Currently March

I am so VERY excited that Farley is still doing her Currently linky party!! I am still very new to the blogging community, and I loved this linky party and just joined for the first time last month. I have come across so many great teacher blogs through her linky party. If you haven't ever linked up with her before, you should! Here's my Currently March:

Listening: My niece loves dogs, and loves the movie Bolt! She could probably watch it all day! Normally she wants to watch Turbo....she LOVES LOVES LOVES Turbo! But she just saw Bolt for the first time, and I think her love for dogs has her hooked!

Loving: I'm SO GLAD the weekend is here! I have done a little bit around the house today, but for the rest of the evening I plan to blog a little bit, watch a couple movies, and relax! 

Thinking: Oh my, oh my, my 30th birthday is next Sunday. EEK! Seriously though, I'm not really freaking out....I feel 30, and I'm okay with the number. The only thing that I don't like is that I am STILL in college, but I guess that's a good thing too. I didn't give up on my dream, it's just taking me a little longer to get there. Switching my major a couple of times really hasn't helped, but it is what it is. I'm actually excited for the next chapter in my life. To celebrate, I want to go on a road trip somewhere. Not sure where though....any suggestions? I've thought about planning a trip for the summer, I just need to figure out where I'm going first!

Wanting: I rented a couple movies that I'm excited about watching. "Last Vegas" looks hilarious and I love all of the actors who are in it. I'm hoping it will be a great comedy. "Enough Said" also looks really good. It looks like a good mix between a romance and comedy. We shall see if they are any good....but I'm ready to relax and watch them tonight!

Needing: I am such a procrastinator when it comes to filing my taxes every year. It's silly too, because most people would want their money returned to them - and I do, I'm just slow with the process. I need to get my paperwork together and get it done ASAP!

????????: Can you guess what this is an answer to?? 

Thanks for reading my Currently March, and make sure you head over to Farley's page at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade to link up!

Currently February

So, this is my very first Currently post, and I'm so excited to link up with Oh' Boy Fourth Grade. I am VERY new to the blogging community, and I look forward to meeting new people in this linky party!

So, about my Currently......

LISTENING: I was obsessed with the Twilight Saga series when it first came out. Ironically, I knew absolutely nothing about the movie, even with all of the hype. I rented Twilight from Redbox, and I was hooked! I then went and bought the first book, and could not put it down! I read the whole series in about a month! Flightless Bird American Mouth is the song played at the end of the first movie. It is not a romantic song, but first became popular from this movie. I love the song - the music, lyrics, all of it. I could listen to it all day, no lie!

LOVING: My nails!! I gave myself a french manicure the other day, and I love them! Normally I just file them, rounded, and go on - but I was feeling girly the other day and decided to "go all out"! Now I'm thinking about painting them a different color. Maybe tan? Not sure yet....

THINKING: I need to start exercising....NOW! This has been a real struggle for me. I'm the person that says "I'm going to start my diet on....", and then it doesn't happen. Something always comes up that deters me from doing it. I need to stop letting things get in the way, and make it a priority. The treadmill is in the other room - I just need to get on it!!

WANTING: Warmer weather....Brrrrrr.....it's cold outside! Well, it's starting to warm up a little bit now, but it has been a crazy and cold winter! Living in Ohio, we get all seasons and I love it! My favorite season is Fall. I am a sweatshirt and jeans with tennis shoes kind of gal! I love summertime activities, but do NOT like the heat! I must say, with all of this snow and temperatures around 0 degrees or below....I am ready for Summer, which is very odd for me say!

NEEDING: I really need to get my class schedule ready for next semester. (I'm still working on my degree). Classes were posted the other day, and scheduling opens up on Monday - so I need to get a move on it -ASAP!

