Happy F4F....it's last day of February already?

Is it just me, or is 2014 zooming along?

Wowzers.

I am excited because we are inching toward summer....but before we get there my school is gearing up for state testing NEXT WEEK.

I.need.more.time.

However, this week I have been dragging my feet. I even waited until today, the last possible day, to complete my annual car inspection.

Shame, shame shame!!!


But I did take a "sick day". 
ahem...*cough* 

I did drive to Virginia to see my family & friends.

AND I DID WAKE UP EARLY <--- gahhhh!

and my inspection was a success! 

Woop! Woop!


Luckily I go in and out early, or i wouldn't be online as we speak, errr....type?   to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for one of my favorite addictions.

*does the cabbage patch*

Time to "get up on" it....




New Techy Toy: Since I jumped back into tinkering on design programs I decided to get a new Wacom. I had one back in college but I BARELY used it. I am excited to play around with it and create some clipart! Hopefully, once I get the hang of it again, I can create some awesome things for other teachers to use...stay tuned!!!



Reality Addiction:OHEMGEE! Have you guys seen this show? It has me hooked! Basically, it is a show that MTV "dreamed up" where 20 singles who suck at relationships are living in a house...

Kinda like a cross of Real World and a matchmaking show of some sort.

Anyway, they used science to match them and if they figure out the pairs then they when 1 million dollars to split!

What!!!!

It sounds like easy money, right?

Too bad they suck at relationships. It has been SO INTERESTING to see the wrong choices they have made though. lol

And they are getting pretty close.

Well closer.

I don't want to spoil it for you (just yet) so check it out!



Black History Literature Spotlight: To celebrate African American literature the Intermediate Grade Levels (4-6) came around to read to the K-3 classrooms. My class got the chance to meet Pedro, a 5th grade ESOL and TAG (gifted/talented). He was super shy at first, but my kiddos love stories and eventually he was at home with us. It was pretty awesome!! At the end we gave Pedro "the Rollercoaster" cheer and 5 Tiger Paws (school incentive money).

Thank you for visiting us Pedro!!!



Total Book Nerd: I got a new book this week!!! I absolutely love Terry McMillian. What attracted me to it first was the bright yellow cover. I picked it up and headed straight out!

I'm lying. I stalk Barnes and Noble and look for hours. I carried it around for an hour and had to make myself put other books down.

Book Nerd.

Anyway, so far it is pretty good. It has random (o_O) moments but if you are a fan of her work, you'll love it.

My mom tried to take it as soon as she saw it.

Book Nerd UNITED.




Ms. Clean Desktop: I created a desktop organizer this week as well.

Yes, I have been busy.

I created one for a friend as well. They both have a cute little teacher from a "Create A Teacher" kit I got off Tpt. It is by Melonheadz, ever heard of her?

PLEASE!! Who hasn't? 4 out of 5 teacher bloggers are probably Melonheadz Addicts!

Her clipart is super cute.


Anyway, I will be selling custom desktop organizers in my tpt store! Before I do, I would like to create some samples. 

Anyone interested? 

Go to my sidebar and hit "Join this Site".

Follow me.

Then post a comment with the link to your blog and email. I will contact you to get the info you want for your desktop organizer.

YES I will do it for FREE.

But I am only looking for 5 PEOPLE.




Okay, that is my 5-cap of my week. To link up, head on over to Doodle Bugs Teaching and BRAG about five awesome things from this week.

I love to be nosey and see what others are doing.


One more thing.....

One of my closest friends sent me a "pick-me-up" meme on instagram.


I thought it was hilarious.


P.S.- I GOT THE LIEBSTER THIS WEEK! #six4friday

Oh Yea...Liebster Baby!



I was nominated for the Liebster Award…woop woop! Thank you soo much  to Angela at Southern Fried Teaching for nominating me! This is my first blog award!!!





They love me!! They really, really love me!


For those of you bloggers who are new, or have lived under a rock for a while, the Liebster Award is a pretty big deal. It’s the Egg McMuffin of buttons that new bloggers wanna grab for their sidebar.

Lol, not really…but it is pretty cool.

Here is the dealie-oh:

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.

