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Top 10 MUST-HAVE items in your teacher desk or cabinet


Hey, friends! I am getting ready to go back to school, and am moving into a new classroom. As I am unpacking my teacher desk, I am finding my essential items that have carried me through my years of teaching. These are things you can find in my teacher desk, or in one of my "teacher" cabinets. Ready?
You never know when you'll need to fix something, put something together, or just need a darn level for that bulletin board you are hanging. I have found three tools to be the most useful: a screw driver (gotta change the batteries on my LeapFrog pens somehow!), a level, and a flashlight. (Is that a tool? I digress...)
This is one that has saved me on nights where I needed to stay for a meeting (I live 30 minutes from my school), on days I forget to put on makeup (it happens!), or on days when I felt I wanted to "touch up." I only have a "spare" eyeliner, lip gloss, and face powder, but it has definitely come in handy over the years.
You know those days where you enjoyed the HECK out of a burger that had an onion and garlic mayo on it? (Can I get a "what! what!" for "Fat Fridays?") No worries, if you have your dental care. :) Also good for after your second (or, cough, third) cup of coffee. I usually get a sweet bag from my dentist at my visit and store it in my desk. 
I have a bottle of body spray I bought during Bath & Body Works' Semi-Annual Sale, and it has come through in a pinch over the years. 
I use hand lotion like it's going out of style. During the winter, my eczema gets bad... AND using hand sanitizer dries my hands out. So hand lotion is a MUST. 
Anyone else have the world's WORST phone battery? When I drive home from work, I like to drive with a full battery, so I store a cheap phone charger (thanks, Amazon) in the cabinet. Once my kiddos have left, I charge while I am prepping my class for the next day, and I am ready to roll. 

I have fine hair that after a long day will make me look like a #hotmess teacher. I also have a brush on hand for the moments where I need to go somewhere right after school and don't have time to run home and refresh.

Ok, so obviously every school has a different policy on this. Make friends with your school nurse and see if you can store in her office if you need to. PLEASE check with your school's policy before storing any medication in your classroom.

I actually keep an alcohol-based hairspray in my desk for the days where I get ink stains on my clothes and for art projects. But you could also use it for your hair. :)


Ok, this is number one for a reason. I am a SNACKER. There are days where our lunch doesn't have enough. We get hungry. We didn't eat breakfast. We stayed late in our classroom. The reasons are endless. Some of my favorite "desk snacks?" Nuts, popcorn, powdered drink mix to add to water bottles, and, of course, CHOCOLATE. 


There are my TOP 10 "must-haves" for my teacher desk.... I bought most of these things from the dollar store, the travel section at Target, or on Amazon. You don't need to break the bank to stay prepared. What do you keep on hand in your desk or cabinet? Share below!


Five for Friday, AKA I'm baaaaack!

Can you believe it? I'm finally back. Soon, I will be posting about just WHAT has kept me so busy these past several few months, but today is all about THIS WEEK!

I'm excited to be back in the game with one of my favorite linky parties! Let's jump in, shall we?






With the new year, and the thought of being Maid of Honor in my sister's wedding in June, I was ready to shed some of the stress weight I put on this school year. One of the best things I did so far was join Round One of the TPT Weight Loss Challenge. This week began Round Two, and though I haven't lost weight this week, the amount of exercise I've done has made me proud. I am honored to be a part of such an amazing group of motivating educators looking toward a healthy future. 

Not just this week, but recently, we have found Cosmic Kids Yoga and really gotten into our P.E. groove. My VERY active kiddos are enjoying the ways they can channel their energy into positivity. And I love how much my students enjoy it. 


Obviously, you've all heard of Lula Roe by now. I have to say that when we have such finicky weather, it has been a lifesaver to wear soft leggings and tunics and still look cute! The added bonus is possibly getting to match your favorite travel mug. ;)







Ever since I attended Get Your Teach On in Nashville last month, my students have been OB-SESSED with Margie Palatini books. (Thanks, Deanna Jump!) I happened to find this one in my library, and ordered Broom Mates from Amazon. Needless to say, my students were happy campers this week. 

Can we just say "T.G.I.F.!!!!" together? Sometimes, the shorter weeks seem longer than the regular ones! :) Here is a picture from today's College Appreciation Day (I borrowed the sweatshirt from a friend at work). 

I also had to stop yesterday and appreciate the weather. We prayed for rain, and we sure got it. One of my favorite things about this type of weather is the opportunity for rainbows and puffy "Toy Story Clouds!" I just love this kind of weather as a reminder that we often get what we ask for and then some! 


Well, there it is, friends! 
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and week, and I will catch up with you again soon! 




Thoughts on Thursday: January Edition



Hello, friends, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Today, I am linking up with my friends Kristi, from Pelicans and Pipsqueaks, and Jessica, from Tech and Teachability, to talk about Resolutions....
As you may have noticed, this little old blog has been mighty quiet for the past few months. There are reasons (cough, excuses, cough) for that, but the MAIN reason is that I moved homes (across town) and am now moving back to kindergarten from first grade following our Winter Break (we go back on the 9th). 
PERSONAL RESOLUTION:
I don't know about you, but 2017 has been a motivational year already by way of resolutions. For one thing, I really put on a lot of stress weight in this school year alone. I'm not talking about 3-5 pounds of fluctuation weight. I'm talking about almost 20 pounds on my 5'4" frame since AUGUST. It's been a school year of change on campus AND at home, and, to be honest, I went home and "ate my feelings" a lot more than I exercised. SO, I have resolved to eat healthier and more CONSCIOUSLY. I'm not so much focused on counting calories and following a strict "plan" as much as I am trying to be more mindful of the WHAT and WHY I am eating. 

TEACHER RESOLUTION:
I have the advantage of starting 2017 at school with a clean slate. Without boring you with the details, our kindergarten classes were WAY too full, and our first grade classes weren't, so I am moving back down to kindergarten. My main resolution this year is to teach my new students that school can be fun, and that change can be good. It sounds simple, but how I handle change will directly affect how my students handle change. I am making it my resolution at school to show students that change can be good. I am also making it my goal to build a strong community in my classroom. One thing I prided myself on with my former students (some of whom I've had for 1.5 school years) is that they were a true community who knew how to work well together. I am going to work to really build that with my new students, and, hopefully, it will be an engaging and safe environment for all learners. 


Ok, so now I am curious. What will your resolutions be? Have you made any resolutions? Click through the linky below to participate! 
HAPPY 2017!



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