Currently!

Holy Moly! I can't believe how many "Currently" early birds there are out there! It's amazingly awesome how much Farley's currently has grown and how hugely popular it is!  I love it... I look forward to it each month! =) If I was still on Spring Break, I would have jumped on it hours ago. This gal had to go back to the daily classroom grind though, so no early blogging fun for me. =(.  I'm excited to be linking up again with Farley for "Currently" this month. You should link up too... everyone's doing it. Peer pressure... come on! 

Listening:I love Jeopardy. I watch it every night. I really like when the kids are on. I feel really smart then. I don't love when it's tournament of champions. I don't feel as smart. =) **Makenzie just got her first jeopardy question correct! The answer was "What is Peter Pan"... she totally got it, all by herself!!** =)

Loving: Boy, that Easter Bunny really knows which kinds of candies Mommy loves! I LOVE me some chocolate!! =)

Thinking: The countdown to the last day has begun! I feel like there's still SO much to teach! It's crunch time!! Ahhhhh.

Wanting: We just upgraded my Microsoft office, so now I want a new version of an adobe product. I'd LOVE my own version of Photoshop. Probably won't happen though. If you know of any good deals on Adobe, please let me know! =)

Needing: I have to get Makenzie's registration stuff all together for "Kindergarten Round Up" on Wednesday. I still can't believe my baby is going to be a Kindergartner! She's growing up too quickly!

Advice:  Blogging Advice: It's so awesome to make blogging connections and friends in this fabulous blogging community. As you're checking everyone's posts, leave some love, fill some buckets, and let the people you follow know that you like what they have to say. As a blogger, respond back either right under their comment, or in a personal email. Be patient... you're not going to have a ton of followers right away, so make those connections!!!
TPT Advice: We're still pretty new at this, but our philosophy has been to make products that we will use in our classrooms or in our products. We make things that we know our kids will enjoy. Be true to yourself and don't copy other people. Set milestones for yourself and CELEBRATE your success! We just accomplished two milestones in this past week and we are PUMPED!! Be patient...  you're not going to make a million over night, so celebrate what you do accomplish!
HAVE FUN and do it because you enjoy it!! If this becomes a chore and a burden, is it really worth it?

Make sure you link up with Farley!! Click below to link up!! =)

Currently!

Hi Friends!
I can't believe it's March already! Seriously... this school year is FLYING by. I can't say that I'm sad about it either! =) We have about three more weeks until Spring Break and then after that, it's smooth sailing until Summer!!
I'm linking up Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for her March Currently! Head on over to see what "Currently" is all about!

Listening: I'm sitting in Mak's play room on her floor and I'm listening to/watching her play with her little action figure sized princess and LaLa Loopsie dolls. I sometimes feel bad that she's an only child because she doesn't have anyone at home to play with besides us. She has an amazing imagination though and she keeps herself entertained, so she doesn't seem to mind. Maybe that will change someday... 

Loving: We're going to see Wicked tomorrow! We are all very excited! 

Thinking: I'm thinking about our 400 follower giveaway! I'm working on it as soon as I'm done with this post!  Stay tuned for some fabulous prizes from fabulous bloggers!

Wanting: I want a serious shopping day! Is that too much to ask? I'm hoping that our A Plus money arrives soon so I can get a few things. =) 

Needing: I totally need an updated version of MS office. Seriously! I'm using 2003! It's 10 years old already!! I know that there's a good deal/ discount for educators, but I don't remember where I saw that information. If you know anything about it, please let me know!! =) 

like, love, hate: THIS WAS HARD! J is not an easy letter to have! I like jeans... I wish I could wear them to school everyday. I LOVE my morning cup of iced JAVA! I seriously can't function without it. LOL. I think almost everyone can relate to hating Jury Duty (sorry it's 2 words!). 

Well... now you know what I'm currently up to! If you're wondering what my MIA sister is currently doing...well, she's got a new boyfriend. She's been pretty occupied! New love...must be nice. 

Head on over to Farley's blog and link up! Don't forget the rule of 3!! Happy Saturday!!!! =) 

-Jackie- 

February Currently and a Super Sale!

It's February!! I love February... there are so many fun things to teach {Groundhog's day, Valentine's Day, President's Day, and black history month}. Plus it's a short month too, so once it's over, we're THAT much closer to Spring Break! I love it!

I'm linking up with the fabulous Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade for her monthly Currently linky party! Head on over to Farley's blog to link up too!

Listening: Makenzie loves the computer... she's a tech junkie already at the young age of 4... she's definitely our kid. She has a few websites that she likes to play, but her fav. is ABCMouse.com. I love ABCmouse because it reinforces the skills she's learning in pre-k, but I also like it 'cause it's teaching her skills that she won't be exposed to until next year. She's on the final level of Kindergarten, and rocking and rolling right through it. Not sure what we'll do when she's done... if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Loving: My BFF, Michelle, from college (day 1 of freshman year) is down here with her family at Disney World! I've been living in Orlando for 12 years and this is the FIRST time she's been able to visit!! I haven't seen "my Mishy" in a LONG time {since our Sorority's alumni weekend 4 years ago}. It's wayyyyy to long to go without your BFF! Our relationship rocks though, we picked it right up like no time has passed. It was amazing to meet her twin boys and she loved meeting Makenzie. The kids hit it off and now they're BFFs too. =) We're going over to her hotel to watch the Super Bowl tomorrow night... I can't wait! I should have taken Monday off. Lol.

Thinking: My living room is freezing! I think it's because of the fireplace and maybe the lack of insulation. It's not my house, so I have to just deal and put some gloves on.

