July Currently

Happy Canada Day!

Today we spent the day at a local Canada Day festivities which had music, games, a petting zoo and many, many bouncy houses. My little Canadian (okay really she is Canadian/American) had fun watching all the "big" kids aka her cousins play the games and jump in the bouncy houses. At 9 months old she's not quiet old enough to participate. She did have fun in the petting zoo though. That is until the roosters started making a lot of noise. I just love days that are all about spending time with family.

I must add that this princess took 5 whole steps today on her own. Yay! She will be walking any day now I just know it. :)

Now it's time to link up with the fabulous Farley for the July Currently. 

 * Listening- I never watched a lot of T.V. before but since having a baby I have found that T.V. time at night after she goes to bed is my time to actually sit on the couch & just relax. Sometimes I add a red glass of wine with that couch relaxation. There are never any good T.V. shows on during the summer so I am happy Extant started tonight. It's not my fav but it's something to watch.

*Loving- Okay. Okay. Before you think "but a 9 month old should have been sleeping through the night a long time ago", let me just add that my child woke to nurse EVERY 2 hours from the day she was brought home from the hospital until she was 6 months old. I sang Hallelujah when she started expanding her night nursings to 3-4 hours after 6 months. She then went through a phase where she woke 4-5 times a night to nurse at 8 months when she was cutting her 1st tooth so it felt like magic just a few weeks ago when she would only wake once in the night. I have been told by many to just let her cry it out one night and then she will sleep through the night like a sweet angel every night. I just can't do that. I rather cuddle my sweet angel in the night and let her get there at her own pace. 

Hold up.... ask me again in August when I start back to work because I am for certain I will be singing a different tune then.

*Thinking- Can I handle next year? Yes, I know summer just started for many of y'all and you make think is this woman crazy to be thinking about next school year over the summer. I was on maternity leave this whole school year and the previous year I was only part time because that's all my principal could offer me, so when she called and offered me a kindergarten and grade 2 position so that I would practically be full time I screamed "OF COURSE!". After all, this has been what I have been waiting for since moving to Canada... a full time position. You peeps are my inspiration! I just think of how millions of teacher mommas go out there to teach full time and then come home and do their momma duties. It will be my first time juggling being a momma while working and my first time teaching two grades at that.

 How do you survive?

Do you bring work home?

Do you stay at the school late?

Do you feel like you still get to spend enough time with your child/children?

I am excited, nervous, scared and will probably be a tad over whelmed.

*Wanting- Since me getting to spend every day, every second with my little will end when the summer ends I plan to spend every moment soaking in my time with her and being in the moment. I have been making sure that we stay busy exploring new places or as I like to call them "Raley field trips". Oh & her name is pronounced Ray-lee. :) I think I might have a break down when I have to send her to a day home full time. I cried the other night when talking about it to the hubs.

*Needing- So Raley doesn't turn one until September and her party is not until the end of August but I know I will be super busy in August getting things ready for my two classes and for the start of a new school year. That is why I need to start getting all of her birthday stuff together now. I am wanting to get her a KidKraft play kitchen so I also need to order that.

*All- I love being a Momma and it comes to easy to me. It's my favourite thing in the whole entire world. Possibly a bit too much since I love to be by my little's side 24/7 or maybe it's because one day I know she will no longer glued to her hip. lol. I know some mommas who stress too much or worry all the time which I feel would make being a momma more difficult, but luckily I'm just one of those go with the flow kind of gals. Plus being a momma is the first thing that came to mind when I thought of something that I am good at. 

Thanks for another great Currently Farley. Okay, now it's your turn. Go link up.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Raley wore red today in celebration of the Dr.'s birthday. We also read a few of his books. 

She may or may not have preferred to eat them.

LISTENING: Is flipping through the channels a man thing or is it just me? That or when he does find something it's hockey. Ugh! That's what I get for marrying a Canadian who was a hockey player until his 30s. 

LOVING: My baby girl will be 6 months next week & has finally started getting to the point where she doesn't need my 24/7 attention or maybe it's the fact that I introduced her to the T.V. and Curious George. Does that make me a bad mom? Eeek. Hey, whatever I can do to get 5 minutes to have her sit in her exersaucer and allow me to throw some clothes in the laundry, cook super without wearing her on me and best of all... actually get to work on my computer to update and create products.

