Saturday, February 1, 2014

Currently: February!

The Polar Vortex seemed to take eliminate a lot of my lesson plans and teaching in January. Let's hope February brings some normalcy and classroom love back to Ohio. February brings lots of great things my way... our Civil Rights unit, my new student teacher taking over the classroom, and an excuse to shop on Etsy for cute Valentine treats!

But, since some of those things are a few days or weeks away... Might as well link up with Farley from Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for her February Currently! Seems like the right thing to do at the top of the month!

http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2014/01/currently-february.html

Listening - I've been really listening to country music a lot lately. I'm trying to get ready for the Buckle Up Festival that's coming this summer. I'm so excited for a multi-day country fest coming to Ohio! Since we're having a really short summer this year - this may be part of my vacation!

Loving - I have wonderful glasses. I wear them everyday and I'm not so much a contact person. But I really wanted a back up pair of glasses since I do wear them everyday including laying in bed watching TV (shhh!). So, I had tried Zenni before and wasn't too impressed with the quality but they were MEGA cheap! With my new prescription I need some seriously thin lenses so I decided to try out Coastal's First Pair Free deal! I'm super impressed. I got an entire pair of glasses with thin lenses, anti-glare, anti-scratch for only $58 out the door! Wayyyyy less than going to store. And unlike my Zenni pair these feel like store bought glasses - not cheap plastic frames! Win-Win-Win!

I went with some with a retro flair....so cute! Right?

Thinking - Last night was pizza night. I love pizza - but now I should probably work out extra hard today. I hate that its so hard to stay motivated in the winter time...

Wanting - I need to change out my wallpaper on my phone! New Cuptakes designs were released for February! I'm obsessed with this app! Look how cute...


Needing - Okay, so many of my students are really struggling with text structures. I'm going to need to do some serious reteaching and RTI work. I've fallen a little off the RTI Bandwagon this year with all our new curriculum - I just can't keep it all up. But it's a new year and I'm ready to jump back on! Do you have any activities you recommend? I bought some task cards which should help. I've really focused on signal words and what the passage is about but it's just not clicking for several of my kiddos...

2 Truths and a Fib...
1. I have been in a hot air balloon. TRUTH.  My old college (Go Saints!) held a big cookout a few years back to welcome the new students and celebrate with all the alums. I went back and they had free hot air balloon rides! It was super scary being up so high and getting into the basket was an accomplish in and of itself since I'm only 5'1. But it was so much fun!

2. I have never crowd surfed. FIB. I have too many control issues to let other people hold me up. I did stand front row of an Offspring concert back in college. That was as adventurous as I tend to get.

3. I can't go a day without tea. TRUTH. I've been actively trying to cut out soda from my diet. But I still crave the caffeine. My favorite coffees from Starbucks are loaded with calories and sugar... so I've been really trying to drink just tea or water. So far so good. I stop at McDonald's or Chick-fil-a nearly every morning to pick up a big unsweet tea. So far so good on kickin' soda to the curb! 

Don't forget to stop by Farley's Currently and leave some others some love!
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11 comments

  1. Hey Amanda! I love your blog design! And when I read about your phone screen thingies I immediately bought that app. I'm a little OCD obsessed with screensavers on my phone and they have to match my phone case too. I probably need therapy for this. Nice to meet you! (Thanks for visiting my blog!)

    Carol
    Teachers Are Terrific!

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  2. I love tea. I have never crowed surfed either :) I think I'm too old!!! I've also used picture books to teach text structure. That seems to help. I also love task card for practicing.

    Bridget
    Literacy Without Worksheets

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  3. I must download the Cuptakes app NOW! Thanks in advance!

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  4. Such a cute pair of eye glasses!! Of course, the phone theme is precious, too! I was hoping the crowd surfing one was going to be true...haha! As for the RTI with text structures, I have one on my site for sale listed under 5th grade. My kids did VERY well with the activity, as I had them read the passages in partners, close read again (writing any evidence to back up their response), and then we had an open debate over which structure it REALLY was (with myself as 'Judge Judy' - haha). They had to plead their case before me and the group who presented the most evidence from the passage won. Of course if they were off some, I had to ask leading questions (didn't happen often) - just visit my link to take a peek at that. In addition, I have pulled some small groups and work in our Coach book on these skills. You can request a free coach book to see what it is like: http://www.triumphlearning.com/

    Hope this helps! Have a great Sunday!

    Kimberlee @ 2 Fulbright Hugs

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  5. I love the vintage look of your eye glasses! I totally just download the Cuptakes app right now. Thanks for the recommendation!

    - Jo Anne
    Teaching in Cardigans

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  6. Your new glasses are super cute! I also love the Cuptakes thingy! Would you believe I never change my wallpaper/screensaver more than once a year? Or maybe until my husband decides to upgrade our phones. :)
    Kimberly
    Funky First Grade Fun

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  7. I have been on a major tea kick since I kicked the Diet Coke out the door. I HAVE to have caffeine too...or I'm mean.
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

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