Favorite Shows to Watch While Working

Hey y'all!

I'm a little late to the party, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to talk about my favorite TV shows and The Third Grade Nest is having the perfect linky.

Every month Hailey hosts a Top Ten Favorites Linky Party. Such a fun idea! This month is all about your favorite TV shows to watch while you create, blog, grade, and lesson plan.

I love TV. I really do. It's an addiction and I'll be the first to admit I have a problem. I have a DVR, an Amazon Prime Account, Netflix streaming, and HBO Now.  See.. I told you. I have a problem.

Soooo... it was really hard to limit to just 10 shows, but here's my list....

You can see I totally cheated and put Arrow & The Flash together but I figured since one is a spin-off it counts, right? Lots of comedies made my list, because they are just some of my favorites and so quotable! Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg of TV I love.  I feel certain I have left one of my absolute favorites off the list, but these were the first 10 that came to mind.

Oh no!! I'm just now realizing I forgot Sherlock.  I love Sherlock. I love Benedict Cumberbatch. How did that happen?!? I clearly do not have a mind palace.  Who else out there chomping at the bit for next season?!? I'm hearing January 2016 to start filming. I may just need to start from the beginning... again.

What are some of your favorite shows to watch and work to?

Happy Watching & Working!!

  

Don't forget to check out my Back to School Essential Linky Party to see what teachers (myself included) are naming as their absolutely essential back to school items. Share your must-haves in the comments section and link up to join the up! 

Summer Recap & Meet the Teacher

I did it.

I went up to school and started working on my classroom today.  I even got up early.  Like really early.  Like left my house before 7 am early!

I'm not going to lie... it was rough.

Walking into my classroom sealed the deal.  Summer is officially over.  So, it seems like the perfect time to link up with Mrs. Thompson at Adventures in Teaching for her Summer Recap linky where you tell about 5 moments this summer using pictures. This also ties in perfectly with Meet the Teacher Monday. Bonus!

Fact #1: I love going to museums.  Just don't ask me to stay too long.

  

It's true.  I really DO enjoy museums, historical landmarks, and what not.  I do.  I love going.  I like to take pictures.  I like to walk through. I appreciate.  I really do.  But, I don't want to hang out there all day and I don't want to read every sign and every plaque.

It's like the Grand Canyon scene in Guilt Trip. Have you seen it?  They get to the Grand Canyon and wow! is it beautiful.  And Barbara Streisand looks at Seth Rogan and says, "So, how long do we look at it?" And he says, "10 minutes?" 

 

McNay Art Museum - San Antonio, Texas

That being said, one of my favorite activities this summer was going to the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio. The outside grounds are stunning. They are filled with some really incredible sculptures. Beautiful! The special exhibit was on Normal Rockwell and it was so cool!

The left is the staged photograph that he used to paint the image on the right.

I had no idea he set up elaborate photo shoots of  his sketches to create a photograph for him to use while he painted.  This was his way to be sure he captured the right lighting, expression, and angle of whatever he was trying to paint.  It explains why his paintings are so lifelike. It was really an incredible exhibit. I highly recommend it. It's called Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera. Worth it!

Fact #2: I make a pretty good San Antonio tour guide.

Now, I know I have only lived in San Antonio for three years, but during that time I have taken the Riverboat tour countless times, walked through the Alamo on more than one occasion, and walked the Riverwalk up, down, and back again.  It's such a fun place to visit and the history is fascinating.  So, when my mom came to visit, we headed downtown to do a little exploring and take some photos. No boat tour this time, I just did the talking.

Fact #3: My high school mascot and college mascot were the same...the Viking!

If you have been following my blog for awhile you probably already know that I went to high school and college in Washington state.  My high school was in a tiny town on the Kitsap Pennisula called Poulsbo, and we were the North Kitsap Vikings.  Then, I went to college at Western Washington University, where I continued to be a Viking.  As a child, my elementary mascot was a Crusader.  All I ever wanted was to be a bear or a tiger.  But, alas, I have always been ready to battle old school style.

