Homeworkopoly???

Hello friends! In my attempt to get ready for the school year to begin I have been doing random research trying to find new and creative ideas for anything and everything in my classroom. It is amazing the ideas you discover while reading through online discussion boards...I will have to remember that! Anyways, while on my search for new and exciting ideas I came across "Homeworkopoly." Personally, I have never heard of the game, and therefore never played. It seems to be a pretty common thing from what I have seen online. Anyone ever played? The general idea is to provide motivation for students to complete their homework. I can set up a large monopoly board on one of my five bulletin boards (like the one pictured below). Each student will have their own figure or magnet to move. Whenever a child turns in their homework, they get a chance to roll the die and move that many spaces. This game continues throughout the whole school year for every student. Of course, there are special spaces you can land on where you win things (hence the motivation to do homework!) Kids can win free candy, small prizes, lunch with the teacher, volunteer in the kindergarten classroom, etc. I can pretty much make it however I want it really, but I am just not sure if it will work. Will this board game really encourage students to do their homework for a whole school year??? Thoughts anyone?

Weekend full of surprises...

Hello again! Today was quite an uneventful day here in Enterprise, Alabama (big surprise, huh?) so I thought I would share my wonderful weekend with you all. Greg decided to take us down to Panama City for the weekend just to get away. We stayed at the Marriott on the Bay Point resort. Greg and I thought this would be just another hotel with close access to the beach, boy we were wrong! This hotel is a part of it's own little community. There were 3 different pools to choose from, multiple bars and restaurants, and a private island on the Gulf of Mexico! Just by staying at this hotel we gained access to this island and were taken there by boat for free. We couldn't help but sing "I'm on a boat..." the whole way over the first trip. We were a little excited :) The water was unbelievably clear and the sand sparkling white! It was gorgeous! Greg and I had a wonderful, relaxing time just playing in the water and soaking in the sun. I probably should not have watched so much Shark Week last week though....I was a little jumpy in the water. I swear I saw large shadows moving quickly multiple times!!! On top of this little island getaway, we were also close to Pier Park in Panama City which is a cute little outdoor strip of beachy shops, restauraunts, bars, beach, etc. Our evenings here were just as wonderful with dinners on outdoor patios (plenty of people watching opportunities...YES!) and cool ocean breezes. We enjoyed our time so much we are considering going back again this weekend with some of the boys (Greg's friends from flight school)! So if you ever get a chance, I highly recommend this place. I even had room service for the first time! The pictures just do not do it justice.

While I am eager to get home and start preparing for the school year, I am not looking forward to leaving Greg (and our weekend getaways) as I will not get to see him again until his sister's wedding in late October. Oh the joys of long distance relationships...

Have a wonderful evening and enjoy the pictures!

The view from our room :)

Greg and I on the beach under the gorgeous moon :)

Beautiful beaches with a storm rolling in...

Greg's awesome photography skills

Sunset after dinner :)

Bring it on real world...

Hello all! Thanks for visiting my blog! I am new to this whole blogging idea. I have a few friends that have blogs of their own and I greatly enjoy following along in their journey. While I do not consider myself the greatest writer (the sister definitely got that gene) I figured I would branch out and try something new. Therefore, I decided to give this whole blogging thing a try as I begin my first year teaching. I am thrilled to finally have my own classroom and begin this next phase of my life. While taking on my first year teaching I am also planning my wedding so this next year will definitely be very eventful! I look forward to sharing this journey with you all! In about 2 weeks I will begin working for Virginia Beach Public Schools as a 4th grade teacher. This was my top choice (for school district and grade)! I consider myself very lucky to have this opportunity and cannot wait to get started. I have spent the summer planning out my classroom and how I hope to run things. Call me a nerd all you want, but I have loved every minute of it! I don't know what it is, but I get great pleasure out of planning every little detail of every little thing (just ask Greg! haha!) I am currently visiting with Greg in Alabama before the school year starts and today he took me to the local teacher supply store. I could seriously spend hours in there! I walked out with a few small purchases (still waiting on those paychecks to start rolling in....ahhh!) On top of these small purchases, my parents were wonderful enough to pick up a few things for me this weekend during the tax free shopping at home! WOOHOO! Even though I have put a lot of planning into my classroom and have shopped around plenty, I am still feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to purchase. Any thoughts/suggestions??? I have 5 bulletin boards in my classroom! FIVE! I need ideas here people! As soon as I return from Alabama I will begin work in the classroom and getting everything set up so any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

Hope you all are enjoying your summer as much as I am! Spending this quality time with Greg before the school year starts has been absolutely wonderful. Only 11 more months until we are married :)

Well, time to get some dinner cooking :) Thanks again for visiting! Can't wait to share my journeys with you all!

xoxo