Currently January 2016

Happy New Year Blogger Buddies! After a day full of naps and ramen, it's time to sit down and link up with Farley for Currently 2016!

Listening - Two of the coolest things I've watched lately are Fargo (Season 2), and Quentin Tarantino's new movie, The Hateful Eight (which my husband said, rightly, that is just like a really, really violent game of Clue). Both have them have got me hooked on some new (to me) music, particularly Bobby Womack's version of "California Dreamin,'" and "Apple Blossom" by The White Stripes. Oh, yeah, and the Beatles are finally on Spotify. It's good times for good musics!!

Loving - One of my favorite local artists, Jahna Vashti, paints the cutest whimsical animals playing instruments in a variety of settings and seasons. My husband got me two more of her fabulous giclee prints, and they just make me so happy! She also donated a couple of fairy-tale-like prints for my classroom, which is pretty rad.

Thinking - So I finished reading Teach Like a Pirate not long ago, as well as Ron Clark's The End of Molasses Classes. I am totally PUMPED to bring in some more excitement into my classroom during 2016. I bought tons of clearance-priced white tablecloths at Target so I can transform my classroom into a Winter Wonderland over the next couple of weeks, and also a ton of hats for me to wear as I lead our students on a tour around the United States (based on Beth Newingham's ideas - have you seen them? She's pretty great.) I will be a train conductor, airplane pilot, boat pilot, and cowgirl. I also had to buy a chef hat, but I'm not sure how I'm gonna use that one yet...

Wanting - I always want new boots. 'Nuff said.

Needing - I've gone into my classroom a couple of times over Winter Break, because I am totally organizing my files. I've left a bit of a mess, but am purging tons of old stuff, so that feels good. I need to go in once more before the kids come back...

One Little Word - Adventure! Sometimes I feel I get so into the routines of life that I forget how much I love adventures. Winter goal: Snowboarding. I haven't been in years, and whilst it took me a full hour to get down the mountain that first time years ago (due to so much wiping out), I really want to try again! Here's to some great adventures in 2016. :)

Jenny

Currently *November 2015*

Holy cow, it's NOVEMBER! To kick off the month, I am linking up with Farley at Oh Boy 4th Grade for November's CURRENTLY.

Have you heard Ryan Adam's cover of Taylor Swift's 1989 album? It is FANtastic, and perfect background music when I'm working in my classroom. It's moody and beautiful and classic Ryan, just singing about cherry lips and crystal skies.

I am LOVING that my lil' 11-year old beagle, Napoleon, is HEALTHY again! We had a scare a couple of weeks ago, but after some tests, it turned out he just had giardia. Yup. Giardia. Who knew dogs could get giardia?!? I thought is was just people who didn't boil their water when camping... No more drinking out of dirty puddles, please, Napoleon...

I'm thinking about PIRATES for a couple of reasons. One, I finally bought the book Teach Like a Pirate, which is all about increasing student engagement and motivation. Anybody out there read it? Second, my friends are flying to DISNEYLAND in a few weeks for a girls weekend. Disneyland makes me so happy, happy, HAPPY, but I just gotta see if I can work it out with my finances (especially considering I just found out the TPT conference next summer is LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF DISNEYWORLD!!! AHHHHHHHH!!! SO AWESOME!!!).

I'm needing to clean the house and fold clothes. Blah. Don't have anything more to say about that.

Finally, I have been trying out Blue Apron meals for a little while now, and last night's Korean Spicy Chicken wings were Ah-MAZE-ing!! Wish I had some leftovers to eat right now...

That's all for now, folks. Happy Sunday!!!

Jenny :)

Sunday Scoop!

I am jumping on the Sunday Scoop linky train! Thanks for the idea, Teaching Trio!!! Here goes:

HAVE TO's:

*Cupcakes: My fifth grade team has decided to purchase mini-cupcakes and candles for our kiddos, and we will have a special "Wish" ceremony tomorrow. We want kids to think about their biggest wishes for this fifth grade year, and blow out their candles one at a time, while sharing their wishes with the class. Can't wait to see how this turns out!

*Laundry. 'Nuff said.

*Lesson plan for tomorrow: I am starting the year with lots of pre-assessing, community-building, routine-practicing, and art! I am also trying to integrate a lot of lessons around the brain and growth mindset. Please check out Angela Watson's TPT unit on Growth Mindset here... it's FANTASTIC!

HOPE TO's:

*Level Library: We are trying, as a school, to level each of our classroom libraries this year. We also have a leveled library room (separate from our official school library) that kids will be able to use. We are using Fountas and Pinnell's leveling system, and color-coding according to IRLA. The goal is to help students find quality books to read independently, but also not to pigeon-hole them, because it can be good to read other levels for a variety of reasons and at different times, too. :)

*Update One TPT Product: I am in the process of updating some design elements and, in some cases, adding some pages to products in my TPT store. It feels really good to find my voice and my style in my work. :)

HAPPY TO's:

*I got a knock on my front door tonight from a neighbor I've never seen nor met. She said her cat got out of the house, and she thought it ran into my backyard. She wanted permission to check it out. Of course, I said, "Yes, just watch out for all the dog poop!" We are SO bad at picking up Napoleon's poop... Here's a pic of our little 11 year-old pooper (he's a Blazer fan!):

PS, The cat was found safely hiding under our deck. :)

Happy week!!!

:) Jenny

Lights, Camera, SCHOOL!

This year, I have decided to go with a Hollywood theme in my classroom! It will be my first year having a "theme" - I usually just decorate with mostly blues and greens. My husband actually works in the film industry, so I learn a bit about it through him, which inspired me to dip a toe into the themed-classroom pool!

