Curriculum Organization

My school corporation adopted a new reading curriculum this year.  We knew that there would be a lot of materials involved, but we didn't realize that they were spread out over a toooooooonnnnn of boxes, books, and manuals.

While browsing the wonderful world of Pinterest I stumbled upon this blog link where she explained how she organized all of the curriculum.  I was inspired, to say the least.  My team members decided to board the crazy train with me, however, and do theirs too!

Here are some photos to show what we did:

I went to Staples and bought 1 1/2" file POCKETS.   We chose the pockets so that nothing would fall out the sides like would happen with a file folder.  They cost around $30.00 total.  We color coded them by unit.  Each unit has 5 "lessons" (weeks).  The last week is rainbow because there were 6 folders of 5 colors.  

We bought Post-it label tabs (color coordinated, of couse) and labeled each lesson.  Lesson 1, Lesson 2, etc.

The Grab and Go booklet.  It has blackline masters, reproduceable materials, running records, assessments, etc.  There is one for each lesson (week).

We have 3 reading levels (below, on, above) and a vocabulary reader for  each lesson (week).  The lesson plans that go to each book are provided for us (woo hoo!!) so those are included in each folder as well.

Each 2nd grade lesson had 10 High Frequency Word cards

The cards were numbered, so it was easy to check and see if I was grabbing the correct ones for the lesson.

There were 4 retelling cards for each lesson.

There were 8 vocabulary cards for each lesson.  My only gripe with these are that they are NOT  labeled as to which lesson they go with so they will be a bear to file if they ever get out of order.

Here is the finished product.

So much neater! 

I have a picture of what it all looked like before, but it is being held hostage by my camera at school.  To be posted...

Laters!

Mrs. B

Dessert!

This dessert is wicked easy!  (I'm sensing a theme...?)  I made it for a gathering that was supposed to be on Saturday (according to Handsome Husband) but ended up being on Friday (ugh!!).  This dessert was such a hit that even my father-in-law had seconds.  **I'm told that this is a V.E.R.Y. rare occurrence.

Here is what you need:
2 boxes sugar free/fat free Cheesecake flavored pudding by Jello (I made 2 boxes but only used 1 1/2)
1 container Cool Whip (your choice...I've used fat free, sugar free, regular...I like sugar free the best)
your choice of fresh fruit (I used strawberries and blueberries)

 Make the pudding according to the instructions on the packaging.  I only used 1 and 1/2 boxes so I made both boxes and then scooped some out.  (I eyeballed it.)  Let it set in the fridge.

Once it has set (I waited overnight only because I thought we were going on Saturday...long story) take your pudding and mix one container of Cool Whip (of your choice) in completely.  (It will make the pudding into a sort of mousse.)

Leave the berries separate unless you want it to be more of a trifle.  When I served it I served them separate.  I scooped some of the pudding into a bowl and then put the berries on top of it with a little bit of the leftover Cool Whip (the second container).

This dessert is very light and easy to make and makes for a great summer dish!

Laters!

Mrs. B

Salsa Chicken!

No, I'm not talking about a fowl dancing around...I wish, though!  I start school tomorrow and this recipe is a staple in my school-year diet.  I get Handsome Husband to eat it, too!  I started making a lot of chicken ahead of time in the crock pot and freezing it last Christmas break.  However, I realized that I needed something easy to make and pack in my lunches during the week.

That is when salsa chicken was born.  I have used salsa to cook my chicken for a LONG time because it made a sort of sauce and kept the chicken juicy.  Once I got a Crock-Pot for our wedding I was able to perfect it!

Here's the recipe...it's wicked hard...you ready???

6 chicken breasts (I usually get the family pack from my local grocery store)
1 large jar of salsa

THAT'S IT!!!!!  I put the chicken breasts in the Crock-Pot, dump the salsa on top of them and then cook on low for 8-10 hours.  (I've noticed that they are cooked through at 8 hours but are waaayyy more tender at 10.  I think cooking them on low helps, too!)

When the chicken is done, shred it with two forks and scoop into your container of choice to keep in the refrigerator.  Handsome Husband and I eat this daily.  I eat it hot, cold, in lettuce leaves, with REALLY GOOD salsa from the Farmer's Market, with tomato sauce...the possibilities are endless!!!!

I have to make a note:  It says that I eat it with the good stuff...I cook it with the "eh" stuff to keep it tender!  The good stuff is for taste...mango, pineapple, or peach salsa anyone??

Laters!

Mrs. B

High Five for Friday!

Hooray for Friday!!  Boo that it is my last Friday of the summer as I start school on Tuesday...I'm wearing a happy frown.  I swear.  I also swear that it's entirely possible!

1.    I finally got my new curriculum organized!  More on that to come next week...

2.    I. LOVE. GROCERY. SHOPPING. I know...I'm a total dork, but I absoLUTEly love going to the store.  I am that dork that smiles at everyone and wanders the aisles contentedly.  I could seriously spend HOURS there.  I mean, don't get me wrong...I love regular shopping just fine.  However, there is something butterfly-in-the-belly, dopamine-releasing and just sheer euphoria-inducing about buying groceries.  Don't judge me...what's your vice??

3.    Hello Cycle 2 on The 17 Day Diet!  I am super excited to be able to eat something other than asparagus, bell peppers and broccoli.

4.    Handsome Husband and I were inducted into our local Elk's lodge.  We were the youngest in attendance by about 25 years.  Excited!

