Sunday Sentiments. {last Sunday in 2014.}

The holidays are over. The leftovers are almost gone, the wrapping paper already recycled, and unwanted gifts returned, and slowly but surely, real life is starting to work it's way back. 

I have successfully put work on the back burner for almost five whole days, and the idea of starting the endless to do list again is a bit overwhelming, but young minds must be shaped and the world needs to be saved/taken over (whichever you prefer.) 

The holidays at our house were wonderful - my brother and I are older, so it was definitely about family and love, and less about presents and stockings. I am very grateful for my family this year. I was constantly asked what I wanted for Christmas, but the things I want and have can't be bought, and I am just so grateful for the quality time I got to spend with my family, as I am sure everyone was and is. 

As the year wraps up so quickly, today is the last Sunday in 2014 - I have started to think about what the new year will hold and what am I going to do with the rest of my life. 

This morning, the sermon at church was so poignant - one of those moments where you are stopped and the truth you needed to hear was spoken to you. The message that everyone needs to hear (regardless of your faith) is that: everyone has a gift + you have to use it to better the world for yourself and others. 

One of the constant topics of Ginger On the Move is motivation and making sure you are making a difference all the time, and in 2015, that is such a driving force in my life that it is, slowly but surely, becoming more of my identity and that is nothing to be ashamed of. 

This year, you have something to offer the world - maybe you have been offering your gift or gifts, and this year you need to continue to make them sparkle and shine, and perfect your talents. Maybe this year, you need to find out what your talent and gifts are, so that you can start making the world and yourself a better place. Maybe this year, you face the greatest challenge: figuring out how to use your talents and gifts to make the world and yourself better. 

That is the one most people (including myself) struggle with - how do I take this amazing gift and turn it into a skill, service, or offering that will enhance the world? That, loves, is the million dollar answer, because it's different for everyone. How you choose to show, display, and use your gift is different. Even if someone has the same gift as you, how you use it is going to be different. 

For 2015, your resolution shouldn't be lose ten pounds or save $20 every week, your resolution should be filling the void of the world that only you can fill with your gifts and talents that only you have. There is no one like you on the Earth (which is an amazing fact); therefore, you have to be faithful to your gifts and talents, and you have to show the world what it's been missing. 

When the new year comes, be ready - be ready to be more assertive and to give more and more each day - those who give much will receive much. As the year winds down, start that journey of using your gifts, and making sure they aren't gathering dust. Don't miss out on a chance to be great. 

Photo Credit: Google Images

Until next time, loves -

Lucy 

Five Wonderful Things. {bye bye, 2014}

Happy Sunday, loves! 

There is a little less than three weeks left in 2014, and I've been constantly asking myself, "Where did it go?" I remember NYE 2014 like it was yesterday - I went to sleep crying, because I was alone - at that moment, I thought the year would be a bust, but 2014 has been anything but a bust. 

I have conquered more fears in 2014 than I could have ever imagined, and became more of the woman I am meant and want to be. My milestone birthday of twenty five came and went, and it was more fabulous than words can describe, and as I prepare for one week of school and three weeks at home with my wonderful family, I can't help but feel grateful and blessed for this amazing life and amazing year that I have been given. 

I hope, as 2014 disappears before us, you can also find tiny moments of gratefulness and contentment. I also encourage you clean house and prepare yourself for next year. Part of a new year is that you can shed old skin, literally and figuratively, and clean out space for better blessings. These blessings can take the form of people, jobs, or material goods, and you need to be ready for them. You can't accept a gift if your hands are still holding onto trash. 

With these last few weeks, find the time to make a literal list (on paper or electronically - I realize not everyone likes to hand write these days) and list the things you are most proud of in 2014 and the things you are most excited for in 2015. Hopefully your list will make you realize how wonderful you are and how hard you worked for those proud moments. 

This week marks the last week of school before winter break, and energy and emotions for all are running high, so as I take this Sunday and use it to recharge and do the things Lucy wants to do, I want to remind myself (and you) of Five Wonderful Things. 

1. I babysat a puppy this weekend. I don't like dogs anymore. I loved one dog, Mocha, and she was perfect. We put her to sleep when I was 21 and I never knew the loss of a pet until her. After her death, dogs were no longer welcome in my heart. Petty, I know, but we all deal with grief differently. My best friend, however, has a puppy and he's snuggled his way into my heart and I had the privilege of baby-sitting him this weekend. I had the best time walking and snuggling and playing fetch with him. My love for all dogs hasn't quite returned, but it was a nice weekend spent with a four legged friend. 

2. I did Christmas cards. This seems like a routine activity for some, but this year, was my first year doing Christmas cards for my friends and coworkers and it was such a sweet, loving feeling to write how much I loved each of them in a card decorated with a cat dressed in Christmas attire. I hope they enjoy them as much as I did. 

3. I planned my babes' winter celebration. My babes have earned a winter celebration, and they voted between a present party (a white elephant party) or arts and crafts, and my heart sang when they chose arts and crafts. We will have a ginger bread house contest, make ornaments, color scratch art, and make ugly sweater ornaments. My aunt is graciously providing pizza for our celebration and  I can't wait to spend Friday afternoon just being their friend instead of their teacher. 

