Observation Procrastination

What is wrong with me? Am I the only person who procrastinates every time I have an observation? I have a pre-observation phone meeting tonight with my principal and do I have anything set? NOPE!

I know what I am planning on doing with my kiddos and BELIEVE ME I am not resting on my laurels.  I have in my head what I want to do and by tomorrow night everything will be written out nice and pretty-like and all my papers will be copied and what needs to be laminated will be all set and ready to go.  (Thank you personal at home laminator I purchased on Amazon.com using my Ebates)

Then during the observation the small group I am working with will look at me in confusion.  (OMG!) I will think "Why don't they get it? Was I too fast? Are they bored and this is their bored look? Is this too easy?"  Eventually at some point I will end up switching gears and going in a completely different direction from intended lesson- leaving behind those beautifully laminated and hand colored cards.

Why do I leave it behind? Because my students NEED ME.  They need the real me that they know- not this Stepford teacher that doles out stickers like lollipops at the bank.  They need me to laugh, rumple their hair, and make the crazy faces I do when teaching my little cherubs.  This is how they learn.  In my stomach I will feel like I screwed up because I deviated from the lesson.  I'll think "oh Crap! Now i'll have to document WHY I deviated" but in the end my kiddos will win.  They will walk away from the group with a smile on their little faces and a few stickers.  I will have a sweat stain on my blouse and a pit of doom in my stomach.

Why does being observed have to be so gut-wrenching? Why can I create/publish my own blog, create quality teaching materials from scratch, and figure out how Adsense works yet I can't navigate Bloomboard?  I feel like such an idiot!  I know my stuff yet to get me to try and verbalize my thinking and I sound like porky pig on fast forward.

My hopes and prayers are that my boss gets it.  Fingers crossed that she is one of those awesome people that really and truly get how unique our position is and how thinking on our feet is a necessity. Lesson plans are a good guide but real teaching is student driven.  Sometimes that is forgotten.

Heading off to prepare SOMETHING for my phone call.  Wish me luck!

Amazing Holiday & DIY classroom ornaments- Just saying!

Hey there! Again it's taking me way too long to post.  It's not because posting has not been on my mind but quite the opposite.  I have been so involved in our school's craft fair and now I'm on to obsessive over my classroom observation.  I have no idea why I thought it would be a great to schedule both within 7 days (actually withing 5 days) but apparently I am a glutton for punishment.  I guess maybe I could go for the sympathy vote??? Who knows.

Anyway- during this whole craft fair process I have become acquainted with so many cute ideas to do in the classroom.  I would LOVE to do all of these but being a travelling teacher I rarely have time for one craft a year.

The first little nugget I found is something that I am actually doing in my daughters classroom on Friday (yes can I squeeze one more thing in??)

Hand print snowman   

In an ideal world I would LOVE to do this! A variation would be to use magnets- Just something a little different.  

Bottlecap snowman

This cutie pie is made with dried glue! 

Glue snowman

Keeping this one a large photo because shortening it would not do it justice! 

snowman keys

All of these are so adorable and fairly easy to make.  I love being able to have students bring in items from home to make their craft.  It just shows them that a craft can be made from anything.  They don't have to make a special trip to the local big box store to make something cool.  

PS- As far as my awesome holiday- I HAVE to share that I have been starting to use Ebates and have been getting back $ hand over fist! Seriously.  Just got back $20. on my last shopping order.   Here is my referral link if you are interested.  Takes 10 seconds to sign up and you can shop at all your normal stores.  

Sign up for Ebates here!

My new favorite books!

Hello! Today I want to share with you my three favorite books! All three are relatively newly published and all are about one of my favorite subjects....Dogs! The coolest thing is that the authors from each of these books are from northwest Connecticut!

Here's #1! Macy's ABC Cross- Country Adventure by Susan M. Goodenough.  I love this book because I followed the authors Facebook posts as she and her husband were travelling across America with their camper.   Macy is the adorable pup of Susan and Paul Goodenough.

Click on book in Amazon sidebar to purchase.

Amazon description: 

What better way to see and learn new things than by having fun while gaining new knowledge with a new friend?In this book, follow the adventures of a dog named Macy as she introduces you to the alphabet and the wonderful things to learn about the United States. Accompany Macy as she travels from state to state all the way from Connecticut to Ida-ho and learn about the alphabet along the way.

My second favorite book is Roxy's Forever Home by Teresa Pelham.  I met Mrs. Pelham and Roxy during a school tour in Plainville, CT.  Two of the main characters in the book is a mom named Melissa and her daughter named Emily.  Consequentially we ended up adopting our own Roxy shortly afterward (Although she is of the feline persuasion).  You can go to www.roxysforeverhome.com for information on rescue heroes who save thousands of dogs every year.  

Click on book in amazon sidebar to purchase

Amazon Description:

 "Roxy's Forever Home" is a children's book based on a rescue dog's journey from the streets of Tennessee to her forever home in Connecticut. A portion of proceeds from the sale of this beautiful hardcover book will go directly to dog rescuers. The main character of the book is a little brown dog, who is now a certified therapy dog. Each copy is signed by both the author and Roxy herself.

My third favorite today is another rescue story and it is called: Neville: A Dog With A Secret. by Stephanie Ferguson.  Animal lover Stephanie Ferguson was drawn to the plight of shelter dogs when she and her husband adopted Neville.  Upon learning that up to twenty percent of adopted dogs are returned to the shelter, she was inspired to write this informative and eye-opening children's book.  When you buy this book, not only will Neville donate 100% of the proceeds to Passion 4 Paws, he will autograph the book for you. Just note the name of the recipient in the box at check-out.

Click here to purchase Neville's story

Neville is being adopted.  But his secret could destroy his chance at a "forever" home. Humorous and playful, but delivering an important message on the responsibilities of pet adoption, this is the sort of book children of all ages will enjoy over and over.  Join Neville as he discovers no one is perfect, but with a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work, dreams really can come true.

All of these books would make an amazing addition for your classroom! I know I will be sharing these books with my students this year.  If you are interested I believe all of these authors are available for your school or daycare programs.  I assume they charge a fee but you never know unless you call.     

Book Sale! A great opportunity to increase your classroom library! FREE SHIPPING!

Hello! I am so excited that I found this deal! Thrift Books is offering a buy 3 get one free Back to School sale. So you buy 3 books.  If the three books are from the same seller (very easy to do- you'll see once you check it out) then you get .50 off each additional book.

1st book= full price (I say full price but it is really inexpensive)
2nd book- Same seller- .50 off
3rd book- same seller- .50 off
4th book- FREE!

That is an awesome deal- Just saying!

This is not a book club or anything like that.  Just a really decent site that gets you great books at a low price.   I have been using them for two years now to purchase books for my Kindergarten students I work with and they are always prompt with delivery.

click here to go to site