Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland... SoCal Style

Yay! So glad you are here... I am so excited to start the year with a Blog Hop and tons of freebies. Great time to save some money, get amazing products, and win a couple of awesome prizes! Enter our raffle for a chance to win and download my winter freebie. Also available in Spanish (free too!) if you are interested.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



On to the next awesome freebie!

Currently 2015

Ugh! I seriously dislike making New Years Resolutions. Mainly, because I hate the feeling of failure :( With that being said, I love sharing and reading others "Currently" and it doesn't completely feel like a resolution list, right? Thanks Oh Boy Fourth Grade for sharing.

 

Check back on Friday for a FABULOUS SoCal Blog Hop!

Winter Freebies and A Cyber Sale

Hope you are all rested and are ready for three weeks of school before Winter Break. My tummy is full and I am looking forward to all the Christmas activities I will be doing with my students. This can be a tough time to keep them all focused so I really try to incorporate activities that incorporate the festive season.

Wendy and I created two products that we used with our students last winter. If you have not yet downloaded these two freebies, feel free to grab them now. One is a Christmas Shopping performance task and the other is one of our "Reading to Learn" booklets on the North Pole.

Also, TeacherspayTeachers is having an super cyber sale for two days. Check out our store for some great savings.

National Day on Writing

Did you know that Monday, October 20th is the National Day on Writing?  I know, what a great idea! The National Day of Writing is a day to celebrate all forms of writing and a time to encourage students to reflect on all the different kinds of writing they do on a daily basis, like making lists, texts, emails, journal/diary entries, and the important role writing has in our society. You can read more about this day at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE ). 

My class has been busy writing Halloween/Fall/Scary stories this month. So, I know they are already jazzed about writing. One way I help my hesitant writers get ideas flowing is by using our writing "Thought Launchers." Wendie and I created these to help get our students creative juices going. And they have done exactly that! 

We created some specifically for October and would love to share them with you and get your feedback on them. All you have to do is click on the pic and share with your students. Happy Writing!!

Read All About It! Sunday Scoop

Sundays are such a busy day of the week. It's feels good to stop and reflect on the coming week and  focus on what's going well. I want to avoid those Sunday Blues and have be optimistic about the week ahead of me.

The Teaching Trio have come up with a fun way to reflect and share.

 

3. Organizing my school time with blogging, social media, TpT, and life has been difficult. I want to really maximize my use of my Erin Condren calendar. Since I love the look of my calendar and amazing features why not maximize its use?! So, I must get to jotting things down and being more consistent. 

2. I have been such a fan of TJmaxx for years. I love their holiday items- I can always find something to purchase, especially from their holiday decorating items. I haven't been in awhile, so it's about time I have a looksie around. 

School work (maybe)

1. I know, please don't judge. But I love Apple products!! Especially the iPhone and when I heard there was a bigger version available it was a need to have. Yup, these older eyes need a bigger screen. Now, I get to find the most perfect case for my perfect phone (or at least I hope so). 

What's your Sunday Scoop?

Oh Boy... Currently

Love Farley's Currently and the adorable camping theme that Megan from A New Box of Crayons created. Super cute!!

 

Listening My fuzzy baby "Little Guy" is sleeping next to me as I type and has the cutest snore ever. I sure wish my hubby snored that cute. 

Loving After six years, I returned to the school I first taught at. I am so smitten with being back- I work for an amazing principal and with a great group of teachers. A bonus is that my hubby teaches there too!

Thinking Back to School is this Wednesday and I want to make sure I share meaningful information to the parents. Any suggestions? 

Wanting I love and am completely obsessed with booties. I am on the look out for the perfect pair of tan booties. Check these cuties out! Yup, I am obsessed.

Needing My love language is quality time- and I totally need some QT with my hubby. Although we work together and are fortunate to spend tons of professional time together, I still need my one on one quality time. So, my hubby and I are going out for breakfast tomorrow morning. Yum- french toast here we come. 

3 Trips My ideal trip involves a motor home and my three fur babies. I know it sounds crazy, but I cannot imagine going on a trip without them. Therefore, the 3 trips I chose are all places my hubby, three fur babies, and I can reach via road trip.

Welcome 2014-2015

Now that I have a week of school under my belt :) I can now get back my blog.

This school year I am teaching 4th grade and have 29 students. I look forward to a wonderful school year and am reflecting on all my school blessings and challenges.

Positives: my students, close reading, opinion writing, LOVE my school and colleagues, I have an amazingly passionate principal, and I work with my hubby.

Challenges: math. Let me explain, I feel overwhelmed by how to best teach/implement the common core math standards. There is so much information and possibilities that I feel lost at times.

How is/was the start of your new school year? Positives? Challenges?