FIVE FOR FRIDAY!  CAN I GET A WHAT? WHAT?? OH FRIDAY,

HOW DO I LOVE THEE?

LET ME COUNT THY WAYS...

1.

This is how I started my day.  I'm happy to report it was a mere 380 calories, (the most delicious 20 minutes of my day)...that's all I have to say about that.

So after a long week of hearing my youngest daughter beg me to take her to this movie, (Hotel Transylvania 2), I'm pretty sure it's going to happen this Sunday night, if she plays her cards right. ;)

At least I will get to stuff myself with popcorn, (in the dark, with a diet coke. )

Well, the kids got their school pictures back. You know, the ones we pay like $90 for, with the terrible 80's background?  My daughter wanted to wear the same dress she wore last year because she liked it so well.  Is that bad parenting?  Or is she a genius for saving me money?

Either way, she's adorbs.  

DOK questions cheat sheet.  I'm pretty surprised this product of mine is popular. Well, honestly, I thought I would be more likely to sell spelling word stuff and all.... but I guess all grade levels can enjoy a good DOK question stem! ;)

I keep mine right next to my desk!  It's so easy to make lesson plans with this and/or

keep it nearby while I'm teaching.  

For the fifth random thought, I will show you how I spent my fall 20 years ago in college. This, of course, is a photo I found online.  I don't know if,  'how I really spent my college days' is appropriate. LOL Juuuusssst kidding Mom and Dad!!!!  

This is The Waldo Library.  There is also a bar called Waldo's Tavern.  Most of my study dates were at "Waldo's". 

Western Michigan University...*sigh* oh sweet memories!

And here's my NOW picture.  We live in Florida where my son plays freshman football.  It was 88 degrees last night. Holy sweaty mom! 

However,  I will not be complaining come January!!  

Friends, teachers and teacher-friends, enjoy the weekend!  Thanks for coming over!!

A special thank you to Doodle Bugs for throwing this fabulous LINKY PARTY!

Aharwell The Teacher Mom: My very first FIVE FOR FRIDAY!! YAY!!Did I mention...

Aharwell The Teacher Mom: My very first FIVE FOR FRIDAY!! YAY!!Did I mention...: My very first FIVE FOR FRIDAY!! YAY!! Did I mention that it's Friday??!!  Yahoo!  Time to break out the comfy pants and my Mac. (not ...

My very first FIVE FOR FRIDAY!! YAY!!

Did I mention that it's Friday??!!  Yahoo!  Time to break out the comfy pants and my Mac. (not mac and cheese, my friends!)

This completely sums up my weekends.  I'm pretty sure Ryan Gosling wrote this for me! :)

My favorite Bath and Body Works candle is called, Autumn (see #4).  I live in Florida, but I feel like I'm back in Michigan frolicking in an apple orchard when I burn this!

Okay, the FREEBIE   that I told you about is here!! Click on the picture, or word (FREEBIE)  and your kids will want to write, write, write!!  

I set out a cute little mailbox, an example of a letter and these FREE papers and voila!

Everyone wants to write each other and their teacher a letter!  I got a letter yesterday that said, Dear Mrs. Harwell, You are so funny!  (It was too cute AND.... She's my new favorite student!)

I hope your kids enjoy letter writing as much as mine do!!!

Writing center pages!  I finally finished this...

I'm a little slllloooowwww when it comes to creating new products for Teachers Pay Teachers.  But I did finish this writing center product, and my students DO love it!!  Yippee!  

Click here to get yours!! 

Here it is...the sweet smell of fall AUTUMN.  There's pretty much always a sale, 2 for $24, (even when the emails say, 'HURRY!  This sale is almost over!!')  Trust me, there's ALWAYS  a sale!

I highly suggest that you go run out and buy this now!!  You can thank me later.

And lastly, 

My adorable boys working together at the 'word work' center.  They were so proud of themselves for making so many words!!  I just love me some team work!!!

I hope you all enjoy your weekend!

I will be sleeping in until my kids wake me up, then, drinking a pot of coffee while I mindlessly surf Pinterest and/or watch The Food Network, multi-tasking on the phone with my sister from Chicago and wandering aimlessly around my house pretending to clean.  

and I'M LOVIN' IT!!!! 

~Aharwell

Thank you Doodle Bugs Teaching for letting me link up with you!! 

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME .....?

Are you ready for some football?? Dancing With the Stars?

Layton would say yes to the first line.  And OH HE_ _ NO to the second one.  Actually, I've see him sneak a peek at my DWTS when he thinks I'm not watching him.  He secretly wishes he could shake it with those super buff dancers!!
Too bad.  You're stuck with Aharwelltheteachermom who could probably use the DWTS diet!

I'm going to have to type quickly, because I don't want to miss the Season Premiere!!  I'm not invested in the contestants yet, so I need to go 'get to know them'.  :)

Honestly, I really don't watch too much TV.  But I have my must watch shows:  Here they are in no particular order....

DWTS  (Dancing With the Stars)

Grey's Anatomy

The Bachelor

That's about it.  I'll throw in a Big Brother (super cheesy, but mindless entertainment)

and a Jeopardy here and there.  I AM the current Jeopardy champ (in my household).  Whattt??? 

