Happy Lucky 2013!

Happy 2013 Bloggers/Blog-hoppers!

I have spent the morning thinking about the coming year.  It promises to be a year of many, many changes for me and my family.  I am really trying to embrace it all, but I know the days ahead will be filled with blessings and trials, joy and sadness.  The good news is...with age and experience comes the wisdom that God is in control and He will be with me for each moment.  He will provide me with blessings I cannot even imagine!  What a wonderful feeling!

In 2013:

*Our oldest will graduate from Texas A&M University with a degree in French -- WHOOP!
*Our youngest will graduate from high school and become a Baylor Bear!
*My husband and I will become "empty-nesters" - I am SO glad I love him!! HaHa!
*We will sell our home of 7 years and take with us many memories.
*We will find a new home and begin making memories there.
*We will have to leave behind our church and find a new one.
*I will have a job change -- pretty nervous about this one. :/
*We will grow as Christians, as we always do.
*I will lose this excess weight I have packed on and become a healthier me again!
*I will continue to work toward balance in my life and make blogging a bigger priority, because I believe a Writing teacher should WRITE!

The loss of my Daddy last year really put a stop to all the "extras" in my life, and I had to focus on making it through the sad/sometimes stressful days.  I am so grateful to know he is with Jesus, but I will never stop missing him.

Now I have two blogs.  One I just started last week with my sister - in honor of our father, because he loved to see his children happy.  I hope you will take a look at it and share it if you like what you see.  It will not be just another "cooking blog," but is intended to give you a dose of love and laughter as well.

Check us out HERE:   Every Day's a Pajama Party

My sister and I - trying to take pictures for our blog = JOY!

I decided to take some time to reflect on last year's "resolutions" or goals.  I did pretty well with some of them, but still need to work on the ever-illusive "BALANCE" that is not so easy to achieve.  My desire is to live for God's purpose in my life and make my life reflect that.  To show others LOVE above all elese.

I challenge each of you to spend some time this week not only thinking about your goals/resolutions for 2013, but WRITING them down, printing them out, and posting them so you can see them on a daily basis.  I intend to post a copy at home and at work.  I know many of you will have your students do this in some form or another, and I think it would be wonderful for you to share your goals with them.  We all know how important modeling is!

Here is a copy of my 2013 goals. 

Blessings to you all!

Word of the Day

So, So, SO busy!!!  I will keep this short because well, THE AGGIES ARE PLAYING!!! WHOOP!

I thought I would share this little FREEBIE I created to work on Vocabulary in my classroom.

 You can download it at my TPT store,  HERE:


I hope you and your students enjoy Working With Words, whether it is in Balanced Literacy Centers, as part of your Daily 5, as Daily Whole Class Work, or even as Homework.

Back to School Tomorrow - Anxious and Excited!

So, the room is as ready as it is going to get!  Welcome 2nd graders!

Mrs. Cade's Superstars will enter through the VIP entrance!

Lesson Plans, laptop (with ghetto projector/sound set-up), new document cam, new student chairs, and clipboard -- Check!

Cute "Pinterest-Inspired" Clock display finally up, number line and calendar up  -- Check! 

Word Wall Ready, Library mostly ready, Safe Place ready, tables divided with work folders and caddies - Check!

Curtains hung, "Mrs. Cade Loves..." up, supply boxes ready for supplies, a somewhat-clear teacher/student area - Check!

Attendance/Lunch board ready, alphabet (and sign language alphabet) and pledges displayed - Check!

Super AWESOME Writing Center - CHECK!!

The view when the students walk in...I hope they love being here this year!

Welcome Back to School 2012-2013 everyone.  I will not lie - after 7 years of teaching 4th grade with the last 3 being departmentalized and only teaching LA, 2nd grade self-contained seems a bit scary.  I know we will have fun, and I will learn at least as much as my students do!  I pray you enjoy your new students and they are able to learn and have fun in all of the beautiful environments you have lovingly created for them.  Thank you for sharing the summer with me and inspiring me in more ways than I can say!

Going to bed RIGHT NOW to get a good night's sleep before the 1st day of school -- CHECK! =)

New Class List -- and so it begins

WOW!  Just got my class list today -- 21 sweeties for my 1st year of 2nd grade
IT'S GOING TO BE AN AWESOME YEAR!!! 
Getting the class list with names always makes it so REAL -- I'm doing this another year.
I have taken on the responsibility of teaching and nurturing children for 9+ months!
No pressure, right?

So much work to do, but I'm heading to bed -- exhausted and helping present to staff tomorrow.
I'd rather teach kids any day :)

I hope you're all doing well out in blogland! HUGS!

Positive School Year 2012-2013

Today I return to work -- not the fun, creating fun stuff/printing off cute things/surfing Pinterest and blogs for hours/decorating my classroom kind of work, but the "I have to be there from 8:00 - 4:00" kind of work.  We have 7 days of various trainings, presentations, etc. before the students arrive.  That is certainly more than usual.  One day only is a "work day" to be used in our classrooms, which is the usual... I have been a teacher long enough to know that even that day will be filled with random meetings and "putting out fires" that may arise.

I am committed to keep my passion for teaching alive this year!  I am grateful to God for giving me a job where I am often (not always) able to see the fruits of my labor.  I know how important it is to be a teacher.  I know there will be times this year that I will feel like I don't know what I'm doing, like I can't get it right, like maybe 2nd grade wasn't a good idea, but I refuse to give in to the negativity.  I will tell myself the TRUTH:

God called me to this profession.
My worth comes from Him.
I am a servant, a cheerful giver.
I always do what I believe to be right for students. 
I am loved and blessed beyond measure.
I love and try to bless others!

I hope each of you remembers these things as well.  Welcome Back to School 2012-2013!

A Teacher's Prayer for Back to School

I wanted to share the following prayer with those of you who may find it useful.

It's just a little FREEBIE you can get at my TPT store HERE: 

I hope it blesses you, your school year, and your students in some small way!