September Currently

Twice in one day?!  This is what happens when the twinnies take marathon morning naps.  I'm taking a quick break from #TeacherWeek15 to post my September Currently.

Y'all.  The AC in our apartment runs SO LOUDLY!  Like when the hubs and I are watching shows in earnest we have to turn them up to hear them over the air.  We have to do it with the heat, too.  It's so crazy.  I don't know why it's a thing in this apartment because it's never been an issue before, but it's so loud.  

The twinnies are 5 months old.  What the what?!  How can that be?!  It's so crazy to believe, like when I think back to April 2nd it's totally surreal.  It was such a crazy week and a crazy day and it's completely unreal to me that the boys are growing so big, but they're regular baby sizes now and they can smile and hold stuff and they're starting to play.  I like to pretend that they like reading as much as I do because I make them read with me every day.  

If I'm going to commit to staying home then I need a plan.  Or at least some goals.  I can't just sit home with these boys.  As much as I love them that will drive me crazy.  

I don't know about you, but fall is a lovely time of year. I love when the seasons change and all the colors of fall.  And the pumpkin flavored everything.  (Which reminds me that I should probably start thinking about some costumes for the boys.)  But it is so DANG HOT that I really can't mentally prepare for fall.  It's going to be 96 today and it's been over 90 every day this week.  Summer just won't let go.  Which is mainly a bummer just because it makes it tricky to take out our pup and the babes for a walk.  

Apparently, I have lots of needs.  Who knew?  I swear, these boys plot against me.  When M was sleeping through the night, T always woke up and now that T is sleeping through the night M is waking up.  Ay, ay, ay.  I feel like this is just #twinlife.  Yes?  

So, clearly, we've got some twins.  And clearly, when you have babies you gain some weight.  I mean, I'd love to lose all of the weight that I gained whilst pregnant, but for the first time in my life (seriously) the number on the scale isn't the goal.  I know these guys are tiny now, but pretty soon they'll be moving, and before I know it they'll be all over the place all the time.  My personal goal is to be fit and healthy to be a model for these nuggets.  I never want to have to tell them that I can't do something (play a game, run a race, etc.) because I'm out of shape.  I would say it's currently going well (see what I did there.  Currently.  Haha), and I'm feeling optimistic that I'll stick with this.  Cutting down carbs wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, and I think it's really helped me stay on track.  If we talk numbers I gained 40 pounds while pregnant and I've lost 24 so far.  Like I said, I'm trying to not get too hung up on numbers.  

And last but not least, I'm trying to not get too hung up on planning.  Our lease is up this February and we're currently (there it is again) trying to decide what our next move is--buy a house, move back home, rent again (please, no).  I just hate when things are up in the air, but this isn't something that I have a ton of control over, so I'm trying to be inspired by Elsa and Anna to let it go.  I'll let you know how that goes.  

Thanks for stopping by my corner of the interwebs.  I gotta go feed these babies; they're rousing from their AM nap.  Have a great long weekend!

xoxo

#TeacherWeek15: Sanity Savers

Hi, friends

So, I skipped yesterday's classroom tour link up because I don't have a classroom this year, and I never took enough pictures of my classroom to do a tour of an old classroom.  But I am back in business for today's Sanity Savers conversation.


I think as teachers one thing that is INCREDIBLY important is working smarter, not harder.  I mean, teachers definitely work hard.  But it's also important to work smart, or you'll never get anything done.  So I'm going to share a few of my work smarter/stay organized strategies that helped me stay organized and calm when I was teaching.

