Currently in July

Let's do this! I am linking up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade a bit early… but well-needed.

I love me some Colbie- especially her album Summer Sessions. I have an eclectic music collection to say the least, but acoustic always wins me over! Nothing like driving to school at [insert an obnoxiously early time here] in the morning with relaxing jams on and a coffee in the cup holder. (:

I am enthralled with this amazing blogging roller coaster!!! I took the picture below a few days ago, and I already have more lovely followers. The online teaching world can be dangerous because it is so addicting… BUT I could not be happier. I like sharing and reflecting all the wonderful happenings that go on in and out of my classroom/profession. Fellow teacher support means the world to me! So without further ado… THANK YOU! 

June has been a rough month for me and my family. My grandma had a brain bleed and a stroke… She is a fighter and has proven this for the past three weeks! Do you have that ONE person in your family that holds everyone together??? My grandma (or Nana as I call her) is the GLUE that keeps us intact at all times. She raised me when I was 6-10 years old… That is 1st to 4th grade! We then became "house buddies" again when I went to college. Her wisdom and encouragement throughout this teaching process has made me the teacher I am today! She is the reason I teach.

Okay… so I go back to my roots for the summer in Northeast Ohio! BUT my first grade classroom is in Northwest Ohio!!! Bummer, I know. With all the cleaning that goes on in my classroom and building during the summer, I am not missing out on much. Come late July and August… I will be snapping photos of my classroom makeover. Last year, I was in a building that sadly closed. LUCKILY… I will be teaching at another building! I am happy to say goodbye to desks and "hello" to tables (something I've always wanted)! Happy much?

With all of the Pinterest linky parties… I have to get a move on with the handmade projects! I have been working on my scrapbook sight word stones and just bought a special little item that will soon be featured here, but I need to do MORE!!! Here is something on my TO DO list. Click the pic to buy on Etsy. Does anyone else get Pinterest anxiety? (:

from Etsy.com

My tip/hint/trick for blogging is to give your munchkins credit! Yes… we do A LOT of work to make fabulous lessons plans, read up on new teaching strategies, and engage our students on a daily basis- BUT what kind of credit do you give your kiddos? There is no doubt that what we do in the classroom has a huge impact in test scores, academic growth, and so much more. I know that my kids have to put in an equal amount of effort to get there too though… So I am sharing a piece (for the 4th of July) that gives credit to my firstie. This student worked hard to listen to my minilessons, participate in buddy editing, and write from the heart.