It's February!?!?

It's February!? How did that happen???  I know I've been a bad, bad, bad blogger.  Truly horrible, but for whatever reason this year I've felt like I have NO TIME for anything!  It doesn't help that my class this year is seriously tapping me out.  I know most of you out there can relate.  So, in saying that...blogging has helped me keep my sanity in the past and I'll be adding it back into my regular routine. 

Now...Currently hosted by Queen of Positivity, Farley! I love this lady...really puffy heart love her.  The energy she brings into the world through her classroom, blog, and Instagram is amazing! She inspires me to be a better teacher each and every day.

Listening: I'm obsessed with this Ellie Goulding song! It's been on repeat for a week now and I'm still not tired of it.  I'm not sure if I'll make it to the theaters to see 50 Shades of Grey...that may be something to watch from the comfort of home.  

Also, Chicago had a large snowfall last night (surprise....not) and I'm hearing the buzz of all the blowers clearing sidewalks for the Superbowl parties today.

Loving: I have some amazing teamies that I just adore! I've been having the best time planning and decorating for parties and showers at school with a teacher bud.  She's amazing and it's fun to gab to someone about your excitement over paper straws and tissue paper poms.  She gets me folks!!!!

Thinking: The January calendar and decorations are around the room and I forgot to pull out the February stuff....whoops! 

Wanting: My friend gave birth to the sweetest little nugget three weeks ago and of course I became sick at the exact same time! UGH! I've been surviving on daily baby pictures, but I can't wait to get my hands on that little sweetie and snuggle him! 

Needing: Peace. I'm not sure if that needs any more of an explanation....

Pageant Title: Miss Interpret -  Or at least that's what my students keep doing to my directions! Apparently instructions from the teacher are mere suggestions or loose 'guide lines' according to my class. Grrrr.  See why I need some peace of mind?!? 

I'm off to check out lots of Currently posts to help get me back into a blogging mood! 

I almost forgot...have you heard there is a sale going on??? Tons of teachers, including myself, have put there stores on sale today for Superbowl Sunday! Make sure you check them out! 

My Literacy Center packs are on sale for the next two days, including this newbie! My kids love the space theme while we are learning about the solar system in Science.  

Go Seahawks!!!! 

Dave Burgess...an Inspirational Pirate

Hey There! It's no secret that I love Dave Burgess's book Teach Like a Pirate, you can read my original gush post here.  There have been a lot of great posts floating around, you can check out Stephanie's post from 3rd Grade Thoughts here AND enter a chance to win a copy of Teach Like a Pirate!

 

I decided to pull some of my favorite quotations from the book and create some pretty printables to hang by my desk...maybe I'll even slip some inside my planner.  You can download the pictures above!

For more summaries and reflections on this book, check out Third Grade Tidbits' and Rowdy in First Grade's Teach Like a Pirate Book Study!

 

 

Arrrrrgh you ready to "Teach Like a Pirate"???

I'm happily linking up with Jessica at Tales of a Teacherista to promote what I've been reading this summer! (Isn't her blog name the cutest?!?)  This summer I've been glued to Dave Burgess' book Teach Like a Pirate! After hearing all of the amazing reviews out in 'Teacher Bloggyland' I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, and was sooooo not disappointed!

 

 

I loved an analogy Dave created (that's right I call him Dave ;P ) between creating a meal and creating a lesson.  Dave says to marinate the meat for the BBQ, provide side dishes, and a dessert...all in all create a well thought out meal.  Take this and apply it to your lesson planning and most importantly the presentation of your lesson to your class.  Dave says some educators however, "walk into class with their raw, unseasoned content, plop it down in front of their kids and say, 'Eat it!'"  Isn't that fabulous!?!?

 

AND then, yesterday I was reading the always hilarious Greg Smedley at Smedley's Kindergarten Smorgasboard post on the latest chapter he read in this book and left this comment on his page:

 

 

Do you see who replied to my comment!?!? That's right folks, Dave Burgess!!! See, I told ya' we were friends! ;) Thinking about Mr. Burgess reading my comment...I just couldn't handle it! I died, went to Teacher Heaven, where I was surrounded by Post-it Notes, Flair Pens, and glitter, and then returned back to Earth. 

 

With about a fourth of the book left, I'm feeling re-energized about my classroom, validated for some of the choices I've made (that may have caused some sideways glances from others), and feeling supported as I make self-improvements.  If you haven't picked up a copy yet, click on the button above and order yours today!

 

Happy 4th Y'all!!!