13 in '13

Hey Friends!!! I'm linking up with some other bloggers for my top 13 in '13!!!

This will be hard for me to make it to 13 but I'm going to try!!!

*One*

My little one started Kindergarten! My oldest started Second Grade!! They grow up soooo fast!!!

*Two*

I finnnnnnally got a full time teaching job! Like my very own classroom! After a year and a half!!!

I'm LOVING my new class! I'm back with the firsties and I LOVE IT! I have pretty much the dream team, administration and support system! My administration is so supportive and positive! I love it! 

Did I say I LOVE my new job?!?!? haha, sorry y'all

*Three*

This year I managed to pull something off I never thought I could. When the tornados hit OK, I was just devastated. I couldn't imagine experiencing that kind of pain. Losing every single item you have, or a family member. I wanted to help so badly, I just didn't know how. Then something powerful happened. God spoke to my heart and walked me through the steps to put together this amazing fundraiser. I could not have pulled it off without y'all, and my sweet blogging friends! We raised just under $30,000 in five days! I was so proud of the education community!!! 

*Four*

We got to go to our little mountain hideaway for Trout season. We usually only go during *deer hunting season*

Ahhh I love this place!

*Five*

My baby sister graduated college this year!!

*Six*

This year I feel like I've grown spiritually so much. God has given me experiences I would never chose to have on my own. But ultimately these experiences have helped me grow closer to God in a way I never thought possible. I thought I'd grown spiritually to the fullest, but what I realized this year, is I don't think that EVER happens. I think God continues to teach us  and use us as long as we are here. We all have something to learn, no matter what our field of expertise is. I feel like this year, I really learned a lot about applying my everyday life to the word of God. I think sometimes it's easy to read the bible and think "How does this apply to me today"...but what I've tried to learn is that I may not know right now what you are trying to tell me, but eventually, when the time is right, I will!! 

*Seven* 

Something I'm very passionate about is my annual Crusade For Safety

Please take the time to read about this!! It's something very important to me! Teenage Safe Driving is SO IMPORTANT! Now more than ever as teens (and adults) experience distracted driving!!

*Eight*

My favorite song this year is this.. Homesick

Not a song from this year, but I just discovered it, so that counts right :) 

*Nine*

My favorite blog post from 2013...

Co Teaching

*Ten*

Something I'm super excited about is my Donor's Chose project!!

*Eleven,Twelve and Thirteen*

I combined the last few for a lot of reasons. Mostly because of HOW important it is to me, but also because I'm running out of things to say!!!

A few weeks ago, I lost my sweet daddy. It's been the hardest few weeks of my life. Every time before now, that I thought I knew pain, I'm now reminded it was nothing that I have ever experienced before now. Even with all the pain I'm feeling, I'm  still reminded by God that I am a very fortunate young lady. I will always miss my daddy. Every time I hear "That's My Job" By Conway Twitty, I will cry. But I cried when he was here and I heard that song :) 

Yesterday, we had a chance to share God's love and help bless a family . I don't like talking about doing these things, because we do them in order to help them and share God's word, not for us to be recognized. But part of what I saw was so powerful and so moving!!! In all my hurt and pain, I looked into the eyes of little children who were so happy and grateful for our presence and blessings onto their family. All that hurt and pain went away. As I sat there with a young mom and told her about how Jesus has changed *my life* and how special that relationship is, joy overwhelmed my sorrowed heart. 

I want to end this post by telling you all that I'm extremely blessed to have you all in my life! Even though I don't "see" most of you, you are truly a blessing to have! I love y'all and love the friends I've made through this blog!! 

The Ones We Love The Most

I started this blog to have a place to share my classroom experiences. Little did I know or understand what I was getting myself into. This blog has become my little outlet. Not only about education, but about life. I've shared some experiences that reflect pain and tragedy and how I've tried to use those experiences to help people. My latest hardship doesn't seem to have a lesson in it, but God is still working. So we will see.

*Warning* Extremely Personal Post Ahead* 

My father was diagnosed with cancer in 2002. He fought it and he BEAT it! His health, however, suffered tremendously. In 2008, he had to switch to a feeding tube, because his food was going into his lungs, causing him to aspirate. The aspiration was causing chronic pneumonia. He was getting it almost every other month or so. When Daddy would get pneumonia, he was in ICU for a week or so and typically went into septic shock. I remember the Dr. telling us that people typically do not go into septic shock more than once. Daddy has been septic so many times, I've lost count. He was a strong man, and never let the fact that he couldn't eat slow him down. He still lived life everyday. He did a *few* things I didn't approve of...like long motorcycle trips, and just living on the edge. He told me he wasn't sure how long he had and he didn't want any regrets. Thanksgiving was always his favorite holiday, daddy was a foodie for sure! Every year, after he went to the tube, he just said "I know I can't eat, but I'm alive and still kickin'". The feeding tube did slow the pneumonia down, but it didn't prevent it. The last two years, his voice started to become very difficult to understand and our main methods of communication became texting and FB messages. Every Thanksgiving, my family comes from all over to the mountains of North Carolina. Last week, we were gearing up for that very tradition. Dad went up a little early, and had only been there a few hours. He pretty much went straight to bed that night...

