You can follow Tracy at her new blog: The Knit Wit Teacher
One resolution I have this year is to stay on top of blogging. What better way to get started than to join Oh' Boy 4th Grade for the January Currently. Hop on over to Farley's blog to check it out.
Listening: Every year my husband and I have stayed up and watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy to bring in the New Year. This year we are switching it up and watching The Hobbit. We haven't watched the 3rd movie yet but will hopefully watch it on date night.
Loving: This weekend we are taking the kids to Indianapolis and staying the night and then going to the Children's Museum the next day. The kids are super excited about staying in a hotel while I'm excited to just be out of the house and eating out.
Thinking: ISTEP is freaking me out. Having never taught in an ISTEP grade before I didn't realize the pressure that is put on teachers to cram material in before the test. My kiddos this year are really struggling with long division and I worry I won't get through everything in time before the test.
Wanting: Last winter in Southern Indiana was down right awful. I think in the month of January I went to school 7 days. It was awful. The bitter cold and snow was constant it seemed. I'm praying this year we get a pass.
Needing: The next 3 weeks I will be teaching Fact / Opinion. While looking for lessons I keep finding material for lower elementary. It's proving difficult finding lessons that are on a 4th grade level.
Yes: My goal is to blog like I want to and should. I'm having a difficult time finding a balance to get everything in. I want to become a successful blogger. I just need to find my groove. :)
Maybe: Build up my savings. My husband and I really want to build up our savings by putting 10% of each check back. It seems that our family emergencies keep depleting our savings every time we start to see a gain. It's nice that we've had the savings to pull from but I really want to focus on building it up.
I Wish: Down the road I would like to transition into becoming a presenter. I've presented at conferences within my building and within my district but I want to branch out and go beyond. My district is 1:1 with devices and I truly feel my calling is helping other teachers implement technology in the classroom without taking away from instruction.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Have a fabulous New Year!
-Tracy
One of my goals is to build up savings, too! I want to put lots of money away to travel with.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you! Traveling to Ireland is a dream of mine. I'd also like to visit Bath during September so I can take part in the Jane Austen festival. I miss the days of a $400 flight to England!
DeleteThat sounds like an amazing wish!! I would love to hear more about going 1:1, and I wish I could convince my admin that we need to be 1:1. I agree that I need to blog more too!! I am really good at doing linky parties, but not as good about blogging on my own!! I love your blog design too!!
ReplyDeleteMrs. 3rd Grade
1:1 has changed the way I teach completely. In our district every k-2 students has an iPad minis that stay at school. Every 2-5 student has an iPad that goes home each night. Middle School students all have iPads and our High School students all have Macs.
DeleteThis is the first year I've taught in a grade with a device and I wouldn't go back! Don't get me wrong, I still use paper pencil but the iPad is now a constant tool.
Good luck with the ISTEP class. I had not heard of that before, but it sounds like a lot of pressure.
ReplyDeleteIf I weren't nervous about talking to large groups of adults...the presenting idea would sound cool....but I am, so I am grateful for people like you who like that kind of thing. :)
ISTEP is our state mandated testing for 3-5. It's so stressful that so much rides on your scores.
DeleteI love presenting! It look forward to PD days because I get to share with other teaches in our district. It's always a blast.
My goal is to build up savings, too! I am terrible at following a budget and I am going to try REALLY hard to do it. Fingers crossed it works out!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of ISTEP, but it must be similar to our state test (MCAS). It's so stressful! I am sure your kids will do great, though. :)
I am a new follower- I found you through the Currently link up! Happy New Year. :)
Mandy
Caffeine and Lesson Plans
Thanks for the follow! I'm sure ISTEP is similar to your MCAS. I didn't realize how much admin looked at the scores until I moved to 4th. Fingers crossed my kiddos show gains. They are stressing me out at the moment but hopefully we get moving and get everything covered!
DeleteI am also hoping for a winter without any snow...here in Wisconsin, that is unlikely though. Happy 2015 to you!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Mrs. Laffin's Laughings