My Favorite Quote

I am linking up with Monica from I Heart 3rd grade to show you my favorite quote.

I absolutely love quotes; personal and professional.  There is always a quote that perfectly crafts what you are feeling or thinking.

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Especially as a beginning teacher, I love working with a grade level team.  Working with others helps me gain new ideas and feedback in addition to feeling supported.  I have been very fortunate to work on very positive teams.

The past school year I also have built my PLN through Twitter and my teaching blog.  I love the community!

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Any challenge we face helps us grow.  Use challenges as your motivation to move forward and learn something new.

Teachers Love Summer

I am linking up with Aimee from Primarily Speaking to share reasons why I love summer.  Although I love my job and always give it my all, I appreciate having some time to slow down and relax.

NO ALARM CLOCK

This is a given.  I actually get to wake up at a decent hour during the school year since my drive to school is short.  However, it is nice knowing I can stay up late without being tired the next day.  I like being well rested.

READING

I am passionate about professional development and having a growth mindset.  I love that I can sit outside on my deck and read whenever I desire.  

               I am heading to the beach in July.  What suggestions do you have for fun books?

TRAVELING

In my free time, I absolutely love to travel.  Every year I go to:

-Phoenix, AZ

-Hilton Head Island, SC

-Fort Lauderdale, FL

This summer I have been frequently traveling to Cincinnati and Dayton to see my college roommates and sorority sisters.  The rest of my college friends live in Chicago so I fly out once or twice a year….  Just not during the winter :)  I also am going to Raleigh, NC in July for EdCamp Leader.  I am really looking forward to meet more educators.

WORKING OUT

I love being able to have a consistent work out schedule in the summer and not feel rushed.  Plus working out is so much nicer when there is sunshine.

CATCHING UP ON MY TV SHOWS

Instead of DVRing my favorite tv shows, I can watch them when they air.  It's the little things, right?

I am an active person so I don't watch a ton of TV, but if I want to relax and watch FRIENDS I am able to.

What do you love about summer?  Although teachers always seem to be on the go, it is important to take the time to relax.

Summer Blog Party Kick Off {K/1 Book List FREEBIE}

Happy Summer!  I hope you find yourself relaxing and enjoying some sunshine.  I have been spending time with friends, relaxing at the pool, traveling, and interviewing.  I am also going to the beach with my family in July.  

Today I am joining 16 other reading specialists to share tips and ideas to overcome the summer slump.  Research shows that summer can have a negative impact on student learning.  If students have the opportunity to read regularly during the summer, they can gain reading skills and foster a love for reading.

I created a Kindergarten and First Grade book list with suggested titles.  Although I believe students should have choice in their learning, this list may help guide your library visits.

Here is your forever FREEBIE Happy reading!!  Don't forget to grab more resources at the next stop.

Click the image below to visit the next stop, Sarah from Sarah's Snippets.

Reflect and Refresh {Part 1} Plus Summer Reading List for Teachers

I am linking up with my friend Amber from Peppy Zesty Teacherista for a 2 part linky to reflect and refresh on our school year.

Communication I created a classroom Twitter account.  At first I was unsure about it, but the parents were really supportive.  Many parents commented that they enjoyed getting a peek into our daily learning experiences in the classroom, which helped foster conversations at home.

Classroom Management/Organization I read about Responsive Classroom and Teaching with Love and Logic. Both books really made me think about my classroom management and they align with my philosophy.  I feel much better about my classroom management.

Content This school year I worked hard to improve my writing instruction.  I follow a workshop model and like to use Lucy Calkins along with my units.  My goal was to give students more choice in their writing and improve my individual conferences with students.

My Big Summer Project This summer I am thrilled to be blogging more frequently.  I am participating in a book study for Teaching with Intention and other weekly link ups.

I am linking up with Lucky to be in First for her Summer Reading List for Teachers linky.

My list of books:

Teaching with Intention by Debbie Miller: Greg Smedley is hosting a weekly linky party so teachers can share their thoughts on each chapter.  Check his blog every Wednesday to see which teacher blogger is hosting a chapter.  

Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay and David Funk (2010 version): I am re reading this book.  Fantastic book for classroom management!

More Than Guided Reading by Cathy Mere: Although there is an emphasis on guided reading especially in the primary classrooms, the author talks about other ways to help our students gain independence such as strengthening our focus lesson and allowing our students to read from self selected texts.

Reconsidering Read Aloud by Mary Lee Hahn: This book provides suggestions for selecting appropriate read alouds and teaching strategies that match read alouds.

If you have any suggestions for non-teacher related books I should read this summer, let me know.  I could use some fun books for the beach in July!

Have a great week!  Here is to hoping it doesn't rain the entire week like the weather says it is supposed to...

Why I Started Blogging

I started blogging last summer.  Last year was my first year of teaching and reading teacher's blogs helped me immensely during the school year.  I loved all of the resources available and being able to collaborate with other teachers.  The community of teachers seemed so supportive and genuine.
Once I was recharged from last school year, I dove right into blogging.

My main reasons I decided to blog:
-Meet teachers in my licensure area
-Supportive community
-Endless resources
-Collaborate: recently I have really enjoyed participating in various book studies
-Receive feedback
-Personalized professional development
-Share ideas
-Reflect on my teaching experiences