Week #1 of Mini Marathon Training and a TPT 20% off Sale

Good morning blogger friends!  I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since my last post.  I wish I could say I had a good reason, but I've just been busy, busy, busy!  I think it's that time of year where everyone gets bogged down with cold weather, still a while until Spring Break, and our state testing is right around the corner (wah, wah!).

This week was my first official week or mini marathon training.  As a kickoff to the Indy 500, there is a HUGE (30,000+ runners) Mini Marathon in Indianapolis at the start of May.  Part of the course takes us on the track of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is a portion of the luster of this race.  I think I have run the Mini Marathon 6 times, each time with decent scores, but I haven't run it since my marathon.

As week #1 started for me on Monday, my goal for this half marathon is speed.  I know I can finish it, but I'm trying to build speed work into my workouts.  If you've never trained for a race, start now!  There are so many spring races of various distances everywhere these days!  It doesn't matter what you look like, how much you weigh, if you have a matching Lululemon workout look, JUST DO IT!  (By the way, I own zero, zilch, nada Lululemon items...$60 for a racerback tank I can get at Kohl's for $15...no thanks!  Well, don't get me wrong, their stuff is cute, just too expensive for me!)

I am a pretty faithful Hal Higdon fan for training and always follow his training programs.  He has a variety of option for the half marathon, and because of my speed goal, I decided to challenge myself with his advanced training program.  I am scaling back the weekend 90 minute run, though, because I'm not quite there yet, but I'm hopeful!

Week #1 was underway and going well this week!  Except for Friday...some friends from my old school asked if I wanted to grab a drink after school!  This was a no brainer!  :)  I'm off to the gym here in a bit to finish off my Sunday workout and begin Week #2 tomorrow.

Anyone out there training for anything this Spring?  I'd love to hear about it!

Also, I'm throwing a President's Sale 20% off sale! I'm featured today on the math page of TPT for my St. Patty's Day Palooza Unit!  Enjoy the discount today and tomorrow!

Gotta run for now, but stay tuned for my Do's and Don'ts at the Gym List (unfortunately, I will tell you Don't walk out of the gym in only your shower towel). 

Top o' the Morning To Ya!

Cheers!!!  

(That's what slainte means in Irish!)

Scout and I would just like to wish you all a very happy St. Patrick's Day after our morning run!  Of course I had to wear green on my run, and throw on a sorority throwback shirt!  I hope you all have the same great weather we have here in Indy!

*Also, my Teacher's Notebook Store is all 30% off through the weekend!  Click the link on the sidebar to check it out!**

Prepping for the Week, Pinerly, and Teachers Helping Teachers!

On this beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Indy area, I'm working on lesson plans and report cards...wah wah! :(

Lesson Plans
The only exciting thing about it is using a lot of the things from my St. Patty's Palooza Unit on TpT in my lesson plans and having the sun shine come in through the windows!  Click on the picture for more details

A large portion of it is connected to Tomie DePaola's Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato.  Don't have a copy?  It's on YouTube in a video format (not great quality, but it works).  Some of the things I'm excited to do, and some quick and easy resources you can use last minute, are below.

Along with cause and effect, a character comparison double bubble, and graphing our favorite potatoes, a student favorite is creating their own potato characters and writing a story about them.  You can do it with partners, and focus on adjectives, have individual stories focusing on a problem and solution, or put it at your writing center

 Quick and easy resources with little prep:
- finding the word that doesn't fit the pattern
- lucky word ladder
- making words
- a place value mat to use with number cards.

Pinerly

One thing I am really excited about is the newest update for Pinterest called Pinerly!  It makes it easier to use, easier to find people with similar interests, and keeps you organized!  Check it out before it's public by clicking on the picture!

Teachers Taking Care of Teachers

Crystal over at Kreative in Kinder has started an awesome linky party to offer assistance to the teachers who have been impacted by the tornado.  Click the heart to see how you can help!

Have a great week this week!  I'll be back later in the week for updates on things we've been doing for St. Patty's Day and my next Parent Involvement Tip!  

St. Patty's Day Palooza...yes, already!

I am so being the grocery store and putting out my St. Patty's Day unit when Valentine's Day isn't even over yet!  I hate myself right now!  Anyway, here it is!

I love Tomie DePaola and some of his books are highlighted in our writing program, so I thought it would be perfect to use Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato in this unit for St. Patrick's Day.  I love DePaola's depictions of characters and the ability for my students to relate to his texts.

Along with a study and activities based on the book, there are also math games, language games, and writing activities, and graphic organizers.  

Check it out here at TpT!