I'm Throwing A TpT Sale!

Teachers Pay Teachers is throwing sale, which means I'm throwing one too!!! I am very excited to share my resources with you all. A lot of my store is free, but I do have some paid resources. Feel free to check them out here!

2016 Goals and Plans

Happy New Year everyone!!! 2016 is going to be an amazing year. I'm so excited to link up with Ashley from Schroeder Shenanigans in 2nd and Angie from Lucky Little Learners for January's Linky Party.



I love the fact that we, as educators, get several new starts throughout the year. We get our academic starts, and calendar starts. It gives me the chance to always renew and review my goals for the year. I am happy to share my goals with everyone, and hear about everyone else's goals and plans. Follow me here, and on social media to see how I do with them.

In case you have missed my previous, #2getherwearebetter post, click below. Don't forget to follow the rest of the series here. 

Holiday Traditions

I have set up goals for my professional, personal, and "business" life. They all focus on the word: Organize.

Classroom Goal:
I don't have a problem with organizing MOST of my classroom, but still struggle with several areas. These are the areas that make it harder for me to keep a welcoming room.

• First Area: My Desk

My desk is crazy. From the printer that acts up, to the numerous teacher guides and papers, it's constantly a disaster. I am really aiming to organize it and keep it that way, ASAP. The area behind my desk is also very cluttered. I have bookshelves that don't always stay up, so the supplies there get destroyed. Goal: Organize supplies and area to make it more presentable, and usable.

• Second Area: Science Supplies

I inherited a bunch of supplies when I was hired. A lot of them are useful, but there is very little storage space. As well, the supplies are old and dirty. I need to continue to sit and go through these supplies, and get rid of what CAN be thrown out, and STORE/ORGANIZE what needs to be. Goal: Sort through supplies in my rolling cart, and organize by topic.

• Third Area: Organizer Drawers

My Sterlite containers are amazing. They help me organize the supplies needed for a specific day, and a specific subject. It is an awesome system, and works well when I have a Substitute. However, i don't use them as much as I should. My copies stay on my desk, or back tables for weeks. Goal: Really use the drawers to help keep my desk and tables clear and neat. 

• Fourth Area: Keep and Utilize Better To-Do Lists

I make to-do lists, but I don't make them every week. I need to come up with a better format, and actually use them every day. There is nothing better than crossing off something from your to-do list. It gives me a little butterfly in my stomach. Goal: Find or create a to-do list format AND use it daily/weekly to help productivity rise.

Business Goal:
Beginning a small business is hard. I am not the most creative teacher, nor am I the most amazing one. I use a lot of amazing resources to make my teaching effective. My "business" goal helps me reflect on my teaching and force me to become more creative.

• First Area: TPT Resources

I really want to grow my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I hope to do this by posting at least one new free resource, from my own creations, a month. I also would like to aim to post and create at least 2 paid resources for the 2016 year. Goal: Create and post the resources AND refine the resources I already use.

• Second Area: Blogging & Social Media

I have done a lot of blogging in 2015. I even paid and had my blog design done professionally. This really helped me figure out an awesome brand for myself. The logo and color scheme is used in all of my areas. Goal: Post 1-2 times a week and add them onto my social media sites. 

Personal Goal:
I haven't taken a lot of time for myself in the past year or so. It was a crazy time with my grandfather's death, and learning how to live without him. It wasn't all horrible, though, because I met the man of my dreams during this past year. =)

• First Area: Family & Friends

I really need to focus on my family and friends. They help me become a better person. Their support is what drives me. However, I get too wrapped up in making sure that I am the best that I can be, that I actually fall short of perfection. I also realized during this past year that I take pictures of OTHER PEOPLE, but very rarely include myself. I need to include myself in these photos, so that I can too remember the good times that are had. Goal: Spend more quality time with my family and friends, AND document things more , so the memories can last forever.