4. I made a financial plan for 2015. I wrote down my financial goals for 2015, and the best way to achieve them. I may be cutting back my wants in the short term, but the long term gain will benefit me more. Being an adult isn't an age, it's a mindset - a mindset that you have to be willing to sacrifice in the present to reap benefits in the future. I will go back to Ireland in 2015, and I will begin to conquer student loan debt. Fabulous girls manage their whole life, including their money! 

5. I chose a MSA program that fits my lifestyle. I had previously written about applying to a MSA program at a prestigious Southern institution, and while that was a great experience, I have chosen a different path. I already have a Master's and there is a program that will allow me to add on to my license without going through a three year program, which is fantastic for so many reasons! So, come January, I will be a full time teacher and a part time student and I couldn't be more excited! 

As one o'clock creeps up on this Sunday afternoon, my sense of urgency is low - a Sunday well spent bring a week of contentment.  My lesson planning will be done in an appropriate amount of time and my book will be read for pleasure. 

Take this Sunday for yourself and bask in your fabulous life! (: Enjoy your Sunday, loves! Until next time, 
- xo, Lucy 

Strategy Saturday {seating arrangements - no place cards needed.}

Good morning, loves + welcome to the most recent edition of Strategy Saturday! 

Today's topic is something that seems thoughtless; however, it can reflect your classroom culture, your values in the classroom, and significantly impact the learning that takes place in your room. 

Today's topic is seating arrangements. 

From what I remember in my time school, there were lots of rows or whatever seemed to be convenient to the teacher, the furniture, or the size of the room. My reality is probably one of many of you can relate too, and our reality is far from what seating should be. 

The layout of your classroom is a true reflection of what you value in that room. If you value engagement, your desks should be grouped into collaborative learning teams and facing the learning materials (anchor charts and the board.) If you value order and routine, I suspect your desks are grouped in rows, possibly rows of two for minimal interaction between students. Ask yourself: which one is more desirable, can you have both in a perfect mixture? 

The answer is: YES. You can have order and collaboration and true learning can take place. 

Here are some simple steps for successful seating arrangements: 

1. Group desks into heterogeneous learning teams. I have five groups of four desks to fit my twenty babies. I also believe strongly in heterogeneous groups  - all students have strengths and deserve to have them amplified and nurtured in the classroom. 

*Here is a radical idea for older grades: Let students group themselves. I teach 5th grade, and when it's time to change seats, I give them parameters (can't sit with all boys or girls, some students have to sit in the front, etc.) and they group themselves. I've been doing this three, almost four years and I have ever only had to change two seats from self selected seating. 

If we think about one of the true purposes of school, it's to create independent and self sufficient learners and people. At ten and eleven years old, I need to give my babies a chance to identify their strengths and group themselves within a safe environment. I set the tone of our classroom culture, and they have accepted it and embrace it. When it's time to pick seats, they reflect our classroom values when they show their independence. 

2. Arrange seats so that all can see the learning materials. My students all face our boards and learning maps (full scale advanced organizers.) These are two things that are integral to our instruction, and all students need to be able to see them without struggling. I am in a mobile unit, so if I can make this happen, you can too. 

3. Provide a supply caddy for each group. This is so necessary to uninterrupted lessons and a smooth transition to each subject. Each group has a dollar store caddy that is filled with colored pencils,markers, crayons, highlighters, glue sticks, scissors, and pencils. This is to cut down on searching during the lessons or noise from constantly sharpening pencils. Each group has whatever they need and whenever they need it. 

4. Change often. Student conversations should be the corner point of your instruction - if you want students to remember it and practice it, they have to talk about it. With all this talking and learning going on, students get bored of their seat mates and quickly learn each other's personalities. By changing seats often, conversations stay fresh and the incidents of misbehavior are decreased by new faces. 

So, as winter break approaches, think about changing up your layout for when students come back. A fresh layout will lend itself to a fresh start in 2015. 

Enjoy your Saturday, loves + stay fabulous! 

Love, Lucy 

Where have you been all my life? {post-surgery fabulousness + other musings.}

One major holiday and surgery later, the Ginger is back + with a plan. 

The stretch to Thanksgiving was easy to tolerate in some ways - I had gallbladder surgery and missed a week from school (an awful thing to do, I don't recommend it), so I only had two days to separate me from school and the holiday. 

Thanksgiving was amazing - being home with my family is an experience that I cherish, especially now that I am out on my own for almost five years now. I desperately miss my time with them, but moving back to eastern Kentucky is not on the radar at all or even anywhere close to what my five year plan looks like. My family does influence my professional choices; however, as any twenty-something will tell you, it's not the deciding factor by any means. 

It was so nice to be surrounded by love and good food and a mom who takes care of you, especially post surgery. I am already counting the days till I am back for Christmas. 

