Scooter Girl and a Freebie!

So apparently I have a new nickname... "Scooter Girl."  At first I didn't know how to take it but I've just learned to live with it for the moment.  Let me back up to last week and explain...

 

As you know, I was in a boot for 90 days.  No fun.  But when the doctor asked me if I could RUN, I knew that was a red flag and I needed a 2nd opinion ASAP.  I could barely walk.  Seriously.  So a few days later, I got my 2nd opinion and landed in a new pretty pink cast.

 

This is "pre-signatures" of course.  My 4th graders were oh so excited to sign this thing. 

 

So as the nice little lady was wrapping my foot in this suffocating cast, I couldn't help but ask myself a few questions.

 

#1. How in the world am I going to get up all of those steps (19 to be exact) to my apartment?

Hmmmm..... why not move in with my mother for a month?  She makes really good sandwiches by the way!  First time she has packed my lunch since the 5th grade.

 

#2. How am I going to drive?

Start a rotation of all of the lovely people in my family. 

 

#3.  Crutches?   I mean, there's waaaaay too much of me to haul around on crutches. :)

 

So #3 was solved with this beauty...

It's a knee-walker and 50 shades of awesome!  Notice the 31 bag for storage. :)

It's a little difficult to maneuver around my classroom and write on the Smartboard but we are adjusting.  At least my kiddos are anxious to help out their poor 'ole teacher.

 

And that would be how I obtained the nickname "Scooter Girl" this week.

 

3 more weeks in the cast.  I CAN DO THIS! :)

 

 

We didn't have school on Monday because of MLK Day.  So on Tuesday, we started our Nonfiction unit.  I had my students choose a fiction book and nonfiction book and get with a partner.  They went through the books to determine similarities and differences between fiction and nonfiction text.  They recorded their answers on a venn diagram and then we made a class venn diagram.

 

Grab your copy of the student venn diagram HERE.

 

 

 

Friday we were there for 2 hours but went home early due to icey road conditions.  Still NO SNOW here in SC.  Maybe one day this year. (((fingers crossed)))

 

How about a giveaway?  I'm teaming up with another TPT seller so make sure to stop by later this week.

 

Smiles and Snapshots!

 

 

Donors Choose

The one thing that I found in my 2 1/2 years of teaching is that teachers constantly use their own money to purchase things for their classroom.  I'm always picking up something at the store... big or small.  Things always need replenishing or I'm always digging into my pockets for extra money to buy something for a lesson.

 

Donors Choose is a great opportunity for teachers to post projects that are in need of funding.

 

Below is a description of my project....

Do you remember the days of sitting at a desk and just dying to get up, dying to move, dying for your teacher to just let you have a break? You just wanted school to be more exciting!

I teach a Title One school with many underprivileged children. Most of them will not get an opportunity outside of class to use technological equipment. I have 18 very active fourth graders who deserve the world! I develop activities and lessons to engage them but I am missing one opportunity.

With these video cameras, my students will be able to conduct numerous projects. This will create many engaging learning opportunities for them, opportunities that they wouldn't normally be given. My desire is for them to create advertisements for studying author's purpose. Create skits for American History. Capture our field trips. There are SO many possibilities!   would greatly appreciate your donation. Your donation means giving a child the chance to create learning for themselves, to challenge themselves, and make learning come alive! Students will be able to take learning in their own hands and make memories that will last a lifetime!   My students need 6 video cameras to use to make learning come alive!

 

Would you consider donating to my project?  If so, click HERE! :)

 

How do you fund items for your classroom?

 

Smiles and Snapshots!

New Blog Design! :)

I am so excited about my new blog design!  My entire classroom is zebra so this was very fitting.  A huge thanks to Dreamlike Magic for making this awesome new design.  It's exactly what I wanted. :)

 

 

Go check them out and tell them that Courtney sent you. :)

 

Smiles and Snapshots!

January Currently

I'm getting a new blog design.  Oh man I'm excited.  I like the owls but it's just not me.  New year.... new blog design! :)

 

On to Farley's currently for January.

 

 

The boyfriend wanted to watch the Sugar Bowl ... and guess who's asleep?  I may see if I can steal the remote from him and turn it without him noticing.  I don't really have any shows I HAVE to watch unti Toddlers and Tiaras and Cheer Perfection at 9 and 10.  Crazy shows but so hilarious.

 

I was really worried about going to see the Lincoln movie.  I didn't want to fall asleep.  I have really come to love history this year because of 4th grade but it's been a long day.  Surprisingly, I loved it!  Very well made... I highly recommend it.  Maybe I can talk him into seeing Les Mis with me now?

 

Yep.  My foot hurts.  Same ole, same ole.

 

Wanting a new planner.  I saw the display of them in Walmart yesterday.  I have more planners that I need but it was all I could do not to buy it.

 

Needing to finish some work for my Have Fun Teaching project.  (See previous post).

 

My one little word... patience.  It is something I am working on. 

 

Head over to Oh Boy 4th Grade and link up! :)

 

Tomorrow I'm headed to the school to meet up with 2 other teachers.  We are revamping our school news.  It plays on our SmartBoards each morning.  It's been the same template for years so we are spicing it up.   The 3 of us will host for the next week and then it will be students again.  I am so excited to do some filming tomorrow.  What does your school do for the announcments/news?  Do you use technology in any way? 