So about 12 days ago, daddy text me, "I went shopping today, I bought the kiddos a 3 piece suit". I was like...what? You went shopping by yourself? And why a suit? You don't wear suits, my hubby doesn't wear suits? We are jeans and pearl snap shirt folks! That's our dress up! My hubby got a *tad* irritated at the thought of his kiddos in a 3 piece suit (ummm okay). I just said "Ya know, daddy never just randomly buys gifts, just let it be". That was Thursday. I told Daddy thanks for the suits and we looked forward to seeing them. 

Then the phone call that changed EVERYTHING. That middle of the night, gut wrenching phone call of someone you love crying. IF you haven't experienced this, I pray you never do. By the sound of my sweet Aunt's voice, I knew, this time was different. The hubby made some calls, and loaded our family up..the longest car ride of my life.

We got there, just in time for the doctors to tell us the most awful words ever "Your father has no blood flow to his brain". Daddy went to be with Jesus that day. I am thankful that we all had the chance to see him one last time. 

After we got back to my family's house, someone gave me another surprise. On that shopping trip, Daddy had bought my sister and I two pieces of jewelry. The first time in my life that he's ever randomly done that. I've shouted this from the rooftops, I don't think my daddy knew he was going to die. I do, however, believe that GOD put those impulses in his heart.  God knew that Daddy would soon be called to heaven. Dad had just finished his "honey do list " all over his house. Something he's had for YEARS to do. 

I wanted to share with you a few pictures, so that you could see the changes he went through. Cancer is an awful thing, and we were so excited when daddy "won" the battle. But the thing with cancer, it's not a battle, it's a war. The war continues for years after you are "Cancer Free". 

Pre-Cancer

My Wedding Day (4 years post cancer)

My brother and daddy ( 8 years post cancer)

10.5 years post cancer 

Our Last Picture

My kiddos proudly opened their gifts from their papa and wore those brand new suits to lay him ,to rest.

Now, as I attempt to figure out this new way of life without my daddy, I hope that I can show the courage and the strength that he did. I hope that one day people will say that I blessed their lives the way my dad did. I could not have asked for a better dad,  and am so honored when people tell me I'm just like him (Except SOME areas haha) 

I am so excited about a shadow box our friend made from Custom Coin Holders. He is a disabled veteran who does amazing work! Head on over and check them out!

Thank you for letting me share this with you. I am so honored that so many of you have become my friends through this little ole blog!!! 

A little hard work never hurt anyone...

Hey friends :) 

I'm not going to lie, teaching with centers is absolutely HARD Work.. I know so many teachers that do not do it because of how hard it is. It's a lot of time printing, laminating and cutting. It's an investment, an investment that will pay off year after year.I still love people's reaction the moment they realize that typically everything in a classroom is almost 75% paid for BY THE TEACHER! They think all of this stuff just appears and is paid for by schools...not likely.  I understand that teachers earn a small amount of money in comparison to the cost of teaching, and the amount of hours we work. I get it..but teaching is a CALLING. I know that God put me here on this earth for three things: To be a  MOTHER, A WIFE and A T EACHER. That's my calling, those three things. I know so many of you feel the same way. And I know it's frustrating to spend our "own" money on our classrooms and feel as if we have no support from admin..I get it. But I also know what it's like to go without a teaching position (due to our family moving states). This is an emptiness like no other. I promise you. Even with ALL of the aggravation, hard work, and money spent, I wouldn't trade it a single day, to have my own classroom. Again, this is why  I'm here, this is my calling. That's it. Bottom Line. Seriously, so many times I get asked "Why don't you just go work at a bank"..I always reply "Everyone who works a bank can READ"... The crazy thing is this has been on my heart all week....this little message. Then, today at church, we had a speak from Big Oak Ranch..oh my word..if you have a second take a look at this video..it will remind you why we are doing what we are..and God Bless the Croyle family :) John Croyle talks a lot about how we were all put here on this earth for something...what is God using you for? Take a look at this little Video Clip

okay.. back to literacy centers ;) I'm a little scatterbrained tonight :) 

Build yourself a "center library"..and just think of how many students will benefit from it! Hands on instruction is the way to go these days...students NEED an approach to their education that fits in with things they do on a daily basis...children aren't going home and playing with sticks anymore people...they are playing with iPhones, tablets, e-readers, video games..etc...... So why not use fun, colorful and engaging literacy (& math) centers? Paper and pencil has it's place in the classroom, and ALWAYS will, but adding some variety to your instruction will pay off! I promise!  Someone asked me the other day "Why do you use all of these materials"..and my answer is ALWAYS this "My kiddos love coming to school because of the fun and engaging activities we do".  So yeah, it might require a little work on your end..but as my daddy always told me 

"A little hard work never killed nobody.." 

