So Far So Good

My summer checklist has been a great guide to answering the question, "What should we/I do now?". Only one week into my summer break and I have checked off some items. I will say I was rather selfish with my last week. I knew that I would be busier in the weeks to come and therefore, I had to pace myself. I took two days to just relax. I did though, use my guidelines to assist my means of entertainment.

Having last week full of professional development, I chose the weekend for fun. Sean and I stuck to our budget plan for another week and even managed to spend time out of town with some friends. Instead of eating out at a restaurant, which was an option, we decided to order pizza. While our host did buy the pizza, we brought the dessert and entertainment for the night. I made my mom's bread pudding. It's a great dessert that serves a ton! Find the recipe below. We also enjoy watching The Office and for Christmas Sean received a DVD The Office board game. We spent the nigh playing that game. I have only been a fan of the show recently and was not the best teammate.

It felt good knowing that we had a nice time for less money. It was even better knowing that we did it with friends and didn't feel the pressure of going out and spending money. I topped off my weekend by having family visit. We, yes, you guessed it, laid by the pool and soaked up some rays. I managed to buy fruit at an excellent price, along with some ice tea/ lemonade mix to fill our poolside cravings.

Our next big obstacle is celebrating our 1 year anniversary this coming weekend. We have ruled out going away for the night and eating out. We figured we could plan and cook a really nice meal together. We did, however, decided to buy our dessert. Being a fan of cheesecake, we are going to purchase a piece of our favorites from The Cheesecake Factory and bring them home to eat. Sean has something planned that he has promised won't cost anything. I am intrigued to say the least. I am anxious to see what the weekend will bring.

We had one of most successful grocery trips so far! We spent a little more on items we won't buy often. We love grilling out, but haven't owned a grill. On the second floor of our building, grills are not technically allowed. We bought a small, really small, coal grill for $14. I figured it was a good investment for us, for now. It also opens up our menu options. With that said, here is our menu plan:

Monday: Tacos
Tuesday: (we are on our own, because Sean is out of town this day)
Wednesday: Brats on the grill! with Mac'nCheese
Thursday: Beef and Noodles with potatoes
Friday: Smoked Sausage on the grill! with vegetables

Total for the Week: $39.87! Thanks to my grandparents of course.

Bread Pudding:
350 Degrees
1 Hr. and 30 Minutes total

Cut up 15-18 pieces of white bread. Place them in an non greased cooking pan

In a bowl mix the following:
5 Eggs
1 1/2 Cups of Sugar
3 1/3 Cups of Milk
Vanilla Optional- about 1 TBs.
Cinnamon- 1 Tbs.

Pour over bread. Lightly foil and bake for 1 hour. After the hour, uncover, and continue cooking for 30 minutes.

Sauce:
In a sauce pan melt together:
2 Cups Sugar
1 Cup Milk
2 Tsp. Vanilla
1 Stick Butter

Dish out bread and top with sauce! Enjoy!

Thrifty Teachers

My school let out last week and my break "officially" started this Monday. However, the administration offered 3 days of professional development. Being a newer teacher, I am eager to learn as much as I can from seasoned teachers, staff, and admin. I also love learning new things and finding ways to make my job a little easier for me and the students. One of my favorite parts of professional development is the brainstorming and sharing of ideas that takes place. I came away with so many wonderful tips, strategies and short cuts to use next year. The saying has been that teachers are never afraid to beg, borrow, and steal. It is totally true. I spent the first three weeks before school started this past year preparing my room. I never realized how much comes from the pockets of our teachers to make a classroom feel and look like a classroom. I was also too hung up on having the nicest posters, charts, stickers, etc. for my room. That idea was quickly abandoned when I spent over $200 on a few books, some name tags, charts and posters. Considering that trip was the first of many trips I would take my first year, I knew I needed to have a plan. There are so many great resources out there for teachers to use and many of them are free! There are also so great tricks and tips to use to save some money. Here are a few I have found.

1. When buying new, only buy the essentials (in the beginning)

I decided to purchase items that I knew I would use over and over again. I bought an attendance sign in board, posters for the walls, some workbooks, and books for my library.

2. Laminate if possible


Some schools have laminating rules and teachers are only allowed a specific amount of laminating. At my school, we laminate in modification. I purchased some items likes charts and posters that I knew I could laminate and write on with dry erase markers. I will reuse those items for years.

