Folktales?

Happy Monday! We are testing starting tomorrow!! The positive is that I'm not giving homework, which is a break for me my kids! ;) So, with testing, we ease off a bit on hardcore curriculum, so I thought I'd teach Tall Tales; Fables; Folktales; Fairy Tales.  I've gotten a few items, but no units. Does anyone have or know of any cute units in these areas??  I'd be grateful!  Thanks!!
And good luck to all of you who still have testing ahead!

Home Alone

I don't know if I should be super happy this morning, or a little sad. My boyfriend left last night for Florida, and I am home alone for the week! It was weird sleeping in an empty house, except for the cat. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep, and I feel very tired today.  However, I am a little excited to be on my own, because I think I'll be able to get more work done this week.  We start our state testing on Tuesday, and we have Open House on the 24th.  I need some good projects to do for that! Any fun suggestions?  Only 7 weeks left of this year! I can't wait! When are you all out?

Just saying Hi.

This will be quick, as I am trying to focus on getting grading done! I know I've been MIA for a few weeks, but that's because I was on Spring Break for a week, and last week, our first one back, was a little crazy since I somehow caught a cold, and was not feeling well for the last 5 days!  So, I haven't really had much to blog about.  We have our state testing coming up in a week, and I'm so worried that I haven't covered everything! I have to still teach double-digit multiplication and long division to third graders-NOT EASY!!  UGH! So, I definitely have my work cut out for me this week.  Suddenly, I feel so stressed out! But, the light at the end of the tunnel-only 8 weeks left! 39 days not counting Memorial Day. Yeah!!
Quick question: has anyone adopted a new reading program: Excursions? The publisher is Houghton Miflin Harcourt.  Please let me know, because I'm looking for teachers who either are using this program now, or will be next year.  Thanks!!

Hoppy Sunday!

Happy Easter, bloggy friends! I hope everyone had a glorious day! Here in SoCal, the weather was PERFECT! Low 80's, blue skies, sun shining.  A perfect start to Spring Break!  I have to say thanks to Miss T for tagging me last week, because I've gotten some new followers from tagging other awesome teachers.  I had no followers for a while, and it was kinda weird writing stuff to no one but myself. (sorta of like talking to  yourself with no one listening-creepy) However, I'm sure many people start off slowly, and you build speed as you go.  So, a big shout out to my new followers! And now that you're here, I have a reason to get better at this whole blogging thing! Yay!
I am going to say, enjoy spring break to those of you just starting, like myself, and have a great week back to those of you just ending.
Time for me to go relax for a while, and look for something to eat for dinner.

Long but worth it...Spring Break!!

I have been tagged! So, I am going to answer these great questions I've been asked, and then I'm going to hope that I tag 10 blogs that haven't been tagged yet. I apologize in advance if you get double-tagged.
Miss T. over at Journey of a Substitute Teacher got me!

Here Are The rules:

* Post these rules

* Answer the 10 questions that the tagger posted for you

* Create 10 questions of your own to ask the people that you're about to tag

* Tag 10 people and link them with your post (and let them know they've been tagged!)

First I will answer the questions asked of me:

1. If you could teach any grade, what would it be?

    Well, I have taught 4 different grades, and I would say 3rd or 4th are the grades I like teaching the best. However, I would love to teach 5th grade because I LOVE U.S. history and would like to teach that.

2. What is the one thing you couldn't live without in your classroom?

    I COULD NOT live without my laptop!!  When my old laptop died, and needed a new hard drive, I was LOST without it for 2 weeks!

3. What's one thing you need in your classroom?

    I need my Smartboard.

4. What's your favorite school lunch?

    I don't eat school lunches so I can't really answer that.  I think when I was a kid in school, burritos were my favorite.

5. Do you have a favorite tv show?

    Probably too many! I love White Collar, Fairly Legal, Vampire Diaries, Gifted Man, Blue Bloods, The Glades, Royal Pains, and Army Wives.  Do I need to get a life? Absolutely!!!

6. Do you have writers's block as a blogger sometimes?

    ALL THE TIME!!  That's why I haven't been blogging lately! Being a new blogger is pretty difficult.

7. What talent you would like to be able to do? 

   I wish I could draw really well.  I would also like to be able to play the piano really well. (I can't do either anymore) Oh, I wish I was more athletic, too. (does that count as a talent?)

8. Who's your favorite musician/group right now?

    I love Rascal Flatts, however, I really like Fun. and Gotye, too.

9. Best teaching moment ever?

    I would have to say the best moment ever was when a former student came back to find me when he was in high school or had graduated high school, (I was his 6th grade teacher) and he told me that his success in school was due to me. I totally got teary eyed, and I think I even cried when he left! He was the sweetest kid! In my class he had some personal issues, and I so wanted him to succeed. I was overjoyed!

10. Any funny sayings or happenings that happened in your class this week yet?

     No funny sayings, and I can't think of anything funny that happened, but I think something did. My mind is on sleep now that I made it to Spring Break!!

So, now I have to find 10 unsuspecting bloggers that I hope will still be my friends if I sneak attack.

Hmmm...

Amanda at One Extra Degree                                      Miss Ice at 3rd Grade Sprinkles

Dana at 3rd Grade Gridiron                                          Kristen at Ladybug's Teacher Files

Brian at Hopkins Hoppin Blog                                       Christina at Mrs. Bainbridge's Class

The girls at Lesson Plan SOS                                        Julie at Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher

Erika at The Honey Bunch                                           Amber at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

Now, my questions. Oh boy! It's Friday at 6:00, on a field trip today, and I'm FINALLY on Spring Break! I can do this, though.  

1. What state do you teach in?

2. What is your all-time favorite movie?

3. Are you a sports fan? What's your favorite team?

4. If you could be anywhere RIGHT NOW, where would that be?

5. What was your reason for becoming a teacher?

6. If you had to change professions, what would you do?

7. What technology do you have in your classroom? (i.e. Smartboard; document camera; computers;responders, etc)

8. Do you own a pet? What kind? What's your pet's name?

9. If you had to recommend a book for  me to read, what would it be?

10. What is the best thing you cook?

Phew! I did it! I hope you have fun! Thanks for playing along.

Happy Sunday?

Happy Sunday, friends! Have you ever just had one of those weekends where you really want a new job? This has been one of those weekends! I'm so glad I only have one week left, and then Spring Break! I've been so exhausted lately, I don't know why?!  Kinda scary.
So, here is my question: how do all of you brilliant creative teachers create all of your beautiful curricular activities that you do?? I'm in awe. I'm thankful to be able to either buy your work or download it for free! But I want to contribute too.  I feel like my creative juices are dry.  Any inspirational tips would be appreciated! Thanks!