Working Woman Wednesday {ask Lucy edition.}

Photo credit: modernloss.com

Welcome back, loves - another #workingwomanwednesday, another moment to celebrate goal driven, career minded ladies who create and run the world we live in. 

Ask Lucy is back for round two, which is so exciting for me as a writer and hopefully for you as a reader too! I love talking about my passion and how to make education better for long term success. That's the ultimate goal - long term sustainability of excellent instruction from qualified and knowledgeable teachers. 

So, yesterday, I asked Facebook to give me some feedback for Ask Lucy and it couldn't have been a better question. 

If you experience negativity in the workplace, how do you keep it from affecting your own attitude? Negativity seeps in like a silent killer, and sometimes you catch it before you realize it.

This is such a relevant topic for my personal life that I am jumping at the chance for some self-reflection and some positive ways to make a difference. 

Before I can give some quality advice, let's have some self-reflection, Lucy: 

The reason  I started this blog was because I was unhappy. I was unhappy with my job, with myself, with my relationships - I was just a really unhappy person. I sought new jobs, because I was thinking that a new job would heal my spirit and attitude, and I was wrong - despite having numerous job offers, I didn't feel compelled to accept any of them. I quickly realized the problem lied with me. It lied with my attitude, my feelings, and the negative thoughts that I allowed to flow through my head and my mouth. I was that person in the hallway with a nasty look on their face, I was that person who huffed and puffed through the day and meetings - the problem was me! 

That moment, as awful as it was, was necessary for me as a person and a professional - necessary for me to realize how important it is to have a good attitude for myself and my school. My school went through a huge change this year with staff transition (we had 18 new hires this year) and a lot of negative thought fueled that exodus. The exodus was fueled by whispers in the hallway, angry e-mails, ineffective PLCs - negativity changed my school. 

So, when this question came across my suggestion status, I was moved - moved to a place of reflection and painful self examination. I had to ask myself 'What are you going to do different next year?' I have two new teachers on my team, they look to me to ease their fears and answer their questions, and I can't be falling apart. I had to think about what support am I going to give myself and what support am I going to offer to them when the going gets tough...

Remember your passion. 
What does your passion have to do with negativity? It has everything to do with it. On the days when you can't grade another paper, sit in another meeting, or call another parent - your passion  will make you remember why you're here and why you fight so hard. This is your sustaining drive - your gasoline for the year, and the deterrent to stay away from people who wallow in the muck. Your passion cannot be sacrificed for a co-worker who had a bad day or a disappointing meeting with your administrator. Guard your passion and your inspiration. 

Stay true to yourself. 
You were and are a person before you are a teacher (believe it or not) and you have a duty to yourself to remain yourself, even in your work place! You have morals and beliefs, and you shouldn't compromise them. If you're the new kid on the block and someone tries to tell you about how horrible your class list is or how the principal micromanages, but you have to stand up for yourself and remind yourself (and them) that that's not who you are as a person. It's not who I am, and it's not who I want to be - at least not at work. 

Find a safe place to share your feelings (just make sure it's not at school.) 
Find a safe place to vent and share your ups and downs, and keep it away from work, because of preying eyes and ears. While teaching may be perceived as a less "cut throat" profession, there are still people who will use your weaknesses against you. Even if your safe place is someone who isn't in education, it's okay - they can listen to you, and remind you how amazing you are without holding it against you. My simple advice: Don't vent at school. The end.

Kill them with kindness. 
At the end of the day, your heart and your attitude has the ability to stop negativity dead in its tracks. Negative people are hurting, in some form or fashion they are hurting, and you can use your bright light to illuminate the school and your grade level. Point out successes and positives - make it personal. Negative thoughts and words come from somewhere, and by offering a positive bit of support, sometimes they can be soothed. Caution, however, against trying to fix everything - your job is to teach your babes and to be the best teammate for your grade level, and sometimes, that means you have to ignore negative from other grade levels. 

At the end of this long-winded post, I hope you realize that you have a light and it can shine as bright or be as dim as you want, based on your actions - how are you going to illuminate the room? How are you going to illuminate your classroom, your faculty meeting? Are you driving the complain train or carry the positive parasol? 

Must Read Monday!

Oh my goodness - it's Monday! (Read that in my excited voice, please.) It's the first day of the week, the first day back for teachers (and some students), and a day closer to my birthday! There are so many reasons to be excited about today, and I am sure there are so many reasons in your own life to be happy and in love with your life. 

