0 Tell Me Something Good

I’m linking up with Rowdy in First and sharing the good things that have happened this week. I thought we could all use a little positive right now. So, here goes…

Something good from school: My kids did a fantastic job making their parent gifts this week!! I am so happy with the way they turned out, and I know that parents will love them. Just need to add the tag “Have a sweet holiday. Love, your little cupcake.” have them sign the back of the tag, decorate their “wrapping paper” (lunch sack) and we’re done! They have done an amazing job on their North Pole maps and their Diary of a… projects. They can’t wait to take them home and read to their families on Christmas Eve. My kiddos have really warmed my heart this week!!

Something good at home: I am so happy to have Oldest Realistic home from school. It is so nice to know that he is tucked in his bed, and on the phone with Realistic Girlfriend at night. I scheme is still out on the horizon and I can’t wait to share it with you all soon, but I can’t write about it yet…drats! I will give you a hint… the Mitten! :)

Gifts purchased in the past: For my sons – x-box video games, and gift cards to American Eagle, Old Navy (yes, Oldest Realistic has listened to his girlfriend and is trying to live on a college budget – yessss!!) For my husband… well, that is part of the scheme so I can’t reveal yet. For my dad – well, let’s be honest – wine is a great gift (and one I prefer he shares).

How fun! Make sure to head over to Rowdy in First to link up!! I can’t wait to see the great things you’ve got going on right now!!

Detail: Tell Me Something Good

0 Top 10 Reasons Teachers Love Winter Break

Oh, how I love the week before winter break!! If you’re like me, you’re a list maker, so I thought it would be fun to come up with a Top 10 List of Reasons Teachers Love Winter Break.

Consider it a Linky Express Day. Please don’t let the train pull out of the station without you!!

Here are the rules:

1. Link to your blog post listing the top 10 reasons you love winter break. 
2. When you link up, please be sure to place my Top 10 Reasons button or a link to my site somewhere in your post. 
3. Comment on two other links before you (if you’re the first to join, please leave me a comment) and let others know how you found them. 
4. Stop back in and see why other teachers love winter break (optional – but I’d love you to stop back in!) 

The Top 10 Reasons this Teacher Loves Winter Break… 

10. I can snuggle up and finish a good book.

9. No extra morning meetings!!

8. I can rest my voice. Issuing reminders all day is really hard work on a girl’s vocal chords.

7. No runny noses and boogers all over the place (seriously!)

6. I can climb out of bed in the morning without a list of to-do’s popping in to my head.

5. I love using my gift cards (coffee, Target, Chick-fil-a, Barnes & Nobel? Yes, please!)

4. Spending time with my boys!!

3. Sleep – good God Almighty, sleep!!

2. No need to cook (not that I do) because there is always a ton of holiday goodies to snack on!

1. Pajamas are considered a staple in your wardrobe!

Make sure you link up!  I can't wait to see all of your reasons!

Detail: Top 10 Reasons Teachers Love Winter Break

0 Christmas Spirit & 100 Follower Giveaway Winners

I am so excited to announce the winners of the 100 follower giveaway!

The winner of Bundle 1 is Dinah E.

The winner of Bundle 2 is Viki

The winner of Bundle 3 is Rachel S.

The winner of Bundle 4 is Katie S.

The winner of Bundle 5 is Kirra L.

Congratulations to the winners!!  You will be recieving emails from TpT sellers with your prizes shortly!

I am finally getting in the Christmas spirit at home! Although my house is still not decorated, nor is my tree up (I’m waiting for oldest Realistic son and his girlfriend to get home to help) it is starting to feel a little Christmas-ish.

I went to the Christmas parade last weekend and last night went to an amazing Christmas Carols, Cookies, and Cocoa celebration at my friend’s church.  It was so fun!! Although I can’t shouldn’t sing, it was nice to belt out my voice and know that others probably couldn’t hear me because the band was loud enough to drown me out.  

Mr. Realistic was hoping I would come home with no voice, but alas, I did not and was able to talk his ear off until he rolled over and fell asleep – ha, he thought it would stop me from talking, but it didn’t!

No – my tree & decorations may not be up, my shopping may not be started but it will get there and I shouldn’t worry about it…until December 24^th – that is the “cut off” date right?!

