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Hey yall! Happy hump day!

 

Have I mentioned how wonderfully glorious it is to be on Spring Break? No?

 

Well, let me mention it then...

 

It is so wonderfully glorious to be on Spring Break :)

 

I could seriously get used to staying up to midnight and sleeping til 8 or 9 every day. Come on, summer!

 

And this weather??? Well, it can't get any better! It has been in the high 70s and low 80s all week and I'm loving every second of it. I can't believe that some of you Northerners are still getting snow in April! Meanwhile, this Southern girl is soaking up some rays :)

 

So, since I am on Spring Break {hate me yet???}, and have nothing teachery to share, I thought I would share some tips today.

 

Let me throw a little scenario your way...

 

You are stalking reading your favorite blog and she (or he!) is sharing something truly amazing and you feel compelled to comment. You take the time to leave your comment, and may even put a question in there for the blogger. And then...................................nothing.

 

Why didn't that blogger respond to your question??? Well, chances are, its because you are a No Reply Blogger. When you leave a comment for others, they can't respond back because you didn't leave an email address for them!

 

Now, let me stop right here for a second.

 

Yes, I do realize that there is a way for bloggers to reply to your actual comment on the comments thread. However, this in no way, shape, or form notifies the commenter (commentor?) that you replied! So unless you actually go back and search down that post and scroll alll the way through the comments, you're never going to see it.

 

Okay, so let's continue.

 

This is a truly easy fix and only takes a couple of steps.

 

1: Go to your Blogger Profile and click the little button that says "Edit Profile."

 



 

2: Once you are at your profile page, check to see if your email is typed correctly. Then click the little box next to it that says "Show My Email Address."

 



 

3: Scroll all the way down the page and click "Save My Profile."

 

That's it! Easy, peazy, lemon squeezy, right???

 

Now, leave those wonderful comments to your hearts content and get ready to {hopefully!} hear back from your favorite blogger :)

 



Ahhh...Spring Break! plus monkeys!

Hey yall!

 

Today is my first *official* day of Spring Break and it. is. glorious.

 

I'm still in my jammies at 11:00, lazily drinking a cup of coffee and browsing on TPT.

 

Now that's how you start Spring Break off right!

 

I can tell that I'm going to be uber productive this week, though,  because I've already created a brand new classroom set! Introducing....

 

 

I gotta tell you....I am *loving* these adorable monkeys and the chic chevron accents! It almost makes me want to switch out my owls... :)

 

This set is HUGE, with 199 pages of monkey fun! Seriously though, I couldn't come up with just one more page??? 200 sounds much better, right? But no, it is only 199 pages...ha!

 

Anyways, this pack includes...

 

*Attendance/Transportation Signs: 8 different transportation options and blank signs

*Calendar Buddies: days of the week header and cards, months of the year header and cards, "today is," "tomorrow is," and "yesterday was" cards, and calendar cards 1-31 with special holidays

*Alphabet posters: Zaner Bloser font with both print and cursive posters

*Desk Tags: 4 different styles to choose from

*Table Tags: for up to 6 different tables

*Classroom Jobs: 28 different classroom jobs and student monkey cards

 

AND its editable, so you can make any extra pieces that your heart may desire! I'm also going to be working on some coordinating pieces over the next few days, so keep an eye out for those.

 

Now for some pictures!

 

 

Click here to pick up this adorable classroom set!

 

I know it seems a little early to be thinking about how to decorate your classroom next year, but I have honestly had some inquiries about new sets, so I thought....why not?

 

Now I'm off to enjoy this b-e-a-utiful day by soaking in the sun :)



Five for Friday

Hey yall!

 

Well, its official.....its Spring Break!!!

 

So excited to spend the next 9 days with absolutely no plans. Well, I guess I do have some plans....like sleep in every day, have lazy days catching some sun, work on some new units, and enjoy all the excitement that Masters Week brings!