In memorial of the last day of summer and the start of the school year, here are some Must Read Monday suggestions to help you taper off from your summer reading addiction: 

Photo credit: Google Images

1. Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella - I read this series before, but re-reading it brings out so much more from the books. I love love love love Rebecca; there are so many similarities between her and myself, I can't help but be in love with her and her ridiculous problem solving skills. Humor is difficult to write, but Kinsella hits it out of the park through the whole series. If you're looking for a comfortable, casual, and funny read to destress from a long work day, check this series out. Shopaholic to the Stars, the next book in the series, comes out in October, so be ready for Becky taking over LA.
Honorable mention: Can You Keep a Secret? is also another great read by Kinsella. 

2. The Everything: Budgeting Book - Yes, another self help book has made the list, but that's what your twenties are about - making yourself into a better person. Whether you want to admit it or not, money is necessary and it's necessary to understand how to make money work for you and you not work for money. It's not cute to have a $2,000 bag and not have $2,000 to put in it, so hence the budgeting book. It's a quick easy read, as most self help books are, but this book doesn't have to be read chapter by chapter - I jumped around, based on my specific questions about budgets and finance. Starting off by identifying your short term and long term financial goals will make this book easier to read, and make sure you have your numbers ready to be crunched, like your expenses, income, etc. We should all be saving money, and we should all be fiscally responsible - don't let debt run you! 

Honorable mentions: Magazines from Groupon bucks - I had a credit to Groupon from a bad purchase and they recently red a promotion for $5 magazine subscriptions. I subscribed to Town & Country, Elle, Food Network, and Vogue. I am obsessed with home-making and fashion and elite social circles, so these magazines help fuel my need to live above my temporary status. Magazine subscriptions may seem old fashioned in the age of e-readers and iPads, but I love real print of anything, so it was a summer (cheap) treat to myself. 

So, loves, here's to Must Read Monday and the eternal search for a new favorite book - 
have a great Monday, sweets! 

-xo

Photo credit: Facebook

 

Five Wonderful Things {back to school edition.}

Here it is, Sunday afternoonish - my last day of summer. Today, my body has taken a long sigh and decided to thoroughly enjoy my last day of summer. After three hours of (mediocre) work, I gave in and popped some popcorn and watch Drop Dead Gorgeous. 

Five Wonderful Things takes a beautiful spin this week, as it's my birthday week and it's back to school for teachers - so many exciting things to be ready for! 

1. My birthday is in 5 days. Five days till 25 - woah, I can't believe that! I've been waiting all summer for my birthday and here it is. It's paired with the opening meetings for teachers and preparations for my new students, but it's still my birthday week and I'll still be turning 25. 

2. Students come to my room in a week. I get a whole new batch of cupcakes in a week! My best friends are ten, and I have waited all summer to meet my new friends. My favorite part about teaching is, of course, my students. Without them, this means nothing. Without them, none of the anchor charts, best practices, teaching books - none of this means anything. I can't wait to meet them - this fourth grade group coming up is amazing! 

3. I'm having a birthday party. I haven't had a birthday since I turned 21, and I haven't had a good birthday party since I turned 16, so this means a lot to me. I used Punchbowl to invite my friends from near and far, and sure enough - people have responded! I have felt so surrounded with love by the simple act of people RSVP'ing to my dinner. I can't wait! 

4. My students will start the year with pencils, folders, and notebooks. Any teacher will tell you that students coming to school without supplies is a burden and a moment of sadness, because it becomes our responsibility to help make the act of learning possible. I get it - there are families with lots of children and the cost of supplies is high, but it is necessary. Please, please, please buy even the smallest amount of supplies for your child - somewhere a teacher will be sighing in relief. In my personal classroom, I have been blessed with the opportunity to buy supplies for my classroom and my aunt has helped me out so much, so my students will start off well! 

5. My best friend is getting me a book bag. I am so incredibly excited for this book bag! It's part of my birthday present, but I know it's going to be Hello Kitty and nothing says back to school like a Hello Kitty book bag! 

I am in love with this season of my life - specifically these past few weeks, I am utterly involve with this time. I hope you are too. I hope you have Five Wonderful Things in your life that you are in love with .

Until next time, dolls - 
xo 

Working Woman Wednesday - {Ask Lucy Edition.}

Photo Credit: Peanuts Wikipedia

Good morning, loves! 

