One Word

I love this idea for a resolution! Just come up with one word and that is what you follow to get to what you truly want.

The linky is hosted by Primary Powers though through looking at all the link-ups I found this this, that talks more about why she started this New Year's Tradition.

So now for my one word:

I liked the word when I saw Adventures of a Schoolmarm's post. 

However, I didn't decide it was my word until I saw this definition on Merriam-Webster:

to go on resolutely or stubbornly

in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning

This upcoming year I know at least the first part is going to be tough (a continuation from 2014).

Money sucks so we have to find a new apartment, we were hoping to be moving into a house, but got turned down for the loan because of college debt. My husband's health insurance tripled in monthly cost for us this year, and we have to have it because of his heart, though if the surgery had worked it wouldn't be such a  problem.

I will persists though this though. This is the last time I let the things that I can't control out. I will put back on my stubborn hat and push though.

In some ways being young sucks. Sometimes parents think that I don't know what I am doing in the classroom because I am only 26. Sometimes they think they can walk over me and that things I don't have control over are my fault. This is hard for me because I take it to heart, even though it isn't my fault. 

I will persist though. So what, I'm young? It means that I can relate better to the kids, I am more recently out of college where I learned a trillion ways to help each and every child. And yeah I'm young, and I don't know everything, I will go to those that can help me, which in turn will help your child. 

I will persist. I will go back to being the stubborn Mandee that doesn't let all this junk get in my way, and I know it will get better.

Christmas Eve Already?!?

The nice part about not being with family for the holidays is I have a lot of time to do stuff!

Since Saturday I have finished 3 new products, started the fourth, made spelling lists and quizlets for the rest of the school year.

This past weekend I finally saw the ocean! It was so beautiful and cool. I was amazed that it didn't smell. The lake I grew up on smells awful most of the time, but just clear, clean smelling water.

These two I completed earlier this month. I started with the division one because we will be diving into long division after break. Then as I thought more about it, vocabulary instruction is something that I am missing from the awesome interactive notebook set I already use. So now I am working on hitting all the 4th grade vocabulary. 

             

 Over the weekend I finished geometry and measurement ones.

   

Also after the break we are also hitting energy in science. We use Discovery Education and Science A-Z to read about different science topics, but we needed a way to put our information sown to review and study at home. Plus I already did the research 

Sunday Scoop

It has been too long! Lets see if I can really get back into the swing of things this time around.

Wednesday at noonish I will be on christmas break!! Thank goodness! You can tell it is is almost Christmas.

I really appreciate that my husband can get health insurance for pretty cheap through the marketplace, however the website is giving me problems and I have been on hold for an hour and a half now waiting to talk to someone...

I am making some Christmas gifts for surprises and I am so excited about them!!

On Friday one of our wonderful EC teachers came to me at the end of the day and told me that her and the rest of my AMAZING 4th grade team is chipping in to send me and my husband to the beach next weekend for our tenth anniversary! It was a huge, amazing surprise and there were tears of joy. I have never been to the ocean (everyone around here says that it's a crime) and we aren't going to NY for Christmas cause it is so expensive, and we weren't going to do anything for our anniversary cause we're broke. But now we get to go to Oak Island, with the dogs and I get to see the ocean! I am so excited and beyond thankful. I can not thank these wonderful ladies enough. Now to find groupons or something fun to do while we're there!

Sunday Scoop November 9

Time for Sunday Scoop with The Teaching Trio!

Finding stuff to teach NC SS at a 4th grade level is close to impossible. Coming from NY where there is an abundance of resources, makes it even more frustrating for me. So I am working on making some centers about NC government and constitution, and I want to make myself have it done today, or this week at the latest. 

I am very happy to be there for my kiddos when they need someone. Of course I wish they didn't have to go through the stuff they're going through, but I know they appreciate me being there. One of my students had her step mom leave dad, and she had been around for a very long time. One of my other students just found out his mom has cancer. They're too young to have to put up with this stuff, but I guess it is a part of life they have to go through.

November Currently and Sunday Scoop!

Falling back would be much better if I slept longer...

Linking up with The Teaching Trio for Sunday Scoop and Oh Boy 4th Grade for November Currently.

  

Tomorrow I get a new student! Now I am stressed about have #21 join us and getting her set up and on track with us. But, she is such a sweetie, mom and dad are awesome! I can not wait to have her!

I love the Gilmore Girls and decided to go through and watch it start to end now that it is on Netflix! My husband will be very happy when it is over.

Fall weather = <3

My computer just keeps getting slower and slower! Driving me insane! I can't do much because it is so stinkin' slow. It really is about time for a new one, but money sucks.

We sent in an application for a loan through the government to buy a home! We want to move into our first home this summer when our lease is up. Cross your fingers!