THINKING: We fly South in May to visit family in Mississippi and are staying there for 3 weeks. I can not wait!!! I miss my family and friends so much. I also can't wait to introduce Raley to the beach. :)

WANTING: I can not wait until the night that I get a full night's sleep. My little one wakes up 2-4 times a night to eat. It used to be 3-5 so we are making progress. A LOT more progress compared to where she was last month. It only continues to improve from here I am guessing.

NEEDING: Okay. Okay. So maybe ordering my soon to be 6 month old baby girl's first birthday outfit isn't quiet needed just yet but I get over excited for things like that. In my defense the Etsy company I am ordering it from only ships to the U.S. so if I order it now and ship it to my mom then I can bring it back with me when we go visit in May.

SPRING BREAK PLANS: Every day is a Spring Break for me but that Spring Break includes a lot of snow and very very cold weather.

Thanks Farley for your wonderful Currently as always. :)

I love seeing how everyone celebrates the Dr.'s b-day in their classroom. Here are a few of my favs.

School is a Happy Place features this adorable craft and writing on her blog for Put Me in the Zoo.

Mrs. Terhune;s First Grade Blog has some great Dr. Seuss activities. I like how she displays if her students like or don't like green eggs and ham.

The Kinder Wife features an addition activity on her blog that I really like. My students do something similar to this activity during our Ocean unit. She has some other good Dr. Seuss activities as well.

Primary Press has some great rhyming activities that she incorporates with Dr. Seuss activities.

Kindergarten: Holding Hands & Sticking Together has some yummy themed treats along with activities and videos.

Elizabeth over at Kickin' It In Kindergarten has a book shelf that I am envious of. Doesn't that make you jealous?

Grab a One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish Counting & Addition freebie here.

It's Currently May... You mean already?!

I seriously cannot believe it is already May. Only 2 more months of school left. Well, actually a little under two. So much is happening here and I feel like these last 2 months of school are going to fly by. It's also that time (or it was 3-4 days ago) to link up with Farley @ Oh Boy 4th Grade.

 

 

 

Listening-

All that hammering & drilling I am hearing is coming from the hubs & dad-in-law. They are finishing our basement to add another T.V. room/play room in preparation for our wee one. Plus my mom is coming up in September for 2 weeks to help out with our soon-to-be new addition & I figured she may want to stay in the basement in case our princess cries a lot or loud at night. Since we will be 1st time parents I figured "Babies can be like a box of chocolate, you never know what you're going to get." LOL! That's my twist on Forrest Gump.

 

Loving-

On Friday I signed a teaching contract for next year so that I will have a job. YAY! I am so- pumped. Here in Canada, or in Alberta at least, I have learned that for the 1st 2 years or until you have taught for 400 days straight you have to be offered a new contract each year to sign. You are not guaranteed a job for the following year. Since my school only had a part-time job for me this year teaching kindergarten I am even more excited that I will have a full time teaching job next year.

 

Thinking-

Yep, that's right. I will be going from teaching kindergarten this year to teaching 4th grade (or as they call it here, grade 4) next year!!! Ummm... Help?! I am really excited to be able to teach older kiddos but while I am excited about a new adventure I must admit that I am pretty nervous. I do LOVE my Kinders!

 

Wanting-

My hair normally grows slow but it's growing so fast and I need a haircut asap. Luckily I have an appointment next week for one. I am also in need of a bigger bra. You guessed it. Being pregnant has these bad boys growing out of control. LOL! Yes, I said it.

 

Needing-

Any & all furniture I can use for a new big kid classroom. Since I teach kinder only part-time now I share a classroom with another kindergarten teacher. This means next year I will have my own classroom & starting from scratch. I am keeping my fingers crossed that since many teachers will be switching classrooms this summer that they will be cleaning out & will want to get rid of some bookshelves & tables. I will be in desperate need of them.

 

Surprise-

 

While I LOVE all my kinder & 1st grade bloggers out there I am now in desperate need of inspiration for grade 4. Teaching with Blonde Ambition is a blog I have followed for a while but since I teach K I didn't follow her blog as closely as I did with my fellow K teachers. Her blog has quickly become my go-to blog for inspiration. My TPT Store cart & wish list has quickly filled up with lots of goodies to use in my grade 4 classroom from Nicole's TPT Store. Thanks Nicole for your inspiration.

