Better Late Than Never! -Five for Friday {Saturday}

Hey ya'll (see that, I'm adapting to Southern life?), I don't know about you, but this time of year just is as hectic as could be! I'm trying to focus on relaxing for my last little bit of summer vacation, but more and more stressful things keep popping up! I guess it's just that back to year time! I'm happy Five for Friday is back to focus me down to five things to talk about, so hopefully Doodle Bugs Teaching can forgive me for posting on a Saturday!

1. Frustration is at an all time high! This week, we were "allowed" back into our classrooms to work. I got to go in on Monday and Tuesday to work and decorate...which is something I love. Something I didn't love was getting an email that I needed to go back and take everything off the walls because they decided to paint my room....which means my almost complete READ: Where will it take you? bulletin board needed to come down. We are also no longer allowed to use tape on our walls. Excuse my horrible pictures...I think I'm one of the few left that hasn't joined the iPhone club.

2. A project I did get to get a head start on this week was my classroom library. I (almost) finished sorting all of my books and I am just waiting on my kind media specialist (who is going out of her way to help me) laminates the cards. At my school, teachers are not allowed to touch the laminator.

3. These last few weeks of summer have led me to do a lot of goal setting. Setting goals for my classroom this year was just the tip of the iceberg. I had to pay for college 100% on my own, and I am looking a what seems like endless amount of student loan debt even though I am very financially responsible. I really would love to get my master's degree in either Instruction Technology or Educational Leadership and Policy Reform soon, but it seems like that dream is going to be on hold. My current state is 46th in teacher salary, so it seems like no matter how much I save, I will be paying for my loans until I have children old enough to be in college themselves. Nonetheless, I still always try to make some kind of plan and excel spreadsheet to deal with it.

via Pinterest

Ain't this the truth?? :)

4. Positive news...I should be able to pay off my car this March! That will be one less thing to worry about. :)

5. I have to give a parent presentation this week about my district's new iPad and MacBook initiative, which has led me to begin thinking...what rules for student use to other schools have in place already? Would anyone care to share? I know they will not be able to have them out until directed to, but what else would be helpful!

Have a wonderful first week back to some, and enjoy your last weeks to others!

August Currently

Can you believe school is just around the corner? I certainly can't. It feels like I have a million things left to do and I'm wondering if I'll be able to get them all done! We have a new textbook this year that is completely digital and we are going (mostly) paperless this year. It's making me feel like I'm going to have a "first year" of teaching all over again even though I'm literally in the same classroom! 

Thanks to Oh, Boy Fourth Grade for the linky!