Winter Break

I made it!  

Well, to winter break that is, but a much needed break. 

It's these small little breaks that always help me get through each school year.  It's going VERY well, don't get me wrong, but having something to look forward to makes it that much sweeter.

The holidays always bring with them a sense of happiness and craziness all rolled up in one.  The Christmas music, decorations, and snow glistening all around. And then of course, everyone in a panic to be out and buying ALL THE THINGS last minute!  

SO GLAD we're past the 'gift buying' stage. I don't miss that. 

Can you say, minimalism?  

Anyway, I'm enjoying being able to have some extra time to relax and dive back into some of my hobbies that get pushed aside once the school year starts.  I mean, 2 months since I last wrote a post, and even longer since I created a resource for TpT!  I have been able to keep up with my knitting though!  

I finished a blanket for a friend. 

Hard to tell in the picture, but it's a soft pink blush color:

It's the Horseshoe Cable pattern my mom taught me!  It's the first blanket I was determined to learn and I'm finally to the point where I'm not making mistakes while knitting!  I'm already almost done with another one too.  It's easier to sit and knit while we watch a show or binge watch a docu-series, than to work on my computer. 

I've found knitting to be very therapeutic for me, especially when my brain is spinning and I feel like I HAVE TO be doing SOMETHING.  It's hard for me to sit still. To do nothing.  And it's very rewarding in the end because I have a blanket to show for it!  

Although, at this point I think Ty is getting a little irritated with ALL the blankets we have now! Ha ha!  Good thing Mishka loves them! 

Moving on...

During this break I've also planned a quick getaway for us to Banff!! 

You've seen the pictures right?

Small little quaint town.

Gorgeous mountains all around.

Pristine blue lakes...

Shall I go on?

Fingers crossed it's not too cold and snowy, but I'm hopeful that'll be worth it if it is!  We don't usually travel by car on our 'trips', so it'll be an interesting 7ish hours of driving to get there.  It'll be fine.  

We'll be there for New Year's Eve which will be something different too.  In our old age (Haha- I know, Ty has a couple months until he joins the 40 club), but we usually just stay in and have to muster up the strength to even stay awake until midnight for the countdown!  

I know, lame.

So I thought I'd change it up this year.

I've planned a few hikes to fill the time, and hopefully distract Ty from the cold... and there's a gondola ride up to the top of Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station that has a pretty cool look out.  Fingers crossed it's a clear day, you look down upon Banff and out across all the surrounding mountains.  I'm excited.  It'll be something different, and I LOVE being outdoors and seeing new places. Even if every picture will have us bundled up and only our eyes poking through the layers.  

So yeah, that'll be fun. Hopefully! 

Switching gears from winter break, I've been working on some  TpT resources since the school year started.  Resources that I'm using in the gym myself, and constantly changing or making better.  I'm so grateful for being back at ONE school and getting to use my resources across multiple grade levels! 

Here's a little bit of what I've been using and working on.

This year we're doing our Fitness Testing a little different than in the past.  Usually you measure the kids in 4 different areas and they receive a score, or a grade depending on their result.  Well this year, we'll do those same measurements, but instead of getting a score for their result, the focus will be on the growth they achieve over the year.  More of a goal-setting focus and being able to monitor and analyze their own growth.  

So. Much. Better!

I mean that's what we do as adults right?  We set goals and work towards achieving them, or changing things if they're not working out.

And that's what I'm HOPING to teach them in PE, how to lead a healthy lifestyle that is LIFELONG, and not just while they're in school.

You know I love goal-setting!  That's like the epitome of me!  

As soon as I heard this was where Fitness Testing was going, I knew I wanted to start creating a resource that would not only keep track of these measurements, but be organized and efficient at the same time! 

These are the pictures I shared with my colleagues so they could use the resources as well:

I started by making a folder for EVERY student at school.  

Yes, I know, that was like some 300ish folders. 

Check out this reel I created as a joke:

Funny Reel Creating the Folders

It was quite a bit of work at first, 

multiple trips to Costco for ink cartridges, 

but now that it's done they work perfectly! 

Each grade level is color coded to help keep them organized too!

 

I use these enlarged recording sheets while we're completing our 

Fitness Measurements so it's easier for the kids to follow along. 

I also organized EACH class into their own crate 

(good 'ol IKEA magazine holders I had from teaching in the classroom.  

Much better use than in boxes in my basement!)