Here are the rules for receiving this award:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions that the tagger set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you’ve tagged to answer.
3. Choose 5-11 people and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them.
5. No tag backs!


Now that you are up to speed, here goes…..

Let’s get Random, with 11 facts


1.  I do everything left handed besides iron and use scissors because my mom taught me those things and she is a righty.
2.  I once spent a whole summer watching E! True Hollywood story
3.  If I could go back to college for free, I would study archaeology.
4.  I have been 5ft 11 since I my early teens.
5.  I was born with my thumb in my mouth.
6.  I can have a full conversation using only movie lines.
7.  My initials are E.T, and my sister told me to “phone home” every day until I was about 12.
8.  I have had the same close friends for over a decade.
9.  When I am bored I create on Photoshop
10. I am addicted to linky parties, frozen apple juice and romantic comedies.
11. I am terrified of rollercoasters, pools deeper than 5 ft and public speaking.
12. I am sometimes bad at following directions.




Questions from Southern Fried Teaching


1.What is one of your favorite teaching memories?

It would have to be my teacher ticket recovery story. My first year, I taught 5th grade in Houston, Texas. I wanted to get my kiddos a treat so on the way to work I stopped at Walgreens. As I BARELY pulled out of the store parking lot a cop swooped in (sirens wailing) and pulled me over. It was the end of the month so of course I was his/her next “quota ticket”.  

*eyes rolling*

The cop comes to my car and gives me the whole “license & registration blah” ….

Sidenote: It may not sound like it but I was pretty polite. I was confused and REALLY tryna figure out why I was pulled over.

As I reached for my information, I guess he caught glimpse of my work lanyard and polo.

“Ma’am are you a teacher?” 

I say yes and continue to look through my junky gloveless compartment.

When I look up, the cop tips his hat (LITERALLY) and starts to walk away.

“Thank you for all you do. Make sure to click your lights on.”

Whaa?? No ticket for me.




FYI: I smile EVERY time I tell someone that teaching got me out of a ticket.

2. What is your favorite school lunch?
Confession: I NEVER really eat school lunch, but my favorite that I have seen as a teacher is Frito Pie. Frito Pie is literally a bag of plain Frito’s with chili mixed in. I thought it was the most horrible thing I have ever heard of but the kids seemed to love it.

3. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Lots of things! I am a BIG Sudoku nerd, I play around on Photoshop, blogstal-browse….um I am a big reality TV junkie, and I like to crafts, mainly with crayon art. Oh and two words: SOCIAL+ MEDIA (o_O)

4. What song gets you up and going and puts a smile on your face?
I have to choose one? Gaaahhhhhh!!!! I think right now it would have to be “Go Get It” by Mary Mary.  I love the message it has about pursuing your blessings.

5. If you had to give any advice to a new teacher, what would you say?
I would have to say ask questions and do not be afraid to ask for support. College does not prepare you for every scenario. Each classroom is case by case. It is important to keep that in mind.

6. What is a simple review activity that you do in your classroom?
As a simple check for understanding we use the Parking Lot. I ask them simple questions about what we learned that day, or a review and they respond on a post it. The Parking Lot Anchor Chart has cars and lanes for them to place their post-it response.

7. What is the best teacher gift you have ever received?
I went back and forth about whether I should have made this my favorite memory, but I decided it was a gift. I was relocating from Houston to go back to school, after my first year as a teacher. I was feeling pretty down (read my teaching testimony for more info) about how my first year went. I bummed around for a day just to detox, not taking any calls or watching tv.

The next morning I realized I had a missed call. I checked my voicemail and it was from Mrs. T, a parent of one of my students that year. Ms. T called to thank me for being her daughter’s teacher.  She felt her daughter had grew so much and she appreciated the classroom culture, environment and my teaching style. Ms. T thanked me for making her feel like she was more involved in her daughters learning and predicted that great things were coming for me as I journeyed back to the East Coast. 

That message was my favorite gift… I will never forget it.

8. What is one piece of advice you really wish you could give to parents?
There are ways to reinforce student learning and social skills at home and on weekends so that when students return to school, especially from breaks and holidays, it does not feel like they have been reprogrammed. Learning is not just Mon-Fri between 7:15 and 1:55. 

