Favorite Travel Cup Linky Party

Hi friends.


WELL....to make up for my absence lately, I have decided to host a linky party. I'm feeling a little scared though. What if no one comes? What if my party "theme" (topic) is lame? What if someone has already done this idea and I am breaking linky party copyright laws. OH DEAR. This is overwhelming.


PUSH FORWARD TANYA...YOU CAN DO IT....


Ok..some background information..


I recently just got a new Tervis Tumbler as a gift... I am a Tervis freak. I love all things Tervis. I'm slightly biased because the Tervis factory is 30 minutes from where I live. I am a nutcase when it comes to my drinks being cold. Cold like Alaska..cold like the iceberg that struck the Titanic...cold like FREEZING. Ice is my best friend. I have to have it in my drinks. I don't drink anything warm...don't ask why, I just don't like it. No coffee. No tea. I will drink the occasional hot chocolate but other than that...its FREEZING all the way.


I FAITHFULLY bring a Tervis filled with ice water to school everyday. Last week I forgot my cup. I realized this 20 minutes into my drive. I actually considered turning the car around. How could I forget my cup? That question played in my mind like a broken record. This was like leaving my watch at home...or my laptop...or my HEAD...I felt so lost...and thirsty....the last 10 minutes of my drive into work was torture. I thought I wasn't going to make it. The thirst was unbearable. 


I have two wait now three cups which I rotate and change around. 

This has been my new favorite. I got it for Christmas from one of my students. It's so me.

and then there's my teacher cup. The Boosters committee gave each teacher one of these during Teacher Appreciation Week last year. How awesome was that?

and FINALLY..my new one..which I adore and can't wait to rock tomorrow...

That terrible day reaffirmed how much I depend on my Tervis buddies and how they add happiness to my day....which prompted me to host a LINKY PARTY.

Currently April!

Happy April! Time is flying by. 15 days until the FCAT here in Florida. *gasps* 

On a more positive and not standardized testing note...I am linking up with Farley over at 

for her Currently April linky party. I partook in her January one and since then haven't had the time to join another. I made sure to take a few minutes today and JUST DO IT!

Here is mine:

I will be back later today to break the rules and post again. :) 

How can it be Thursday?

My spring break is coming to an end. Where did the time go? Earlier in the week I was feeling lucky to be on spring break but now I'm feeling like the UNlucky one with majority of you guys about to embark on your break. :)


I did manage to get some things done this week...


I created some worksheets to help my kiddos with composing/decomposing shapes. This concept is pretty tricky, especially if you have some kiddos who aren't spatial. We will work on these when we get back to school to give them some extra practice before FCAT.

I also created a sorting activity for parallel, intersecting, and perpendicular lines...

...a sorting activity for perimeter...

...a sorting activity for time...

...and an "I Have Who Has?" game for elapsed time. 

Not too bad for the week but I wanted to get more done. All of these items are in my TpT store and TN shop. I am currently having a sale over at TN. Check it out!

Lorraine over at 

is hosting a great linky party for blogs that are grades 3-5. Naturally this thrills me because I teach 3rd. :) Thanks Lorraine for hosting a great party. 

Off to go watch TV and master the art of doing nothing. :) 

A day in my shoes.

Another great linky party that I have to partake in. Katie over at Adventures of a 6th Grade Teacher is hosting this party where you outline what your everyday life is like. 

This is what a typical Monday in my shoes heels is like...careful, I have fallen a few times and have also gotten my heel stuck in the cracks on the sidewalks. :) 


4:45 - Alarm goes off. Yes, I get up this early. I'm an early bird and I do my best work in the morning so I choose to get up this early and head into school to get some work done before the kiddos come in. 


4:50 - Hop in the shower or I like to call it my "think tank." I analyze and go over what the day may bring me...


5:05 - Penny is whimpering at the door. I get out of the shower, get dressed, and have a 5 minute greeting session with Penn before I continue getting ready. She lays on the floor while I rub her belly and say "Good morning" 50 million times to her. Don't ask me how we got to this point but she loves it. How do I know? Her excessive tail wagging....


