It's hard to believe that it's 2014. Wow! Where did it go??  It just flew by. I have much to be thankful for this past year from achieving my National Boards in Exceptional Needs and finishing my endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education. I know that if my friends and family were not in my corner they may not have happened. This is a good time to reflect on what worked and what didn't work last year.

More importantly, its the family I work with daily at school that helped guide me into be a more reflective and stronger teacher than what I was the year before. That's what makes this hard--early last week a close friend that I work with passed away. She helped me be a better teacher each day I walked in.

As a National Board Teacher, reflecting on my practice is more a matter of course than an event. I can't wait to get back and change things up for my students before state testing begins in six weeks. (Yes, really. I know. OMG!) My students had some great gains the first part of the year. Now I just have to maintain it and go just that much further.
Today, I'm working through the pile and list that I brought home with me while I listen to the TV. I work best with noise. I tend to have my TV on all the time. My mom wonders how I'm able to get anything done but I need that noise.

I loved spending the last two weeks with my family and friends, for our first Christmas in the mountains. Mind you I have lived in Colorado for 30 years. It was even white--that doesn't happen much in town. After breakfast, we went snowshoeing. Yes, dogs and all.

I have about a third of "Catching Fire" to finish. I want to finish it before next week. If I don't it could be sometime before I get it done.

I have six weeks to get my third grade students ready for state testing and 8 weeks for fourth to sixth graders. Rumor has it that we are giving PARCC in science and social studies on the computers on top of CTAP. I have no clue when or who. So much fun:)




I would be nice if I could finish all the projects that I planned to get down over the two weeks but I'm not sure that going to happen. I have a sight word freebie for you.

For those traveling, be safe. Have a great last few days of break if you don't have to go back until Monday.

I'm linking up with Farley again for her August Currently. I still have a week before I have to go back.

It's hard to believe the I have to report in 6 weeks. Summer is half over here in Colorado. I'm linking up with Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade for this months currently. It's raining this afternoon here. That's a first in awhile. Plus no thunder and lightening--even better. We need so much more with the wildfire but its a start. I'm loving the idea of going paperless next year. I've been working through reading and need to tackle math but the students will love this. Not to mention, less to travel will as I move from room to room. I've been reading "Teach Like a Pirate" and wondering how to use this mindset when I teach math. Many of my students HATE math. But I think with this spin, I can breathe new life into math and help them find a new love for it. I want my piles to go away. They are getting smaller but its so hard when your distracted by summertime. Well, yes-getting the oil changed in my car needs to happen at some point this month. One can hope sooner rather than later. As I'm reviewing and reflecting on the past school year, I've decided that focusing on structures and processes got me more bang for my buck-so that's what I'm looking at as prepare for the fall. Have a great July and safe travels.