Currently...November

I am linking up with Farley over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for November's CURRENTLY. November.... ALREADY! Where did the year go? In the blink of an eye, Christmas will be here before you know it!

After last week, I am not sad to see October leave. Between the full moon, Red Ribbon Week, Halloween Hi-jinks, and the Fall Carnival...November couldn't have come soon enough. Plus, November is my birthday month. And in honor of my birthday, my weekly linky, Meet the Teacher Monday celebrates all things birthday! When you get a chance, check out my weekly linky here.

Without further adieu, November's Currently...

Listening...

Every morning I listen to Mandisa's Good Morning for the pick-me-up that I need to face the day! I also listen to "Overcomer" as well. Both songs serve as the perfect motivation for me to start my day and to remember to keep hustlin!

Loving...

I am excited about my new Shelia Jane Teach Happy Membership. This evening I plan to explore my membership opportunities. I hope this membership helps to boost my morale. Right now, I feel stuck and I need some guidance to decide if teaching is still where my heart is at.

Thinking...

My TPT to-do list is as long as a CVS receipt. LOL. I need to hire a personal assistant to help me with my many TPT creations that have yet to be created.

Wanting...

It's Monday and I already need a bottle of wine and a nap. I could also use a couple of extra hours each day to help with creating new TPTproducts. And this time change...it makes me think I should be in my pajamas by 5:30 and asleep.

Needing...

I really need the Thanksgiving Break to arrive quick, fast, and in a hurry.

Yummy...

I am so looking forward to my Mother's Thanksgiving feast! Her desserts are legendary. Time to bust out the stretchy pants and eat myself unconscious.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out MeetThe Teacher Monday on my blog. As always, make the ordinary...EXTRAORDINARY!

meet the teacher Monday...Birthday Edition!

In honor of my birthday on Wednesday, this week's Meet the Teacher Monday prompt centers around...All Things Birthday! I'll be turning 42! As I grow old gracefully, I tend to keep my birthdays low key. For me, birthdays tend to become a little less magical each year. But, I am grateful for another year to keep hustling. 

So here's the usual MTTM weekly spiel

MEET THE TEACHER MONDAY is a weekly linky celebration, dedicated to making and culminating friendships among our tribe of fellow teachers. 

• Snag the MTTM graphic. Respond to the this week's questions or prompt.
• Post your response on your blog. 
• Return to my blog and link your post.
• Visit one or two bloggers ahead of you in the linky, and leave a comment in response to their Meet the Teacher Monday post.
• Visit one or two bloggers after you in the linky line-up and leave a comment as well.
• And because it's so hard to find time to blog, feel free to post any day of the week, not just Monday.

On to the fun!

One of my favorite birthday memories...

My mom planned and executed the celebration flawlessly.

Do I tell the truth about my age? Aboso-frickin-lutely. Pictured below, my Grandmother's 100th birthday celebration,which took place a few weeks ago: My mom (62), Me (41), and my 100 year old grandmother. Ageless beauty. My mother loves when people ask if I am her sister. I just roll my eyes. LOL. 

Now...you!

Remember, return to my blog and link up below! Thanks for participating. And shout out to those that played along last week. 

As always, make the ordinary...Extraordinary!  

Pimp My Pumpkin

Pimp my pumpkin is one of MY favorite fall classroom activities. The students enjoy pumpkin pimping as well. Most, if not all of the students stand around waiting for their turn as they watch their classmates create a whimsical face for the pumpkin. 

I purchased these pumpkin pimping accessories from Walmart a few years ago. This build-a-pumpkin set came with a variety of noses, eyes, ears, and mouths. I have yet to see Walmart offer this pimp-my-pumpkin set again. I wish I would have purchased 2 sets because some of the pieces weren't as durable as others.

After the students design their pumpkin...

The printable the student is using was created by Deanna Jump.  

As always make, the ordinary...EXTRAORDINARY! 

meet the teacher monday: this or that?

So, last week no one linked up. LOL. It's all good. I said it before and I will say it again...


Even if I have to link up with myself, Meet the Teacher Monday is here to stay. This week's topic features some Halloween fun. Real quick, let me lay down the law.


MEET THE TEACHER MONDAY is a weekly linky celebration, dedicated to making and culminating friendships among our tribe of fellow teachers. 

• Snag the MTTM graphic. Respond to the this week's questions or prompt.
• Post your response on your blog. 
• Return to my blog and link your post.
• Visit one or two bloggers ahead of you in the linky, and leave a comment in response to their Meet the Teacher Monday post.
• Visit one or two bloggers after you in the linky line-up and leave a comment as well.
• And because it's so hard to find time to blog, feel free to post any day of the week, not just Monday.

Well, let's get to it! This or That?

I edited the graphic in Power Point. To indicate my responses I used INSERT SHAPES to create the ovals around my choices

1. Insert Shapes
2. Choose oval and then create the shape
3. Select shape options.
4. Choose no fill & solid line
5. Customize the outline to your specifications

Now...you! 

Don't forget to link up BELOW. CLICK the small blue button with the frog.