 

This month our classroom was turned into a rainforest for our unit on the rainforest.

 

 Medial sound short u sort on butterflies.

 

Our lazy sloths.

 

Students created addition sentences on their sloths.

 

Our Spring writing.

 

Don't forget to grab your End of the Year Award Certificates!!!

I promise you these are the BEST end of the year award out there.

 

 

 

 

 

Currently...April

Well it's April which is suppose to be filled with warmer weather and melting snow here since it's technically spring but there are chances of snow again near the end of the week :( Tear.
It's time for Farley's Currently so head over to Oh Boy, 4th Grade and link up!

 

 

 

Listening... Well it's spring break this week for us and there isn't too much to watch on T.V. during the day so it's turned off which means all I hear is my pup chowing down her food.

 

Loving... Ultra sounds have seriously become my favourite!!! I wish I could sit and watch our little babe in my belly all day. (sigh)

 

Thinking... I have been enjoying this time off for spring break. It's giving me time to update my end of the year awards. It's also made me realize how much I need to try and add products to TPT that I make for class. My hands go down to you lovely ladies & gents that add products through out the school year. I am just better at uploading them all in the summer time.

 

Wanting... to find out our little chub's gender which we will on Sunday!!! I am so impatient and this is just KILLING ME but I really want our families to find out all at the same time. I did have my kiddos in class predict the baby's gender.

 

Needing... With this baby coming in September I really need my contract renewed for next year. Either way I obviously would like to teach but even more so with a bun in the oven. For the first 2 years of teaching here you have to get offered a contract each year. It's a little nerve racking but I have a fabulous principal that I really trust so my fingers are crossed and prayers are said.

Speaking of contract & baby coming... How long do y'all usually get off for maternity leave?

We get a year here so that'd be Sept. to Sept. for me but I am planning on coming back in January after Christmas break which if I want a full time teaching job next year this would better secure that position.

I think I remember maternity leave in the States being 6 weeks? Is that correct?

 

Hours and Last Day... Since we don't start until Sept. 6th our last day in June 28th with the kids.

 

Happy April!!!

 

Currently... It's looking & feeling a lot like Fall

I'm linking up with Farley for the October Currently.

 

 

I am just loving that all the tv shows are back, plus new ones. Oh how I've missed my shows.

I got my 1st Canadian teaching paycheck last week, well since teaching in Mississippi... Yippee! It felt great.

I am lucky and blessed to have such a great set of kiddos this year. I know they will come far and I can't wait to see the progress they make this year.

I don't know what it is about fall, maybe it's the cool breeze in the air but it just makes me want to shop. I am wanting a new winter coat and boots. It is already cold here and I am hoping the snow holds off for a few more weeks.

Speaking of winter... I need winter tires and a block heater for my car. Since I couldn't work last year I didn't drive much so I didn't need them.

 

I created this Fall sight word reader for my kiddos for next week since Canadian Thanksgiving is Oct. 14th, so I am sharing it with you.

(Click on the picture to snag it.)

 

Want more goodies? Leave your email in a comment & I will randomly choose someone.

You have to chance to get all 3 of my Sight Word Reader sets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENTLY... Oh the never ending list!

Has it been weeks since I last blogged?! Oh dear! Oh my! Thank goodness for Farley & her Currently to bring me back on track. Ahhh!!! This week has been nuts & school HASN'T even started for us yet. Seriously? Yes, seriously. Well tomorrow is the first day of school for me so I have been non-stop.

 

 

I suppose I should enjoy the silence while I can.

I am trying to be productive today since I meet my little ones tomorrow but I haven't left the couch yet. LOL! I promise I will as soon as I finish this post.

I left a really great school & some pretty awesome colleagues behind in Gulfport, MS. when I moved to Canada, and was hoping I would have an even better if not as good as staff at which ever new school I may continue my teaching journey at. I must say the faculty I will be working with this year are pretty awesome and I am excited for this new school year! 