5.    I have been obsessed with this soundtrack lately.  I accidentally found it in my CD player from MONTHS ago and cannot. stop. listening. to. it.  Again...don't judge me.  Just jam out with me! 

Don't forget to check out Lauren's post over at From My Grey Desk.

Laters!

Mrs. B

Stepping Stone Class

So, a few weeks ago a woman from my church had a bunch of women over to her house to make stepping stones.  She gave Handsome Husband and I a beautiful one for our wedding last year.

When I heard that we were going to be able to make our own I jumped at the idea!  I decided to make one with our house number (and my birthday) on it.  I have to point out that it is also my birthday since people were worried that I would never get to use it again if we moved...double duty!!  It was a great morning with some great friends (and my momma) spent having some fun and being creative.

The mirrored image of my stone.  Sorry for the orientation...I couldn't figure out how to flip it.  The top of the image is the left and the bottom is the right.

I chose to use the same rich red as our original stone to have some continuity, but I changed the surrounding glass from white glass to mirror.  She had special tools that we used to cut the glass into smaller pieces.  First thing you had to do was spray the interior of the container with cooking spray, then line it with contact paper (sticky side up).  Once your contact paper is in the container you place your glass in the design you want but mirrored so that it will go the right way when all is said and done.  My friend then mixed up some concrete and poured it into our containers and left to harden for a few days.

Here are some photos of my little friend J mixing the concrete...he is such a manly man!  So cute.

Isn't' he just the cutest???!!!

Once the concrete had cured and everything had been cleaned off I had a wicked cute stepping stone/street number for our front porch!

Don't mind the ugly step...they are waaaayyyy better looking than they were last year!

I love the way the mirror looks with the rich red of the glass.  You can't tell in the picture but my numbers curve out a bit because of the container that they were in.  It looks pretty cool in person...but don't go stalking me to see it for yourself!

Laters!

Mrs. B

Nutter Butter Balls!

Yummo, yummers, yummerifico.  That is the ONLY way to describe the culinary magnitude of this creation.   (And a little bit ugly...but, they taste awesome so that is the only thing that matters!)

I got this recipe from the amazing world of Pinterest.  It was kind of a no-brainer that I was going to have to make these once I happened upon it.  I made Oreo Balls for a Christmas get-together and for some of my local firemen (our friend works there :)) and they were super easy!  These were just as easy.

I differed from her recipe a bit.  Here is what I used:
one 8 oz. package of neufchâtel cheese (it's in the cream cheese section...it has less fat which is why I used it.)
one package of Nutter Butter cookies (use all but 5...it will get too dry if you use them all)
two packages of Nestlè Tollhouse semi-sweet baking chips (I didn't use it all but darn near close.)
one package of Resee's Peanut Butter baking chips (I didn't use all of this either.)

First, crush all but 5 of your cookies.  I used Handsome Husband's new blender (Kitchenaid).  I just bought it for him and was wicked skeptical of it's food processor capabilities.  I was pleasantly surprised!  It was actually better than the food processor attachment from his old blender!  (Like, waaayyyy better.  Awesome!)  You can also put them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

Next, I put the crushed up madness into my stand mixer along with the block of neufchâtel cheese. (Don't forget!!!  You can use regular cream cheese if your heart desires.)  I needed to wait a few minutes for the cheese to soften up a bit.  I mixed it on low, scraping the side of the bowl a few times using my handy-dandy bowl scraper (a stocking gift from my momma) until the cheese was completely incorporated.

Roll the "dough" into one-inch balls.  I approximated so some are bigger and some are smaller.  No biggie.  The original recipe said that it would make approximately 30 balls...I didn't count but I am assuming that it's true!  I lined a baking sheet with tin foil (wicked easy clean-up) and ended up needing a plate for a few.  (Make sure you line the plate too or else they will stick like the dickens and have to be hammered off in an unsightly fashion.)

Put them in the fridge to harden up for a bit.  I left them in there while I cooked and ate dinner (so about an hour).

When they have cooled, use a sauce pan with about an inch of water in it and a clean glass bowl to create a double boiler and melt the chocolate.  Make sure that NO WATER GETS INTO THE BOWL!!  It will cause the chocolate to seize up (meaning it won't melt and will have a horrendous texture.).

When the chocolate has melted, put a few balls in at a time and roll them around until they have been fully coated.  I use two forks for this part so that the balls don't have a TON of chocolate on them.  Put them back on the lined baking sheet or plate.  (This is where things got a bit, uh, sticky with the plate being unlined...once the chocolate hardened, they were set for life!)

Give them a half hour in the fridge to harden again.  While you're waiting you can do your dishes, call your mom, watch some TV, do some laundry...the possibilities are endless!  I chose to wash my dishes since I needed to use them for this next part.  Once they were washed and TOTALLY dry (since you can't get any water in melting chocolate, you know) I melted the Reese's Peanut Butter chips to make a nice drizzle on the top of my balls (which I think I should have called truffles at this point...but if you're like me, you got a nice giggle out of saying balls so many times. :))  This is where it got ugly.  The peanut butter chips didn't melt very well, so it ended up globbed on top.

Handsome Husband said that they still tasted great.  I think he just felt lucky that I let him have any at all!!!  They will spend the night in the fridge where they will be safe (I hope) until tomorrow where they will be debuted at a party for my new principal.

Until tomorrow!

Mrs. B