Winding down the school year!

It's hard to believe that there are only five more days of school before summer vacation!  The weeks after AIMS week (our standardized testing week) just flew by.  After AIMS our school did NWEA testing, so I was busy with that testing all my students.  I was proud of their growth and progress over the year.  My groups had an end of the year celebration since for the most part they'll be mostly in their classrooms until the end of the year with a lot of end of the year celebrations and activities.  That gives me time to reflect on the school year, and pick up and organize my classroom for summer time.  I also need to figure out what I'm going to bring home, and use for planning this summer.  I am also planning my personal and professional goals for the summer.  I want to spent time planning for the next school year, learning more about blogging and making products, getting in shape and eating healthy as well, having fun and taking some fun road trips this summer and exploring Arizona.  

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Five more days and Six wakeups!! 

It's time for another currently!

It's hard to believe it's May already and there are only three weeks left of school for us here in Arizona!  This year flew by.  For me it's been pretty doing a lot of testing.  After AIMS week, our school district has NWEA which is a computerized test.  It's been really fun seeing how well my students did this year and the growth they've made over this last year. 

 It's especially exciting for special ed. kids because they don't always get to see that growth.  I've also been doing a lot of ieps and paperwork.  Most of that is wrapped up for me, so it's fun getting everything wrapped up and turned in for the school year.  I'm also trying to get things cleaned up on the home front so I can relax and enjoy my summer.

Anyway, I'm joining with Farley once more for her May Currently.

Listening-To Paris Combo on Pandora.  I love Pandora, because I can listen to any kind of music I like and whatever genre I like.  Lately, it's been French jazz.  I'd love to go back to France one of these days and spend some time there.

Loving- This time of year and things are wrapping up at school.  The state testing is over with and it's got a more relaxed feel to it.  The students are doing more field trips, assemblies and Junior Achievement Day.  I'm finished up with all of my ieps for the year and turning them in.  Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week and my Birthday and we have three weeks left of school.

Thinking-I'm also getting major spring fever and ready for summer time.  I get to spend some time at our cottage in Minnesota, take some fun road trips, and finally time to do a lot of the stuff I postpone until summer time.

Wanting-I really need to buy some new clothes for summer.  I've lost weight and a lot of my old stuff doesn't fit, so now it's time for some shopping therapy and get some cute new clothes for summer.

Needing-I really need to get serious about getting healthy and in shape.  Summer time always inspires to eat more healthy and get on a regular exercise routine.  I've been postponing it all year.  I've gotten on a semi regular yoga routine, but I really need to work on a regular exercise routine with weights and regular cardio, as well as eating healthier.

Summer Bucket List- Going to the ocean and some fun summer road trips out of town to escape the heat in Phoenix.  I also want to do a lot more reading, work out more, eat healthier-more fruits and vegetables, planning for the year ahead and learn more about blogging and creating products.

Come join the fun and let us know what your doing Currently!

Counting down the days!

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to count down the days until the end of school (20 days, 28 wakeups)!  I've enjoyed my year, and learned a lot, but I'm looking forward to taking some time to refresh and recharge and get ready for next year.  Since I'm already starting to think about next year, I decided to join this fun linky with I Teach 5th.

Looking back over the year some of my highlights were:

1) Having a student teacher for the first time

2) Starting my blog

3) Getting a new projector and a new document camera and implementing more about technology into my daily routine.

4) Changing my room around

5) Working with a whole new team 

6) Using Class Dojo

I'm looking forward to:

1) Our school is getting two classes of students with Autism coming to our school for the first time.  It'll be an interesting population to have and it'll be nice to some other special ed teachers on our team.

2) I'm hoping to find some resources for more technology in my classroom next year-like smart boards, ipads, and ipods.

3) Getting my room organized and more cutesy.

4) How to use Class Dojo more effectively.

5) Learn more about Power teaching and implementing it.

6) I want to learn more about making products, using them in my classroom and selling them.

How, I didn't realize how much I'd accomplished until I start reflecting on my school year.

Sunday Social

 

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  Work will be getting back to normal next week after a long week of testing.  We only have 5 weeks left of school.  I can't believe how fast it's going! Anyway, I'm linking up with  Ashley  and Neely  for their Sunday Social!    1. What is your shopping weakness?

purses, jewelry and I also love buying new tops.  Right now I'm on the quest for new dresses since summer is near. 

 2. What is your food weakness?

spaghetti and pizza are my favorite!

