Currently May

I know, I know...I've been gone FOR-EV-ER!  It's been a crazy year with lots of ups and a few downs and sooooo incredibly busy!  I've missed participating in Currently so I was so excited that it is up and running for May!  I sort of wish it was June since we don't get out of school until June 20th!  I'm so jealous of all of you who are down to your last few weeks!

Listening:  I'm listening (not watching) to Bloodrelatives on the Investigation Discovery channel.  I'm addicted to this channel!  Anyone else like all of these real life crime/murder shows?

Loving:  I love my family of course but I am celebrating that we are all healthy.  My mom had a serious health issue at the beginning of the year but is now doing fabulous!  I am so grateful for our health! Feeling blessed!

Thinking:  I've recently gained six new special education students and have to write their IEP's which is not fun!  I want a secretary!

Wanting:  We've been talking about adopting a pug (from a rescue) so that our little pug will have some company.  We're still not sure if it's the right decision for us.  Anyone have any good advice?

Needing:  We finally (after 5 years) have decided on a date to get married (September 19) and it's on my parent's 50th wedding anniversary!  I'm so excited about finally getting hitched but it doesn't give us much time!  I'm still searching for the perfect place for our ceremony and reception.  So nervous!

Surprise:  If you don't already follow Kelly over at First Grade Fairytales I strongly urge that you rush over and check out her wonderful blog!  She is such a kind and talented person!  You will love her too!

So that's it for me for today!  I have to go finish an IEP and then get some sleep!  So glad tomorrow is Friday!

Oh and if you haven't entered  yet...you still have a few hours to try to win a pair of Tieks!  Eeekk!  I'm so excited!  Just click on this picture to enter!

And link up with Farley to join in the Currently fun!

It's Currently May!!!

It's May!  I'm so excited!  I would be even more excited if it was June instead!  I'm not wishing my life away but PEOPLE I have 38 (I think) more days left of school!!!!  Ahhhh!  Okay, enough about that...I'm linking up with Farley for her awesome Currently linky.

Listening:  I love Criminal Minds or any kind of criminal like show!  Did any of  you watch this season's "The Following?"  Monday was the season finale and it was amazing!

Loving:  My family...always!

Thinking:  I have SO many new referrals and therefore their will be MANY new IEP's to write!  Ugh!  I do loathe paperwork!  Why can't we just spend our time teaching?

Wanting:  So my Spring break was last week and I spent 6 of the 9 days painting one of our bathrooms and our hallway.  Yes I really thought it would only take 2 days, perhaps 3 tops.  Clearly it did not work out that way!  Long story short we changed the bathroom paint after the first coat (the first paint choice came out way to dark) and I had to work around the fiance's work schedule.  So glad it was productive and it's done but if I ever have the idea to spend a break doing that again, someone PLEASE stop me!

Needing:  Sleep.  Who doesn't?  My problem is I don't know when to go to bed!  

Summer Bucket List:  I would like to finally open up a TpT store with all of the things I've been creating and using with my students to see if anyone else can benefit from them.  The fiance is taking two weeks off this summer and I'm hoping we'll go on an actual honest to goodness vacation (the last real vacation together was ummmmm......never).  I can't wait to sleep in and just relax (although I truly am not good at relaxing but at least I can spend this summer learning how to right)?

Currently April or April Fools?

Well it is still technically March but I  am so excited to be linking up with Farley for April's Currently!  Love these!

Listening:  Do you watch Red Widow?  It has only been on for a month or two but I'm enjoying it so far.  I like that the female lead is a butt whooping chick!

Loving:  I have wanted a Silhouette Cameo or Portrait for quite a while (and I think I've written that on several Currently's) but I just couldn't bare to splurge on myself!  Well I don't have to now because I won a Portrait from The Idea Room (thanks Amy)!

Thinking:  I LOVE holidays and spending time with family however, my fiance and I always host these gatherings at our house (because we have the most room) which means shopping, cooking and cleaning!  It's exhausting!

Wanting:  This winter has seemed exceptionally cold and I am so anxious for warmer weather!  I'm very jealous of all of you who live where it's warm (including my snowbird parents)!

