Random Photo Wednesday

Brody loved watching Pioneer Woman's new show on food network with me this weekend. Mostly because there were cows and I think he misses the ranch.

Menu Planning Monday

Hola! Life is pretty sweet right now. I had an awesome Monday, it's my birthday week, and I'm looking forward to Pappasito's and some Aggie football in just a few days! Whoopity whoop!

Menu Planning Monday
sunday :: mexican pizza (verdict: seriously easy and yum. I exchanged the seasoning packet for spices below.)
monday :: baked potato night and leftover pulled pork
tuesday :: shrimp and salad
wednesday :: leftovers before small group
thursday :: out for my birthday :o)
friday :: slow cooker brisket (I never made it last time I posted!)

Taco Seasoning Substitute
I use the following spices in lieu of a packet for about a pound of meat.
2 T. chili powder
1 t. cumin
1 t. coriander
1/2 t. oregano
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
salt, to taste

I have been totally craving macaroni and cheese lately...maybe I'll look for a "grown-up" version to make soon. Happy almost September!

Friday.

Oh praise Jesus, I made it through my first week! I guess I shouldn't say "made it through," because it actually went pretty well (I think...)! I realized Monday morning at about 7:37am that if I messed up, unlike subbing, if I was too mean or too nice for the day, I wouldn't just go into a new class the next day and start over. So I was really feeling the pressure.

My classes are two periods long, so I have three groups of students total. My first group of kids have a lot of personality, my second group is smaller and super quiet, and my third group loves to get off-task and act rambunctious. And my advisory is awesome--but I don't tell them that, because they actually work on homework and are quiet, and if they knew I liked it, they would probably change their ways.

I forgot my camera this week, but I thought I would document what my classroom looked like at the end of the week. I apologize for the iPhone graininess.

View from my desk.

I make sure the kids pick up after themselves, but my desk is a mess. I was in the middle of grading. Everything was clean again when I left for the weekend. :o)

I finally threw some pictures up on my homemade board. I would like to add some instagram pictures or something; it's a little sparse for my taste.

Super blurry. Still love it though.

I've got a to do list to tackle, full of trainings, grading, and a few more things to craft. Then I've got some cleaning and laundry. Hopefully a nap as well?

Brody's weekend to do list is a little less full.

For the love of all that is random.

While I was in the middle of reading to my class...

Girl: "You had a pretty wedding dress."
Boy: "And your toenails are faaabulous."

I'm Alive...

Well I've almost made it through my first week of teaching! The only negative side effects have been a sore throat (I think from reading aloud almost all day) and possibly pink eye...but it might just be red eyes from allergies. Not entirely sure. Taking medicine either way. :o) Oh, and I wore heels/wedges the first three days so my feet hurt and then new flats today so my heels have blisters. You have to love being on your feet all day! But I'd rather do that than have my kiddoes going crazy because I stay seated. It's a trade off. 

I've already started my to do list for the weekend, and I'm really excited that my first week of morning duty will be over for a few weeks after tomorrow! I even got my ID today so I'm a real teacher! Now I can get discounts at Panera! And J.Crew if I'm ever allowed to buy clothes again (tee hee!).

A Peek in my Classroom...

I got to school a little early this morning and was able to take a few pictures...of course, I also worked in my room throughout the day and it looks a little different now. So I'll probably be taking a few more pictures next week...we shall see!

My door as you walk in. I wrote on Mr. Owl in dry erase marker so I can write messages as needed. :o)

View from the door. The front is kind of boring; I'll need to add student work or a few more posters soon!

For students to collect absent work. This is on the wall on the left as you enter. I still need to add class periods on the folders, but I don't want to cover my owls!

Calendar...next to the absent work section. A desk will probably be moved underneath for handouts...I have 33 desks and 29 students in my largest class so far. :o)

Class expectations. I made this in Photoshop and printed it. I kind of love the owls (freebie I found online!).

To the right of the door when you walk in. I have my podium in the back with tardy/advisory sign-out sheets and hopefully miscellaneous student supplies eventually. Once we write our social contracts, I will post them on posters on the chalkboard. I cannot stand the sound or texture of chalk so I covered my board up as soon as I got in my room!

Class library...I need to go through some more boxes of books in the garage to add to it. The bookshelf was a score from Walmart for $12.50! I made the pillows in college and am finally pulling them from obscurity in the attic. The chair was also from college, but I can't remember when I actually used it...

