2015 | Goals

2014 has come to an end and the time has certainly flown by!
Overall 2014 was a great year: - Steven started his masters degree in January at George Mason and this was our first year of a shorter long distance! With him being only 4 hours away it was much easier to visit each other, and for that I am very thankful. - In February, Blacksburg received about 20 inches of snow which closed school (and work for me - we are typically open on "regular" snow days) for several days! Needless to say we were stuck at home. - After winning the championship, Steev team went to the NCAA Division 1 Regionals in Houston, TX, which I had the opportunity to travel to and watch.  That was a great trip! - Steven and I were able to attend multiple sporting events this year, including a Flyers game, a Nats/Phillies game, an Eagles vs. Redskins game, the Army-Navy football game and more. - I had a great, although short, summer spent at the summer camp I work at with amazing friends and Steven even joined our staff this year! - Steven and I spent a week in D.C. in August, although it ended with him sick with tonsillitis :( - I started my FINAL semester of graduate school in August and looked forward to starting my student teaching - I completed my student teaching experience in 1st grade at a wonderful school here in Blacksburg and had an absolute ball! I miss my kiddos every day! - I graduated with my Master of Arts in Teaching in December and will be walking in May - I got offered a semi-long-term sub job on December 1st in 5th grade and have been enjoying that opportunity thoroughly!
We spent New Year's Eve in Downtown Blacksburg at one of our favorite restaurants and got to catch up with several high school friends. A perk to living in a small town!

lara casey

I have spent some of the last several days reflecting on what my goals for 2015 would be.  I have a feeling that 2015 will be a big year for me in terms of my "professional life" as I am beginning to put my application in for several school districts.  I also have the opportunity to move away from home and start living more independently. This year will be full of change, I am sure!
Once I knew Lara Casey's book, Make It Happen, was released, I knew this would be a perfect jumping off point to get me started on my 2015 goals.  I was struck by her message of living life on purpose and that is exactly what I want for 2015.  There has been a lot holding me back -- wanting things to be perfect...the fear of letting people down...the need for control and wanting to always have a plan -- and with this book I am learning to work through those things, let go & start living life on purpose.  Because that is what I need.
I decided to write down three goals in each of the following categories: personal, professional, health, financial, other.  I am not so keen on the word "resolution" and prefer the word "goal" instead. Here they are.
Personal: - Have me time - whatever that may mean // manicure? nap in the sun? - Live life on purpose // Lara Casey is my hero - Journal more // Including blogging, spiritual journaling with SRT, goals/thoughts
Professional: - Create a clean, crisp resume // One that I will be proud to share at job fairs - Accept a teaching job where I know I will be happy // Whether that is near or far - Be the best first year teacher I can be // I know this means I won't have a picture-perfect classroom, or perfect students, or a perfect stress-free start...it means I will do my best and know that that is enough.
Health: - Cut back on unnatural sugar // 2015 is about a clean slate, and a clean plate. - Create new running goals // More on this later...but I have high hopes. - Reduce my screen time // I want to live in my own moments instead of constantly flipping through pictures of other people's moments.
Financial: - Read through Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover // A Christmas gift from my brother that I am very thankful for - Start a savings plan // Start small, stay consistent - Say more "no" and less "yes" // I don't really neeeeeeed that top.
Other: - Knock some things off my bucket list or my 101 in 1001 list // 362 days ahead of me...let's go! - Travel somewhere new // Even if only for a day! - Participate in a challenge // wardrobe challenge? money challenge? blog challenge? Who knows!

Hoping and praying this is a year of happiness, success and living a life on purpose.
I will update as I work on completing my goals!
Happy New Year!

Having FUN with my FIRSTIES!

