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

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! 

25 till 25.

Photo credit: Instagram 

My countdown app on my phone reminded me today that it's 25 days till 25. Ugh. 

My birthday hasn't traditionally been a big deal. My birthday falls near the end of the month in the summer, and growing up, with one parent as a teacher, we just didn't have a lot of money, so sometimes, it was overlooked. 

As I got older, I tried to emphasize my birthday for myself, and it has haphazardly worked. I'm lucky that I have been surrounded by a good group of friends that have sent me flowers, texts, and Instagram shoutouts to remind me how much they love me. 

This year, though, I am setting my birthday hopes high. I turn 25, which for me, equates to a quarter life crisis. A quarter of my life - 1/4, .25, 25% - is over. For me, this is a powerful moment. 

The images I had in my head of 25 don't match what I am experiencing right now, and I am having a hard time letting go of the ideal that I grew up working to obtain. Does that mean that those things aren't ever going to happen for me? Of course not, I know that logically - I know that there is so much time to have a family and get married and be responsible for the rest of my life, but I am still very much struggling with it. 

So, in order to bring in 25 the right way, I am taking the month of August - creating a birthday month dedicated to my birth and me conquering 25. Every week and weekend will come with a fun activity or time spent doing something that I want. I deserve for 25 to be wonderful and happy and filled with love. August, get ready - you have so much in store! 

Here's to 25 in 25...

Five Wonderful Things.

CNN, during the work week, has a running article that focuses on five news events to start your work week with. I find myself drawn to this article for numerous reasons, but I really like how easily it identifies five important events that may define your day - some are more serious than others, and there's always a token funny pet video, but it had me thinking about my own weeks and days, and how I can identify moments that can provided definition and clarity in a sometimes crazy world. The result of those brain-storming moments: Five Wonderful Things on Sunday evenings - a reflection on what made the week memorable or things that I am looking forward to. 

To the first edition of Five Wonderful Things: 

1. 50 Shades of Grey trailer premiered. Yes, this is a wonderful thing for me and countless other women (and men) who fell head over heels in love with Christian Grey in the hit serious. Today ran a two day series showcasing the trailer and behind the scenes footage that had me melting. I even re-read the whole series this weekend, hopefully sustaining my need until Valentine's Day 2015. Who doesn't love a megalomaniac CEO and his hopeless addiction to a bookish regular girl? 

2.  My best friend got a puppy. While this doesn't affect the world on a macro scale, it most certainly affects my micro world. He has been wanting a puppy for a while, and he finally got one - which is life changing! I am so in love with that little nugget, he fits in my hands right now and I am soaking up puppy snuggles until he gets too big. 

3. Back to school sales are in full swing. This is such an exciting time for me. I am obsessed with school supplies! As a teacher, I buy in bulk - spending a large sum to jump start my classroom, but I don't mind spending the money. If you know how to buy smart and which stores allow more than the limit for teachers and use price matching, you can make a huge dent in the sticker shock of back to school shopping. 

4. I get paid on this week. This is so important for so many reasons. I know money will not buy happiness nor does having money ensure that you will feel fulfilled, but that stretch from June till the end of July is a long time not to get paid. Thank God for parents and grandparents who are willing to still help you out when the times get tough. 

5. On Friday, I'm taking out some former students. On Friday, I am taking out a few of my former students from last year, and I could not be any more excited!! While I love all of my classes, I made such a connection with this class - I was so sure of myself as a teacher, which made for better relationships. 

So, here are my five wonderful things that are giving me hope or gave me hope. Think about your weeks and identify five things that keep you wanting more - the beauty in life comes from small things and moments. Don't overlook those - no one is going to come and remind you to be appreciative.


Have a great Monday, loves!
Till next time, 
-xo, Lucy 

Must-Read Monday!

It's Monday - such a great day for carpe diem and just being awesome! (: 

Typically, my Monday posts have an overall motivational tone, building up for a great week and a chance to take a few steps closer to your dreams, but today, I am trying something different - a Must Read Monday! 

It's no secret that I love reading. That's an understatement, really - I am obsessed with it. I carry a book or my Kindle with me every where. I subscribe to magazines by the dozen, and visit the library more than three times a week. I love it, and as a nerdy girl and a teacher, I want other people to love it as much as I do, hence the birth of Must Read Monday. 

My current obsession right now is a suspense author, Michael Robotham and his mind bending thrillers. Michael's series center around Joe O'Loughlin, a criminal psychologist who makes a living breaking into criminals' minds and picking apart their actions. Robotham creates a literal page turner that winds together so many literary elements, but pulls it off in a flawless fashion. Noteworthy mentions by him: The Suspect + Lost (related titles), Shatter, and Bleed for Me. 