Number those nuggets.
Every year, I numbered my kids.  Generally, our list followed ABC order, but invariably we'd gain and lose some kids throughout the school year so it wasn't always 100% true, but close.  Here are reasons why numbering kids is a sanity saver.
1.  It allowed me to reuse materials when students came and left class, so I could get more bang for my buck.  Students could use the same folders, pencils, scissors, and crayons as the student who just left.
2.  It eliminated line up issues.  Students always lined up numerically, so there was no arguments about who was busting, or how someone cut in front of someone else.  (Line leader was a job in my class; that person would just line up in front of number one for that day.)
3.  It gave students a certain sense of anonymity.  While students did know each other's number as the school year went on, it let me organize data, conference notes, and assessments in binders by number and they didn't necessarily know whose it was.

Use pictures whenever possible.
Now, I realize that this is mainly an early elementary tip, but using graphics in my classroom was key.  Especially early in the year, and especially with my lowest nuggets.  For example, our work station rotation board always had pictures as well as group names and pictures as well as the written name of the work station.

This was part of our fall work station board.  Each group is clearly named, but also has an icon/graphic to go with it so that if you can't read the word pumpkin you still know your group.  

And here's just a quick example of rotation cards.  Station name underneath, with a picture on top.  

Organize your student data.

Okay, so I realize this is a terrible tip because obviously you want to stay organized.  I don't have pictures to go with this, but I am planning a Periscope in the next few days about this same topic.  (You can follow me at Whale_Tails_DC.)  I'm going to give you the highlights of how I organized student data.  First, and most crucial, was a grid that I created and printed weekly.  In the header, it had the week (Week of August 31) and then below was a grid.  It would have each of my students' name in a square, and beneath their name it would say "math, reading, writing".  When I conferred with that student, I would highlight the subject so that as the week went on I could see at a glance who I had met with and who I had not.  When I met with students, I would quickly jot notes on address labels.  Address labels come in lots of sizes, but I have big handwriting so I always liked to get the biggest address labels, but you can get them in any size.  I would just jot their number or initials, the date, and the subject (which I usually abbreviated--M, R, W) and then at the end of the day I would stick their label on their page in the binder for that subject.  I realize that pictures would be really helpful to this; hopefully, it will make a little more sense after you see the 'Scope, but I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about this method.  

Thanks for sticking with me to the end!  Those are my top 3 Sanity Savers.  And don't forget to check out Blog Hoppin' to catch other teachers' brilliant ideas.  You're almost to the weekend, teachers!  You can do it!

xoxo

#TeacherWeek15 Make Ahead Meals

Hi, friends

This is just a super quick post; the twinnies aren't feeling terribly cooperative today.  I'm obviously linking up with Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Week, and today is about make ahead meals.


I love using my crockpot during back to school season, but this is a newer recipe that I am legitimately obsessed with.  I would honestly make it every single week if I could get the hubs on board for it.  But tragically he doesn't love Mexican the way that I do.  So here's why I think this recipe is so great:  first, I feel like often 30 minute recipes really take longer than 30 minutes to make because you have to cup, chop, etc.  But there's no cutting or chopping in this recipe so it really takes 30 minutes (sometimes 25 if you're really organized and your meat is thawed).  Secondly, you only need one pot to make it so clean-up is super easy.  And, as a bonus, there are always tons of leftovers (lunch the next day, anyone?)  I could write a love story about this recipe, but instead I"ll just share the link with you.  Put this in your belly. NOW.

(For the record, it never looks this nice when I make it, but it's so dang delicious.)

xoxo

Five Fun Facts

Greetings, my friends

I hope everyone is surviving the back to school season.  Some people have already been in school for 2 or 3 weeks now, and some districts (especially near me) are just starting back today, and then, of course, there are those schools that don't go back until after Labor Day.  As a student and a teacher, I was always envious of those schools that don't go back until after Labor Day.  That really seems like the way to do it to me.  But I'm not in charge (which is really a shame), so I'll just keep plugging away with the school calendar we're given.

I'm so excited today to link up with Blog Hoppin.  Teacher Week is one of my favorite weeks of the school year, and I'm hoping to link up most days.  Cross your fingers on that one.  Without any more yammering, I'm going to jump right in and share my Five Fun Facts.