2 TRUTHS AND A FIB: Truth #1: I'm addicted to coffee! I LOVE it! My day is not the same without my morning cup of coffee. Truth #2: My favorite color is purple. Even as a little girl, my room was painted purple. If I buy my niece clothes, I'm always looking for something with purple in it. (I can't help it!) She looks so pretty in purple, but I'm also buying it because I love the color. :) Fib: I have not traveled all over the US. I have traveled to a few states, that surround Ohio and a little south....but not "all over". I really want to travel more though. I have been to KY, TN, NY, SC, NC, VA, WV, FL, and GA. (I think I got them all). I've never been anywhere west though....which is something I desire to do. I would love to visit AZ and CO - just to name a couple places. MN also looks very beautiful! I've seen so many beautiful pictures that have been breathtaking....but I'll keep dreaming until I can find the time and resources to make a trip!


Until next time,
Jen

Erin Condren Teacher Lesson Planner

Hello everyone! This weekend I was browsing through YouTube, and came across a video from Jamielynn Lake who posted a video showing off her life and teacher lesson planners she ordered from Erin Condren. I have always wondered where teachers get there organizers from, and have never heard of Erin Condren, so I was ecstatic after finding this video!! You can also visit www.erincondren.com to see more of her items for sale, but trust me, this stuff is awesome! I really like how Jamielynn Lake (who posted this video of her purchase) is planning to use her checklist in the organizer as her grade book. I love the idea of having everything all in one book! These organizers are a little bit pricey, but I think it is well worth it. I know I will be purchasing one for my first year of teaching! (I may even splurge and purchase a life planner for myself as well). One can never be too organized, especially when you're a teacher! :)







Until next time,

Jen

Blogging

Welcome to my first blog entry! (Well, my first entry written on my own anyway and not as a required assignment for a college course, lol). I am extremely excited to be a part of the blogging community! So far, I have explored some really great teacher blogs! I must say though, while it is all very exciting, I am a little overwhelmed. I guess I might be jumping the gun a little bit (starting this blog before actually being in a classroom), because I feel a little like an outsider. While taking the education technology course at college, I was introduced to some great technology and tools to use in the classroom that I have never heard of before. As I look at teacher blogs, I see link parties, and buttons/pins, and a ton of other things I have never heard of before. I'm definitely a newbie! :) But I think about when I first started this blog....and I knew NOTHING! I've never had a blog before (EVER), so this was all very new to me when I created this blog. I think I have come a very long way since then! And now for the "real blogging"....I want to get a jump into blogging and build a community around me, so when it is time to start teaching I have friends in this community that I can reach out to. I also want to share my experiences, ideas, etc. as well. I'm happy that my blogging journey has finally begun! I hope that you all enjoy my blog, and please always feel free to leave a comment - even if you just want to say hi! :)

One thing I want to start doing on every entry, is to leave a quote at the end. So, I hope you enjoy!

Until next time,
Jen


"There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move, and the kind that just gives you a little prod behind and you jump to the skies." - Robert Frost

Lesson Plan Supplemental Materials

The purpose of this lesson plan is to help students develop an understanding of the role of the U.S. government and the limits of its power. Students will also develop an understanding of what it means to be an informed citizen, and the power they have to make a change.

Common Core Standards:

Grade 8: U.S. Studies from 1492 to 1877: Exploration through Reconstruction

History Strand

Historical Thinking and Skills

                 1. Primary and secondary sources are used to examine events from multiple

                     perspectives and to present and defend a position.

Government Strand

Civic Participation and Skills

               18. Participation in social and civic groups can lead to the attainment of individual                  

                     and public goals.

               19. Informed citizens understand how media and communication technology                   

                     influence public opinion.

Roles and Systems of Government

20. The U.S. Constitution established a federal system of government, a         

                      representative democracy and a framework with separation of powers and

                      checks and balances.

21. The U.S. Constitution protects citizens’ rights by limiting the powers of

                     government.

In this Google slideshow, I will be introducing key terms and providing student with information about the United States government, the powers of government, as well as information on being an informed citizen and taking part in society.


Government Power and Citization Participation Web Games
This link will take you to a game that students can use to learn vocabulary words learned in the lesson. These games will reinforce information learned throughout the week, and there are different games that students can choose to play (so every student should find at least one that they like!)



This post-lesson assessment will be used to see what the students have learned throughout the lesson.