Two of my kiddos had colds/sore throats this week and were kind enough to share it with me. 

I just got done reading the Reading A-Z book on the Bill of Rights for our next unit!

Sunday Scoop 10/26

Time to link up with Teaching Trio for Sunday Scoop!

I am so excited for Halloween this year! The fourth grade team is dressing up for Halloween as characters from the Wizard of OZ! I am the wicked witch, then we have Dorthy, the Tin (wo)Man, the lion, and the scarecrow!

I am not looking forward to the day of Halloween and trying to do anything educational. We have a spelling test and a vocabulary quiz (I know they won't be focused) and we do character book reports. We also get to see the fifth graders in their wax museum. There is also the parade and party of course! And it being fun Friday we have that too. 

Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday!

I am really, really, really trying to get back into a schedule of getting things up here!

Last Friday I had a student transfer to another charter school (closer to his home than ours is). Very heart breaking because he is such a sweet boy!

Then earlier this week administration asked one of my team mates if they would be willing to take in a student having a rough time from another room on our grade level. Of course she said yes because we're teachers we would do anything to help these kiddos. After letting it sink in she started panicking-ish. If she took in another student she would have 23 kids and she has such a random bunch. After asking about how this student in question parents are (this is my second year teaching so jerky parents are not something I am good with yet). I went to admin and said I would be willing to take this kiddo in. I have (had) 19 in my room, and it just made sense numbers wise. So Friday morning I got this new sweetie!

I know it was the first day, but it was a wonderful first day! I think he will be able to keep it up and be a great addition to the room.

Plus I have the perfect number of students to have groups of 2, 4, or 5! I love even numbers!

Liebster

Liebster Nomination

This award is for bloggers who are new to the game and trying to grow their readership!  I have to answer the 11 questions from Sheri from Early Years, and then nominate 11 blogs of my choice that have less than 200 followers!

1. Why and how long ago did you start blogging?
I started this past April. I love(d) wondering around the internet looking for teacher ideas to use in my own classroom. With some support of my team, I knew I had some good ideas to share and figured I would!

 2. What one word sums up the heart of your blog and why? 
Me. I ramble and say the same type of things you would hear if you had the classroom next door to me, and that is how I like it.3. Is there something you learned late in your blog journey you wished you knew before? 
Not yet. One thing I have noticed though is just how caring other bloggers are.

4. What is your favorite past time other than blogging? Hanging with these guys:

5. How many hours per week do you dedicate to your blog? Lately, like none. However when I do have an idea or time it really does not take me long to type one up.

6. What category of blog posts do you enjoy the most? 
Teaching. I love learning from other teachers! I have gotten so many great ideas, I wish I had more time in a day to try them ALL.

7. Where does your blog inspiration come from? 
My team mates and my classroom. My team mates will say something and I will be like o yeah that is a good idea. Or I will see something in my room with my kids, normally when they get a light bulb moment, and be like yay good idea!

8. Which post that you've written are you most proud of?
I think this Monday Made It! I had a tons of views and a ton of comment about the awesomeness of my made its. I also loved writing it and was glad to share some crafty ideas with others. The chalkboard calendar I made is now in my classroom and I get tons of complements!

9. Is there any post you have been planning to do, but have postponing it for a while now? 
Not exactly. Since the beginning of the school year I have been so busy, non stop between school and my husband I just have not had the time to blog regularly and I really want to  get back into the swing of it.

10. What is your favorite aspect of blogging? 
Meeting other ownderful people, and sharing ideas. I find it fascinating the things that are out there.

11. Which recipe, project, or idea on my blog would you be most likely to try yourself? 

These:

I LOVE peanut butter and want to try these!

My Liebster Nominees:

1 - Lena @ 4th Grade with Glitter

2 - Nicole @ Learning Lab

3 - Mary @ 4th Works

4 - Martha @ 2 Smart Wenches 

5 - Kim @ For the Love of Teaching

6 - Jenna @ Diving into Learning

7 - Kayla @ K's Classroom Kreations

8 - Lynn @ Camping Teacher

9 - Celeste @ The Education Highway

10 - Crystal @ Primary on the Prowl 

11 - Monica @ NC Teacher Chick

 Now that you've been nominated, here are the "official" rules for accepting:
1. In your post, link back to the blogger who nominated you as a thank you and "shout out."
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you (the ones I answered above).
3. Nominate 11 blogs of your choice that each have less than 200 followers. Provide them with 11 questions to answer or have them answer the questions above.
4. Let your nominees know that they've been nominated and provide them with a link to your post so that they can accept.
5. Send your nominator a link to your post so that s/he can learn more about you as well! (You can just put your post link in the comments below!)

October Currently

Time for October Currently with Farley!