I guess I’ll start shopping when Realistic sons should get me their lists.  It is so hard to buy for teenage boys.  I know the basics of what they want, but give me details so we don’t have to make returns – I dread returning items.  Just give me a picture, a link that I can buy online and you can have what your heart desires, but give it to me quick here boys!!

However, since I can’t get any shopping done and haven’t put up any decorations, I have changed directions and focused on my “parent gifts”. I always like to give my parents good gifts (yes, my own biological parents, but I’m talking about my school parents).  I remember getting gifts from my boys teachers, and I love and still use them (yes, 15 years later) to decorate the tree. It embarrasses them, but that is what mamas are for! I think, secretly, it makes their hearts skip a beat to see that mom still has them and they are still on the tree.

So, anywho, I am trying to find some amazing gifts this year….but, at a reasonable price.  Here are a few ideas I had… Well, really, that Pinterest had for me! 

~or~

So what I find for sales this weekendtoday will determine the winner.  I can’t wait to get started! I always love a craft or two!!

Happy Sunday & congratulations to my winners!!

Detail: Christmas Spirit & 100 Follower Giveaway Winners

0 Test Prep & a Little Jingle (or two)

So, sadly, I have spent the last 3 hours prepping my lesson plans for next week…yes, I know, it is Saturday and I should be out doing something fun, or at least something for myself or my family…getting groceries – we’re down to the bare bones & I just finished the dang coffee creamer.  It doesn’t help that I’ve had 34 cups this morning!

But I wanted to share with you some amazing resources that I found…no, I didn’t actually have to reinvent the wheel!! If you follow my blog, you know that I am not a fan of detest standardized testing; however I know that it is not going away.  So, reluctantly, I decided to prep my kids for it.  I know, I know, only a few short days ago I said I wouldn’t….but looking at my kiddo’s I know that they need it. We’ve only been back in school one week and they need to practice those comprehension and fluency skills…not to mention, they need to be taught how to use a bubble sheet.

So, yes, that is what I’ve spent the last 3 hours doing.  Not creating amazing, fun, engaging lessons, but creating “study” materials for the CASE21 assessment.  However, this gave me some time to browse websites I’ve bookmarked or “pinterested” over the past year (it is a lot of sorting!!) and found some great practice reading passages and a {woot-woot} great site to create and print bubble sheets!!

I am sure many of you already know about this website, but I was so excited to find it {again} this morning that I wanted to tell you about it… in case you didn’t know.

Havefunteaching.comhas amazing reading passages for reading comprehension through 8^thgrade!! Yes, you read that right middle school teachers – 8^thgrade!!  Now, I am not a fan of worksheets – blech – but this site has some great test prep materials!!

And {an added bonus} I found a great site for bubble sheets.  I am very particular about how my bubble sheets look… it must be the middle school teacher in me!  Anywho – here is a great resource – it’s called Catpin Productions Bubble Test Form Generator.  I love that you can customize your answer sheets.

Now it’s time to have some fun!!!! Jessica over at Fantastically Average is having a Falalalala Friday Link Up.  I love the idea – there are some great Christmas songs that we forget about since we really only listen to them for a little while every year…however I think I may change that tradition – double check with me in July… yes, our family reunion may have to be Christmas or winter themed!

Anyway – back to the link up {can you tell the coffee is really kicking in now!?} 

Rudolphis my favorite “oldie” Christmas song… I love some Dean Martin!!!

And, no one can pass up a little Grinch-y music…. thank you Thurl Ravenscoft!!

And, of course, no Christmas would be complete without Mariah or Michael’s All I Want for Christmas…







So, happy Saturday friends! Make sure you check out some great websites… or better yet, some great tunes!!

~Realistic

Detail: Test Prep & a Little Jingle (or two)

0 Fantastic Friday Freebie

It's hard to believe that it is Friday already, but I am glad it is! What a long first week back.  It is really hard to get the kiddos back into a routine with the excitement of the holidays, but exciting none the less.

My kids were super excited about some of the "seasonal" activities that we did this week. This week we completed our Remarkable Reindeer Non-fiction Unit.  The kids loved finding the main idea, and then pulling out the important details in each of the articles. When we were comparing the horse and reindeer the students pieced together why Santa needed reindeer - "they're much lighter than horses, no wonder they can fly better" - is what one of my students said.  So sweet!!