Wanting: I have a white car, and I park it in the driveway which is under a very large tree. It gets SOOOOO dirty sitting there. It's gross. My hubby washed it only a few weeks ago, but it's really dirty AGAIN. After I wash it this weekend, I think I am going to start parking it across the street. There are no huge dirty trees there. =)

Needing: I still need a new dryer. Grrrrr. Car things like tires, brakes, and ignitions switches keep interfering with me getting a new dryer. Grrrrrrrrrr. Hopefully this month?? fingers crossed.

Last but not least, Pet Peeves: I have a bunch of them. The two things that irritate me THE MOST are 1. kids in cars without seat belts on and 2. pencil chewing.  OK... the MOST important person in my life is my daughter. I will NOT start my car until she is strapped in, in fact  she still sits in a car seat (it goes up to 65 pounds, so she'll be sitting in it for a while!). I DON'T UNDERSTAND how parents can drive without their precious children not buckled in. I don't get it! I don't get it! I DON'T GET IT! It makes me mad. When I see someone driving with their kids all over the car, I give them dirty looks. I really boils my blood. Common sense people, if you're in a crash, there's a GOOD possibility that your child will fly through the windshield.... BUCKLE them up. It takes 2 seconds, plus it's the LAW.  wow... that was a rant. =)  I'm sure every teacher can relate to the pencil chewing. I have a child in my class this year who is a constant pencil and eraser chewer and even the metal on the pencil. It drives me INSANE. I've spoken to the child's mother, and she doesn't think it's a big deal. Uggggg. If you have any suggestions on how to make it stop, I'd LOVE to hear them! =)

Alrighty... now that you know what I am "currently" doing, link up with Farley, so I know what you're "currently" doing! =)

Be sure to check out our TPT store today through Monday! Everything is 20% off and if you shop tomorrow on Super Sunday, you'll also receive an extra 8% off at checkout with the promo code: super.  One of the items we just placed on TPT is our President's Day Super Pack which includes the very popular "So You Want to be President?" exemplar text unit AND the CCSS Magic Tree House Abe Lincoln Book Study unit... great price for both...please check it out!!

Have a gorgeous Groundhog's Day!!
-Jackie-

I've been MIA and Currently!

Happy New Year! I can't believe it's January already! This vacation has flown by. I can't believe I am starting school again in two short days. I'd love to say I had the greatest vacation ever and I did SOOO much. Unfortunately, I didn't. I was sick for the first week and a half. I didn't move off of my couch. There is a major indentation in the cushions from my rear!
The last few days have been better. When I left school on the last day before vacation, my plan was to work on some units for January. I didn't do it. :-( I had no energy or motivation. When I finally got the energy back, I just wanted to play all day! I've been spending lots of quality time with my sweet little girl, Makenzie. We've played lots of games, barbies, and some golf.

I've also snuck in some handwriting, CVC and sight word practice (shhhhh... don't tell her. She thought we were playing school!). I may start working on some new things this weekend, but I'll play that by ear. I might want to have fun. :-) Once again, Farley over at Oh Boy 4th Grade is hosting her fabulous once a month Currently Linky Party. I'm a few days late, but like the saying goes, better late than never! Right? Here goes...

Listening: I'm a news watcher. I don't know why, but I've been a news watcher as long as I can remember. The unfortunate thing about the news in Orlando is that it is extremely depressing! There is always something wrong... like a murder, or missing people, or a plane crashed into someone's house. You would think that Orlando would have happy news since it's the home of the Mouse House, but it's not. It's a train wreck, and I can't stop watching!
Loving: I'm loving baby butterscotch! Who is baby butterscotch you ask? Well, She's an animatronic pony! My daughter got her from Santa. Makenzie is in LOVE with her! I love how Mak plays with her. She's endless fun, and I'm so happy that Santa was able to fulfill her Christmas wish!

Thinking: I'm thinking about how I need a few more days off, especially since I was so sick for the majority of my vacation! It's ok though. I am glad I didn't have to use up my precious sick days.
Wanting: I want some new clothes and a haircut! Maybe that's what I'll do on my last two days off. =)
Needing: I need a dryer... still! My dryer kicked the bucket during the last week of November. We're on such a tight budget, so we really couldn't swing a new one with it being Christmas time. Maybe we can get one with the TPT money I'll get soon. Hopefully something else doesn't go in the time being. :-)
Finally... OWL (one little word): My word is ENJOY. Enjoy life, enjoy my daughter, enjoy my husband, enjoy my family, enjoy my job, enjoy my students, etc... Life is too short not to enjoy every second that God gives me.
If you haven't already, (which I'm sure most of you already have since I'm like number 379!!), link up with Farley at Oh Boy 4th Grade!
Happy New Year!! -Jackie-

I can't believe it's December! Time for... Currently!!

Hi Bloggy Friends!! I can't believe it's December already!! Didn't November just seem to fly by? I'm hoping the next few weeks of school kinda flies by too, but I also hope our Vacation goes ridiculously slow... I'm in need of some Mommy/Makenzie time!!!

Well, since it's the beginning of the month, that means Farley over at "Oh Boy 4th Grade" is having her super fun "currently" linky party.

Stop on by Farley's blog and link up!

Happy Saturday Night!! -Jackie-

Currently, Hurricane Sandy, and the American Red Cross

Wow... this is my first "Currently" in a while! Head over to Oh Boy 4th Grade to link up to this post!! This past week was difficult for my sister and I. Our Dad and so many of our friends still live on Long Island and other parts of the tri-state area. Waiting for word that everyone was safe and accounted for was tough. Our hometown of West Islip, NY was damaged tremendously and all of the pictures and video that we've seen have been heartbreaking. New Yorkers are strong and resilient people, so we know they will recover. It will just take lots of time, lots of prayers, and lots of donations. Any donations your can make to the American Red Cross will be used for their recovery. Please consider making a dontation. Every little bit helps! My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the Tri-State area!