CCSS Posters

Greetings!

Today I thought I would share with you some of my most popular items from my TpT store. Now keep in mind, my shop is teeny but that is just fine. You can think of my products as exclusive ;)

6th and 7th Grade CCSS ELA Posters:

 I just updated my ELA CCSS posters! These poster sets were some of the first products I ever made so they needed a little updating. Each set includes every CCSS standards on a cute poster for displaying in your classroom. I don't know about you, but I personally HATE having to write the standards on my board each day. With these posters, I just throw them on the board and it's done!

August Currently

August already?! I CANNOT believe it!

I have been so busy this summer between homework and wedding planning....it seems like the summer has gone by in the blink of an eye...it is just me? !

Of course I'm procrastinating homework to write this....but I thought I would like up with Farley for the August Currently.

I've got some really big things happening here on the blog in the next few weeks! I can't wait to share it with you all!

P.S. Don't forget about the TpT sale August 3rd and 4th. I will be there ;)

Assess Me Linky

It's Sunday Funday!

For me, that means gluing myself to a Starbucks stool and finishing my weeks worth of Homework. Naturally, as the procrastinator that I am, I was scrolling through Facebook and found a new Linky by The Tattooed Teacher that looks like fun. I though I would link up because, why not? ;)

I guess I will get back to my Homework now. Or probably Instagram ;)


Follow me on Bloglovin :)

First Year Recap: Fun, Surplus, and Salary Freezes

Greetings!

Since I have been out of the blogging world for so long a LOT has happened. I'm going to use today's Five for Friday to tell ya about 5 things that have happened during my first year of teaching.

I had an Ah-Mazing first year as a Teacher! I was hired at the school where I completed my student teaching so I already knew some of my kiddos going in. I had the greatest group of kids and an amazing team to work with. Here are just a few photos from my amazing year.

The 7th grade Bat Team at a Pep Rally. My school uses teaming as a way to unify the school. It also makes school a lot more fun. ;)

 

Stuffed animal day!

My work besties and I supporting our Orchestra at Festival.

A group of my students "masking" their identities before we started Shakespeare's Twelfth Night!

This one is blurry, but it was our teacher dance at the talent show. Even our principal is in there. ;)

 

 Pre-Field day pie toss.

Post filed day pie toss!

 

The actually teaching aspect of my first year was amazing. Working for my school district, on the other hand, was incredibly stressful. Being 1 of about 20,000 teachers is not a good time.

As you can see from number one, I had the best first year possible. Unfortunately, due to "projected" enrollment, I was surplussed from my school for the upcoming school year. I am not sure what it is called in other districts, but basically I was involuntarily transferred from my school. I found out in March, the day before Spring Break. Upset doesn't even begin to cover how I felt after I found out.

My principal did everything she could to save me, which really made me feel better. It let's me know that I am a good teacher at least! For months my fate was uncertain. At certain points my position was actually saved. But then at the last minute the district increased classroom sizes by 0.5 students. I lost my position by half of a student. It is just very upsetting that I worked in one of the highest need areas in the city, genuinely loved my job, and now I am not allowed to stay...

I am half way done with my Master's Degree, as of the end of June! It has been a lot of work, but I am so glad that I am getting it out of the way now! I was doing very well in my classes because, every time I lacked motivation, I would just remind myself of the pay raise promised by my district.

See my districts salary schedule here....I have included this because I am fine with being transparent. See what I make, I am fine with it ;)

Now see number 4....

 

 My district, Clark County School District (CCSD) pays teachers with a step and column system. The more education you pursue, the higher your pay. Due to budget cuts, CCSD decided that they would not award teachers raises of any kind this year.

Their sole focus is recruiting teachers since we are about 1000 teachers short. They have decided to give new teachers in high needs areas a $5,000 signing bonus for the first two years. That means new teachers with a bachelors degree will be making $5,000 more than I do, even though I will have a Master's degree in February.

Here is the Billboard CCSD bought in NYC. I wonder how much that cost?

