New {School} Year Resolutions link up!

I am linking up with Amanda at Teaching Maddeness via Inspired Classroom to share my school year resolutions.  I will be the first to admit that, although I don't verbalize my resolutions. . . deep in the recesses of my brain, they're floating around! LOL

So here are my school year resolutions:

1. Keep up with this blog.  My goal is to write at least once a week during school (aiming for 2x).  I think that it's a reasonable goal and if I find time to write more . . . bonus!  Resolution #1 meshes well with #2 which is:
2. Take more pictures!  I am sooo bad for taking pictures . . . not just at school, but anywhere and everywhere.  I think it stems from when you used to have to get film 'developed', which got costly so you were picky about what pictures you did take.  Now that I have my iPhone, I have no excuse for not taking pictures.
3. Keep my classroom Clutter-Free!  I hate clutter, but it inevitably weasels its way into the class and then it's always there, niggling at me.  Because I only work 1/2 time in my classroom, I don't have as much time to spend organizing the clutter.  My motto for this year is:  "A place for everything, and everything in its place". 
4. Keep my desk tidy (inside & out!).  I have discovered that I am a stacker and not a filer. :(  It doesn't really work with my new motto, so I am going to have to be very vigilant in NOT stacking things on or in my desk.  I'm compromising on this one by having a basket on my desk, where I will put stuff that needs to be filed and then once a week, actually go through the basket and file! . . . we'll see how that one goes.
5. And last, but certainly not least, I'd like to do a better job of touching base with parents on a more regular basis.  This becomes especially important when you work part time, like me, and parents can't get in to see you on the days you work.  I have a confession to make . . . I hate dislike phoning parents (not sure why, but I don't like having to phone. . . period).  I'd much rather talk to them in person or send them a quick email or text message.

 so there they are and now that I've written them down and they're floating around in cyberspace, I guess I'll have to keep them! LOL

Fabulous Find Friday Link Up!

 

I am linking up with Elizabeth from Fun in Room 4B for my very first Fabulous Find Friday.  Up until now, I haven't really found anything worthy of this linky (well, I did find this absolutely cute stuffed gorilla, but he's at school and I don't have pictures, so you'll have to wait until I can get back into the school to see him!)

Anyways, on a recent to trip to Port Townsend, Washington . . . one of our most favourite places to visit, hubby and I drove past this very cute thrift store and I spied this director's chair (something I have been wanting for quite some time) sitting outside the store.  "OMG! . . . STOP THE CAR, STOP THE CAR!" almost gave my hubby a coronary (geez, you'd think he'd be used to me saying things like that?! LOL).  He did turn around and stop in front of the thrift store (I knew he would, 'cause he's a sucker for thrift store finds . . .more than me! Ha!)

Faded blue cover

New black cover

The seat and back were originally a faded blue, so I went online to Everywhere Chairs to get a replacement canvas cover . . . in black to match my decor (of course).  It was $17.95.

Only $8.95!!

So, for $27, I got a very snazzy, comfortable director's chair that will be perfect in my gathering place beside my chart stand (which I have yet to get, arghh!).  I know that this will be a popular place with my students to read during Daily 5.

Now, if I can only figure out how to turn this
into a chart stand...???

Teaching Notebook

Do you have a book where you jot down anything and everything to do with teaching?  For the past few years, I have been using a spiral bound notebook where I keep pretty much anything to do with my classroom.  I know I should probably move into the 21st century and start using a program like Evernote (which I have on my laptop AND iPhone) but. . .  I don't know  . . . there's just something about writing in a notebook that appeals to me.

Last week, I was at WalMart and picked up my new teaching notebook.  It's a far cry from my previous year's book which looked like this:

and had scribbles and messy writing like this:

This is my lovely new notebook

The only problem is . . . my new notebook is so lovely I'm afraid to write in it and mess it up! LOL.  Definitely have to get over that.

You'll notice I've got an entire section devoted to "TO DO"

Actually, one of the things I AM going to try this year (thank you to Clutter Free Classroom for the idea) is to stick the many post it notes I jot things down on INTO my notebook.  Maybe I should have a section (there are 3) just for for my Post-It Notes? . . . hmmm??

