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? 

Five for February

So for the first time this year, I am joining in a link up! And I'm picking Doodle Bugs' Five for Friday.

1

I started the term with a couple of weeks on Space and the result of a Maths craftivity making rockets out of 2D shapes and some experimentation with marbling inks and their effects to make planets, was this display.

2

As part of learning about Chinese New Year, we read the story 'The Great Race' and made a small world version for the children to use to retell the story. Though if I'm honest they most just took the rat around the classroom...

3

In the Messy Play area, we had cooked noodles and various tongs and chopsticks to experiment with. Only one child tried to eat it so I consider it a success!

4

This idea was part of the parent activity afternoon we had, where the parent reps from all the classes organised games and crafts for the children to do. Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of the finished firework pictures.

5

The excitement of this term is the introduction of some letters to begin learning to write our names. Look at this beautiful curly caterpillar! 

June Pinning

It's only been a month, but I'm already missing Currently! So I thought I would try and find some different link ups instead. Today I am going to link up with Pawsitively Teaching for her June Top Pinterest Picks for summer. Click on the images for the original pins.

This looks like loads of fun to have outside! Though maybe will need to choose where to set it up carefully!

This is a craft that I am definitely going to do with my class next year! 

This looks great, although given the temperatures over here, I fear the experiment will be over in 5 minutes!! 

Why not check out my Pinterest page for more of my favourites?

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!!

2015 The Year in Review

How is it the start of another year already? Time flies (especially when you manage to post as infrequently as I do!!) Today I am joining Mrs Beattie's Classroom for a review of 2015.

I don't have a top 10 blog posts, because let's be honest, I only posted 20 times in total last year. Which compared to 84 in 2014, really seems quite pathetic! My top viewed post though was CNY Freebie where I shared some ideas and resources for the Chinese New Year festival (coming up on February 8th 2016), the freebie is still available should you wish to use it this year! 

The biggest blogging milestone was reaching 100 posts in April, something that seemed a very distant goal when I started blogging just over 2 years ago (incidentally I missed my 2 year blogiversary back in November). It was of course a Currently, my most prolific link up party. 

I am frankly amazed that I have any followers left after the shocking irregularity of blog posts in 2015, but my page views are slowly increasing, I hope to reach 10,000 in January 2016! Again, another number that seemed impossibly far away when I started. 

I do have blogging goals for 2016, starting with a minimum of 2 blog posts a month. I also need to get back into creating things for TpT as I find it so useful in my teaching practice that I want to share my own resources more. 

This review has been rather short, however that is probably an accurate reflection of my blogging achievements in 2015! If you have more to say, please head over to Mrs Beattie's Classroom and link up! 

Double link up fun

Now I'm slightly more awake in this blogging world, I thought it was time to get back into my monthly link up with Oh Boy 4th Grade for her Currently linky party.

Listening - to my washing machine (this is actually a miracle as a couple of weeks ago I had an exploding washing machine/landlord refusing to replace it situation going on!)

Loving - parents' evenings the week after half-term break is NOT FUN, but they are done now and I love thats its months and months before that stress again.

Thinking - that my work to-do list is mountainous and I'm in denial about how I'm going to manage it!

Wanting - to be more efficient with my time in school (see above!)

Needing - to tidy my house as I've just had visitors staying for a few days and its quite messy now!

Yummy - my mother cooked when she was visiting here and left me some food to reheat when they left yesterday, so dinner tonight is sorted!! 

I also wanted to link up (on a Tuesday) for The Ordinary to Extraordinary's Meet the Teacher Monday... 

Due to circumstances out of my control, my 30th birthday celebration was delayed by 11 months, but it was completely worth it as myself and 13 friends ended up staying in a resort that looked like this...

I wish I was there now!!! But until that is possible, it is definitely my favourite birthday memory. 

Trying a link up!

I know everyday posting will not be happening, but I came across a lovely link up today as I was perusing my Bloglovin' feed and thought why not have a go and at the same time show my little blog a bit more love?

So I've decided to join in with Trina at The Ordinary to Extraordinary Classroom for her 'Meet the Teacher Monday'.

This week she would like readers to post about their Halloween This or That. So here is mine...

No I cheated and didn't choose an answer for the last one as I don't watch Halloween themed movies (have a fear threshold of about 1!) and so I had to look them up as I'd never even heard of them let alone watched them! 

I've also never actually carved a pumpkin, but that definitely sounds more fun than just painting one! Although here is a throwback picture from last year that my tinies made...

Anyway, why not head over and link up yourself? 

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 Christmas Eve Conversation

A new link up for me today, with The Inspired Apple for a Christmas Conversation. I love all things Christmassy so this is a perfect excuse!

Fourteen in '14

This link up last year was the linky party that introduced me to one of my favourite blogs to read by A Teeny Tiny Teacher and I followed her straight away and have spent the last 12 months reading her hilarious and informative blog posts. I'm so glad that she and her two friends Miss Kindergarten and Dragonflies in First have decided to host this fabulous review of the year again. Plus its a good excuse for me to actually write a post (3 weeks since my last one argh!)

Last year I picked my purple boots and whilst they are still probably my favourite item of clothing, as I barely wear them any more (I live in a country which never gets cold enough for boots!) this year I am choosing my beach sarongs. So light and easy to throw on over a bikini when on holiday. And no, there are no photos of me wearing them!

Unsurprising choice for me given my pick of the second movie last year, but I am really enjoying these adaptions of the books (for once!). 

I've been a fan of Downton Abbey for years and am completely invested in all the characters! Only a couple of days to wait for the Christmas special!

I can't pick one, but pretty much most of the places I ate during my holiday to Sydney were fabulous. I was in a food coma for most of the week!

I opened my Teachers Pay Teachers store this year and whilst sales are slow, I have had some great feedback and I'm still genuinely amazed that anyone at all wants to use my resources! 

I adore anything Cath Kidston and this was my new phone case I got in the summer... love it!

This was a pin I found one lunchtime and it was such a simple but effective idea, I had managed to get it prepped and done by the end of the day! And the children loved it!

My favourite blog post to write this year as been 'Has it really been a year?' that I wrote a couple of weeks ago to celebrate my 1 year blogiversary. A milestone I was not sure I would reach!

Selling my first product on Teachers Pay Teachers. It was Count the Room Minibeasts, a product that is still my bestselling product! 

A great photo from a great holiday.

So many memories so hard to choose! Probably my best memories this year came from my trip to Sydney. 

To post on a regular basis!

All year round, but most especially during this festive season!