 



Another one of their plans is to pay retired teachers, on top of their pension, to come back to the district. Most retired teachers are maxed out on the salary schedule, so that is already about double what I make. On top of that, they will continue to get their pension....Is this a joke?! Did you bring back "Punked" Ashton?'

I was apart of my very first protest! I never thought I would ever have the desire to speak in public or protest. I have always thought protesters were weird to be honest. But in my current situation I figured why not?

A co-worker and I at the rally.

A poster I made for the protest!

 

So there you have it. My first year consisted of great kids, a Master's program, salary freezes, and a protest.

 

Did anyone else have a first year similar to mine? Tell me I'm not alone!? Haha

 

 



Back at it...Hopefully.

Time has just been flying by these past few months! I cannot believe that the summer after my first year of teaching is almost over! As excited as I am about getting back to the classroom, I am not ready for summer to be over...

I have a bunch to share about my life happenings but I will save that for Friday! I will keep it short today for Wordless Wednesday with Sugar and Spice.

Here is a photo of my love and I on a ferry to Alcatraz Island! One of my many distractions this summer. ;)

I really want to get back into the blog/tpt game but I struggle with finding the time. Between being a new teacher and being in the middle of my Master's, I never seem to have enough time in the day. Especially all of you TpT sellers and bloggers, how do you find the time to stick with blogging and making products? Any advice would be great!

Follow

It's been a Long Time!

Everyone always told me my first year of teaching would fly by and they were so right! It seems like I blinked and it's already March. CRAZY! I really am speechless. I didn't think it was possible to be so exhausted but so full of energy at the same time.

It amazes me when I think back about everything that has happened this year. And everything that I have learned! My life has changed so much, SO MUCH, since the last time I wrote a blog post. I thought I would share a little about what has changed by linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday.

I am now engaged! My love took me on a beach trip during winter break and Proposed! We are so thrilled to finally be at this stage in our lives. We have been together since we were 17 so I was starting to think that we wouldn't be married until our 10th anniversary! Our 8th anniversary is much better ;)

I'm a little bummed that the only picture of us came out so blurry weird looking but at least I will always remember :)

I started my Master's Degree back in October. It took me a while to figure out which school I wanted to enroll in, but I finally decided on Walden University. I am currently in my third class and love it so far! Don't get me wrong, it is a lot of work juggling this with my first year of teaching, but I am so glad I started when I did. Only 11 more months and I will be done!

 I got a new (to me) car! Goldie, my first car, finally became so unreliable that I had to put her out to pasture. I took good bye photos before trading her in...

and I came home with this beauty!

I have only had one major classroom incident this year. I teach at an urban school in the heart of Las Vegas. I have students who have parents in jail, who are homeless, and who have probation officers...and I have only had one major incident. I feel incredibly lucky to work at a school that has such a great campus culture that this possible. In case you are wondering, yes, the student with the probation officer was involved in the incident. Shocking, I know.

I finally quit my second job in December. I had a cleaning business that helped me get through college and I really didn't want to give it up! I held onto my last 3 clients until December. I was so overwhelmed with teaching and my Master's...I had to give up something (and since I had already given up on blogging, it was next!)

My intention is to start blogging more regularly now that I can finally breath again! But with SBAC testing coming up, this feeling of relief could be short lived. I plan on logging back in before then, but if not, I will be back this summer! And for good this time. Like I mean it.

October Currently

I almost forgot about the Currently this month! I think I just happened to check right as it was posted by Farley over at Oh Boy 4th Grade.

Listening: I have been binging Prison Break on Netflix the past couple of weeks. A student actually recommended it...they were totally right!

Loving: This Las Vegas Weather! I think we are finally over the hump of 100 degree weather. That means we will have "regular" summer weather in the 90's for the next couple weeks, our fall will last for about 2 seconds days, and then winter will make its debut.

Thinking: About my lesson plans. Ugh.

Wanting: A new car! Well, a new to me car. My sister just bought a brand new car so, obviously, I would like my new car like yesterday.

Needing: A new car. I feel like if you kicked my car hard enough it would just fall too pieces...

Trick or Treat: Treat! Head on over to my Instagram page to enter my $25 Starbucks giveaway! Only 2 more days to enter. :)