Free LA Times for the classroom (for all my Southern CA peeps!)

Hello fellow bloggers! I wanted to pass on this nifty resource for those of you who live/teach in Southern California. The Los Angeles Times has a program in which they deliver newspapers (15 print copies and unlimited access to online copies) every Thursday to your classroom. You can use the newspapers for a multitude of things. In 5th grade, I feel it is so very important for my students to learn about the world around them. I want them to understand and internalize that there is so much more happening than what they may encounter within their own communities. My students use the newspapers to complete their weekly current event papers and presentations. One of my amazing teacher/blogger friends, Aris over at Sailing into Second had her 2nd graders use the newspapers to go on  a "newspaper hunt" (visit her TPT store for a free download of the activity sheet) to find their spelling words and focus words for the week. The uses for the newspapers are endless. Here is the info:

Times in Education Program: http://nieonline.com/latimes/guides.cfm

Enjoy the rest of your week!

It's Currently October 3, yup I'm a Little Late...

Hello!!!

My favorite month of the year has arrived! I can feel a bit of that wonderful, crisp fall weather during the evenings and I'm savoring every minute of it. I heard that this weekend we are heading back into the 90's. I love the heat, but it's been a hot year and I am ready for a change!

September was a whirlwind for me and I had to forgo the Currently, but I am back! Linking up with Farley at Oh, Boy Fourth Grade for the October Currently.

Listening: A relaxing evening at home, just listening to the sweet sounds of nature. It beats dealing with the sounds of LAX. After school I had to pick up my husband and I think it is one of the worst airports ever!

Loving: My husband and I work a lot. His hours are crazy and at times he's working a 15 hour shift. There have been days during the week in which we don't see each other at all!! There have been times were he is gone before I wake up in the morning (and I wake up pretty early) and doesn't get home until way after I've fallen asleep. I wanted us to spend some time together and we both love the outdoors. So we've decided that every weekend we will head out on a hike. There are so many nifty places around that we have yet to explore. Last weekend we went on a hike down 512 steep and shallow stairs. Going down wasn't a problem it was hiking back up! It was a neat place with some weird history to it. Murphey's Ranch apparently used to be a Nazi supporter compound during WWII. It was eerie to say the least.

Stairs forever!                                                      

        

                                   Climb a water tower?! Of course!

The Powerhouse

Thinking: My husband and I will celebrate our anniversary in a couple weeks! Five years of marriage and 13 years together!! I can't believe how the years have just flown by. Marriage and relationships in general are a lot of work and we've had our ups and downs, but as they say: The grass isn't always greener on the other side. It's green where it's watered. 

Wanting: This government of ours to reopen the national parks and so forth! We had planned on taking our family (who is visiting from Germany) to the Grand Canyon this weekend. That 'aint gonna happen so on to plan number 2...hiking Solstice Canyon...oh wait, that area is also a national park area. Hmm....scratch that...back to the drawing board! I can't believe I'm not allowed to enjoy nature! I know that is nothing in comparison to the people who aren't working or have had wedding location changes, etc. I'm not a very political person, but this just doesn't make sense to me!

Needing: Sleep! This sleep deprivation is starting to take it's toll. I wish I could sleep in like my husband on the weekends.

Trick or Treat: Spending time with family who we don't see very often. :)