9. What do you love about blogging?
I love the connections I have made as a blogger this short time I have been exposed to the blogoshpere. And even though we barely know each other, I have soo many bloggy buddies I call unofficial mentors -who-don't-know-it, who have been through what I have been through and can give me so much useful advice and cool ideas. What I love most is I have learned so many “tips of the trade” from these teachers, who are not only statewide, but are also nationwide. There is definitely learning happening in you guys classrooms. You rock!

10. How do bring laughter into the classroom?
I have to be honest. I am a big geek. And it comes across in my classroom, just as much as it has in my posts...and in person with my friends/family. As a teacher, my creativity always pulls a laugh in. If I wanna do a little jig to get my point across, I will. I sing (break out in song), I rap and make sound effects. We do classroom culture cheers. WE ALWAYS KISS OUR BRAINS. I wear thematic clothes. Whatever it takes. I also encourage the students to participate. And I feel in turn, they are themselves and not afraid to make mistakes because I am myself. We have rules and expectations (Our Class Core Values) but I make sure they know that learning (and growing our brains) can be a fun thing to do.

11. What is your favorite book to read to your students?

Did somebody say book? gahhh!!!!

I am going to preface my response with this:

I do not have just one favorite book to read to my students. 

But if I “just have to” choose one, it would be “Oh the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss. It is such a motivator. I read it at the end of every year, no matter what grade I teach. It was read to me my senior year of high school and it just stuck with me.


My Nominee’s

1.  Sarah at The Wanderlust Teacher
2.  Reddishann at The Reddish-Brown Crayon
3.  Dominique at Mommy at the Teacher’s Desk
4.  Kim at Life Over C’s
5.  Katie at Glitter Glue & Giggles

I chose these people because I love their blogs design and/or content, resources and tips. I have blogstal-browsed each and every one! I love bloggers that are "down to earth" for lack of better words at the moment. I provided a link to each blogger so that you can check them out!


Questions for my Nominees


1. What inspires you to blog? 

2. What food are you proud you tried, but would never eat again?
3. How has your teaching style changed from your first year?
4. What person, in any place or time period, would you trade places with for a day?
5. What do you hope readers take away from your blog?
6. What is the best teacher gift you have ever received?

7. What are three items you cannot live without? Why?

8. If you could choose one subject to NOT teach the remainder of your teaching career, what would you choose and why?

9. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?  

10. What book character would you be and why?

11. If you could choose one song as the theme song for the 2013-2014 school year so far, what would it be and why?



Nominee's.....if you ACCEPT please comment and let me know. I will hop on over to your blog and check out your responses when you are finish. Make sure you read the Liebster info at the top of this post.


Before I go, check this out.....





I wouldn't be me if I didn't "do up" my own little button.

XOXO.

Sunday Funday: I am addicted to Linky Parties

I can say it...because I DO admit it.

My name is Emerald, and I am ADDICTED TO LINKY PARTIES.

Okay now that is settled.... I found a linky for Sundays!! Two bloggers Deirdre (A Burst of First) and Molly (Lucky to Be in First) have teamed up to create:



Isn't it uber presh?

Anyway, you are suppose to talk about something you are excited about from our week. 

I have to choose one thing??

gahhhh.....


Since I have been back into Photoshop and joined the bloggy world....

ummm...gahhh!!!

Okay, it would have to be my OWN linky....... 


The Educare Package




I am excited because it should be super awesome!! 

Getting to know other bloggers and getting cool stuff in the mail are two of my favorite things.

Wanna know more? Then click here


Or ........


SIGN UP HERE


After you check out the awesomeness that is my linky and get excited about it too, and grab the button..... AND SIGN UP...

PLEASE PLEASE link up with Molly and Deirdre... You can "get up on" the Sunday Funday Linky from either of their blogs! Here they are again:

Deirdre (A Burst of First



Until next Sunday ya'll :-)

I am GRATEFUL for.....

Hello, Hello!!  

Did you miss me?

Yesterday I received the nicest post comment from a new bloggy buddy name Angela at Southern Fried Teaching.

Is that not the most clever blog name guys?

