Monday Musings

It must be half-term if I'm back in the blogosphere!

This time I have visitors so am not going away apart from a long weekend, so with more time at home, I finally can get around to a cheeky blog post.

I miss the old link-ups that used to happen in the educational blog world so I'm going to make a Doodlebugs Five for Friday inspired post today.

Language Learning
One of my New Years Resolutions this year has been to learn a language. I try and motivate my class to become life-long learners and what better way to model this myself than taking on a new challenge? So far, I am far far far from fluent, yet I find myself beginning to be able to read a little and understand some of the spoken language. I mostly use the Duolingo app but there are many other options out there.

Buying a flat

Next week I am due to complete on a flat purchase, this is very exciting but means I am currently very poor money-wise and have a long list of things to sort out (like furniture and utilities!) It seemed like such a good plan when I had it earlier this year, but oh what a lot of work its turned out to be! Still, its a gorgeous little property and I can't wait for it to be officially mine!!

New experiences

A couple of weeks ago I went to a cooking class with some friends to learn how to make Xiao Long Bao (pork soup dumplings). Long-time readers of the blog might remember how I have mentioned Din Tai Fung is my favourite restaurant, well there is absolutely no danger of them hiring me as a chef! It did taste nice though. 

More holidays
Since I last posted I went to Portugal over the summer and fell in love with all the tiles (would have bought some for the new if I could have figured out how to fit them all in my suitcase!)

New class
And finally, something more teaching related, my lovely new class! I am still in Reception/Kindergarten and loving the new little characters I have. There is a wider range of abilities than I'm used to, but everyone is a hard-worker and cute as a button! Let's hope they don't forget everyone with a week off now!

Remember me??

Excuses excuses...

So what can I say for the distinct lack of blogging for the last 2 years?

Life!

Every so often I get notifications that someone has followed this blog or bought something from my TPT shop and I'm reminded of the fun I used to have writing this blog and bonding with the blogging community. So here I am again...

Updates:

• I am still teaching in Hong Kong and loving this city more each day.

Star Ferry at night

• I completed my first ever 5k run.

• I moved year groups again from Nursery to Reception.

• I've been spending most of my free time travelling!

Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea

Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

Lion's Head, Cape Town, South Africa

• I am 2/3 of the way through my Masters in Early Childhood Education (a commitment I may not have thought through!)

 

I've linked this blog post to Anna Nuttall's Bloggers Link up, my first time for this particular link up, but I'm always happy to try new blogging parties!

Anyway, what's new with you? 

Farewell 2016... Bring it on 2017!

Well another 6 months have passed without me managing to post even a throwback... no excuses apart from Life!

Updates from 2016...
* I changed year groups to teach Nursery (Pre-K to the non-UK based world?)
* Teaching 3 year olds is a whole new world for me, how can one year smaller make such a difference?!
* I moved flat (again!) which makes 4 moves in 5 years (twice country) but hoping to stay in this flat for a couple of years at least as I've made it quite homely now.

Will hopefully post early in the New Year with some resolutions both professionally and personally!

Until then,

It's a last Currently!

So it was with a heavy heart I read Farley's announcement that May 2016 would be the last time that she hosted the Currently link up. It has been without question, my favourite link up over my years blogging right from my very first time participating when I'd never joined in any link up before. It was the first time that anyone had commented on my blog and was the beginning of attracting some regular readers. The 'Rule of 3' has not only introduced others to my blog, but allowed me to find many of my favourite blogs to read.

Anyway, for one last time, here is my Currently...

Listening - Reminding myself of the greatness that was the first series of the Matt Smith era (compared to the latest doctor, who unfortunately has not been a good replacement imo).

Loving - It's Labour Day, so I've had an extra day off today. I was persuaded to go on a hike up a mountain though so not quite as restful as I'd planned!

Thinking - I am going to ache tomorrow after the unaccustomed exercise! 

Wanting - A magical fairy or someone to have done all the housework that I should have done over the weekend, yet I somehow haven't!

Needing - To get started on the end-of-year reports as there are only a few weeks until the deadline and it takes me ages to write them and proof-read!

Truth - I am genuinely worried about how I'm going to keep my blog going without this monthly link up. I've just about managed to post twice each month, but one has always been a Currently! Wish me luck folks!!

Liebster again

I'm so so grateful to be nominated for my second Liebster Award by Ashley from Teacher Will Run For Books. Firstly I want to offer my thanks! And I owe her a massive apology since this nomination was given to me in November... and its taken me 5 months to get around to accepting it. Frankly I wouldn't blame her if she took the nomination back!!

For those that don't know, the Liebster Award is an online recognition for 'new' blogs by their peers. It is only awarded to blogs with less than 200 followers in an attempt to send more readers their way. The rules differ according to who has nominated you, but I will use the ones given by Ashley. 

