September Currently link up!

Today I'm joining another link up!

I'm linking up with Farely over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade

I love the idea of checking in each month and sharing what's going on in my world at the moment.

I have loved reading several other teachers currently posts and felt like it was high time I joined in!

So here goes:

Listening

Since my hubby and I are both teachers, Sunday afternoons are usually spent lazily lounging in front of the t.v. (background noise) as we work on lesson planning, grading, and prepping for the coming week. Our new favorite show is Boardwalk Empire.

I'm loving all the historical elements of the show! It feels like you've stepped back into the 1920's and man am I feeling inspired to wear heels and red lipstick :) Just saying!

Loving

Monthly Meal Plans!!

Gotta say as a teacher this has majorly saved me time and mula $$.

If you haven't considered planning out your meals for the month, I highly recommend it. 

It did take a good chunk of time at the start to figure out how to organize everything, but after all the meals were written down all I had to do was make a shopping list and stick to the plan.  

This was the first time I was able to go the grocery store, only buy what's on the list and come home feeling like I'd just conquered the world! 

For someone who is not great at budgeting, I feel like I just discovered a huge secret--No impulse buys- NO matter WHAT. 

Here's a little peek at what's been cooking in my kitchen:

So I'm almost too embarrassed to post this, but oh well! This was my first attempt at meal planning and it was a bit rough (as you can see). This little planner was in my purse for the first 2 weeks to make sure I stuck to the plan, but BOY has it been worth it!
Freshly finished October meal plan!
Ahhhh, feels good to get organized :)

 A couple meals that were a success!
Simple and not too time consuming.

Thai Soup with Coconut, Lemongrass & Red Curry
 (I added chicken instead of shrimp)

Carne Asada Tacos
What a winner!

And my personal Fav!

Chicken Pot Pie

I honestly think if you want to tell someone you love them, just make them a chicken pot pie-It tastes like heaven!

Seriously though, the best dinner of our month was chicken pot pie. I'm not gonna underestimate the power of carbs ever again. I put an extra in the freezer and will be saving it for a hard day :) It works wonders!

Thinking

All about apple week! It is finally here! Tomorrow we embark on one of my favorite school weeks of the year (second only to pumpkin week). 

So this weekend I found out Abby Mullens The Inspired Apple had posted her apple unit and it was on SALE, so I jumped on that bandwagon and picked myself up a copy. I can't wait to try it out with my kiddos this week!

 You can pick up your copy -----> HERE

This week I will be taking my class on a field trip to an apple farm where we will be picking apples then taking them back to class where we will transform them into some tasty concoctions. Stay Tuned! :)

Wanting

A few weeks ago I posted a pic showing something I've used in my classroom to make reading more fun. 

Remember this??

Well, my students have absolutely adored reading with these "partners" everyday and we are hoping to add to our collection. 

A few items on our classroom wish list include:

    

How fun would it be to read with all our favorites???

And here are a few more things I think my kiddos would get excited about:

 LED Finger Lights

Martian Fingers 

Needing

I think every teacher out there can agree, it would be nice to have more time in the day :)

Enough said!

3 Trips

Thailand

I mean look at that water, isn't just irresistible? I've also heard a cultural custom in Thailand is smiling. Like every person you encounter will smile at you as a sign of greeting. Who wouldn't want to visit the land of smiles? I wonder. AND I don't think I could ever overdose on pad thai. It's delish!

Austrailia

I just studied Austrailia with my students last year and I was so impressed with just how incredible it is! There are the coolest animals there as well as climates and cultures, I have to go there someday!

South Africa

I have always wanted to go on a safari.

Well that about sums up my Currently for September :)

I'll be posting again soon about our upcoming apple week!

Feel free to check back in.

Happy Sunday!

~Abbie ~

Five for Friday TGIF!!

Five For Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching

I hope you all had an amazing week. We were very busy, but we got so much accomplished and I can't believe how much I've seen my kindergarteners grow in just TWO WEEKS!!
They are already learning how to be kind, considerate, patient and loving. I am thoroughly loving all the learning and growth that is taking place.

So to kick things off this Friday here's my first highlight of the week!

 

I don't know if any of you are as OBSESSED with pumpkins as I am, but let me tell ya- I might have a problem! I start thinking about fall and pumpkins in March and April and it gets me excited and gives me the little UMPH I need to push through to the end of the school year- a little crazy but it works for me :)

I got a flyer in the mail for NOAH's pumpkin bagels and I almost had a conniption fit! I NEED TO GET SOME!

I also celebrated our first chilly morning (its starting to feel like fall) we've had by picking up a pumpkin spice latte- Can I say Bliss???

 I saw this super cute idea on Pinterest, and thought it would be an awesome way to get my kiddos excited about learning. We are filling it in halfway- each day we are reading and adding on an extra minute. They have been doing SO well! I'm very pleased!

  

Since my group of kinders is pretty young this year, I thought it might be better to ease them into partner reading. This week we got to wear reading "glasses" and pick a "partner" (stuffed animal) who we can read the pictures with.

        We are quite the typing experts! 5 years ago I discovered the joy that is bbc typing and ever since I have taught my kindergarteners to use it. By the end of the school year they are able to type independently and feel so proud of themselves!

Check it out here:

Dance Mat Typing for kids!

 This week in science we talked all about germs. How they spread and how we can prevent them from spreading. We started our conversation by testing out what will happen when bread is touched by dirty hands. The bag labeled "dirty hands" has bread that was touched by every student. The "clean hands" bag has bread only touched by a few students with clean hands. The "control" bag has bread that was not touched. We are still waiting to see what will happen.

I found some amazing videos which helped make our learning more meaningful. The students especially enjoyed this treasure:

Don't Infect! Protect!

 

By the way, I am LOVING these Interactive Social Studies Journals (K-2) by Primary Graffiti

Interactive Journals K-2

I have enough material to cover all the units we will be studying this year! HALLELUJAH!!!

We kicked off our solar system unit yesterday. Take a look at this AMAZING mobile a student asked if they could bring in and share! I think it will make our study so engaging and exciting!

HAVE A FABULOUS WEEKEND!!!!

Thank God Its Friday!!