Where Was I 5 Years Ago...

Where was I 5 Years Ago...

There is a loaded question...Not that I was in a bad place, but I will say that the summer of 2010 was one of the toughest for me personally.  This is not to say that I should be pitied by any means, but it was certainly an emotional time where I felt like nothing was going the way I had planned...

Ok...so my first child was born on New Year's Eve 2009/2010 and everything was perfect - or so it seemed - she was perfect anyway.  7 weeks in to my maternity leave my husband was laid off.  I know that 2010 was a crap time for the economy but seriously who lays off a guy with a 7 week old kid??  Anyway after feeling sorry for myself for a bit, I cheered up and just knew that he would find a new job very soon.  I decided to continue taking my 12 week leave and it would all work out.  I had worked as a waitress one or two nights a week up until I was 8 months pregnant, so I did some of that while I was on leave to help ends meet.

After heading back to work (so overwhelming by the way) and leaving the hubs to job hunt everyday day I started to lose hope.  It was really hard.  At that time I didn't have TPT, I didn't have my blog, and to be honest it wasn't something that I even liked to talk about with my friends.  

I worked throughout the summer at the restaurant - which was AMAZING to me BTW.  They made sure that I got enough hours, but that I was never working "too" much.  However, by the end of the summer I was depressed.  I was always working and I was looking at a new school year working 6-7 days a week while trying to be a mom (a new and first time mom at that).  It was tough.  

My always caring HUBS helped me by making some changes that allowed me to leave the restaurant (Even though they were amazing, I just couldn't take it all on).  He ended up being out of work for an entire year - until February 2011, but in the end it all worked out.  We never got into debt - miraculous right??  We never were behind on payments.  And probably most importantly of all we learned a lot.  That is NOT to say I would ever want to go through that again - I did learn a lot about me, my family, and how to manage money!

Now here I am 5 years later and pregnant again - 6 more weeks!  I would be lying if I told you that I wasn't nervous about it happening again (though I have no real reason to think it would).  However, I do know that I have grown and learned so much that whatever happens in the next 5 years we can deal with it!

Building Mathematical Comprehension - Chapter #4




Hi Friends!  

Have you had a nice week??  We went to visit my parents on the beach this weekend and it was so nice!  The little lady and I are still here - extending this vacation a few more days, but the HUBS had to head back to work :(

While I have been a beach bum, I had some time to read chapter 4 in our summer math journey - Increasing Comprehension by Asking Questions.  As much as I loved reading about making connections, I may have liked this chapter even more!!

The chapter begins by talking about young children being so curious and asking so many questions, but by middle school most children have lost this innate curiosity.  No one really know what this happens - it could be due to kids becoming more self-conscious, but it also could be because as teachers we often highlight the "right" answer over the possible answers.


Why Do We Ask Questions:
-  Clarification of meaning
-  Increased engagement with the mathematics
-  Critical assessment of the validity of the mathematics
-  Monitoring understanding
-  Identification of information needed for understanding or problem solving
-  Interest in and curiosity about the subject matter
-  Extending understanding beyond the surface understanding

Just like in reading students need to be taught to ask and answer three types of questions in math:
-  Right There Questions - questions that have answers that are literal and easy to answer.
-  Think and Search - questions that are in the story/problem but are a little harder to find.
-  On My Own - questions that are not answered directly in the text and will need to use inferential thinking. 

Now...How can we teach kids to ask meaningful questions??

Some ideas shared in this chapter...
-  Strategy Sessions - using your small group/guided math model work with a group of kids to introduce/practice/independently use the strategy.
-  Sentence Stems - using sentence stems to stimulate student's questions.
-  Wonder Wall - Before, During, and After question recording chart.
-  Question Journals - Question, Before/During/After, Predicted Answer, and Final Answer chart - independent but needs to be monitored.
-  Question Webs - web that recording many answers before the final answer is found

Thanks for reading along with me this week!  There may be a friend or two linking up with me this week - Many of my bloggy besties are in Vegas or on their way for the HUGE TPT Conference (Can you tell I am super jealous and if this baby wasn't expected in the next 6 weeks I would be right there with them??!!??), but if not I am sure they will be back up and linking with me for next week when we chat all about visualizing!

Shark Week Sale!!


Are you so excited!!!

Going to be honest...I am ready to shop, but guess what I forgot at home before we left for a beach weekend????  My computer charger!!  EEK!!  Luckily I am able to borrow my dad's computer for a minute - though it is a PC and I am such a Mac girl!!  In any event, this post will be short!

My store is on sale today through Tuesday - 20% off!!  Shop HERE!!

Here are a few things you may want to check out!

Grade 1 Spelling Lists and Activities for the Whole Year


Grade 2 Spelling Lists and Activities for the Whole Year


Kindergarten Phonics Practice Pages for the Whole Year


Grade 1 Phonics Practice Pages for the Whole Year


Grade 2 Phonics Practice Pages for the Whole Year

Grade 1 Phonics Games for the Whole Year


Grade 2 Phonics Games for the Whole Year


Kindergarten Writing Poster Pack - For the Whole Year


Grade 1 Writing Poster Pack -For the Whole Year


Grade 2 Writing Poster Pack - For the Whole Year




Pinterest Pick 3 - LINKY




Hi Sweet Friends!  I hope you are all somewhere sunny this weekend!  We are at the beach for a few days - and I am ready for the beach!

Some of you know that last week I had a BIG change in my maternity leave plans and now have to make some real plans for my time away.  Due to this, I have been "working" more than I usually would have at this point in the summer - Here are some of my favorite things I have been finding for back-to-school!!




I won't be there to teach classroom rules, so I am hoping this could be a great resources for someone!



I am loving these math tools for littles!  I am hoping to pre-make many of them before baby!!



I'm in need a of a new summer craft and this may just be it!!


Learn Like A Pirate - Chapter #5 - Responsibility


Sorry my sweet friends - I am late to the party this week!  This preggo wasn't feeling great last night and then was up for most of the night!  Then finally fell asleep with my little lady and we slept until 8:30! Then of course we were supposed to be packed and ready for a week at the beach by 10 - EEK!!

Now we have arrived - a little too late for the beach - and everyone is relaxing, so I thought I would take a super quick second to share some thoughts about Chapter 5 - responsibility!

I LOVE the idea of encouraging responsibility in students!  I do have jobs in the classroom, but I also think what Paul talked about has merit - Some of the jobs I assign could be better completed by kids realizing that there was a job to do and just doing it!

I also really liked the section about other students reminding students who may have forgotten to complete their job - not having it be the teacher's responsibility!

I will admit I was not in love with Silent Day!  I just don't think I could do it!  I would have a long way to work to be ready for that one!

Until next week - read on!!