My surgery, which preceded all of this, was easy, with a single rough day of recovery (which I am blessed so much for.) I stayed overnight in the hospital the night after, because all the air that they inflate you with was the worst pain I had ever felt. Thank goodness for IV medicines, moms, and good nurses. My recovery has gone well - being without an organ has forced to me cut out fast food completely, which is another great thing. For any of you who thought positive thoughts, vibes, or prayers - thank you, I appreciate it. 

In other news, I am waiting to hear about acceptance to the MSA program that I applied for. I should be hearing, informally at least, towards the middle of this month, and formally, in January. After considering my options, I truly feel that this is my best interest professionally. I am slowly becoming okay with the idea that I am ready for different work - not less, but different. 

When I became a teacher, I knew I would never retire after thirty years in the classroom. Number one, that is a ridiculous notion. Number two, I get bored easily. Number three, I get attached easily and the list could continue. As I move towards my fourth year of teaching, I am ready for new and different responsibilities. It might mean being a principal, working for a non profit, starting my own non profit, working for a consulting firm - I don't know right now, to be honest, but I know it's there and it will happen very soon. 

I have started to do some research about the other opportunities that exist for teachers who are built for more than  lesson planning and data talks - my true passion and drive is to make others love teaching as much as I do, and to make sure they are effective while doing it. Our students have suffered too long without true, effective educators and it's up to a group of determined people (who aren't associated with charter schools or politicians) to make that difference. 

So, as my students wrap up their second district test this week, I leave with the attitude of excellence on this Friday and I hope your weekend is just as fabulous as you are. 

"I have to thank God and Ice Cube for Friday, because we like to party." - J Cole 

Photo Credit: Google Images

Strategy Saturday - {how to maintain your sanity.}

Photo Credit: Google Images 

The road to Thanksgiving break is a long stretch for teachers and students alike, and every year, I swear it gets longer and longer, and this year is not any different. 

While I love my teammates and my students, the year seems never ending around the end of October and beginning of November - the work is hard, the days long, and everyone's tired. 

Deadlines come faster than you can write them down in your expensive planner, and the turn around time for anything seems immediate. 
The million dollar question at this hour is - how do you maintain your sanity and work ethic when the hours and days get long? 

This year, I have found myself trying to balance work and life appropriately - I have two teammates, who are brand new teachers, and I don't want them to think the only way to be an effective teacher is to let it consume you, because it's not. 

I have joined the Y, and started going to work out classes. I have read 3 (almost 4) non school books in the recent weeks, and there are many nights of the week that school work stays in a bag by the door. 

If this, however, was the only way to keep your sanity, then every teacher would be a pro at it, but it's not. So, as the holiday season approaches, here are some simple things that you can do to improve your mental health and make the road to the holiday break even easier. 

1. Move. I am not talking about exercising every day for two hours, I am talking about a short walk around the block, yoga while watching TV, stretching while you're making dinner - some sort of physical activity to keep your body from growing cobwebs. 

2. Journal. This one is a little more personable, but keeping a journal doesn't have to be a Dear Diary sort of situation. You can keep a journal for personal, professional, or religious reasons. I journal for all three, and it's very therapeutic to write down thoughts, dreams, ideas, and situations that are clouding my head. I am a very emotional person and keeping things from bubbling in me makes me a better person, not just a better teacher. 

3. Enjoy a hobby. I realize that as this list progresses it becomes more and more clique; however, these are truly things that I do in real life, and I want other teachers and professionals to experience the same freeing feeling of separating life and work. I encourage you to find something you enjoy and keep doing it, despite your professional obligations. I like to sew, write, read, and play Sims, but you have to find what works best for you. I have a friend that takes herself on weekly dates that involve dinner and a movie. I have another friend that enjoys arts and crafts. Whatever you decide to do separate from your job, enjoy it. 

4. Take care of your body. This one is more than important, and not just for teachers. At this point, we are in our twenties, and we should start loving ourselves, which means watching what we eat, washing our faces, and getting at least seven hours of sleep. You can't run your body into the ground and expect that it will turn out excellence. We have to take care of ourselves. Ditch the fast food, grab an apple, and go to bed at 9 PM like a normal person. 

As the weekend disappears quickly, and the week peers from around the corner, remember that a break is almost here - we can see it! Remember, the work you are doing is noble and not for the faint heart. There's a reason you are in your classroom (or office.) 

Until next time loves, 
Lucy 

That time I was internet famous {ode to a season of who I was before.}

Today was such a good day for a handful of reasons. Let's recap as I wait for The Walking Dead to come back into my life. 

1. I meal prepped. I was doing so amazing at staying healthy and keeping my shape, and I feel off, so let me get back on. I meal prepped for two days, and on Tuesday, I'll meal prep for the rest of the week. 

2. I accomplished taking over the world by 11. I completed whole group plans, and just feel in a very good place for tomorrow. It might have something to do with the fact we are out on Tuesday, but either way, I feel ready for tomorrow and that never happens. 

3. My best friend surprised me with a visit. That's self explanatory. 


4. A TV show from my childhood had a marathon today. Growing up Gotti was literally my life a chunk of time in my early high school years, and it's been ten years, so A&E is rerunning it to prepare for a reunion. 

