Family Time

Finally for the first time my mom met my boyfriend's parents!  More excitingly, Blair and her husband (boyfriend's sister and brother in-law) were there too!  We had such a great time and my mom was so happy.  They all enjoyed each other, ate good food, and made some memories.  We went to Kiko's, a Bosnian restaurant that has delicious food like back home in Kosovo!  MMMM...good!

Currently-October

Thank you to Farley for always keeping me on track each month!

Loving the Fall weather...it's my favorite time of year

I am trying to understand relationships better.  All kinds.  Friends, relatives, co-workers...

I have lost a little weight and went down one pant size!!

I am reading "If I Stay" right now and the next one is another Gillian Flynn book, "Sharp Objects"  

I want Butterfinger as my treat!

Friendship- I am happy to have mine!

'Friends.' A simple word isn't it? It's uttered everyday to almost every person imaginable. Who are your friends? I used to think that friends were the people that you could laugh and talk to. Now I know that friends aren't that, they're the people that touch your heart. You could spend hours with them doing nothing at all and it can be the best time of your life, just because it was with them. They're the people you can share your secrets with, cry with, laugh with, and just have fun with. They don't judge you or make you change. They accept you exactly as you are. They look at you and they see a great person, one they love spending time with. You all share something in common and are tied together by memories, tears, laughs and smiles. You're tied together by love for the other. Friendship is one of the greatest things in the world. I find my time with my friends, the best times of my life. My friends are my heart, my soul, my fun, my laughter, tears, love and my life

Who are your friends and what does it mean to you?  I have been thinking about this lately and I wanted to share this quote.

New Book and Lovin' it- If I Stay

If I Stay Summary
As of right now, I am reading the book, "If I Stay."  I love it so far.  I usually don't like to read books when there is a movie out already, but I am lovin' this one so far.  The detail in the book is amazing and I fall right into the main character, Mia.  Mia is a teenager who plays the cello and her story begins when her family go for a car ride to visit friends of the family.  They end up in a crazy scary car crash and as of right now I am not sure if they are all dead.  Mia is narrating everything that is happening and she can NOW see herself half alive at the scene of the accident and now at the hospital.  She isn't sure how and why this is happening, and either am I!

Character Analysis of Mia
Mia is kind hearted teenager with a lot of maturity.  She loves her family very much.  She mentions in the book, "I'd rather go off and be with my family."  She is like an old soul and has interests that are a lot different than typical teenagers.  She also is kind hearted because she describes her relationship with her grandparents as well.

It's Starting....

YAY!  It is finally happening!  My students are going to begin blogging!  I put all of their blogs up on my page to the side...so have fun when you take a peek at their first posts.  I'm sure they won't be ready until about Friday.

MESSAGE TO LIT STUDIES STUDENTS:

Please be responsible, respectful and safe with your blogs.  Here are some tips to help you:

-Ms. Belkov and I can see what you are up to

-Always check to make sure you post your writing 

-Make sure you add a title for your posts

-Comment on other student's blogs

-Ask us for help when needed!

-Have FUN!

I am SURE we will be giving you tips along the way...these were just to get you started!

FIRST ASSIGNMENT:  Write a summary of your book that you have been reading.  IF you JUST started reading a new book, try your best with what you know so far.  This must be a post on your blog and must be at least 5 sentences!

Currently this month

This month of September...thanks Farley!

Happiness Now

I haven't been able to stop by my blog everyday...and that makes me sad.  :(  I have to find the time to reflect everyday!  That was one of my goals this school year!  So here I go on and on about what I have been doing lately....work and personal life!  Pics below are all I have to show right now.  LOL

• I am almost finished with my classroom (decorating, organizing and making routines)  
• Picture will be up tomorrow!

• I am keeping my math resource classroom organized and on task with "I CAN" statements.  My students know what needs to be mastered by day two of learning it.  It may sound like a lot for a resource room, but here is how I am doing it!  Since my students are 7th AND 8th graders performing below standards, 

           Day 1:  They are refreshed with the skill with 5th or 6th grade examples/demonstrations/practicing
           Day 2:  Class guidance and then IXL goals at the 6th or 7th grade level.  Then by the end of this class or by Day 3, my students are mastering the skill
           Day 3:  I work one on one with those that need the guidance and differentiate for those who are ready to go on the next skill.
           Day 4:  We are at a new skill!

So far, it has been working well.  Student's are motivated to get to the mastery level and are proud of their work.  Once skills are mastered, I type the skill out and post it on my bulletin board saying, "I Can" identify equivalent ratios!  (with the ixl goal added)

• My Resource Language Arts classroom is going good so far.  They are about to finish their own story of "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs"   They are wolf and telling the truth!  They enjoyed it by choosing their own setting, the pig's names, and even how they end story!  Moving onto a personal narrative next...
• Social Justice is making progress with our students.  We are moving onto meeting specific upstanders this week and students will present the person to the class!  
• I celebrated my nieces 3rd birthday this week/weekend!  
• My boyfriend and I had a yummy breakfast at Delia's Kitchen in Oak Park- MY FAVORITE! Then we are going to the city tonight to take a drive and go sit at the beach tonight.