Tell All Tuesday: Teacher Bucket List!

It's that time again! ...Time for Tell All Tuesday!!
Summer is the perfect time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some time to reflect on the previous school year.  It also gives teachers time to daydream and think to the future.  In honor of summer and the time time off we're giving ourselves from our teacher reality we want to know your dreams for your teaching career.  For this Tell All Tuesday, we'd love for you to share your "Teacher Bucket List."  What hopes and dreams do you have for your teaching career?  Do you want to go back to school to become a reading specialist?  One day become principal of your school?  Or something else in the realm of teaching?  Dream big and don't hold back!  Share your Teacher Bucket List with us today!

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Tell All Tuesday: Summer Snapshot!

Tell all Tuesday: Summer Snapshot

It's Tuesday which means it is time for Tell all Tuesday with some of my bloggin' besties!  This week our topic is Summer Snapshot.  Read below and join in on the fun!

We are definitely in a summer state of mind.  This week our topic is called "Summer Snapshot" Think about a favorite summer memory current or new and post a picture or two about it. It could be a favorite summer trip, activity, or spot that you enjoy.  We can't wait to see and read all about your summer adventures.  

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Tell All Tuesday!

**EDIT: All answers in PURPLE!
I am so sorry for the delay with this update! In fact, I know that I have been a terrible blogger lately! It has been a crazy hectic week or so. My father-in-law ended up in the hospital with a complication from a surgery he had nearly a year ago. Luckily, it's nothing major for now, but... we always worry. Additionally, we're still in school and I am really dreaded saying goodbye to all of my little loopers. Time to put on my big girl pants and see them off to 2nd grade!
On a positive note, we had Field Day this week, my Mother-in-Law's birthday (we took her to Yankee Stadium), and my husband won an award at work so they sent us up to Foxwoods Casino for a night of wining and dining!
So my blog and store have absolutely suffered, but honestly... we cannot do it all! I am really excited to really settle in and get focused on building it all up. Linky parties such as this one are GREAT for that!
Keep an eye out for the next Tell All Tuesday, Book Study, and.... some changes from the TPT Sellers Challenge that I just joined! I'm so excited to see some growth!
Interested in more information? Click my stats picture below to take you to Third in Hollywood's post!

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Winner Wednesday!

Good morning and Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, everyone! I am super excited to be linking up with a new friend of mine, Jennifer from A Dab of Glue Will Do for her newest creation... the Winner Wednesday Linky Party! This linky will take place every month on the FIRST WEDNESDAY. Each participant will select a new or popular product and explain it in detail, with pictures. The best part about it is that each month, you will have a chance to win each product for FREE! All you will have to do is enter your name into the Rafflecopter! So easy... and a GREAT way to get to know some new TpT Sellers!

The product that I have chosen to highlight this month is a new one of mine. It's actually BRAND SPANKIN' NEW! I have been testing it with my kiddos and so far... THEY LOVE IT! It is so new, in fact, that it is not even in my store, yet. And if you're selected as the winner, you'll have it before it goes live!

My Baseball Math Journal is an effective way of integrating multiple representations of numbers, reading tables and translating the information into a graph.

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Sunday Scoop! ...and then some

Welcome back to The Sunday Scoop, a weekly linky party with Teaching Trio!

So link up and join in the fun! :)

I'm not going to go through all of it as so much of it is self-explanatory, but let me just say this...ordering groceries is honestly one of the best things -- EVER!! We save TONS of money with it! No impulse buys! We stick to our diet! We only buy brands that we have coupons for, no worrying about searching endless shelves! I just love it! It saves me SO. MUCH. TIME. I used to think that it was something for lazy people. Shame on me for judging!

Report cards are due Friday. I didn't work on them this weekend. Nope... Not. One. Bit! Argh, silly me! I really, truly... aim to have them done by Wednesday so that I can just... cruise on through the rest of the week. HA! Do I sound as delusional to you as I do to myself?! Here's to hoping!!