I wish I had snapped a few pictures - but, things were so chaotic that I didn't get a chance! Drats! More photo opportunities next week I hope! Fingers crossed :)

We also started drawing our maps of the North Pole. My kids are in love with this activity!! They want to work on it in every spare moment! Adorable!!  So, this is my freebie for you this week...

I hope you can use it in your classroom - even for a "fast finisher" activity.  Have a great weekend friends!!

~Realistic

Detail: Fantastic Friday Freebie

0 Mindless Midweek Rants & Rambles

First, I have to share some Ah-mazing news!!!  Tips for Top Teachers is having an incredible giveaway!!!  Win a Color Nook?!  Yes, you read that correctly, a Color Nook!!!

Head over to their giveaway!!!

This week has been a total shock to my system – I have to “practice” going to bed early so that I can be ready to get up and head to work this week. Yep – it’s back at school ladies & gents!  I’m here for 3 weeks…14 13 ½ school days. 

That gives me approximately 108 hours to administer…. 20 individual F & P (Fountas & Pinnell) reading assessments, 20 individual AIMSWeb Literacy Fluency assessments, 20 CASE21 math assessments, 20 CASE21 reading assessments, 20 grade-level reading assessments, 20 grade-level math assessments.

Hmmm…let’s do the math…

20 F&P’s at 20 minutes each (assuming I select the correct reading level the first time…) = approximately 6 ½ hours

20 fluency assessments at 10 minutes each = approximately 3 ¼ hours

Thank God the rest of the assessments are whole group, because time is quickly slipping away here…

CASE21 Math Assessments = approximately 2 hours

CASE21 Reading Assessments = approximately 2 hours

Grade-level Reading Assessments = approximately 2 hours

Grade-level Math Assessments = approximately 2 hours

Yep, that is a grand total of almost 18 hours of assessments for THIS quarter.  That does not count the additional number of hours that I will spend compiling, comparing and rehashing the new information with data I have accumulated over the course of the quarter, and then determining grades.

Now – that is time well spent… or not!  Please, I do not need another number or label to smack on my student.  I know what they know – I have taught them, or tried to – and know what each one of them is capable of and how they have improved this year. I know if they can add and subtract numbers to 200 with fluency – we’ve practiced together, tried alone, done it for homework.  I do not need another lousy piece of paper to show me. 

Please do not test my kids anymore.  I need those precious 18 hours to TEACH and my kids need that time to learn and practice!

Those may be the minutes it takes for my students to understand why 39 + 28 is 67, and not 517…. they may need that time to understand that we need to regroup that seventeen, and leave the 7 in the ones place and take the group of ten to the tens place.

So, for the other 90 hours that we are in school, I will be teaching; simply closing my door, and teaching my students. It will be content based - we’ll talk about gingerbread cookies and living in snowglobes, we’ll read The Nutcracker and determine how many elves Santa needs at his workshop to make sure that all of the toys are ready for Christmas Eve, and how many hours those elves will need to work.  Yes, there is math and literacy, and social studies, and even science tied into every one of these lessons. So, yes, in my room, we’ll be doing all sorts of fun things…and just imagine….learning too. 

But I will not be preparing my kids to take a test that will later be used to measure my (or my coworkers) “effectiveness” as a teacher…. nope, not going to do it! It may mean my formal evaluation is sub-par based on test results; but it also means that I am a great teacher because I have taken my students from where they are and taught them additional skills that they will use in the future and outside of my classroom in life. 

Okay – off my soapbox and on to work.  Let’s go Prancer, Dancer, Comet and Cupid; we’ve got lights to string and decorations to put up!

Detail: Mindless Midweek Rants & Rambles

0 Cyber Monday & My Favorite Things

I am so excited – next Monday and Tuesday is the Cyber Monday and Tuesday TpT Sale!! That is up to 28% off most stores!!

Here is how it works – most stores are already offering 20% off.  If you enter promo code CMT12 you receive an additional 10% off.  That makes it –  forgive me because I’m not a math major, but I do know that 20+10 is 30 – 28% off the regular price.

Here is the real break down because, like I said, I'm no math major – I needed remediation! You get 20% off the price, so if you have a product for $3.00 – you are paying $2.40.  And then you take 10% off the $2.40 – you are now paying $2.16.

Shut the front door! Like my Dad always says, “that’s almost free!”  This Daddy’s girl can’t pass up anything that is “almost” free – you can double check with Mr. Realistic or VISA for verification!