With cute labels of course! 

After they complete their Fitness Measurements the intermediate 

students will then need to choose an area  they're going to improve.  

They will write a SMART goal using this organizer sheet. 

I use my old easel from the classroom to hang the enlarged 

recording sheets and set out all the materials.  

It was a pretty efficient system and I'm happy with how it turned out! 

We finished our first round of Fitness Measurements before winter break, 

so after we get back it'll be time for the intermediate students 

to identify their area for improvement and write their SMART goal! 

Check out the resource here:

SMART Goals - Fitness Testing - Components of Fitness - Bulletin Board

And don't forget, 

that bulletin board that I posted in my previous post, 

is included in this resource too:

I'll continue to adjust and make changes as I use this resource myself, but I'm very proud with how it's working so far!  I hope it works for others too! 

Okay, what else?

Well, when I knew I needed to make a resource for our Fitness Testing I knew I'd need some posters to help introduce and constantly review the Components of Fitness (COF) that we'd be testing! 

I created some posters and a bulletin board (see previous post) for that too!

When I looked online they had some resources already, but nothing that really caught my attention.  A lot of resources use clipart that is mixed up between real images and cartoon-ish people.  Nothing wrong with them, I just envisioned something different for my gym.  I also wanted to use the cute fonts that would match the other posters in the space. 

Here's what I created:

I created these little 'characters' for each component of fitness.  

I use them throughout the gym when I label stations or activities 

that we're doing so they make the connection between 

what we're learning and which COF they're working on.

I also created posters with a short definition that I refer to 

ALL THE TIME 

hoping it'll sink in eventually!

Did you notice the little 'characters' are the same ones as on the 

Fitness Measurement recording sheets in the other resource?  

Yeah, I know. Super dorky.

It's the little things that make me happy. 

I love how it's all connected and as I make more 

resources I want them all to be cohesive. 

Check out the resource here: 

Components of Fitness - Health Related - Posters & Bulletin Board

Those have been 2 BIG resources that I've created this year now that I'm at ONE building and can have cohesive lessons across grade levels.  Did I mention how LUCKY I feel to be back at my 'home' school?  Okay, sorry, I just have to pinch myself sometimes because it doesn't seem real how it's all happened.  

Everything happens for a reason.

I'm such a believer of that.  Even though I sometimes don't appreciate it in the moment, I try to trust it's part of the process, and it's only after the fact, when reflecting upon a situation do I realize the weight of the moment. 

Wow, if you're still reading to this point, I'm sorry it's SO LONG!

Making up for lost time?

Maybe a good new year's resolution: 

Post more frequently so they don't have to be SO long each time!

I'm not usually one to create new year's resolutions.  I'm constantly working on and setting goals for myself.  I don't need a new year to remind me to do so!  Ha ha!  But maybe what I can do is create a reminder on my calendar to write a post. At least once a month.  I can increase if it's going well.  

So for today, I'll wrap it up.  Who knows, maybe I'll even get back on during this winter break and surprise myself with another post?!

Thanks for following along this far!

As always, remember to FIND YOUR BALANCE friends,

Shelby

Fall is here!

Can't believe it's already the end of October.  Tomorrow is Halloween and then it's onto a new month.  

November means holidays are JUST around the corner! 

Ugh! 

Bring on the rush. 

The busyness.  

The craziness of weekends and counting down until Christmas.  

Christmas!

Okay.

Let's pump the brakes a little bit. 

Before I flip the calendar into November, let me take a moment to reflect on these past two months. Starting another school year and all the resources I've been working on, while trying to FIND MY BALANCE along the way.

Okay, here goes! 

End of August... I started by COMPLETELY clearing out and reorganizing my PE office.  Literally pulled EV-ER-Y-THING out of the office and onto the gym floor.

Yes. 

It was A LOT!  

Right?

A LOT! 

I couldn't just rearrange all the equipment and make sense of ALL the stuff until it was OUT and I had a clean slate to work with. 

It was A LOT of work, but work and sweat well spent!  I'm so glad I bit the bullet so to speak and just rolled up my sleeves and got to work. 

Now I know EXACTLY what equipment I have, and where it is.  As I've been teaching for a couple months now, I can honestly say that it makes my heart super happy and content walking into my space and seeing it all organized.  Plus it helps save me SO MUCH TIME when planning my lessons and getting supplies organized. 

It looks like this now:

Doesn't that just give you a sense of... calm?  

