Common Core and "Morning Must-Haves" Linky Party!

Hey there, bloggers!

I'm about nose deep in common core and can't believe how much work syncing all of our routines and curriculums to the new standards is!  I had last week off from school and signed up to do summer work at my school this week and next.  Basically, we get to work in grade-level teams to look closely at the new common core standards and, well, pretty much ditch everything we are used to doing to start fresh!  I know I'm behind on the whole common core thing compared to all of you blogging people out there but, nonetheless, am excited to start from scratch and will most definitely be digging around everyone's blogs to find some great resources to use next year with my first graders!

We have been working a lot on the math standards and looking at how incredibly different our methods of teaching will be this upcoming year.  Lucky for me, I work with an amazing team of incredibly passionate and rockin' teachers, so we are all able to support and turn to one another for help.  Did I mention how amazing my team is?  No, but seriously.  They make having the stress of aligning everything with common core fun!  Okay wait.  "Fun" is probably a dramatic overstatement but HEY at least I have some cool people to be bored and stressed with and to grab a drink with afterwards! :)

I will admit that I got a little spoiled with the whole sleeping in thing for that week we had off in between.  I am not a morning person in any definition of the word and literally let out a small sob every time my alarm goes off.  Which makes this reality-check of having to wake up for summer work the perfect opportunity for me to participate in the "Morning Must-Haves" linky party hosted by Across the Hall in 2nd!

So here goes!

1.  OBVIOUSLY my need/desire/reliance on coffee in the morning can get a little out of hand but that's the reason it tops my list!  Typically I make my coffee when I wake up and then grab it to-go in my travel mug for the commute.  There's just something about the appeal of a noisy Chicago traffic-filled commute that draws me to always have coffee nearby :).  If I treat myself or am lucky enough to have received a gift card from one of my kiddos, I prefer Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts.  Oh, and I have a totally irrational hate for McDonald's coffee for all those out there who are just dying to know.

2.  Another one of my morning must-haves is my outfit to already be picked for the day!  If you know me personally at all then you're well aware how long it takes me to pick out an outfit and how much I analyze if I have worn something before.  I have wayyyyy too many clothes and spend wayyyyy too much time selecting an outfit to wear in front of 6 and 7 year olds.  At least I'm aware of my problems, right?

3.  Speaking of outfits, I need to check the weather first thing in the morning to make sure I'm dressed appropriately for the weather that day.  Living in Chicago, I'm never entirely sure what we're gonna get.  Last week it was 85 and then 3 days later it was 54.  A girl's got to be prepared!  So naturally, the weather channel app is a must-have for my mornings!

4.  My sister recently told me about a website called theSkimm.  Have you heard of it?  It's my new obsession!  Every morning, it e-mails you a brief (and witty) version of that day's news.  Their tag line is "theSkimm is the daily newsletter that simplifies the headlines for the educated professional who knows enough to know she needs more."  That's totally me.  So lately, I've been keeping better informed by checking my e-mail when I wake up in the morning and taking a couple minutes to read theSkimm.  Love it!

That's all for now!  This weekend I'm going to the Zac Brown Band concert and am hoping to create some stuff for the beginning of the school year!  Have a great Friday tomorrow!