What has happened to me?!

It's happened.

The thing I feared most about starting a blog. Over a week and no posts.

There is really no particular reason as to why I haven't been posting other than I've just been so wiped out! We started working on our hallway decorations for the year last Monday, and Thursday (my first official day as an employee) was here before I knew it!! Inservice and meetings have begun, my classroom is ready to rock and roll, and the hallway is almost complete!! Pictures will be coming soon! I can't wait to share them with you!!

Now, I have a question. I've asked before, but I must ask again. Do any of you use the CSCOPE curriculum? I know it's fairly common here in Texas, but I'm not sure about the other states out there! Also, if your school does use CSCOPE, what are your feelings on it? We were able to log on and see the program for the first time Friday, and I have to say I almost burst into tears. That overwhelmed feeling has set in....more so than ever before!!

I hope those of you who have already met your students are having a great year thus far and those of you who have yet to meet your students have a great year!! Next Monday and my new class will both be here before I know it!!

Scan, baby SCAN!!

Oh wow!! Have you ever heard of Classroom Organizer? I pinned something about it FOREVER ago, but one of my fellow teacher friends mentioned it yesterday, so I went and found it. I AM MIND BLOWN!! Every year I fret and worry about how I'm going to keep track of the books in my classroom library. I've found the answer in this FREE website that allows you to scan (with your iPhone or Droid) the ISBN of your book and creates a database of the books. That in itself is amazing! This is what really sold me...it gives you the option to input your students and allows them to check out and return books! It's just what I've been looking for!! There is also another app I've seen called Book Retriever that does the same thing, but when it comes to paying or getting it free, I'm all for those four letters!!

So, this afternoon, between playing with my precious Preslee and scanning books, I've been very busy!! Here are the books I've scanned so far.

And I've still got several bags full of books at school to scan! Despite the huge mess, I'm still so excited and happy about my find!!

Aside from playing and going through books, I've been busy planning for the year and making frequent trips to my classroom. I thought I was going to cry when I walked into the building yesterday and saw several of the classrooms in utter disarray....classrooms that WERE completely set up and ready to go. I told myself that if my room was in the same shape, I'd be OK, but it would also be OK to cry. Luckily, my room was fine. Why were the rooms a mess you ask? Our district decided to go to a system of waxing classroom floors every 2 years...this was a no-wax year, but the decision was made to scrub the floors that were really dirty. Thank goodness I moved into a room that was empty last year :)

Just wanted to give a quick update and share my super find with everyone! If you choose to use it in your classroom this year, I hope you enjoy it!!

5E's and more, please!!

Hey y'all! I hope you've all had a good Monday! What do you think of  Fifth Grade Fancy's new look? I decided I'd go for something a little more "school-ish"! I'm sad I can't link up with Tara today, but maybe I'll get some stuff finished and link up tomorrow!! Better late than never, right?!

So, today I had my first workshop with my new co-workers! Although I know many of them (a couple of the wonderful ladies were MY teachers when I was in school), it was a totally new experience! I am so blessed to be working in a district this year with such wonderful people! OK....so how many of you use the 5E model in your instruction? I learned all about it in college and have used it in the past, I just didn't think of it as the 5E model. Can I just say awesome? I'm very excited because the training today made me much more aware of how important each step is in making the learning process come together! I'm also a little anxious because teaching language arts and writing will be a bit more challenging to incorporate some of the elements...EXPLORE, for instance. There is exploration that can take place, but it seems limited to me...I'm sure it's just my brain (it was hard to get up and going this morning!)!

If you've been following me for any length of time, you know I've been working A LOT in my room this summer. While I'm relieved that almost everything is in its place and ready for the first day of school, I'm afraid I've made a mistake...I can't believe school will start (for me) in just 9 short days! I've got so many things (and lots of sleeping in) I want to do before then! Would it be possible for a few more days of summer?  The aspect of being back on a schedule will be nice, but the slow easy pace of summer will definitely be missed!!

I'm leaving you this this picture of my Preslee girl! It has NOTHING whatsoever to do with teaching or school, but I just want you to know I'm so lucky to have a niece as awesome as her....and of course, she's lucky to have an aunt as awesome as me ;)

August Currently

I know, I know...I'm breaking the rules! I already posted this morning to announce the winners of my giveaway, but I'm excited to link up with Farley for her August Currently!