Like take a breath. 

Ahhhhh.

As weird as it sounds, when things get crazy at school or behaviors with students start to bubble, I CLEAN.

I start to organize and clean.

Therefore, starting the school year with a clean slate helps me to find balance. 

Currently I'm working to organize and label these shelves.  I just printed the last of the labels I need and will put them on tomorrow when I'm back to work. 

As I cleared the gym of ALL the equipment it was then time to update the WALLS!  I had already cleared all the old posters and banners at the end of the school year in June.  

Again. 

Blank slate.

Being in the classroom I've learned that the more things I hang and have plastered on the wall, simply become camouflage over time.  

Knowing that, I wanted to go with LESS IS MORE in the gym space, and BIGGER is BETTER!

So I started to create big blocks of space that would be used for bulletin boards of information.  I wanted to incorporate some of the resources I'd been creating for TpT and that I thought I'd need for the school year. 

Remember, this is my FIRST year  being at ONE school and teaching ALL grade levels!  I knew I was going to be doing a little bit of 'building the plane while I fly'! 

It's still a work in progress, but I get that happy heart feeling each day I walk into my gym and I LOVE IT! 

Two months in, and I STILL find myself feeling happy when I walk in AND leave the gym each day. 

I really am blessed to be back at my 'home' school teaching PE!  Cheers to Year 14 being a fresh start and the beginning of my Health & Fitness journey! 

Phew!

Thanks for continuing this far... it was a lot.

More to come in another post!  I've been working on my PE resources for TpT and want to be able to share with others! 

As always, remember to FIND YOUR BALANCE friends,

Shelby

Last Weeks of Summer

Another summer break is about finished.  Where did the time go?  

Oh yeah.  Weekends at the lake. Endless hours on the couch knitting.  Multiple days just relaxing without worry about the day or time.  It's been nice.  As much as I need each summer break to refuel and recharge for a new school year, I've also been using the time to create new resources for the upcoming school year.  

Welcome To Our Class Letter

First Day Jitters Activities 

I Dream of Being Activities

Growth Mindset Bulletin Board & Activity

1st Day of School Signs

Thanks for Poppin' In tags

See! All the things you need to start the school year, right? I always LOVED putting together the Welcome To Our Class letter and goodie bags.  The anticipation of waiting for my newest set of kids to walk in and see them waiting at their desk was so exciting for me.  

Having all my anchor charts pre-made and ready to be filled in with student responses. Even the popcorn bags for Open House or a Back-to-School Night all prepared with ribbons tied and tucked neatly in a basket.  It's like the CALM before the STORM.  

Of course this year will be different for me. Year 14 of teaching and I'm in MY OWN gym!  Yea! Last year I traveled between 4 different schools and shared the gym space with the other Health & Fitness teachers.  I'm SO lucky to be back at the school where I was teaching in the classroom.  I'm looking forward to seeing my colleagues, previous students, their families, and the community. Nothing like being back at home. 

With that said, I'm going to start transitioning from working on classroom resources to creating and focusing on Health & Fitness resources.  I've already started a handful of projects for back-to-school and look forward to creating many more.  

Here's a sneak peek! 

I'm working to create some FUN bulletin board ideas.

As well as creating some Fitness Measurements sheets and folders to organize ALL THE THINGS that we'll use when creating, monitoring, and reflecting on our SMART goals this year.  

More details to come soon! 

As much as I want to be back at school setting up my own space  [I CAN'T WAIT to reorganize the gym office and equipment. Can you say LABELS. ON. EVERY. THING!],  I'm going to try and soak up these last few weeks of summer without doing too much 'school' work.  I'm sure there'll be a little TpT'n in there.  There always is, but at least it's relaxing. 

As always, remember to Find your Balance!

Shelby 

End-of-the-Year Memory Book

We're in the homestretch.  

The countdown is underway... only 26 days until Summer Break! 

We can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Every year is different and yet the same as well.  You start the year all cheerful and excited.  The holidays in the beginning help you to push through.  Then there's the hope of Spring Break to looks towards... and finally the long stretch until Summer Break!  

Somehow any craziness that happens throughout the year is blocked out and hidden away as you just put your head down and fight through the last weeks to finish.  Then by some secret magic or maybe a hidden talent we teachers have, the summer refuels our bodies and reenergizes us to start all over again!  Yes, we're probably a bit crazy to do this job day in and day out. It's draining, frustrating, and tiring every day.  But, OH SO REWARDING! 

