{SuMmEr} Bucket List

HELLO!!!  I feel like it has been for-eh-VER since I blogged.....oh, wait.....it has!  This is the first week that I've been "off".  School ended on June 7th, but I registered for a week long math training the 1st official week of summer {I'm an idiot}. 

BUT.....today, I have no trainings, it's my BIRTHDAY.....and my summer vacation has *STARTED*! It's gonna be a great day :)

Ever since STAAR testing ended {gag}, I have been thinking about all the things that I want to do differently/better/MUCH better next year.  Enter......Teri @ A Cupcake for the Teacher, Hadar @ Miss Kindergarten and April @ A Modern Teacher.  They are throwing a "Summer Bucket List" linky party and I had to join in!!! 

Side note: I was told last week that I am going to be self-contained next year (vs. math/science this year).  Needless to say, my summer bucket list doubled upon this revelation. 

 

1.  My Amazon cart is now empty!  I have 7-8 books being shipped to me as we speak.  Now, to be fair, some of them are read aloud books for my kiddos.  But 3-4 are for me!  Being self-contained next year is going to be a first for me in third grade (I've done SC before, but only in kinder and 1st). I'm really excited about it, and anxious and nervous all at the same time!!!  I need to brush up on my ELA stuff and hopefully the "sisters" can help me out :)

 

 I have read both of these books before (for kinder and 1st), but sold them when I moved to 3rd grade math because I was "never gonna need them again".  Once again, I'm an idiot. 

 

I also went ahead and jumped on the "Teach Like a Pirate" bandwagon.  I have heard great things about this book and it just happened to jump into my Amazon cart too ;)

BTW......Gina from Third Grade Tidbits and Jennifer from Rowdy in First Grade are hosting a fabulous book study on this book.  As soon as I get the book........I'm jumpin' right in.  Better late than never!!!

 

2.  I need to learn how to teach 3rd grade writing.  Is that something I can learn to do in 8 1/2 weeks???  It seems like in K-2, it's a lot of "What does a sentence start with?" or "Where's your period?" or "Remember your finger spaces!".   I have NO idea how I'm gonna run Writer's Workshop in 3rd grade!!!  I have been on Pinterest every day looking for a way that makes sense to me.........and I've found a ton of cute ideas.  I just need to settle on 1 and get to learnin' it!

Found on Pinterest....can't find where it originated!

Cuteness from Amanda @ One Extra Degree

Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated!!

 

3.  I need to work on a new classroom set-up/layout.  When I was just teaching math and science, I only needed areas for those 2 things.  Now, adding reading and writing and all that other good stuff, I need to figure out a way to make the most out of the space that I have!  I want them to have enough space to spread out in Daily 5 and I need a carpet area now (I really needed one before....but now I certainly do!). 

 

4.  I want to make a "Student Intervention Tub".  Last year, I had 5 special ed. kids between me and my team teacher.  I don't feel like I knew enough about all the assistance that I could give, or the tools that I could use to help them be successful.  I also want a way to stay organized with my documentation with my Tier 1, 2 and 3 instruction.  Carrie over at A First Grade Teacher's Passions and Obsessions has a great post about how she's doing this very thing!

 

5.  Last, but certainly not least, I am going to spend all the quality time I can with my girls! 

 

Me and the girls had a {BLAST} at the Color Run!!

 

The hubs plays golf A LOT in the summertime, which leaves the house to me and my girls.  It's so much fun!  Then, when the hubs gets home, we grill out and play some more.  I'm so glad summer is finally here!!!

 

Don't forget to link up and share YOUR summer bucket list!

 

Keep livin' the dream,