5:10 - Penny crawls back into bed while I finish getting ready. I do my make-up and then quickly check my email for blog comments. :) (This is a new addition to my morning routine.) Blow dry hair...do any finishing touches and head to the kitchen.


5:50 - Mark is up by this time so we exchange brief morning conversations. He is NOT a morning person, so I do most of the talking. I fill up my Tervis Tumbler with freezing ice water, make my lunch, pack my laptop bag, kiss Penny 15 times, and hit the road!


6:00 - Drive to work. Sing a lot in the car to get myself pumped for the day! 


6:35-6:40 - Arrive at work.Getting to work at the same time every day is nearly impossible. I take several isolated, country roads to get to work and that means one thing....TRUCKS!


6:40 - Sign in at the office. Collect the items in my mailbox. 


6:43 - QUIET CLASSROOM TIME. The calm before the storm. Check email, write emails, gather sheets for production, put up my Mimio lunch count, grade papers, write more emails, talk to teachers that come, talk to students that try to sneak in before the bell, talk to parents that come in, vacuum my room, (I LOVE MY MINI SHARK VACUUM), etc., etc., etc.... 


7:28 - My room is attached to the media center which is where they house the 3rd graders before the morning bell. The bell goes off at 7:30 but I hear little knocks and whispers of "Ms. V, COME GET USSSSSS," at my media door. 


7:30 - THE STORM HAS ARRIVED! Collect parent notes, box top labels, money for fundraisers, money for field trips, money for yearbook ads, lunch money, and any other money that finds its way on my desk. I love the kids that just drop the money on my desk with no name/reason and then we play the "WHO'S MONEY IS THIS?" game. 


The kids work on morning work and complete AR quizzes in between the 26 stories they want to share with me and their friends. 


8:00 - Go over morning work and start our 90 minute reading block. Centers, weekly reading story, grammar, mimio lessons, vocabulary, FCAT review.... and anything else I can squeeze in!


9:45 - Snack time. We all inhale a quick snack and take a breather. I usually work on minor issues that have arisen. (Examples: "Ms. V I logged myself out of AR." "Ms. V my stomach hurts." "I have a knot in my shoelace.") 


9:55 - My students grab their whiteboards, expo markers, and erasers and find seats on the floor for math time. 


10:00 - Math time, our favorite time of the day! 


11:00 - Specials. I drop the kids off, check my mailbox again, and use the restroom. I don't have a bathroom in my room, so by 11:00 I am doing the "bathroom dance." Afterwards us 3rd grade teachers chat in the office...bathroom...gate... where ever and catch up on gossip, stories, etc. 


11:15 - Back in my room if I don't have a meeting. Check math workbooks, push in 5 chairs, pick up 9 pencils on the floor, and any other odds and ends. Usually someone comes in to chat.


11:50 - I go and pick up the kiddos. If it's a P.E. day, I tackle bruises, cuts, student arguments, and the list goes on and on....


11:55 - If a student didn't finish their independent math pages, this is their time to do so. I go around and help out. Those who finished before specials quietly read. 


12:08 - Lunch time. I drop the kids off (sometimes I stay and eat with them). Most days, I eat while reorganizing my desk and sorting the materials that were left on it from the morning chaos. 


12:38 - I pick the kids up and we do science, social studies, or writing. Sometimes a combo of 2 subjects.


1:45 - Pack up time. Copy in agendas, pass out homework, empty out mailboxes, etc.


2:00 - Bell rings. Walk the kids out. 


2:00 - 3:15 - I tutor Monday - Thursday. Monday is my enrichment group and Tuesday - Thursday is for students who need help with various skills. 


3:15 - Walk the tutoring kids out to their parents' cars. Wave goodbye. 


3:18 - Go back to room. HEELS COME OFF. I walk around my room barefoot and pray that I don't step into something too gross. I work on anything and everything related to school.


4:45 - 5:00 - Time to call it a day. 


5:00 - Drive home.


5:30 - Arrive home. I greet Penny outside because she's too excited to control herself. We exchanges kisses and she whimpers in delight. I tell Mark about my day, while he or I cooks dinner...usually he can't get a word in because my mouth is going a mile a minute (OH IMAGINE THAT). 