So, how do we make it through these last weeks while maintaining our sanity?  FUN and EXCITING activities of course!  Every year I always looked forward to creating a Memory Book for students to fill out and reflect upon our year.  

Somehow students have the AMAZING capability to remember all those funny, embarrassing, and nothing to do with academics, moments that happen in our classrooms.  It's in activities like these that we're reminded of all the JOYS of teaching, and therefore reminded of how it's all worth it! 

Over the years I've mix and matched and recreated pages to put together for an end-of-the-year Memory Book for my students and their families.  I say their families because I included A LOT of pictures, art work, and other 'memorabilia' that create more of a keepsake of our year together.  

After starting to create resources on TpT, I knew I wanted to create a new Memory Book so others would have the chance to create these keepsakes for their students as well.  I'm hoping to add on to this resource with activities to complete throughout the entire school year, and not just remembering at the end of the year, but that'll have to wait until I have more free time. AKA Summer Break! 

So, what did I come up with?  14 different pages to complete as the end of the year comes to a close.  Each Memory Book includes a cover page for your specific grade level as well.  Simply print the pages and staple together for an easy NO PREP activity to use in the last weeks of school.  

OR.. you can step it up a notch and create more of a 'keepsake' for your students and their families by completing the cover first and then laminating and binding them into a booklet with the pages inside.   This option takes just a little prep on your part, but a handy volunteer can easily laminate covers if possible, as well as binding the booklets!  Then they're ready to hand out and have students work on the Memory Book pages inside.  

Here's a 4th grade Cover example:

After coloring:

Here's a 6th grade Cover example that's been laminated and bound into a booklet:

Memory Book pages:  (includes 2 autograph pages not pictured)

Memory Books are a fun way to wrap up at the end of the year.  Students enjoy filling out each page with their memories and reflect on all their learning.  It helps to give closure to the school year as well and beginning to think about next year.  

Having independent work that students actually want to complete is invaluable at this point in the school year!  Am I right?

Here's the link to check out this resource and start incorporating this fun activity to your end of the year traditions.  Plus it gives students and their families a keepsake to remember the year. Win win! 

End-of-the-Year Memory Book

Let me know if you check it out and how it works?  Are there pages you would like to have added?  Let me know that too, and I can always revise to make it better!  

Thanks for reading this far... enjoy the rest of the school year teacher friends.  We can do this, we're almost there!  

Find your balance,

Shelby

Summer Essentials Goodie Bag & tag

Spring is among us!  Although here in the PNW you might think it's still winter with our 32 degree weather this week.  After being down in Mexico [Puerto Vallarta] last week for Spring Break, it's been quite the contrast to the 85 degrees and sunshine we were soaking up.  

Returning from Spring Break always marks the countdown! AKA the end-of-the-year at school. I can't believe it's already time to start counting down!  

I've been working on updating an end-of-the-year teacher gift that I originally created for a teacher friend that was retiring.  Back in 2012! Here's the original post if you want to check it out:

Teacher Retirement Gift. 

Here's what the OLD 'Summer Essentials' tag and gift looked like:

I needed to bring it 'up to date' with a digital version to say the least, but I'm excited with how the NEW one turned out!  

I created two versions of the tag to better meet everyones' needs.  The first 'Summer Essential' tag works perfectly for a teacher, volunteer, student-teacher, or even that favorite colleague!  The second version is specific for that retired teacher! 

What better way to say THANK YOU and send them off to summer vacation than some fun relaxing treats!  Plus it all looks pretty cute when it's tied together or put into a fun beach tote or bag! 

These are just suggestions for items to pair with the 'Summer Essentials' list, but I know you're all SUPER creative and will make it your own and tailored for those that you appreciate!  I hope it makes that transition into summer vacation just a little sweeter. 

Here's items I put together as an example:

I bought the items from Dollar Tree, Target, and a local grocery store.  Super quick to put together too!  See here:

Find the Summer Essentials resource here:

Summer Essentials Gift tags

Of course it's not summer vacation yet, I know I still have 10 weeks of teaching before the break, but it's never too soon to plan those thank you gifts!

Hang in there teacher friends, there's light at the end of the tunnel.  We'll get through this school year and onto a MUCH NEEDED summer vacation.  In the meantime, just keep swimming! You got this! 

Find your balance,

Shelby