The marathon brings me to my topic of today - being internet famous and who I (we) were before our adult selves took over. 

So, here's the back story to my obsession with this obscure show. I was and still am in love with organized crime, a huge factor in loving this show so much (they are John Gotti's grandsons + daughter), and I found any guy who didn't look like the boys that went to my high school attractive. 

The show premiered and I was hooked. I couldn't get enough. I taped their pictures to my wall and notebooks, scribbled my name with Gotti added to it, but there was something missing. So, I did what any teenage fangirl would do - I Googled them and entered the world of forums and fellow fangirls. 

I quickly found myself submerged in forum and fan life - making posts and meeting other girls who loved the show and it's tanned, obnoxious boys as much as I did. Then, one faithful day, I stumbled upon the fan fiction section, and took a step into the light. 

A quick vocabulary lesson for those who might be struggling: fan fiction are stories that are created by people, but they use celebrities or already created literary characters. (Fun fact: 50 Shades of Grey was originally written as Twilight fan fiction.) I had always had a knack for creative writing, and I knew I loved the Gotti boys, so let's put them together and use them to bring the world happiness. 

Months passed and the show got better and so did my writing and my relationships I was building online - I met some who were a little less than the brightest crayon in the box, but I connected with girls all over the world. I had friends from England, Canada, Australia, California, Pittsburgh, Jersey - you name it and I knew someone there. It was a great feeling to know that I had these real relationships that I had built based on three guidos from Long Island. 

My stories were getting a ton of attention, as well as the stories by my friends - we were spotlight writers, our request threads were the longest, and we were being nominated for competitions. For a brief period of about five years, I was internet famous - thanks to fan fiction and the Gotti boys. 

I share this now, as a period of reflection - thinking about who I was before my professional self took over, and who I really am at the end of the day. Watching the marathon today, and tweeting the girls who I met so many years ago, made me so nostalgic and it warmed my heart to remember that for a moment, we were internet famous. As I reread the stories we wrote then, I laugh at how absurd some of them are, but mostly, I smile and remember that nerdy teenage girl who built friendships that have lasted her a lifetime. 

So, as I get ready for a week of my real life, I smile and say thank you to the Gotti boys for my moment of internet fame and my friends who have last far longer than that. 
- xo, Lucy 

Working Woman Wednesday {degrees as wallpaper.}

First, let's acknowledge that it's been about a million years since my last update. 

Photo Credit: Google Images

Now, that's out of the way - let's get down to business of #WorkingWomanWednesday. 

Today, I completed my application for a prestigious MSA (Master's in School Administration) and as I was writing my statement of purpose, I got so inspired about my purpose and my profession again. 

It's so easy when you're in the trenches to forget why and how much you love something and today, I remembered and it felt amazing. To remember that there's a larger purpose that I am working towards - to remember that upwards of 50% of high school students in urban America won't graduate high school, and to remember that the achievement gap for under-served populations is growing by the day. 

I'm sure some of you read those things, and think it can't be changed or it's such a daunting task that surely could crush someone with the pressure and sense of urgency, but honey, I was made for this. 

I was made for small group instruction, I was made for data analysis, I was made for advocating for little people who can't speak up for themselves yet, and I was made to love them unconditionally. The true passion that lives inside of me to make other teachers great and to be a great teacher is unparalleled. My work ethic is comparable to Beyonce's - we all have the same twenty-four hours. 

So,what are you doing with yours? Are you solving a problem? Are you adding to the world, instead of taking away? Are you enriching others and sharing your gifts? 

I hope you answered yes to all those questions. If you didn't, you need to reevaluate your purpose and plan. We all have to be in this together - the world already has enough negative, make your little corner bright and better with your attitude and purpose. 

Maybe, you haven't found your true purpose - you might be sitting there thinking, "Lucy, I don't know what I am meant to do." Boo, that's okay - as long as whatever you're doing right now is making something or someone (including yourself) better. Don't waste anything, especially your time and resources. 

So, on this Wednesday, a quote from my freshman reading (which I reread all the time) embodies my message on #WorkingWomanWednesday - "For me, an area of moral clarity is: you're in front of someone who's suffering and you have the tools at your disposal to alleviate that suffering or even eradicate it, and you act." - Dr. Paul Farmer 

That wraps it up, cupcakes - if you see someone suffering, and you have the tools to fix it, you need to do it. 

Keep being fierce, loves! Until next time - 

xo, Lucy 

Moral Monday {separating self worth from test scores.}

Today, our grade level took our science district assessment, and in a blink of an eye, sixteen questions made me feel so worthless - knocked the breath out of me and made me feel like a quarter's worth of work was wasted. 

On paper, it was. On paper, this quarter was mildly successful - only a medium percentage of my students performed proficient and at the end of the day, all of my students will be judged on a benchmark of fifth grade expectations and it will be a hit or miss. There won't be an A for effort or a check plus, because you tried your best - no, it will be a pass or fail. You made the cut or you didn't and that, my friends, is the scariest part of my job. 

