Term 4 No Chore Linky: Organising for the End of Year Clean Up

Here in Australia, we are in our final term of school for the year {eek}. It is always a super busy term with reports, assessments, Christmas activities, school performances and the end of year clean up that comes with the job. 

With only 10 more weeks to go, it's getting to crunch time! I am linking up with some fantastic blogging friends to share some tips to survive and be super organised for the end of the year. After you read my tip, make sure you go to the link up below to find other fantastic ideas to survive Term 4 :)

Term 4 No Chore Tip
One of the biggest tasks at the end of the year is cleaning up, especially if you are needing to change classrooms. I am the checklist queen and find having a list at the end of the year really helps. Over the years, I have moved from scribbled notes EVERYWHERE to having a typed up checklist.

Here is a pdf copy you may like, with a blank version for you to write on. For other great teaching ideas follow me on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest!

An InLinkz Link-up

Currently October

Feeling the blog-guilt this month, from a lack of proper posting (something that I have in common with Farley) but at least I'm linking up for Currently!

It is finally Spring here, we have a gorgeous week of mid 30's (90F) ahead and I am coming to the end of 4 weeks off of school (2 weeks long service leave + 2 weeks Spring break). 

I am a much nicer person when the weather is nicer :) So I have been running (first time ever peeps), enjoying the sun and listening to a lot of Florence!

I, however, have not been planning. At. All. Tomorrow, peeps, tomorrow... hopefully :) The sun is distracting ok! And so is Netflix...

Happy Halloween month to those in the Northern hemisphere! Very jealous that you have everything pumpkin-related. I guess in Australia we do get the sun this time of year, so shouldn't complain!

I feel boo-tiful when I know I am eating well and therefore feeling SO good. The month off of work has been great for getting my head on straight and I have to say, I am feeling pretty damn HOT at the minute :) Most be all of the yoga, walking and running.

Happy October everyone.

Currently September

So I completely forgot that it was September! Might have something to do with school camp, Father's Day activities and preparing for my long service leave all this week. I'm linking up with Farley to share the currently love anyway, just a few days late :)

Listening to Season 3 of Suits. Completely love this series!

Loving that our cat Axel is paying attention to me today {two days away will do that} and I'm getting lots of hugs. Plus, I am officially on Long Service Leave from today! Really enjoying the thought that I'll have a month off before the last term of the year. I'll be heading in to term 4 relaxed and ready to end the year right!

Thinking I need to be in Melbourne this afternoon to meet up with some lovely blogging buddies. I probably should be on a train already! Oops.

Wanting to enjoy this gorgeous sunshine today... and somehow stay on the couch.

Needing to read our travel plans over for this week. We our heading to Tasmania for a weeks holiday. A whole week exploring will be nice.

3 Goals:
1. I'm loving meditation, I need to keep up taking the time to stop, process and breathe.
2. Enjoy everything.
3. Keep up the work organisation.

Happy September!

5 Fun Facts with Blog Hoppin

Happy teacher week! I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin' to share 5 fun facts about me. 

~ One ~

We eloped!

My hubs and I will be celebrating our 6th year wedding anniversary in December (time flies). We shocked pretty much everyone at the time by eloping in Coffs Harbour while on holiday with a couple of friends. It was a planned wedding, with our two friends in on the secret and it was just right for us.

~ Two ~

I love to travel

If you have stopped by before you probably already know this but I love to travel and explore new places. My last big trip was Scotland & Paris in 2013, we're planning another trip for next year. Fingers crossed. This is me in 2009 in Germany (the same year I traveled Europe, went to Japan, built a house, became engaged and got married. Yeah).

~ Three ~

I hate Ferreo Rochers

This came up at work today. I hate them. My class have just added this to the many reasons I am "weird" :)

~ Four ~

Art is my Zen Zone

Art galleries, drawing, strolling around and looking at street art are all in my "happy zone". One of the best parts of teaching in Australia (and sometimes one of the hardest) is that I teach my students all subjects so even though I'm not an art specialist I am are art teacher. I love getting to share with my kiddos what I love and hate and I am hopefully teaching them to judge, critique, enjoy and be opinionated about art.