Its Friday, so you know that means I'm linking up with Casey!



So here we go!



1. We've been working so hard on comparing numbers this week. I found this great little freebie on TPT. I laminated the workmats and my kiddos have done so good...they love those stinkin' adorable alligators! Imagine my excitement last night when I found this little freebie from Kimberly over at The Learning Tree. Can you say perfect timing???

 

2. We have also been working on place value these past couple of weeks. I love, love, love my magnetic foam base ten blocks! My littles enjoy using their whiteboards and are so engaged every time we pull them out...which we do quite often!

Note: please be aware that this last picture does not actually represent the base ten blocks from the first picture :)

 

 

 

3. In Social Studies, we are continuing our unit on economics. We've learned about needs and wants, producers and consumers, & goods and services. I had my students write about a job they wanted when they grow up and if that job offered goods or services. Notice the sweetie that wants to be a babysitter: "A babysitter looks after you until your parents come back from Save a Lot." Haha! Love those 6 years old :)

 

 

4. In ELA, we've been working on story elements and narrative writing. Now, I'm the first to admit that I am cutesy anchor chart challenged, but I try my best! My littles seem to be impressed :)

 

 

5. You know its Masters Week when you start seeing these signs go up! We only live about 3 miles from the National, so traffic is going to be awesome, but I don't even mind! I just love all the excitement that it brings to the town :) Anyone out there coming to visit my hometown this week???

 

Happy Friday, friends!

 

Currently....awaiting Spring Break!

Hey yall!

 

Was it just me or was it extra hard to wake up today? That 3 day weekend sure did fly by...

 

Ummm....can you believe its already April??? That means its time for some Currently!

 



 

Anyone else love some Criminal Minds? I never watch the current season, for some odd reason, but I love watching all the old reruns :)

 

Today was supposed to be rainy and yuck. Instead, it was 76 and sunny! The perfect weather for a nice long walk with the pups.

 

Yes, I need a weekend do-over. Our cabin in Asheville was beautiful, I loved getting to catch up with my best buddy from my old school in Atlanta, and downtown was loads of fun. However, there was a bit of drama I won't get in to....but needless to say, I need a second chance weekend! Here are a few fun pics from our trip:

 

 

I have missed this girl so, so much!!! We hadn't seen each other since last May, so it was a much needed reunion :) Notice my photobomber hubby...

 

Downtown Asheville is so charming and eclectic! I just had to take a ride on these little piggies...



Spring Break is only four days away yall....four!!! And in Augusta, that means MASTERS WEEK!!!

 

Now, even though I live in golf mecca, I don't actually care too much for the sport. I mean, I can take it or leave it. However, I love, love, LOVE Masters Week and cannot wait!

 

Okay, on to the advice portion of the program...

The best advice I can give when starting to create products is to use PowerPoint. I started out using Microsoft Word for the first 6 months or so, which works pretty well. However, once I switched to PowerPoint, I couldn't believe how much better and easier it was than Word! It has saved me so much time and energy, because it is so much easier to format. Seriously, I cannot stress that enough....PowerPoint yall!!! My huge project over the summer is to switch all those units I created in Word over to PowerPoint, so I can update and edit them from time to time. I'm sure that will be fun, fun, fun.

 

Go link up with Farley, yall!
 

Five for Friday!

Hey yall! Happy Good Friday!!!

If you're like me, you are enjoying this glorious day off. If you had to work today, I feel for ya! I have been looking forward to this weekend for ages, because the hubs and I are hitting the road!

We're heading up to Asheville, NC to meet some friends for the weekend. Hello hot tub, Catch Phrase, piano bar, downtown shopping, catching up, and re-lax-ation!!!

Since I will be MIA over the next few days, I wanted to link up with Casey for her weekly party!