This summer I went back for just a quick visit. My husband and I flew in Thursday and back out Sunday. While there we got some amazing coffee, saw a good friend get married, rode the ferries, enjoyed the cooler weather, visited with family, and attended my brother-in-laws navy retirement.  It was a complete whirlwind, but a great trip!

Fact #4: I like being a tourist in my own city.

Thank goodness my best friend comes down from Washington to do all the tourist activities with me.  We've covered the basics in years past.  We've done Six Flags and met the penguins at SeaWorld. So, this year we had to do some research for some fun filled San Antonio activities. Honestly, I think we hit the ball out of the park this time.

We went to the 3rd Annual Food Truck Throw Down for some good eats.  I had some deep fried guacamole topped with a raspberry chipotle sauce that was ah-maz-ing! We did the River City Run which is a 5K running tour of downtown SA.  It was hot and really humid, but so worth it! After doing some shopping at the San Marcos outlets (HUGE! people HUGE!), we went swimming at Barton Springs in Austin. We drove to Boerne to see Pistol Packin' Paula (click here for video), who you may remember from America's Got Talent, and we sampled some wine at the Grape Creek Vineyard in Fredericksburg.  Oh... and we did a ghost tour downtown! Such fun! 

Fact #5: I'm obsessed with my dogs.

Okay, you probably already knew that, but I couldn't pass up another opportunity to post pictures of my pups! How can you not love those faces?  Or those cute corgi butts? Adorable!

Whew! It's been quite a summer. What are your favorite memories from the summer?  Link up with Adventures in Teaching to recap and link up with Blog Hoppin' to tell us some interesting facts about yourself for Meet the Teacher Monday.

Hmmm... It occurs to me now that none of my facts were teaching related.  I'll be happy to take questions. :)

Ta Ta for now...

One O'Clock, Two O'Clock, Three O'Clock BLOG HOP

One O'Clock, Two O'Clock, Three O'Clock BLOG HOP!!

Isn't that catchy?  I'm pretty sure it is going to be stuck in my head ALL night.

I found this little blog hop over at Tales From a 4th (and 5th) Grade Teacher and couldn't resist joining the fun.  I mean, who doesn't like a blog hop?

Can I tell y'all a secret though? I have had trouble keeping up with all my blogs lately.  Everyone is posting and there is so much good stuff to read. My dashboard has been on absolute overdrive.

Seriously, how much time do y'all spend reading blogs?!? I have probably clocked three hours today alone.

Oh boy... please comment below if you also frequently spend this much time (or more) blog hopping.  I may need a support group.

If you are not currently reading  3+ hours of blogs a day, may I suggest the any of the wonderful blogs below:

Link up to join the fun and be sure to check out all the blogs listed.  Afterall, can you ever really follow too many blogs?!?

I am Teacher Woman!

Eek...this is my 2nd post today, but I LOVE this and had to share.

Check out the completely wonderful card I was given today by one of my students. 

The outside...

Hmm... we may need to review the -est suffix again.  I'm going to let it slide here because he called me the smartest and powerful.  He's absolutely right.  *wink, wink*

The inside...

Best portrait of me, EVER!

First, I love my pencil jet packs.  Can you say awesome?

The apple knee pads are pretty cool too.

Plus... did you notice?  That's right...I'm wearing glasses AND a mask.  I'm incognito x2!

I'm laminating this and keeping it forever.  :)

Let's Rock the STAAR

Hey everyone!  Long time...no blog.

I choosing to just ignore the fact that I have not posted in over two months and just jump right back in. (big smile)

As all Texas teachers know, the STAAR test is looming just around the corner.  It's a mere 8 school days away and yes, I'm counting. Here is an awesome video that an elementary school in my district put together to help motivate their students for the upcoming test. They will pass the STAAR.  They know it!

While exploring YouTube, I also found this video from Felty Elementary in Waxahachie, Texas where my sister works, so I had to share this one too.

So, rock out with your kids and rock the STAAR!

