Summer Lovin'

Well folks there is officially 33 days of summer left for this teacher! I have truly enjoyed my time off this summer. I have relaxed, slept in, brushed up on my cooking skills (thanks to The Pioneer Woman), made lots of memories with my sweet boy, hung out with friends and even managed to work on school stuff. (Yea...I wanted too)

The summer is coming to end at a fast rate so I plan to make the most of the next couple of weeks, and luckily there is some sun, fun, sand and ocean in my near future! Nothing like a good ole family vacation.


Still on my summer bucket list:

• Family Beach Trip
• White Water Rafting date with my hubby
• Drive Inn Movies with my family
• Re-watching Dawson's Creek (Yep, it reminds me of being 13)
• Planning/Hosting my best friends baby shower! (Can't wait for Hayden to get here)
• Working with my new grade level teacher to plan out our FABOLOUS year! Have I said how excited I am to work with her? I am SO looking forward to this school year.

Throw in a couple play dates and  a Sweet Frog trip and I'll be one very happy girl.
I hope all my teacher friends are having a fantastic summer.

It's a Freebie!!!

Hey Ya'll

 

I don't know about you, but even though I have the summer off I can't help but think of my very LONG to-do list of all the new things I want to do at the beginning of the school year. There are endless ideas out there and I am so excited to try some new things this year.

 

So what is on my to-do list for this year?

 

1. Interactive math notebooks. I did this last year but I wasn't as committed to it as I wanted to be. This year I plan to incorporate this into the end of my math lesson so that students can work independently while I pull math small groups. Raegan Tunstall has some awesome interactive math notebook sets for each month. Check them out on her TpT store. Click here for Raegan's interactive math notebooks. Her blog and ideas are awesome. Check her out =)

 

2. Last year my classroom theme was Dr. Seuss, and I plan on keeping that theme this year but I am changing out a couple bulletin boards and adding in some new classroom décor. (pictures and postings to come later) I have a plan in mind, a shopping list and can't wait to change things around in my classroom =) I love a little change.

 

3. I won 2 grants for my classroom in May. One for science materials, and one for building my classroom library. I am SO excited to order new things for my classroom. I know when all the new materials get here it will feel like Christmas. I plan on jazzing up my reading center with new book bins and additional books. Also, I plan on creating a reading center with lots of fun touches for the kids, including: decorative pillows, new lamps, and a rug.

 

4. Also on my to-do list...adding additional items to my TpT store. =) Keep your eyes open.

 

These things are enough to keep me busy. At least for the next couple weeks =) 

 

BUT.... I do have a little something for you! I just created a math center game that I plan on incorporating at the beginning of the year. This math game connects to first grade common core standard 1.NBT.B.2 In this math game students will practice building numbers with ones and tens. I  thought this would be a great review for my new second graders. This is a freebie in my TpT store so head on over and grab it.

 

 

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Have a great weekend!

 

 



Welcome

 

Hey Ya'll ! Welcome!

I am so excited to embark on this new journey of connecting and sharing ideas through blogging.

I named my blog "Plain and Simple Teaching from the Heart" because its basically my teaching philosophy. One of my favorite teacher quotes is, "The best teachers teach from the heart, not a book" and I believe this to be so true. Even though I am considered a "newbie" teacher I feel that I have learned to follow my gut and do what is truly best for my students. (Yes! Even if that means taking a detour from the book) I truly love what I do and I have had a wonderful start to my career. I have met some wonderful teachers along the way and made some life long friends. I have been fully supported by my colleagues, administration,  friends and family.

I hope that you will join me on this new journey of love, laughter, learning and all the in-betweens.

Click here to get this free printable from blogger Blissful Roots