Remember going into a teacher store? Spending $29.99 on a "Literacy Center Book"...??? Getting it home, flipping through, and only being able to use one or two things from it? This is when I started creating my own materials..materials that MY students needed. Materials that were created with students first. So yeah, it's a lot of work...but the good news is, since the launch of TpT, you can now go and find centers already created for the exact skill that you need. Then, you have a digital copy FOREVER. So what if your computer crashes and you lose all of your files...guess what? TpT SAVES it ALL For you! What if students tear up your centers that you purchased with your (own) money?? Once again, just visit "My Purchases" and print the file that you need AGAIN. I am such a fan of TpT because of this, I can find exactly what I need and most of the time it is a huge hit with my classroom! 

Even once an item is purchased, I realize, it is  work for teachers...I get that...and I applaud you! For going above and beyond and making your students successful...isn't that the real reason we all sought out this path we call education? That might mean cutting things out while sitting in front of the tube with your spouse..or you could be like me and get your spouse to cut for you :) He's such a sport! Haha!

Okay..that's my rant and soapbox... 

I wanted to share with you my center calendar that I have used for the last few years in First Grade!! Now that I'm in 4th grade, I am developing a calendar to keep up with what products I use and when :) But here is what I have used for the last few years in First Grade :) 

For September through November, I relay heavily on these four packets:

Fall-Literacy-and-Math-Center-Mega-Packet21-Centers-

Fall-Sight-Word-Literacy-Centers

Fall-is-Here-Math-and-Literacy-Center-Packet

Autumn-Math-and-Literacy-Centers-

Here are a few FREE Centers that I like to use as well!! 

Fall-Fact-or-Opinion-Freebie

Fall-Word-Wall-Words

Fall-Writing-Prompt-Cards-Freebie-

Roll-Read-and-Color-Sight-Word-FREEBIE-

Till Next Time 

Faith, Hope and Love and Throwback Thursday

Hey friends! It's Summer Time!! I've been trying to relax, EXERCISE, and do  some sole searching, I often find myself coming back to the same verses. So I made printables and framed some of them to add to our home, office and in the fall (hopefully) my CLASSROOM!!

I did interview for a position and am praying that God leads me to the right position.

So my plans for this summer? Of course, hitting the gym a little extra :) I have about 10 lbs to go to my ideal weight and I'm super excited about getting there. Do you need a little extra support with your fitness routine? Check out our fitness blog!!! 

We are also going to be vacationing and just trying to spend all that extra family time that we can :) 

Here are a few pictures of my latest TpT Packet: Bible-Verse-Posters-on-Education-Life-Love-and-Everything-Else-736399

I'm also linking up with Sweet Cara from The First Grade Parade!

Here's my Throwback Thursday Post with a little Math Freebie!

 Hey y'all! I'm linking up with my sweet friend Tessa, from Tales Outside The Classroom!  

She's hosting this linky party so I just HAD to join in!

*People* I'm in LOVE with!

Of course-- My husband! My husband is my rock! I just love him to death. He's loving, caring, funny and best of all, the best husband and father I could have ever wished for! 

Yes, that is a TEXAS Flag vest...can we say PROUD TEXAN???? ;)

My kiddos are so amazing! I love them so much! They are so energetic and keep me going ALL the time! Life never stops with boys in the house!!!

*Products* That I Love! 

Humm--that one is EASY! 

I love this water bottle that I got as a Christmas gift! I use it EVERYDAY!!

Of course-- Y'all know how much I love my country music! I found this gem in my CD collection the other day--I've been blaring it in the radio EVERY since!! haha! Who can resist KING GEORGE?!?!

Here is my latest freebie FREE-Addition-Math-Center That I just uploaded to TpT! 

I use it as a math center when my students are finished with their work. I simply printed on card stock, laminated, and secured with binder rings. Then, I store in a ziploc bag with dry erase markers and dice! My kiddos love this! 

My I Can Make Words  is getting great feedback from teachers of various grades! I love that you can differentiate it so easily! This packet includes 10 printables for making words. Students cut letters out and arrange them together to make words. 

*Places* I'm in LOVE WITH!

I'm  so totally in love with the...GYM! I know it sounds crazy, but every since I started my fitness journey, I have just really enjoyed getting the stress out with exercise! My favorite exercise has to be squats! I love them! More than that, I LOVE the results from killing it with squats!!!!

I am also really enjoying the dead lift--but don't tell my trainer! Haha! I might whine a tad when we have to do them! But all and all, exercise in general really excites me! My husband just started working out this week..He's went like three times and I've already had to run him outta the vitamin stores! I'm like baby steps hun, baby steps ;) He would buy every protein supplement if I would allow it! I'm like let's see how long it *last* before you go spend a bunch of money on something---does this sound familiar to anyone else ;)

 I just can't wait to get to the place where I can really just start maintaining my weight and not having to diet as serious. That part, is NOT fun!

Thanks Again Tessa for hosting this great linky party!

Till Next Time!

Till Next Time 

We all need a little FAITH

A verse that is speaking with me today and I wanted to share~

Isaiah 40:29 -31

 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

 

 

Have a great day everyone! Hug your loved ones tight and be thankful for all of the blessings that the lord gives us~