With me teaching kinder 3 days a week, substitute teaching 2 days a week, working at another job as a waitress 2-3 nights a week AND taking an online Canadian history class I am in BRAIN OVERLOAD!!! I am one of those gals that likes to have dinner cooked when the hubs gets home since I know he works long hours, but lately that's just been difficult and I know it will be hard to do with all of the things I have going on. I can't help but love & think how awesome my hubs is to do the cooking, cleaning & washing after coming home from work. I know this week and last week I haven't put in my share of the duties but I'm just so scattered brain lately.

My thinking, wanting & needing kind of all go hand in hand....

I need more time, but then again who doesn't?

I have been so overwhelmed lately trying to find time to get things ready for back to school, waiting tables & reading all 10 chapters of my history book. By the way I am a slow reader so that doesn't help. LOL!

Talk about ADD... How am I suppose to focus on writing a 2,000 word essay on how the French impacted the Native Societies during the same week as first week of school. I seriously thought about going to the doctor & getting back on Concerta since I took it from 3rd grade all the way until I graduated college in 2009, but I decided not to. I just need to deal with it & make lots of to-do lists. I haven't written a paper in over 5 years so my brain is a bit rusty on writing papers and I just can't seem to get into the groove of things.

Finishing this paper would make my heart happy.

Saving $ more than I spend it would make my heart very happy. I'm hoping this will be easier now that I have everything I need in my classroom for now.

With this busy schedule of ours this month a date night with the hubs is definitely a must!

 

Stay tuned for First Day of School Photos tomorrow :)

 

Check out all the other Currently posts.

 



August Currently & B2S Giveaway

It's that time for Farley's Currently again. I know I feel like I say this every month but July really did fly by!

 

* My Nana watched Rookie Blue while she was visiting & now I'm finding myself watch it.

 

* That's right- I have the 1st two (almost 3) weeks of lesson plans written. It's killing me that I haven't been able to get into the school yet so I have been doing everything that I can to get as prepared as possible from home. Plus I will be taking an online Canadian Studies class this year, as well as substitute teaching on the Tuesdays & Thursdays I'm not teaching kindergarten ANDDD am going to try to keep my job at Boston Pizza by working weekends. WHEW! This is going to be one super busy Fall.

 I may not be able to get in the school yet but that doesn't stop me from laminating... Thanks to Scholar's Choice I got all this laminated for only $18. Hey, that beats the $50 I spent @ Staples to get one poster and 5 small cards laminated. Talk about ridiculous. I am so glad Scholar's Choice has a reasonable price for laminating. Anyone want to help cut things out for me?!

 

I bought me these R-E-A-D letters @ Walmart and just finished painting them. Now I just need to add ribbon so that I can hang them up in the classroom. I bought so many goodies for the classroom that I can't wait to show y'all the photos once it's all up.

 

Have you entered for the Back 2 School Giveaway yet? If not don't forget to enter below!!!

 

Shout out to Melonheadz Illustrating (clipart) & Graphics from the Pond (frames).

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Don't forget to link up with Farley by clicking on her button.

 

Currently

Wake Up, Wake Up It's the 1st of the Month (song tune in my head while writing this post).... Well actually it's the 3rd. I'm a little behind this week.

Joining Farley and her fabulous Currently as always :)

 

 I am pooped & should be sleeping but hey I can sleep in tomorrow.

You may be tired of hearing it--- but I'm still on cloud nine about having a job or more about getting to decorate a new classroom. I love decorating my classroom each year. Like I want to start now but I can't :( The school year is still in go up here. It doesn't get out until the last week of June.

Do you have a Wand? I want one.

Supposedly in the next 3 weeks we should be getting a fence put up for the backyard.

I always pack at least 5 swimsuits for any vacay and at least 3 pairs of sunglasses. Wearing a dress in the summer is also a fav of  mine.

 

Just uploaded this bad boy to TPT. I know the year has just ended for most but I like having my 1st two weeks of back to school planned and ready to go so I don't feel over whelmed with all that there is to do the 1st few weeks of school. You can check out the Back to School Unit here.

 The following are included in the Back to School Unit.

 

Keep an eye out on the Lovely Literacy and More Facebook Page for when you can snag this Back to School Unit as a flash freebie at some point tomorrow for the 1st 10 who download.

Feedback is welcomed :)