B2S Must haves

CUTE cup.....So...a cute cup really isn't anything that is going to determine the successfulness of my students or me as their teacher, but staying hydrated is essential...and why not have a cute cup to do it with? I pinned this last night and am in love!!

Cute and comfortable shoes...I don't know about you, but being on my feet all day means I need some shoes that are going to hold up! Last year I had a pair of flats that I adored, but they were just horrible for my feet!! I went home everyday begging my sweet boy for a foot rub...which he always obliged to! (He's quite a catch, I'll tell ya ;)) I've found these and am hoping they'll be a breath of fresh air...for my feet!

Woo-hoo for my first Currently linky! Have you linked up yet?

...and the WINNERS are....

Thank you so much to everyone who entered my giveaway! You are all awesome! I'm happy to announce the winners from my giveaway!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Kristi and Stephanie, you both should have an e-mail waiting in your inbox from me with a little more information!!

Speaking of winners, did you watch this girl last night?

That's Gabby Douglas...you know, the 16 year old American gymnast who won gold yesterday in the All Around Event Finals...and the only African American woman to ever do so. How awesome!! I was watching last night and thinking about 1996 and the Magnificent Seven...I even had a folder with their picture on it for school.

I've been seeing so many of you post about Tagxedo and had to try it out! I'm thinking this will be a staple for my classroom this year! I've never had so much fun playing with words!! Check it out!

I believe it is safe to say I'm a bit obsessed with this! I can't wait to figure out all the "tricks" and start helping my students to create their own word clouds!! Go check it out...it's definitely worth it!

The clock is ticking...

The clock is ticking! In just a few short hours (midnight tonight!) my 100 Follower Giveaway will end! Have you entered to win one of the $10 gift certificates? Have you told your bloggie friends about it?

I'm thrilled to say that my classroom is functionally finished! What does that mean? Simply, that if I had to walk in and start teaching tomorrow, I could! There are still several small things I plan on doing, but for the most part, it's finished!! I'm going to a training on our new curriculum Monday and plan to stop by my room to snap some pictures to share with everyone :) How is your classroom coming along? Do you have access to it, yet?

Do you make lists? I find myself making lists for EVERYTHING!! Seriously...I make lists on my phone, on paper, in my head (I always forget what's on them..but I still do it!), on my hand....everywhere!! I spent the better of this morning driving around town trying to mark things off my ever growing to-do-list. I've mentioned Mardel before, but I just seriously can't say how much I enjoy going in there!! I had several things to laminate, but on my way to the back of the store I spotted this book....

I was excited to see it had several organizers (both for nonfiction and fiction writing) that can be used for "big" kids! I also almost choked on my gum when I went into Big Lots and found the most adorable wall clock (I didn't snap a picture and it's out in the car....which is out in the 100+ degree heat!)! I tend to get overly excited about little things like clocks and picture frames.

Don't forget...there are only about 9 hours left for my giveaway!! Thank you to everyone who has already entered...and if you haven't yet, what are you waiting for?! Click here to enter!!

Late nights, Olympics, and giveaway!

Have you entered my giveaway yet?! It'll be ending very soon, so what are you waiting for?! Click here to head over and enter!!

I must admit, as excited as I am to start back to school, waking up early is going to be so hard!! I told myself I would start "practicing" this week...yeah, it definitely hasn't happened. I've been keeping some seriously late hours working on all sorts of things! Have you seen this (or something similar) on Pinterest?

I REALLY like the concept of this poster and wanted something like it for my classroom!! I already did the iHelp chart like an iPhone, so I had to think of something else! This is what I came up with!

 I'm really excited about this poster because I plan on referring to it throughout the year for my students to remember when they are writing, blogging (I'm so excited to implement my newest obsession into my teaching!), and just talking with friends! I'm going to my classroom tomorrow to put it up, so I'll have pictures soon!

Have you been watching the Olympics? WOWZA!!! I must admit, that's a huge part of why I've been keeping such late nights, but I mean you only get this chance once every four years! I'm super excited because the Fab Five have done so well this year! I've always been a fan of gymnastics, but these girls are my favorite group!! I'm also enjoying watching Ryan Lochte (he's another one of those athletes that just melts my heart!) swim! What's your favorite thing to watch during the Olympics?

I hope that everyone is enjoying the last few days of summer before we are all "back at it!" Don't forget to enter my giveaway and be sure and tell your friends :)