I’m also linking up with The Hands on Teacher in First.  Did you really think I would pass up a party this close to the holidays – not a chance!! 

One of my favorite things to do in our class this time of the year is Holidays & Traditions around the World.  Now, I can’t remember where our grade-level gathered ALL of our materials – we have a metric TON – but I that some of what we use came from Christina Bainbridge’s Christmas Around the World (yes, I’m a HUGE fan!!) and her adorable Christmas Around the World Scrapbook freebie on TpT!! One of my all time favorites! We switch classes for writing so we implement this in during our writing time!! Yayyy!! It means I get to do more fun stuff with my kiddo’s in addition to the other projects we do this time of year.

This probably goes without saying because I think everyone loves The Grinch!

The Nutcracker– it’s a long story and I won’t retell it – but if you’re curious, check out my Nutcracker post!

Reindeer!!  I love the book Olive, the Other Reindeer!!

Gingerbread

Okay – seriously?! I could go on forever & I know you don’t have that much time!! I’ve covered a ton of school favorites & I won’t even get into my personal favorites list, no one has time for that!

Enjoy your Turkey Day tomorrow all!  I know I will be snuggled up sitting next to my boys and enjoying some family time!!

Love, peace & chicken turkey grease! ~Realistic

Detail: Cyber Monday & My Favorite Things

0 5 for Five & Manic Monday

Whoa – I can’t believe it is Monday again, already! It seems like November has zoomed by!!

One of the great things this week is that my son and his girlfriend will be home from college for Thanksgiving break on Tuesday evening! Yayyy!! I’ve missed the oldest Realistic son and girlfriend. Of course, they will have to leave again on Sunday, but that means 5 days with him! Youngest Realistic has already signed up for his “time slots” so that he can get some video game time. Seriously!?! Boys!

I’m linking with Jenn & Jessica's 5 for Five list again this week.

Here is how last week turned out…

1. Finish the Nutcracker Unit – Check, done! It turned out great and I can’t wait to use it!! I won’t go into all the details again so if you’re curious check out my blog post here.

 2. Go to the gym…um, not so much. It is going on the list again this week. Since I have been tracked out I’ve found it hard to fit my typical workout into my routine.

3. Focus on the growth of my blog and Facebook pages – Check, done!! I have a few new followers this week and I have posted quite a few times. I’m not done growing, but can say I’m happy with the progress I made this week!

4. Start & possibly finish my Christmas Eve Pack – Check, done! I am so excited about the way it turned out!! I can’t wait to give it to my kiddos before break. It is always amazing that when I give them “extra” work they race to do it – like it’s a holiday treat! You can check out my post & get it for FREE here!

5. Eat breakfast everyday… nope, didn’t make this one either. Like I said before, my routine is totally off since I’m tracked out. I feel like a traditional teacher in the summer, except I still have to get up early to get youngest Realistic to school I just eat what I want when I want. Not a good thing…

This week’s goals…

1. Check out a new – non-teaching – library book. And READ it! I need to take some time for myself this week.

 2. Get oldest Realistic his new phone – for his birthday! Yayyy – I can’t wait to get him the new i-phone. He needs a new phone for sure!!

3. Get to the gym at least twice this week – today for sure!! I can’t miss Monday Zumba!!

4. Continue to grow my little slice of cyberspace… a repeat from last week, but important to me right now. 

5. Take time to enjoy my family and friends. Maybe we can make some time to see the new Lincoln movie – no, not the one with vampires, the other “historical” one. I have to convince the kids to go with me…I might have a plan!

 Okay – I know I’m long winded today, but don’t leave yet – I have a Manic Monday freebie for you!! A creative writing freebie – If I Had Magic Shoes…

Have a great Monday all!!

Detail: 5 for Five & Manic Monday

0 Double Freebie Friday & Holidays Galore

I am so excited that I finished some huge holiday projects this week! I am gearing up for Christmas already!! It helps that I have full free days to get stuff done. Have I mentioned I love track out!!

The other thing that has me so excited is that I talked to my son who is in college last night! I can’t wait for him to be home next week! He shared some (what I think is) great news. He got a haircut and new clothes!! Sending your child away is hard. It’s the little things you worry about. Haircuts and new clothes were always the things I took care of for him. I am so glad to know that he does them on his own now…or at least with his girlfriend’s reminder! It was nice to hear him so excited about how much money he saved shopping…again, he hasn’t had to think about that in the past!

