Currently January

Happy New Year! New Year's Day is my favorite day of the whole year. No expectations. No work. A brand new start to a whole new year. I have enjoyed a day in my jammies, working a puzzle, reading and eating every yummy thing my man concocts in the kitchen! There is only one thing left on my to-do list for this day...Currently!

I love all the attention there has been to having students learn to change their mindset into a growth mindset. Before a student can can have that kind of mindset a teach should too! I will always be looking for ways to better reach my Owlets and encourage them to grow. 

To start my growth pattern thinking off to the right start, I started (today!!) Bible journaling. I asked for a journaling Bible for Christmas and didn't get one. I  am so glad I didn't! I've decided to just write out passages from scripture in one of the many journals I've accumulated over the years will help me concentrate on God's word for me. I've joined an accountability group and I'm so excited to \see how God will lead and grow us up in faith this year. I know there are fancy pens out there, but I just used my trusty flair pens to write and decorate my text. I've thought about these verses all day long and felt so blessed to be truly seeking to grow in God's grace.

Isaiah 43:16-19

If you would like to know about Bible journaling, I am probably not the one to ask. Today is my first experience with it. I am following Sweet Blessings plans for the month of January. I don't have a lot of artistic skills, so for me copying The Word and dwelling on its meaning  is going to be a huge blessing for me. Hey, Shannon, you forgot verse 20...The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

Friends, I hope 2016 is a year filled with more laughter than tears, more joy than sadness, more sunshine than rain and more love than hurt.

The Trifecta!

I cannot believe it has been over a month since I last posted anything. It seems to me that since I have gotten my Ipad and gotten sucked into games like Trivia Crack, I've been far less productive in most areas of my life. Enough said...I'm back and ready to share some thoughts. I'm going for the trifecta today. (Trifecta: a run of three wins or grand events)

The first grand event will contain the second which will contain the third. It is like opening a gift, to open a gift to open a gift! It is your lucky day!
First link is one of my all time favorites...


It may be tricky to come up with five because I've been spending most of the last two weeks in my pajamas eating cookies for breakfast. Enough said...That is my number one. Cookies make a wonderful breakfast because they beg to have milk with them, so this way I did get a serving of calcium. Right? RIGHT?

Remember how I said I had a present inside a present? Well here it is the second grand event. I'm linking up with Farley, too! It is time for Currently...

It isn't too late for you to link up! I'm linker 266. Maybe by the time I'm done it will be 267, but that's okay. It's a great party.

Kitty is sitting on the table  my purse watching me right now. I've trained her not to get on the table.

I'm not a big one on making resolutions. I do (here comes the tri- of fecta!) like contemplating one word for the year.  I can do that. I can just think of one little word. Link number three come on in......

My one word: Listen

I realize I spend a lot of time talking. I finish sentences for my family. I tell God what I want Him to do in my life. I quite often feel like I've got all the answers...I'm the teacher after all. I realize I have a lot to learn. I want to listen to God's Word and soak it in like never before. I want to listen to my husband and children with not just my ears, but also my heart. I want to listen to my students and better understand their needs as learners. 

I spent hours re-doing one of my favorite TPT projects. I think it is better than ever. I think I spent more time fixing it than creating it in the first place. If you think you could use it just click on the picture below to get it on google docs. If you would like to buy it, I'm cool with that. You can. Just click here to go ahead and put it in your cart!

Happy 2015! May your year be filled with amazing people. It is who you are with that makes the journey worth travelling! 

Currently Wow!

Wow...It is Wednesday and February is going to be full of WOW!


Do you love February as much as I do?
It holds so many edventures for me and for you!
There's a groundhog named Phil who predicts the weather
On the fourteenth we'll share hearts and love together.
Washington and Lincoln we'll celebrate them too
Do you love February as much as I do?

It is such a short month but there are so many great things we get to bring into our daily routine. The poem doesn't even mention that it's Dental Health Month, Black History Month and National Wild Bird Feeding Month! February is good.
I love linking up with Farley and her monthly Currently. I love linking up with Curious Firsties and the weekly WOW report.  So I'm trying to do a mash-up and use this post to link up with both!

Most of my currentlies (only one lie!) don't need much explanation. I'm going to give you some clues to the truths and fib. You decide which is my fib! The pictures below are this weeks WOW!

My students and I love acting. We love reading plays and putting on performances. This is one of our favorites!

If you've been with me very long you'll know the fib really quickly!

Drum-roll please....

I really am building an igloo!

I'll keep you updated on the highs and lows of igloo building!

Currently and a Freebie

I am feeling so thankful to realize that today is NOT Friday. Most of the day I've been walking around under the assumption that it is Friday, but it is only THURSDAY!! It is like getting an extra day of vacation. Which means I have time to link-up with Farley and share what I'm doing CURRENTLY!

