March Madness

Sadly, we do not have cable this year, so there will be no watching of the March Madness games in our house this year.  I must admit, I will miss them a bit.  It is always so exciting, especially when one of your favorite teams is doing well!

However, I am super excited because I just finished my March Madness Math and Literacy Packet.  I know my students will love practicing their common core math and language skills with these adorable basketball centers!  I have lots more ideas in mind, and I'm going to try to add a few more in to the packet this week.  But for now, There are five awesome centers. 

I'm new to the teacher blogging thing... but I know I want to include lots of freebies from my blog.  So, every time I post a new product in my TpT store, I'm going to offer the first three blog followers (three because I have three beautiful children!) who comment on the post, a free copy!

So, without further ado, please follow my blog if you aren't already, and then leave me a comment with your email address!

Happy March!

Blog Makeover

Well, I've hardly written on my teaching blog, but I felt that a fresh new look might inspire me to get busy and start posting regularly!

I stumbled across teacher/designer Kelsey from another blog I read, and having her design my new blog look was such a good decision!  From start to finish, it was an easy and super pleasant experience.  She is very talented, and very nice!  When and if I ever get tired of this gorgeous new "do," I will be back to Kelsey for another design!

Classroom Jobs?

What are your classroom jobs, and how do you keep track of them?  I am recently back in the classroom, after about 8 years doing small group intervention, where I haven't really had to deal with classroom management or things like jobs.  The teacher I took over for in January didn't have any classroom jobs set up.  Should I bother trying to set something up for the rest of the year?  If so, what works for you? 

Joy

I first blogged this about two years ago on my old blog, and then I completely ignored the blog (AGAIN.)  In my defense, since then I went through another pregnancy while working and had our third and final child, who is now almost a year old.   As I read this, I realized it still has some truth for me, so I'm adding some edits and reposting.

I don't seem to be very good at this blogging thing . . . it is something I always intend to do and forget to do. Plus I'm not sure if anyone even cares! :-) Back when I was stamping, I was a pretty regular poster on my stamping blog, and I felt good about that because I was sharing my creations! I'm not sure if I believe that my words are enough.

Eh, I'm doing it anyway.

I am wanting a change in my life, but I'm not sure what. I need to get moving . . . cleaning out the junk of my house and my life, and filling both with only "things" that bring me joy. {3/6/13: Sadly, this is how my life seems to continue on, year after year, with me desiring to unclutter my house and my life, and still not knowing how or where to begin.}

My children and husband are kind of the only thing that bring me joy right now. I love them. But a bit of me wants to be selfish and have something else, something that is just mine . . . I just don't know what? Do I start stamping again? Multi-media art? Writing? Photography? I need to learn to use my new camera and get it off the auto mode!!! {3/6/13: A little more is bringing me joy now.  We have found a new church that we are really enjoying, and I'm meeting some new people that I really like.  I am back to work and mostly enjoying my job.  Our baby girl is the happiest baby I've ever seen, and she just makes me smile constantly!  But I'm still longing for something that is ME, but not ME AS MOM OR WIFE... does that make sense?}

 

{3/6/13: Some days it is a struggle for me to remember to not take for granted the great things in my life.  Especially when they become overshadowed by stressful situations.  I am really wanting to make an effort, though.}
 What brings you joy?

A Balancing Act

It is not unusual for me to have two or three or even fifteen things on my plate at once.  It is the curse of the working parent.  Single parenting or co-parenting while working full time is the equivalent of having several full time jobs all at once.  I am event planner, house cleaner, chef, personal assistant, nurse, chauffer, teacher, psychologist, friend, disciplinarian, paper grader, project planner, entertainer, problem solver, hugger, helper, hand holder and that's just in the first half of my day! I have been a parent for nearly five and a half years, and I must admit that I am not even close to having figured it out.  My brain runs a mile a minute.  It is a constant battle between being in the moment with my children or making a mental list of things to do for school the next day, between unloading and reloading the dishwasher or correcting another stack of papers, between any number of things on any number of to do lists or putting my feet up for a moment.  I struggle constantly with a feeling that I'm not doing any of it well enough.   I am a terrible mom (deep down, I know this is not true.) I'm a terrible wife (hopefully, this is not true.)  My house is a disaster (that part is true.) My classroom is filled with piles of stuff that I just can't find the time to organize (also true.)  I am in desperate need of some truly impossible things:  a clone, an extra hour or two in every day, a personal chef, assistant, trainer or maid, a full bank account, a three day weekend every week, or just the ability to balance everything just a little bit better!  That last one is not impossible, but it sure feels like it sometimes!

How do YOU balance it all?