This summer is quite different for me. Usually I kick off the summer with a trip to the beach to relax and unwind. Not this year! I hit the ground running in June and have hardly stopped to take a breath. Here are a few reasons why summer is keeping me hopping.
1) Catching Up with Friends at Workshops
It has been so much fun to visit with great friends at different trainings/workshops throughout the last month. Teacher friends really are the best!!
2) Gearing Up for Vegas!
There is just nothing like Vegas in July when teachers take over the city! This year I will be seeing lots of great pals at the SDE National Conferences for Differentiated Instruction, Kindergarten, and First Grade. It is an exhausting, but energizing week for me. I plan to attend the Blogger Meet Up on Wednesday night and hope to see lots of you there as well! By the way, I have handouts for the sessions posted on the right hand side of the blog under the yellow banner that says,”Lori’s Latest Links.” I am adding more resources daily so keep checking in with me!
3) Books I Am Reading
There is nothing I enjoy more than reading a new book! This summer I am reading both fun and professional titles. I am diving deeper into writing instruction for older students and reviewing key concepts about reading for elementary students. I am also taking time to relax and get lost in a sweet, funny story.
4) Getting the Birdie Ready to Leave the Nest
Probably the hardest part of this summer, but most rewarding is helping my daughter prepare to go to college in the fall. We are buying cute dorm room decorations, towels, and bedding. I am filling out financial aid applications as quick as my fingers will type and we are cherishing every minute together as a family. Such a bittersweet time for all of us, but we are excited about our baby girl’s new adventure!
5) NEW JOB!
As if we didn’t have enough changes going on around our house, I have just taken a new position as the Coordinator for 21st Century Literacy for Springfield Public Schools. I just moved into my new office and haven’t even had time to decorate it yet. It has been such a blessing to be able to travel all over the country and share ideas with teachers the last 3 years. What an awesome experience! I will continue to do workshops, conferences, and trainings throughout the year just not as many. This wonderful opportunity popped up and I had to take it because it involves the things I love most about teaching: Literacy, Technology, Teachers, and Students! I can’t wait to share with all of you the new things I am working on and learning this year.
