Tic Tac Toe Linky

This week has been amazing! I have had so much fun reading and following new blogs through bloglovin'! It really has given me the chance to meet bloggers and find connections with many of you! That makes me excited and happy!
Today, I am linking up with Latoya with her Tic Tac Toe Linky! It looks really fun, and I am excited to get started and share!

I went to the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL. 

My college experience was AMAZING! I left home as soon as I graduated high school. I was about four hours from home. It was just the right distance. UNF was a smaller school in the middle of a nature preserve with smaller class sizes. It was perfect for having a personalized experience in college. My favorite memory was meeting my good friend Ashley. We met during our first summer term in the dorms. We were randomly paired, and it was a match made in heaven! People are not kidding when they say lifelong friendships often begin in college. We went through sorority recruitment together (jointed different sororities), were separated when I moved home for a year to go to USF, and many other obstacles that friends go through, but we ALWAYS pick up where we left off! Below is a throwback picture... PLEASE EXCUSE MY HORRIBLE EYE SHADOW! HA!

Favorite School Memory as a Kid: Wow! Elementary school for me was wonderful! I was born with a hearing impairment, but because my parents spoke to me like I was a normal kid, and I had many resources, with my hair down you would never know! My resource teachers in Elementary school are still my mentors and friends today. I sometimes wonder what they think now that I have grown up to be a teacher like them. THEY INSPIRED ME! When I saw them when I was little, I wanted to be like THEM! I will forever be grateful for their kindness and guidance.

Hobbies: As a child I traveled a lot. My mom called me her travel bug. I love traveling and learning about new places. While I was in college (poor college kid... a coined term?!?  IT IS A FACT) I was not able to travel much. My dad traveled as a nurse, and I got the opportunity to go to San Francisco. So far that is my favorite place I've been. What are some cool places you have been? What cool things have you done there? (Have you gone caving in Arkansas? If you have the chance...GO!)

Visit me tomorrow for Sabra's Must Have it Monday's! <3

July's Currently!

Oooohh!! I am so, SO, so SO excited about July's Currently! Not only because I always love Farley's Currentlys, but because July is my second favorite month! So without further ado:

Listening- Don't Judge me! Ha! It was on my Get Well Playlist, and I happen to love the way it makes me feel! It is an oldie, but I have a slight tendency to fall for the boy band type deal. In the grand scheme of things, I am really a country girl. My mister sings country music, and that is primarily where my heart it is. 

Loving- I got off work tonight and MAN! It felt like HEAVEN! If any of you have you have been to Florida...you know how HUMID it can be. Feels like a sauna, especially during the summer. The mosquitos love it, and they apparently think I am the sweetest woman around...Ha! Anyway, Having a low humid night makes for a happy mood. Windows down and music to unwind from the wonderful world of retail work.

Thinking- I went and visited my new classroom last Thursday when I found out with 100% certainty what I am teaching next year (7th Grade Civics).. and this is what I found on the wall..

Now, I can always appreciate wonderful artwork, however, LOOK AT THOSE EYES?! They creep me out! Not to mention, the mural does not really go with the Civics subject. I also want to brighten up my classroom with some brighter-ish paints. 

Wanting- This is officially my last summer working a part-time job. LET ME TELL YOU! When you know that you have your nights and weekends free in the near future, time slows down! My mister and friends are at a songwriters festival while I just got home from work. I guess we all have to sacrifice something at one time or another. I am so ready for it to be over! End Rant ;)

Needing- I have all the supplies to begin planning, but something always distracts me from getting any planning done. This is the month! I AM going to do it! I have NO choice!

Tips, etc.- I am a semi-new blogger and I have figured out that if I do not put much into my blogging experience, I will not get much out of it. I am sure this is a life rule in general as well. Linkys are a good way to get to know other bloggers and see what they are doing! I LOVE learning and getting to know others! It is my dream to get together with fellow bloggers from my area or state. It sounds so FUN! Also, if you have access to Adobe Illustrator, learn how to use it! It is so easy! I self taught myself through YouTube tutorials! It is my favorite design tool! UhMazing!

