After creating my signature last night, I got a bit ambitious and decided to make a blog button.  I followed Leslie's tutorials at Teaching Blog Addict.  Now I know it's not the best, but I am proud of the work that I did.  I'm really taking to this blogging thing and am excited to get my creative juices flowing again.  Back in grad school I felt so energized and creative, and I'm starting to feel that way again!

And now my first linky party!  Sheila at 

is having a Keep Calm and Blog on! Linky Party.

To link up you just need to tell the blog world about your personal blog journey and post about it.
You can use these questions just copy and paste them in to your post:
1. Why did you start blogging?
2.  What blogs do you stalk?  What blogs inspire you? (These blogs can be teaching blogs, non-teaching related or both.  Make sure to link them so we can check out your blog favs!  Hello!?!?! We will certainly all need new blog reading material this summer)
3. Blogging tips, tools, and great ideas you have learned along the way
4. Blogging and balance
5. What are your blogging goals for the summer?

Here are my answers:

1. Why did you start blogging? I wanted to start blogging after seeing all of the fun and interesting ideas teachers had on pinterest.  From there I began blog stalking and thought to myself, "I can do that!  I want to do that!"

2.  What blogs do you stalk?  What blogs inspire you? (These blogs can be teaching blogs, non-teaching related or both.  Make sure to link them so we can check out your blog favs!  Hello!?!?! We will certainly all need new blog reading material this summer) The blogs I stalk are my favorites listed to the right.  I also stalk the blogs that are their favorites...it's a never ending cycle of blog stalking!

3. Blogging tips, tools, and great ideas you have learned along the way.  Being such a newbie, I don't have any tools, tricks, or tips.  I did learn how to make a signature and a blog button.  Leslie from Teaching Blog Addict put together this tutorial on a variety of things that I have found extremely helpful

4. Blogging and balance. Seeing that I just started, I think I've maintained a good balance.  I will revisit this in the summer :)

5. What are your blogging goals for the summer? This summer I want to keep up the creativity in terms of adding to and enhancing my blog.  I also want to get my blog out there more!

Sprinkle Teaching Magic is also doing an $80 giveaway to Cutest Blog on the Block.  I'd love to have a blog makeover.  Wouldn't you?

Read more »

Brandi

Being so new to the world of blogging, I feel like there's so much to learn.  I found this post from Cara at Teaching My Calling about how to create a signature, so now I've made one.  I want a cute, functional blog, but I also know that it will take some time to get there.  Right now I'm happy with my new signature....though I'm sure it'll change as I change my blog, but it works for me right now!  What do you think?


 

Read more »

Brandi

I have about 2 1/2 weeks left of school which include a field trip, grade level play, softball vs. the 8th graders, and field day...but my mind is on next year.  Here are some of the things on my summer bucket list:

This is from Teri at A Cupcake for the Teacher.  I want to cutesy up my room and love this for picking students.

This is from Rebecca at Create-Teach-Share.  My desk has been so cluttered this year.  I can't wait to make this for my own sanity!

My kids were notorious for "borrowing" my pens so I'm making cute flower pens for my desk.  I think they'll brighten up my area while ensuring I always have a pen!

Next year I plan to make my own lesson plan book.  I've already started it, but need to finalize it.  I pinned this from Amanda at Mrs. Terhune's First Grade Site.  She has some other great organization ideas that I look forward to implementing this summer.

In addition to myself being better organized, I want--no need--my students to be better organized.  I'm going to implement an organizational binder similar to this one by Janis at the Caffeinated Conclusions. 

These are just a few of the things that I want to do.  I've never been "crafty", but I have a deep desire to change a lot of the things in my classroom.  I've always used bright colors, but have never had a unifying theme.  Being the sports enthusiast that I am, I've decided to go with a sports theme.  I'm excited to begin these projects and will post pictures as they get completed!

Read more »

Brandi

So I've been addicted to Pinterest and blog stalking various sites for the last month and now I've decided to jump into the world of blogging!  I know it's the end of the school year, but I've got so many great ideas for next year...I'm actually looking forward to starting these projects!
The big thing I've been looking into is classroom organization.  I've found a few projects that I'm putting on my bucket list, as well as just the general de-cluttering of my classroom.  I've taught for 8 years at 3 different schools and have amassed a "collection" of stuff.  If I didn't use it this year, it's getting cleaned out!
Any tips, advice, suggestions on blogging would be great!

Read more »

Brandi