Tuesday, August 7, 2012

I am in a creative streak! I know...but it's STILL summer! =) Well, when there is a giveaway for clipart, the creative streaks kick up a notch! So here's the link to the giveaway...check it out!

http://learninginspain.blogspot.com.es/2012/08/the-clip-art-giveaway.html

I will probably be posting more later...I know that's a "no no" but I'm not ready for a bloggy post quite yet today! Got lots to do on my lists! =)


Monday, August 6, 2012

Two Weeks.....

Hello all!
Today is Monday...most of you are thinking "Ummm...I know that!" But it's important to me because I realized this weekend that I have 2 weeks left before I will be back in my classroom AGAIN. So, I am making sure every day counts for the next two weeks!
Today, I took my son to the doctor..no biggie. Then went out shopping & had a nice lunch with my kids! Then we came home and did lots of art projects including making puppets for a puppet show! FUN! While they had a few minutes of quiet time, I devoted a tiny bit of time to school...I got 3 field trips scheduled and left messages for 5 more! That was VERY productive! WOW-WEE! Then I worked on a literacy center - almost done!
In my mind, I have been trying to reorganize my classroom - I want more student-focused centers. In our reading program, we have a VERY scripted teacher's manual. Very hum-drum to me. We have a tiny bit of flexibility...so I am trying to decide how to include more age appropriate & more developmentally appropriate activities into their day. I am also making a list of ideas on the side so I will have them to pull from as I plan...
My other thought in my mind...school life will not take over like it does every year. Usually I feel like I am drowning in "school" until January. Kicking off a Kindergarten year is very difficult as I am trying to get kids into routines & get them where they can work independently. Wow...so hard sometimes. So, I am trying to keep things streamlined & prepped ahead, so I know what to pull for each week's centers/stations. We shall see...=)
Again, summer is dwindling down to the last few weeks...it makes me so sad. I really think I miss the daily routine of going to school, but I don't miss the overwhelming time sucker it becomes! I must find that infamous balance! =)

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Well, as I follow along on this blogging journey, I am learning all about "linky" parties. If it wasn't for Desiree at Kinders on the Block...I don't know what I would to do! Not only does she explain things as simply as possible, but she's also my teaching colleague! I LOVE teaching with her! She brings fantastic, new ideas to me, understands my disorganization (and tries to help me instead of condemning me!), and she is a wonderful friend! Sorry for that tangent... but she has helped explain and show me how a lot of this stuff works! Love you Desiree!
Now, I am linking up to Mrs. Lemon's Linky Party on her blog...
http://stepintosecondgrade.blogspot.com/2012/07/tell-me-more-tell-me-more-linky-party.html
Since I am still a newbie in my eyes, it's nice to learn about all these great people who post great ideas and inspiration. As I have read a few of the "Tell Me More" posts, some people have done it with an ABC theme...so will I!
A - Autumn is my favorite season...we have gorgeous trees that the leaves turn into beautiful blends of red, orange,  and yellow! My birthday is also in there, that helps a little too!
B - Blogs have truly inspired me! I have LOVED them! I do so much better with reading them and finding great ideas and inspiration than actually writing on my blog. Again, with Desiree's inspiration, I think I will get better!
C - I enjoy making cakes for my family and friends! I took cake decorating classes at the local Michaels one summer...LOVED IT! My goal was to be able to make half-decent looking birthday cakes for my kids! I LOVE IT during the summer time. Trying to make cakes during the school year is tough...My favorite cake was probably the basketweave I made during the classes...tons of flowers on top. That was a tough one, but proved I could do more complicated things! My favorite easy ones...character cakes like Elmo, Abby, Spiderman. My daughter is requesting Dora right now for her Sept birthday...we'll see if she changes her mind or not!
D - I have only been to Disneyworld one time...in college with a great bunch of friends! What amazing memories! One day, I will be back with my children! I can't WAIT! =)
E - Entertainment...I loved (and still do) watching Desperate Housewives and Once Upon a Time!
F - I learned how to fly fish when I worked at The Orvis Company. In fact, they set myself with 2 other employees to their fly fishing school in Manchester VT...it was AWESOME! So relaxing! I know people are surprised when they find out this little detail! I find it funny!
G -I think groundhogs are the cutest things ever! I love Groundhog's Day - it's a big event in my classroom! One time when I was little, we were visiting a distant relative (and not the friendliest) - we were sitting on his porch when he spotted a groundhog in his garden. He jumped up to grab his gun to shoot him...I jumped up and grabbed his suspenders and BEGGED him not to! I think I surprised EVERYONE so much & made such a commotion that the groundhog got away - YEAHHH! It was a favorite story for my mom to tell people! =) I love groundhogs...=)
H - I hate being hot! I am the first person to let the office know that the a/c is not "right"! One time I came in one morning to a VERY hot building...as I walked in the door the AP said "We already know and someone is on the way..." I think my coworkers understand me!
I - I played an instrument in middle school - flute! I wish I had continued! I am determined that my kids will play piano and then they can pick another instrument later. I want to take those piano lessons too!
J - I can't stand wearing jewelry to bed...even my wedding rings. No rings, no necklaces, not bracelets, no big earrings...only diamond studs. I guess it feels constricting?
K - I have two kids...1 son who is 7 1/2 going into 2nd grade and 1 daughter who is almost 4. I can't believe she could go to Kindergarten next year...wow!
L - I love LOVE lemur monkeys! I think they are so so cute - their babies look like little Beanie Babies clinging onto their mamas! So precious!
M - Favorite movie? The 1st Harry Potter! It was just amazing! Everything about it was amazing!
N - I am a night-owl! My husband reminds me every summer that HE still has to get up and go to work in the morning....oops, sorry. I get the best ideas, inspiration and kick of energy at night - I always have!
O - Organization is the death of me! I am trying to improve and KEEP IT  UP! I love organizing in theory, but to keep it up and going...doesn't work so well.
P - My journey to my current profession was a twisted one! I always wanted to be a teacher since I was 5, but something happened somewhere between high school & college! I turned down the wrong path and realized I wasn't reading the map correctly! Thank goodness for a wonderful friend who invited me to visit her while she was doing her student teaching....I found my compass again! It took my a little longer to finish my Bachelor's degree, but in the end I finished with TWO! One in Elementary Education and one in Psychology! If I wasn't a teacher, I would be a speech pathologist! I am in the process of pursuing this degree a little at a time, so if I am ever ready to change my path again, I will be ready. Maybe, one day?
Q - Can I have quiet time? My daughter does not believe in taking naps anymore. I can barely get 30 minutes of "quiet time" in the afternoon....Momma really needs a quick nap!
R - I love to read, but with teaching as my profession, I end up reading more professional material than "just for the fun of it" kind of books! I did get a nook 2 years ago for Christmas - this has helped a little. I think I had to download The Help 3 times before I ever got thru the whole thing - I know, how sad!
S - I have 3 sisters, though 1 has passed away. My oldest sister is 18 years older than me...whew!
T - Time management has always been my struggle! I think I have gotten better along the way, but every time I "think" I know how long something will take...I am SO wrong.
U - I went to school at Radford UNIVERSITY...smaller college campus in southwestern Virginia, in the mountains!
V - My wedding to my dearest husband was on Valentine's Day! Yeap...so cheesy! My in-laws were married on July 4th. We wanted to stick to a holiday theme...we had the choice of Valentine's Day, 4th of July (didn't want to copy the inlaws), and Halloween! Looking back, I think Halloween would have been a BLAST! I should have listened to my sister! Ha!
W - I love watermelon & wintertime! Don't all teachers love winter and snow?!
X - I love talking in front of children...I hate talking in front of adults - it's eXcruciating! (I didn't know how else to get the X answered!"
Y - Yoga...I want to learn how! =) I have heard it is a good way to relieve stress and to stretch out those muscles. After Kindergarten ALL day, I need something to relieve and stretch out every party of my body! Since I can't afford a massage every day, this could be the next best thing - right?!
Z -  I love going to the zoo...we have a zoo about 10 minutes from our house. It's an easy drive and a zoo that's small enough to be done in one day. LOVE IT!

