Just Popping In

Hi friends!

Just popping in to show that I'm still alive. I have just one week left of graduate school & then I can finally get to work on prepping for back to school. It'll be here before we know it!

This has been my life lately:

I'm too lazy to get out of bed and do my homework from my desk. HA! Thankfully, we have professional development coming up in a few weeks so I will be forced to start planning.

Okay, I won't lie. I've also been online shopping. VS Swim had a huge sale so I snagged some mix & match pieces. Don't mind the terrible quality, I took pictures off my computer screen to send to my cousin:

I also launched my career as a Stella & Dot stylist.

This is a company that I've been following on fashion blogs & Instagrams for about a year. I'm so excited to be able to share these gorgeous pieces with other women.

Click below to be taken to my website where you can see what's new this summer:

STAY TUNED: By the end of the week or next week, I'll be giving you a visual walkthrough of how I use my planner to lesson plan :) Mainly, show I can show you how gorgeous Erin Condren things are.

See you soon!

Ramblings.

First off, how do you like the new blog design?! I'm obsessed. It's from the super talented Blogs Fit for a Queen. She's a dream to work with!

JUNE IS CRAZY.

Just needed to get that off my chest. I've been a busy bee since the day the bell rang on our last day. I'm finally breathing (a little). What have I been doing, you're wondering?

Working. I'm working with some special friends in preschool 3 days a week half days. It's a lovely change of pace from regular ed first grade. It's my second summer doing it.

Studying. I started my Master's. GOOD GRIEF, friends. Let's just be honest, I knew I wanted to go back ASAP because I'd be out of the habit of schoolwork. Holy cow! One year out and I am beat! There is so much to do. All the time. I've been working nightly on assignments and going a little stir crazy. But I have just two weeks left. Then I'll have 6 hours down and be even closer to walking across that Maryville stage (again).

Watching. Netflix is an addiction. I'm rewatching old seasons of Grey's Anatomy (because it's my favorite). And watched Breaking Bad. And I watched Season 2 of Orange is the New Black (AH-mazing). Now, I've started Scandal. HELP ME.

Spending. Friends, I have a problem. Sonic drinks, Mexican food, clothes, shoes, accessories and MOST OF ALL: teachery things. I have bought more books than I know what to do with. AND math games and borders and professional development books.

Reading. I love to read. Firstly, I read a for fun book: Girls in White Dresses. Friends, I laughed so hard I cried. This is a great book for all you 20-somethings who get college life to adult life. I'm also chipping away at my professional development books: The First Days of School (Harry Wong!), The Great Eight (Scholastic), Launching the Writing Workshop (Scholastic), Leader in Me (Stephen Covey). I'm also wanting to get the newer edition of Daily 5. I have the first edition but am liking the updates I'm hearing about in this new version!

What are YOU up to this summer?

Book Talk: My All-Time Favorite

Hey friends!

I couldn't be more excited for this fun link up with Deanna Jump!

I love books. I mean I really, really love books. I have a confession. I have 600 books in my classroom.  I've taught for one year. So when I say I really, really love books…I'm really saying I have an addiction to books. I'm talking go garage sale-ing every weekend, stalking thrift stores, binge shopping at Scholastic (warehouse AND reading clubs) full-out addiction. The first step is admitting, right?

Here's a prime example. This is me. Two days ago. At Target. Leveled books were $2. WHY did I feel compelled to buy these when I had just spent $67 on garage sale books?! Because I have a disease.

No matter how many books I acquire or how many classics I have from when I was a kid, I still always come back to this one book.

This book is a game changer. If you don't have it, go buy it now. I already have 2 copies (Judge me). I used this book for no less than SEVEN different lessons this year. My kids know and love Moose. Even the 7th time I pulled out the book to read it to them, they perked right up. Moose is baaaack, what is Miss Culver going to teach us about him now?!?! I used this book for fluency, expression, character feelings and as an intro to our reader's theatre unit.

Here's the scoop on Moose:

Once upon a time there was a Zebra who was putting on a play about all the letters in the alphabet. They all had their part: the apple, the glove, everyone knew when it was their turn. Except Moose. Our overeager friend comes on during D's turn. He is very sad when Zebra tells him it's not his turn and he runs right into the elephant on the next page. 

He spends the next 6 letters asking if it's his turn, awaiting with excitement for the M. Sadly, they "decide to go with the mouse instead". 

Moose is LIVID. He storms through several pages, smashing the pie, terrorizing the queen and using a red crayon to draw moose antlers on everyone. He is later found crying behind the xylophone. Zebra relents and lets him be in the play as Z: Zebra's Friend Moose. It's an adorable story full of lots of emotions and opportunities to use mad/sad/happy/etc voices.

There you have it! My all-time favorite book. Click the cute icon below to see other posts about great books!! Can't wait to read about yours :)