But anyway, Angela posted her first linky party and I had to "get up on it." It is called.....




I love this. I think sometimes when the school year is buzzing by, and life "happens" everywhere, I do not stop to think about the good things I have going! I was just thinking about this EXACT thing and then I find out about this linky.

That rocks.

So here goes......

I AM GRATEFUL FOR...

My school- I have a school that is full of student-centered learning, teacher support and parent involvement. This NOT something I could say a few years ago. I think that this school year is showing me the many possibilities I have to make a difference, and the school I am now working at is helping me grow into the teacher that will change lives.

*Smiles*

My Mother- I do not even know what t type here to tell you all how grateful I am for my mother. She is a wonderful woman!!!!! It goes without saying that I want to be just like her one day.


Creativity- If you know me outside the bloggy world you know how much my brain is always turning. My hands are always moving and I am always DOING something! I can only thank God for that! I am grateful to be given the talent that I have and the ideas that have me zipping and zooming. 

My Friends- I have an awesome support system. My friends are truly there for me. They are my family. I have had the same group of friends for YEARS and YEARS and they are just as awesome as when we first met. They know what to say and not say, or do and not do when I need them to. If I do not say it enough, I am grateful for ALL of you. 

Life's Lessons- I have sure had my share of those! The thing is, there is always ALWAYS something to gain from them. And when I finally just stop, and let the lesson's happen, I learn something that helps me move closer to when I need to go.  Pay no attention to any random adult tantrum I may have, before I get to letting the lesson happen.....it tend to dig my heels in from time to time!!

Okay, now.....

What are you grateful for? Head over to Southern Fried Teaching and link up with Angela. While you are there, browse a little. She is teaching in Korea right now.!!! Find out why.....

It's Five 4 Friday!!!


Created by Veronica Maria Jarski
Anybody feel like this at some point this week? 

I DEFINITELY did.
 
Needless to say, I am ecstatic to see the weekend. 

And in celebration of such, I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for another Five 4 Friday Linky Party!



Power Towers Update: As you may have read in my Mathematical Monday post, I created some Math Power Towers for my classroom.

You can find information about Power Towers here.

Anyway, my kiddos LOVED.THEM.

Every morning it's " Ms. Tidwell can we do Addition/Multiplication cupstacking? I can solve faster this time!"
It's too.freaking.cute.





photo rights belong to MTV



Teen Wolf Mania: Any Teen Wolf watchers out there in bloggyland? I am soooo hooked on that show! I tuned in every Monday night on MTV.

Spoilers Alert!!!

What is up with Stiles? I was AT THE EDGE of my seat when he pulled a foxy trickster on Scott. 

And I hope Kira is okay.

Did anyone expect Deaton to be there? He may be the one to save Stiles....

But next week's preview has that up in the air.

Oh, and what about Peter's secret daughter? How is he Malia's real dad?

She wasn't a wolf, she was a coyote Werecoyote.

Whatever that is.

My head was spinning this week from all the random pieces.

I can't wait until next Monday.





Buffalo Winged BLISS: Not much to say here....

Except I cooked THE BEST tasting Buffalo Wings ever.

IN THE WORLD. With cut-up celery sticks.

Yummmy.






Creative Culture Masks: In our district, we do not have an art class/teacher. Our art teacher works with three different schools so we only see her once a semester. My kiddos were super excited to see her today!


We made African Masks!

Here are more pictures. Aren't they the cutest?












Introducing EduCARE: I am SOOO excited to introduce my new #linkup,The EduCARE Package. 

The EduCARE Package is about making connections with Edubloggers everywhere, for the purpose of encouragement and support, resources and goodies.

Click my {the EduCARE Package} tab for the complete "dealie-oh"

I am opening the sign-up now, A WEEK EARLY, because I am TOO EXCITED!!!

Don't forget to grab the button and share with your bloggy buddies!!


*90's sitcom credits tune*


Okay that's five...what a feat!!!

I had so much going on this week, it was hard to choose 5....

What are five highlights from your week?

Head on over to Doodle Bugs Teaching and "get up on" this linky. I would love to read what you have to say.




P.S- DON'T FORGET TO CHECKOUT EDUCARE!!!