3. Check into local recycling/donations centers



My school is able to visit a local donation center once a month to pick up items for the classroom. All items have been given away by overstocked stores or donated by businesses and organizations. We are able to pick up supplies such as paper, pencils, crayons, books, staplers, etc. and even large items like desks and cabinets. This is all FREE!


4. Online Resources


There are several printable resources at no cost available online. The great thing about these sites is that you can often create your own worksheets. Often books from the "teacher store" with the same worksheets could cost up to $24 a book.

5. Book Sales


If you are looking to increase your room library, try going to a local book sale. Some of these sales get books from donations made by libraries, churches, schools, and big book companies. Most books are used but still in readable condition. There is a wonderful volunteer at our school that will visit these sales for us and bring in bags a books each week. Hardbacks are $1 and soft-backs are only $0.50!

6. Use your coworkers!

The best resources are the ones that have been used and proven to be effective. Where else could you find these other than teachers just like you? Ask for copies, workbooks, etc. that other teachers use and make your own files. Be ready to share your own files too!


7. Have a treasure box?


Many teachers use little toys, gadgets, and treats as an incentive for work or behavior from students. I have a treasure box in my room that students can earn a trip to. This can be an expensive incentive. Visit the dollar stores and purchase items that cost as little as $1. The best values are found in packages that hold more than just one item. Add your own treasures that don't cost you at all. Examples could be:
A ticket for extra free time
A ticket for eating lunch with the teacher
A ticket to be line leader for an entire week


8. Garage Sales and Thrift Stores

Find out when your neighborhood garage sale is and make plans to stock up. You can find all sorts of treasure such as books, puzzles, indoor recess games and toys. You never know when someone's trash will become your treasure.


9. Candy Jars

I fell into the habit of passing out candy from my candy jar for specific rewards. The biggest problem was the amount of money it was costing me! Switch from small candy bars to something like skittle, m&ms, candy hearts or any other candy the comes in a large bag. Each student can have just one. They will love it just the same (especially if they don't know what they are missing). You can also go another direction and offer tickets. Each student can fill out the ticket and enter it into a large drawing you can do once a week.


10. DIY!

Do it yourself...if you can. Make items for your room or ask a friend or family member to make it for you. My wonderful grandma made 7 large pillows for my reading library and thank goodness because I don't know anything about sewing. She did it out of love and didn't ask for anything in return. One pillow of that size would have cost me $15 or more at a store. Ask for help and ideas from those around you.


If you have any tips or tricks to share, please do! Teaching is a profession done out of love and passion and sharing your successes just adds to the joy of the job!

Plan of Attack

With all of this free time coming up, I am feeling the pressure to find something to do with it. One of the great things about being a teacher in my corporation is that my pay will continue throughout the summer. Several teacher friends have warned me of the summer spending frenzy that they often fall into. It is easy to go shopping, go out to eat with friends, or pay extra for treats like ice cream and putt-putt when you now have the time to enjoy those things. However, my husband and I are trying hard to set budgets and stay on track especially while he is still in school. All of the fun extras are going to have to be small rewards once in a while and not every day things.


I have decided that I need a plan of attack and a list of goals for the summer. I am a list maker and enjoy being organized or at least attempting it. I love afternoon naps and sleeping late but that doesn't always feel as rewarding as checking an item off of a list. I have come up with a list of items that I categorized. Each item will fall under one of the three categories:

1. No Spend Activities
2. Professional Development Activities
3. Reward Activities with little spending



No Spend Activities

• Organize my closet (this has to be done each season for me) :)
  
• Clean the apartment ( we already own the supplies needed )
  
• Lay by the pool with Sean
• Update my blog
• Go for a walk
• Clean out the pantry
• Start recycling
• Join the local library and visit weekly
  
• Find a church to attend together
• Donate unused items to Goodwill
  

Professional Development Activities

• Tutor twice a week (this will add to our wallets too!)
• Continue working at the nursery on Sunday
• Read Read Read ( I have a few books to finish then I will borrow from the library)
• Attend 3 days of professional meetings (June 2-4)
• Read and get familiar with materials for next year
• Search for free resources to use in the classroom next year
• Organize my files