You want to know real life teaching? This. This is it. This moment when you cry a Kim K ugly cry and ask yourself what could you have done better and where you went wrong. You can sugar coat it for yourself, and say you tried your best, but when only forty and some odd percent get it, you didn't try your best. 

Then the even harsher reality sets in, and you have to face your fears and separate your self worth from test scores, and reevaluate the plan for success. Success, even for my students, doesn't have an elevator and sometimes, we have to back a few floors after we realized the door we were working towards was locked. 

Even after three years, this is a hard lesson. It's an even harder lesson knowing that I have two amazing teachers on my grade level who are going to feeling the same feelings I am, and I cannot and will not let them attach their effectiveness or their worth as a teacher to these , numbers. No one told me not to do it, but I will tell them - I will tell all new teachers: 

You aren't your test scores. 
You aren't your data. 

You have to remember you had a purpose long before anyone had an opinion, and sometimes we have to go back to the drawing board and erase some lines and redraw our masterpiece. 

So, the moral this Monday: You aren't your test scores and if no one tells you, you're a good teacher. 

Five Wonderful Things. {difficult takes day, impossible takes a week}

As I sit here and sip my hot chocolate and enjoy a peaceful moment from being prepared for the week, I can't help but be so excited about this place I am in. This season of self-confidence and self-assurance is so needed after feeling so unsure and so unclear about myself and my purpose. Whether it was twenty-five or my own attitude change, I am grateful for a new set of experiences. 

This week is going to be equally as great, another opportunity to take over the world a little bit more, and change a little bit of the darkness to light. As I reflect on my week, I am overwhelmed by the compliments and encouragement I have received from my administration and my team that let me know the changes I am making, both personally and professionally, are noticeable. 

So, here's to a new week, with a weekend full of fun waiting for me at the end - hope your week is as great as you are! 

1. I got a powerful observation. As a BT 3 (beginning teacher, year 3), we still have to have so many observations a year, and I had my first official observation a few weeks ago and had my post conference this week. The lesson that was observed was okay (in my opinion), but my administrator had nothing but powerful and positive things to say about me. She let me know that my lesson was well-paced, engaging, and my students were empowered and they knew the material. Those simple things are so powerful to me, and are so meaningful as a teacher in a high-needs school. Being able to say all my babes were engaged and able to verbalize what we were doing is a powerful statement, and I hope that's the first of many positive observations that I have this year. 

2. Homecoming is this weekend. My undergrad's homecoming is this weekend, and I couldn't be more excited! I haven't seen some of my friends in years, which is awful to say, but friendships as adults has to be intentional and sometimes, life gets in the way. This weekend, responsibilities get put on hold for a mini-vacation that is well deserved. 

3. A new teacher is going to observe my literacy block. Again, seems simple on the surface, but it's a powerful motivator for me as a professional. I want to make others better teachers - that's a true passion. I want other people to love it as much as I do and I want teachers to be experts at best practices, not just what looks good. A cute classroom does not mean a thing if true learning isn't taking place, so hopefully this is the first step in a path of leading other teachers to great teaching. 

4. I turned down a guy. This sounds so petty, but again it's so meaningful in my growth as a woman and as a person. I won't go into many details, but I stood up for myself and my principles as a woman. Being a born again good girl isn't easy, but what's the point of having standards or ideals if you aren't going to stick to them? 

5. I delegated responsibility. I realize all of my moments are very simple, but simple moments that are powerful are life changing - that's what makes life so wonderful. This one was hard to do, but makes me proud to admit it. I have a team this year who craves excellence as much as I do, and is willing to put in the repeated long hours to see results. In order to achieve that, I have had to pass out responsibility and be okay with it. It seems like an easy task, but anyone who has led before knows, giving out that first task is difficult, but you have to be empowered that you have created an attitude of excellence and not compliance that will carry over to their work too. I am so blessed to call these ladies teammates, because they make breaking up responsibilities so very easy.  

One of my goals this week is to update Ginger On the Move mid-week, because there are a few issues I want to write about, so stay tuned! Until then, stay fabulous loves! 

Five Wonderful Things.

This past weekend has been, by far, one of the best weekends I have had in a long time, and not for any particular reason other than, I am finally enjoying this season of my life. 

Turning twenty-five was a mentally agonizing time for so many reasons. I realize that, for some, turning twenty-five was such a blink of an eye that my reservations about it are silly, but as a Southern woman, being twenty-five is a milestone. You should be married, or at least engaged, and you should be set in your career. Again, for some this doesn't bother them, but for me, not having all of that equation was a struggle. Very recently, however, my opinion and viewpoint has shifted dramatically. 

I have come to be in love with every minute of my life - key word: my. I have not a single obligation to anyone or anything other than myself and my profession. To be honest: I don't have an obligation to my profession per say, but I do have an obligation to my professional goals that I have set for myself. So, here's to a fabulous weekend that was simply fabulous, because I did what I want, with people that I love. As I bask in glow of a half-way successful Monday, here's to five wonderful things for this past week. I hope your week is as fabulous as you are, darlings. 

