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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Welcome to July!

Yes, I have neglected my blog since May. I'm not even sure how it got to be July so quickly! May was testing and open house (crazy!), then June was all the 6th grade end-of-the-year activities and after that I just fell into a stupor. Okay, that's not totally true. I have been taking mommy & me swimming lessons with my daughter and family field trips to the aquarium and Disneyland so I have just been busy in the best ways possible!
Now I am back on the train and ready to rock! I started reading The Daily 5 by "the sisters" and am joining in on a book study at We Read, We Blog, We Teach and am loving it. I am starting to plan out my new classroom organization that I started back in January (see post here). So I have a lot going on and am feeling rejuvenated. 
 
 

So I mentioned in the currently that I tire very quickly and in May I said I had a secret to share...any guesses? 
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I'm Pregnant!
I found out during spring break in April (Friday the 13th, to be exact) and kept in a secret from my staff until the end of May. (I did tell my partner teacher and principal, just in case!) I told my students on the last day of school. I told my kids that I would not be back next year...for part of the year. They all got upset (we have been talking about teacher receiving pink slips) and then I told them why and they were very excited. 

I am due December 18th, which means I will be on leave from December until March. I plan on taking the entire 2nd school trimester off. So I am feeling very pressured with the time crunch to get my kiddos set up for a long term sub in a very short amount of time. I am also hoping that I can get the sub I trust. She was my sub when I had my daughter and did a fabulous job!

Now on to my favorite reads. 

Holes is a wonderful book and it's old enough now that most of my kiddos have not read it or seen the movie. There are so many amazing elements to the book and it is so accessible to all levels of readers. It has adventure, mystery, friendship, gross boy stuff (which all 6th graders love), icky love stuff, and is just an awesome story all around. Even though it is a long book it goes pretty quickly and has some great cliff-hangers for stopping points. I have had kids begging me to keep reading. Isn't that what every teacher wants in a read aloud?

The Book Whisperer is very dear to my heart. I am a book nerd and have a hard time when kids tell me they just don't like reading. I tell them admitting it is the first step and then we work from there. This book gives great ideas and tips for finding the reader in every child. I just wish my district would allow me to run my classroom the same way that Donalyn Miller does! What a difference it would make!

Whew...so for being so long winded today! I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th and God Bless America! 
July 4th 2010



6 comments:

Heather Shelton said...

Your daughter is adorable! Congrats on the pregnancy! And I agree it's hard for the kids to have a sub or interim while you are out on maternity leave.
http://mrssheltonskinders.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Hi! I found you from Farley's currently! Congrats on the pregnancy!! I have a December baby (he'll be 2 this year! poor guy!) lol We try to make his birthday special - but it's the 28th, so SO close to Christmas!
Nicole
Rowdy in Room 300

The Hip Teacher said...

Another new follower here-congrats on your pregnancy!

Your blog is adorable (love the textured border), and I would like to give you the One Lovely Blog award. Stop by my blog sometime to check it out!

~Julie
www.thehipteacher.blogspot.com

Melissa Slocum, M. Ed. said...

Well, Julie beat me too it, but I also wanted to give you the One Lovely Blog award. Congrats on the new little one. I was out on maternity leave at the beginning of a school year a couple years ago (my son turns 2) It was so hard, but also turned out great. My students were so glad when I got there and so were the parents. Come check out the award.

Mrs. Slocum
Teacher's Don't Steal, They Share!

4321Teach said...

You are popular! We are giving you the Versatile Bloggers award. Congrats on being pregnant and your daughter is so adorable. The is such a cute picture. Stop by our blog to check out you award. :)

http://4321teach.blogspot.com/
Antoinette and Emily

Lisa Denney said...

I gave you the Liebster award. Feel free to come on over to my blog and pick it up!