January "Currently"

Ok...it's been a while since I've attempted a "Currently"....but here goes :)

O.K......because it is microscopic and the best I could do....I will elaborate slightly :)

Listening: to my awesome wood fire crackle.....need I say more????

Loving: spending time with my own children and reading! I love having my kids around! My daughter is building a house and staying with me through the holidays! Her husband is trying to get transferred to our area. This is such a special time for us!

Thinking: about ways to better organize my classroom and teaching.  I have too many piles and great ideas that are just stagnating! I need to organize and have a better system! Great ideas and plans are nothing if not implemented!! Wish me luck!

Wanting:  to find a better balance between home and school. Most of my waking hours are spent focused on something "school" related. I can't go to an interstate rest area without looking at travel brochures and wondering how I can incorporate them into my teaching! It has to be a diagnosable sickness!!! I have got to find a better balance!

Needing:  to take better care of myself - mentally and physically! I am feeling more like Jabba the Hut every day! I have got to start eating better and getting more exercise! I believe my general attitude would improve if I felt better physically!!

OWL: kindness...we need more of it in the world :)

Here is a link to Farley's Currently stuff...you can get a better idea of what this is supposed to look like there! LOL And also blank templates to carry on this good work :)

Enjoy your New Year!!

Chapter 2 - The Together Teacher

Hello all...sorry it has taken me a day or two to get back on track! Chapter 2 basically tells us that we need to consolidate our multiple calendars and have one comprehensive calendar (which is defined by Maia as a calendar that lays out all of your time commitments and deadlines in one easy-to-read calendar).  Your comprehensive calendar can be electronic (such as ICal), web-based (like Google calendar), or a paper one (of which I have zillions)! She says it is important to take advantage of programs that allow you to have recurring events so you don't have to put in dates over and over. I have found that alerts or reminders can be very beneficial...if you are as scatterbrained as I am! This chapter walks you through 3 different people's choices of calendars. Maia suggests the following criteria for whatever type you chose:

• Easy and efficient to use
• Portable enough to be with you at all times
• Readily available wherever you are (such as accessible from work or home)
• Visually pleasing to you

Maia suggests that when you determine your favorite type that will work best for you...you should gather all calendars, notes, reminders, etc. and set aside some time to consolidate all of it.  She suggests putting in the "hard deadlines" or things that cannot be adjusted or changed in first. Then move on to the "soft deadlines" which are more like "to-do's" without specific times. She also says you should add time for "not working" or personal time (which is an area that I am sorely lacking!)  Most of this chapter is examples and tips for helping you decide which type (web-based, electronic, or paper) is right for you. I think I have hit the high points. Questions? Comments? I look forward to the next chapter :)

To the classroom....

Hey gang! I'm headed off to my classroom for a couple of hours to get a little organizing done! I wanted to post a couple of before pics and ask for ideas or organizational ideas for my stuff :)  Luckily in this room there are lots of cabinets and drawers...I do have one area that I need particular help with. (I'm not sure I have a specific photo of it but I will take one today) There is a set of about 30 (i'm guessing) pull out plastic drawers that need to be used. I have used them in the past for individual student supplies (and extras)...but that seemed to draw unnecessary foot traffic and people getting into each others drawers (the plastic ones....not the ones under their pants...LOL....couldn't resist!) Currently they are holding dry erase board erasers and other general junk....very unorganized! I will attach a couple of room photos and get a specific "drawer" photo on here when I get home! Thanks for your help in this endeavor! I look forward to hearing your suggestions!

My Reading Corner

(just bought a new rug...not in area yet)

Organizing Fool!

I'm pretty sure I have caught the "organizing bug"! I have a million and one (maybe two) things on my to-do list before school starts! I have just as many AWESOME ideas from Pinterest that are on my list.  I do not know where to begin! I want to start posting more ideas and pictures on here as well. I have been working on my main binder (Teacher Notebook). I saw an awesome blog about such notebooks today and added a few new tabs to mine. I have also spent the last night or two going through my old Teaching K-8 and Instructor magazines.  I am tearing out articles and putting them into categories: 1. Professional articles (to read), 2. Things other teachers I know might be able to use (lots of pull-out posters for the art teacher, medieval activities for the 6th gr SS teacher, Literature stuff for the 7th/8th Lit. teacher, etc.) 3. Subject area articles/activities, 4. Humorous cartoons, 5. and, of course, a miscellaneous pile :)   I figured that the multitude of magazines that I had should be put to good use in some way. At least now...there is hope that they will be utilized! I would love to hear your organizing strategies! Holla Back, girls! :)

My Teacher Notebook :)

My separate LP Book (kept inside my TN)

An idea I want to tweak for my room :)

A Bulletin Board Idea from one of the mags