Over the past month I have been waiting for Michael;s surgery to happen. Well it happened yesterday morning. The doctor couldn't get rid of the part that sends him into SVT. 98% of people that have his condition (WPW) have the extra pathway on the inside of the heart. He of course falls into the 2% and has the pathway on the outside of the heart. It would be a different surgery and more risky to go in and try to get rid of it. So it is staying on the medication as long as it keeps working.

So it all just sucks. We were really hoping for it to work so we could have a bit of a different way of life. And I could stop being scared that he was going to call me at any moment saying he was in SVT and needed to go to the hospital.

But, he is alive and well, so I am trying not to complain too much. But, it does all suck.

I do love my friends/co-workers that have been helping me out this past month. Laura has my two babies (dogs) and is taking great care of them while we are in the hospital. Which is one of the awesome things about this hospital, I got to stay over night! My whole 4th grade team ROCKS! They have let me ramble on and on about stressing over the surgery, they are helping make sure I have all my copies for Monday. They have put up with my being all over the placeness.

As for a treat: everyone NEEDS to try pumpkin pie toaster strudels. THEY ARE AMAZING!! Best pumpkin spice thing EVER!

Sunday Scoop 9/28

It's time for Sunday Scoop with Teaching Trio!

I have mentioned it in the last three Sunday Scoops about prepping for different aspects of getting ready for Michael's surgery. Michael has a heart condition where instead of having one electrical pathway for his heart to beat, he has 3. #1 is the normal one that is needed, #2 does nothing, and #3 can send him into SVT with a heart rate of somewhere between 160-200 BPM. Terrifying to see and results in trips to the ER.

This is something he was born with and it didn't start acting up really until a few years ago. We tried the surgery to get it fixed, but the catheter could only go in 4 mm and the spot they needed to get to was 6 mm in. Devastating. 

He has been on medicine to control it and it has been fine, until June. During my teacher work days in June he called me at work to tell me he was in SVT. We went to the ER and he was at like 190 BPM. So after waiting to get into see the surgeon at the beginning of the month, the doctor thinks he can get it. So we are trying it again. 

As far as heart surgery goes it is low risk, they use catheters to get in and fuse the pathway closed. If it works, he is healed. No mroe medicine nor more worrying about getting that phone call to go to the ER. If it doesn't work, he stays on the medicine and there is always the chance he will go into SVT. If they can't get his heart rate down, bad things can happen. And once again we will be devastated.

My head has been consumed with hoping for it to work this time. I can not wait to get it over with and go back to being in the swing of things and not thinking about this.

Sunday Scoop 9/21/14

I keep trying my hardest to get back into blogging more, but I only seem to be able to do more than the Sunday Scoop with Teaching Trio.

Sunday Scoop 9/14/14

Sunday Scoop 9/7/14

Trying out a new linky with Teaching Trio, Sunday Scoop! I have to say that I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the dog clip art!

Here is mine!

Currently!

Hoping that linking up with Farley for September Currently will get be back into the blogging grove. School is awesome but is kicking my but!

Listening: When I moved down to NC I started catching episodes of the Andy Griffith Show, and learned its roots down here so I am now trying to watch all the episodes on Netflix. I am in the middle of season 6 (of 8) now. Wouldn't it be wonderful if people still respected police, teachers, and adults in general like they did then?

Loving/Needing: Friday night I slept for about 10 hours, took a four hour nap Saturday afternoon, and then slept for another 9 hours that night. I love my sleep. Though I could still use more, we all know that back to school teacher tired!

Wanting: A couple weeks ago we got the bills for some doctor visits for my husbands heart, along with a visit for stomach issues, we met our deductible and out of pocket maximum. Along with that when we moved to NC last year, we had to put a lot of expenses on the credit cards. O and then we needed to buy a new washer and dryer, thankfully there were awesome Labor Day Deals. So we simply can not afford to go to NY for Christmas. 

3 Trips: This was hard because I do not have a real desire to travel. I have always wanted to go to Germany, I simply love learning about WWII and would love to see a concentration camp and experience the history. I am 3/4 Italian so I would love to go to Italy. Finally seeing how I teach NC history and about the lighthouses I would love to travel down the coast and see the places I teach about.

Five for Friday

I forgot how exhausting and busy back to school is! But now it is time to ink up with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday!

Teachers went back to school August 11, and the kids came in today!!!! I have ha so much fun setting up my classroom and meeting the kids!

I saw this at Kohls, love it!

This is what my room looked like last Friday:

I have to take pictures on Monday of the basically finished product. 

Rant moment: I hate people who don't go the speed limit. I also hate people who don't use their turn signal! This is why I live so close to school, cannot stand being on the road with these idiots.

*End Rant*

Best feeling of the week:

Having my students from last year run up to me and give me big hugs and tell me the missed me! I love having my babies back where I can see them all the time!