1. I had mid-week drinks with my friends. For a teacher, this is such a big deal - we are not the profession to meet at 5 for happy hour. We are the profession who stays at school till 5 and then goes home to work some more, and fall asleep before prime time television. This past week was different though. We shopped, laughed, and enjoyed ourselves like the young professionals we are. 

2. Walking Dead premiered. I love zombies. Yes, pretty girls can be nerds too. My best friend turned me on to the show, and I haven't been able to look away since. Last night, we had our annual zombie party to commemorate the premiere. While I felt the premiere was lack luster (personal opinion), it was nice to have zombies back in my life and time with my best friend is always a plus. 

3. I got my hair straightened. This seems like a tiny detail, but I never straighten my hair. I've had it straight less than ten times in my whole life, so when it happens, it's a big deal. A friend of mine straightened for a girls' night out + a friend's concert at a local club, and it just changed my world view. Simply having my hair straight changed me, just for a weekend - loosened me up for a bit. Call it silly, but it's nice to pretend to be someone else for a while. 

4. I balanced my work load. This has been a long time coming, and I am still not very good at it, but the key to true success is balancing work and life effectively and this week, I did all right for myself. I worked on things for a little bit on Saturday and it made my whole weekend better. There wasn't a rush on Sunday to do all plans for the week, and there wasn't this overwhelming feeling of dread. It was a nice balance. I hope I can make it stick. 

5. I am sticking to my budget. October is such a busy month for me, with a ton of activities that I want to do with all my friends and those activities cost money. My undergrad's homecoming is this month and I cannot wait to spend time with all my college friends, but that costs money. I made a budget at the beginning of the month, and here we are, almost halfway through, and I am sticking to it! I feel so empowered that I am in control of my money and don't feel anxious about where that money is going or how I am going to pay for x, y, and z. 

Monday can be sand paper or sparkles - I hope your's was sparkly all over! Until next time, loves 
- xo, Lucy 

a lesson in patience, perseverance, and self love.

Yesterday was nothing short of amazing, and as I sit here and sip my coffee, recovering from a mid-week late night with dear friends, I am suddenly grateful that I have a great reason to be tired and slow moving this morning. Yesterday was amazing for all of the most normal, mundane reasons, but it was so important - so necessary for my season that I am in. 

I started Ginger on the Move to chronicle my journey through job searching and possibly relocation, and at the end of it all, I ended up staying right where I was. This summer, I felt very indifferent to my situation - emotionally exhausted from the roller coaster known as soul searching, and just gave up - resigned to the fact that I would work my current job until something better came along. I wasn't particularly enthused about starting a new school year at the same place where I felt so many up and down emotions, but I still helped out with interviews, still worked on plans and then something happened, I started to love it again. 

I started to feel invested in the common good at this elementary school that I had developed a love-hate relationship with. My administration changed, my attitude changed, and our school changed (18 new hires!), and before you knew it, I loved it again. Fast forward to yesterday, a pretty defining moment in my professional career and it feels amazing to be so stable in my professional career! 

Yesterday was one of those moments where you feel your season change and your ultimate goal/dream/passion/purpose gets so much clearer. It started in PLCs (professional learning communities.) My team was analyzing data from a recent district assessment, and were looking at subgroups. We noticed a trend with some of our kids, and wanted to speak with our administration further. When they came by, they were so proud of the conversations we were having and so supportive of our intervention plan - they asked to film our next PLC! We (5th grade) were beyond flattered - I love knowing I'm doing the right thing and I love being able to take what I am doing and help others become better teachers. That's the ultimate goal - love your passion so much that others are inspired too. 

Fast forward to a late afternoon conversation with my principal - she asked me about my future goals and where I see myself, and I shared with her my new interests. While being a superintendent is an ultimate goal, most recently, I've developed a true love for leading others to be better teachers - most specifically in the role as principal. 

Most people are going to groan and say "I'd never do that job." To that I say, I'm glad you're not a principal. When I think of being a principal, I think of a true humble servant. You are the driving force behind the quality of education that takes place at a school, and you have to want to help teachers become better. It's not easy, but to quote Jay-Z - "difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week." Teaching has never been for the faint of heart, and I most certainly am not scared at this opportunity. 

So, there it is folks, the next phase in Lucy's lesson plan shawty journey - a principal. I've already started applications to a few schools, and hope to start in January or soon after. This realization comes on the wave of a difficult, emotionally trying season. I didn't love myself, I didn't love others the way I should, and I didn't stop and celebrate where I was. Instead, I wished and tried to move myself before I was meant to and at each turn, I met a stop sign or a road block or was blatantly told no. I was forced to sit and wait - endure, preserve and rely on my own self to weather the storm, and let my blessings (which you should never chase) come to me. Believe what you will about higher powers, but the universe will bring you to opportunities meant for you. This was meant for me. Yesterday was the literal end to a cold, sad season and the start of a journey to a place where I appreciate myself and my current place (instead of wishing for the next.) 