What are some of the ways you keep track of your thinking, to do lists, classroom shopping lists, lesson plan ideas, unit ideas...???

Feelin' the love . . . with another award!

Wowza!. . . I'm really feelin' the love this week . . . received another award. . . this time from Elizabeth over at Mrs. Hodge and Her Kindergarten Kids.  Thank you sooo much!

Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you

2. Include a link to their blog

3. Include the award image in your post

4. Give 7 random facts about yourself

5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award

6. When nominating, include a link to their blog

7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated

So here are MY 7 random facts:

Like any good Canadian. . . I am a hockey fan! Go Canucks!  Although I don't get to any NHL games (too far, too expensive) My hubby and I regularly watch Junior hockey.
 

My favourite musical of all time is The Sound of Music. I even have My Favourite Things as a ringtone on my phone. (...raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...) 
 

 I have a very restricted diet . . . no gluten, dairy, corn, and I have to limit my sugar and saturated fat intake.  People often ask me how I find foods to eat? . . . let's just say you have to think outside the box! LOL

1. When I was in high school, I was recruited to play basketball (back then, I was considered tall 5' 10") without really knowing what the heck I was doing! LOL

1. I LOVE the smell of freshly roasted coffee . . . I think I'd love to work at Starbucks just to smell the coffee . . . BUT . . . I HATE the taste of coffee . . . and anything that has a coffee flavour.  Is that weird??

1. Needless to say, I am a tea-toter (sp?) My favourite tea is NUMI's organic Jasmine Green Tea. . . I think I might be addicted to it?!

1. When I was a kid, I watched a very scary vampire movie (by myself) and for the next 30 years could not sleep with my neck exposed . . .seriously!

Here are my nominations for the Versatile blogger Award:

 Ms. Shope's Class
Polka Dots & Pencils
The Inspired Classroom
The Teacher Garden
Glitter, Glue, and Teaching Too

 Congratulations to you all!

One Lovely Blog Award

A big thanks to Mrs. T at Teaching Mrs. T for bestowing upon me the One Lovely Blog Award!

I must be doing something right, as this is the 2nd one I've received. <grin>

The rules for the award are as follows:

1. Follow the person who gave you the award  

2. Link back to the person that gave you the award

3. Pass the award on to 15 new bloggers. 

Letting you know right now, that 15 bloggers is A LOT, sooo, I'm going to choose 5  lovely blogs.  Here they are (Congratulations!):

Mrs. Saunders' Lovelies

Teise's Tidbits

Ms. G. in Grade 3
Reading With Miss D
I Teach 

Another Fabulous Giveaway

Corinna at Mrs. Allen's 5th Grade Files is having an awesome giveaway to celebrate her 50th follower, although at the rate she's going, she'll be celebrating 100 before she's done! She's also got some really good boards on Pinterest organized according to grade AND subject. Check her out!

Kiss First Day Jitters...Goodbye! Linky Party

I am linking up with Mrs. Saunders' Lovelies for the Kiss First Day Jitters. . . Goodbye! Linky Party.  A most relevant topic as we start heading back to school or think about heading back to school.  Having been a teacher for the past 17 years, I don't really get first day jitters but that is partially mostly due to the fact that I have learned to plan and overplan exactly what I will be teaching for the first few days (and teaching procedures figures prominently!)

Having said that, I remember, quite vividly, the first couple several years, having 'teaching' nightmares a couple of days before school started.  You know. . . the ones where you come to school . . . . LATE,  and have nothing prepared or forgot what you were teaching, or the kids don't listen to you. . . AT ALL, or, my personal 'favourite'. . . you lose a student! I'm sure you can all relate! LOL  Phew!. . . thank goodness, I don't do THAT anymore!

So here are some of the most important procedures (although they're ALL important) I teach that first day:

• morning routine
• quieting the class 
• hand signals
• recess and lunch dismissal
• end of day routine
• lining up

I wrote about classroom procedures a few posts ago and am posting a link to the document I created here.  Check it out if you get a chance. :)