Farley's April Currently, a Freebie and Laugh

Wow! I can't believe it's April already! In Central PA we are still donning our winter apparel, but hopefully warmer weather will be here by the end of the week.  I am fortunate to have the day off, but my summer break doesn't start until June 18th!!! I am on-time for the April Currently, and I added a writing freebie below. I don't know if you've seen the awkward family photos email that circulated a few years back(I'm sure you did). If you're like me, and you find that kind of stuff amusing, scroll below to see an awkward Easter morning photo of my boys-it's hilarious. 

Click this link to be a part of Farley's Currently for April:

I still can't believe I ran into my friend this morning! She lives in NC, and we haven't seen each other for about 5 years. We were hired together, we talked and we just hit it off. Well, our lives took separate turns, and we fell out of touch. When I saw her, I looked at her face and knew it was her. I kind of "whisper-talked" her name just in case it wasn't her, but it was. So, we reconnected and she's even thinking of moving back here to teach. 

Logan's Run (Autism Awareness) is this weekend. Our school's amazing autism support teacher organized a team to run. I happen to be one of the brave souls who signed up. I don't even run!!! I like to spin and do other things, but not run. This is one of those things to cross off my bucket list, so I'm doing it. Maybe I'll get out there tonight to practice.

Here is the freebie I promised. Just click on the image below. These are not fancy, but they have worked wonders in my first grade class. During our Daily 5 time, the students can use these when they go to the writing station. They just pick one up, take their notebook and go. I made my first one back in January, and when a student first used it, I was like, "Wow! These really work!". They've been using them ever since. After each round of Daily 5, we gather for a quick check-in. Anyone who has written can  share their work with the class. Nine times out of ten, their topic was taken from one of these menus. Quick, easy and, most of all, effective...that's my style!!!

And, last but not least, here is the awesome Easter picture of my 3 boys. At least the older two were actually getting along AND looking at the camera. My youngest, Nicholas, was just all-out grumpy. He even chucked his Peter Rabbit on the ground a few times. I was thinking, "Good times ahead since church won't be starting for 45 more minutes....". 

Thanks for reading!

Currently January

It's that time again to do Farley's Currently for January. I love reading other people's "Currently" lists. 

I just opened up my TPT store with a little freebie to use in a writing station. Since my goal is to simplify, I did just that with my writing station. I put away all of the little writing activities I had out because I was getting frustrated...frustrated that my kids weren't doing "real" writing. The only things I have out are their Writing Station Journals and the January Writing Prompt Menu I created (my freebie). I explained more about the menu in my store, on the 2nd page of the menu. My students' writing has much improved, and so has their motivation since they know they will have the opportunity to read their writing during our "check-ins"

Monday begins the Daily 5/CAFE grad class I am in. Some of you contacted me to find out how to get into the class/to find out more information. If you look at uiuonline.edu (University of Iowa), you should be able to find information. There will be a new session opening up soon. You can also go onto the Daily 5/CAFE site-that's where I first found out about it. And, the cost was so reasonable...$400-something!!! You can't beat that for a grad class!!! I am super excited.

If you do check out, and download, my freebie, please leave some feedback. I'd like to know if anyone used it/liked it.