Oh yeah, I'll catch the first 5 minutes of Entertainment Tonight or E! News.  That's all you need is the first 5 minutes.  After that, it's just the same old Kardashian selfies and sightings crap.  

***************

Subject:  TPT 

I worked on my Writing FREEBIE over the weekend, but..... it's still in progress.    I want to add some finishing touches....(like pages 17-25)!! 

Being a mom of three kids, and a full time teacher makes me a little tired.   This is what I look like by 7 pm every night (minus the tailored suit and perfect makeup).   However, I fight the fatigue and stay up with one eye open, like a warrior, until 11pm or later every school night! 

 Wow!  This lady looks much more put together.  

I have gotten up and down at least 37 times during this blog post.  So much for DWTS!  

Between cooking burgers on the grill, whipping up a fabulous sweet potato salad, corn on the cob, and baked beans, signing reading logs, letting the dog out (in the rain), and many other interesting daily duties.  I  guess it will have to be DVR'd.  Is that a word??  DVR'd...??

Well you know what I mean.  Taped, recorded...TEVO'd!!

I'm super ADD, which is great for multi-tasking, but horrible for focusing.

Which brings me to my last point..tomorrow's my BIRTHDAY!! 

Thank you for stopping by!  Goodnight friends! 

Psalms 84:10

Southern (Florida) Living

In honor of receiving my new issue of Southern Living magazine, I decided to replicate the apple cake on their cover!  Okay, replicate is a strong word!  

Whatever....

My kids wondered why mine didn't look like the cover. 

 "It's because mine is more natural and rustic looking!"  I told them.  

It really was delish!  Even my (mostly carb free) husband ate some! 

By the way, I always start my diet on the same day!

TOMORROW! THAT'S RIGHT.

************************************

I'm kind of surprised that I even found my pots and pans

 to cook this masterpiece in!

We just moved houses last weekend.  I am SO happy the move is behind us!

Now we can spend time unpacking and trying to find matching socks and clean underwear! ;)

My husband loves the new house, well living room to be exact.  (He's from North Carolina, so he calls it a 'den' (said with a very southern drawl, which sounds like 'dan' from this

 Michigan grown girl.)  It's super cute tho....

He can't wait to hang up his 3D TV over his big screen TV!  Oh, and  I must be feeling really nice, because I even told him that he could hang his Torry Holt jerseys in that living room! 

 Crazy yes.  But Torry would be proud.  

I will try to let him enjoy his man cave and try not to look too closely at his mess  stuff. 

 (At least until football season is over.  Oh and basketball season.  

Then it'll be time for some spring cleaning Mr. Harwell!)

Goodbye Torry, hello eBay.  Who wants to buy a jersey?  J/k 

I'm also trying to squeeze in some time to create resources for my classroom!  (And then sell on TPT once I get it just right!)  I'm working on writing center prompts that include pictures, a word bank, writing lines and a reminder to check for capitals, punctuation, complete sentences and spacing.

So check back for those next week!  I'm using them in my writing center starting tomorrow!

I want my students to enjoy going to the writing center and getting creative! 

My boys actually choose writing center at choice time!  I love it!

Click on my store name below to see check out my resources that I use now!  

Aharwell

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy (almost) Fall! 

Ps.  My 14 year old son, Ben, 'proofread' this blog.  He prefaced it with, "is it full of dumb mom jokes?"  Then after he read it, he said, 'it's good mom.  I'm proud of you.' 

 Whether he was kidding or not, I'll take it! :) 

Romans 8:28

New design alert!! (And a Freebie!)

This is my first blog post with my new fancy blog design!!  Eeeeekk!  I love it!  It's shabby chic meets simple mom.  Thank you to my designer, Laine Sutherland from, A Little Peace of Africa!

She is simply talented!  

Now I'm BIG TIME! Okay, not really, but now I can have Linky Parties and Blog Hop and do all the things that real other bloggers do ! ;)  

So, I am 8 days deep into teaching first grade....I promised myself that this year I would 

spend the first few weeks REALLY teaching and practicing procedures, rules and routines.  It needs to be first priority.

Yes, we need to remind them to flush the toilet, wash their hands (with soap and water), and other fun topics to keep the classroom  ***and toilet*** running smoothly!!

My intern, the beautiful Christina, helped the students brainstorm good classroom rules.  We did this on Day 2. 

So by Day 3 (or maybe it was Day 4...insert very tired face)....

I presented the class with a revised version of the rules.  

Now they will behave perfectly!!  (Right??) 

Grab it here for FREE! :)

If you use it and like it, please leave positive feedback!!  Thanks!! 

Each day with my new babies runs a little more smoothly!  Having set expectations from Day 1  Day 2, is super important!  I have some energetic boys and I will be working hard to channel their energy in a positive and productive direction!!  

My brain is getting foggy.  I think I need a 'brain break'.  Thank you for stopping by! 

Grab your FREEBIE and have a fabulous year!!

Matthew 6:33

Visit my store starting Monday, for a 20% off discount!! 

Sale starts tomorrow!  Yay! 

 I can't wait for people to see what I have in my store! 

AND.... I am even MORE excited to buy resources from my favorite peeps!!

   Cara Carroll   and Babbling Abby !