Thursday, May 2, 2013

Currently Prioritizing and a WINNER!

Oh, me, oh my, it's May???
This school year has literally flown right past me!  I need another nine weeks grading period to finish all the plans I had for my kiddos!  Really, we've covered just about everything in reading and writing, but the 'rithmatic?  Not quite there yet, and we're feeling the test anxiety about taking the MAP testing next week...After a slam, bam review, I have to squeeze in at least one game of circles and stars (awesome game to introduce multiplication), get on board the rounding train, and throw in some geometry.  Now how am I going to do that in four days, plus go on an extended-day field trip?  No idea...if y'all have some, lay 'em on me!

I am happy to announce that Heidi at In That Room is the winner of my Fab Forty Giveaway.  She has won four products from my TPT store.  Congratulations, Heidi!

May Day (well, really the first day of any month) means Farley's Currently Linky Party, so here are my currents:

I can hear my girls watching Victorious in the den, as I write, and although I am loving that there are only 21 days of school left, because I'm wanting to go to the beach, I'm also hating it, as you can see by the fact that I am needing more time before testing...talk about confusion!

I LOVE it that Farley added a summer bucket list this month.  It really made me think about what I want to do this summer, and to prioritize my time.  Usually, I work and take classes all summer, every summer.  I take my laptop to the pool.  I read stuff like Fountas & Pinnell at the lake and Debbie Diller on the beach.  This morning, I had the best talk with my assistant principal, though, and he reminded me that I'll never have these years back with my girlies, and that it really is okay to put my own children ahead of other people's.  That's the hardest part about being a teacher...I want to "save the world", "fix everything and everybody", and be perfect at everything I do every day in my classroom.  That's all great, except that my own family doesn't get the best, or fixed, or saved or perfection.  Y'all know what I'm talking about.  We give everything we have to the kiddos in our classes, happily, expectantly, constantly.  It's what we do.  It's why we teach.  But I have to thank Mr. Craig for reminding me that I am allowed to love those people who live at my house even more than those people who "live" in my class.  A good lesson...

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23 comments:

  1. That is an awesome talk to have with an admin! That is so hard to do though. It is always a balancing act, isn't it?

    Jenny
    Suntans and Lesson Plans

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    1. It absolutely is, Jenny! I just wish I could balance a little better...
      Brooke

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  2. Aren't PTOs just the best?! Our PTO works really hard to help the teachers. I'm your newest follower!

    Ms. Cranfill's Class

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    1. Thanks for following! Our PTO is brand-new, having just converted from PTA this year, and they ROCK!
      Brooke

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  3. I am so with you on wanting more time before testing. My class is the opposite of yours. We're good on math, but I wish we had about six more weeks to work on reading! Oh well, at least we have the summer to look forward to!

    Danielle
    Carolina Teacher

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    1. Okay, I say we're good on reading. All that means is I've covered all the CCSS standards. I'd LOVE another six weeks in both! Have a great summer in NC, from SC!
      Brooke

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  4. Yes to the beach and to tan!!

    I'm your newest follower, drop by if you'd like. =)

    Just Wild About Teaching

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    1. Tan...I forgot about tan! My daughter, who's Chinese, always tells me I'll never catch up, and she's right. She gets brown as a little bug! Thanks for following - I'm heading right over to see you.
      Brooke

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  5. Popping over from Farley's link up! The Beach is listed on my bucket list, oh about 10 or so times! I totally feel ya!

    I'm also a new follower!
    Nicole

    Today, in Second Grade

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    1. Oh, thanks for following, Nicole! I can't wait to see your blog, as a fellow 2nd grade teacher. As for the beach, I wish I could just live there all summer!
      Brooke

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  7. I am so excited! I will get back to you on Monday with my choices! Yay!

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    1. I'm excited for you, Heidi - have fun out of town, Monday's great!
      Brooke

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XOXO,
Brooke