May Currently: Word Work, Wish Lists and Touchtronic Letters, Oh MY!

Happy May!  I loved waking up this morning feeling rising temperatures, seeing a bright sunny sky and hearing little birds happily singing.  Ahhh, just the way I like it.  What a beautiful welcome to the month.  It's also a great day to link up with the fabulous Farely over at Oh Boy 4th Grade for another edition of Currently.  Thanks for hosting! 

Listening: I take pleasure in listening to my students work collaboratively with one another while participating in word work activities.  They have come a long way since the beginning of the year.  I'm so impressed with their progress.  We've had fun reviewing blends and sight words this past week.  The kids love playing Pop for Blends to practice beginning blends.  I found the plate idea for word work on Pinterest. (You're the best, Pinterest!) :)

Loving: I love Teachers Pay Teachers.  My collection of goodies to support my Guided Reading groups sure has grown over the past few years, thanks to TpT.  I delight in creating TpT products for my students and sharing them with teachers, but when I don't have the time to create, I definitely support my fellow TpT sellers by spending, spending, spending.  I'm grateful for you, TpT sellers! Anyway, I've been trying to organize my baskets this week, and have come to the realization...I need more baskets and shelves!  (I haven't shown you my other shelves, since I'm still trying to organize those.)

Thinking: I can't believe it's time for the F&P Spring Benchmark Assessment already.  Our fantastic Literacy Coach, Courtney, prepared a testing schedule, as well as organized the F&P assessment boxes to pass out to the classroom teachers.  Starting next week, I will be joining Courtney and (my former blogging partner) Nancy, in assisting the teachers with the testing of 500+ students.  Benchmark testing, here we come! :)

Wanting: Ever heard of Junior Learning Touchtronic Letters?  I hope to acquire those for my little friends!  I'm seeing posts blowing up all over Social Media this past week.  I'm learning from teacher bloggers and Instagram friends how wonderful and engaging they are for students.  I think I am going to have to add those to my Amazon cart! 

Needing: (I'm needing Touchtronic Letters, but I'll pick a different one.) I'm needing to become a super hero.  Is that possible?  If I were a super hero, I'd be able to accomplish my want-to-do list in a fraction of the time it would take the average person.  I usually finish my to-do list filled with household chores in a timely manner, while my want-to-do list sits on the back burner (scorching itself).  One thing I want to do is read...uninterrupted ...for more than ten minutes per sitting.  I have many titles of professional books I desire to read.  I've purchased (and loved reading) Beyond Leveled Books and Teaching for Deep Comprehension.  

But recently?  My "wish list" of professional books has grown...very quickly.  Nonetheless, my time to sit down and read them is almost nonexistent.  

The reasons my time is almost nonexistent are ones I wouldn't change for the world.  I get to teach adorable kiddos all day and then get to come home to very sweet twin super heroes, as you probably already know if you follow my blog.  There doesn't seem to be room enough for one more super hero in our household right now.  I guess I'll put my decision to become a super hero on the back burner, too.  :)

Summer Yes, Hopes and Dreams: I certainly am looking forward to summer!  My YES is learning from professionals at the Literacy Retreat 2015 in June, and of course, experiencing TpT 2015 Conference in Vegas in July for the first time!!  I can't wait to meet some of my Social Media friends there!

My HOPE is to do lots of vacationing with my family in many various places around the states.  My DREAM is to read books uninterrupted for more than 10 minutes per sitting, as I mentioned above. ;)

Thanks to Kimberly Geswein for the fonts and to Farley for hosting another Currently!