This is the year of change here on the home front!

 

My oldest son, Justin,  is moving from middle school to high school.

Justin is taking it in stride and moving up with some really great friends. 

 

My youngest son, Zach, is moving from elementary school to middle school.  Zach is struggling with the move as he is switching counties and is leaving many great friends behind.

 

 

I am also making a HUGE change!  I have taught first grade at the same school for nine years.  I have taken my children to this sweet neighborhood school with me and watched them grow there.  We moved out of the county that I teach in three years ago and Zach and I made the commute so he could finish elementary school with his friends.

 

We were blessed to be part of such a school.  Even though Zach is going to middle school, I feel like that kindergarten mom dropping off her baby on the first day of school.  You see, I never really had that day with either of my boys because they came to school with me.  I was never too far.  So now, my heart is heavy as we make this transition into different schools.

 

 

Did I tell you that I don't like change?

But I am learning to accept it and embrace it. 

 

I have accepted a teaching position in the neighboring county where we live now.  This will let the boys and I be on the same school schedule for start dates, vacations and days off.  I have to say this change is bittersweet!  As I am sad that my time has come and gone at my old school, I am excited about the change (Ok, maybe a little nervous too!) and looking forward to a fresh start.

 

What I am super excited about is the grade level change!  I have been in first grade most of my teaching career and am making a move to public pre-k.  Here is Florida it is called VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) and is paid for by the state!  I hope you follow my Pre-K journey here on my blog!

 

My lesson here is:

LEARN TO CHANGE AND CHANGE TO LEARN!

 

and  to celebrate my birthday, some very sweet bloggy friends

 have agreed to join me put this birthday giveaway together!


So truth be told, I am ...
 

So sit back, relax and take a peek at what's up for grabs! You can click on the blog and TpT product  links to check them out!  I am so thankful for these amazing ladies for inspiring me ALL THE TIME!


Here at The Resourceful Apple I will be giving away Bottle Cap Addition.  I will be making you your own CUSTOM SET of bottle cap numbers and will mail them to the winner!! 

My sweet bloggy friend Tamara from Mrs. Russell's Room is giving away her I am a Good Citizen pack!  This is the PERFECT unit  for back to school for little ones! 

 

Deanna from A Primary Owl giving away First Week Activities-Superhero Style!  This is a must have for 2nd or 3rd grade!

 

Marcy from Saddle Up for Second is giving away her Dolch Sight Word Powerpoint!  Such a great way to get that extra sight word practice in.
 

Angela from Hippo Hooray for Second Grade has donated Mighty Math for Second Grade!  Imagine having your second grade assessments all set to use with your Common Core Standards:) 

Kimberly from The Learning Tree has graciously donated a décor item OF YOU CHOICE from her store!!  You can view all her options HERE!!

As a woman, a mom and a primary teacher, I have to say I love reading!  I read for enjoyment, for professional development, and for gaining knowledge on raising boys and being a better wife and mom. I pick what I am interested in and don't worry about readability, the book level or a possible AR test! I read because I LOVE reading!

A quick  glance at my nightstand boasts my summer picks and my cherished Nook!  Professional books are the only ones I don't purchase on the Nook as I like to highlight, take notes and insert post its for easy reference.

 

So reading is part of my life.  I read to my children while I was pregnant.  I read to them as babies.  I know the research.  Literacy is my passion!

 

 

But then my boys learned to walk...and talk...and they couldn't get away from books fast enough!  They had no interest as they were on the move! I quickly learned to capture their attention at bed time as they were a captive audience with no where to go! They would pick a book or two for us to read each night... Those were the days! 

 

So let's have some #realtalk!  My boys don't LOVE to read anymore!  Most days, they don't even like to read.  Insert heavy sigh here.  This mama's heart is so sad.  This teacher's heart is heavy.  How can I blog about fostering a love of reading with my students when my own children have missed the boat on this?

 
 

Do we, as a school system, turn children away from reading?  We test their sight words, their fluency and their comprehension.  When they finish a book, they take an AR test.  With Common Core and other state standards, we are modeling for students how to dig deeper into the test. This takes multiple readings of the same text.   We are encouraging students to read more non-fiction.  They need to site text evidence.  And then at the end of the year they need to take a state reading test.

 

AND WE WONDER WHY CHILDREN

DON'T LOVE READING!

 

My goal for my boys and for my students is to foster a love of reading.  So when my youngest says he wants the next book in the Nate the Great series, I am going embrace this and encourage it. You see, earlier this summer, I tried to talk him into reading books with a higher reading level and deeper content. He totally fell asleep while reading!!  #epicfail

 

 Jen Jones from Hello Literacy shares how to find out 7 ways to get your kids to know without even realizing it!!  Jen cautions us away from "summer mandated reading time" because isn't that what we as parents and teachers do...to avoid the summer slide?

 

I challenge you to join me in finding meaningful ways to encourage our children and students to read throughout the summer!  I am going to suggest some of the apps from Hello Literacy's post to my own kids and maybe...just maybe...I can sneak a little more reading in!
 

 

This is the PERFECT recipe to share with friends or to put in the crock pot and have your family dinner ready when you get home!  We even add tortilla chips to the bottom of the bowl,  add the soup and top off with some shredded cheese and sour cream.  YUMM-O!

I love the lazy days of summer, but I am also inclined to step up certain things a notch! So this summer one of my goals is to find some new, family friendly recipes for dinner. So welcome to...

Each week I will feature a few new recipes that I have found and tried with my own family as the judges!  This is a tough group I tell you:)  I have to tell you I have been a little addicted to The Pioneer Woman  this week from The Food Network!  I have selected and tried two of the week's favorites!

 

CHICKEN SLIDERS and POTATO BUNDLES
Click on the above links for recipes!

 

 

The grill is our favorite cooking source pretty much all year living in Florida!  These are both the perfect grilling recipes for summer time.  Recipe notes:  I  omitted the bacon on the chicken sliders. Just personal preference:) I also added roasted cauliflower and broccoli to the meal with olive oil, 4 minced garlic cloves and salt & pepper to taste.

 

I would love you to link up some fun summer recipes that you plan on making this week!  Perhaps it is an old favorite, something new you want to try or a fabulous Pinterest find!

 

If you don't have a blog, you can join the post over on The Resourceful Apple's FACEBOOK page!