Currently March--a little late

I'm a little late for the party...shocking, I know, since I am such an All-Star blogger and all...but better late than never! :) 

Listening: I love me some Downton but I am like 4 weeks behind so I have to catch up! 
Loving: Need I say more? Everyone loves a good Spring Break
Thinking: On the Tuesday we get back from Spring Break, we have "learning walks". That means multiple principals from across the district will be coming into our classrooms to judge observe us and to see how well we are achieving campus and district goals. Goody. This means I have to go visit my classroom and get some things in order before all my visitors come. 
Wanting: I've been working on redecorating our bedroom (gold, black and turquoise!) using old screen doors from my great-grandmother's house. I need to finish painting the doors and get all my decorations up so I can be done with this project! 
Needing:  PTL it's Spring Break so I can get some real relaxing and primping done!! 
Plans: My little guy had surgery yesterday to get tubes put in...hopefully these pesky ear infections are a thing of the past. The surgery went well and we are just relaxing and recovering this week. :) 

We are also going to go visit Jackson's great grandparents and some of my aunts and uncles in Texarkana for a few days just to get away! I'm hoping for some nice weather...Texas has been insanely crazy these past few weeks. 

So we already had "ice" days and then last Friday, during district assessments (which carry a lot of weight),  it starts SNOWING. and it snowed hard for several HOURS..while our students gazed longingly out our blind-less windows. 

THEN, on Wednesday, overnight, we got 6 inches of snow, again. 6 inches! That's insane for Texas, especially on March 1st! 

So we had another snow day on Thursday ...and then J had surgery Friday so I'm technically on my 3rd day of Spring Break! Hoping for better weather and more regular posting soon, ya'll. Have a good weekend! 

Currently...February!

Ya'll. I've been gone for a LONG time. I don't really have a good reason other than to say that this school year (Number 5 for me) is the most ridiculously crazy one yet. So many changes. So much paperwork. So little time. Sigh. 

Listening: I love Downton. My hubs' fam in Cincy got me hooked 2 or 3 years ago while on Christmas break and I still love it. I start talking in my [Texas] British accent after I've watched too many episodes. :) 

Loving: It was in the 40s today! It finally feels more winter-like since it was in the 80s last week. It was insane last week..don't get me wrong, it was beautiful but we very rarely get winter weather so I want a few days of cold! 

Thinking: Anybody? 5 weeks. just sayin...

Wanting: It's been a long year. I need some relaxation time. Plus, Hubs has had basketball tournaments the last 4 weekends and I've started teaching Saturday school so we need a date night! 

Needing: Between SpEd referrals, tutoring lesson plans, Saturday school lesson plans, regular lesson plans, data analysis, PDAS, GT portfolios and everything else on my plate...I have got to tackle this to-do list. But I'm exhausted every night. 

Pageant Title: Seriously. My friends email me everything to make it adorable and fontastic. It's a gift. 

I promise to try harder to blog more frequently...and I have some awesome TPT products in the works...stay tuned! 

Currently November

Listening: I love this new show. I don't even know why. I just do.
Loving: Volleyball. Me. It makes me super happy to be playing again...such a stress relief
Thinking: Need I say more?
Wanting: Also..yes, please. I wish I had one day (that wasn't on the weekend) to just work AT school. I could get so much accomplished. 
Needing: Football season is (sort of) winding down and I want a night with my man!

Reading: Listen, I read 3 books this weekend. 3. It was awesome. Now I'm reading the Geography of You and Me. I really like this author...because her books are sweet but also light hearted and sometimes that's just necessary! 

Yay me! It's the same week and I'm already linking up. I'm on top of things! (kind of..)

Head over to Farley's blog to see all the other amazing blogs! 

Currently...yes, I am a blogging failure

Y'all. I am having one of those years. I feel like I am never "caught up" and unfortunately that means my poor ole blog suffers. But I promise I haven't been a sucky teacher...look, I'll kind of prove it! ;) 

Recognize anyone on there?! I am thrilled to be (one of) the Teachers of the Month at my school. It's even sweeter to share the title with my beautiful friend, Esther! [You may recognize her from my vacation pics--I told you I work and PLAY with awesome people.]

