Ramona Recommends July Book Club

So, I have a really fun Book Club for you to check out! Courtney from Ramona Recommends has started a great summer book club for teachers. This is our second month and Lessons Learned is the blog where July is being hosted!

This month we're reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio... This has to be one of THE books of this past year. You've seen it everywhere. Have you read it?? Here's my confession: I haven't read this book yet.

Back before my maternity leave I used some of my (extremely coveted) Scholastic Bonus Points to purchase a beautiful Hardback copy of Wonder for our 4th grade class. I come back from leave and it's missing. I asked and asked and asked the kids, and no one would admit to reading it, borrowing it, stealing it, losing it, whatever! GONE! SAD CITY!

This is my second chance with Wonder. I'll be buying this book soon and checking it out. I've heard great things and our counselor actually used this as a read-aloud for our fifth graders last year. I'm excited to get started, but it will probably take me all month to finish as a good friend of mine are also starting the Divergent series together ASAP!

Join us and then link up! Follow us on Instagram too to keep up with the reading!

IG: riedmillersroom

July Currently

This is the first time I've linked up with Farley for Currently in a year and a month. WOW!

I've had a lot going on, but have a smackerel of time on my hands, so here we go!

Listening to Sid the Science Kid. L is trying to fall asleep so we are watching a rerun that we have probably seen A MILLION TIMES. Oh well. It's almost over. :)

Loving Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller. Have you read this book yet? It is really inspiring me as a NEWISH teacher. I think my reading block will be looking very different this Fall. I'm getting a ton of great ideas and I can't wait to see up our reader's notebooks with more of an independent reading focus for the school year. My only regret? Not having this book sooner. I've been with the same group of kids going on year three and I feel like these practices really could have made a difference in their time with me. Better late than never, right?

Everyone is sick in my house, and I am HOPING that I don't get it. I've got too many things on my to do list for a virus to slow me down!

I really need to get out of this house. Like I said, everyone is sick and it's been since Friday that I've really gotten out to do anything. I have made two trips out to stock up on Lysol wipes, Laundry Detergent, paper towels and what not. I really would love a nice long Target trip. Maybe even a hot chocolate from Starbucks since I don't do coffee.

Hopefully everyone will be back to their normal selves in time for the 4th. We usually go and watch Fireworks at the same place every year. This year I'm kind of hoping for something more low key and a little less crowded... We'll see how that pans out for me.

Have you linked up for Currently??

CTP Giveaway

Wow, shall I knock the dust off of this blog?

That's better.

Creative Teaching Press is doing an amazing giveaway for 10 lucky teachers to win $200 to spend on their classroom. The best part of this giveaway? You don't have to be on Facebook to enter. I'm not on Facebook, I have no interest in being on Facebook and I find that a GAZILLION teachers and companies use it for giveaways. Kind of annoying since I can never enter. This giveaway does involve Instagram and Twitter, which are my two favorite ways to connect to other educators anyways, YAY!

Head over to Inspire in Style to learn all about the giveaway and to enter!

Here are some great products from CTP that I would get if I won this giveaway.. Some are on my list to buy anyways. :)

These letters are the first thing on my list. My local United Art & Education had the uppercase letters in stock, so I still need to order the lowercase! These sets are stickers, even better!

This border would be PERFECT for my Genius Hour area!

The InspireU posters may be my favorite thing that CTP has out right now... I almost snagged this one at United also.

Here are some other borders I love! These colors would fit right in with my class decorations:

Lime Green Chevron Border

Turquoise Chevron Border

Mini Hexagon Border

So many great products. What would you use in your classroom??

What I Want for Christmas Linky!

I'm linking up with Hope from Second Grade Shenanigans for a linky that is right up my alley. I love shopping, although I don't do it all the time... I also love making lists, so doing this linky was a no-brainer. After a few years of having NO snow days in my district, we are on our second for this year! I was already awake and getting ready when I got the call, so I parked it on the couch and I'm catching up on all the fun teaching stuff that I usually don't have time for!

I pretty much would love my whole wishlist board on Pinterest.

Kate Spade Planner.

These TOMS Ballet Flats have been on my list for awhile!

I love these Ray-Bans, but I would never spend more than $20 on sunglasses.

I lose them or sit on them, every. single. time.

MAC Honey Lust Eyeshadow!

Hunter rain boots.

