Yep, it's really me!

She's….she's alive!!!

That might be the thought that popped into some of your heads:)
if you are still following me, that is.

Wish I had a really good reason for my absence, but the school year just seems to get busy fast & stay busy for me.
I guess I'm a better summer blogger!
Which defeats the purpose, as this is supposed to be a school blog.

Maybe my principal will let me turn in "faithfully blogging once a week" as my professional goal for next school year.
Then I'd be sure to get in a few posts every month!

Today, I'm joining a couple of bloggers' linky parties.

First, I'm linkin' up with Blog Hoppin's "Show Us What You Bought!" linky.

Here are my purchases from the big "3 Million Strong!" TpT sale:

Bubble gum Clipart purchased from Krista Wallden (she is soooo talented!), and Black/White Digital Papers by Clever Chameleon.

If the pics above don't link to their stores, simply click on their names above! Great Stuff!!

Shout-Outs from the Common-Core-Guru, Katie Knight.

I AM SERIOUSLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE!

During my recent evaluation, my principal asked me to consider daily or weekly certificate-type rewards for my students, and Katie's packet (featuring adorable Melonheadz clipart) is just what I need to implement this idea.

Can't wait to try these out!!

Bubble Gum! Bubble Gum! from Alisha Peare, aka "The Bubbly Blonde".

This packet will provide just the vowel practice my students need, in the form of some fun centers! 

Can't wait to use them!!

July/August Color by Code pages from Kathy Law, or "First Grade a la Carte", as you may know her.

I have almost all her "color by code" packets…before she bundled them:)… 

and my student's just love them!  

Can you tell I'm already trying to plan ahead for next year??

Listen Up! Activity Sheets from the Fab Duo at "Fluttering Through First Grade".

They say two heads are better than one…

& these ladies are proof!

I CANNOT wait to try these out with my group this year.

We definitely need to work on some serious listening skills.

AND my grade level partner & I were just collaborating about how exactly to assess those tricky "listening standards"...

I think these activities are just the ticket!!

Okay, technically those last 2 purchases aren't "units" 

(even though they're posted under the "units" title on my pic), but I do plan on implementing them consistently throughout the next school year. 

Each activity will coordinate with thematic units, so they fall under the umbrella:)

Join the party!
 Link up with the ladies at Blog Hoppin' and :

Next up, the wonderful Farley's Currently:

I think the list speaks for itself.

If you have any guesses on the ?????? to my answers, comment below! 

Tomorrow, I'll be back (2 days in a row!! I know!)

and posting about "He-who-shall-not-be-named"-Day….aka, that great author we celebrate in March but aren't supposed to mention by name, for fear of lawsuits.

Glad to be back in the world:)

Thanks for checking me out today!

Are you a DUCK, or an EAGLE??

If I'm not already an eagle, I certainly aspire to be one!
Read on to see what I mean, or head to Lauren's blog at Teacher Mom of 3 for the original post, and my inspiration. 

This story is too good to pass on.
If you've heard the story before, I'm sure you'll agree it is worth hearing again.
I think we all need a little encouragement as we head into staff meetings and professional development complete with the sounds of "quacking ducks" all around us.


Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

I was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. 
When a cab pulled up, the first thing I noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for me.

He handed me a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver.
While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'

Taken aback, I read the card.

It said, Wally's Mission Statement:
To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew me away. Especially when I noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, "Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf."

I said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.'

Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.'

Almost stuttering, I replied, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'

Handing me my drink, Wally said, "If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today."

As we were pulling away, Wally handed me another laminated card, "These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio."

And as if that weren't enough, Wally told me that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for me.

Then he advised me of the best route to my destination for that time of day. He also let me know that he'd be happy to chat and tell me about some of the sights or, if I preferred, to leave me with my own thoughts.

'Tell me, Wally,' I asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 
"No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself.


Dyer ended his talk by saying, 'Stop complaining! 
Differentiate yourself from your competition. 
Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. 

Ducks quack and complain, 

Eagles soar above the crowd.'

"That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. "Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more."

'I take it that has paid off for you,' I said.

"It sure has," Wally replied. "My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action."

Wally was phenomenal. 
He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.

I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.


Encouraged and inspired?
Me, too.
Lauren also included this verse from the Bible, and I can't help but include it as well:
"Make no mistake about this---whatever you plant is what you'll harvest. We can't allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly each of us will {reap a harvest of blessing} at the proper time, if we don't give up. Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers."  ---Galatians 7, 9-10, GW translation

Today is official Day 1 for me.
If you're not there already, you will be joining me soon;)
Break away from the ducks!
Enjoy your 'flight', my eagle-friends.

Good luck with all your back-to-school preparations (or first week with kids! some of you...), and have a fantastic year!

August, Currently

Wow.
This is only my third year of teaching, but it's my 6th year to have a kiddo in school...
...and it seems like this summer went soooo much faster than others!

Am I the only one who thinks this?
Will I think this every year, as I continue in my profession??

Anywho, let's get to the topic at hand.
Here's my currently:

Here's the Breakdown (if you care!) :

listening: I LOVE Gene Kelly! I could watch him in anything.
I never knew him personally (obviously) but I miss him:(
He made musicals a little masculine:)
What a hunk!
And I can't believe my oldest son actually wanted to watch my fave movie this evening!
I wonder if he's trying to butter me up for something....hmmm....

loving: MY (that should say "My" in the image...sorry for the typo!) new Color Scheme & decor.
Take a look-see:

This calendar set is for sale in my TpT store...and I just sold my first one today!!!!
I'm a tad excited:)
AND I'll be posting about how I use my calendar set tomorrow, so come back for that!

thinking: Self-explanatory.
My boards are like an online checklist right now.

wanting: trying to eat better.
Can you tell it's working? :)

needing: I posted that I would be "de-clutterifying" my classroom the other day...
yeah, I didn't.
Not good when procrastination sets in before the school year starts!

B2S must-haves:
   1) Coffee (or caffeine in almost any form, but this is my preferred morning version)
   2) A new bag for a new year:)
       my mother instilled this in me...her fault.
      Cute is a must; functionality is important, as well (but second to cute!)
   3) Binders:
      I am seriously trying to be more organized with data-collection & teaching reflection this year.
      Not having my computer for 3 weeks did NOT help in the organizing department!!

BTW, look at the beauty I am typing on right now:

If I have never mentioned what a great district I work for, allow me to say it now:

I LOVE that I work for an Apple Distinguished district, and they care enough about us to entrust us with these wonderful, beautiful machines:)

I missed my Mac...those 3 weeks without him were torture!

But he got a seriously-needed upgrade, and I have never loved him more;)

I know I have issues.

I'm looking into a support group.

If you have yet to link up with Farley, HOP TO IT!

I'm sure she's already in triple digits over there:)

Can you believe the next time we link up with our "Currentlies", we will ALL be into the new school year???

Craziness.

Night, y'all:)

Come back tomorrow, pretty please, for Calendar Cuteness/Math Instruction 101!