August Currently

After a summer break, I'm back at the computer to join Farley at "Oh' Boy 4th Grade," with 

August Currently!

Listening - To the “Today Show…” and that’s it… no husband, no children, no Stampy Cat Minecraft videos… only Matt and Savannah. I don’t have to be at school until noon, husband is at his training, and sis-in-law came to get my kids before 9 a.m.  Every school year should begin like this – with a few moments for quiet, un-rushed reflection…

Loving - My new planner - designed by ME!  I'm the worst at keeping up with a calendar.  Somehow I always manage to get things done, but I have no idea how.  I live a week-at-a-time, in general, by putting family activities and appointments on our "fridge calendar."  This year I'm trying to turn over a new leaf... for inspiration I designed my own calendar and had it printed and bound at Office Depot.  It cost WAY too much, but I love it... maybe I will keep up at least through August.  :)

Thinking - About my NEW position!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE teaching Kindergarten, but I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE intervention.  So, when our Reading Recovery position became available this summer I mentioned to my principal I would love to do it... and within 3 hours I had changed jobs!  Yikes!  I don't tend to make big decisions that quickly, but I know it was the right choice.  I'm motivated to learn something new about literacy instruction and thrilled to be back in a position with less to "take-home," so I can focus on my family.  It was overwhelming at first to downsize, but I am excited about my new small space!

Wanting - Time to SLOW DOWN!  My first baby starts 4th grade in three days and in our district that means going to middle school.  I'm. Not. Ready.  I think she is ready, though nervous, and I am putting up a very brave front, but I feel for the first time like my Kindergarten parents have felt leaving their babies with me.  And, speaking of Kindergarten parents, my middle baby starts K in three days!  As if a fourth grade transition wasn't enough, I'm a Kinder-Mom, too!  AND, my last baby starts preschool next week.  I marvel at the start of this new season, I'm prayerful for peace-of-mind, and I'm blessed with three amazing kiddos who get to attend an wonderful school district..., but, MAN, this is HARD!

Needing - To fold the mountain of laundry... I think I put this in the "needing" section of every "currently" post.  LOL!  But, laundry can wait... and if we wear clothes straight from the pile every some days, nobody has to know.  ;)

B2S RAK - Encouraging Notes... This has been a summer of changes at my school... several teachers are taking on new challenges.  A random, anonymous note of encouragement might be just what they need to get through the starting days.  So, I plan to sprinkle some words of encouragement throughout my school.  Who knows?  Maybe it will be contagious and others will pass along the kindness!

Whew!  That was therapeutic!  

Bring on the new school year... Here's to new beginnings!

Now - Head on over to TpT, fill your cart, 

and enjoy the BIG BTS SALE!

Who's Who Post

Head over to Who's Who and Who's New and read my post on our End-of-Year Reading Reward Day!

Blog Hop Follow Up!

WOW!  Thanks so much to all those who hopped through our Summertime Blog Bash last week!  Check out that post to see who won the 21st Century K Giveaway!

By far, most of you are ready for some relaxing summer days full of sleeping in and good books.  Me, too!

My girls and I created our family "Summer Bucket List" last week and are already in full swing planning our activities.  Every year we display it in a new way... this year it is piece of "Subway Art" hanging on the fridge.

On the first of our many snow days this winter I quickly realized that our entire family needed screen time restrictions.  Usually we are so busy with school, church, family, and extracurricular activities that there isn't much need for limitations, but, oh boy, when all five of us were home all day it was obvious we needed an intervention!  We had mandatory screen-free times on snow days, but I knew we needed more for summer.  

Thankfully, I ran across a couple of great ideas on Pinterest, (Of, course!)  and sort of meshed them together to create my own.  

I really wanted a positive spin so I developed this list of ways to earn screen time...

IF (and that's a big one) my nine- and five-year-olds do all the activities on the list in one day they will earn 2.5 hours of screen time for that day.  It seems like a lot until you consider this includes ALL screens (TV, Xbox, Kindle (reading is set to unlimited time), iPad, etc.).  Combine that with the fact it will take at least 2 other hours to complete the list and the fact we are in and out of the house with other summer activities everyday and you have a plan that works for our family.  

Now, if only I would follow this advice myself... blogging doesn't count, right?  ;)  Just kidding -  try to save my screen time until a time when my kids are napping, out of the house, or are sleeping.

What works for your family?  

How do you hold yourself accountable to your screen time rules?