Saturday, November 1, 2014

Currently... It's November!

There are many (MANY) things I love about Farley's Currently. But one of the things I love most is the fact that so often it is a Currently post that brings me back to blogging. Doesn't seem to matter how long I have been away, Farley's Currently is like an invitation to come back home.

So here I am. I feel like I should I have some sort of confession statement: "I'm Kim and I'm a blogging slacker." That is, however, more than obvious... considering my last post is dated August! It seems to happen that way with me every year. Each August, I get excited about posting the adventures of a new school year. And each November, I look back and wonder: "Why didn't blogging happen this time?"

Enough looking back. Let's move forward. It's November! The month of football and turkey dinners (and lunches!) and report cards and parent conferences... and days away from school! I panic each year when I realize there are no holidays (without school) in October. So November always seems like an extra blessing!

http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2014/11/currently-november.html

I am spending this weekend checking in homework, grading papers and planning some quick assessments. We have a new report card this year and it's not ready yet. We saw a prototype, but we can't enter grades yet. I always procrastinate when it comes to report cards, so I have NO room to complain. In all honesty, the program will likely be ready before I am! But I am guessing there ARE people at my school whose grades are actually ready...

Conferences are around the corner. Initially, we thought there would be interpreters to attend our conferences to explain the new grading system to the parents. So, I submitted my request: I needed interpreters in Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese. Alas, there isn't any money for interpreters after all, so we will need to get creative. Thankfully, our secretary sets up a schedule for a few conference sessions in Spanish. And our principal jumps in too. I guess we will need to operate on the bring-a-friend system for the other languages. Sometimes the students present their part of the conference in their home language. It is always so impressive to watch!

All of this talk about report cards and conferences is making me want cheesecake. It's my "feel-better" food. I went to the Cheesecake Factory with a group of friends a couple of weekends ago... Oh the deliciousness! This was my pick for the day... Kahlua Cocoa Coffee Cheesecake!

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/menu/Cheesecakes/kahlua_cocoa_coffee_cheesecake

Let's stop thinking about cheesecake... Unless they will deliver?

Have you read Number Talks by Sherry Parrish? It's a wonderful book and I am learning so much about number strings and math conversations. I can't wait to teach kids who have learned math in this way starting in kindergarten. It is so fun to listen to kids think! (Click the picture to check out the book on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Number-Talks-Computation-Strategies-Connections/dp/1935099655/ref=la_B00J215NZA_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414906565&sr=1-1

I hope that this November finds you well and happy. I am looking forward to seeing what is Currently going on in everyone else's lives. In the meantime, why not hop by to Farley's and make a friend or two at this month's link-up. I'll see you there!

http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2014/11/currently-november.html




8 comments :

  1. Sounds like how things are over here Kim! They told us they were changing our report card but didn't reveal it until two weeks ago and it's standards based....which means I would be keeping track of grades VASTLY differently than I have been. I just got access to mine on Wednesday and they are due tomorrow. Awesome :(

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  2. I've been wondering what you've been up to! Things are crazy here too.. It must be that kind of year. Hoping you'll have a quick November and opportunities for LOTS of cheesecake!
    Michele
    Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans

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  3. Ooooo...Kim! I HAVE cheesecake at home right now, want to come over??? ;)

    I hope everything goes smoothly for you!!!

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  4. I love to hear how kids think about math too. It's hard for most kinders, but when they do express themselves, I think it really helps the others. Mmmm...cheesecake is my favorite food in the world.

    I hope that you were able to "fall back" and get an extra hour of rest last night.

    ~Brenda

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  5. Hmmm, I have NOT read that book, but as a 6th grade math teacher it might do me some good. :) I am also currently listening to football...it's always on at our house, too!
    Lori :)
    Mixing it up in Middle

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  6. So glad to hear I'm not the only blogging "slacker" out there! Some years (like this one for me) there's just so much new stuff going on at school that it's hard to find time to blog. I just want to chill when I finish grading papers! So know that I totally get it!
    Marion

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  7. Kim, you are right around my schedule as well with conferences and report cards and all that!! Football is always on here too - my boyfriend loves the Giants and Notre Dame. I grew up liking the Giants because of my parents too.

    I hope you have a great week, friend!!

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  8. Kim,
    Our report cards and conferences are right around the corner, too, and it's SCARY! AHHHHH! Where did the time go?!?! I swear, no matter how much you plan or how organized you are, they just creep up on you. Thanksgiving break will be much-needed and deserved, for sure! Best of luck, hang in there, and enjoy your upcoming holiday break!
    -Lindsey Petlak
    It's Elementary, My Dear!

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