Currently....August

A little late to the party but I am linking up for the first time with Farley at Oh Boy 4th Grade for Currently August!  So here goes...

I typed this up last night before posting today so I was listening to Disney Junior...it seems like our tv is ALWAYS on that channel!  But I guess with a 2 year old I shouldn't expect much else! =)

I am totally loving all of the inspiration I have gotten this summer.  I started the summer with NO motivation at all.  I had a pretty rough year last year and had even begun looking for another job.  But no job opportunities opened up so I am still at my school but with a whole new attitude! I am very excited about this  year and can't wait to get started!!!

Ummmm....where did July go?  It just zipped right on by and here is August!

I am wanting to get into my classroom.  Our school is shut down to us during the summer and we couldn't get back in this year until Aug. 1.  Well, I was on vacation then so I am hoping to get into my room sometime today and that leads to me needing at least another month of summer vacation to get ready!

Now on to my B2S must haves!

1-lots of pretty colored pens (that's self explanatory, huh?)
2-anything chevron or owls--my current obsession!!!!
3-Who Has It Together? Teacher Planner--LOVE this!!! I bought this from A Modern Teacher on TpT at the beginning of the summer and am so excited to use it this year!!!

Click on the picture to go to TpT and purchase it!

Well there you have it! Now I'm off to gather my things to go to my classroom! (Hopefully!)

Monday Made It #1

I am linking up with Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics for her Monday Made It!  This week I have two projects.

My first Monday Made It is THIS...my blog!!!  I'm just starting so I can use all of the advice that you are willing to give!!! And I need some followers please!!! =)  So click over on the follow me on Bloglovin' button on the right so you can follow me.

My second Monday Made It is really more of a print, laminate, and bind it.  A few weeks ago I purchased Who Has It Together? Teacher planner from A Modern Teacher on TpT.  Well I finally finished customizing it and printing it and found the time to go over to Staples to bind it (about $5) and I absolutely love it!  Here are some pictures of it. (Sorry for the poor quality...taken on my phone and I'm new at this!)

Front cover...you can customize it to say what you want.

Monthly planning pages...I don't have my school calendar yet so I just wrote in a few things instead of typing them all in.  Plus I'm impatient and was ready to have this baby done! =)

Weekly planning pages...again completely customizable (is that a word?)

Notes pages I added at the end for Faculty meetings, grade level meetings, and anything else I may need.

So there you have it...two quick Monday Made Its for the week.  Now head on over to 4th Grade Frolics to see all of the other wonderful things everyone has made!!! =)

Before you go though...here's a quick pic of my little helper...my sweet son...helping me laminate some task cards to start the school year off!

My New Summer Routine

As a teacher and mom, I'm all about routines & schedules.  This summer I developed a new routine...every morning began with a cup of coffee and reading the new updates on some really awesome teacher blogs that I rediscovered this summer.  I found a few blogs to follow last summer but forgot all about them in the chaos that was the last school year.  I am so thankful that I rediscovered them this summer!  They have truly renewed my motivation and passion for teaching....so much so that I've decided to begin my own blog!  And I guess that means adding an additional step to my routine...updating my own blog! =)

Let me begin by introducing myself.  I am beginning my ninth (wow!) year of teaching!  I will be teaching 4th grade this year.  I have bounced back and forth from 4th grade to a 4th/5th combo to 4th grade to 5th grade and finally back to 4th grade.  I believe that 4th grade is my home though!  I am excited to be back home this year.  I am also a mom to the most adorable cotton top there is!  I have a 2 year old blonde haired, blue eyed little boy that is my world!!!  (You can see him in all of his cuteness over in the About Me section)  My goal this year is to do a better job balancing motherhood and teaching.

Now to tell you a little bit about the title of my blog.  It took me forever to come up with this name!  I wanted something creative and memorable.  I chose "Palmetto Trees" because I live in the Palmetto State (South Carolina) and just about everything I own has a palmetto tree on it somewhere!  If you're a SC Native, you understand! =)  I chose the "Peaches" part for 2 reasons.  First reason is I teach in a small town that is known as the Peach Capital of the World.  (I'll let you do the research and figure out where that is!)  The second reason is my husband works for a local farm company that is one of the fastest growing farms in the U.S. and their main crop is....you guessed it, PEACHES!!!! This summer we have had more peaches than I know what to do with!  So for these reasons I chose to name my blog "Peaches & Palmetto Trees" because those two things kinda represent my life at the moment. (Plus I really liked the alliteration!)

Well, there you have it!  A short introduction to me and my life!  Now I need your help!  Any advice for a new blogger is welcome!  Blog etiquette, tips, tricks, etc.....it's all welcome! =)  I look forward to your advice!