I am off to Farley's blog to check out what everyone else is doing Currently! Please leave me some feedback on my new layout and the mural above! I'd love to hear from you!!



Freebie Tuesday!

Today I got into the School Planning mode. After missing the last two days of school, I decided to go visit my old classroom and pick up some things I left. For those of you who don't know, I was a long-term sub introduced as a teacher with full expectation of starting a contract for next school year. It was bittersweet today because I bonded with the 9th grade team I was on. The way they took over for me when I realized I had a medical emergency, made me realize that I truly love being a part of a team that takes care of each other, regardless. Let's just say I am happy, but sad to be moving to 6th (or 7th grade)-- I will touch on that later.

After hours and hours... well not really... spent in Hobby Lobby getting craft supplies... I went home and made some of those poofy tissue paper pom-pom thingys, Pictures to post later, to decorate my ceilings and hang group numbers from. I am NOT sure if I like them yet. I am the kind of gal.. I usually surprise the crap out of myself when everything comes together. 

I got to the computer and made a freebie, available in my TpT store. Being a Middle School teacher, we encourage students to go to the bathroom/locker/office/whatevererrand in between classes, so I made a punchable hall pass that students are responsible for holding onto throughout the year (I may make a pocket for them in their Interactive Notebook). I hope you like it! 

Please feel free to share any comments or suggestions about ways to organize groups in a middle school classroom setting. 

I also want to participate in Tori's Teacher Tip's Blog Hop!  On her blog she gives you tips on how to connect on bloglovin' since reader is taking a dive... I personally LOVE it! Check it out!

Monday Linkys and Catching a Breath on Summer!

My weekend was on Friday and Saturday, and those days went by way to quickly! Since my surgery, I was a little anxious to get back to some kind of work (a part time thing). Lets just say, I am counting down the days until I am fortunate enough to only be employed by my school. 35 days Not counting or anything. Anyway, yesterday was my first day back at the part-timer since my surgery. You may think they would ease me into it... Nerp. 11 long hours later...on a Sunday, I was happily reunited with my main squeezes. K and Dex! 

It is Monday, and I got to catch up on some Etsy Invitation orders that I had received! My shop is slowly, but surely growing! 

It is surely time for some Must Have Monday with Sabra at, Teaching with a Touch of Twang! 

My Ipad! When I first got my ipad, I was not too sure how I could use it. Being a new teacher, I still had a college frame of mind and was using for social networking and Pinterest. However, as time has gone on I have found some amazing apps that help me in the classroom! This picture is a screenshot from the Apple website, but I like it because It has my favorite App in the picture, Dino Game ... Flipboard! This App helps me keep informed about things all over the world (i.e. National Geographic, Politics, Education, Design, just to name a few). Being a World History teacher, this app will help create a fun way for students to stay in the loop! Please link up with Sabra, as I have found some of my most essential items through her linky party!

My Monday Made it with 4th Grade Frolics has taken me F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to make! I made it for my honey, so I had to hustle and bustle! I put my semi-good painting skills to good use and painted a cooler for him. We sometimes go on road trips and tailgates, so I thought this would be perfect! It is not all the way sealed yet, so bare with me here!

His love for Sports, Country Music and the Outdoors is this inspiration behind the cooler. He is excited about it and happy that he can finally use it. He is thinking the Fourth of July it will be put to good use! I am now off to see what other Monday Made It's I can find!!

Google Reader Out...Blog Lovin' In!

I have been using Blog Lovin' for quite some time, and love it! It gives me a chance to read blogs on the go! It is my version of the "news". Since Google Reader is going Adios Bye-Bye, here is the next big thing for bloggers!  At the top of my page, I have put a button that will allow you to follow my blog using bloglovin'. 

Having used BlogLovin for some time now, to all my blogging friends...It isn't so bad. If you add the app on your smart phone, you will grow to love it! PROMISE!