 

Smiles and Snapshots,

Courtney

New Years... HOLLA!

Well readers.  Remember that stupid boot I was in last time I posted.  I'm still in it.  It's our 74th day anniversary.  UGH.  Found out that I have a broken bone in there so I see a specialist on Wednesday.  Not really sure what happens with that (hard cast... PLEASE no! surgery... PLEASE no!)  So I'm being patient (not really), watching tv, reading, and pinteresting.  Ok so maybe a little R&R is what I need after a crazy, insane start of this year in 4th grade.  Holy cow.

 

I got all of the seasons of the Big Bang Theory for Christmas (Thanks to my sister!) so I have watched numerous episodes this week.  I spent a week at my mom's house and it was wonderful!

 

I decided to link up for my resolutions.  It's actually what the sermon was about this morning in church so my brain has been very resolution-y (not a real word) today.  Here we go...

 

 

Technology:

I have this AMAZING opportunity to help create a Common Core workbook for Have Fun Teaching... it's through www.CoreCommonStandards.com.  It's a ton of work but oh man am I loving it!  With that said, I would love to really hunker down and get a lot of that finished.

 

I would also love to create a lot of great things for my TPT and TN store.  I have so many ideas in my head.  It's just finding time to do those.

 

And I bought a SMARTslate for my SMARTboard at school.  I would REALLY like to learn how to operate the dang thing. :)

 

Organization:

I am super organized at school.... like ridiculously so!  But not in my personal life.  I feel like everywhere I go in my apartment I just leave a trail.  I desperately need to do a better job of organizing my stuff in my room.

 

But if you are struggling with a lot of papers and need a great way to organize, get this:

It's about $45 but it's the BEST thing I've bought for my classroom.  I have so many hanging file folders in the middle for various things that I have right at my finger tips.  STAPLES... go get one!

 

I need to make (and stick to) a budget.  I'm hoping my boyfriend will propose sometime soon.  (Reading this, Luke?? :)) Which means, I will have a wedding to plan and pay for.  YIKES.  I need to get it together.

 

Professional Growth:

Now that I have officially finished my Masters... WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!.... I would love to start on National Board in the upcoming year (next school year).

 

 

Downtime:

When my foot is in "working order" I tend to have zero downtime.  When I'm not at school, I'm always doing something for school it seems.  I just need to learn to leave school at school.  Is that possible???

 

Fitness:

Here's the biggy... literally! :)

I'm not sure what teaching has done to the # on the scale but it has made my weight skyrocket in the past 3 years.  WOW. 

I made a plan today and I'm sticking to it.  Gotta be ready for those engagement pics when he asks, right??

 

Why don't you go over to HOPE or AMY's blogs and link up.

 

Smiles and Snapshots,

Courtney



December Currently

Not too sure where November went.  Seriously.  No clue.  This weekend was full of Christmas shopping and hanging out with my family.  My elf, Lewis is making his appearance tomorrow so I went and set everything up this afternoon.  

 

I've got some pretty good mischielf planned thanks to Gina S.  You can grab her "There's an Elf in Our Classroom" pack in her TPT store HERE! 

 

After you go there, head over to Oh Boy 4th Grade and link up to Farley's monthly Currently!

Here's mine. :)

 

 

I am SO excited about one of my newest products in my TPT store.  My AP told us that if she walked into our classroom, our students would need to be able to tell her the difference between revision and editing and where he/she was in the writing process.  I thought.  and thought.  and thought.  and thought.  about a way that I could help my students with remember what they needed to know about revision and editing. 

 

Meet Randy Revision:

 And Edna Editing:

 

 

 

These have been 2 great visuals for my students.  Make sure and grab your own copy in my TPT store!

 

Smiles and Snapshots,

Courtney

Well I'm back!

Last blog entry: September 2.  Yep.  That's pretty much right.  Haven't really even taken a breath since then.  Overwhelmed doesn't even begin to describe the feeling that I have had for the past few months.  Does anyone else feel this way this year?  I thought year #3 was supposed to be a little less stressful. 

Here's the run down of the past few months.
1. Surviving in 4th grade.  I'm loving it but WOW!  I'm having to study every night.  No joke.  I didn't realize how big of a jump it would be from 2nd to 4th grade.

2. Grad school.  ONE MORE WEEK!  I just submitted my final paper.  I will have to get online feedback on my abstract from my classmates and then I am DONE!  I will have my Masters of Education in Early Childhood Literacy.  Can I get an amen!? :)

3. My ankle.  This should pretty much be #3-5. 
           Oct 18th:  Stepped off of a curb on the way back to my car. (Sprained ankle)
           Oct 25th:  Slammed on brakes to avoid random car in road. (Worsened the  sprained ankle) got put in a lovely, heavy black boot.
           Nov 12th: Slipped in the cafeteria.  Not really sure what is wrong with my foot now.  Waiting to get an appointment for an MRI.


It's just been crazy.  crazy.  crazy.

I haven't even created a single thing for my store since then.  I have had SO many ideas and I keep writing them on sticky notes beside my computer and sticking them everywhere.  I did get to the figurative language pack that I have been waiting for weeks to put together.  Get it HERE or HERE!

I'm also having a sale in both stores (TPT and Teacher's Notebook) for the next few days.  Go check them out.

30 minutes until the USC/Clemson game!  GOOOOO TIGERS!
Smiles and Snapshots,
Courtney