Thursday, August 2, 2012

MIA apology...

Wow, this past few weeks just hasn't gone the way that I'd anticipated.  Our family is dealing with a very stressful situation.  My father in law has been fighting hard, but is losing his battle with cancer.  I struggle to handle these types of things, as anyone does I'm sure.  I'm not sleeping well, and when I'm awake it's all I think about.  My husband is the type of person who tends to bottle things up, and is the complete opposite of me, so I'm keeping my thoughts to myself quite a bit.  Our boys know what's going on, but they are young still, so I don't think the gravity of the situation has set in for them yet. If you are a person who prays, our family, especially my mother in law and father in law, could really use them!  I know this is very personal, but I wanted to explain why I've been so sporadic lately with my posts.  I promise to work harder on getting them out from now on!
      Now, in school related news...I am the QUEEN of procrastination!  I have always been this way.  All through undergrad and grad school as well I would always put off assignments until I had the least amount of time left to complete them.  I tend to work well under pressure, so I've managed to deal with this quirk of mine.  When it comes to prepping for back to school, each summer I am at home reading new professional books for all the great new strategies and approaches I want to bring to my classroom and my teaching.  This summer has been no exception.  I started out with a very ambitious reading list, and while I haven't tackled the entire list, I have knocked a few books off of my to-read list.  I read Notebook Connections, and Notebook Know-How both by Aimee Buckner.  I absolutely loved them both.  I found them so practical, and so easy to bring right back to my classroom to enhance my teaching.  I am really looking forward to using so many of Aimee's strategies with my class.  I also read Guided Math.  I have to say I definitely thought the book was going to be different.  I think I was expecting a lot more in there to take right back to the classroom, and I found the book to be a lot of rationale and research behind teaching math through the small guided group work approach.  I am pretty sure I was only disappointed because I had done a lot of research on this approach on my own towards the end of the school year before this summer, and had already wrapped my head around many of the ideas presented in the book.  All that said, I did get some great ideas from reading it, so I was glad that I had it ion my list.  I'm looking forward to incorporating this approach to teaching with my math curriculum.
     Along with my procrastination, I also tend to get overly ambitious with what I put on my to-do list over the summer.  After school got out I needed to purchase a new rug for my classroom as ours was disgusting well worn.  I happened to come across a decent sized rug at Walmart for $20 that I decided I could live with would work well.  I don't have a picture of it yet, but it's a black and white rug.  Nothing in my classroom currently goes with black and white, so take a wild guess and try to figure out what I have spent my summer doing?  If you guessed redesigning my entire classroom decor then you are correct!  So, I'm going with a black, white, and teal color scheme, and I have been creating and purchasing things for my classroom to go with my new color scheme.  My husband's response to this was "Why do you have to change your room theme every couple years or so?"  (Picture him saying that with the most puzzled look on his face.)  ;)  I have managed to snag some good buys, and have a lot that I plan to share soon, so stay tuned! =)  And, if you made it this far with me I thank you, I actually found this to be theraputic in a way!  Also, I just realized that when I wasn't looking I reached over 50 followers!  You are all amazing, and I will have to think of something to do to thank you! ;)

~Heather~

11 comments:

  1. I feel as if I was listening to myself. I have went through the same with my mother. Breast cancer then leukemia. Except I'm the trooper that holds it all in and gets what needs to be done for everyone while they are falling apart. Prayers will be added to my list. God speed!

    I am also a procrastinator unless I work in groups or on a team. I also work well under pressure and produce great work at the last minute. Odd how it works but it works! Thanks for your review on the Guided Math. Math is my favorite subject. I was tempted to start it but am having second thoughts now. It isn't an area I really need to improve on but thought it might have a new system that takes it over the edge. It isn't as if I really have time to get into another book right now anyways.
    This year I scrapped a jungle theme make over for a color themed room. Black, white, and teal are my colors too! There will be pops of other color here and there though. Ginger Snaps blog has a neon set she just finished and it might go great with your theme. There is a clock version for free. I found it through Classroom Freebies right before I came here. Sorry this was so long.
    Good luck with your new theme and getting through such a difficult time. God Bless.
    Michelle

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  2. Thank you so much for your kind words, I truly appreciate them! I had to laugh today when I saw online through another post somewhere that now Laney Sammons has another book coming out titled "Implementing Guided Math." Wish I knew that was coming ahead of time, I think I would have picked that one up instead. For now I think I will stick to my plan to just keep going with what I've picked up on my own and go from there without buying another book. Again, thank you so much for your kind words! =)

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  3. Hi Heather,

    Best wishes for your family at the moment - at times there isn't much you can find comfort in - but when school starts again, it will keep you busy during the day. Prays are being sent your way.

    On another note, I am excited to see your black and white theme pictures for when you get your classroom set up! If you do the Daily 5 and CAFE, check out my freebie (the blue might go really well with your classroom). (And yes, I am always changing my classroom theme also - I get bored!! I think that must be why I change classrooms and grade levels all the time!)

    Best wishes,

    Alison
    http://www.mathswithmeaning.blogspot.com.au/

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    1. Hi Alison,
      Thanks for the tip, I will have to check those out! I really am hoping that after this week things will settle down and I'll be able to get into my classroom, but chances are they won't be calm any time soon. Thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate it!

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  4. Thanks for stopping by my blog! Third grade is the best. I teach in Dudley, where do you teach?

    www.3rdgradetroops.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Brooke,
      I love 3rd grade, even with MCAS...lol I teach in Gardner, MA (central MA)

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  5. So sorry about your father in law - my mom had cancer - its a tough thing - no fun. Sent a prayer up for your family.
    Sara

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    1. Thank you so much, it is greatly appreciated!

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  6. I totally understand what you are going through. My husband battled cancer at the young age of 27 and it was by far the hardest thing we have ever gone through. I thank God everyday that my children did not have to go through that with us. We did not have children until after he was in remission.....they are our little miracles. I am praying for your family!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am your newest follower. I would love for you to follow me as well!!

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  7. I'm so happy to hear that your husband made it! 27 is an incredibly young age to have to fight that. I am starting to worry about my husband, seeing as it never was detected in my father in law...I'm hoping I can get him to be more regular with visiting the doctor now. Thank you for the prayers, they are greatly appreciated! By the way, after this morning, I mentioned to my hubby giving one of our desk chairs a make over...I wish I had the camera ready for the look on his face! lol

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  8. So sorry to hear about your father-in-laws battle with cancer. I went through this same thing last year. My father-in-law was diagnosed on August 1st last year just before I went back to work, and passed away on December 1st. I was just starting a new job at the high school and life fell apart. I feel for you and will pray for you and your family....I know how difficult it is. Praying your father-in-law wins the battle....

    Vicky
    Keep Calm & Imagine

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I'd love to hear from you! =)