Currently!

I'm excited to post in my first linky party! Hop over to Farley's blog to join the fun!

Listening... I have been listening to Elenowen non-stop on Spotify while I work. Their voices are so wonderful and it's upbeat enough to not put me to sleep but not so crazy that it distracts me. Take a listen!
Loving... It FINALLY feels like spring in Mississippi! Up through March I was still wearing jackets, boots, and scarves which is unheard of here! I wore a jean jacket on my errands this morning and actually felt warm!
Thinking... I really do have WAY too much to do. I spent the morning working at Starbucks on a math unit and presentation I will be giving tomorrow. I have to teach my Math for Children class a lesson on Fractions, so I've been adding the final touches to that. I'm about to go and make a poster for it, too. On top of that, I have a social studies unit to write AND finals to study for... I might pull some hair out today!
Wanting... Yes, another Chai Latte. I already had one this morning...

Needing... way more sleep. Despite the fact that I have today off from school, I have been working like crazy this Easter weekend. I was in the hospital for 10 days before Spring Break and I am STILL playing catch-up.
Advice... I feel like a lot of times in the "blog-world" (whether it be personal blogs, style blogs, teaching blogs, whatever) that we feel like our blog HAS to be a certain way to get readers or views. Be YOU! I feel like Dr. Seuss, but it's true! Your blog is all yours, so don't feel like it HAS to be designed a certain way or that you HAVE to talk about certain things... write about what you love, and others will love it, too!

Well, now that I have successfully procrastinated by posting, it's back to work!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Happy Easter, everyone! I hope everyone has had a great Sunday. I woke up early, had a nice (big) cup of coffee, went to church with my mom, and then cooked a delicious lunch on this Lord's day! Seriously... you can't go wrong with steak, stuffed potatoes, ratatouille, and coconut cake! I know I'm 23, but my mom still surprised my brother and I with Easter basket gifts. Mine included Twix bars, a new pair of earrings, and a Mississippi cookbook. It's been a lovely day celebrating my Savior!

1. Yes, I have a tattoo on my foot. Covering it up for teaching gets a little old sometimes, but I do love it! My dress made me feel like an Easter egg today :) 2. My new earrings and cookbook from my mom! 3. My mom also put these handmade goodies in my Easter basket. She is a high school art teacher and so creative! 4. Easter lunch. I really don't need to say anymore!

Yesterday, I spent my afternoon working on my first thirty-minute lesson plan for my field experience. It's on text features, and it's a scavenger hung folder activity. I got the idea from here, though my printer is broken so I am handwriting everything. Luckily, if I have a template my mom can run off copies for me at her school. It helps having a teacher for a mom! 

After making the activity, though, I realized we are probably going to have to cut one or two sections out of the scavenger hunt (there are 8 total.) I have to teach the lesson and they have to have time to do the activity... all within 30 minutes. And since it's my first one I'm teaching in the field, I'd like it to go smoothly in case my supervisor pops in!

I'm doing my best to take this Easter Sunday off from school... but I have three finals next week and my social studies unit plan due. I might take a nap and do a little bit of work, even if it's just making flashcards for finals. I have a perfect 100 streak going in my social studies class... I'd like to keep that up since her exams are the hardest. I feel like I'm proving something to myself every time I get a 100 back :)

Hope y'all have the best Easter Sunday ever!

P.S. I'm a total instagram junkie, so if you'd like to see more pictures you can follow me at h_barnes!

Well, hello!

Hi there!

While I am not new to the blogging world (I've held personal blogs for several years), I thought it was time I added a more "professional" blog to my posting regime. I get so many ideas from other teaching blogs and often turn to them as a source of inspiration. I've also been so impressed by the community between teachers on the internet, and I hope to befriend some teachers through this type of social media!

So, about me? I guess that's the logical thing to post about in a first post!

(I was so excited to get a laminated badge for my field experience! I'm a nerd!)

I'm Heather (or Miss Barnes as the kiddos refer to me!). I'm a 23 year old senior Elementary Education major in Mississippi. I will graduate in December with a K - 6 licensure (assuming I pass the Praxis II this summer!) Currently, I am in what my college calls Professional Block, a series of lectures in each content area that lasts half a semester. We are actually about to take our finals for that class this week! The second half of the semester is spent in Field Experience, where we spend 7:45 - 10:45 in an assigned classroom, and teach a series of 20 thirty-minute lesson plans. We also work one on one with a student who may need some tutoring. I am assigned to a 5th grade reading and social studies classroom in an inner city school. I met my students last week, although my teacher was out for the day. I did e-mail her later to find out what she'd like me to teach for my first lesson, so I have been working on a Text Features activity for them after hearing from her. I'm very excited about working with these fifth graders! I've also heard from other people who have been assigned this cooperating teacher before that she is EXCELLENT at classroom management. I'm excited to learn from her and take what she teaches me into my own classroom.

Aside from teaching, I love my pets. Most of my friends would describe me as a Crazy Cat Lady, and I'll gladly accept that title. I have two sweet cats and a dog. I also love to read - mystery and fantasy are my favorite genres, although recently I've also started to enjoy more historical fiction. I also love riding horses, crocheting, and going to Zumba! I have done theatre all through high school and college as well, and would love to keep it as a hobby in the summers through community theatres in my area. We'll see.

I'm really excited to venture into this community of teacher blogs. Encouragement, tips, and advice are more than welcome!