It's been a whirlwind, with August being an endless Sunday night for teachers preparing for new classrooms, new schools, new school supplies, and a routine after a not-so-long summer. 

Ginger On the Move is something I am more than dedicated to, and posts will continue throughout the school year - maintaining some of the features I have started this summer, such as Must Read Monday and Strategy Saturday. You guys have been such faithful and supportive readers and have made this journey even more fantastic than I could have ever believed or imagined! 

So, on with today's special edition of #WorkingWomanWednesday - a dear, sweet, amazing friend from college and I had the chance to catch up yesterday, and she had a brilliant suggestion for a feature of Ask Lucy, where I can address more specific areas of teaching and what my experience has been like thus far, and of course, I loved it! I love talking about my passion, and I love helping other teachers - the stakes are too high to teach with your door closed, so here's to the first edition of Ask Lucy, with questions by Kashara (: 

1. What are your thoughts going into another year of teaching? What ideas are going through your mind?
Oh goodness, this is such a good question. To be honest, I am slightly anxious about next year, more so for my grade level than for my individual classroom. Our school went through some changes this year, and have ended up with a new, but passionate staff, which exciting, but for me, as a veteran teacher, makes me realize how important my actions will be to my new teammates. I want to make sure I show them how positive and fulfilling teaching can be, and that despite negative media reporting and pop culture knowledge, it's the best job that you will ever have. 

As far as ideas go, I am expanding into strategy based reading groups, which is a reading group focused on a comprehension strategy (ex. context clues) as opposed to having a leveled reading group (ex. all students reading below grade level.) I think for the majority of my students this will be beneficial, because while I have some at-risk students, I do have some students who can literally read (call words), but need assistance with comprehension. I am also working on a library check out system. As a reading lover myself, I have built an extensive classroom library, so I want to make sure students can use those books, but they are accountable as well. 

2. What activities do you have planned for the first week? 
The first week of school is one of my favorite times, as I think it is for most teachers - it's a chance to try new ideas and change routines you didn't like about last year. During the first week and weeks, my classroom focuses heavily on procedures and expectations. Students move their clips (a behavior system) more in August and September, because we are establishing the culture for the year. A few mistakes in the beginning will save you in the long run, and by keeping consistency with routines throughout the year, students can assimilate new students fairly easily. 

Specific activities that I am planning are classroom job rotation, so that everyone gets a chance to see what the job entails, practicing centers with get-to-know you activities, and labeling their folders and notebooks to keep their notes and data organized. 

I will say that I do not do "cute" back to school activities - real teaching will take place on the first day. I have 180 days with my students - time will not be wasted on some stupid coloring sheet. There will be opportunities through practicing centers in the first week to complete those sort of activities, but whole group will be real teaching. 

3. What advice would you give to teachers relocating to new schools? 
This is an interesting question for me, because I tried so hard to relocate to another country, another state, and another district, and it just didn't work out, but if you are thinking of relocating, consider these: 
- Schools want someone who is flexible and willing to be a team player. I will bet anything on the fact that any school (elementary, middle, or high) has or had team members who are not willing to share, and as a new hire, you have to be the opposite. 
- Be passionate. Share your love for teaching - that is contagious. Share your enthusiasm, but be careful of sharing other feelings. (: 
- Remember that while you're the new kid on the block, you still have valuable tools to share! You still are knowledgeable, and still have things to offer to your new team. Don't forget that. 

I didn't answer all the questions, because they were so good and I didn't want to scrunch any, so there will be a definite second edition of Ask Lucy, and if you have any questions you would answer, PLEASE submit them. I would love to hear from my readers - you guys make my life! (: 

Until next time, loves - 
xo

Five Wonderful Things {weekend edition.}

Thank God and Ice Cube for Friday...

Even though, I don't have a traditional work week right now, because of the summer - I am still grateful for Friday and the weekend. My friends are on semi-regular schedules then, and the feeling of the weekend (as an adult) is indescribable. I read on Facebook this week that August is an endless Sunday night for teachers and I have to agree. My summer has disintegrated in front of me and my summer bucket list has been left untouched - my coveted beach trip included. I cannot complain, I have been blessed with opportunities this summer to further my professional brand and to relax - two things I was desperate for. To wrap up this week, and to put the glorious weekend into perspective - here are five wonderful things from my week. 