Needing:  In New Hampshire we have three week long breaks over the course of the school year.  The first is for Christmas, then we have a week off at the end of February and finally a week off at the end of April.  I have so many plans for this upcoming break (painting my front hall and one of our bathrooms is at the top of the list).  The best part of break is that when we return the rest of the year seems to fly by!  This year we're not getting out until  June 24 because we had six snow days!  Yikes!

Advice:  Yes I really think I'm the one who needs the advice!  I don't blog nearly as often as most bloggers (how some of you manage to blog everyday astounds me...you are amazing).  I still haven't taken the plunge to share some of my creations on Tpt or Teachers Notebook yet.  I'm just not sure if anyone would find them useful because I'm a special education teacher and not a classroom teacher. Maybe one of these days!  I do believe that you should share what is in your heart and continue to try, whether that is blogging, creating for your store or teaching in general!
Read what other bloggers are doing Currently or link up yourself!

March Currently

It's March!  This year is seriously flying by!  I'm linking up with Farley for another fun Currently!

Listening:  Do you watch "The Following?"  It's action packed and a little on the gruesome side but I really like it!  Is it just me or has Kevin Bacon seriously not aged one bit?
Loving:  I love, love, love my new refrigerator!  Our previous fridge was ridiculously small for a four person family...you couldn't even fit a frozen pizza in the freezer!

Thinking:  So I've been thinking about opening up a TpT store and/or TN to share some of my creations that I use with my students.  Should I do it?  Is it better to use your blog name or your real name as your store name?  Any advice?  Here's a peek at what we've been working on lately:

Wanting:  I have wanted a Silhouette and an DSLR for a while and just can't decide if I should spend the money.  
Needing:  Last week was our winter break and it flew by!  I truly need another week off....guess I have to wait another 8 weeks for our Spring break!
Like:  Yes I really like ketchup!  I REALLY loved it as a kid and would eat it with just bread.  Gross I know!
Love:  Yes I love kittens....really just about every animal but especially dogs and cats!
Hate:  I couldn't think of anything that starts with a "K" except kneeling because it hurts after a bit!
If you haven't heard yet The Collaboration Cuties are having an AMAZING and HUGE giveaway to celebrate having 300 followers!  Click on the button below to follow them and enter!

November Currently and Centers

November is here!  I'm so excited!  It is going to be such a short month!  I'm loving that we don't have  a full week of school the whole month!  Last week we missed two days due to Sandy.  We were all VERY lucky around here and didn't have any damage (some folks had temporary power outages).  Next week we have four days as we have Election Day off (they use the schools for voting) and it's my fiance's birthday!  The following week we have Veteran's Day off and then we have two days the week after so that gives us  FIVE days off for Thanksgiving!  Wahoo!  I'm linking up with Farley from Oh Boy 4th Grade for November's Currently...

This past week we were finally able to fit in the AWESOME Fall Math Work centers from Kimberly at Funky First Grade Fun.

We had SO MUCH FUN!  These work stations include: telling time to the hour and half hour, clothespin addition, clothespin subtraction, addtion +1, subtraction -1 and place value match!  My first graders LOVED the addition +1 game!  My third graders loved the telling time and place value match games and begged to play again and again!  This week I am going to let my firsties play the telling time game (with just the hour cards as we just introduced it to them on Wednesday).  I highly recommend these work stations!  Your kiddos will LOVE them!  Pick up a copy for next year (just click on the picture above to go directly to Kimberly's TpT store)!

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been working on labeling with my firsties and they are starting to get very good at it.  Labeling has been wonderful for improving their vocabulary, language, and reading skills.  This month I'm going to try to work on their writing skills.  I thought I'd share another labeling freebie with you.  If you'd like a copy, just click on the picture below.

Have a great rest of the weekend!  One EXTRA hour of sleep tonight!  I LOVE it!

September Currently

Hi All!  I am SO psyched that September is here!  I think it might be my very favorite month of the year!  I just love everything about it...the weather, the smell, the newness of everything.  It seriously rejuvenates me!  How about you?  I'm linking up with Farley at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for September's Currently!

I can't wait to show you all pictures of my new planner and to share some Dolch word assessment freebies that I'll be doing this week with my kiddos so be sure to check back! I hope you all have a great day back to school, whether it's you first day or your fourteenth!