This year for Spring Break, the Hubster took the week, also. BUT... we're not going anywhere. We decided on a STAY-cation! We'll be doing day tirps and just doing things around town. I cannot wait. I just want to... Chillax :)

**ALERT-ALERT-ALERT**

One thing that you should definitely keep an eye out for is a MAJOR giveaway coming soon! If you're not in the loop, follow me on Instagram (@shoelaces_sweetfaces) to stay up-to-date for the chance to win a seriously awesome prize! If I weren't one of the parties giving it away, I sure would be entering! GOOD LUCK!

Have a great week, everyone!! :)

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April Currently & April Fools!

I'm so excited to be linking up with Farley for my favorite linky party!! I just LOVE Currently!! Click HERE to join in the fun!! 
But this time around, will be a DOUBLE LINKY! I'm also linking up (for the first time!) with Teaching Trio to bring you a few of my favorite parts of my classroom! Enjoy!!

1) This banner is from my first Kinder class ever. Each year, we walk as Dr. King did and with that first class, we designed this banner. My kiddos love holding it, and I love hanging it above us through the year to remind us of all that we can do together. :)

2) LOVE LOVE LOVE these Lakeshore SMARTboard games! I actually picked them up at Savers near my hometown, marked down to only $4!! The kiddos love getting to play them during indoor recess and on Friday, we use them as a reward center. They are so engaging and Common Core aligned!!

3) Our "Family" shelf is where we keep Master Splinter (our hamster), a photo of my husband and I, and a family photo of the Student of the Week (removed for this photo). It's such a home-y corner of the room and one of my favorite places to be.

Now for Currently with Farley!! :)

Listening: Arrow! The Hubster and I are obsessed with anything super hero related! We've gotten a little behind on Arrow, so we are trying to get caught up! Love Oliver Queen!  Loving: That it's beginning to feel like spring! So, so, sooooo excited!! We've got big plans to get golfing this weekend. I. CANNOT. WAIT!!!! Thinking: How very glad I am to have joined this crazy-awesome Teacher-Blogger-Creator community! I'm loving all of the new friends that I've made!! Wanting: To get to bed early, but.... Ain't nobody got time for that!! Oy! April Fools knocked me on my BUTT!! "There's a spider on your head!" "There's a snake in my desk!" Ugh... all the classics. I honestly cannot wait for this long weekend (and Spring Break in 2 weeks!!) Needing: To finish those Easter bags for our party and Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow! Can't let the kiddos down! :) Explain the name: Shoe Laces.... Sweet Faces. Come now, don't we all deal with both daily? YUP! But I really wanted the Shoe Laces in there to help motivate me to fulfill my dream of becoming a runner. I have always, always, always wanted to RunDisney! Here's to hard work! Speaking of April Fool's Day....

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to Layla at Fancy Free in 4th for the freebie this morning! You see, she created a word search without any words. GENIUS! I downloaded it for future reference and told myself that it was cruel. Well, this afternoon, after what felt like the 769th spider crawled on my head and the 485th student needed consoling (my least favorite! STOP PLAYING ON MY EMOTIONS, KIDS!), I decided that they needed a dose of their own medicine! So, I printed it. I printed it and I explained what they were to do. I planned to let them run with it for maybe 5 minutes.  I tried to stop the activity, but they were so into it!  So, in reality... they tried for probably 15-ish minutes.  I took pictures... I took video.... they kept asking why, but never caught on.  Just look at their focus!!

Finally, I felt bad. So.....

Don't you just LOVE that moment of silent shock?! It was amazing. Best prank I've ever pulled. In my entire life. Thank you, Layla! It made my day!  Now, my kiddos apparently took those pages home and pranked their families because I've already received a few emails and text messages from parents.  HAHAHA! YES! Amazing! Thanks for stopping by! :)

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Sunday Scoop

This week, I'm linking up with Teaching Trio for their Sunday Scoop linky party! Join in the fun by clicking the button above!!

As you all know, I have been on a weight loss journey for quite some time. I let myself go this winter -- got sucked into the stress of our dryer, furnace, fridge, and dishwasher dying... 2 family members in the hospital, and the everyday stress of just... being an adult. ::sigh::

This weekend, the hubs and I committed to ourselves and to each other that we would be getting back at it... RIGHT. NOW. 

We emptied the cupboards and the fridge.

We made our menu plan and grocery list... and shopped.

