Currently - May!

Hi!  I love the beginning of the month because it is like a fresh start every 30 days or so.  A new beginning, the changing of decorations, and in this case, one month closer to summer vacation!  It also means that it is time to link up with Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for another edition of Currently.

Listening: I just got out of bed and came upstairs.  I am sitting on the couch with our sliding glass doors open.  It is a gorgeous day in Oregon and the birds are chirping and happy.  It's going to be a great day!  Now, if only I can stop this cold from getting worse I'll be in good shape ;)

Loving: Being Tribes trained.  Are you?  It is a great way to build community and relationships.  All of the teachers in my school were trained this year.  We had two days at the beginning of the school year, one day in the middle of the year, and then yesterday was our final day.  It was exciting to discuss things that we liked about it this year, to get refreshed on some of the strategies, and to look ahead to next year as well.  We were given about 30 minutes to come up with a culminating task for our class this year.  Here is my student teacher and my teammate hard at work in our planning session.  We came up with a great way to end the year! I'm excited to share it with you once we complete it.

Thinking:  How is it May already?  Is anyone else with me?  All of a sudden, it is here!  I just typed my May newsletter yesterday at work (wish I had a Mac at work!) and need to go in to work today or tomorrow to print it and stuff it in their folders.  Good thing I looked at it again for I just noticed a typo - please excuse it!  I typed up all of our end of the year events for the parents to see what will be happening in our classroom.  It is always such an exciting time, but also super busy!

Wanting: I want to get started on end of the year things now.  The end of the year is crunch time - right!?!?  There are so many things to fit in, projects to make, assessments and report cards to complete as well as field trips and end of the year memory books, award ceremonies..........and the list goes on and on.  I got started this week on some end of the year assessments.  My student teacher just finished her official two week solo and she did a great job!  I started pulling kids out into the hall in order to get some testing done while she was teaching.  It is always a crazy time of year when testing season approaches because I have to keep my kiddos occupied, while I pull them for one on one assessments. This was brilliant!  She was teaching, I was testing, and teaching did not have to come to a screeching halt!  I want to keep going while she is in my room and try to get as much done for the very end of the year now, so it won't seem so busy when June comes.  Here is a sweet picture of "Miss D." and me and our school carnival last night.  She is awesome and I hope a district snatches her up soon!  Isn't she the cutest?

Needing: I MUST write my birthday thank you notes this week.  My birthday was April 19th and it was a wonderful birthday.  I always love hearing from friends and family near and far, and just being thought of makes me happy.  It is a great day on Facebook too!!!!  I was blessed with some sweet gifts from family and friends and I need to reach out and thank them.  I do love writing handwritten notes............but I am a procrastinator.  I am actually looking at the pile of cards I have that I need to write in.............and I have been looking at them for days.  Oy!  I need to motivate.  This week.  I declare it here in cyber space - this week I will write them and mail them off!  Settled :)  Teehee.

Summer, yes, hope, dream:  Summer.............sigh...........sweet, sweet, summer!  Oh how I adore thee! May does mean that summer is in sight.  I am so excited for the summer this year as I have many fun plans.  I am excited to make the Teachers Pay Teachers conference this summer.  I get to meet and room with two lovely gals - Alex from The Kindergarten Connection and Becky from The Class Couple.  I know we will have fun, and learn so much this summer.  It is also time for my 25th high school reunion.  What????  Seriously, I have been out of high school for 25 years?  Do you remember how as a child time went by so slowly?  Now, it flies by.  Can't believe it!  It will be great to head back to Louisiana and visit with my childhood friends.  Some of us are all staying together (my friend Aimee is letting 3 of us +hubbies come invade her space) and it will be so great to catch up in person.  After the reunion, my husband and I are going to rent a car and travel to either Gulf Shores or Destin for a little Gulf Coast vacation.  My hubby has never been to this area of the country so it will be a fun, albeit hot and humid, vacation!  I just need to research and book a place.  I'm also hesitant to tell you that we have had our Ikea Ektorp couch for about 10 years now.  Finally, we are going to get a new couch this summer and I can't wait!!!  I am already looking online and look forward to curling up with my hubby, a good book, and/or my laptop and enjoying some of the relaxing days of summer.

Thanks for stopping by!