6:00 - 6:30 - Dinner time. Afterwards, Mark and I argue about who is going to do the dishes.


6:40-9:00 - Blog stalk, watch TV, eBay surf, watch new movies on Comcast Direct, work on teacher stuff...relax!




9:00 - 9:15 - This is the time where Mark says "Come watch this with me." Sometimes I make it pass the opening credits but usually NOT. I fall asleep and drift into a teacher coma.


10:00-10:30 - Mark yells at me to go to the bedroom.  Penny squeezes herself next to me and finds herself a tiny part of my pillow and we fall fast asleep. 


GEEZ! Is anyone still with me? That was long, but that's my day! 


Finally, a BIG THANKS to those who responded to my desperate post yesterday for clip art and digital images. You guys are so awesome. I got so much great advice and spent last night purchasing a ton of stuff. Thanks again! 

It's a good thing you don't need a voice to blog

Teaching and talking all day + being sick = NO VOICE. I sound terrible, but feel okay. The show must go on! No sick days for me. 

Farley over at 

 

is hosting a Currently linky party. Please check out her site. Here is my contribution to the party!

We started our movie making process today. The kids are EXCITED! I will do another post tonight after dinner to share what we did today. 

11 in 11

Kristen over at "a teeny tiny teacher" is hosting a linky party. I feel as though I am that "dork" not invited to the party but goes as someone's wing man anyway. :) The blogging world is full of friends and tight connections..it's hard squeezing in.


BUT....here is my contribution to the party! Enjoy!







 
11. Favorite Movie You Watched
Super 8 - I was shocked by this movie! When Mark suggested it at the BlockbusterExpress Box, I was less than thrilled. Great, another sci-fi thriller...but I was so wrong. The writing, acting, directing, everything was awesome! Full of adventure and action - a must see.

10. Favorite TV Series
Storage Wars. A little weird I know but I cannot get enough. Although I do get annoyed when they get too ambiguous and price their own findings and inflate the actual worth; however, I don't stop watching. Please tell me I am not alone in this strange obsession.      YUUUUP!

9. Favorite Restaurant
Islamorada Fish Company - it's inside the Bass Pro Shops which we frequently visit thanks to Mark's addiction hobby of fishing. Their grouper sandwich is my best friend and they serve this YUMMY, warm, cinnamon bread when you first sit down. It's a lovely experience.


8. Favorite new thing you tried
This is simple...without a doubt, blogging! At first I was so hesitant. Where to start? Who will read it? Will I ever have more than 10 followers? BUT fears aside, it has been enjoyable and refreshing. In some strange way, it also pushes me to be a better teacher. I'm sure some of you can understand that.


7. Favorite gift you received
Tickets to see Wicked the Musical. Mark scored us front row tickets to the show! I'm beyond excited. We have seen the show before, but I never get tired of incredible music and writing.  I listen to the soundtrack during my 35 minute ride to work at least once a week. It pumps me up and gets my vocal cords going for a day of non-stop talking!

6. Favorite thing you pinned
*Sign* I am not on Pinterest BUT I did employ my mother on Christmas day to invite me and I just awaiting my invitation. :) Pinterest here I come!


5. Favorite blog post
...I would have to say the one on my classroom library. The title of the post says it all.


4. Favorite Accomplishment
My FCAT scores from the end of last year. All my students passed and I was so proud of them. It was a great feeling!

Also buying my first car. It's a 2012 Kia Soul and I bought her all by myself, and I will be making the car payments on her for the next 5 years all by myself!


3. Favorite Picture

I know I have already posted this but it was our first professional photo session together as a family. :)


2. Favorite Memory
Discovery Cove with my sister, Becca. Discovery Cove is a resort in Orlando, FL where you can lay out on the beach, eat until you want to die, and best of all, swim with dolphins! We had a wonderful SISTER day and I adored sharing such a great experience with her.

Becca and I.

Discovery Cove

1. Goals for 2012

1. To keep blogging

2. To give my all in every endeavor

3. To be patient and kind in trying situations

4. For all my students to pass the FCAT

5. To get married

6. Join Pinterest!