• Second Area: Me Time

I don't give myself enough "me time". I am constantly worrying about what I have to do, or how I can please other people, that I forget to please myself. I need to organize my house and my STUFF more. It's become a huge mess during the time my mom was not living with us. It needs to change. I also need to learn to stick to a budget. I also hope to finish A Game of Thrones. I've been reading it for so long, and I hope to finish it soon. I miss reading. Goal: Plan a budget and stick to it; organize my bedroom and college supplies; take time once a month for something I will enjoy.

• Third Area: Fitness

During this past year or so, I have gone through a bunch of fitness changes. I was on a roll and going to the gym for Zumba and personal training. Then life got crazy with my new job and my PopPop being sick. My fitness kind of got pushed to the side. Goal: Eat better, AND go to the gym to Zumba at least 2-3 times per week.

What are your goals and plans for 2016? 

Elves in the Classroom- Week 4

The last three days of school were pretty tame for my Elf Family. They didn't do much. 

Day 15- 12/21/15

The elves hung out by some of the books, that aren't checked out all that often.

Day 16- 12/22/15

Then they went to the top of the book shelf. They really love to read.

Day 17- 12/23/15 

As we all know, Elves love candy canes. They had to sit with my leftover candy canes on our last day before break. 

Elves in the Classroom-Week 3

The elves have all come and gone, but I realized I hadn't posted about their adventures over the last 7 days in the classroom.

Day 10- 12/14/15
The elves brought us MORE Christmas stories. We used one (not pictured) to start another writing assignment.

Day 11- 12/15/15
The elves hung out by my desk. Jingle Jangles wore an ugly sweater.

Day 12- 12/16/15
Elves decided to visit my Jesse Tree.

Day 13- 12/17/15
MY FAVORITE DAY! The Jangles Family brought the fourth and fifth graders their consumable science books that they had been waiting on since the summer. It was a Christmas miracle!! They even ripped a book, and started eating it.

Day 14- 12/18/15
The elves hung out in the "jungle" (aka where all my plants are housed).

Lesson Plan Hack

Recently, I realized how tiresome my lesson planning was becoming. Planning still takes forever, but copying it from my typed format to the paper book is insane. My mom suggested something, and I am so glad I took her advice. (Thanks Mom!)

I used to print my plans, then hand cut each box and tape them into the book. It took FOREVER. Now I....

USE STICKER LABEL SHEETS! This saves SO much time! 

It just takes 6 simple steps.

Step 1: Print plans onto sticker label sheets.

Step 2: Trim page.

Step 3: Peal off back.

Step 4: Place onto page.

Step 5: Press down to secure.

Step 6: Enjoy neatly written plans. =)

Hopefully this can help you save some time!

Elves in the Classroom-Week 2

This is a little late, but December is crazy for everyone!! My elves are still getting into mischief. This time, they came bundled up and prepared for the cold weather. 

On Day 6, they hung out by the TV. They didn't do much, but it was fun to see them somewhere new.

On Day 7, the elves brought us new books to read aloud. We love being in New Jersey!

On Day 8, they felt like being a little religious. They went and sat in the middle of the Advent wreath!

Finally, on Day 9, they sat by the Three Kings. 

The Jangles Family is already getting into trouble this week. I'll update you all over the weekend on their progress.

Holiday Traditions

Hey everyone! I'm doing my first linky party! I'm so excited to link up with Ashley from Schroeder Shenanigans in 2nd and Angie from Lucky Little Learners to share my FAVORITE holiday traditions for my classroom. I'm new to the #2getherwearebetter party, but I'm excited to keep joining them month to month! 

Since I work at a Catholic School, most of our students celebrate Christmas. There are several traditions that we partake in as a school, such as Advent Prayer Services and attending Reconciliation. Every classroom puts up an Advent wreath and the Religion classes put up a Jesse Tree. I place a wreath in my room. It always brightens my day. I also put up a small manager scene. I make sure the Three Kings are far away. They travel a little at a time. The students love trying to see if the kings moved at all.

My most FAVORITE tradition is my Elf on the Shelf. I have gone crazy and even picked up more elves. All of my classes love seeing what the Elves have gotten into each day.

I also give my students a small gift at the end of the year. This is usually just a holiday pencil. My kids lose pencils and pens like they are going out of style!

What are your favorite holiday traditions for the classroom?