Virtual Coffee Date

During my senior block of college, we watched a video from Harry Wong. One of the biggest things I took from the video was this:

"Steal, steal, steal."

He was trying to teach us not to recreate the wheel and steal ideas from other teachers. I can do that! In fact, I am going to do so now. I am stealing the idea of a virtual coffee date blog post from fellow teacher and friend, Cassie.

Liquid heaven from The Mean Bean
with Scotti and Erin Molly

If we were having coffee together, I would tell you that we only have 18 days of school left! Where in the world did the year go?! I have had a good year with a group of kids who make me laugh most days.

If we were having coffee together, I would tell you about this one student who is inspiring me like no other.

This picture was taken the day she told me that everything was made in China and then asked me if she was made in China! She caught herself before I could answer and laughed and laughed. Another student happened to find a "Made in China" sticker and put it on her.
 If I have only done one thing right all school year, it will be helping Grace discover her love for writing. She participated in the Slice of Life Challenge in March and wrote every day. She did better than I did. Whenever she has a free moment in class, she is writing. The stories she comes up with are amazing and I am convinced that she is going to grow up to be a children's book author.
Another reason she inspires me every day is the fact that she is ALWAYS positive, happy and confident. I am hardly ever those things! Her confidence is better than anyone I have ever seen. She is how she is, she likes what she likes, and she doesn't care what others think. Today she wore lipstick and rocked it! It looked so good on her and to tell the truth, I was a little jealous!

If we were having coffee together, I would tell you that TED and I are thinking about getting a divorce. He once again needs maintenance done and my bank account is getting pretty upset about it.

If we were having coffee together, I would tell you how I was in the depths of despair that Johnathan Crombie passed away. He made Gilbert Blythe come alive in the hearts of every girl who has ever watched the Anne of Green Gables movies. The way he smiled at Anne and said he was sorry, made my *heart flutter* every time!

If we were having coffee together, I'd ask you what was going on in your world?

Middle of the Night Movitvation

Anyone else up at 1:40 in the morning super motivated? Yeah...didn't thinks so. But I am! Motivation seems to hit me at the worst times. I should also learn NOT to get on Pintrest when I am trying to go to sleep.

It all started when I worked really hard to reach my latest workout goal of getting my next Fitbit badge. I got up early to get on the treadmill and then also got on the treadmill when I got home from school. I was successful!

I think that all this activity made me a little sleepy, so I decided that I would go to bed at 8. Not normally a problem, I have gone to bed that early before and slept the whole night through.
Not this time! I woke up about 11:30 thinking it was time to get up and start the day again.

Well, like a toddler that won't sit still for long in fear of falling asleep, I read a bit and then picked up my phone, BAD IDEA!

Pintrest got me to thinking and before I knew it, I was sitting up in bed with my computer and notebook!

Read alouds and novel studies are the main thoughts keeping me awake.

Lately I have been thinking about how to make each of these events in my classroom better. I have always been content with just reading the book and talking about it and there are times that I think this is ok, but it seems like there is something missing.

I have a plan and I am excited. I also figure what better time to try it out on kids when there is only a month left of school. I can see how it goes with these kids (also without a lot of plan and prep time) and then if it goes well, I can do some more planning and preparing over the summer for the next batch of kiddos.