Thanks for playing along! Happy Halloween!

meet the teacher monday: 5 for fall

It's baaaaaaaaack! About a year ago, I attempted to start a Meet the Teacher Monday, weekly linky. The linky never caught on. But you know what, even if I have to link up with myself, Meet The Teacher Monday is here to stay.

So what is Meet The Teacher Monday (#MTTM)?

MEET THE TEACHER MONDAY is a weekly linky celebration, dedicated to making and culminating friendships among our tribe of fellow teachers. Here's the skinny:

• Snag the MTTM graphic. On your blog, please respond to this week's questions or prompt provided.
• Return to my blog and link your post.
• Visit one or two bloggers ahead of you in the linky, and leave a comment in response to their Meet the Teacher Monday post.
• Visit one or two bloggers after you in the linky line-up and leave a comment as well.
• And because it's so hard to find time to blog, feel free to post any day of the week, not just Monday.

Well, let's get to it!

This week, share your 5 favorite things about FALL!

So, what are your Five For Fall? 

3 Things You Shouldn't Forget Now That You're A Celebriteacher

Time to keep it real. I wrote the following update on my Facebook page today:

"I'm impatient with my teacherpreneurial journey. I am watching many teachers on Blab and Periscope with the same goals as myself and some have reached Celebriteacher status.

Everyone's teacherpreneurial journey is different and today I gained some insight that can be applied to my struggle. 

1.  I don't have to HOPE everyone likes me. You either do or you don't. And truth be told, Blab and Periscope feel like high school... (Be honest.)
2. I don't have to HOPE that someone gives me a break. I am not going to brown-nose or d-ride to catch a break.

I'm going to get my HOPES up instead of HOPING on others.

After I posted, I received a few comments about teachers who felt the same way. I wish more teachers kept it "real" and spoke their minds. But most probably do not for fear of alienation or retaliation. Me, on the other hand, I proudly wear my "Scarlet T." 

Three Things You Shouldn't Forget 

Now That You're A Celebriteacher

1. "Started from the bottom now were here"

To quote the immortal words of Drake, "Started from the bottom now we're here..." You should never forget you once started from the bottom. And from the bottom...a struggle ensued as you clawed your way to the top of the mountain to...SUCCESS. 

Despite your hoards of followers gained, awards garnered, or the many nations inspired by your teachepreneurial genius, don't forget...you once struggled too.

And the struggle for some of us...is real. For me, the long, arduous road to "success" has been/is paved with few victories & many obstacles. Success eludes me, but I refuse to give up. My failures only serve as motivation to keep hustling. Like my friend, Aunties Sweet Life says, "Hugs to the hustlers who get sh*t done." And everyday, I wake up and ask myself, "What sh*t needs to get done today...to get me closer to completing my goals?" 

Celebriteachers, unless you started from the top, YOU stood in our shoes and experienced the struggle of the "climb" and you know what it takes to get sh*t done. And with that being said,

 "Don't forget where you come from." 

Be honest, how many of us have achieved success in other areas of our life, and "forgot where we came from?" Perfect example. When I lost my 57 lbs., I also lost my mind and forgot that I once struggled to complete tasks as simple as walking up a flight of stairs and buckling my shoe.  After a few reality checks, I reminded myself of my battle to lose the bulge. After reminding myself, I in turn began helping others in need of weight loss inspiration. 

Saying all that to say...

"Don't forget where you come from." 

My weight loss example, me turning my success into an opportunity to help others, is the perfect segway (segue, for the grammar police) to my next point.

2. "You Got By With A Little Help From Your Friends" 
Read more about my next point in part two of my three-part series, Three Things You Shouldn't Forget Now That You're a Celebriteacher.

As always, make the ordinary...EXTRAORDINARY!

live life in color

I recently entered Astrobrights' Colorize Your Classroom Challenge. The challenge was an opportunity for teachers to display their creative talents in the areas of organization, decor, instruction and memorization.

As you can see, Lunar Blue and Martian Green are the NEW BLACK! Since I spend the majority of my day confined to my classroom, I decided to make my learning space functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. Institutional, classroom chic no longer worked for me. It was time to jazz things up and live life in color...TECHNICOLOR! 

To enhance my new classroom makeover I created pennants. The pennants were the cherry on top of a chic chevron cake. Say what you want, Chevron is not dead!

If you are need of a learning space makeover, snag my EDITABLE pennant product. For those of you over chevron, other patterns are available.

Today, this product is featured on the Teacher Deals and Dollar Steals blog. It's a steal!! 

The following is included:

And the best part of this product, EDITABLE banners are available!!!!

Edible options available include:

Gingham:

Aqua

Lime Green

Orange

Red

Yellow

Purple

Polka Dot:

Fuchsia

Red

Turquoise

Orange

Yellow

Green

Purple

Chevron:

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Aqua

Fuchsia

The following circle banners are available:

Gingham:

Red

Orange

Yellow

Lime Green

Aqua

Purple

Big Polka Dots/Smaller Polka Dots:

Red

Yellow

Orange

Fuchsia

Purple

Green

I used the editable options to create this Halloween pennant!

Live life in color...

As always, make the ordinary...EXTRAORDINARY! Thanks in advance for your purchase