My birthday trip this year was to see Blue Poles {Number 11} by Jackson Pollock at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA).

I always visit the Weeping Woman by Picasso when we are in Melbourne. Love! My class upon seeing pictures of her this year decided she was "weird" (it seems to be our word this year) and there were a lot of "what is that?!"'s exclaimed.

~ Five ~

Stationary Addiction

This is probably just a general teacher thing but my stationary habit is legendary and is kind of getting out of control. It's all useful, right?!

Thanks for stopping by,

Currently August

I'm linking up with the lovely Farley for this months currently :) If you're stopping by for the first time just a heads up that I'm Australian, it's currently winter here and we're mid-school year so there are a few differences. Jealous of all of you in the summertime!

Listening to the radio while out and about and I'm writing this on my phone. Tricky stuff. 

Cannot get Taylor Swift out of my head at the moment. Love!

Loving anything warm as it is super freezing this week! I have FINALLY after many years of trying began to run and I am loving it. Can't wait for Spring so I can do so more often.

Thinking that I'm enjoying being organised at work and giving myself some time out this weekend. My Replacement Teacher folder is a god-send.

Wanting to finish correcting journals (our learning portfolios). I have long service leave at the end of this term and I am trying to keep on top of the correcting which I am terrible at.

Needing to get back into a meditation routine. I am a complete stress head and it really does help... when I do it!

And I might do a bit of mid-year RAK by doing a coffee run for my unit this week. We all need a pick-me-up!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great August,

Back to School Essentials~ A linky party

Two posts in two days, it's a miracle! Even though I'm heading back to school after our winter holidays in Australia, not to a new year after Summer break, I thought I would link-up with Amanda at The Teaching Thief to share my back-to-school essentials.

As my class this year will tell you, I have a massive stationary addition. Between them and my husband I swear they are working together to get me to stop. Every time I go near I shop now I hear my kiddos saying, "Do you REALLY need that Mrs Perry?" :) It hasn't worked yet but I'm sure I'll hear it again when they see everything I bought over our winter holidays (ummm... it's a LOT).

My typical summer haul looks (partly, ok this is about half) like:

 My B2S list normally includes:

1. New buckets, baskets and general cute looking containers. Not that I actually need any more but I keep on buying them!

2. New cushions and seats for my reading area. I normally sew new cushion covers and hit up Kmart for other bits and pieces.

3. Laminating pockets! Along with stamps & stickers. Aldi in Australia are great for cheap stamps close to the start of the school year.

4. A new classroom mat. These are not the cheapest item to buy in Australia. I normally wait until Kmart or Spotlight has a sale.

5. Clipboards for displays and group work. I bought mine from Amazon a few years ago and love them. I'm due for some more this year.

I also normally buy new tissue paper decorations, pencils and other small stationary bits for my reward box and new fidget tools.

Happy shopping to all of you heading back to school. Can't wait to see your blog posts and ideas in the next few weeks.

Swap, Share & Give: A Back to School Blog Linky from Down Under

Welcome to the Swap, Share & Give Linky!

I am so excited to be part of this awesome product swap, linky and giveaway with my very talented Aussie blogger friends. We have lots of great products, freebies and a GIVEAWAY to share with you to help as you get back into the swing of a new school year, or for any Aussie teachers, to help you finish the year off well.

The Low-Down

We will each link-up to:

SWAP a product with a partner from the same year level;

SHARE a great Freebie; and

GIVE you a chance to win one of each product from the swap, just enter the giveaway on any of our posts.

Without further ado...

~ SWAP ~

I was very lucky to be partnered up with Alison from Teaching Maths with Meaning. 

I had the chance to use her Write & Wipe Alphabet Cards. These are AWESOME!

My kiddos were so excited about these as they LOVE any excuse to use whiteboard markers. It's become a bit of weird obsession this year.