WHEW! That was a lot harder than I thought! I hope more people do this linky party...let's get to know one another!
Mona

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Another great giveaway from lots of people...thanks for all of you who joined in to be so generous!
http://day-in-first-grade.blogspot.com/2012/04/back-to-realityand-giveaway.html
check it out and enter!
Mona
<a href="http://kindergartenbus.blogspot.com">Kindergarten Bus</a>
Fellow teachers...there are lots of great giveaways out there these days...August isn't even here, but lots of teachers are already back to school or getting ready to go back. So here are the blogs that I have found today that I need to share...
Falling Into First is doing a giveaway for a great 31 bag and key fob...check it out here...
http://fallingintofirst.blogspot.com/2012/07/300-and-thirty-one-follower-giveaway.html

I am off to read more  blogs...I am a bit behind these days! oops!
I think my google reader is gonna pass out.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Sorry for the two posts in one day, but I just ran across a great giveaway on the Herding Kats in Kindergarten blog! I love all the great giveaways that fellow teachers are working on - please check out this giveaway at...
http://herdingkats.blogspot.com/

Have fun & Good luck!
Mona

I'm Backkk...again.

Here I am...trying the blogging world again!
I am not the best at blogging...I LOVE LOVE LOVE visiting other people's blogs, but I have a harder time working on my own!
I do want to announce to my followers that my friend Desiree from Kinders on the Block is doing a giveaway on her blog! I donated a Thirty-one Thermal Tote (lunch bag) for her to give away to celebrate her one year blogiversary! So please go to
http://kindersontheblock.blogspot.com/2012/07/happy-1st-blogiversary-giveaway.html
Her giveaway ends tonight!
Good luck!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

I finally joined and posted items on Teachers Pay Teachers!

I finally did it! I finally created one of the many projects and activities floating through my head AND I posted it to Teachers Pay Teachers! I am so happy and excited to start this endeavor! It's made my love of teaching SOAR! So excited! I am going to try to post a link here to my 1st freebie...

Ladybug Match...get it here!
I hope this works! Enjoy and have fun with my ladybugs!
Mona

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I have returned!

Yes, I have returned!
I am still trying to figure out this blogging thing! I have fallen in love with finding great ideas on everyone's blog, but I have so many ideas I want to share too. So here I am, back on my OWN blog, trying to figure out how to post things and start this thing up again!
Thanks to a teaching colleague...she got me addicted to this mess! That shout out goes to Desiree at Kinders on the Block!
So, please be patient with me...I need lots of guidance and advice as I try to post and share!