View from my desk. I had major issues with my SMARTBoard today and have cords everywhere now...but this morning it looked nice and neat. :o)

Board for assignments. Homework goes on the outside for the week, and date, objective, and agenda go in the middle for my different classes. I totally dig the symmetry.

Front of the room...the crates will probably hold graded work to be handed back and upcoming assignments (which would be moved to somewhere closer to my desk if that was the case!). Still need to figure that out.

My desk area. I need to print pictures this weekend to add to my boards!

That's all I've got for now! I finally unpacked my class sets of books today, and have started to organize my cabinet and figure out an organization system for all of my files. Thanks for checking out my room!

Random Photo Wednesday

Sleepy Brody.

Yesterday was my first day of teacher inservice, and although it was jarring being back in school mode after the summer off, I was getting really excited for school to start (Sidenote: my mentor teacher would probably say that I need to build up my "teacher stamina" again. Major headache in my brain by 3:30! I came home and fell asleep on the couch for over an hour.). Our team met and we planned pretty much all day, which was great to hear the experienced teachers' thoughts and methods. I am hoping to take photos of my room tomorrow to post on the blog! I tell myself that anyways...we'll see if it actually happens. ;o)

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How cute is this?! Fairy tales as math equations...totally love. Oh Pinterest, how I can waste so much time with thee. 

A little craftiness...

What a whirlwind the past few days have been! I've been busy reading the 7th grade summer reading novels (Tangerine, Esperanza Rising, and The Last Book in the Universe--all really great reads), getting my classroom ready, and trying to soak up the last bit of summer. I haven't taken my camera up to school yet, but I will share that my theme is super cute owls and my colors are aqua and a little purple. :o)

I've had to buy some items for my classroom, but I've tried to be as thrifty as possible and craft a bit too. It's been fun, and hopefully my kids will notice (and maybe even like?) that I put my own little touches here and there.

Months for my calendar! I got my trusty Cricut and scrapbook papers I've been stockpiling and got to town. I even had a free coupon for 5' of laminating at a teacher supply store, so I saved my school a little green as well.

I was planning on adding on some buttons, but now I'm kind of liking how it looks as is. Something to ponder.

These were formerly Crystal Light containers, but I am reusing them to pull popsicle sticks with my students' names on them during discussions and readings. It's funny how I hated it when a professor did that in college...and now I'm doing it.


Menu Planning Monday
monday :: baked potato night + leftover steak
tuesday :: chicken pierre
wednesday :: tostadas
thursday :: red beans and rice
friday :: slow cooker brisket

In other news, I am totally enthralled with Bachelor Pad. So much deception and craziness!

I'm still here + Best Sweet and Sour Chicken EVER

Where has the summer gone? Life has been moving in fast forward lately...but I kind of like it! I found out last week that I will be teaching this year, and I could not be more excited. :o) Not having to wake up at 5am to find out where I will be for the day and wondering if I will have work for the day will definitely not be missed. I spent last week reading The Essential 55 (great read--plus I got it secondhand for $3) and making mental lists of what I want to do this year whilst dog sitting and relaxing. I've spent the past three days in my classroom getting things ready, and I have new teacher training tomorrow and Friday, followed by my official new hire meeting and then inservice next week, followed by the first day of school the next Monday! Yowsa.

I did not do a very good job menu planning for the week, as we were counting on leftovers from the weekend (which were forgotten...story of my life). I had been planning to make Mel's Sweet and Sour Chicken last Tuesday, but that was the day I found out I had a job so Tyson insisted we go out to celebrate. So I've had the sauce (which I doubled to serve separately) in the fridge for the past week awaiting the awesomeness. This was so very tasty and easy, and Tyson announced that he was taking the leftovers for work tomorrow while he was still eating. Always a good sign. I will say that I was definitely happy I lined the pan with foil, as it was very messy. I think next time I make it (and there will be a next time), I will add steamed broccoli and mix in with the extra sauce.

That's all I've got for now...I will hopefully be sharing pictures of my classroom in the next few days. :o)

Brody missed his presence on the blog.

Hawaii!

I was looking through files to print, and found these layouts from Hawaii (2009) that I never posted.

Both are super simple, but I kind of like it that way! When I first opened the files, the background papers were matching blues and it was just too much. I think the top flower choice is much more Hawaiian, and I am digging the butterflies for the flight page. I recolored the butterflies to kind of match up with the accent color on the plane. :)

Well I am exhausted! I have had an extremely full and emotionally exhausting couple of days. I'm dog sitting tomorrow through Monday, so I'm looking forward to some rest and chill time.