New Year Blogging Resolutions and Giveaway Soon!!

Happy New Year Friends!!  

I love "even" years.  It's a superstitious thing but better things always seem to happen in even years. :)  My friend, Diane, at Fifth in the Middle is hosting a New Year's Blogging Resolution Linky and it has given me a chance to reflect on this lil' ol' blog of mine.

Read and Comment More Regularly.

The days tick by and there are so many posts that I seem to miss.  I know we are all pressed for time but I need a plan so that I can find the time to read more blogs and comment.  Maybe I can try to "schedule" a time each week to do just that.  I have only recently discovered how I can mark "posts read" on Bloglovin (embarrassing, I know!) but maybe using this tool will help me.  There are so many talented bloggers out there and I love taking the time to read and comment.  I have formed so many great relationships by just visiting a blog for the first time and commenting.    

Keep Blogging for Enjoyment and Don't Allow it to Become a Chore!

I began this blog with the primary purpose of learning and growing as an educator.  When I started reading blogs, it seemed that many teachers who commented also had a blog.  I thought it would be a great way to collaborate with others.  Boy, was I right!  I absolutely love blogging...when I have time for it!  I hope to continue that love for blogging in 2014 and don't want to force it or feel guilty when I just don't have the time to write a post.  I have enough chores in my life, and blogging just can't be one of them.  I won't let it! :)  

Speaking of loving blogging and the friends I have made...you have to check out this Giveaway that begins tomorrow here and at Head Over Heels for Teaching!!!  We are so excited to celebrate 1000 Followers and you'll have to stop back tomorrow to see what this giveaway is all about! :)

Thank you to our talented friend, Amelia, from Where the Wild Things Learn for creating this SUPER giveaway button!

A little reminder...my entire TPT store is on sale for 20% off until midnight tonight!

New School Year Resolutions Linky:)

I know many of you have already started school, but for us New Yorkers, students don't start until after Labor Day.  Since I discovered the blogging world at the end of June, I have spent almost every night stalking blogs, starting up my own, pinning, printing, buying goodies, and reading Daily 5, CAFE, and The Book Whisperer.  I have such high expectations for this school year and am linking up with Amanda at Teaching Maddeness for her New School Year Resolutions Linky!

1.  Be Present  I need to improve on being present in the moment!  My days at school are filled with a never ending and ever expanding to-do list and I often find myself thinking of what is next on the to-do list instead of truly attending to what is right in front of me.  Fourth graders LOVE attention and telling their teachers stories.  I need to better manage the time available for students to tell me a great story and then give them my full attention instead of rushing them.  One idea I have is to offer more lunch dates with my students for that individual time with the kiddos:)

2.  Work Smarter, Not Harder  I am optimistic that my implementation of D5 will help me achieve this.  I usually spend so much time grading my student's reading and writing work, making comments, passing back, going over the comments (that don't really apply to everyone anyway), and the students still don't always listen.  I have printed the CAFE reading and writing conference forms and cannot wait to implement individualized conferences as the D5 gets up and running.  In a couple minutes with a student I hope to be able to check their writing and give them instant feedback tailored to them!  This will alleviate me having to lug all the journals home, write out comments, pass them back, and hope the students read the comments and understand what I meant!  I am very nervous about how I will have time to fit this all in my ELA block, but am anxious to try it!

3.  Don't Rush in the Morning  It is quite a challenge in the morning getting myself and my two kiddos (ages 2 and 5) ready.  It seems like we are always rushing and there is nothing fast about getting two young kids out the door.  This is when my fuse is short and when you factor in the over 200" of snowfall each year, it is stressful (very rarely are there snow days...last year we had zero)!  In addition, my daughter will be starting Kindergarten this year (breathe!) and I will have to take my kids to two different drop offs before making my way to my school.  So...my plan is to make sure I leave even more time to get ready and leave room for those unexpected days when things take longer than normal!

Well, writing it all out really does make me feel better:)

Tomorrow, I will be leaving to go to the woods for a week with my family where there is no internet or phone service!  We always go on vacation this time of year and when I come back I will have one more week to get ready for school.  I am looking forward to hiking, canoeing, relaxing, and spending time with my family.  

I have been working on some NO SEW curtains for my room that only require fabric, hot glue, scissors, and a tape measure.  Stay tuned for this post and pictures when I return from vacay!!!!