So, on this Thursday (my favorite day) - enjoy your season, don't wish for another or different portion. Have enough love for yourself to celebrate where you've come from and where you want to go. Have enough of a humble attitude to be okay with the fact you aren't where you want to be and the fact that you don't know everything, and probably never will. 

Until next time, loves 
- xo, Lucy 

Strategy Saturday. {Strategy Reading Groups.}

Saturday mornings were made for cartoons, coffee, cereal, and being lazy in pajamas, unless you're a teacher. (or another profession that works around the clock - any Christian Grey's around?) 

This morning, for Strategy Saturday, is dedicated to strategy reading groups - the big brother to guided reading.

Every practicing professional should be aware of guided reading - it's a buzz word in education. The basis of guided reading is small group instruction on a student's instructional reading level (determined by running records or mClass) to improve reading proficiency - to improve the literal act of reading with assistance in phonics, phonemes, and showing students word attack strategies, but what happens once the student can read? What happens when they know how to break apart the words, but don't know how to determine meaning? 

Well, that's where strategy groups come into the rotation. Strategy groups are the big brother to guided reading, at least in my opinion. Once students can read and apply simple comprehension skills, strategy groups help up the ante by focusing on a standard or a strategy instead of word decoding or a foundation skill. 

Strategy groups are also more flexible with grouping. Guided reading groups are homogeneous by design - every child is on or around the same level, so that the skills taught are relevant to the level. For example, if you have a group of children reading at a level G, the statement can be made that all of those children will need assistance with specific vowel patterns, like cvcc or cvc silent e. 

Strategy groups are a little different - they can be a variety of levels. The guideline is anyone reading over a level M/N can be in a strategy group, because they have the basic foundations of reading down pat. The basis for a strategy group is a comprehension piece or a standard, so any level can participate. 

When setting up a strategy group, here are some thing to consider: 
         1. What are the needs of my students? Look at mClass data or running records, any common assessment data from your grade level or district, or any assessment data from ticket out the doors or quick checks you have done in class. This is where you will pull your strategy and/or standard from. A need might be inferences in informational text or comparing character responses to events, or even something as simple as visualization (if you have ever tried to teach it, you know it's not really that simple.) 
        2. Who needs it?  This sounds like a stupid question, but gauge the proficiency level of each student who appears to need a strategy group. For example, if you are preparing a strategy group for finding main idea and key details, there may be differing needs in that broad topic. Group A may only need to remember how to distinguish important details from unimportant details. Group B might need assistance finding more than one main idea, and Group C might need the whole strategy retaught, because they can't do any of it.
        3. Pick texts. Pick texts based on the strategy you're teaching and the reading levels in your group. Strategy groups are heterogeneous by level and homogeneous by need, so if you're teaching character responses, everyone needs a book on their level that addresses character response. This is probably the most time consuming step, because you want the connection to be explicit and the text to be appropriate. Don't try to stretch it. If you're having a hard time connecting the skill to the text, your babes will too. 
      4. Plan the lesson. Planning the lesson is the easy part, because it's short and sweet. Reading groups are twenty to twenty-five minutes, at best, so you have to get the most bang for your buck. Start with a book introduction (picture walk, etc.), set a purpose for reading (introduce strategy), model it (use a different text or their text), and give them the after reading assignment (a question.) Wham, bam, thank you ma'am - your lesson will now run itself. 

Remember to take notes on individual students during the lesson - anecdotal reading notes are some of the most powerful pieces of evidence you can produce for a child's progression or lack of progression. You can have a reading chair (I am partial to that myself), where two children read to you every reading group, so that you can spend time with each individual. While you aren't listening to every child every day, you are spending more meaningful time with each child, which is much more powerful. 

Photo credit: Learning Focused

You can also change it up - add a graphic organizer to increase the rigor or assist with practicing the strategy. You can really step it up when you ask students to write from a graphic organizer. A graphic organizer is a great comprehension tool in any subject, but asking students to take that organizer and write from it to answer questions or summarize (another big score) is priceless. According to Marzano (see table), advanced organizers (writing from a graphic organizer) will produce a 28 point percentile gain and summarizing will produce 34 point percentile gain - together that's a 62 point gain from one activity, while they are also practicing an essential reading skill or standard. 

Strategy groups are essential to reader success in the upper grades. While guided reading still has a place for low achieving students, strategy groups are the best for most upper grade students. Think about adding one to your small group reading rotation and see what happens - you should see a gain in comprehension in all subjects. 

Hope Strategy Saturday can change your week and your classroom! 
Until next time, loves - 
xo, Lucy 

Five Wonderful Things + Freebie Friday!

You would think after the first month of school that I would have this "plan a time to write my blog" thing down, but I don't, and that's so frustrating, because it's so hard (and other teachers, especially younger ones will agree) to separate life and school. 

It's so difficult to find that balance when there aren't set guidelines or parameters for when is it okay to work on school stuff and when it's not okay. The world seems to be content with the passion of teaching swallowing up your whole being and never truly giving it back, which means we (teachers) have to find a way to separate ourselves from our profession and passion, because we don't want to burn out or give up or lose ourselves. My teammates and I have resolved to work together to help each other separate school and life - one day a week, our school bags do not come home with us. We are all young and deserve a time for ourselves, even it's one day a week - we all deserve that chance to pursue the other interests in our lives. 