Believe it or not, I am already into week 3 of my student teaching experience! Here is what I have to say so far:
1. My cooperating teacher (CT) is AMAZING. She is so patient, helpful, kind, easy to talk to and open to welcoming any and all of my ideas.  She is fabulous. 2. My students are the sweetest.  There are 15 (yes, 15!!) little ones and they are all so sweet and special in their own ways! I have loved getting to know them the past couple of weeks and they have become comfortable with me being there now.  One student said on the third day, "Ms. Ryan!? You're still visiting?!" Haha! I think they understand now that I will be there until Thanksgiving! :) 3. Teaching is tiring, messy, sometimes frustrating, chaotic and crazy...but it is SO for me. I have been having so much fun and I am excited to continue on in this process.
Now, you may be thinking...shouldn't you be in school right now and not blogging?? Well, that's the other side of teaching.  It's full of germs ;) I have had a nasty, nasty strep bug since Friday afternoon (my CT was out on Thursday and Friday with it) and I am still recovering and gaining back energy.  However, two doctor visits, two prescriptions and lots of sleep later...I think I should be ready to go on Wednesday! :)
Friday is my first official observation appointment.  My cooperating supervisor, from my college, is coming to observe me teach Morning Meeting.  Morning Meeting is a HUGE part of our day in first grade.  I have had a great time planning greetings, sharing topics, activities and messages for my students! Anyone have any great MM resources to share?  I have gone through The Morning Meeting book several times - it's great! - but would love some more ideas to establish a wide variety of choices when I'm planning.
Other than Morning Meeting, I have started taking over our whole group math piece (not small groups) and I also planned an Author Study unit on Tomie dePaola! I will have to get that started when I get back tomorrow.  I had intended on starting on Monday, which was his birthday, but that obviously didn't happen.  Next week I will start teaching science! YAY!
Overall student teaching is going really well! So thankful!

Catch Up + My Favorite Fall Shows

Holy smokes y'all.  Okay, first of all I have one more week before I begin student teaching.  I have a feeling it will be a quick, bittersweet, but hopefully relaxing week.  I am getting together meal/lunch plans, my student teaching bible binder & finalizing all of my paperwork.  I can't believe that I get to meet 16 new kiddos! I am so excited.  Luckily for me, I am pretty good with names and I am quite certain I will have all of the names + faces down by the end of the day.
It will be sad to leave my job & the 40 kids I have there (and my awesome director/friend), but I will be looking forward to December when I will join them again!
Today I worked on a lesson plan template that I think I will use for planning, although that could all change very quickly.  If I have learned anything thus far in my "teaching career" is that sometimes you can plan for something (whether it's a lesson, field trip or a template) but when the time comes to use it or put it into action, it might totally fail.  That's OKAY! :)
I am still on the hunt for some comfortable teaching shoes that will "go with everything."  Any suggestions? I know danskos are kinda funky looking & would totally throw me into mom-zone, but I have seen a lot of teachers wear them.  They seem comfortable. Hopefully I can find some Labor Day sales this weekend!  I will also be looking for some solid neutral color pants.
Please, any tips or tricks or suggestions or anything -- throw them my way :)
On a more fun note, I just recently looked up the premiere dates for all of "my shows" and WOW. Y'all can expect for me to be parked on the couch the last full week of September! All of my shows are coming back in a whirlwind week that might have me reaching for the DVR.  This gal can't stay up much past 10:30 so my mom and I might watch them the next day.  Here's my lineup:
September 11

September 22

September 23

September 24

September 25

Anyone else watching?? I am seriously obsessed with all of these shows. Any other Parenthood fans scream at their TV last night during the Emmy's when, not only did the promo commercial come on, but they announced it's the farewell season! Why do all of the good shows get the boot so soon? (I'm looking at you, Friday Night Lights.)

Welcome, August!

This fall begins a new chapter in my journey to becoming a teacher.  In a little less than a month, I will begin student teaching!  A few weeks ago I found out that I received my first placement request in...first grade! I could not be happier.  I will be in a new school where I don't know many people, which I think will prepare me for when I land my first real teaching job.  I am going to try and update my blog throughout student teaching because I think it will be fun to look back on! Plus it will help me keep track of ideas for the future :)
While this is all very exciting, I am sad to be saying goodbye to the job I have had for five years.  I will be working a couple of weeks before and after student teaching, but will miss the bulk of the fall semester.  I am really going to miss seeing those kids & my director every day! :(
For the past several months (okay maybe years) I have been collecting teaching supplies, books, manipulatives, etc. and been following along with several awesome teaching blogs.  I don't know HOW teachers used to do it before they could look up tips & tricks online!  I hope that I am somewhat prepared for what lies ahead, although most people say that even if you feel prepared for student teaching, you will most likely get in there and realize it's not what you expected!
In the meantime I am going to be planning some outfits to wear.  That is my worst area when it comes to getting ready in the morning.  I try to plan it out in the shower but it never works.  My goal is to find some solid "teacher clothes" that I can mix and match.  In the same boat, I am going to do some meal planning.  There is nothing like running late and realizing you still haven't packed a lunch!  Of course I shall turn to Pinterest for help on these tasks.  Pinterest never fails.

Sunday Verse