are so easy to do - even the most energy zapped among us can do it!

July Currently

Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade has big vacay plans, so she posted Currently early - which was perfect for me since we are headed out to All Stars this morning and I have NO IDEA how long we will be gone!

Listening: With a house full of boys and a sports obsessed husband - I am surprised that this isn't ALWAYS my listening response!

Loving: I am not motivated to exercise - (at all!) but I know that it needs to be done, so I am loving the fact that I have been getting up every morning to run on the treadmill, and I was able to go to BodyPump class this week! I LOOOVE Body Pump but with our busy schedule I don't always get there.  YEAH ME!

Thinking: Tyler made All Stars for baseball this year, and we are heading out this morning.  The way All Stars works is if they lose two games they go home, but if they win, they stay until they lose. So... we have no idea how long we will be gone for!  We have packed enough for 5 days and figure we will find a Laundromat while we are there if we need to.  Packing is always so nerve wracking trying to make sure you don't forget anything.

Wanting/Needing: Yeah, these two are combined.  I couldn't make up my mind if it was a want or need.  Anything over 100 degrees is just WAY TOO hot! While it is exciting to be involved in something record breaking, a heat wave is just not my idea of fun!

Tips: Blogging can seriously take over your life if you let it.  As soon as I discovered you could schedule posts ahead of time, I definitely took advantage.  It allows me to still be with my kiddos and share with all of my readers.  Family needs MUST come first. :)

Don't forget to enter my Blogaversary Giveaway for a $25 TpT Gift Card and other great prizes!

May Currently

Where is this year going?  How did we get to May already??? Not that I'm not thankful that it is almost time for summer - but it has just breezed by!  And... that means it is time to link up with the always fab Farley for Currently!

April Currently

Is it really April already??? This year is just flying!  In honor of April, I am linking up with Farley's Currently. Aren't they so adorable?  She really does an amazing job with them.

 

II love getting a glimpse into everyone else's life too!  Head on over to link up!

February Currently

Yep, it's that time of the month again - time for another one of Farley's Currentlies!  It seems like it was just yesterday when I completed January!

I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan since I was in first grade - well, specifically a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader fan! I love watching the behind the scenes view.

I am so glad that taxes are done! Prior to teaching I worked for a CPA firm doing taxes, so I usually am really good about gettting them done early - you would be surprised how many people wait until the last minute. We are getting a refund, but it will be delayed due to the new tax laws - grrr!

Our family will be rooting for the Niners this year because we are big Kappernick fans.  We are big Wolf Pack Fans (my alma mater) and were able to see him play when he was here. My boys also got to work with him during football camp and he is a great person!  Right after he signed with San Francisco a local store had a fan signing, and even though it was only scheduled for two hours he stayed until every fan had an autograph!

I ALWAYs want Starbucks  - major addiction :D

It seems like I always need to do something for the classroom.

And... last but certainly not least - my pet peeve - I hate whining!  I want to scream - Just fix the problem or move on, stop whining about it! GRRR!

Be sure to link up your own Currently here.

January Currently

Linking up with Farley's Currently - I LOVE these - probably just because I am snoopy curious about other people's lives.
Listening: It is completely silent in my house (a rare occassion with 6 boys) because hubby took the boys to the hospital to visit his friend's new baby. He wanted to give me some "down time"! Love him!

Loving: Hubby got me a treadmill for Christmas.  Although it was my present, it really is a family present as both hubby and I and all of the boys have been using it faithfully since Christmas.  My 12 year old is putting in a good 3 miles a day while mom (who is seriously out of shape) is happy to get a mile walk in.  Hopefully my time and distance improves, and maybe ski season won't kill me quite as bad this year.  Our first ski trip of the season is scheduled two weekends from now - I can't wait!

Thinking: That vacation is never long enough to do all of the things I want to get done!  I don't have to be back until January 7th, but it still feels like it has flown by and my to do list has barely gotten any smaller.

Wanting: My book order from Amazon to arrrive. I ordered a ton of frog books because we are getting a class pet - a frog of course!  I'm hoping to integrate our new friend with the research unit we will be starting when we go back to school.  I will be posting the unit to TPT but, truthfully, I have barely made any headway yet. Hoping it will be ready for next week - Fingers crossed!

Needing: To go into my classroom without kiddos to get everything back in the order it was in August.  I feel like I can't find anything when I am looking for it and I hate that feeling.

OLW: Focus. I swear - I have ADD sometimes!  I start one project and then get an idea for another.  This year I really want to work on focusing on one thing at a time.  No more multi-tasking.

Hurry on over and link up with Farley. I can't wait to snoop!

Currently - December (Plus Freebie For Followers!)

I love Farley's Currently posts and I try to participate whenever I can remember to get it done - or when I have a few extra minutes.  I thought it was interesting that she had a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) because of something that happened on Friday.  I have a girl in my class who has a very difficult home situation.  She came into the class bawling on Friday morning.  The other girls in my class told me that she was crying because she was wearing boys shoes.  Supposedly her younger brother had thrown her shoes up on the roof, so she was wearing his shoes which were 2 sizes too small. 

I called my hubby and he was gracious enough to bring down some socks and a new pair of shoes - girls shoes.  I never would have thought of doing this in the past, but something made me just do it.  Have you ever done something above and beyond for a student?

Special Bonus Random Act of Kindness for My Followers

I really appreciate all of my followers who stop by and see what I have to say!  As a special random act of kindness, I am giving away one free item of your choice from my TPT store!  Simply leave a comment below telling me that you follow my blog, along with your email address and your choice, and I wil email you the item!

Thank you so much for following!

My TPT Store