1. In your post, be sure to link back to your nominator as a shout out and a thank you!

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you.

3. Nominate 11 blogs of your choice who have less than 200 followers. Provide them with 11 questions or ask them to answer the questions above.

4. Let your nominees know they've been nominated and provide them with a link you your post so that they can accept.

5. Send your nominator the link to your post, so they can learn more about you... leave it in the comments! 

I was first nominated in February 2014 and to receive another nomination is so flattering. I am struggling with keeping my blog updated this year, so it is greatly appreciated to find others reading and enjoying my blog enough to want to nominate me again.

Right here goes...

1. Why and how long ago did you start blogging?

I started blogging in November 2013 after reading blogs such as Clever Classroom and Oh' Boy 4th Grade to get inspired. 

2. What 1 word sums up the heart of your blog?

Random

3. Is there something you learned late in your blog journey you wished you knew before?

Don't be scared to put your ideas out there. I've read posts by other bloggers giving tips that I already knew, but didn't think were innovative enough to share, but I should have just written them! 

4. What is your favourite past time other than blogging?

5. How many hours a week do you dedicate to your blog?

An embarrassingly small number. When I'm into it, several in a go, but then nothing for weeks...

6. What category of blog post do you enjoy the most?

Those that have both teaching tips with personal anecdotes. A Teeny Tiny Teacher is the perfect example of this. 

7. Where does your blog inspiration come from?
My favourite link ups! Random things from my classroom.

8. Which post have you written that you are most proud of?
My post debut-ing my blog design which I posted a freebie on. This freebie was then selected to be the featured freebie by Teaching Blog Addicts. I was so proud!

9. Is there any post that you have been planning on doing but have been postponing for a while?
This one!!

10. What is your favourite thing about blogging?
Getting new ideas to use in my practice.

11. What recipe, project or idea on my blog would you most likely try yourself? 
The Super Improvers Wall is something I'm definitely going to be considering for my classroom next year.

My nominees (not 11, sorry!):
A fun themed blog who is only just starting her blogging journey! Love love love her classroom!

A UK-based blog full of innovative ideas for Early Years (Kindergarten). 

Mrs Krevat has already received the Liebster Award before, but I can't help nominating her again as I love her blog!

Only just less than 200 followers so I'm glad I'm managing to squeeze in my nomination for her great blog in time!

Questions for my nominees:

1. How long have you been blogging for?
2. What is your most popular post so far?
3. What are you top 3 blogs to read?
4. What is your teaching style?
5. Favourite linky party to join in with?
6. What educational website couldn't you live without?
7. What is your best subject to teach?
8. How many years have you been teaching?
9. What tip can you offer other 'new' bloggers?
10. If you could change anything about teaching what would it be?
11. What idea from my blog would you most likely try yourself?

Thanks again Ashley for the nomination and I encourage everyone to head over to her and my nominees' blogs to check out some fabulous blogs eager for more followers!

Trying to keep some momentum

This post is just a random splurge of my thoughts and, for once, not a link up with anyone! Which will probably just mean that no-one will actually read it as I don't think I get much independent traffic lol!

I've found time management quite hard over the last couple of months and unfortunately blogging is one of those things that gets pushed further and further down the to-do list. There have been the 'normal' (increased?!) workload and in addition I have been agonising over a fairly momentous job decision. (As an aside, as I typed the word 'agonising' the song Agony from Into the Woods popped into my head, the best part of the film imo!)

Anyway, the job situation I think is being resolved and I will be moving on from my current position in the summer to another country (still abroad though) and I really hope that everything works out. If I manage to keep some (any!) sort of momentum with this blog going, I guess we will all find out!!

Currently a 100th post

It seems fitting for me both that I am writing my 100th post with all the '100th day of school' posts around the blogging world and also that I am linking up with Oh Boy the 4th Grade for a Currently post for my 100th post as it's been with me since single figures!

Listening - I just have rubbish tv on for the sake of noise rather than any serious watching going on!

Loving - Only 1 more week of school, then its half-term! Whoop, whoop!!

Thinking - My brain has been fried this week, so its barely processing any thoughts right now...

Wanting - A relaxing weekend, although I feel the mountain of work I should be attempting may interfere with that.

Needing - More sleep. I had a sleep-walking incident last night which massively interrupted my sleep!

Pagent title - I write lists, attempt to prepare in advance, prep, colour-code, sort and constantly try and stay organised or I'll go mad!

A Budding Blogger

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be featured in Amanda from Teaching Maddeness' Budding Bloggers series!

I'm really grateful for this showcase by her and hopefully some of you reading this have found your way over here from her brilliant blog. If you haven't, I would love to send some traffic her way and also highlight some of the other Budding Bloggers out there, she has a new blogger featured each Saturday. Such a great way to find some new blogs to stalk read!

p.s. I'm participating in the TpT Blast Off Back-to-School Sale on the 4th and 5th August so be sure to enter the promo code BTS14 when shopping in my store to get 28% off everything!