Happy Humpday!

S/N: My last post-op appointment is today! Super excited! 

I'm Back!!!!

Happy Tuesday! It has been a while since I have written! I had surgery about a week ago. Since January I had been having blurry vision spells. It ended up being a psuedo tumor (fake tumor, but pressure/fluid in the brain). The pressure was pretty high, and called for surgery to put a shunt in. Anyway, It has been quite the recovery, but I am finally feeling like myself with slight headaches every now and then.

Since I have been home, I have gotten the chance to begin my Interactive Student Notebook, and classroom website design. That leads me to Fourth Grade Flipper's Tried it Tuesday:

I am trying to develop my Interactive Notebook for next school year. It is coming along. Next up, is the foldable to insert into the notebook, that reminds students what the notebook is supposed to look like. I wrapped the notebook with pretty wrapping paper, and went over it with heavy duty shipping tape to make the notebook durable. I am really excited about the look of it because it will be easier to find of the bright colors!

Since I have taken this photo, I put some inspiring quotes on the front and back. 

Another one of my summer to-do projects is making a classroom website. Below are some screen shots of the progress I have made on the "About the Teacher" tab: 

I plan on keeping you all updated on all the pre-planning I procrastinate I get done over the summer!

Happy Tuesday!!

Must Have Monday's!

A fellow Florida Blogger has started Must Have Monday's here ! She is amazing! I love seeing her ideas in the classroom, and I am planning on looking more into her latest "Must Have: Mythic Oil" ! She isn't kidding about the Florida Humid just KILLIN' your hair!

 

My Must Have Monday:

 

DRUMMMMM ROLEE PLEASE!!!!\

 

 

 

MY JACK ROGER SANDALS!

 

 

 

I swear by these shoes! They are kind of pricey, but I LOVE how comfortable they are! They also can dress up any outfit! I have the platinum ones and they are amazing. Nothing beats a pair of worn in Jack Rogers. Although they may be expensive, they have lasted me 3 years a piece in FLORIDA weather Hot Sun, Rain and Hail.  So for that fact, they are well worth the Must Have Monday Award! Link up for the party! I would love to see your Must Haves!

- J





Goals!

I am linking up with Iheartrecess so that I can keep track of my goals! Lord knows there are never too many to-do lists! This will help me re-align my priorities!

Until Later,

-J

It is Almost Summer!

Hi Ya'll!
It is almost summer and I couldn't be more excited! My weekend has been AMAZING! Me and the Mr. decided to try something different for dinner on Friday night, and well, um.... It was a bit interesting. It was a restaurant that have talented staff (singing and comedy for the most part). The most entertaining restaurant I have EVER been to made a volcano out of onions and made me some delicious teryaki chicken and shrimp. It was a wonderful experience, but I will certainly leave it for celebrations only kind of thing. It was oober loud!!

School is almost over. Finals went well, other than the student who decided to fail the almost impossible to fail final of the year. I was incredibly shocked and surprised. Maybe I shouldn't have been. Some students brought me my first treat as a teacher. Man! It was so good.. they came in and offered me seconds. WASN'T PASSING UP ON THAT. NOPE!

Late work and collecting textbooks have been quite the task, but I am learning to not let the little negative things get to me. I just remember that the next class is a new class, and the next day is a new day etc.

I have been learning more and more about blogging, and I found some things on Oh Boy 4th Grade here that allows me to share what I am up to "Currently". Expect these every month, as I am excited to share these with ya'll!

As for summer:

I am building the curriculum for my 6th graders! I plan on introducing the Interactive Notebooks. I will be updating my blog about each phase I go through to build it. There are the beginning phases that include the student set-up. Next is the substance that will be in the notebook, and finally the extras that I will be including into the notebook. I plan on creating a sample over the summer. When the school year starts, I will start a new one so that I can compare what they look like at the end of the year. I am anxious to see how much things change during the course of the year. This may prove the fact that teachers should stay flexible. 

Bye for now!

-J