I love these Mother Daughter necklaces!

Teachers love a good Tervis. This is one that I really love!

I love getting gift cards too. Something about not having to spend my own money on things! I can always use gift cards for Target, Wal-Mart and Ikea. Those are my stores that I frequent for teacher related purchases!

Here are some things for my girls this year:

I'm all over the sweet headbands for the new bb.

Lil has one of these on the way!

I'm also going bonkers over cute little rompers.

Julie Albright is at the top of L's list!

She also loves Calico Critters!

My husband isn't the easiest to buy for... Especially when there are no OSU Football tickets on sale yet! I have something special up my sleeve for him that I just can't mention! :)

What is on your wishlist?!

BRIGHTS Classroom Packs!

Hey guys. How is your summer going?

Mine is flying right by.

I'm headed out of town with some teacher friends for a girls weekend and then it's down to business getting ready for the school year.

I'm giving myself until the end of next week to start getting prepared. I'm still not 100% on what I'm teaching. GRR. It's either 2 or 4, and I'm hoping to know more at the end of the month. Is anyone else changing assignments??

Here are some new items I've added to my shop!

Back to School Chalkboard and Bright Apples Library Labels

This item has 156 labels for your classroom library.

I tried to do everything I could think of, if there is anything missing that you'd love to have, message me and I'd love to get them to you!

BRIGHTS Word Wall Headers

These are so cute and I can't wait to use them with a black background in my classroom for that maximum POP! Can you tell I'm loving brights right now??

BRIGHTS Word Wall Cards

These will go great with the headers at the top. The background is multi-colored polka dots and included dolch sight words from Pre-Primer up!

I'm trying to get out there and get some more feedback, so if you are one of the 70 sales I've had so far, please go back and leave me feedback. It is really encouraging for me to see that what I'm making is making a difference for someone!

I hope you all are having a great summer and follow my IG for frequent updates. I've become quite obsessed with making teaching friends on there!

@riedmillersroom

{Currently}

So, my Currently is just a smidgen late!

Here it goes!

Goosebumps has 13 episodes that just popped up on Netflix.

We've watched half already.

I just loved Goosebumps as a kid, and these shows are the super cheese, but I still love them anyways.

Instagram is fun. It has become even cooler now that I'm connecting with so many teachers. I mean, Sarah Cooley follows me. I almost DIED. She is one of my teaching idols.

Before I got my first job last year (there was a possibility of me being in first) I bought so many items in her shop and still find ways to use them in third or with my daughter. She is seriously the coolest. Follow me on IG: riedmillersroom

I signed up for this week long training session for the new Third Grade Guarantee.

I'm actually really glad that I'm on board. I'll learn about all the new things that are going on with legislation and I know it will be useful!

I'm wanting some sleep. Having to be in that training all day today (after my body has been in summer mode for almost two weeks) killed me. I came home exhausted. Tomorrow I'm planning a nap afterwards!

Is it October yet? The Walking Dead returns and I cannot wait to see what's going on at the prison. I'll leave it at that so there's no spoilers.

Anyone else out there having walker withdrawls???

Three essentials for vacation. Vacation that I'm NOT going on this year... would be flip flops, maxi dresses and shades. Maxis have been my summer go to. I need some new summer shades. BAD!

Made It Monday {Getting in the groove!}

Made it Monday is back. I know I'm not the only one that is SO excited!

Head over to Fourth Grade Frolics tomorrow and check out some ideas for DIY classroom goodies. I am kind of in a creative rut. I have some ideas here and there and this week is going to be a digital Made it Monday.

I really want to know what will be this year's Teacher Toolbox?

You know what I mean? The IT thing this year that all the teachers will be making!

I still am not sure if I'll be in 4th LA or 2nd grade next year, but I do know one thing.

My classroom theme is going to be BRIGHTS. I'm talking super bright neon almost colors.

I was excited to get started so I made myself a Word Wall.

It ended up being a rather large file (over 70 pages) so I made it into two.

The headers may be my favorite part. They turned out awesome!

The card are really cute, too!

I can't wait to get these on my blackboard for a huge POP of color!

What are you girls working on this week?

I can't wait to see.

BTW are you joining in on all of the IG fun? I feel like I've been "meeting" so many teacher friends on there. My name is RiedmillersRoom find me and we'll be pals! :)