Allow me to be organized on this post and give you the headings for the topics I am writing about. This is me, trying to be organized, in most areas of my life. And yes, I still have a ton of areas that need work.
SCHOOL
Let me just start with this: last week was, hands down, the best first week of school I have ever had as a teacher. There. Now, I realize that even now, it is only the second week of school and we are still in the beginning of school honeymoon phase but I am loving this year already.
Our group this year is phenomenal. I love them. The kids seem genuinely excited to be there. I am trying desperately to keep myself ultra organized this year and so far, it seems to be working. I feel like I have a specific place for just about everything. Remember my binders from this post? Well, they are getting filled with all the necessary items. I'm making sure that whatever handouts or activity sheets get passed out during the day get placed behind the week's lesson plan as well. That way I have a running culmination of master copies. Keeping track of master copies finally! Go me!
I'm doing several things new this year. I've added an "I Can..." board to put up the kid friendly Common Core standards in easy to read goals for the students. I'm trying out the CAFE board this year too. I also have a data board I plan to use for visual data for the students. My jobs are posted on my back door with easy to move popsicle sticks. My front door has colorful pockets for exit slips. My huge bulletin board in the back is reserved for my students' work. I completely rearranged things this year and so far, it is working like a charm. One HUGE change I've made is allowing the kids to go almost anywhere in the classroom to read, work on writing, or any other type of independent work. So far, they are loving that freedom and I actually think it's helping me manage them better. I'm staying on top of my grading and lesson plans and overall, I just feel wonderful about this school year. (Pictures to come of the room)
BLOG
You may remember many many months ago when I claimed that changes would be coming to my blog. I had found a design I liked and was going to pay for it. Well, other things came up and I just never got the chance to do it but over the summer I stumbled across a young lady (15 or 16 years young) who does custom designs. I was so impressed with her portfolio and the price she was offering that I immediately contacted her. Well, folks, it shouldn't be long before you really do see some changes. She has sent me the proof and I love it! I'm thinking that by the end of next week or shortly thereafter, I should have a new design, custom made for me. I cannot tell you how excited I am!!
THE NEW VENTURE
Allow me to preface this section by saying that I have had a ton of energy whilst going back to work. Generally, at the end of the day I have a ton of things to accomplish and zero motivation to do any of it because I'm exhausted and want to go home. But a good friend of mine introduced my husband and me to a product called ZEAL. We sampled it for a few days and the difference was incredible. With no coffee (and y'all know I love my coffee), I had more energy than ever and it was lasting ALL day. There was no afternoon crash. Not only that but I have been more alert and have had increased mental clarity. It doesn't feel foggy up there. We were so impressed by this that after praying about it, my husband and I decided to join the team and become distributors. We truly believe in this product. It was a big step and one that has taken a leap of faith but I believe that this new business venture could be what we need to not only get our bodies to the desired healthy state but also to help us out financially. We're also part of an amazing and Godly team. As a matter of fact, the #1 core value of the company is to glorify God. I pray that we do just that. Ultimately, my first goal is to get to the place where we can bless someone just like our team members blessed us in order to do this. This is a company where you are truly not alone. I could go on and on about all the wonderful things about Zurvita (the company that makes the Zeal) and about Zeal itself but our website has all the information you could possibly want, so check it out. Zeal Wellness is diabetic friendly, gluten free, and contains all the vitamins and minerals your body needs in one all natural whole food based powdered formula. Check us out on our ZEAL page.
JESUS
I really don't know what else to title this section because, well, it's really all about Him and thanks to Him. I can do none of this without Him. I have made it a point to get up every morning and have my quiet time with the Lord. I've been going through a fantastic devotional on YouVersion called "She Reads Truth" and it has me studying different women from the bible and the roles they played. It's been incredible. I've also been part of a ladies bible study each Monday night that I LOVE because I love those God-fearing, bible-reading, prayer warrior women. The study itself has some pretty hard hitting, in your face topics that daily step on my toes. I'll write more about that later. I have about a 20-25 minute commute to work and I try to spend at least the first 5 or 10 in prayer. I think doing this each morning is also part of why I'm having such a good start to the year. Because - - - it's just Jesus.
So, I hope I didn't bombard you with too much information but now that it's written, I feel much better. Writing, no matter the topic, is so cathartic for me. And with that, I bid you...good night.
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