Finishing this master's

This is killing me and my ADHD!  I have lost my interest in some of these assignments so it is killing me to complete them.  People with ADHD lack stamina.  Some people think that means you aren't strong or something like that.  No it means that once I am disinterested in something it is nearly impossible for me to complete any task which requires me to see it through to the end.  For instance, I should be writing two simple reading lesson plans right now.  I had three weeks to do them.  I did the first two, but these last two . . . I literally have  a "meh" sound reverberating through my head!!!  It's gonna happen, because it has too, but aw shucks I don't want to pa (imagine an Opie voice saying that.)  And seriously, I need to.  I really really need to, because I have stuff that I need to do for my classroom that I am much more (hmmmmm . . . maybe not much more haha) interested in doing.  Oh well it will get done and I will do it. . . right . . . now . . . as soon as I fix myself one more cuppa.

Kid President's 20 Things We Should Say More Often

Facilitating Success for Students with Language-Based Learning Disabilities | LD Topics | LD OnLine

Facilitating Success for Students with Language-Based Learning Disabilities | LD Topics | LD OnLine

Let It Go - Frozen - Alex Boyé (Africanized Tribal Cover) Ft. One Voice ...

The Dos and Don'ts for Integrating iPads | Edutopia

The Dos and Don'ts for Integrating iPads | Edutopia

This would be great if my school followed some of the tips for educators.  We have been given too much freedom with them.  We just kinda do what we want to do with them.  Some teachers never let their students use them.  I let my students use them all the time, but don't always monitor their learning with them.  I have found that I need to use them more deliberately.  I am spending more time using them for centers/stations with the kids.  One app that I really like is Brownie points, but I am not going to buy the workbooks.  It works fine as a station without all that money spent.  Plus it is going to take them a minute to get through the workbooks that come with it.  We also didn't get any money from the school to buy apps.

Making Friends With Failure | Edutopia

Making Friends With Failure | Edutopia

I feel this sooooo deeply.  My students fail so often that even though we do everything we possibly can to try and build them up and help them to understand their disability, they still feel that they are stupid.  I watch them in regular class and even in fun learning games, they often don't participate.  I try not to get the teachers to give them the super obvious very easy answers.  They do so much better if they struggle and learn to ask for a little help or accept help from their team and friends.  I encourage a room of acceptance and support.  I demand that they accept each other and support each other and do not put each other down.  The world will put them down enough without them doing it to their friends.  We also discuss the fact that you don't have to like everyone you know and that you do not put people down just because you do not like them.

Hardest Year of My Life

This has been the hardest year of my life.  I have lost 15 pounds, but I needed too!  I feel constantly uneasy. I want this particular state of being to cease.  I am struggling with it terribly.  It is holding me back.  It is keeping me from my higher understanding.  The constant thoughts are almost terrifying.  Hmmmmm that makes it sound life threatening and it is far from that.  Perhaps I need to stop being soooo melodramatic.  If that is who you are, can you stop it?

I have no idea what day this is . . . calendar math here we come

 Soooooo . . . today I was going through some math for today with my kids.  And I realized that I don't think I can keep them on track with EVERYTHING that is going on in their classrooms, because I can't keep up with it.  Not to mention the fact that not all the teachers in the school are as organized as I am (though I am NOWHERE near where I would like to be).  I want the kids to see the things that they are doing in the classroom, but many of my kids can't keep up.  I need to keep them on track as much as possible with the classroom, but I need to boost up their deficits.  By helping them with their deficits, I can give them everything they need.

Now if only I could figure out their schedule.  As for the title, I realized that they need a little calendar math to help practice our daily skills.  (Plus without doing calendar math I can't seem to remember the day or date!) This would be easier, IF I had a working sympodium or airliner smartboard.  Please Lord let IT get that up and running.  I am sooo ready to do calendar math.  I am ready to have a running routine in my room like I did in my kindergarte room.  And I realize that I may never have a 100% routine like I want, but we can get something done.  At least a little more than what we are doing now.  We are working hard, but it is not nearly as focused as I would like!

Now if only I could figure out their schedule . . . lol

I made something!  Daily Calendar Math Sheet.  I think it will be a success.  Now I need to figure out what to put on the back, because no need to waste paper.

Ok!  I can't figure out how to link a document!  Ugh!!

School and School

I feel like I am struggling right now.  And I mean I really really feel like I am struggling.  I have so much that I want and need to do in my classroom and yet I have so much homework that I need to do.  Maybe taking a class right now was not a good idea.  It's just I know that once I get going everything will fall into place a little bit better than what it is.  I am soooo tired of everything that is going on right now.  I started seeing students the second day of school, but I need to be assessing and testing so the students have been expecting awesome teaching and . . . I am not feeling it.  This is not how I wanted to start and I am frustrated!

The Bus

I was going towrite right quick, but my oldest has missed his bus!

Special Education

Well. . . . lots of things happened and didn't happen and now I am going to a new school district.  Same town fortunately.  OMG!  It hurts my heart how much I am going to miss kindergarten.  Resource room grades 1 - 6.  I couldn't ask for more variety though hmmmm?

Taste a Rainbow | Holiday & Seasonal Cupcakes | FamilyFun

This looks awesome! I think I will make this for my kiddos! They will love the colors. This will make a great St. Patty's Day Party before we get out for spring break. I will probably do this this week for our discussion on weather. We can eat these on Friday as a culminating event.

Taste a Rainbow Holiday & Seasonal Cupcakes FamilyFun

Little Giraffes Teaching Ideas | A to Z Teacher Stuff | Themes

I don't necessarily need this anymore, but it is interesting. . . I loved calling myself a kindergarten teacher.

Little Giraffes Teaching Ideas A to Z Teacher Stuff Themes

Sing About Science ... and Math!

Sing About Science ... and Math!

This is an awesome site! I haven't explored it but for about five minutes and I am impressed. Now, there was only a little that will be helpful to my little ones, but it is neat!

Dr. Seuss's Seussville.com | The Lorax Project

Dr. Seuss's Seussville.com The Lorax Project

This site is really neat! I love Seussville. The kids and I have been playing on it for so long I forgot I was supposed to be "researching" the site for classroom use. Sometimes, I think that is all I do. Just look at stuff that I may or may not get to do. I have always thought my organizational skills were good, but now I am wondering. . .

Family Literacy Bag: The Lorax | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets

Family Literacy Bag: The Lorax Reading Topics A-Z Reading Rockets

This will be really helpful to me as we do a Dr. Seuss week. I wasn't going to do it on his birthday, but sometimes the best laid plans of mice and men . . .

A Black History Kindergarten Lesson | eHow.com

This one I will use this year!

A Black History Kindergarten Lesson eHow.com

How to Teach Kindergartners About Black History Month | eHow.com

This has some interesting ideas. Some of them are kinda obvious and what I already have planned. I guess my problem is I always think that there must be a better way to teach it to them. You know something more interesting or fun. . . .

How to Teach Kindergartners About Black History Month eHow.com

Online Kids Games & Activities, Kids' Dental Products & Children's Dental Health | Colgate® Kids World

Colgate has a pretty interesting page.

Online Kids Games & Activities, Kids' Dental Products & Children's Dental Health Colgate® Kids World

Dental Health

This is mostly for me so I don't lose my site but this is pretty good here! Lots of different things for dental health.

Dental Health