Today I stayed after school to create some anchor charts my regular 7th grade math classes. We are currently working on 7.EE.A.1 "Apply properties of operations as strategies to add, subtract, factor, and expand linear expressions with rational coefficients."  All my math students did ACT Interim testing today so I spent some time designing my anchor charts. I'm a bit compulsive when designing anchor charts and prefer to map out what I want to include on post-it notes and then transfer the information to chart paper.  I don't decide on colors until I sit down to write my anchor char ..read more

One of the best ideas I had a few years ago was to create a kit of all the necessary supplies I would need to get my classroom set up in August.  There is nothing worse than coming back ready to get your classroom organized and decorated and not being able to find the tape or stapler you need. This is a list of what I have in my kit.  I have been doing this for a few years now so I just edit my list whenever I add something new to it.  Most items fit into a small storage box.  The paper cutter and cardstock/paper get stored in a separate container. Create a Classroom ..read more

A few years ago I started being very intentional about planning and getting organized for the following school year while finishing up the current year.  I've had this blog post in draft form for a couple years and decided to pull the trigger and finish it so I could finally post it.  I wanted to post this now because I only have six weeks of school left and I know many other teachers will be done weeks before me (lucky!). It's that time of the year when we as teachers are all thinking about the huge list of things we need to accomplish between now and the end of the school year or ..read more

Well I don't even know where to begin with why I have not blogged since April of last year.  It's not that I have a lack of knowledge or content to share, but I life just got that busy for me with three boys and all their various sports and activities, along with my involvement on the Leadership Council of our local union and as a board member of my school district's Educational Foundation.  2016 came and went with only two posts from me and that's just how it went. I'm not making any promises for 2017 and I won't start the year pressuring myself with unrealistic expectations of blo ..read more

I'm linking up with Farley for her April Currently.  I can't believe I have not blogged since January.   I am having a great school year with wonderful students again.  Life with three boys seems to leave little time for blogging these days.  I am thinking of doing some posts about getting ready for the end of the school year and all that entails.  Feel free to email or leave in the comments any suggestions for future blog posts. Listening:  I'm watching Live with Kelly and Michael episodes I have DVRd.  I hate when they do repeat segments and ..read more

I cannot believe 2016 is here already.  2015 seems to have flown by with the blink of an eye.   I'm linking up with Farley for her January Currently. Listening:  Right now all three boys are still sleeping and my husband is making breakfast.  I am very lucky to have a husband who is also enjoys cooking. I smell eggs, polish sausage, and hash browns  Yesterday he made individual beef wellingtons for dinner.  We always invite my parents to a fancy dinner every January 1st to ring in the new year with them. Loving:  This has been a wonderful brea ..read more

I hope all of my teacher friends out there are enjoying a very relaxing and rejuvenating vacation.  Today I'm sharing my Top 10 most clicked on posts from 2015.  I also threw in the last one as a bonus because Friday Letters is one of my favorite new things I've implemented this year.  I'm hoping to spend some time over break getting myself back into blogging about all the great things that are going on in my school and classroom this year. 1)  Workshop Wednesday #1: Getting Started     2)  Google Classroom Part I 3)  Workshop Wedn ..read more

I'm linking up with Farley for December Currently. Listening:  I love Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce on Bravo.  Most network shows are wrapping up their winter finales (what's with the change in programming?) so it's nice to have something new to watch other than the million Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies I have DVRd. Loving:  Everything Christmas related.  My husband hit the Yankee Candle outlet the other day and picked up several new Christmas scents.  I'm loving them all.  I also am loving listening the Christmas music on XM radio or Pandora ..read more

Today's #sunchat on Twitter inspired me to do a blog post explaining my Friday Letters, my students' weekly reflections. A couple summers ago, post TMC, I remember seeing people tweeting about the idea of Friday Letters.  I think the teacher had her students write her a letter every Friday about different topics.  That is about all I remember, but I have wanted to do that with my students ever since. Fast forward a year or two and last Spring when I piloted using Google Classroom with my Honors Math 7 class, I had them do Friday Letters for just the last few weeks of schools. &nb ..read more

I am linking up with Farley for her October currently.  I'm shocked/not shocked that I haven't blogged since August.  It's pretty typical for me to get caught up in back to school and put my blog on the back burner. Listening:  My husband woke up and turned on Sports Center.  It's on way too much in this house where I live with 4 guys! Loving:  I love everything about October, the leaves changing colors, the crisp cold fall air, everything pumpkin related, fall candle scents, I could go on and on! Thinking:  We have passed the one mark month at scho ..read more