                                               

1.  I'm not teaching this year.  :(
This was an incredibly hard choice, but when this happened earlier this spring the hubs and I had some serious conversations about the best use of our time as well as money.

Out here, childcare is ridiculously expensive and we'd have to pay twice.  The amount of money I would take home after daycare just didn't seem worth the cost of missing out of some much time with these boys.  So this year I'm kicking at home on the daily with these young gentleman.  I miss classroom teaching, but I also feel really thankful that we have the resources to make staying home a viable choice.

2.  I have a muppet face problem.
Some people do duck lips.  Some people just do a regular smile.  I have an uncontrollable Muppet face.  It started as a joke in college, but I don't even remember what the joke is.  But it's a real problem that still occurs in my life on the regular.  Even at weddings and on honeymoons.

3.  I had teaching cold feet.

When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a teacher, but when I was in college I didn't major in education.  I got cold feet from Negative Nancies, and it didn't help that the education department was a bit of a disorganized mess when I was in school.  But after 1 year of office work, I realized I couldn't hack it long term as a worker bee.  Ultimately, I went back to school and got a master's in education and haven't looked back since.  

4.  I live here.  

I've lived out here for 6 years.  It was a really impulsive move, and when I did it I never imagined that I would go to grad school, have my first real job, meet my husband, and have babies all in the main nerve.  And while there are some down sides to living in the nation's capital, it is also pretty cool to be able to walk the babies and the pup past the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and Capitol daily.  

5.  But, I grew up here.
                               
While lots of my most recent life events have transpired in other places, my heart still belongs in Cincinnati.  It's hard for me to imagine loving a place the same way I love Cincinnati.  I still have lots of family and friends in Cincinnati, and love going back there for visits.  If I were in charge of my own self I would move back to Cincinnati in a minute.

I can't wait to read your Five Fun Facts!  Don't forget to link up with Blog Hoppin' yourself and share 5 facts.  And if you feel so inclined (maybe you also have uncontrollable muppet face?  or you have twins, too?!), leave a comment below.  I love hearing from y'all!

Happy Monday!
xoxo

It's August already?!

Y'all.

I need to stop the presses for a minute.  Today, August 2nd, the twinnies are FOUR MONTHS old!  Can you believe it?!  I sure as heck can't.  I can't believe that 4 months ago we were in the hospital and they told us that we couldn't go back and that we were going to have babies.  This has been such a crazy and overwhelming journey so far, and these boys have come so far in just 4 short months.  I can't wait to see where they go next.  #NICU #twinmom  Okay, enough sappy stuff.  Here's what's Currently happening in my apartment.

Currently, T is sleeping in his boppy, and M is making sweet baby sounds right next to me.  Baby sounds are the best.  Unless it's emergency hungry feed me baby sounds.  Those are NOT the best.

I don't know how the weather has been where you all live, but it's been so dang hot here that we haven't been able to participate in lots of outdoor activities because of the boys.  But this past week we've had a mini-break from the crazy heat and we've been able to do some fun outdoor activities.  On Friday, I took the boys and our pup out for a 5 mile walk.  It was so nice out we just kept walking.  And we went to a 90s cover band concert that night.  So fun.

If you read my blog on the reg, you know that this year is the first year in 6 years that I'm not going back to school.  I'm staying at home for at least half the year with the twinnies.  It was mostly a fiscal choice, but it still feels weird to not be in that hyped up back to school mode.  Even though I'm not going back to school, I still feel so busy.  I always have these really ambitious daily goals about blogging and creating TpT products, but these boys take up so much time!  I mean, I love them.  But I don't love the hit my productivity has taken.

Next Friday, we're taking our first trip with the boys.  Just heading home for a friend's wedding, but it will be busy because so many people want to see the boys.  But I really hate packing, and now I have to pack for 2 extra creatures.  Blarg.  It will be fun though.

One last quick plug--don't forget to give feedback on your TpT purchases so you can get credits for the back to school sale!