We set goals and made a tracking chart.

We planned this week's workouts.

So now it begins. Time to get crackin' NO EXCUSES!! :)

Have you heard of or participated in Financial Peace University? My mother-in-law took the course last fall and strongly suggested my husband and I attend. You see, I left school with nearly $130K in debt from college loans. Private universities... they're a killer. I always wished I had some guidance in taking out loans and trying to pay them off.... I didn't have any clue what I was doing. This class has been a LIFE SAVER!! Tomorrow we wrap up the course -- can't wait to share my experience with you all!!

Anyone have suggestions for Plus Size shops? My BFF, Shannon, is getting married in November. Obviously, I'm hoping to have lost weight by then, but... for her wedding, she has asked all of us bridesmaids to find a dress (any dress) in yellow and order it by May. It can have a pattern, any length, and any fabric (except satin). I am looking for some suggestions. Anything helps!

Have a great week, everyone!!

...and make sure you head over to my instagram to check out my current giveaway with my new bloggy friends! We're giving away 4 TpT packs!! You can enter until Tuesday, winners announced by Thursday!! :)

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Currently March

Once again, I'm linking up with Farley for Currently! Join in the fun at her blog, Oh Boy, 4th Grade!

Listening: One Republic is one of my favorites. I can listen to them in the background and get work done, they're great to drive to... I just love One Republic! Dreaming Out Loud is my favorite album of theirs, and I've got it running on repeat right now.

Loving: It snowed last night. Again. We got about 7 inches. They have closed school for much less, but I think that the timing worked out really well so we don't have to miss another day of school. Instead, we got a 2-hour delay. 2-hour delays are my favorite way to handle the snow. No one has to rush to get into work, you still get to see the kids... and we get some work time. I do my best to come to school normal time for delays. Normal for me is still over an hour before the kids show up, so I get tons of work done! And since these days are so rare, I like to treat myself a little... So, this morning... it was a bagel and S'mores Hot Chocolate from Dunkin Donuts. YUM! So warm and toasty and comforting :)

Thinking: Yesterday, I posted 2 new products to my TpT Store. I feel like I'm on a roll, so I need to stay on top of it! Another reason why I showed up to work so early this morning! Click on the images to check them out in my store!

This set includes:

192 different CVC Trace and Write Cards divided into 6 different sections:

32 Full Word Trace
32 Initial Sound Practice
32 Final Sound Practice
32 Medial Sound Practice
32 Rime Practice
32 Full Word Decode

Laminate and use these cards in small groups, literacy centers, as an early finisher activity, or any number of ways!

This set includes:
Practice pages covering all Dolch Pre Primer words.
Use for morning work, homework, in a center, or however else you see fit!

Wanting: Last night, I saw a post about How to Keep Teaching When Your Personal Life is Falling Apart. Let me say this... my personal life is not falling apart, but... we all know that we occasionally find ourselves in those moments where it starts raining, then pouring, then dumping piles of snow, then ice, then repeat. Those days when all you want to do is pull the covers up higher over your head and hide from the world. Well, 2015 has started off in just that way. Lots going on, lots of heartbreak, lots of added stress. It happens. Such is life. I am firm believer that God does not give us more than we can handle and that without these moments, we cannot truly appreciate all the good that we have in our lives. So here it is... I'm trying not to think of it as a breaking point. I'm trying to look at it is an opportunity to change some habits, to cut some ties... to become an even better me.

Needing: As I said, I posted 2 products to TpT yesterday, but what I didn't mention are the 7, YES!! 7 packs that I have started and been bouncing around on. I really need to just finish them up ASAP!

Spring Break Plans: We don't have Spring Break until the 3rd week in April, but I am planning on working the whole time. Whether it be working on the house, working on finding a new house, catching up on school work, or making things for TpT, I will be working. I know that it sounds boring, but it is what it is these days!

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Currently -- February & MLK Day!

Thank you to Deana over at Primary Punch for the fantastic MLK Printables free in her TpT Store... get them HERE! They are an excellent companion to your Martin Luther King, Jr. or Black History Month studies!