I am also reading a lot of DIY books, thrifty living, and urban homesteading - my mom and dad are twenty first century pioneers and have more than inspired me to take a leap into self-sufficiency.  My favorite two, so far this summer, have been: 
- be thrifty. edited by Pia Catton & Califia Suntree -> It's organized by categories into tips to be more thriftier in your daily life. It covers everything from home improvement to cooking to beauty routines. I think, especially in your twenties, that it is important to be financially literate and practice good money habits that can carry you through life. This book is easy and well written and filled with practical tips. 
- The Bust DIY Guide to Life by Laurie Henzel & Debbie Stoller -> This has been my favorite DIY book this summer. The cover is pink and immediately caught my eye, but the content kept me interested. Tips range from Repurposed Fashion to From Scratch in the food section. It is easy to follow and organized well, so you can look by section or from cover to cover. 

With Monday being such an important mental step in the week - it can be a struggle week or a success week, take your pick - it's important to find stuff for you to enjoy for yourself. For me, it's reading - for you, it may be something completely different, but that find that release and find that free time for yourself. It's invaluable for success. 

Until next time, loves 
- xo  

Weekly Wrap Up + Preview of Strategy Saturday!

It has been a whirlwind week and what a better way to reflect than Thoughts for Thursday. This week, I have been writing integrated literacy lessons for my district, which is one of my favorite things to do! It's very nerdy, but I love writing lesson plans - I love providing assistance to teachers who need more confidence in the classroom or to teacher who just want more - I love it. 

We were writing in a new lesson template, UBD - Universal by Design, which in layman's terms, is backwards design. By outlining transfer goals (what do you want them to do at 40 years old), understandings, knowledge (what do you want them to know), and skills (what do you want them to do) - you can better prepare for misconceptions or challenges your students may have. It also makes you plan the assessment first, which is just good teaching practice, but most people forget that essential step. If you know what the assessment will look like, you can better prepare your lessons, because you know the expectation. Planning your assessment first is for your benefit! If you don't have a clear picture or a clear set of expectations for your students to meet at the end, then your lessons will be poorly planned and executed. 

Okay - that's my soapbox for the day. (: 

This week, aside from being extremely busy in my professional life, I have had some not-so-busy moments in my personal life. It's been a slow summer for me - I haven't done a whole lot, I haven't hung out with a lot of people and it hit me this week. I've just been feeling very lonely and unfulfilled and while it's no one's job, but my own to make sure I am happy and fulfilled - we all have these moments. We all have moments where we wish our friends lived closer and reached out more. We all have moments where we wish we had all the money to travel all over. We all have those moments.  I had mine this week. 

Yes, I'm a positive Patty, but this week, I struggled to maintain it, but I am thankful for an amazing friend who reached out to me and got me to go to an amazing church service, where my heart was filled with Jesus and friend love. 

Little moments like that remind me to not be so hard on myself and the others around me - we are all going through silent struggles, and even if you're best friends, there might be things they aren't telling you, so it's your job (my job) to give people a little bit of grace and understanding throughout our journey through this life. 

So, as we put on our party hats and thank God and Ice Cube for Friday, remember to treat others with the same grace and understanding you give yourself. It goes a long way. 

ALSO: Strategy Saturday is tomorrow and the post will be focused on close reading in the content areas! Swoon - who doesn't love multiple reads and graphic organizers! 

Enjoy Friday, loves - until tomorrow, 
xo - Lucy 

Strategy Saturday [: (Sneak Peek!)

As the summer winds down, and the possibility of this blog becoming so much more than just my own twenty something diary of musings and life anecdotes - I really have been thinking about what do I want to share? What do I want this blog to become? So, I am starting with Strategy Saturday. Every week, I will be posting a new best-practice for whole group, small group, or individual instruction. I realize this is a specifically for teachers feature, but I have been thinking about other ways to reach everyone who reads my blog, so stay tuned for those - but until then, welcome Strategy Saturday. 

This Saturday's post will be graphic organizers for vocabulary content instruction- so that's your sneak peek for Strategy Saturday - just one of the many things I have planned for this baby of mine. 

You guys - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, the Internet - have embraced my journey, my continuous search for meaning, and my not-quite (finished) quarter life crisis, and I want Ginger On the Move to grow into something that will be lasting, so thank you for starting this journey with me, and let's get this party started! I haven't stressed this, but PLEASE comment and contact me - leave me feedback, ask questions - I would love to hear from you guys! (: 

By the way: brag moment - I created the banner for Strategy Saturday, which I think is pretty good for my first time graphic design try. 

So, until tomorrow, cupcakes - 

xo