September Currently

Last week I linked up with Blog Hoppin for their #teacherweek. Today I am linking up with Farley over at Oh Boy 4th Grade for her September Currently. 

So here it is....

I am currently sitting on the couch wrapped up in two blankets while simultaneously sweating and shivering. My deepest apologies for not completing blog hoppin's teacher week but this cold has kicked my butt. This rain has only encouraged the accidental napping that has taken place this weekend. To out it plainly, I feel like poop.

However, sweet, sweet boyfriend surprised me this weekend with an early birthday present.
I received a silhouette cameo and about a thousand rolls of vinyl. So far I have managed to crawl out from the covers to put the dog's name on his bowl and that's about it.



Our school also received a grant from GE for Osmos for all of our k-3 classrooms and I brought one home this weekend to try it out. I think the kiddos are going to love it.



But for now I'm going to put myself in a Nyquil induced coma. Until next time...

#teacherweek15 - Classroom Tour

 Welcome back!

Here is a sneak peek into my little corner of the world. This week our third graders have been subjected to beginning of grade state testing. On top of that I've had multiple parent conferences already this week as well. So, my apologies, but my entire room was not exactly picture ready today and therefore I'm only going to show you the sparkley things. I'll post more later, I promise!

This is our classroom library. Our school doesn't have an actual library so we have to provide books on a wide range of topics and levels in our rooms. Most of the books in the blue bins get switched out between second an third grade. I've recently put out the Narnia, Unfortunate Events, and Harry Potter series and have been asked by a student if we could add even more reading time to our schedule. 

Above our library is our math rotation and calendar board. Some of what is up here is left from last year and needs to be updated for third grade, but it will get there....eventually. 

The computer station, hopes and dreams and birthday cakes. I found this old table in the garage behind a house I was renting, asked the landlord if I could have it, and turned it into this snazzy piece. 

Student work board 

Students completed this Whoooo am I page last week. 

And last but not least the VIP table. I introduced this near the end of the year when a Donor's Choose project I created for five of these ball chairs was fully funded by the Horace Mann Company. It has not be reopened yet for this year but students are eager to get back to it. 

Behind the table are student cubbies, mailboxes, unit book boxes and, as the students call it, the guneia pigs "to go" cage. (More on him later as well.)

Thanks for hoppin' by!

#teacherweek15 - Make Ahead Meals

Ahhhhh! I feel so unprepared! 

Tonight was a busy night full of errands and appointments and dinner ended up being tacos of the bell variety. But that is not so unusual as I very rarely cook, unless you call pouring a jar of sauce over noodles cooking. I do, however, have one go to comfort meal in my repertoire that boyfriend can't get enough of and leaves plenty left over. (Thanks grandma!) So here it is!

A Lazy Girl's Guide to Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients
One grocery store rotisserie chicken
One can cream of chicken soup
One cup of chicken broth
One cup of water
One cup bisquick mix
One third cup of milk
One cup chopped carrots
Salt and pepper

Steps
1. Combine water, broth, carrots, salt and pepper in large pot and set to boil.
2. Shred 1/2 of your rotessire chicken.
(We typically do a combination of white and dark meat and then save the other half for another meal later in the week.)
3. Add your chicken to the pot.
4. Make bisquick dumplings by combing mix and milk in bowl.
5. Drop spoonfuls of your dumpling mixture into the boiling pot.
6. Set to simmer and cover for ten minutes.
7. Flip your dumplings over and cook uncovered for ten minutes.
8. Cool and serve!

As one of my students would say, wala!

Now, I have to admit that I don't make this meal often when it's 80+ degrees outside so I don't have any pictures to show you but I promise it will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside!
Join me tomorrow to get the inside scoop in the 2/3 loop!