I love how clear these are and the size of the font. They were really easy to use and the packet is super cheap at $2. I still have a few kiddos who are confusing their letters so the visual cue was really important for them.

My favourite part of the Write & Wipe Alphabet Cards is the whole abc chart. I have sent extra copies of these home with my poppets who are still writing their letters from the bottom and not the top. 

Inside the pack there are versions of different fonts to suit different states/grade levels. I only took a pic of the kids using the Victorian font but the standard writing font is included too.

~ SHARE ~

My Back to School Bookmarks are a great first week back gift. 

My kidlets absolutely loved them this year. We sent them home in their Welcome to Prep Letters. Download them for free here.

~ GIVE ~

Enter the Rafflecopter below to win a copy of each of the fantastic products that have been included in our linky. Make sure you check out all the other link-ups below to find some more great products & freebies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by, I'm now off to spend a busy afternoon checking out all the other link-ups! Mmm, maybe with a cup of tea.... and a TimTam,

An InLinkz Link-up

Goal Setting- Worksheet Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! I have a cute little worksheet to share with you that I use with my poppets for Goal Setting each term.

To download just click on any of the pics above or go here.

Planning our future learning is really important and I love hearing what the kidlets write. We do LOTS of prior brainstorming and modelling of 'good' goals.  As you can see all my hinting at "reading, writing, numbers" doesn't always pay off and that's why I added the bottom box this year so I can add in an extra 'teacher goal'.

Their goals fit in with things that are important to them and that's what makes them valid and important. 

My favourite part about goal setting with Prep {kindergarten} is that sometimes I get goals like this...

Incase you can't read it-

"I am a super star at gluing venom with superman glue. I would like to get better at making straight arms". This kid thinks he's Spiderman. Weirdest goal ever. Love him!

So really, the best bit is that they are SUPER hilarious! And I love my kidlets to bits.

Hope you find this activity useful,

Throwback Thursday with The Teaching Tribune

Linking up with The Teaching Tribune tonight for a 'true' throwback Thursday.

Oh my goodness, looking through old photos tonight to find one of me from Prep was, as it will forever be known, as "the night of the  bad hair cut flashbacks". Pretty scary as tonight I had a fringe cut back in at the hairdressers for the first time in forever and now I am regretting it due to me looking like I am back in 1990.

And thanks to the hubs for the endless ribbing about my glasses, fringes and other bad hair cuts. I love you too :)

So without further ado....

Around about-Five year old me at the zoo!

I've always been one of those kids that loved little kids. I either wanted to a teacher or a journalist but by the time I started Year 12 I knew teaching was for me.

Monday Meet Me

Thank goodness for Linkys or I would forget to blog! I'm linking up with The Teaching Tribune for Monday Meet-up :)

It is a gorgeous sunny (but freezing) day today. If I stay inside & read Northern Hemisphere blogs I can almost kid myself that it is Summer here too :)

I teach.... because it's awesome. Each poppet that I have taught has taught me more about life than what I could ever show them and that makes me feel like an incredibly lucky person to have been a part of their world & their wisdom. 

I have.... the travelling bug & a gorgeous, handsome, understanding, patient & amazing husband who let's me take off for weeks at a time to travel around the world... Honey if you're reading this, hint, hint!
I'm making do at the minute by walking around town, squinting & pretending it's Paris. 

I watch... a LOT of TV either online or from dvd box sets. My favourite is Buffy but The Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars & HIMYM all get me through too. I own a lot more but I stopped listing them because I think I may have an addiction!

I listen...  to music everyday. I love that I drive to work now so that I can listen to my favourite radio station. Love the app for Triple j too. I'm addicted to this song by The Kooks at the minute. Catchy! & awesome.

I read... too much! Everyday, any spare chance I get. It drives the hubs insane but its a multi-tasking skill to read & eat, read & cook, read & "plan".

I do... need Art. It's probably a weird one but keeping surrounded by art keeps me sane when I'm stressed out. Another reason that I love Pinterest.
Wandering around the Art Gallery, any art gallery, for me is better than chocolate. But chocolate is pretty amazing too!