Hilarious Student Answers

I don't usually enjoy grading papers, but occasionally I get a truly spectacular answer.  Last Friday, I was fortunate enough to get two.  My class is nothing if not FULL of personality!

Hope these answers put a smile on your face. 

(Sorry for the crummy pictures...phone photos.)

From a reading test...

 Q: What kind of person is Cara? Explain your answer and support with details from the story.

A: If I had to describe Cara I would say she's Crazy with a capital C because who brings a snake into the library? I mean seriously do you know anyone who took a snake to the library? That's why I call her a crazy kid and I hope she's not a teenager because if she is it's going to be three times worse.

From a science test...

Q: A soil found in Texas has very small particles. When water was added, most of it stayed on the surface. The soil does does not have many nutrients. Would this soil be good for plants?  Explain why or why not.

A: I think no because it doesn't have nutrients and for crying out loud water doesn't even go through!

Gotta Keep Reading Video

Have y'all seen this? Our amazing librarian shared it with us today. I love it!

Currently, I am...

Oh' Boy 4th Grade is hosting another wonderful CURRENTLY  linky party.  These are so much fun to read.  Hop on over to her wonderful blog to link up and see her spectacular ideas. (I particularly recommend her most recent post on Pencil Strategies!)

My Top 10 Awards

I'm so honored to have been nominated for a Top 10 Teaching Blog award by two fellow outstanding bloggers:  Rebecca from Create-Teach-Share, Victoria from Jasztalville, and Amanda from The Kindergarten Chick. Please click on the buttons below to check out their terrific, amazing, and inspiring blogs.

 Thank you ladies for supporting my blog!
Now, to celebrate a few more amazing teaching blogs out there. Just click the link to find out why I stalk these people so closely.  :)  Teach-A-Roo

New Favorite Toy Inspired by Simple Solutions

This summer I went to on of the best professional development workshops I have ever been to for science.  The workshop was presented by Simple Solutions and this lady knew her stuff.  If you haven't been and you have the opportunity, go! The majority of the workshop was spent making things to use in the classroom.  I walked out with games to play that reinforce the scientific concepts I will teach this year, as well as great visual teaching aids. 

One of my favorite things that we did was create tennis balls to demonstrate differing density.  One tennis ball is completely normal.  The other tennis ball was cut open and filled with sand.  Now, the balls look the same, same size, same shape, but have different densities.  This is one of those things that I would hear about and somehow never get around to making what I needed. Now, I'm all ready to go.

As I said, we put everything together at the workshop.  Which brings me to my new favorite toy...the laminator.  Simply Solutions had little laminators set up all around the room so that we could laminate everything we needed right then and there. It was so easy and the laminate seals really well.  (My school laminator often lets me down in this department.) 

So, it turns out, you can buy the very same laminator at Walmart for $25.  Naturally, I ran to Walmart right after the workshop and bought one.

Now, the laminating cover sheets can be pricey.  But, you can buy 200 laminating pouches at Sam's for about $20.  This is a much better price than Walmart.  Do not buy there! So, for just under fifty dollar, I have been able to create my own laminating work station at home.  I'm loving it! Oh, and because most of what I laminate is 8 1/2 x 11 (game boards, mini-posters, etc.) I have nothing to cut.  Bonus!

Here are the needed supplies.

An example of some of the fun things I have been making this weekend.  No cutting or trimming required!

I'm loving everything about this little gem. Plus, I never have to wait in line.  :)

P.S. My reading strategy posters come from Constructing Meaning by Nancy N. Boyles.  This is another great resources for teaching reading comprehension.

Three for Thursday

Hi folks!  Happy Thursday! 

I am happy to say that I have (almost) successfully completed my first week of school.  Hooray!

Blog Hoppin' is sharing 3 favorites today, so here we go...

 Favorite Font

I love fun fonts but most of my favorite fonts were on my old computer.  I have yet to get online and expand my collection, so I am using what my new computer came with. Anywho, my favorite font right now (as it changes monthly) is...

 

Favorite Blog

This is a tough one.  I  follow so many wonderful blogs; it is hard to pinpoint just one.  Hmmm... okay, I better make a choice.  Here are some blogs that have been especially helpful to me lately.