Anyway – I know I’m rambling about my personal life so let me focus on my teaching world. I’m linking up with Teaching Blog Addiction to share my Friday Freebie! Actually I have two freebies to share!!
 

I can’t wait to use this in my classroom this year and thought you might like it too! It is my Christmas Eve Day activity pack. I am planning on sending these packs home with my kiddos to give them something to do besides get on their parent’s nerves play video games, watch TV or ask “are we there yet?” from the backseat. What a better way to keep them occupied and keep their brains turned on.

Here is another quick freebie that I created this week. Hopefully you find it more useful that I do – it has a Thanksgiving theme, and did I mention I’m not in school during Thanksgiving so it probably won’t do me any good? It’s a quick morning work item to keep students thinking about figurative language!

I already posted about my Nutcracker unit – which I am still so excited about; but I also finished my gingerbread stations. My kids loved, loved, loved this last year. I actually had my son come in and help me run some of the stations.

  No, he did not skip school and yes, he is old enough that my students listen to him. He loves my little people!! I tell my school kids they are a part of my family for the year, so when my boys come in to see my students they love to hear what my kiddos have to say. Okay – enough rambling – I know, on with the show!

Here is my gingerbread station day! I divide my kids into small groups (3-4) and they rotate between 10 stations throughout the day. It is fantastic. We set up a cocoa bar and the kids get to work while they sip their hot chocolate. What a better way to finish up before heading home for the holidays! I also love that it is easy clean up for me! Everything is included – teacher directions, student response sheets, station directions (I posted them on table tents last year) and everything that you need for each station.

Even though I haven’t been in school this week and wasn’t able to post about what we’ve been doing, I’ve gotten a lot of things done and am so happy to share. Make sure you head over to TpT to save, pin or print! Thanks for sticking with me through my ramblings today – I just have so much great things going on in this brain right now…and have had about 5 cups of coffee too many this morning! Happy Friday!!

Detail: Double Freebie Friday & Holidays Galore

0 Terrific Tuesday Done List

Even though I am currently tracked-out (on a mini-summer – three week – vacation to traditional teachers) I have spent the last few days working on a new project. I know – I should probably be cleaning my house, organizing the house, grocery shopping, or folding laundry, but I am trying to avoid that at all costs, so I accidentally got “caught” up creating a new unit.

Let me explain how it all started...cue the music...

I remember seeing The Nutcracker ballet every year as a little girl. My mom would take me; it was a special mommy & daughter day. I alwasy felt very grown up. It was also a treat because I knew a few of the girls in the ballet and LOVED to watch them dance.

This is probably because I tripped over my feet just walking with gum in my mouth as a child - ah, some things never change...but on with my story...

 

I loved to watch the story of Clara's dream world - it was always amazing to me that the stage could change so quickly.  This year, while thinking about something special to do with my students in December, I came up with a brilliant idea!

I'm planning on reading different versions of The Nutcracker books in class nad having a "Nutcracker" day (Yes, I might have to change the name - it sounds a little, um, well...) I thought I would do something similar to what we do on "Gingerbread" day.  I've created 8 stations (activities) for students to complete. I assign them small groups.  Then I am going to host a hot cocoa bar and we'll watch the ballet - on You Tube since I don't think we can know we can't arrange a fieldtrip at this late date.  So, without further ado - here is my new unit...

 

Now, instead of cleaning, I think I'll update my Christmas Eve and Gingerbread files so I can have them ready when I return to work in December.  Hopefully, Mr. Realistic won't notice that the house is still just as disorganized as it was this morning...keeping my fingers crossed.

Detail: Terrific Tuesday Done List

0 Friday Freebie

Head over to my TpT store and check out a great Friday freebie.  This worksheet is a great math reminder during holiday season!!  Enjoy!

Check out more Friday freebies at Teaching Blog Addict.

Detail: Friday Freebie

0 Thematic Paper

After spending time yesterday focusing on CCSS math materials, I wanted to sit back and do something fun creative for my classroom.  I created some great thematic paper which is available at my TPT store.

Dinosaurs

Food

Holidays

Animals

October

And, of course, I couldn't resist adding a few freebies!  So head over to my TPT store and get some great materials. 

Detail: Thematic Paper