98 Days left? OH MY!!!

Good Morning

I've been doing some reflecting this morning.  You know the kind of reflecting you do at the end of the year, but I'm talking about my school year, not my personal year.(that is another story)

I know we have 98 days left of school and school is far from over, but as I turned out the lights yesterday, I felt like it was the last day of school. I have this sense of urgency to start over in January. So I think I will!
I have been thinking about really shaking it up! I want my kids to come back excited about what we are going to do. I want to start all those cool ideas that I had in August that I couldn't get to ! I want to be able to teach on my schedule, not the timeline I have to teach on .(At our school we are told when to teach each subject matter) I want to start 'theme-ing' my lessons more. I want to start focusing on the CCSS in my room this year (even though it starts next year). I want to make better small group lessons.  I want to make a perfect lesson plan template that allows for all small groups, materials,a to do list and of course standards, objectives, activities and and easy to follow format.I want to introduce new procedures, because frankly some of my procedures aren't the best with a few of the kids this year...I have a few tough nuts!
I also want to schedule my blogging...this summer I was so into it ! I blogged, I posted Monday Made its, and Friday Finds, and Currently..OMG Farley I forgot to do December's CURRENTLY...where have I been???
My intern graduated and got a job right away...yeah Christina!!!
I am feeling like I am way behind since she left...hmmm ...this makes me wish I could have a personal assistant or a permanent intern to co-teach with!

OK back to reflecting...my life is good. My son and I are happy people with great friends and family that surround and support us. My school community is just as wonderful! I feel safe here, having that said, my heart goes out to those wonderful loving, kind and much appreciated teachers at Sandy Hooks. It could have been any of us. Hug your kids and your class, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year y'all!

Wake Me Up Before I [have] to Go Go

I have ONE WEEK...just one to put my game plan together! Am I ready? Can I do this?....let me show you what's on my plate!

1. PROCRASTINATION...I didn't make any packets to share for my "BookIt" turned "BUMBLE BEE" project like I WANTED too! Nor did I make the MTH packets or the Book Study Buddies that I used last year in my enrichment group, but I'll get to it right?

2. I need to make my "HONEY BEE CLUB" (like Madden's Monster's Club)

3. Get ready for GUIDED MATH...I read the book, I totally get it...now I just need to organize the how to part!

4. I need a new lesson plan template (AGAIN) to accommodate the new CCCS and our new 'master schedule', which leaves out writing all together, we have to roll that in  with our 90 minute Reading block!(and I still am planing on trying out Amanda's Writer's Notebooks too)

5. Plan how to incorporate my after school activities GOTR with my son's activities.

ONE WEEK....oh and I have to take my son to the doctor, he has a planter's wart that went AWOL...what  a mess...do I have time to do all of this AND decorate my classroom so it will 'BEE' fantastic?

I am in a full panic!

Did I mention my mom is in Europe,(not a pleasure trip,my grandmother died :( ) and can't help me out this  LAST WEEK! (she always helps me with my boy, as I am a single mom)...

okay ladies I have got to get a grip...so here's the plan.....

P R I O R I T I Z E

I have decided that getting the Guided Math sorted and organized is job one... (Well, kinda, getting my boy to the doctor is job one) I have to decide which system I want to use and how it will look in my room...physically how it will look. My classroom is so weird, very long and skinny, two HUGE long windows on one wall and computers, cubbies, sink area, all the cabinets on another wall, then a wall with two doors in it (a short wall too) and the other wall is a long long wall with a HUGE white board on it. ...I need to go in and plan how I want my room to work for my Guided Math time, and Daily 5 time.
Once I decide how it will function, then I can start to decorate it with all the new Happy Honey Bee stuff I got from School Girl Style.

Okay, so that sounds good..I can start right? Well, now I have to get into the building and sketch out my room plan...getting into the building is a bit like getting a meeting with the Queen of England...I hope I can get in?

As for the rest..well, I'll get to it!(hopefully)

I have to tell you I REALLY REALLY enjoyed reading

                                                                       



I want to use this method because it makes sense! Laney Sammons says some really smart stuff and the quotes she uses I will be using them too!

 I chose to prioritize this because she states on page 35

 " Along with challenging our students, we need to create an environment where students recognize the relationship between effort an learning" ,

on page 200 she goes on with "Strong classroom management is essential for math Workshop to be implemented" ( I don't struggle with management usually, but I want to be overly prepared as this will be a new way to do Math, I want to create my surroundings to minimize any management issues!)

 She ends it with " Teachers considering the Guided Math Framework should reflect on how they can adapt and use it to inspire a Love of learning in their students...." on page 250. That is my rational, reflection...I took a lot of notes in my book, a lot of highlighting and sketches of ideas. I need to go in and take a look around and set my room up for ACADEMIC success, not just print rich, but math rich too!

If by some chance [the grace of God], I get in ...I will post BEFORE and AFTER pictures of the set up!

~Natalie

P.S - Did I mention my pal at

is making me the cutest template for my blog ...I can't wait until she gets it all done...you will be impressed!



Four on the 4th

Since it is raining here too, I am staying inside this 4th of July, but I did get out this afternoon and enjoyed the fresh humid air at my favorite burger hangout!
So what's a girl to do on such a dreary night? Join a Linky Party of course....

Four ideas I am going to implement(or maintain) this year...

1.Each month I usually do a "BookIt!" project. I tie it into the the Pizza Hut reading program. My kids read at least 10 books focusing on the story element, skill, genre or whatever we are working on, then at the end of the month they do some kid of fun project. My first one is about Characters.They choose a main character and dress up and present in character. (October of course)

But this year I want to switch it up...I want to keep the ideas and differentiate the products more plus I want to change the name and start earlier. Instead of "BookIt!" projects I am changing the name to the B.U.M.B.L.E. B.E.E  projects.

{Bright Unique Maturing Blooming Learners Excel  By Extra Effort} well maybe, that's a mouthful...

2. I am going to be a coach for Girls On The Run (GOTR). Myself and another teacher are job sharing the head coach responsibility. I am super excited because I will be working with 3rd-5th grader girls for 24 sessions! In this fun after-school program the girls will be learning how to believe in themselves and become confident young women before they head off to Middle School. It has a running component to it too. As they are building up their self-esteem, we will also be training to participate in a 5K in December as our culminating activity! I can't wait!!!! 

3. Hard to believe, I have been teaching since 1990-something and I have NEVER implemented a student of the week. I guess since we have in place Terrific Kid, I never gave it any thought. At my first schools they did T.K once a week, but at my new school they do it once a month. So this year I will choose a "Bee of the Week". Each day they will have a special time to shine and get some "Buzz Time". I like how Beth Newingham does it, so I might tweak her ideas!

4. This one will be the hardest! STAY ORGANIZED AND CLUTTER-FREE!!!

Sounds easy right? I am pretty organized, but sometimes my ADD brain puts things down and I can't find them again! I recently purged...I mean SERIOUSLY purged. I went through EVERY single cabinet, every plastic bin, every shelf in the closet...and I decided if I didn't use it last year, it was OUT! I got rid of over 100+ items to my wonderful co-workers!

To achieve this goal I am going to really try and use ideas from this awesome blog!!!

I hope that I can stay this pumped up as the school year approaches...I am pretty sure I can do this, oh did I mention I have an intern in the fall!

 I  L O V E  interns....ahhhh