Abby @ Third Grade Bookworm had some fabulous posters to use for teaching the 7 Habits. Thanks Abby!

  The following two ladies have been helping get 7 Habits started in my classroom. They have been two amazing resources! Thank you, thank you!

 

 

Finally, Mrs. Jasztal at Jasztalville has lots of amazing ideas and advice. I've seen the video tour of her room, but I would love to be a fly on the wall and see/hear everything wonderful that is going on there.

 

Favorite Online Resource

 Okay, I think I am going to have to say Blogger for this because it connects me to all these amazing people around the country and the world that are part of the online teaching/blogging community.  I've gotten so many great ideas here.  A huge thank you everyone! 

Thanks for checking in today!  Tomorrow's Friday! Woot! Woot!

Guess what?  

Teacher Talk Tuesday

Blog Hoppin' is hosting linky parties all week to celebrate back to school!  The topic today... advice for new teachers.
Here are some quick tips of the trade.

1. Get to know everyone at your school, but mostly love on your custodians and secretaries. They are definitely people to have on your side. I find a friendly hello or a quick thank you note for all that they do goes a long way.  Homemade cookies or brownies don't hurt either.
2. Remember that no questions is a silly question.  If you aren't sure what someone is trying to explain to you... ask! Teachers are amazingly willing to take time out their day to help out.
3. Know when to say thank you for the idea and walk away from a conversation.  I remember my first year so many people wanted to share how they did things.  Every idea was great, but I was so overwhelmed.  Remember you don't have to use everything your given.  Pick and choose what works for YOU.  You are the teacher in your classroom, you can't be somebody else. 
4. Have routines in place for everything. If you have a routine, you know what you expect and the kids know what to expect.  Don't make them guess, it's frustrating for them and for you. Oh, and practice, practice, practice!
5. Find a balance between school work and your home life. Remember that you can always do more. Figure out one place to focus and build from there.  Don't try to take on too much and start spending all your waking hours at school, which is very easy your first year. Go home, relax, blog (hehe), and enjoy your life outside of being a teacher. 

Head on over to Blog Hoppin' to link up and add your own ideas or simply comment below.  

You know how much I love comments.  :)

I'm proud to say...

Top 10 Teacher Must Haves for Back to School - Linky Party!

 

Oh my, the receipts are piling up! With back to school in full swing, I am out doing my part to stimulate the economy.  I have been buying all kinds of things for my classroom and my kiddos. But, I haven't forgotten myself.  There are just a few things I need to pick up every year that are teacher only materials.  Hehe!  Check out my Top 10 Teacher Must Haves for Back to School below and then join my first ever linky party!

Top 10 Teacher Must Haves for Back to School

 10) New Pens!  I'm sure the ones I was using still work, but it is so much more fun to have a fresh set.  These Papermate felt tip pens are my favorite!

9) A super cute new post-it dispenser! 

8) New Mr. Sketch markers! They are simply the best!

7) A new teacher "Bag of Doom" to haul my stuff to and from school from L.L. Bean.

 

6) You know we are going to need it! Whether it is sore muscles from moving heavy furniture around or hearing your name twenty million times a day...Ibuprofen is surely in my future.

5) A manicure, pedicure, and new haircut to look and feel my best for open house.

4) New Expo Markers that will be teacher only! I attach flowers to the ends of my Expos to identify them and  help them stand out among the rest. Yes, that's right... I don't share. This way the kids use their markers and I use my markers and everyone is happy.

3) A good bottle of wine. Okay, obviously I do not take this to school, but I do buy a  bottle to keep on hand for those first couple of weeks back.  It's called Lucky Duck (my sister introduced me to it). You can only find it at Walmart and it is only $4 and it's good.  

2) A fantastic thermal lunch tote from Thirty-One.  It even has my name on it!

 

1) I *heart* new shoes! I haven't actually bought these yet, but I have my eye on them and I'm hoping they make it to my closet by the first day back. Aren't they cute?!?