1 For Me, Resolutions, and a Return...(I hope)

Happy New Year friends!!!  I can't believe that it is 2014- I swear every year goes faster.  This year has flown by the fastest yet!!!  As I sit here reading all the posts written by my blogging buddies I am in awe of all the wonderful things everyone is up to in their classrooms and with their families.  A part of me is feeling a bit lost-it seems I haven't quite accomplished all that I thought I could this year.  I admit I was feeling a bit down in the dumps about it.  However, a post by one of my favorite bloggers lifted me up and made me remember we aren't alone and that we all struggle at times whether it is personally or professionally.  I want to give a shout out to Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics for giving me that boost I needed and creating the 1 for ME linky.

For 2014 I hope to remember my inner Princess Warrior outside of my classroom.  In my classroom I feel confident, competent and a host of other words that as I think them make me feel like I am blowing my own horn a bit too loudly. Reflecting over this past year I look with pride on my professional life-I've accomplished a lot, my students have grown, and I know I am respected by my peers.  Outside of the classroom I lose some of that.  Don't get me wrong, my home is well cared for, my kids are happy and healthy but there is very little ME outside of school or family.  Since my divorce 3 years ago, I live for school and for my kids.  It is time to put me out there again...not me the teacher or me the mom but me the person.  I want to try to do at least one thing each month for me that is not connected to school or my kids, maybe try a new hobby, take a class unrelated to teaching, get creative, who knows what.  Here's to making 2014 a little more ME friendly.

That leads me to my resolutions for this year. I've linked up with A Peach for the Teach for the 2014 Resolutions and Diane over at Fifth in the Middle for my blogging resolutions. If you want to share your goals for the new year jump on in.   I think my resolutions are pretty clear, so I won't take the time to go in-depth with them (this post will be a book if I don't sign off soon :)

Wishing all of you a Happy New Year and many blessing to come in 2014!

I'm Still Here and October's Currently-a little late

Spooky October greetings to my friends in blogland!
I have missed you all. Never fear, though I haven't written I have been reading as much as I can to keep up with all of the great new friends I made this summer.  I have seen some awesome ideas- some I've even tried out in my classroom already and some I have in the "To Do at a Later Date" file.

I cannot believe I have not be able to sit down long enough to to write!  This fall is really kicking my backside and I'm not even sure why.  I have a great group of kids, no new curriculum to trip through and things are moving along at a fairly normal clip on the homefront.  I am just hoping that things settle in soon before the real craziness of the the holiday season kicks in too!

For this, my first blog back I am joining in with Farely over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for her Currently link up.  I sooooo love this linky! I really enjoy reading what everyone is up to- I've funny how many things we have in common all across the country :)

Listening... the loveliness of siblings getting along for once.  No fighting just playing- music to my ears. Hopefully it lasts 'til quiet time!

Loving... my class.  Doesn't that just say it all?  I have a super bunch of fourth graders who are not afraid to try new things and are really coming together as a team.

Thinking..... I really do need to start correcting papers since they won't correct themselves.  Midterms were sent out last week and it felt like a marathon of making sure I had everything current.  How can it only be Tuesday and my bag is full yet again?!?!

Wanting... a personal assistant/secretary/maid/cook. Need I say more. LOL

Needing... a day to get reorganized.  Seems like I'm running around like a headless chicken and some things are not getting back where they belong.  Those first units I had laid out are almost done and it's time to get out the next round.

Treat...my treat is a book recommendation.  If you haven't picked up Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein  you are really missing out!  I read about this one over at Eberopolis and was intrigued, so of course had to order it from Amazon that day.  I started it Saturday with the intent to read an hour then finish my housework....didn't happen had to read it all in one sitting!  

Well that's it for tonight.  Those papers are calling my name.  I solemnly vow to get at least one blog post up a week from now on. (I'm making a date with my computer for just that purpose and putting it on my calendar LOL)

Currently and setting August Goals

Wow.  I can't believe it is suddenly August.  Part of me says yeah it is about time to head back to school while the other part is hollering "Are you crazy? You have so many things to do yet!"  Guess the two parts are just going to have to compromise. LOL
Well, since it is August that means it's time to link up with Farely at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for the monthly Currently party and Jesse at I {Heart} Recess for the new months goals.  I love these two link ups.  The Currently posts are great to see what everyone is up to-it's funny how many things we bloggers all have in common.  I really liked linking up with Jesse last month for the Goals..it kept me honest and gave me more focus to get those goals accomplished since I'd actually written something down and shared it with the world (What was I thinking?!?) No really it was all good.

Without further ado, here they are:

 I think these are pretty self explanatory, so I'm going to leave it at that.  My book is really calling my name and it is not a professional book hehehe.  My dining room table has been my "office" this summer so everything I've been working on for school is ALL over it.  It's a good thing we have a small table in the kitchen or there wouldn't have been places to sit down and eat.

Personal:  The kids' schedules keep me running and I tend to get a bit obsessive about school, so I don't often take time just for me.  I want to be better about that this year and strike a better balance.  How do you all do it balance work, family and personal time?

Organization:  I love how my room looks at the start of the year all fresh and tidy, everything in its place.  Unfortunately when I'm in the thick of planning and teaching I don't always put things back where they belong in a timely manner, so this year I am making a standing appointment each week to file and put things away that have accumulated that week.

Professional:  I am team-teaching with our grade level resource teacher this year.  I am really hoping we can plan things out better this year to mesh our teaching and lessons better than we did last year.

Students:  I love making those personal connections with students.  They really respond and give you all they have plus some when you know and understand them as more than the little person in the classroom.

Motto: "Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he is born in another time." I've really been doing a lot of thinking about how kids learn and respond to education today.  It is so different from when I was a fourth grader. I honestly think how kids learn has changed in the past 20 years I've been teaching.  It isn't enough to teach the way we were taught as educators we need to rise to the challenge and find ways to engage our students' minds and foster their learning in a ways that works for them.

Ok, that's it for me.  Now it's your turn.  Be sure to head over to check out the other goals and currentlys going on.  Here's to enjoying the last days of summer!