If you do not like hearing people talk incessantly about their pets, you may want to quit following me. I used to be so annoyed by people who would talk about their pets as if they were actually members of their family. I now understand. My kitty Chessie is a member of my family. I never thought having a pet would be so much fun. I was getting a cat to appease my daughter. I am totally smitten with my kitten! I love listening to her purr.

Chessie and I spend many hours together on this couch!

I'm loving this vacation. It has been so relaxing. Because of the new family addition, we put out very few decorations. We kept it to the things that matter...Two nativity sets and a tree. I've gotten to spend wonderful times baking, playing games, shopping and just hanging out with my kids.

All this relaxing has gotten me thinking about retiring, but not seriously! I don't think I'd do a very good job as a retiree. I don't get much accomplished when I don't have a set routine or schedule. Several weeks ago, a kindergartner came to me in tears to tell me that her sister had told her that I was retiring next year. It was so hard to keep a straight face. She'll be one of my first graders next year and her sister was trying really hard to get her sister really upset. What a funny idea that me retiring was the worst thing she could tell her sister. I'm happy to say I'll be teaching for many years to come. 

I'm really wanting to visit my daughter in St. Louis. I moved to Michigan from St. Louis 26 years ago and can't wait to visit her there in the spring. 

I have not committed to a resolution yet. I've had lots of ideas swimming through my brain. I need to be more active. I need to eat healthier foods. I need to spend more time in prayer and reading the Bible. I'll wait until Monday and make my resolution with my owlets with this FREEBIE you can grab too!

We had a full house New Year's Eve celebrating the old and new. Games, food and laughter filled our home. We are blessed with many wonderful friends. Who wouldn't want to have bagpipes played at their house at midnight?!

Currently October

I left everything at work tonight on purpose! I'm not grading papers or planning. I'm hanging with my homies and watching Merlin. I have to do something at the same time or I'm afraid I'd fall into a deep coma like sleep...I'm that tired. It feels good to be this tired because I know it comes from trying to keep up with the most awesome people I know...first and second graders.

Have you ever had your students do a Currently? I (puffy heart) LOVE Farley's Currently for Kids. If I had brought my work home with me tonight I'd show you the most adorable Currentlys (Currentlies?) you've ever seen. I sent it home as homework and was amazed at the time and thought some of my owlets put into it. I'll show you some next week! 'nough said...Here is my Currently for October...

If it had up to me I would have put more than 24 hours in a day. Next I would have given myself an extra hour in the school day just to have fun with my Owlets! Finally I would make the night three hours longer so I was able to get more sleep and spend a little more time drinking coffee in the mornings! 

My all time favorite field trip was this week. The farm we went to has corn fields, soybeans, a pumpkin patch, pigs, apple trees and more! Giving city kids a chance to see what life on a farm is like is pretty sweet. Check this out...

I love these kids! Seeing all this through their eyes is awesome!

Ready? Here is a treat just for you and the students in your life!

Click on the picture to get your own!

Have you shared your Currently yet? Leave a comment below if you would like to win a whole set of bookmarks! Now I'm off to follow the rule of three!

Currently July

"Awake my soul and with the sun

Thy daily course of duty run

Shake off dull sloth and joyful rise

To pay they morning sacrifice."

That is the hymn I can hear my grammy singing. When I was younger she would sing this to me when I would visit her to wake me up in the morning. It  was always a joy to rise at her house where there was homemade bread, and games to be played. My grammy was pretty amazing and lived to be 109. She moved into a nursing home at 106 because she didn't want her family to worry about her living on her own. She lived a life of service to God and others and that made her a joy to be around. 

I couldn't really think of a tip, trick or hint when I started, but as I visit with you I'm thinking that my hint might be: "For a happy life... serve others." I'm participating in a book study of  Awakened by Angela Watson. It is a wonderful book and the devotional guide that goes with it is a wonderful guide to have too. Anyway, I'm learning that by changing my mindset I can transform my teaching to become more joyful and productive. Check out Angela's blog HERE.

Last night I had to wait my turn to get into the bathroom. Only one of our toilets is working currently! As I waited for what seemed to be ten people I checked my facebook one more time. I was so excited to find out that I'd won one of Christy Chen's Fuzzy Wuzzy designs, that I almost didn't make it ... You can check out her creations to by clicking HERE. Please tell her Jenny sent you if you like her page!!

I'm on such a coffee kick right now. I love it hot in the morning and iced in the afternoon. I just found this at Meijer on special this week. I'm stocking up on some of this before the week is over. Go to Facebook and like their page and you can get a coupon for your own carton. Caramel Macchiato is my very favorite.

I did start a new project for school, but I really want to start a new sewing project for home. I finished a quilting project this weekend that I'd put on hold for far too long. Now that it is done I need to start another one. I wish I could share this quilted wall hanging with you, but I can share this FREEBIE that I'm making for students who could benefit from a little extra sight word practice. Three pages done, only 27 more to go! 

Have you done your Currently for the month of July, yet? It is lots of fun I'd love to know what you are doing currently...