My kiddos and I have loved working through them! I have been working with my students on utilizing multiple sources for their research. As I have mentioned before, I absolutely LOVE

for its ability to present a plethora of information at an emergent reader's level. We have been working with this website for much of the year as it does take some time for the kiddos to be able to master all components and really take ownership of how to search for articles, etc...

Well, I decided that now that we have reached the approximate mid-point in the year, I would work with my students to help them in compiling information from multiple sources. Through use of Deana's Comprehension Mini Read on MLK as well as our Weekly Reader article on "How Walking Changed the World", I engaged my students in a Socratic Seminar. We used the comprehension questions which Deana provided with the mini-read as our guiding questions to get the conversation started. It was fantastic!

Next, we used her ALL ABOUT MLK JR. page to dig deeper. Each student was required to site their source for each answer, like in a scavenger hunt! The kiddos has a BLAST doing it! And it was great to see how different students relied on various resources.

Weekly Reader does a great job of integrating videos and other media using their online tools!

I love eavesdropping on their conversations :)

As you can see, our Chromebooks are a HIT

I'm excited to get started on our next projects! Stay tuned!

....while you're waiting...

Yay! Time for "Currently" with Farley again! 

Click HERE to check out the rules and join in the fun!

Listening: I've mentioned it before, but I am just a total reality TV junkie! Sometimes it is just so nice to get sucked into something that takes NO THOUGHT WHATSOEVER! Especially when I have all of this work to do!

Loving: This week has been absolutely horrendous. Furnace blew and needs to be replaced... locked my keys in my car (with the car running!)... locked myself out of the house in the snow... blah blah blah! Through it all, Dave has stood strong and I am so very blessed to have him by my side. Even with all of this stress, we are stronger than ever together. Definitely need to make sure he knows that he is appreciated.

Thinking: Because of the snow day this past week, the deadline for report cards was extended. Normally, I try to have them done a couple of days in advance, but.... with all that has gone on this week, I just haven't focused in on them as I normally would like to. I really need to get my comments finished ASAP.

Wanting: Who wouldn't want to just go to sleep at 12:35am?! Please... why am I up this late doing work on a Saturday night?! Grrrr

Needing: Redundant. I know. But, it's the truth. :(

Pageant Title: Princess Silly Sparkles. My kids think I'm a big ol' goofball. They tease me about all of my sequined, sparkly wardrobe choices. I always tell them, the more sparkle, the better! Because... why not? :)

I hope everyone's ready to enjoy the big game tomorrow! Let's see how much snow gets dumped on us this time!

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Five for Friday (and a GIVEAWAY!)

It's that time again! Time for Five for Friday! This is probably my favorite linky party! I just love jumped around and checking out what you've all been up to! Plus, it's a nice "idea dump" and great way to decompress at the end of the week. Totally pushes me to reflect on all that's gone on throughout the week!

First of all... the most obvious update! MY BRAND NEW BLOG DESIGN! I am seriously obsessed with how lovely it came out! And it is all thanks to Jana over at Little Web Writing Hood! Please check out my post HERE with details on how to hook up with her for your very own design and also information about my CELEBRATORY GIVEAWAY!

Jana was very patient and put up with my endless questions -- you know us teachers... ask, ask, ask until we know, know, know! :)

Even after the long winter break... and the day off for Three Kings Day... and with the long MLK weekend coming up... you can just TELL that it has been a long couple of weeks! We have been assessing like mad!! Let's just list a few...

• District Performance Task
• AIMSweb math pencil and paper test
• AIMSweb Letter Sounds
• AIMSweb Nonsense Words
• AIMSweb Phoneme Segmentation
• STAR Math
• STAR Reading
• Symphony Benchmarking
• Sight Word Monthly Test
• Sight Word Weekly Quizzes

My poor kiddos have done such a good job putting up with all of it, too! We've been taking lots of stretch breaks... and Go Noodle has saved us big time!