1. I was hard at work on my new Spring Fling Common Core Centers this week and finally got them posted!

2. Speaking of my new pack, my kiddos are loving the Spring themed centers!

3. I introduced two-digit addition and subtraction last week, and my smarties have been loving every minute of it! They feel like such big kids :)

4. Our home for the weekend!



Looks like its only Four for Friday, this week :)

Spring Fling {freebie}

Hey yall!

 

First of all, I want to say a huge thank you for all the sweet comments and emails I've received over the past couple days regarding my last post. You all left such heartfelt comments and I feel so amazingly blessed to have such a supportive bloggy community!

 

Although I don't usually like to bring the mood down with my posts, you need to know that not everything is always rainbows and unicorns. It is therapeutic for me to get those thoughts and feelings out there, and I cannot thank you enough for listening.

 

I can't say that I am 100% back to my happy self, but I'm working on getting there :)

 

With that being said, let's move on, shall we???

 

I have been hard at work over the last few weeks on my newest pack and it is finally done and uploaded!

 

Click on the picture to get your copy!

 

Whew! I am so ready for Spring! I mean, I know it's here, but it sure doesn't feel like it! It has been downright chilly these past few days! Supposed to be back up to the 70s again this weekend, though :)

 

This CC aligned pack is my biggest math center pack yet. It has 10 math centers and is 89 pages long! Every center comes in both color and B/W and has a recording sheet that goes with it.

 

This pack meets the following CC standards:

1.OA.1

1.OA.2

1.OA.4

1.OA.7

1.OA.8

1.NBT.2

1.NBT.3

1.NBT.4

1.MD.3

1.MD.4 

 

Here are just a few snapshots of some of the centers:

 

 

You like? I am in love with all the fun colors!

 

Now, a little freebie for you :)

 

Head over to my TPT shop and download the preview for this packet to get my Springtime Sorting center! I would love some feedback if you do grab the freebie :)

 

 

Only 2 more days until a long weekend, yall! At least, for me anyways :)



Hey yall....

 

I am coming to you today with a very heavy heart, and I wanted to share with you all something that I have been struggling with for quite some time.

 

Anyone that knows me knows that I want to be a mother. I am the youngest of five, and have always wanted a big family. My hubby is from a much smaller family, so our visions didn't exactly match, but we both want kids.

 

What some people don't know is that we have been trying for almost 3 years to start our family. We haven't always tried consistently every month for those years, but I would say about 80% of the time. We did take a break when we moved to Atlanta a few years back, but started trying again once we were settled.

 

When we finally moved back to Augusta last May, we decided it was time to seek help. I went to the doctor and told her all about my struggles. She assured me that everything would be fine, but she would run some tests just to make sure. Of course, this meant the hubby would be subjected to some tests as well, which he was not excited about!

 

But he was all cleared by the doctor, so the focus turned to me. After completing some tests, the doctor told me that I was not ovulating and prescribed me to two different medications: Metformin and Clomid. I started taking Metformin first, and then started the Clomid two months later.

 

Well, I have now been taking Clomid for about 5 months and....nada. The doctor told me she would only allow me to take it for six months before referring me to a specialist.

 

The drug is doing its job, though, as I have been having regular positive ovulation tests. For some reason, though, we have still been unable to get pregnant.

 

My husband and I are at the age where most of our friends our married with children. Actually, we have been married for longer than most of our friends, yet they have all had children before us...some even multiple children! I am always so happy for each couple when I hear they are expecting, but a part of me cannot help but grieve for myself.

 

I got a text yesterday from a close friend that said she was expecting. My reaction? I immediately burst into tears...

 

Then I felt completely awful because a good friend would just feel joy. However, I can't help but think..."When will our time come?"

 

I wanted to share this with yall, because infertility is something that I struggle with each day. I feel like I am a complete let down for my husband, and spend each month praying that this will be the month.

 

Can anybody relate to my story? I need some encouragement and positivity yall. Any recommendations on what our next steps should be???

 

Sorry to bring the mood down today, but I just felt as if I needed to get this all out.