Favorite Subject?

Today the topic for Teacher Week 2015-1016 is Favorite Subject.

My favorite subject is Reading. This has not always been the case, however. I used to hate teaching reading because it was the hardest subject to teach, and I still think that way. But now I realize that while it is the hardest it is also the most rewarding.

I love to watch my students struggle through and to see when the light bulb finally goes off in their heads. I also enjoy it when students implement some of the strategies I have taught them when they are reading independently. It makes me feel as if my job is worth it.

Sanity Savers

It's me again, linking up for Teacher Week 2015-2016 with Blog Hoppin'. Today's topic is Sanity Savers.

I only have one sanity saver and it may seem like a no brainer, but I would be no where without it. You need a calendar, and not the ones the school provides you with. You need an appointment book like this. (I advice you to get one that extends to 10pm.)

I mark everything in this thing. Some of the important things you should mark to make sure that you keep on top of everything and to relieve some stress include:

1. Family Time - Don't get so bogged down in the day to day of teaching and all the responsibilities and neglect your family. Schedule that time first as well as time for just you. Everything else will fit around this.
2. Planning - I dedicate two afternoons and I will admit, evenings, to planning. This allows me to have more free time for other things family or school related. Block this out before you block in any other managerial tasks for school. That stuff can be filled in along the way. (Don't take your break time for this. That should be family time.)
3. Meetings - If you have a 504 meeting or just a meeting with administration this is the time to put that in. 
4. Grading/Filing/Other Paperwork - If there is no time for this, there is always the next week.

Also try to make sure that you don't stay at school past 5 or 6 everyday, school should not become the only thing you do.

For those of you who love sticky notes and colored pens this is the place for them. I tend to add a sticky note on each day to add my to do list, which I try to accomplish anytime I have a free moment. You can use the pens to color code your book.

Hope this is helpful to some of you. If you use an appointment book, how do you use it?

Teacher Week 2015-2016 - Classroom Tour

It's Day 3 of Teacher Week 2015-2016 and I am linking up with Blog Hoppin' again. This time to share some pictures of my classroom this year. Here are some pictures of my space.

For more information and pictures look at my earlier post here.

Make Ahead Meals

Today the topic of Teacher Week 2015-2016 on Blog Hoppin' is Make Ahead Meals.

I tend to only dedicate a couple nights a week to cooking. I think it is so much easier to make a big batch of what ever meat I choose and a variety of sides, so that I can mix it up.

Here are a few meals that I love.

Pot Roast - This is a slow cooker meal that you can set up before you go to work and eat when you come home. I usually make rice or mashed potatoes with this. You can even use it to make sandwiches.

Ingredients

• Ranch Powder Dressing - 1 1/2 packets
• Beef - whatever cut is your favorite - one with not a lot of fat
• 1 cup water
• Italian Dressing Powder - 1 1/2 packets
• Brown Gravy Mix - 1 packet

Directions

1. Put the meat (after you have seasoned it how you would normally do) into the slow cooker. 
2. Put the seasoning packets on top of the meat not around it.
3. Pour the water on top.
4. Do not stir it. You want the seasoning to sit on top an soak into the meat.
5. Cook on low until you get home from work or for about 8 hours.
6. Break apart meat and mix.

Caramelized Chipotle Chicken - This is for some of you who like the sweet and spicy side of life. (I advise you to take the seeds out of the chicken and to add 1 tbsp extra of brown sugar.)
When I make this I also make a pot of rice, vegetables and macaroni and cheese. That way I can change things up depending on my mood and I don't feel as if I am eating the same thing again and again.

That's how I avoid having to stand in a hot kitchen everyday after being at work for several days.