1. I presented unit maps to the district. I was asked to write two unit maps for my school district, which is an honor that I am valued and humbled by. Today, I presented my units and they were well received with minor changes. I was very nervous, which rarely happens, but it was a shining moment in my career. 

2. I planned with my new teammate. Both of my teammates left this year, which left fifth grade two (wo)men down, and anyone who knows elementary school knows that fifth grade is a hard grade to fill. We (my school) were able to fill the positions with two enthusiastic, but young teachers. While my new teammates have not had teaching experience, they are passionate and ready to go, which is invaluable! While one of my teammates is busy fulfilling previous commitments, my other teammate and I have been making provisions for the first week of school, which is an exciting process. 

3. My birthday is in two weeks. My birthday is in two weeks and for the first time in many years, I am attempting to plan my own party - 25 is a big birthday, and I want to have fun and make good memories for this (life changing) birthday. I have only had 3 RSVPs, but I am staying positive that it will be a good night. 

4. I completed a crafting project. I bought old love letters from the flea market a long time ago, and just stored them away. I bought an old secretary desk off of Craig's List and thanks to some DIY inspiration, the desk is now covered in old love letters. It was a super easy and super quick project, but it has made my home office area a very nice and productive space. 

5. I still have one week of summer left. That's right - I have one week of summer left, just seven days, but seven powerful days that will be spent reading, snuggling with my cat, and playing Sims (my nerdy guilty pleasure.) I know this school year will be an extremely important year in my career for many reasons, I can feel it, and I want to be as prepared as possible. 

Here are my five wonderful things for this week - as you wind down with a glass of wine or tea this Friday night, think about your week and what five wonderful things happened to you. If you're having a hard time coming up with some, maybe you need to make some changes in your life, friend. It's just a thought. 

Until, next time, loves 

-xo

Working Woman Wednesday!

Hello loves, 

It's Wednesday and since I successfully failed to produce a Monday post - let's really kill this one. 

Working Woman Wednesday - while this is an Instagram hashtag movement, it's become a pretty rad way to remember that it's a powerful thing to be a woman who handles her business, who asserts herself, and who pretty much is a badass. 

Recently, I was trolling cat videos on YouTube, and an advertisement for Always started - the gist of the commercial was the phrase "like a girl" has a negative connotation. The interviewers brought young girls, adult women, and other individuals and ask them to do things "like a girl." Other individuals and adult women completed these activities with negative undertones - like the boy who flapped his arms as he ran, flinging his wrists back and forth. The young girls, however, are what #WWW is about - when asked to punch like a girl, one girl threw a left hook that would make Mayweather shake (: Another was asked to run like a girl, and she sprinted faster than Bolt - they had the right attitude. "Like a girl" isn't an insult - it's a compliment, because everything you do should be badass and rad and should be a testament of what you are capable of. 

In a day and age when young girls are sent so many mixed messages about what it means to be an empowered woman. There are so many ways to be empowered and to show the world how wonderful you are! 

If you're the single mom who goes to school and works two jobs, own it! If you're the college student who stayed in and study, highlight the hell out of that textbook and ace your exam! If you're the twenty something who turned down a beach trip to pay your rent, lay on your living room floor and enjoy the feeling of having your OWN place to live. 

So, today as I pour over standards and make transfer goals and performance tasks, I'll remember to empower myself and take one step towards my goals. I hope you do the same! Remember, you deserve everything you want in life - you don't have to short change yourself, because someone else didn't get what they wanted. 

Photo Credit: Pinterest

(almost) Strategy Saturday.

Lord knows that procrastination is my middle name, and Sunday is almost Saturday. So, on to this week's topic: 

Classroom Organization

This week has been big for organization - I showed you how to create your own planner (with help of very talented Etsy creators), and now let's talk about how to organize your classroom. 

Classroom organization - the literal layout of your room - can make or break your year. If supplies are not easily accessible, students and you will be frazzled looking for stuff. Chaos breeds chaos and that includes all aspect of classroom management, even the organization of the room. 

There is a lot of literature out there for organization, with regards to a specific content area. For example, Debbie Diller and Laura Chandler have some great books about literacy centers and organization tips for literacy centers and instruction. Laura Chandler also has some literature on creating math centers and what organizational frameworks you need to implement that successfully. 

The over-reaching rule for organization: The system should work itself. Your classroom space should be so well planned and laid out that your students can easily find their way without your direction. 