Reward Activities with little or no spending

• Collect our change for an ice cream trip
• Play tennis once a week
• Use the gym equipment that is free at the apartment
• Rent a $1 movie from Red Box
• Play a round of Putt-Putt
• See one of the many free concerts at our local outdoor amphitheater
• Play the Wii together
• Learn new card games
  
• Save for a trip back to Madison to visit friends
• Save for a family trip by the end of July

Hopefully I will be able to spend less, but enjoy more of this free time. Today was a pretty good start. I woke up at a reasonable time and went for a walk with a friend who lives at the same apartment complex. Sean and I made our weekly grocery list and headed out to do our shopping. I did manage to get a nap in. I was still recovering from that last week of school followed by a weekend wedding that I was a bridesmaid in. Whew. I was worn out! Later I signed up for a Zumba class at the community center and prepared for the next 3 days of meetings.

Here is our menu plan for the week:

Monday: Hamburgers & Macaroni

Tuesday: Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots
(My wonderful grandparents supply our meat from their farm!)

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken & Rice

Thursday: Grilled Ham and Cheese with vegetables

Friday: Lasagna & Bread

Total cost of food items only for the week: $52.10
We also purchased detergent, contact solution, and paper product.

Here's to hoping for a great week!

Another Summer Break

As I made my way through elementary school, middle, and high school I always enjoyed my summers off. In the earlier days, I spent those summers either with a parent, or a babysitter. As the years went on, I spent my 2 free months as a babysitter to others. Summers to me were a great time to lay out and veg out. As I think back, I took advantage of those days. My dad would joke that by the time I drug myself from my bed he had already had his morning coffee, watched the news, been into town, mowed the lawn, and finished his lunch. Those were the days. Even throughout college I would pack up, head home, and resume the position by the pool that I had missed so much. Don't get me wrong, I always held a summer job. My hours weren't always all that strenuous but I managed to make enough money to take back to school. (I held down, at times, 4 jobs while on and off campus that kept my pocket book full and my time occupied.)

Being an elementary education major, I always knew in the back of my head that I would most likely have summers off again. Most teacher's that I knew also held down a summer job to keep busy and make a little extra money. After graduation, I was lucky enough to accept my first teaching job. I took the job in June ( I was notified the night of my rehearsal dinner, needless to say my new husband and I went "all inclusive" on our honeymoon to celebrate). Having found out in June that I would be teaching in August, I began assembly resources for my classroom. I always worked part-time at a small day camp. By August, I was ready.






The year, as I was told, flew by. As of two days ago, my classroom has been boxed up, (for new renovations) cleaned up, and locked up. As I was taking down posters, emptying desk and hugging tearful students goodbye, it hit me. Summer break is here. Again. Another break. Once again, I was semi-unscheduled for the next two months. The only difference included: Not driving home to my parents. Some, and by some I mean most, people will continue to work through the hot, and sunny months to come. And though they seem happy for me and my 72 days off, I would be kidding myself if I believed that. Who wouldn't want an extended vacation? During the last 16 summers of my life, I never felt guilty about the time off. There was a brief time about a month ago that I felt guilty for the vacation I had coming up. I had done nothing but count down my days to my friends and family. It only took a split second though, to realize why teachers get this "extended vacation". A few reasons I have come up with are listed, not in any particular order.

Reasons Why Teachers Have Summer Break:
1. To recover from a year of: math facts, grammar books, spelling tests, playing referee, nurse, mentor, parent, friend, children's skinned up knees, boogers, colds and untied shoes, parent phone calls, copying papers, telling jokes, hearing jokes, watching students struggle, then watching them succeed, and taking work home with you every night (including the weekends).

2. To Look Forward to and plan for: a year of math facts, grammar books, spelling tests, playing referee, nurse, mentor, parent, friend, children's skinned up knees, boogers, colds and untied shoes, parent phone calls, copying papers, telling jokes, hearing jokes, watching students struggle, then watching them succeed, and taking work home with you every night (including the weekends).

I decided not to feel guilty. One, I feel confident that I worked hard enough for 10 months that I deserve 2 off. Two, I know I made a difference in 25 student's lives and I will spend my "extended vacation" coming up with ways to do the same thing in 72 days.

So, with yet another summer break upon me, I will continue to do what I know and do best. I will babysit for family and friends, tutor several students from school, and take a little time to lay by the pool, sleep in, and veg out.