We're Back to School and Busy is an Understatement!

It sure is easier to create/ post/ sell/ blog in the summer months.

School (and a whole lot of changes) make for a busy September!

We're launching Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop and teaching ourselves along the way.

We're teaching an updated Common Core version of enVision math--less a textbook. [Another challenge...] But we're keeping our heads above water and doing our best!

I hope to create more TPT and Teacher's Notebook items aligned to the Common Core in the coming weeks. I admire my fellow teacher bloggers who maintain, manage, and update their blogs and stores daily! Pipe dreams! :)

Beyond the walls of Room 16 I've...

+ climbed stadium stairs with the November project [a free fitness program in Boston]

+ attended a friend's wedding in Rhode Island Labor Day weekend

+ explored Wompatuck State Park in Hingham on bikes

+ registered for a 10K in October, a 5K on Thanksgiving, and a 5K in December 

+ admired the handiwork of the hubs and dad as they transformed our bathroom from this...

to this...

+ went apple picking in Stow

+ biked 44 miles in Northhampton with the hubs, a few good friends, and my younger sister 

A birthday cake is in the oven, and it's time to prep dinner...

Be back soon!

It's August!?

We've been so busy crossing off items on our summer bucket list, it's left little time to blog! [ I hope to get better!]

July/August summer highlights

+ finally enjoyed our May date (better late than never right?) at MetroRock for a 2 hour ropes challenge course

+ celebrated Leah's birthday at KO Pies

+ attended a send-off barbeque in Northborough

 + saw trailer races and monster trucks at the Seekonk Motor Speedway

 + tried some new cupcakes ideas in Cupcake Club at camp

 

+ celebrated our second wedding anniversary with a Pinterest-inspired picture-in-a-picture-in-a-picture  (Isn't he a hunk!?)

 + took advantage of Massachusetts's tax-free weekend and bought bikes! We LOVE them.

+ celebrated the engagement of one of our favorite couples

 + officially opened my TeachersPayTeachers store for business--four purchases! Hey, you have to start somewhere right?

With only five days left of summer camp I am eager to finally enjoy vacation (a mini getaway perhaps???) and pump out more teacher goodies using the $25 I won in the Teachers Notebook sweepstakes!

Check out my newest product-- Currency in the Classroom--Bakery Bucks ($1, $5, $10, and $20 denominations) to use as a class incentive program. In my class of third graders, students earn money for homework completed on time, when they are "caught being kind," as secret walkers in the hallway (I secretly choose two students before we leave to go to the cafeteria, computer lab etc.. If they remain quiet and respectful in line while we walk to our destination, their names are revealed upon reaching our destination. If they were disruptive, their name is never revealed.) Classroom currency also serves as a great incentive for times you may be out of the room and a substitute is present. Pencil cases found at the dollar store serve as individual banks. At the end of the month, students have the opportunity to spend their earnings at a class auction where they may bid on items such as school supplies, homework passes, a day at the teacher's desk passes, etc. Click on the first picture to purchase! Interested in a different theme? Let me know, and I would love to customize a set for you!