6 months + 2 days blogiversary!

So I completely missed my 6 month blogiversary, in my defence Tuesday was a very busy night for me (wrote a Maths assessment and watched multiple episodes of Mr Selfridge!) and it completely slipped my mind.

I honestly can't believe I've been doing this blogging malarky for half a year and how much I'm still enjoying it, despite the slow growth of readers and followers. I've learnt so much over the last few months and I really hope that I am bringing something (even if just a little something) to the blogging world.

Anyway to thank you all for reading my blog at all, I've got a brand new product to give away for free. Just click on the image below to go to my TpT store and download for free (in a nice round-number co-incidence, this is my 20th product uploaded to my store!)

I've linked up with Teaching Blog Addict's Freebie Friday, so head over there for more great freebies!

Meet the Teacher...um... Tuesday?

I recently found a blog also written by someone new to the teaching blogging world and she has already got her own weekly linky party which she hosts every Monday, so this week I thought I would join in even though its Tuesday! Come join Trina at The Ordinary to Extraordinary Classroom.

Meet the Teacher Monday: The Business of Blogging 

1. How long have you been a blogger? I've been blogging since November!

2. Do you have any blogs other than your teacher/education blog? Nope, showing all my love for this baby!

3. What niche is your blog in? Education, specifically for the younger years.

4. Do you have plans to start any other blogs? Not at the moment, although 

I do enjoy reading other people's personal blogs.

5. What do you enjoy most about blogging? I enjoy the interaction with others, the sharing of ideas, inspirations and resources and the comments/feedback people leave for me!

6.  What do you enjoy least about blogging? Having to be patient while I build up a following, I want to feel that I'm not just writing to thin air!

7.  How often do you blog? No set amount, depends on how much free time and whether I have an idea or product to blog about! Ideally 2-3 times a week. 

8.  If you could meet anyone from the blogosphere, who would it be? Amy from Step into Second Grade with Mrs Lemons. I love her style of writing and products!

9. Are there any hot-button issues you will not discuss on your blog?  I wouldn't comment on other people's parenting style. I'm not one to judge!

10.  Name one thing (or more) that you would like to accomplish with your blog? I want to help other teachers, particularly those just starting out in their careers with ideas and resources. Teaching can be a very rewarding job, but also can take it out of you, so any little help you can get elsewhere is invaluable!

Like the new look?

Courtesy of the fabulous Christi at Design by Christi (and Mrs Fultz’s Corner) I have a lovely butterfly themed blog design. Since I've had it done, I’ve found myself logging on just to look at it!

To celebrate this new look, I have a freebie to offer you all at my TpT store. It is some butterfly-themed (what else could it be, really?) tricky words. These are aligned to the UK Letters and Sounds programme and I’ve coloured coded them by the phases. Click on the image below for a link to my store to download Phase 2 for free!

 

For more great freebies from other bloggers, why don't you check out Teaching Blog Addicts' Freebie Friday? I've linked this post there and there are loads of other great things to choose from.

Double figure posts!

This is my 10th post whoop!

I very much enjoyed the link up from last week with Doodle Bugs Teaching so here is another link up, this time with Miss Kindergarten, A Teeny Tiny Teacher and Dragonflies in First.

My purple boots that I bought about 7 years ago. I looooooove them so much! Where I currently live, it does not get cold enough to wear them, however, I've come home for the holidays and am all booted up and in heaven!

Catching Fire. I was disappointed by the first film after adoring the book series, however, I was pleasantly surprised by the second film. Of course, now the long wait until the third!

I already mentioned my obsession with 'I'm a Celeb' in another post but it is probably my favourite tv show!

Din Tai Fung. It's a Chinese restaurant that has branches around the world (I've been in 3 countries!) and I can't get enough of their speciality 'xiao long bao'. To die for. 

This is an easy one. 

Blogging!

I turned *cough* 30 *cough* this year, so I was lucky enough to receive some amazing and very generous gifts. I'm not sure I could choose a favourite although the surprise trip to the Harry Potter studio was way up there!

Here is a photo of some marshmallow snowmen I made with my class. No recipe, but I got the inspiration from a pin from Dusti's Cupcakes

Since I only have 9 blog posts other than this one to choose from, I think this might be better answered nest year! However, the most popular page so far for visitors has been my link up for the Christmas Questionnaire.

Surviving my first year in my new job.

This is my favourite mainly because the actual Nativity set is one of my favourite belongings (you know the whole 'What 5 things would you rescue if your house was burning down?', this would be one of them!)

Going home in the summer in time for one of my best friend's wedding.

To open up my TpT store properly and put some resources into it!

Fly.