Beginning today, our district is holding a pajama drive for needy families. So... to kick it off, we had PAJAMA DAY! It was a blast! Even though PK-1 got to wear PJs before Christmas, it was a whole lot of fun getting the entire school involved! One of our administrators wore a bathrobe for most of the day... another wearing flannel line khakis cuffed so he could sneak in some coziness during his numerous meetings for the day! HAHA! And, I wish I had taken a picture, but I've got to say... I was one popular 1st grader today in my purple Batman pajamas! :)

Anyone else out there in blogland interested in becoming friends and motivating one another to walk more? I love making new friends! As I mentioned in an earlier post, my husband got me a fitbit for Christmas and I am loving it! Lucky for us, a friend of mine from work upgraded his fitbit and offered to pass his old one along to Dave! I love working on our health together! So now, we've all joined together and have been holding mini-challenges. At first, we tried to Daily Goal... then Daily Steps Total... then the Weekend Warrior. This week, we attempted the Workweek Hustle... and it has KICKED MY BUTT trying (and succeeding) to get into first place! Yay! Seriously, if you're interested in joining us, friend me! (Mrs.LoConte@gmail.com)

We have been having such fun transitioning into reading from our anthologies! I introduced these cute disguises... Or, "attentoscopes" as I refer to them (I may or may not have borrowed the name from an old behavioral program) and the kiddos just love pushing through to earn them! You see, we work to close read our anthology. And, sometimes... we get distracted. Sometimes, we want to focus on other things in the classroom or play with erasers in our desks. Well, these attentoscopes need to be EARNED. Students need to show that they are focused on the task at hand. Some days, I only make a handful available... and that's when things get really good! I just love seeing them read through with these disguises on their faces! It always gives me a good chuckle!

I hope you all enjoy the long weekend! I know that I surely will!! :)

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GoNoodle Linky Party!!

I was so excited to come across this linky from Kickin' It In Kindergarten! I am absolutely obsessed with GoNoodle! I first discovered it last winter when trying to shake up my indoor recess protocol. If you haven't tried GoNoodle, yet, check it out NOW! It is an absolute LIFESAVER! This week, our 4th Champion, Squatchy Burger maxed out and graduated so we had to select a new champion! Meet...

Seriously, is he not the absolute cutest?! I almost don't want him to level up... but that would mean no brain breaks for awhile! I guess I'll have to sacrifice it! ;)

Favorite Brain Break

My kiddos prefer Disco Brain to Dino Stomp, but we have so much fun together STOMP STOMP-ing around the room!! Plus, Disco Brain freaks me out a little bit. The kids giggle incessantly because they think it actually looks like a butt (shhh.... don't tell them I said the b-word! HAHA!), but it always makes me think of raw chicken. Ewwww!! And Pop-See-Ko CRACKS ME UP!!!! I just love it when the hot dog shows up!

Happy Place

The Bahamas! Dave and I honeymooned here and it was the first time either of us had visited. We both fell in love and didn't want to leave. This past summer, Dave and I visited again... this time we met some friendly sea lions! Nassau was just such fun! Shopping, tasty drinks, sun, snorkling! I just can't wait to go back!

Time for some shopping!

Blue Lagoon Island -- where we met our sea lion friends! :)

Heading out on the cruise on sunset! So lovely... makes me dreamy

Guilty Pleasure

Girl Meets World... I knowwwww it's on the Disney Channel... and I knowwwwww that it was written for pre-teens, but I just love it! I grew up on Boy Meets World. I looked forward to it every single week. When it ended, my best friend and I re-hashed the entire final season, episode by episode, line by line. My husband teases me because I quote it all the time. For Christmas this year, he got me the COMPLETE SERIES! I'm such a lucky girl :)

Girl Meets World is such a great follow-up to the story! My best friend (same one since 1994!) and I both laughed and cried and obsessed over the recent holiday episode guest starring SO MANY Boy Meets World originals. I guess Sam's mom is right... the two of us never really grew up. But, honestly.... I kind of prefer it that way! 

Keep Calm and...

Paint on! I. LOVE. PAINTED. NAILS. I love choosing new colors. I love adding glitter. I love changing colors! I love accent nails. I love love love love love painted nails. I've been experimenting with Jamberry which is great when I want some nail art that will last awhile, but I don't think that I can give up nail polish altogether. I don't know if its the smell... or the calming effect of the having the time to actually do them from start to finish, but... I LOVE painting my nails!

Thanks so much for stopping by! If you're interested in joining the linkup, click HERE!

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