3. What is your go to movie to watch when nothing is on?

Dirty Dancing, and Top Gun

4. What is your go to breakfast food?

Oatmeal with fruits and nuts-yummy!  I also usually grab a coffee from somewhere (right now Circle K cause it's so cheap)

5. Do you drink coffee? If so, how do you take it?

Yes, but I prefer lattes, or mochas

Come link up with us!!

Enjoy your Sunday~

Finally a breather!

The last few weeks have been super busy.  Week before last week was so busy writing and holding ieps.   I had five scheduled.  They all got done, but there was a lot of rescheduling and juggling things to get them all accomplished, but they're all finished.  I only have three more to go before the end of the year.  Definitely the more challenging aspect of my job-trying to coordinate everyone's schedules and get my paperwork completed.  I'm sure my fellow special educators can relate.

Last week was our state testing week, AIMS week!  It went pretty well, but I'm glad it's over with.  It can be stressful, but also a little bit boring too, because so much of it is just proctoring the test-encouraging students and making sure they do their best.  Next week it's almost back to normal.  Now we start our district tests.  

I was also following the events unfolding in Boston.   My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims in the senseless tragedy.  I just can't even imagine what it was like on Friday with the whole city in lockdown. 

I capped off the week with a Jeff Bridges concert-yes the actor.  If you saw him in Crazy Heart that's what it was like.  It was a wonderful concert!  Looking forward to a relaxing weekend-an outdoor concert, lunch with friends today, yoga outdoors tomorrow and then I need to finish getting ready for next week.

5 more weeks to go!!

Enjoy your weekend! 

  

April Currently

It's hard to believe it's time for another currently.  I feel like we just did the March one.  These last few months have flown by and it will soon be the end of the year.  Here in Arizona we're gearing up for AIMS week, our state wide testing week.  We have one more week to prep and it's time.  Crazy!  After that it's downhill from there.  It'll be summer before we know it. 

So I'm linking up with Farley's Currently once more.  If you haven't joined in yet there is still time.

Listening-I love Pandora and I'm loving french jazz.  I just discovered a new french singer called Zaz who I love.  Unfortunately, I can't get her on Pandora, but I can enjoy her on you tube.  I think my next trip to Europe will be France.  I've been to Paris once when I was younger, but I really want to spend more time there and explore Paris and the rest of France.

Loving-I love Arizona at this time of year.  SO much to do-lots of great hiking, spring training, and lots of things to do outdoors-festivals etc.  It's beautiful!  It was also nice to enjoy an Arizona bloggy get together and meet some Arizona bloggers.

Thinking-  So hard to believe the school year is winding down already.  One more week to AIMS, then it's downhill from there.  After that there are lots of end of the year assemblies, field trips etc.  I have about five ieps next week, then only a few more before the end of the year.

Needing-I'm really needing and wanting to simplify my life.  I need to learn how to work smarter, not harder and enjoy my time with family and friends.  I also need to get back into swing dancing.  It just makes me happy.

Advice-Don't sweat the small stuff.  Now if I can just take that advice.

Anyway, come join the fun and link up with Farley! 

Wanting- More technology!  I'm loving my new projector and document camera.  I just figured out how to set it up and have been playing around with using it.  So much better for Class Dojo.  My next goal a smart board and maybe some IPads.

Enjoy the weekend!

Easter Sunday Social

 Happy Easter everyone!  I hope your having a nice relaxing weekend.  This is my parents last weekend in town before they head to our summer place, so I've been hanging out with them going to movies, lunch and church.  I'm also gearing up for a VERY busy couple of weeks.  I have loads of ieps and were gearing up for AIMS week.

So now I'm doing something fun and linking up with Neely and Ashley for their Sunday Social.


This Weeks Questions:
1. Favorite type of work out to do?  Right now it's yoga, but I also love hiking, walking and running

2. Favorite guilty pleasure candy or sweet?  jelly beans, or small candy bars

3. What is one thing you continuously forget to do? Hmm, I can't think of anything that I consistently forget, but I can be absent minded sometimes with daily things like remembering my lunch or something.

4. Posts its or phone reminders? Why? Post it's!  They're wonderful for everything.  I'm always writing reminders on post it notes.

 5. Favorite picture currently on your phone that always makes you smile  A picture of my nieces, or of our cottage in Minnesota.

Next Weeks Questions: All About Pinterest
1. What is your favorite outfit pin?
2. What is your favorite food pin?
3. What is your favorite wedding pin?
4. What is your favorite DIY/craft pin?
5. What is your favorite quote/verse/lyric pin?
6. Share one more random pin you love.