I don't officially go back until August 31st (and kids don't start until the day after Labor Day!), so I have just barely started decorating my classroom so far. I like to have my classroom pretty much all set up before I have to officially be "back," which leaves me time to meet and prep with my team. My mom was up and helped me with my first project: the back to school bulletin board outside my classroom door!

I always like to set something up that I can put the kids names and/or pictures on. Last year, I went with a Wizard of Oz board. I ended up writing the kids' names on the yellow bricks, and it was so cute!

This year, I found some super cute clapboard and filmstrip cut-outs at the Dollar State, and my mom cut out a billion little yellow circles to help me with some marquee letters (thanks mama!). Combined with one of Creative Teaching Press's adorable new chalkboard boarders.... ta da!!!

I think I'll put a photo of the kids and their names on the cut-outs, and "Directed by Mrs. Rynearson" on the award in the middle!!! 

Here's a close-up of the sign... it took quite awhile, but I like!!!

Now I need to keep coming up with cute movie sayings for my room... Craft Services for the sign above the cafeteria menu? Spotlight on... something??? VIP awards for outstanding achievements? "Celebrity of the Week" for community-building? It will be fun to keep coming up with ideas!

I've been having fun creating TONS of Hollywood-themed products in my store. Check them out by clicking on the products below!!! 

      

     

Do any of you have a classroom theme this year?

:) Jenny

Currently July 2015

Hey look, it's my first "Currently" linky party with Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade!

Listening - I have been having way too much fun with Spotify. I listen to it literally every day, and lately I've been super into 80's emotional ballads. Some of my current faves are: Starship's "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" and Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love." Songs these days just don't have the earnest emotion like they did in the decade of my birth. :)

Loving - I just finished reading the children's chapter book Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz. It's beautifully written, as well as creepy and weird, and I can totally see it becoming a movie. I'm trying to decide if the creepiness would make it a wicked read-aloud for my 5th graders....or if I would just give them all nightmares. :) Check it out:

Thinking - I'm headed to VEGAS on Sunday morning! I can't wait to fangirl out over meeting some of my teacher idols, as well as learn a whole lot about being a teacherpreneur! I'm also hoping to hop over to the Grand Canyon while I'm out there - yes!!!

Wanting - I've been cross-stitching since I was little, and have started to pick up the habit here and there again. Etsy has the BEST cross-stitch patterns, and I'm trying to narrow down my next project. Gotta have something productive to do while I watch The Bachelorette, right? :)

Needing - I have been told business cards are a MUST to bring to the TPT Vegas Conference, and I have a super idea for cards that are crafty, fun, and memorable. Now I better get my act together and make them, 'cause I have just a few days! Ah, the thrill of the last minute!

All-Star - Um, I think I'M kind of an All-Star by joining this new gym membership thingy called ClassPass. Basically, you can use tons of different gyms and studios throughout town (up to 3 times a month each) for a pretty reasonable monthly fee (I got a 2-for-1 starter deal, too!). So far, I've done a couple of different "Gentle Yoga" classes, an AERIAL yoga class (I went upside-down!), and a cycling class (which was the hardest one by far, as evidenced by me barely being able to walk two days later). Since I haven't exercised very regularly since the 90's (oops), it's nice to join something that is motivating, because I keep getting to try new things, as well as good for me!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy July!!! Now head on back to Farley and continue the party!

:) Jenny

Caterpillars and Butterflies

When my student teacher began his solo experience this spring, I went on a mission. It was a dangerous mission (I had to stand on chairs and use scissors). But is was an important mission. My mission was to BEAUTIFY THE SCHOOL!

Now, I need to start by saying that my school is already pretty stinkin' spectacular. It was build just a few years ago, after they tore down the old version on the same block. But being so new and sparkly, it needed some more color. It needed more character....more evidence that this was a place for KIDS.

So I decided I would design and put up some bulletin boards in common areas around the school that could be long-term. One of my favorites is pictured below:

 The quote says:
"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over... it became a butterfly." (which is an old proverb)

Here is a close-up:

The room this is in is where staff meetings happen, students work with adult volunteers, kids gather in the morning before heading up to their classrooms, and some other stuff, too. This year, my school district has been working on the idea of teaching kids a "Growth Mindset" (see Carol Dweck's work), and I thought this quote went perfectly with it!

I asked a first grade teacher for help making some butterflies, and she delivered! Look how cute those lil' first grade handprints are! My 5th graders also made some adorable butterflies with our first grade buddies (not pictured). The kids painted each others hands and made handprints on paper for the wings (little hands for top wings, and big hands for bottom wings). Then the first graders stood up tall and raised their hands like antenna for a photograph: they were printed and turned into the bodies of the butterflies - they turned out SO cute! I ended up stapling them between the other butterflies already on the board to create a wild array of butterfly beauty!!!

Bulletin boards make me so happy. That is all!

:) Jenny

Get It DONE!!!

Holy guacamole, the kids at my school only have 7 days of school left!?? 7 DAYS!!! Oh my goodness! Teachers have 2 more days after that to get stuff done, but the end of the year is a time when so many ideas are swimming in my head, I have got to have a list to keep organized. There's stuff I want to make sure happens before the kids leave (a small gift, an award, a slideshow, etc.), and stuff I am required to make happen before I get to leave for the summer (report cards, PDU documentation, check out duties, etc.).

This year, I decided to make a "End-of-the-Year To-Do List" to help me get it done! I have also made it a FREEBIE at my TPT store! Check it out by clicking on the link below.

The list contains 4 categories: Classroom, Organization, Paperwork, Etc.

I have also included a blank sheet with the same categories for you to write in your own to-do list! 

I hope this helps you wrap up your school year so you can RELAX this summer!

:) Jenny