Anyway, sorry for my total slackage on the blog but I am trying my best to figure out the best way to balance my 78 10 year olds, my one year old and the rest of my life :) 

\PS. This pic totally speaks to me right now...

Football season. You gotta love it. and it's ok to hate it sometimes. ;) [[However I will say, the hubs has totally rocked at trying to balance football life and home life...we are just spoiled since we all spent 24/7 with each other this summer.]]

Ok, on to my Currently! I'm tardy for the party but better late than never! 

Listening: It's Sunday. I'm married to a coach. I live in Texas. #footballislife

Loving: We lost power in a storm on Thursday afternoon and it didn't come back on until Friday afternoon. And it's still 85+ in Texas. I.needed.my.AC

Thinking: I'm typically not a countdown kind of teacher. I love my job. But this year has been...challenging. and Mama needs a break. 

Wanting: I mean, like I said...challenging year. I am fairly certain a pedicure, massage and shopping spree would make me feel better. Pretty sure. 

Needing: I can't catch up. I need longer days or just a good solid work day. 

Trick or Treat: TREAT!! The English AND Spanish versions of my Reading Review folder are on sale for the next week :) Enjoy!! 

Alright, that's all I got! 

Big Time Blogging Challenge: Day 2

What's up, ya'll?! I'm back for Day 2 of the blogging challenge! 

Today's question/prompt: How long and in what capacities have you been in education? 

I am about to start my 5th year of teaching! I know that probably doesn't sound like much to some of the veteran teachers out there but I can't believe how fast the time has flown by! I taught 4th grade my first 3 years and moved to 5th grade last year. I will be in 5th again this year. My first year teaching, I was self-contained and taught the gifted and talented class. They were the most perfect class ever. I mean, they had amazing behavior, they were willing to learn, I loved them. 

For my second year, there was a teacher who really wanted to loop with her kids, but she wanted to team teach. Texas was going through a sort of budget crisis with regard to education (when does that not happen?!) so everyone was afraid of losing their jobs...anyway, I was like, "I'll do whatever you want me to do!" when my principal asked if I was interested. I. LOVED. IT. I taught the Reading, Writing and Social Studies (TX History) to a gifted class and a general ed class. I knew there was no going back! 

So that's what I've taught the past 3 years--Writing, Reading and Social Studies (US History in 5th grade)...Next year I will be teaching just Reading and Writing because we are doing a 3-man team. I'm excited to see how I like the change! 

AND AND AND, I'm also using this post to do this month's Currently with Farley over at Oh Boy 4th Grade

Listening: GMA...Love watching it during the summer! And my cutie pie is babbling away while playing, so cute! 
Loving: We are in Texarkana visiting my aunt and next week we are venturing to Oklahoma City for a few days...no more sitting around the house, bored! 
Thinking: I have started accumulating stuff for my classroom and I have all these ideas for things I want to revamp...lots of DIY in the process :)
Wanting: Can you believe they take away our keys during the summer? It's just cruel and unusual punishment. We can't get in to do ANYTHING until the 2nd week of August. Stress.me.out. 
Needing: the boy is on the move so I have GOT to baby proof...like, yesterday
4th plans: My mom and I are going to "relove" an old chair of my great grandmother's, cookout with the rest of the fam and hit the pool! 

Don't forget to follow me on BlogLovin'! My 4 whole followers is just pathetic--come on, show a girl some love! :) 

5 for Friday AND Currently

I'm doubling linking this post with Doodle Bugs Teaching and Farley over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade (2 blogs I totally love!) 

It's already May. Seriously?! Where has this school year gone? Oh yea, I spent 10 weeks of it at home sleepless and frazzled  cuddling with my precious baby. Anyway, I'm totally digging Farley's design for this month's currently.  

