My summer bucket list

I've had a wonderful weekend celebrating the end of school!!  I have a lot of goals this summer and things I want to accomplish this summer so I sat down and made a list of goals.  So glad this fun linky party came at just the right time to help me plan.  So join in with A Cupcake for the Teacher  Miss Kindergarten and
A Modern Teacher  for this fun linky.

1) Reflect on what worked, what didn't and plan for the coming year.
2) Work on growing my blog and learning how to make products for my classroom and for possibly selling.
3) Writing-I have a story I've been working on for awhile and would love to focus on this summer.
4) Eating healthy and getting on a good exercise routine.  I really need to get in shape!
5) Having fun of course-lunches with friends, movies, dancing, dancing and more dancing (love swing dancing), reading and road trips.
6) My annual journal to our cottage in MN and hopefully an escape to cooler weather.

Hope everyone has a good Memorial Day weekend and   

School Year in Review

Going, going gone!!  School is out for summer! (as the song says) 

Hard to believe that school is out for summer once more!  It was a long, busy school year and so much has happened this year.    I was really proud of the growth my students made over the year,  It's bittersweet, because I'm excited for summer, but I'll miss my fifth graders that are moving on to middle school next year.

• I started the school year with a brand new team.  Next year it will be an almost brand new team once again.   I've met everyone though and they seem excited and raring to go.
• I had a student teacher for the first time ever.  It was a lot of work, but a really good experience for me.
• I had a document camera and projector installed in my classroom and was able to use it for the first ever!  So cool!!  Now, I can't wait to get more technology (smart boards and ipads) so I need to figure out how to accomplish that.
• I started my blog right around fall break!  What a good experience that has been!
• I discovered a new classroom management tool with Class Dojo which had a really positive effect on my class.
• I had more time to move around my classroom layout and reorganize my classroom which was a big boost for me.

Anyway,  I'm really looking forward to a relaxing summer.  I'll be doing some planning and blogging, but also spending time taking care of myself eating healthy, exercising and taking some road trips this summer as well as spending time at our cabin in Minnesota.

New websites I found this year! Teachers Talking Tech on Thursday

We only have two more days left of school!!  It's so hard to believe!!   I'm cleaning up and packing up my classroom as well as getting ready for next year.  The kids are excited and there are all sorts of fun activities for them at the end of the school year, talent shows, Junior Achievement as well as water day today, and a staff vs. students kickball game on Friday, as well as kindergarten graduation.

I found a fun new weekly link up party at the The Eager Teacher all devoted to talking tech, which is something I've wanted to do this year.  I've been learning more, as well as trying to incorporate more and I'm excited to find a linky party that supports this!!

Class Dojo-Was the best website I discovered this year.  It's a website that allows you to a fun and visual way of keeping track of points earned by students during the school year.  The students names along with cute little monsters are listed and can be projected on to a screen on a projector.  Students can win points for positive behavior, as well as lose points for unacceptable behavior.  Then the teacher can create an award system for earning points.

Xtra Math- This website allows you to create classes for your students and have them practice math facts individually.

Anyway, those are the main ones for now.  Enjoy the rest of your week!  Two more days until summer vacation!!

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!