Currently March

I started doing Currently with my technology students in January. When they walked into class Monday they were all excited because they  knew it was time to do March's Currently. I was so happy to think that I've created some great monsters bloggers! I have a couple of students who have really caught the bug and blog from home about different random subjects. Who cares if their pictures are upside down or backwards...They are putting their ideas down on "paper" and sharing it with the world.

My daughter's post! Click to see her full post! 

Kidblog.org is free and easy to set up. It helps students have a purpose for writing and has provided teachers in my building ways to give assignments that allow students to express and publish their ideas in new ways. I would love to come check out your kid's blogs...Here is one of my groups!
I left my camera at school today...I hope...I can't find it anywhere in this house. This house is a mess right now. My daughter who I love is home on spring break and has spread her "stuff" all over the house. She is making a renaissance costume and it takes over two rooms of the house. She has made a fancy gourmet meal every day this week, so I can put up with the MESS for a couple more days.
Anyway, here's my Currently...

I'll be back tomorrow with some pictures of a cat who happens to be wearing a hat!

Thanks, Farley...You are the hostess with the mostess....FUN!!

Currently and Kid Blogs

Who hosts the best party on the web? You know who it is...Farley! It is Currently time! Go check out some new and old bloggy friends and join the party!

Do your kids blog? I only teach first grade part time. The other part of the time I teach technology classes to k-8. The other part of the time I teach Literature to seventh and eighth grade. I love all the hats I wear, but my favorite is (as soon as I say it I'm going to think, "No, I really love the other!" Thing is kids are my favorite people...Please don't be offended!) Anyway, my favorite is first grade. They are the funniest people I know, and I love to laugh.

What was I getting at...Oh that's right kids blogging. My technology students all have a blog and last month they started doing Currently for Your Classroom . I love all the choices that come with this product and it is easy to print out black and white copies for kids to write and color on even if you don't want to dive into kids blogging. It would be a great thing to add to a writing portfolio! Here are two of my kid bloggers currently(s)...

Want your kids to blog?  It is easy!! Here is my class blog roll HERE! I set it up, so I have to approve all comments...You would want to, too! My students have to comment on three other blogs on days we blog. The comments must be kind or helpful and complete sentences!

I'm out to shovel snow. I love being outside when it's cold and snowy because nothing feels better than coming back in for HOT CHOCOLATE! 

In case you missed it yesterday...

SURPRISE FREEBIE!

Currently

I have to add a couple of other things I love! I love Barbara's Blinkies! They are so easy to put on your blog! All you have to do is grab her code. Grab it by highlighting the entire code in the box under the blinkie you like. press the ctrl key and hold it down as you press the c key on your keyboard. Go to your blog layout and click on "add gadget"  scroll down until you find HTML/Java Script.  In the title box you can add a special message or leave it blank. Click in the content box and press the ctrl key and the "v" key at the same time. Be sure to save and go look at how awesome your blinkie looks in your sidebar! 

I love Laurie's "elf" that is really a hedgehog. I enjoy finding out what mischeif that guy creates for Laurie. She already has 36 mischief makers in her class, so what's one more!

I love when one of my students spontaneously combusts into a Christmas carol during seat work time and all the others join in! It's the such a wonderful time to teach and learn about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! 

Currently: No Freebie and No Giveaway!

I did my first "Currently" last month...It was so much fun that I think I'm going to have to do it EVERY month. Thank you Farley for hosting such great fun!!  Farley is also sharing templates for all of our kiddos to do their own currentlies or currentlys . . .Grammar police help me out on this one! What a great idea for sending home as a family activity monthly, or to put in your writing centers.
So here's mine...

It is so cold that we have to run the furnace. At the football game last night we froze. Winter coats, blankets and hats were musts unless you are my 13 year old daughter and wearing a coat, even if it's below zero is fashion no-no. Blue lips must be the fashion with that age group!

I wish I had no place to go all day, but I will be going to a walk that honors the little girl my daughter was friends with and I had the honor of teaching who died of a brain aneurysm this summer. It has been a difficult time for our school, but we have gotten to the place where we can talk about her and laugh over fun times we had with her. I was blessed to know Malauri and my life is richer for knowing her.

Do you insist on your children using pencils? I've noticed that when I let them use markers they write more. They enjoy writing more. I rarely use a pencil anymore for writing. I do most of it on a computer. Why not give them a choice as to what to write with? I'm excited to try this out next week. Maybe you all already do that and I'm just figuring it out, but I'm pretty excited over this idea!

I think that these books by National Geographic are AMAZING! I would like them all. If you work for the company that makes these awesome books...I am accepting donations! I want all of them. I bought this apple book and used it during our apple unit. These non-fiction texts would be a great addition to any k-3 classroom or library. I'll leave you with one of my favorite pictures in the book...

I found the mistake on my "Currently" did you? It's too late to do anything about it now!!