I'm Like a Teacher in the Summer...No Class

I am officially on summer vacation! I can't believe it is finally here. Do the kids realize that we need it as much as they do? I have been burning the candle at both ends. Many people have asked me if I have any big plans for the summer. My response: as little as possible. I don't know about you guys, but I was getting seriously burned out. After much contemplation, I have decided to take some time off of blogging. I have lost my mojo, and I'm afraid the only way to get it back is with some serious interior decorating and reading for pleasure (ie decorating magazines and blogs and/or frivolous fiction that may or may not have something to do with decorating.) I will still be browsing the teacher blogs, but I probably won't be making many posts. Just like my students, I will miss you all, but teacher needs a break. See you next fall.

Love ya,
Heather

Re-nooooo-vations

So as some of you may have noticed, I have been off the grid for awhile. Here is an update. For the past two years we have been paying two mortgages. We had a rental home that we were renovating to sell. It was a super long process for several reasons. 1. my husband is very handsome, but not very handy 2. my husband has two jobs 3. once school started that was all I was into.

Well, two weeks ago my teenage daughter told me that her best friend's family is being foreclosed on. Lightbulb! Immediately, I blurt that we have two homes. Maybe they would like to rent our other house. Turns out they do. Also turns out that the bathroom is gutted and that the kitchen doesn't have a counter, sink or faucet. Also turns out that the counter must be custom ordered because it is longer than 12 feet long. Go figure.

Well, thanks to the help of family and friends, 89 trips to Lowes (oh how I wish I were exaggerating) and three days taken off from work this past week it will be finished TODAY!  I will post pictures of the amazing results. After that, I will get back to making super cute printables to share with my blogging buddies. I have missed you guys!

Time Flies

I borrowed this idea for this game from a cute little activity that I saw at What the Teacher Wants. This game practices telling timed to the minute, however I have included some blank clock faces so that you can program them for whatever time are your students are working on.  I got the clipart for the clock faces here at Clipart ETC.     This sight offers free educational clipart. They have clock times for every minute of the day, so you can use them to create your own fabulous games and activities.  Click below to download Time Flies: The Board Game. Make sure that you click download original for the best quality.

Download Here

I've Got the Merit Pay Blues

In addition to being sooooo ready for summer vacation, I received some not-so-delightful news in a staff meeting this week. Out state has recently passed a new law that will implement a merit pay based system rather than a seniority based system to compensate teachers. Fifty-one percent of this evaluation must be based on student growth. Here lies the rub for me: I teach special education in a low income school. Many of my students do not demonstrate a year's worth or growth because the test that they are being administered is based on grade level standards. I have two kindergarten girls that will be coming to me next year. Both have IQ's  around 55, which is near the moderate level. They are currently functioning at a preschool level. Therefore tests that are written on their chronological  level will not provide any accurate information for me. The specifics of this plan have not been communicated to use yet, only that I will not be getting a raise next year unless I am deemed proficient. Does anyone else live in a state that has merit pay? If so, how has this worked for you?

Happy Chrildren's Book Week

So in addition to being totally hunky, my wonderful husband is also totally talented.

 He recently published his first children's book called The Stars Shine Brightly as an ebook.  It will soon be released in iTunes for the iPod, iPad and iTouch. He will eventually post teacher resources related to his book as well as a play version of the book that schools can utilize for productions. This week in honor of Children's Book Week he is offering it for FREE to friends and family, so I wanted to pass it along to my blogging friends. Tell me what you think.

 Click Here to Download