SURVIVING THE CHAOS

It is official!!  I have exactly four and a half days left in my school year!!  We all know that describing the end of a school year as "hectic" is sometimes putting it lightly.

Here is my tip for...

Take time for YOU!

Let's be real, this is next to impossible during the last weeks of school. In fact, when I left school last Friday, it felt COMPLETELY impossible.  My [Massive To Do List] was overflowing, and my only goal for my three days of freedom was to check as many things as possible off that list.  ...instead I did nothing.  I couldn't resist.  The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining, and I am a sucker for a hammock and a good book.

It was so worth it.  Yes, Monday night was a little frantic, but after taking time to rest, relax, and enjoy the weekend, I didn't mind sitting down and being productive.  ...it also made me much more willing to put up with the lack of listening skills that always plagues my 6th graders this late in the year. : ] Take time for YOU; you won't regret it!! 

[Thanks for joining our Surviving the Chaos Blog Hop!!  The prize bundle is no longer available, but I hope you continue to read our tried, tested, and true survival tips.]

I would love to hear your suggestions for surviving the end of the school year!  You can leave your tip in the comments below.

An InLinkz Link-up

HOP TO A MORE ORGANIZED CLASSROOM

With summer approaching, the list of things I want to do this summer to become slightly more organized is growing quite quickly. …and I have a feeling this Spring Clean-Up Blog Hop is going to inspire me to add a few more things to that list.


Creating a Spectacular Substitute Binder lived on that list of things to do to become more organized for years.  It had always been something I wanted to do; after all, I think we can all relate to this…


…but I just never got around to it.  Whenever I was sick, I would find myself frantically typing up the basics, emailing them in, and hoping for the best.

This fall, I went for it.  I made the Spectacular Substitute Binder that has allowed those miserable mornings of panic to be slightly more manageable.  Check it out!!

SCHEDULES


PROCEDURES

CLASS LISTS


BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

LESSON PLANS 

…my lesson plan section is a little lacking.  This summer I am planning to fill it with emergency plans and activities that can be used at any moment.  While I still have to type up a quick plan when I am unexpectedly sick, knowing this binder is sitting ready on my desk puts my heart at ease!  …and having this sheet in the inside cover of the binder often encourages my substitute to actually leave behind some feedback about the day.

Ready to make your own?!  Get your Editable Spectacular Substitute Binder [here].

Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win a HUGE Teachers Pay Teacher gift certificate!!

. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hop to Learning in Progress for another Spring Clean-Up Tip!

BLOG HOPPIN' AFTER AN AWESOME MEET-UP

At the end of March, fifty-four teachers and bloggers attended the Spring Teacher Blogger Meet-Up at the French Lick Resort & Casino that was organized by the fabulous, Holly Ehle.  It was AMAZING!  I had such a fantastic time being surrounded by educators from all over the country who are passionate about teaching.  They were truly an inspiration.  When's the next meet-up?!

To share a bit about our experience, and to give YOU the chance to win some of the awesome give-aways we received that weekend, we are having a BLOG HOP!! Be sure to hop all the way to the end in order to find your chance to enter the MASSIVE PRIZE GIVE-AWAY!!  Check it out, you can win ALL of these great prizes...  

  

While at the meet-up, we had the opportunity to participate in a "Teacher Tool Swap."  Everyone brought a a little something that they cannot live without in their classroom.  After a fun, little game that tested my knowledge of left and right, I had a fancy new pair of scissors, post-its, AND these fabulous pens!!  Thanks, Amanda Pauley!! ...my spring break grading was much more enjoyable with these fun, colorful pens by PaperMate.


As if the Vera Bradly bag, Erin Condren gift card, and Scentos weren't enough, I also won a $50.00 gift card to Schoolgirl Style!!  Melanie provided all of the decorations for the Blogger Meet-Up.  They were PERFECT and I can't wait to order some fun decorations for my classroom!  I mean, look!!

   

...I even learned a few things at this Spring Teacher Blogger Meet-Up!  During the Tips & Tricks session, Jenny taught everyone about the pros of using Windows Live Writer for posting to your blog.  How did I not already know about this??  If you have Windows, you have Windows Live Writer.  I love how simple it makes inserting pictures and making them the perfect size!!  

Sitting next to Amanda Pauley was definitely a wise decision.  Just one peak at the desktop of her computer changed my life!! Check out my post on desktop makeovers to learn more...

Yeah, free is fantastic, and the Tips & Tricks were great, but the best part of the weekend was the contagious enthusiasm of the teachers and bloggers that had traveled on their own time and at their own expense to be a part of the weekend.  I LOVE teaching; being around other teachers who LOVE what they do was exactly what I needed to rejuvenate me for the rest of this school year!!  



Don't forget to keep hopping!  Check out Amanda @ The Primary Gal and you will be one step closer to the ultimate prize give-away!!