Listening: Pretty self explanatory. I typed up my Currently stuff while students were working on their CARE books and just listening to the conversations they have with each other is super entertaining. They are often slightly creeped out amazed at the amount of "stuff" I know about their personal love lives (I could write a whole separate post on this topic...) but I love to give them "independent" time and just sit back and observe. :) 
Loving: Personally, global warming has served me well this year. I loved our super cold winters and I'm not complaining about pleasant temps in early May. Hit me up in August and I'll be hating the heat, but it's Texas and it's what we Texans do..complain about the heat but make fun of other people who can't hang with it. 
Thinking: May is one of my favorite months. It starts off with my hubby's birthday on the 8th and ends with mine on the 31st. And I love birthdays. Seriously love them. 
Wanting: I'm not really a shopaholic but it does make me happy during stressful times. Buying new shoes or a purse can make my week. I need a good shopping trip. 
Needing: Listen, I've been trying to eat better (less fried foods, etc.) but I am CRAVING a Zaxby's chicken salad. It's my favorite fast food place (don't tell Chicfila) but there is only ONE within an hour of my house. Texas needs more Zaxby's. PLEASE.
Surprise: Go visit this fabulous blog. It is for the art teacher at my school, Alex Alkire. We went to Elliott together (and are both back to teach at our old school!) and she is just fabulous. Not only is she a talented art teacher who the kids LOVEEEEE but she is just a cool person. Super talented. AND she and I trick 90% of the kids at our school into believing we are sisters... :) Check her out!! 

OK, on with the 5 for Friday: 

I think this technically happened last week but we found out our positions for next year. (At our school, there is A LOT of moving around with looping and such so you never really know where you will be...I mean, within reason. I both love and hate it. haha) Anyway, I will be teaching 5th grade reading next year for all of the monolingual classes and I get to teach Gifted and Talented again! It is totally one of my passions so I am excited! 

 Also last week, we went on our 5th grade field trip. I love field trips. I love planning them and everything. This year we went to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. It was really great. The Indiana Jones exhibit was AWESOME! Everyone got a tablet and got to participate in this field trip with the tablets and it was just so fun. We could have spent hours in that one exhibit but we had a packed day. I was super excited because they were going to have a Wizard of Oz exhibit and had advertised the ruby slippers and everything BUT we got there and it was a replica of the slippers (lame...) and that exhibit was geared toward younger kids but they did have cool stuff in the gift shop! :) 

 You can totally tell that we have passed the majority of the state testing at our school. I came out at 5:15 the other day and my car was the only car in the parking lot, with the custodians. #endofyearsyndrome

 Last, but certainly not least...look how big my cutie is getting. 

Phew, that's it. What a long post but it catches you up on all the juicy details of my life this week. Have a great weekend! Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin'! 

Caitlin

Currently March--My very first Currently!

I have admired and followed Farley's blog for, probably, 2 years now. I think she and I could potentially be besties due to our shared love of the ... and !!! Anyway, she hosts linky parties each month and I'm linking up for my very first one! 

Listening: We are in Clarksville, TX to visit my grandparents (Jackson's GREAT grandparents). They live on a farm and have a bazillion cows (or at least a couple hundred) and we love coming to visit. Both of my parents grew up in Cville so it seems like they know everyone here. As we sit in the living room, my Gramps has Fox News on in the living room and they are playing with/talking to Jackson. Adam (my hilarious "baby" brother....ok, he's almost 20 but he's still MY baby brother) is making sarcastic remarks about everything and it is cracking me up. 

Loving: I am practically a newborn in the blogging world, but my oh-so-connected friend Andrea Keller is the most tech-savvy person I know. She knows people all over the world, has a bajillion ideas for integrating technology in the classroom and is just all around AMAZING. AND SHE tweeted and Facebooked my little ole blog to all her blogging/teaching/technology friends. 'Preciate it, Busy Bee :)

Thinking: Next Sunday we are headed to Cincy to see my hubby's family. It's a long trip anyway but we've never attempted it with a BABY. I hope J makes the trip easily...Once we are there it won't be an issue because J will be around fam who will marvel in his cuteness and give him lots of attention..but the car ride...yikes.

Wanting: need I say more? 

Needing: People. I hate working out...unless it's playing volleyball. But since I get to play volleyball never these days, I've got to figure something out. Summer is approaching and I plan on teaching baby J that during the summer, all we do is swim and lay by a pool reading. 

????: Any guesses...? :)