Creepy Monday 

Well another Monday has come and gone...and thank goodness! Anyways here is my first attempt at a My Truth Monday from Denise over at Sunny Days in Second 

Link up along with me and let us know what creeps you out the most! 

Manic Monday

So I am going to try this manic Monday for my new Slant box partner...Lindsey...over at Miss Johnston's Room.  

Well I am still unbelievably sore from my pulled shoulder and my huge muscle spasms in the my right shoulder. I take for granted things I do daily on e you hurt your back...things such as washing your hair, getting out of bed, or sitting in a chair comfortably. So let's just keep that in mind as I got observed today at 2 PM with only an hour left of school and having just come in from recess and having library right before it. It was go go go for the entire day (as most Mondays are) and then having her walk in to just check in was icing on the cake. At least I was doing something some what exciting...or as exciting as reading nonfiction text and comparing continents gets.  We did all other aspects as much as possible but we will just see when I get it back. But really a Monday observation after a long weekend with my four year olds birthday party. Geez!! :) 

It was short but first attempt and still getting adjusted to the blogging world. 

October Currently

I love Farley's currently each month because I know I will make it a point to blog those times haha!

I am learning a little more about the blogging world each time I blog. I am excited to find out more treats and blogging tips :)

Listening: My hubby and his friend (both our friend) who works for my him is here watching TV and talking business. They have been doing it for about an hour and I feel like saying enough is enough lets just enjoy a beer :)

Loving: On Friday it was 79 when I walked out of school. It is the first week of October and I feel like I live in Florida. It is awesome...I am a little sad I haven't been able to pull out the boots yet but I am excited to continue wearing my dresses with jeans jacket :)

Thinking: About scrapbooking and knowing I am far behind on making my 3 yr olds pages. I have gotten into making pages for events and creating those scrapbook frames so I am a bit lazy on her actual book. I have learned about Project Life recently and I think I may try that approach with my daughter's preschool days. 

Wanting: I need to redo my gel manicure. Have you ever had one chip or one nail break and then feel the urge to pick at every other one? Well that is the point that I am at and now 5 hours later 5 of my nails are completely off....so I think a trip to the salon after school is in order. Maybe we will make it a little girls trip and Sara can get a mini manicure as a treat...I mean her birthday is next week so why not?!

Needing: To not stress over my lesson plans anymore...or I will tell myself that so I won't get worked up as much. I think if I continue to say that they won't see so stressful and I won't hate my long hours of lesson planning. Anyone else finding that lesson planning is taking forever now with new evaluation models or new curriculum?

Treat: I absolutely love Class Dojo in my room. We use it every day and display it all day long. This allows for the students to know where they stand at any moment and it also explains to parents the types of behavior within the classroom because they sign up for the reports. It is awesome. If you have not tried it yet or seen it please do look into it! 

Slant Box Changed My Entire Day

I can't believe I let the entire month of September fly by without even getting one blog in. This should tell you a little bit about how stressful, hectic, and overwhelming the beginning of this year has been. I am new to 3rd grade, from 4th grade, which I felt was going to be an easier transition than this because I knew what I wanted to get them to for being successful in 4th, but oh boy I did not prepare myself for how young they were. I also have a para this year, who FYI is the best person in the world and will be and already has been my savior thus far.

I only have a few short minutes before I need to head back to lesson planning and preparing but I wanted to share with you that I received my Slant Box this month, my first one ever, and I have never been so excited in my life! I was like a kid on Christmas morning opening the best present ever. Thanks to Amanda from Teaching Maddeness that my day was complete yesterday. Also a shout out to Lessons With Coffee and Jameson for putting this all together every month. It was the best surprise especially at the end of yesterday because I was at school all day then went straight to my second job at Outback and was exhausted when I got home to find this on my front door.

The way she put the box together it was like she really knew me. It was amazing. Thank you again Amanda!!

One thing I will leave you with and would appreciate feedback on. I have a student in my classroom this year who has Autism and has been having meltdowns every day. It is not at any particular time or during any subject. It varies every day and sometimes escalates to punching objects or stomping around the room yelling how mad he is. I am trying to find out a way to calm him down or even avoid him loosing control and keeping him involved in the class discussion and activities more. Right now the school behaviorist allows him to take a walk when he is having these moments but he must come back in a calmer mood and ready to work. Has anyone had more experience with students with Autism? What strategies worked for you? I know that no two children are exactly alike but after these past few days I am willing to try any and all strategies.

I will upload pictures of my slant box later tonight. More tomorrow!

First day back with students

I know this may seem odd for some bloggers it there that were back before Labor Day but for us in NJ this was our first day back with students. This should be an interesting year for both me and the kids. This is my first year in third after having taught fourth for four years. I keep finding myself reminding myself how young they are and how simplistic the directions need to start out being.
But I must say it was very enjoyable to be with them today. Such a difference to have kids that love school, love me and love everything we did throughout the day. This year will be great I know it! The kids are adorable! Ok so enough of my babbling on...

We did some awesome things today and I want to share some images before I call it quits for today. I have to remember to take pics of my finished room. I really love it!

Anyways some shots from first day...I am sad I didn't take a picture of their first QR scavenger hunt around the school.

Saving Fred was my favorite activity and will definitely do it every year. I forgot where I got from right now but if you did it tell me and I'll give credit.

September Currently

Love writing and taking the time to do Farley's currently each month. It is keeping me regular and motivates me a bit to get onto a regular blogging schedule with school going back.

Anniversary Vacation

Hello there! I am sorry I have not gotten into the Teacher's Week over on Blog Hopping but part of me is bumming because we are not allowed in our rooms yet so on Tuesday I would be sad I had nothing to share...but I do have some wonderful vacation pictures to share with you all. 

This year is our 5 year wedding anniversary (yikes...time flies!!) My hubby being the money savvy individual he is...researched and researched and planned and planned our little getaway to Niagara Falls without our little one. We were able to sleep in with no alarm...even though somehow I have been up by 8:30 everyday anyways...I guess I am just conditioned to be awake at this point....we explored the falls and today we are headed up to Toronto to explore and catch the baseball game. Hubby is very excited to see the stadium, so excited he is now planning on stopping at Cooperstown on our trip home Thursday. It is like he got bit by a baseball bug or something :)

I have many things to show you about my progress in my preparation in my classroom and the things I have crossed off my to-do list ever since the arrival of my new favorite toy, the laminator. But that will just have to wait until the weekend when we get home.