And, to top it all off, it's Friday - thank God and Ice Cube - the day that every professional craves from Monday morning to now, and boy do I need it. As the eternal optimist, I need time to regroup and be better than myself the next week, and that's what the weekend is for. So, here are Five Wonderful Things that have happened this week or are going to happen this weekend: 

1. I have my guided reading groups. Any teacher or any school that uses mClass as a universal reading screener will tell you that getting all the testing in before the window closes is one of the hardest tasks ever, but I have my finalized reading groups and REAL instruction on their level has started, which means I can start to see growth very soon. 

2. I have a friend staying with me from college. She needed a place to stay while waiting for her new apartment to open up, and I am more than happy to help out a friend. Even though we both kept "teacher" bedtimes (before 9), it was nice to have her here and have someone to chat with, if I wanted, when I came home. It made me consider a roommate for a hot second, but I still don't like wearing pants in my apartment, so it probably isn't for me. 

3. I am thinking about going back to school in January. Yes, you read that correctly! I am thinking about going to back to school in January. I miss it - I am such a nerd, and I don't care. I will wear my thick rimmed glasses and carry a stack of books before I do anything else - I love learning. My professional goals are shifting slightly, so who knows what the future holds for this little ginger? 

4. Fall started. This is something wonderful that happened for everyone, so don't you dare say nothing wonderful happened to you this week! I don't like wishing time away - it seems pointless and wasteful, but fall holds a special place in my heart. I am from the mountains of Kentucky and changing leaves and the smell that fall has will always warm my heart. I can't wait for sweaters and boots every day, and hot chocolate instead of coffee. Fall is my season. 

5. I read this week. Again, this is not a monumental event, but that's what Five Wonderful Things is truly about - taking small moments and realizing how important they are. This week, during the school week, I read. I sat down and read TWICE. After I completed my daily teacher tasks, I read for fun, and it was a book I wanted to read. This was so meaningful to my psyche and being able to set away from all obligations to just read and relax. So, I guess I took the first step in separating myself from school. 

Also - it's Freebie Friday! Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered to win something special from me! (: I want to meet my readers and bring some sparkle into your life! So, make sure you comment! 

Until, next time (tomorrow for Strategy Saturday!), 

- Lucy, xo 

How do you measure success?

success

[suh k-ses] 

the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors;the accomplishment of 

one's goals.; the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.; a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors: The play was an instant success.; a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment ofgoals, wealth, etc.: She was a great success on the talk show.; Obsolete, outcome.

This morning, I am mildly brain dead. This past week, I have spent more hours at school than at home, and more hours in front of my work computer than my own. I have neglected my monthly ritual of fashion magazines and coffee on Saturday mornings in bed (and my baby - this blog) for early Saturday mornings that revolve around guided reading, math small groups, and finding science experiments that don't involve latex of any kind.

I have poured my heart into starting a new school year with 19 (yes, you read that right!) new cupcakes, and two new teammates who are proving to be the perfect matches for fifth grade, but yet, most recently at a grade level chair meeting, when my principal asked for qualities of effective and quality teaching, my mind drew a blank...

This has led me to a reflection period of sorts about success, because ultimately, that's what she is asking for - how do you measure successful teaching in a classroom? But, I am more concerned with how do we measure success at all, any where, in any profession?

Is it making partner? Being promoted? Making more tips or having more tables than your co-worker? Being your own boss with your own hours or rules? Managing a company or companies? Having lots of money? Loving what you do? Saving lives?

How do we measure success? Is it measurable at all? If you Google "success quotes", it comes up with years old adages and common sayings, and up until recently, I believed every single one, but this morning, not so much. 

Success and its achievement is such a personal endeavor. I think that's my final say so on the matter. Being successful comes from the completion of things you desire, because if you don't want them, they will never even come close enough for you to grasp. Success has to be personal or we would all be Warren Buffets and Jay-Zs; we would all have this high status level from achieving generic success, but we aren't. Most of us are regular, chill ass people who have built a life for themselves with the things we seek out, with things we think are success. I have sought out positions in life to make me successful in my own personal way that may be different than someone else, because my own dreams are so much a part of me that I cannot simply follow the crowd and get a degree in business and join a company - that's not me, but if it's you, you better be running that company in five years. 

On this Friday, while I am feeling very existential, I am going to reach out and speak to an admissions counselor about doctoral school for next year, because that's what successful people do - one goal accomplished and it's on to the next one. So, ask yourself, my dear friends - how are you successful? Are you where you want to be yet? Are you even on the path? Do you even know how to get there? 

We can all be Warren Buffets and Jay-Zs in our own fields and own way. Make your mark and show the world success comes in lots of different ways - show them what your's looks like. 

Have a fantastic Friday, loves!

Until next time, 

the Jay-Z of teaching (: