I love my work...

 I really, really, really love what I do!  I know that sounds sounds maniacal this time of year when testing is beating down our doors.  However, regardless of that fact, learning is still taking place in our classrooms.  

I have been beating myself up for the last few weeks because the more I have been pushing my kids, the harder they were pushing back.  So, I decided to get my big girl pants on and take a look within.  Sometimes, the problem is us...In this case, I was about 75% of the problem.  I don't know about you, but I think it takes a HUGE person to admit they are a large part of the problem...AND, I have become pretty large since having my three kids....I digress...I decided to step back and assess the situation in my classroom.  

1.  I was not planning well

2.  I was not sticking to our routines as well as I was before Christmas

3.  I was trying to do small groups ALL MORNING...Kids were in their Daily 5 for what seemed like to could really be the daily 15.  They were totally getting into trouble because they had simply either run out of things to do with literacy or were totally bored.  

4.  I was not giving in to look at the beast I was feeling like inside.  

So, I said "God, what am I supposed to do now...I have been at this 14 years and this is late in the second half of the school year...I should have them right where I want them."  He of course, answers in his own way and his own time...Which came to me yesterday as I was planning...

I came across some notes I had made before a PD I presented last year...It was my guided reading schedule from last year.  Last year, I was giving kids a daily diet of common co.re instruction and scaffolding in small groups extra support for that and the kids other literacy needs.  I do not know why I do this to myself, but it seems to be a trend with me...Just when I get the machine working smoothly, I throw the wrench back in and mess things up.  

I planned the rest of my week, and it was the best I have planned it a while.  Here is a screen shot of today's literacy block.  I don't put my targets in my plans because they are in a notebook and deconstructed by standard...I am not reinventing the wheel each time I write lesson plans...

So I did not meet with all groups today.  I just met with the three most in need of scaffolding today AND I did whole group for the first time since before Christmas break.  It was so good to make sure they were all getting the same whole group lesson.  I am meeting all my tier 1 status and and the small groups are meeting their tier 2 status and the tier 3's are getting pulled out.  I was really proud to have met my kids where they are in learning today.  The morning was much more smooth and operated like a teacher of 14 years was in there today...I felt like the teacher I know I am and should be all the time.  

I had a parent send me a text message last night and told me that I was a wonderful teacher and that she could tell my focus was on student learning.  Her son came to me Friday before our science quiz and told me he had not studied the right material the night before and would certainly fail the test.  I am a sucker for puppy dog eyes, but I am a bigger sucker for kids who try and come to me with full trust and tell me when things are not going well.  I told him not to worry about this test, I could not do that to him.  I told him to come back on Monday to take the quiz and things would be fine.  He told his mom about this and she sent me that text message.  I just cried.  My students are like 23 of my own children for 175 days.  I treat them like I do my own three kids and I try to be the teacher for them that I want for my Riley, Abby and Hunter.  That is why I love my work...because someone is always paying attention to what you do and just once in a while, you will be appreciated for the work you do with their child.  The impact will be huge because it doesn't come often, but it seems that it always comes at a time when you need it to the most.  

So, in a nutshell, it was an epiphany of a weekend and a Monday.  Sorry to ramble, I just had to get these thoughts out into the world!!  Have a super week gang!!!

Currently...MARCH!!!

 Hello Friends!

I am linking up today at my friend Farley's Currently Linky.  I haven't been here for a while but I have a new computer and life is far more productive now and I want to be on here tooling around! 

 

 

 

I am listening to the following on my husband's tv upstairs while I am in the den on the couch in front of a crackling fire!  Feet are up and I am loving life right now...even though that as I am typing this my 20 month old son is waking up screaming his head off...

 

I am loving another snow day...Day 14...That my friends is no lie. 14 days of school spent at home on the couch or playing in the snow!  This is the most we have missed due to weather in my 14 year teaching career.  Luckily my district already goes over the state mandated days of attendance so prayerfully we can get some of this time cancelled.  Students can get out early but teachers are still on contract for 176 days...

 

I am thinking about my blog and TPT store...I am 8 followers away from breaking 100 at TPT and 19 away from breaking 100 on my blog.  I am going to do a special giveaway and other celebrations when I reach that milestone, so now I am reaching out to you fine people to motivate and educate me on how to snag some more wonderful followers..I know I need to "get out there more" bloggily speaking of course.  More linkys, more social media...That I am sure would be a good start!

 

I broke my foot on February 1 and I have been in a walking boot since that time.  I WANT OUT OF THE WALKING BOOT!!!!  I had to do this pseudo run skip combo the other day at school.  The students in the hall were amazed at how fast I could go in this big ol' thing.  I was to I have to admit, but I am so over it....I fell in the mud on a warmish day after a big snow so everyone assumes I fell on the ice.  I just agree with them now. 

 

 

I really need a new blog design.  I am getting ready to go premium seller over at TPT and the old blog design needs a facelift.  I did do the design myself and am very very proud of it...So, if you are a blog designer and want to help me freshen up my blog...leave me a comment...

 

 

If you are the first to guess what those three mean, then you will get a free item of your choice from my store...I was fit as fiddle before I had kids (if that helps you out at all)  Leave me a comment!!!

 

This was a really fun linky!  Especially the last question!!! 

 

Have a wonderful evening and a spectacular tomorrow!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Crazy Wild and Wonderful...

 Those are three words that pretty much sum up my life these days.  I have a gazillion pics of things I have been doing in the classroom that I so badly want and need to share with you all.  Particularly because I am proud of how much I have grown as a teacher in the last year and a half and how that growth has affected my students. 

 

BUT!!!  That will have to be a weekend post because it is like almost midnight my time and Ia was late to school this morning and cannot be late again.  So, here is what I want to share with you tonight.  I put up my sale just this afternoon because as you can read in the title of this post, life is crazy wild wonderful!  I didn't have class tonight so I snuck off to my classroom (put hubs in charge of kids and took care of much needed work to be done at school).  If you purchase tonight or tomorrow for that matter, I will send you a free item of your choice from my store. No strings attached my friends.  Just my little way of saying thanks for following my little blog and following my little TPT store.  I am just about to 100 followers in both places and for me that is a huge milestone and I will be holding a little weeklong celebration!!!  Stay tuned because I am almost there folks!!!

I love this post so much!  It makes me think of my own children and what I mentioned in a post the other day. I put some much of me into my students, do I put enough of me into my own babies????

Post by Songs for Teaching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things are starting to look up around here...

 OK Peeps

Things are starting to look up around here at Shearerly Sadler 4th Grade...

Status on my broken foot...I am in a walking boot but not really walking yet.  I have to use the crutches because my weight is uncomfortable (in more ways than just bearing it on my injury) but I am able to make walking motions with my boot on, which is a step in the right direction (ha ha ha!)  

 

I am so very excited...I am going to get a new computer!  I am not sure what kind I am going to get yet but I'm having a lot of fun looking around...Granted its online window shopping but it passes the time :)  I totally welcome any input you have to help me out

 

Also, Shearer-ly Sadler 4th Grade is getting a face lift.  I contacted the fantastic folks at Honey Bunch Blog Designs to get the ball rolling. I am waiting with baited breath to hear back from them.   I have been wanting to do this for so long and now it is finally going to happen.  I am going to upgrade my classroom site as well with one of their Premade designs, but my blog is going to be totally custom and tricked out with Melonheadz!  That's my nonnegotiable!  Go over and check them out.  The blogs are totally adorable and affordable too!

 

We are on the eve of our 102nd day of school and very well the eve of our 12th snow/cold weather

  day.  I don't like to speculate if it will be a day off because I LOVE SNOW DAYS!!!  I like summer don't get me wrong, but there is something special about getting some extra snuggle time with my babies and playing in the snow...I spend all day long with other people's kids, I relish every precious moment I get to spend with mine.  (I just finished building a bridge out of our sofa cushions with a broken foot and blogging while my preschooler does cannonballs off the "bridge" into the "ocean of sharks below")  They grow up too fast.  My four year old I think has finally moved into her own room.  Since breaking my foot, I've not been able  to take the stairs to my room so I've been in "Sofa City."  Riley usually sleeps with me and Daddy but decided she would sleep on the love seat.  Little sister joined us one night for a "slumber party" and the next night, she decided to go sleep in her bed in the room she and her little sis share!  It has helped little sister too.  I think maybe she has so many late nights up and down is maybe she's been a little lonely.  It was quite the silent night around her last night! 

 

Last but more importantly not least...I am proud member #211 of the Melonheadz Addict Club! 

 

 

 I have actually had an email conversation with the Queen Melonheadz Mother!  I feel like I am talking to blog royalty when I get a response from someone like Nikki or Jen Jones.  I think I made Nicole Shelby blush one day when I told her that I couldn't believe I was trading emails with her.  I told her she was a TPT celeb...she humbly responded with "just a regular teacher like you..."  I am so glad I started blogging and selling on TPT!!

 

I am fading fast and falling asleep at the keyboard and still have a SOOOOOO MANY THINGS TO DO!  I hope you all have a rest night and a wonderful tomorrow!!!

Do Bad Things Happen In Threes?

 

 OK...Do bad things happen in threes???  I REALLY hope they don't.  Here's the skinny on my weekend.  Most folks relish Friday afternoons as a time to jet out of work and get their weekend on!  Well, if you are a teacher, that is prime time to get your plans set and/or copies made for the week to come.  I don't usually leave school until 4:30 on any given Friday.  I went down to my besties classroom afterschool Friday to see a biography she wrote for an assessment she creative (she's my creative partner in crime at my school and in life as a whole)  We ended up talking for about 30 minutes so my preptime was pushed back by that amount.  No big deal, we do it just about every Friday...I go back to my room and procrastinate some more...I finish a blog hop and then 4:40 rolls around and I end up taking everything home knowing I'm not going to do a thing with it.  So I'm rolling in Hellen Wheels (AKA My Chrysler minivan) and I get to a stop light in town.  I have been fighting a cold all day; snotting, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing the whole gamut.  I see the first car in the line start to move and I feel the mother of all sneezes coming on... an epic whole body curling sneeze.  I sneeze once and then I begin curling for the next one.  As I am recovering...CRASH!  I hit the car in front of me who hits the car in front of them.  Long story short, I get out to see if everyone is ok.  First car, all good.  The car I actually hit, DRAMA.  They are both complaining of neck injuries and get BACKBOADED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE.  I just about died.  To beat it all, the lady was laughing when they were loading her up and the tow truck driver was able to move their car to load it on the tow  truck.  I get they could be sore, but was the drama necessary.  I think not.  That was Friday...

Saturday, I broke my foot, two long bones in my foot.  The last time I broke a bone, I was three.  I tried to tough it out but lets face it, broken bones HURT!!!!!!!  My 5 year old was outside with me when it happened.  She was such a huge help to me.  She immediately ran to the house and began knocking on doors to get Daddy.  When she couldn't get his attention, she started to cry.  I got her to calm down and she helped pull me off the ground.  Daddy came out and helped me try to get into the house.  That was a no go.  I told him to stay put and I drove myself to the hospital.  Picked my mom up on the way so I could have some help getting in.  Quickest ER visit EVER!  The doc even took a picture of my x-ray because I just couldn't fathom it being broken.

 

So now my husband has had to become  do it all Daddy and its a rough way to go.  I think he might be seeing my usefulness around this house now.  I hate that he has to do it all... I am so stubborn that I refuse to rest.  I have been vacuuming on my knees which is hilarious to see but I am surely going to further injure myself.  I go to the ortho doc tomorrow and I pray there is no surgery necessary...So you can see why I am hopeful that bad things just happen and not in a certain number...

 

I hope you all have a wonderfully productive week...Good night!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shearerly Sadler 4th Grade

Out of the winter woods...NOT!!!!!!!

 Old man winter visited the bluegrass this past week and even though I was off school for AN ENTIRE WEEK...I didn't blog much due to no wifi.  I did what I could do on my phone but short of that, it was quiet in my blog world. 

But I did do this...

 

 

 

 

  

We had such an awesome "unplugged" time!  Hubs braved the roads to go Lowe's and buy sleds.  We don't usually have winter like this in Kentucky so he had to drive to the next county to get them!!!  Crazy I know!  I am so blessed to have such a sweet and wonderful little family and then to be gifted this extra time to spend with them was just too wonderful! I learned how much of a daredevil my oldest and boldest daughter is...She is a tough country cookie in a girly-girl package.  That last pick is her on the bobsled down into our front field.  I learned my baby girl is not quite the wild child she seems to be, especially when in a new and unfamiliar situation.  I learned my youngest baby boy is a go with the flow kinda guy who likes to hang with his daddy...

 

 

Isn't he a cutie patootie!!!

 

 

Mommy's little band of snow angels (and ol' Molly, the eternal pup)

 

Hubs also got himself a new electric smoker!  He is in heaven, a smoked meat heaven!  He has taken care of dinner for two straight nights...smoked chicken wings and a whole chicken one night and then smoked ribs and chicken breast the next night.  We are having smoked brisket tomorrow night.  I am loving not having to cook the hard stuff!!  He loves cooking outdoors and this has made his winter! I am not posting pictures because if I did, you would demand smell-o-vision...

 

Just found out we have another day off tomorrow due to temps being in single digits.  As I was driving into school this morning, I saw a dad and a little guy walking to school this morning and I am thankful I work for a district that at least has the wherewithal to consider children and their families that walk to school when we have really dangerous weather.  I couldn't imagine being out in -10 degree weather walking my little one to school.  I won't let my animals stay out when we have single digits much less than below zero which is what the weather man is calling for in the bluegrass for the next two days. 

 

I posted a really great product over at Shearer-ly Sadler 4th Grade's TPT shop.  It's the first in a product line I have been working on called Grab N' Go Teach.  It's an all inclusive math (for now)lesson plan including a manipulative for interaction during small groups, guided practice and/or homework sheets, a set of task cards and a quiz.  It congruent to the standard it addresses, in this case 4.NF.4a. 

 

I just started my specialist degree in instructional leadership/principal and I want to have a much tighter grasp on all the standards...SSSSSSSSOOOOOOO I'll trade you a freebie and a chance to get this product for free if you give me some feedback to help differentiate for grades 3 and 5.  I will send you the worksheets from the packet for your time. Leave me your feedback in comments and don't forget your email address for the attachments.   If you mention this product on  your blog and follow my blog, you could win this Grab N' Go Teach activity.  Simply leave me a link to your blogpost and the name you follow under and I will choose a winner at random.  I will choose the winner tomorrow night  at 10 pm EST (just in case there is school on Wednesday and I have to go to bed) so don't wait!!!

 

Thanks for your help and I am off to bed!!!  Have a Tubular Tuesday!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Shearerly Sadler 4th Grade