Just a few of my favourite things!

Since I'm new to this whole blogging world, I thought I would share a few of my favourite things with anyone who stops past to read my ramblings. :)

1. The beach.  A whole year in landlocked Alberta has made me super eager to get back home and enjoy the sun, sand and crystal clear water of the beaches near where I live on the Sunshine Coast.  Fingers crossed I can move back into the unit I was living in last - here's the view I got to see every day:

2. PINTEREST! Oh how I love Pinterest. I use it for wardrobe inspiration, recipe ideas, brainstorming classroom activities and of course to whittle away my free time pinning random funny images.  You can follow my boards if you'd like!

3. My lovely friends and family. I've been away for a whole year so have missed birthdays, new babies, weddings and parties.  Can't wait to get home and see everyone again.

4. Travelling! So far I've been to a few countries in Europe, the UK and North America but I have a bucket list of places that I'd love to see.  Perhaps next time I venture overseas I'll do a Mediterranean cruise. :)

5. I really, truly do love to teach.  I can't wait to get back to my classroom with my head full of new ideas and a renewed excitement to inspire my kids. 

Lauren

Grand Plans!

Here we are at the end of another year! I don't know about you, but I sure found that 2012 whizzed by kinda quickly.  As much as I absolutely love teaching, this year I've been away from school, kids and my always messy desk to spend some time living overseas.  Last Boxing Day my friend (also a teacher!) and I jumped on a plane headed for Calgary, Alberta in the beautiful country of Canada with our hearts full of grand (if not slightly vague) plans.  Even though all of those plans didn't come to fruition we've had a lot of fun and made a lot of memories.  I got to know the ropes of the jewellery business in my job here as a sales associate in a small family store, we went to Disneyland and Vegas, we've discovered the breathtaking landscape of the Rockies and made a heap of lovely new friends.  Not to mention the Lovebird I found and plan to bring home with me! (Check out his photo below... isn't he cute?!).  

I knew that spending time away from home would teach me a lesson or two, and boy was I right!  As well as feeling homesick for family, friends and the beach I have also been pining for my job as a Prep teacher.  The planning, the mess, the meetings, the laminating... I can't wait to get back to all of it!  Most of all I can't wait to have a room full of gorgeous Preppies, full of their own grand plans as they tackle their first year of school in my care.  I can't think of any better way to spend my time than getting them excited about learning and sharing in their successes as they navigate life in Prep.

I also have a few new grand plans of my own!  A whole year away from school has given me lots of time to think about things that I've been doing right, things that haven't been efficient or effective, and to scour the Internet for new ideas and fresh perspectives.  I'm a firm believer that as teachers we need to stay inspired and motivated, but I'm also not keen on reinventing the wheel if it's already spinning around just fine on it's own!  

Do you have any grand plans that you are hoping to put into action in your classroom soon?  I'd love to hear how others are excited for making positive changes in 2013 - between us we might even be able to get that wheel spinning even better!

Lauren

P.S. Here's that photo I promised!