Happy back to school!
xoxo

Parent Odds and Ends--FREEBIE!!

Hi, friends!

It seems like lots of people are getting ready to go back to school; DC doesn't start until August 24th, but I know that if I was going back this year I'd be getting ready.  Instead, I'm trying to bring you helpful and relevant back to school content.  (Hopefully, it's working.)  This is the last post in my parent communication series.  It's a mix of odds and ends, and I'm hoping it will be helpful.  I tried to post this yesterday, but the littles had different ideas.

So this last post is just a mix of other quick ways I communicate with parents.  The first way I want to share with you is Remind (it used to be called Remind101, so you might know it that way as well).  This should link to their website with directions on how to sign-up.  I used Remind every year I was in the classroom, and I LOVED it!  It's so easy to use; you give your parents a code to sign up and then you can easily text reminders to every parent who signed up.  You can also create groups within your Remind, so maybe you need to text just your chaperones, or just your parent volunteers.  You can do that, too!  Remind definitely saved me time every year, and it takes about 1 minute to set up.  Definitely worth the time.

Last, but not least, I added a freebie to my TpT store today of forms that I use to send quick notes home.  There are 3 stock notes included--a NUT note, a volunteer reminnder, and a number change form.  You can grab this freebie here.  I always taught in a uniform school, so when students came out of uniform I would say home a NUT note.  NUT stands for No Uniform Today.  Parents would sign it and send it back and I would keep track of them.  If students accumulated a certain number of NUT notes there would generally be some other consequence, but nothing too serious.  My personal opinion is that most kindergarten and first grade students aren't doing their own laundry or dressing themselves so they shouldn't have super stiff consequences for uniforms.  I also included my "oops" form; I used this when I tried to reach parents and couldn't because their number changed.  I think it's pretty straightforward.  Lastly, I included my parent volunteer reminder.  I would just fill this out and send it home with parents the night before they were set to volunteer.  With all of these forms, I would copy a ton of them on brightly colored paper at the beginning of the school year (each on different colored paper so it was easy to tell them apart) and just have them available to my in file folders that I mounted on the wall or on my bulletin board.  When I needed one of them, I would just pull it out and fill it out.  Generally, I would staple it to their student's homework for the night so that they were likely to see it.

I hope these forms save you some time!  Happy back to school!
xoxo

Positive Pictures

Hi, loves

Twice blogging in under a week!  Can you believe it?!  (Don't get used to it; I don't think the boys will always be this cooperative.)  This has been a great weekend; I went to a concert on Friday with my mom, the boys, and some friends, and then we picked the hubs up from the airport.  Saturday we took a family trip to some breweries down in VA, and this morning I had to take my mama to Dulles to fly home.  Whomp, whomp.  I told my mom the last time she was here that if I could afford her salary I would hire her full time to help me out.  #ishouldputmoreproductsontpt

Enough small talk.  My #backtoschool idea for you today is called Positive Pictures.  Part of my parent forms that I collect on the first day of school is asking them if they are able to (and would like to) receive pictures messages from me.  I track all the parents who say yes and send them Positive Pictures.  I try to really hit Positive Pictures hard early in the school year, especially the first month, but it's an incredibly useful strategy all year long.

The way Positive Pictures work is this:  basically, you see their child doing something positive and you snap a picture and send it to them with a quick caption.  "Look how neatly A wrote their name!"  "Wow, D is sharing so nicely with friends today!"  "T got an A on our math test!"  These captions always go with a picture showing the aforementioned activity, so if I write about neat handwriting I'll snap a picture of the work with the neat handwriting.  If they're sharing I'll snap a picture of them working with a classmate.  Positive Pictures has always been really well received by parents, and they're a great way to bank up positive communication so that if you do have to have a difficult conversation with parents they're generally more receptive.

I hope you all can use Positive Pictures in your classroom this year to set up for a great year with your parents!
xoxox