Here are some tips to create the best environment for learning (in no particular order:) 

1. Label. Label, label, label - whether you create your own labels or use some ready-made cuties from Teachers Pay Teachers, label your stuff. Label cabinets, drawers, stations, paper trays - anything you expect students to use without direction needs a label. Having a designated, identified place for homework papers, exit slips, markers, and scissors will make the daily routine easier for everyone. If Johnny needs a glue stick during centers, he can grab one from the supply drawer without disturbing your guided reading or math group. 

2. Create collaborative groups when designing seating arrangements. This seems like common sense these days, but it cannot be reiterated. If you expect students to assimilate new information, they need to discuss it with peers and synthesize this information. Students should be arranged with at least one other student, preferably a small group of three or four to exchange ideas and use as a support system for learning new information. Collaborative arrangements help out if your preferred teaching model is gradual release or the 5 Es - having small groups makes we do, few do, and exploring easier without a headache of finding partners. 

3. Make your library fun + inviting. If you want students to use it, make it usable and that's so important when it comes to a classroom library. Classroom libraries will be a totally separate post, but just a small piece of advice: make it inviting. Put a lamp, a cheap rug, and some bean bags down and make it the best part of the classroom. Reading should be fun and should be an escape - it's our job as the teacher to facilitate that. If the literal space for reading is enjoyable and pleasing, the act of reading will be too. 

4. Practice. Practice your routines, whatever they will be, with fidelity. If you want students to pass papers left, then right and then forward, practice it. If you want them to put their homework on your desk before sitting down in the morning, practice. Whatever you want, practice and enforce it - you have to practice and expect excellence or you will get mediocre and none of us have any time for that. 

5. Mix it up. After winter break, change it up - move those seats! Routine is fun and necessary, but everyone can benefit from a change and it will freshen up your room quickly and easily. 

Those are some easy tips for classroom organization - I will post a more in-depth post once I set my classroom up this week. Organization is so necessary for real and meaningful learning to take place, and it's up to us, as the teacher, to make sure our rooms run smoothly and efficiently for our babes. 

Until next time loves, 

- xo 

Freebie Friday + Organization!

Photo Credit: Google Images

Organization is such a central piece to every event in daily life, and some people are naturally inclined to organize and make lists and other simply walk through the day, hoping to remember their next engagement. 

I am naturally inclined to organize, and as a teacher, it is imperative that I stay on top of everything, because I am so much  more than a teacher. I am a daughter, friend, sister, teacher, writer, blogger - and all of those things require a time commitment and without my planner, I'd be stumbling through the day, which would end poorly for everyone. 

This year, I knew I wanted to create my own planner and I set about trying to find printable pages that met my needs. My first stop was Etsy. I am all about supporting individuals rather than business, so this was a great starting place. 

Very quickly, I noticed that Etsy is overflowing with talented people who make amazing printables for every walk of life and every need, so I was able to find what I wanted. 


My first purchase was Printable Planner Pages 2014-2015 - Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Notes, Perpetual - Letter 8.5 x 11 - Fresh Enthusiasm from Anima Vivo. It includes a monthly overview, a weekly breakdown, and a daily appointment sheet. In addition to those wonderful features, it also includes a note sheet. Tara (the owner and amazing creator of those pages) has given us a $2 off coupon on printable pages from her! Use the code GINGERSROCK to get your own printables today! 

My second purchase was Printable Planner Add-On Pages for full size notebooks from Pumpkin Girl Designs. This set included a yearly overview, a daily planner, a note sheet, contacts list, and dates to remember - her colors are fabulous and she has a lot to choose from too. 

My total for my Etsy purchases was $9.50 - a steal considering some planners for professionals (especially teachers) run upwards of $35! 

My next step was piecing it together. I printed out the yearly overview, monthly overviews, as well as two weekly break downs. One weekly overview correlates with the monthly overview, and the other weekly break down is specifically for classroom instruction. Click here to get the overview I created. I also printed note taking sheets for impromptu meetings or bright ideas. I made my own dividers using Publisher and my favorite quotes. 

I had it bound at Staples for $5. So, for $14.50 and some printer ink, I made my own planner with features I wanted! To see pictures of my planner - click here. 

I hope you enjoyed getting organized and our freebie for today! Check out both fantastic creators on Etsy and use the coupon! Tell her Lucy sent you! 

Until next time, loves 
-xo 

P.S. Strategy Saturday is just around the corner and I hear there's a giveaway!