Teacher's Heart: Five for Friday: What I've been up to

Wow! It has been far too long since I've been on here. What a wild and crazy past two weeks it has been!

As my official "I'm finally back," I will be linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for

Here is what I have been busy up to:

1. New Teacher Orientation. Wow! I am so excited to be a part of a new county, well new to me as a teacher. I actually grew up here, so I'm super excited to be home!! Best news: I finally feel like I've arrived at my school home, too. I've been praying for one, and God delivered! :)

2. Setting up my new room!! Seriously if I wouldn't miss the kiddos, I would so set up classrooms for a living. I think it feeds into two of my favorite things: planning and decorating. Here are a couple of pictures:

And here is probably my most favorite wall. It has several combinations of products from my favorite teacher ladies: A Year of Many Firsts, The Teacher Wife, and Second Grade Shenanigans.

3. Meeting my sweet darlings: My first day with them was probably one of the best first days that I have ever had. I really have been blessed with this group! They are sweet, inquisitive, and respectful. Seriously, other teachers dream of having this kind of class. I know I have at certain times of my life.

4. Let's add 5 more students. I had a ridiculously small class to begin with, 16 third graders. T-I-N-Y! All of our third grade classes were kind of low, so the powers that be decided that we had to collapse one of the classes. :( I hate to see one of my teammates go, but at least a position was opened up at our school for her to take. Whew! So, on my second day I had to get things ready for 5 new sweethearts to join the mix. I'm nervous but excited to the added dimension. I have had the pleasure of spending a full day with the new kiddos, and quite honestly, they fit in beautifully. In fact, I think we're going to be an even better class (and I'll be a better teacher) because of them. In the wise words of Ashton Kutcher, "Opportunity looks a lot like hard work." It was kind of hard to be in the class until 6 and 7 to get things ready for them, but this hard work has definitely opened us up for a wonderful opportunity! (Seriously, if you haven't seen Ashton's speech at the Teen Choice Awards, check it out! It's amazing how motivational that speech was!!)

5. And last, but certainly not least, I am teaming up with other TpT sellers for their fabulous Back to School sale on the 18th and 19th! My products will be 20% off, and if you use the code: bts13 it will take an additional 10% off for a grand total of 28% off! :)