Clones Needed!!!!

The last two weeks of school are ridiculously hectic! There's so much to do and only one of me...sigh...I need to be cloned...like, 10 times! On top of the million and one administrative duties we have to take care of (cum folders, placements, report cards, etc), we are also doing a Multicultural unit on Asia! It's super fun, and we're all enjoying it, however, it takes up a lot of time we could be using to shorten our end of the year to-do lists. Oh well...I'll post pics as soon as we're done with the hallway.

I have been begging my principal to let us block in 3rd grade, and either today or tomorrow I will finally find out if I wore him down! It's so much easier to teach a STAAR grade when you're blocked...say a prayer for us!

Since I graduated in December and won't be teaching summer school, this will be my first summer off. I hope I don't get restless; I hate feeling unproductive.

On a much more sad note...Dr. Maya Angelou died today (sad face). I loved her poetry; especially "Phenomenal Woman," and I live by her quote "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." She was a gifted writer, teacher, and activist; a true inspiration. Sleep well sister Angelou....

http://www.nationalbook.org/_images/literarian/2013/angelou_maya.jpg

Oh yeah, I just checked and Amazon still has the Kindle edition of the children's book "Splat the Cat: The Name of the Game" for free! I downloaded mine last night so I can read it with my boyfriend's son tonight. I don't know how long this freebie will last, so click on the image of the book to head on over to Amazon and get your copy!

Well, until next time guys....


Happy Blogging,

Design Diva

Hi guys! So yesterday I told you that I was going to try and teach myself how to design blogs, right? Well, thanks to some great blog tutorials and editor websites, guess who has designed her own custom header, background, grab button, and signature? That's right...this girl! Everything you see on my blog I did myself! Go me, go me! LOL It took a while and required a lot of patience, but boy am I proud of it! It's soooooo much cuter than the free one I snagged off a website, and now I can change it to whatever I want, whenever I want for the low, low price of FREE! There are some other things I want to add to it, but unfortunately I can't today because I have to stop and do grades...again I say "ugh!!!!" Good thing I have the summer!


Happy Blogging,

Grades, Beaches, & Blog Designing

I just love the weekends...don't you? The only thing better...is SUMMER! I am participating in the 3 R's today...reading, writing, and relaxing! Tonight and tomorrow I will be doing grades...ugh! I am so terrible at grading papers and then putting the grades in the computer. Does anyone have a system of doing grades that works well for them? If so, PLEASE share with me; I HAVE to do better with this next year!

I won't be able to go on a real vacation this summer, but my closest friends and I are thinking about renting a beach house for a few days. I get really excited when I think about all of the fun I'll have with my girls and all the writing I can get done on the beach. I love the sounds of the seagulls and the waves crashing; it's peaceful...a great writing environment. I think the beach might actually be my favorite place....

I want a gorgeous, original blog design like so many that I am seeing, but I can't afford the price to have one custom made so...I'm going to try and teach myself. After all, the Chinese proverb does say "If you give a man a fish he'll eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish he'll eat for a lifetime."

The first blog design assignment I gave myself was to create a signature, and look..I did it! Cute, huh? We'll see how the rest plays out...LOL.

Have a great weekend guys,

Currently...

So I know we're almost in the middle of May, but I just started blogging, which means I just learned how to join a "Linky Party." Farley at Oh Boy, Fourth Grade, started a super cute, monthly linky party called "Currently," that I absolutely LOVE; I'll be linking up with her party starting today. Here we go...May's Currently!

LISTENING: I've been thinking a lot lately about a lot of things...God, my life, my career, my purpose, my dreams, etc. I like to think because it brings about reflection, which in turn brings about change. I guess I'm just at a point in my life right now where I'm trying to learn how to "block out all the noise" and "be still" so I can hear God's voice.

LOVING: I LOVE to write. It's how I best express myself...and how I escape from reality sometimes.

THINKING: This is only my sixth year teaching. I don't believe I'm a bad teacher, but I want to be a better teacher each year than I was the year before. I don't plan on staying in the classroom forever, but for now that is where God has stationed me, and although I get frustrated and tired sometimes, I have always been told "Whatever you're doing, be the best at it that you can be." I'm going to take plenty of professional developments, become better organized, and do some professional reading this summer to accomplish my goal.

WANTING: One day you'll see my name in big, bold letters on a children's book...Trivies N. Robinson...and next to it, a beautiful, shiny Coretta Scott King Award....

NEEDING: Last summer I went on my first cruise and I loved it! I've been ready to leave the country again ever since! I don't even care where as long as it's sunny, safe, and has blue water...ahhhh, yes!

SURPRISE: Blogging is SUPER fun, but it is also a challenge to get started if you're a first timer. Megan at I Teach, What's Your Super Power has done an AWESOME job of making things easier for new bloggers! She has taken the time to create starter videos and she does blog designs. Thanks so much Megan! 

Now do two things: 

1. Visit Farley to see what else is "currently" happening!

2. Hop on over and visit Megan to see how great she is!

Nicki

Yay...I'm Blogging!

I am super excited about blogging and connecting with other educators! Isn't the internet just the best thing ever?! Well, it and the DVR! 

Although our profession is becoming way more demanding and stressful than I could have ever anticipated, I still enjoy professional developments, I still can't sleep the night before the first day of school, and I'm creating a blog about teaching right before summer break...I'm pretty sure all of that means I'm still in love with my craft. 

I discovered blogging last summer right before school started. Yes, I know...a terrible time to become an obsessed blogger. I had heard a lot about it though, and I love to write, so I decided to check it out. I went from blog to blog, reading stories, looking at pictures, watching videos, bookmarking ideas, etc. I was inspired to start a blog of my own, so...here I am!

For leisure this summer I plan to continue developing my blog, work on writing a children's book, and relax with my close friends and family. Professionally, I will be attending professional developments and reading the following:

            

Both books have really good reviews, so I can't wait to dive in! 

Have a great weekend,

Nicki