Throwback Thursday

It's Throwback Thursday over at The Teaching Tribune.

We're supposed to be linking up a picture of ourselves from the grade that we teach.

Every year I hang my picture in my classroom.

The kids think it's a riot that I really was a 2nd grader at one time :)

Anyway, I'm saying that because my 2nd grade picture is in my classroom,

and I'm home for the summer.

So the next best thing is my first grade picture.

I LOVE how they used to take pictures inside our classroom.

I think it is soooo neat to be able to see the room and how it was set up.

Can you find me?????

Ok, 4th row, 4th kid :)

Can't wait to see all of your pictures!

Monday Meet Me

I hope you enjoyed the first week of our Summer Blogging Series

over at The Teaching Tribune.

Can't wait to see who all joins in this week.

Today's topic is MONDAY MEET ME.

So here are just a few things about me.

Be sure to join us if you can.

Head over to The Teaching Tribune and link up :)

September Currently & MVM

What? September 1st???

I need an August do-over.

Ok, really I don't want to do it over again, 

but I have stuff that needed to get done but didn't.

I know, spilled milk.....

You know what the 1st of the month means,

we are linking up with Farley over at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade.

Listening to 80s music LOL Some of my friends joined an 80s Facebook group (so I had to) and they post songs all the time. It is such a trip down Memory Lane, that I can't scroll past most of them without stopping to listen:)

Loving doing Just Dance! on the Wii with my Pirate Girl.
She is 12 and loves to dance just like her Mama. It makes her mad when I beat her:)

Thinking how thankful I am for Labor Day.
 I am sooooo needing a day off. Amen????

Wanting my school schedule to get settled.
We have had so many new changes at our school this year that we just can't get it worked out yet. Many of the changes are good, but it is very different than what we are used to.
Maybe by October. Ha!

Needing to clean this house. I'm sorry, but back to school time is also house neglect time.
 (Maybe I'll get to that by October too.)

And the last thing is to get more organized at school so I can bring less work home. I know, I know famous last words. But I really am making it a goal (and I'm getting a students teacher).

I'm so glad you stopped by.

Be sure to head over to Farley's blog and read up on your favorite bloggers
 or to add a Currently of your own.

But, before you leave, don't forget that it's
Memory Verse Monday.
Your packet this week is John 13:13.
Click on the picture to grab your copy.

Happy Monday!

July Currently

I know it's not July, but we are getting close!

So, I'm linking up with Farley to bring you my Currently for July.

Listening: I've been typing and keep looking up at them to see if they will realize it and just turn down the TV (nope, never did). LOVE THEM ANYWAY!!

Loving: My new Pirate Girl custom made for me by The Library Fox.

I LOVE it!!!! They are now available on TpT. You just send her a picture of you and fill out a simple questionnaire and then POOF it's you.

Thinking: about another birthday coming this month. I don't like how the number keeps climbing but right now it beats the alternative:) Seriously, thankful for another year!!

Wanting: needs no further explanation:) except maybe strawberry, cookies and cream......

Needing: to go to Publix (to get the ice cream) and some other stuff.

Tips, ticks, and hints: find you some great bloggy buddies. Everyone needs a good support system and there are some SUPER people out there in cyber-world.

Be sure to head over to Farley's blog and see what everyone else is up to this month.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there,

and to those of us who "mother" about 20 every day.

I hope you all get a well-deserved day off today.

This is a shout out to my own Mama.

Thank you for your love and support.

I have lived some pretty wild escapades but you were (and still are)

always there loving me anyway.

I appreciate you and I love you!!

Happy Mother's Day!

What happened to your brown hair????

Oh, that was me:)

May CURRENTLY

Happy May!!

I'm linking up with Farley over at
  Oh'Boy Fourth Grade
to bring you a little May CURRENTLY!

I'm not really sure where April went but we are into May and around here we are in COUNTDOWN mode!! We are closing in with only 14 1/2 days left of school. And that reminds me that I better get busy with end of the year testing and PAPERWORK!!! 

I have been wanting a NEW CHAIR since before Christmas (it was supposed to be my Christmas present) but I still haven't found THE ONE! 

The highlight for us this month is our son graduating from Tallahassee Community College!!!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU JACK!!!!!

That's what's going on. How about you????

Memory Verse Monday and a Personal Note

Happy Monday and Happy Earth Day!!

I know that when Earth Day rolls around each year, many of us are busy with thoughts of plants, growing things and taking care of the planet.

And I'm right there with you. We are right in the middle of a Spring, growing, planting unit ourselves.

But for the last 5 years whenever Earth Day rolls around, my thoughts turn to my Daddy.

My Daddy passed away on Earth Day 2008.

So if you would, allow me a little detour today.....

To my Daddy, "I love you & miss you and look forward to seeing you again!"

To my God, "THANK YOU for choosing this man to be my Daddy. 

Thank you for allowing us the time that we had together. 

And thank you for the promise that I will see him again."

To anyone who might be reading this, 

"While you're taking care of the planet today, 

don't forget to love those who are around you on the planet. 

Make every moment count."

Earth Day always comes to me with a reminder,

that this world is not our home. And so I would pass that on to you as well.

Make sure that you know what comes next & if you don't know, 

please spend some time looking for answers.

And now, here is your memory verse packet for the week.

It features Psalm 104:14 

and it contains a coloring sheet, find and color, draw and label, and word cards.

 Click the cover to pick up your copy.

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow for something special.

Homecoming Celebration!

This is a personal celebration post:)

Our son Michael has been serving in Afghanistan for the last 6 months

and we were thrilled to welcome him home yesterday!

We are so proud of the man he is and his service to our country.

Michael and his wife, Michele.

My favorite picture of the day.

Baby Kentlie meeting her Papa for the first time!

Heading Home!

If you have read "Meet the Captain" then you know that our oldest son is in the Army. 

This is just a personal note to say that we are SO THANKFUL 

that he is headed home from Afghanistan! 

Michael, we are so proud of you and thankful that you are on your way home. 

Can't wait to see you!!

We love you!!!

March CURRENTLY & a Reminder!

Don't you LOVE Saturday mornings?

I am just now having my first cup of coffee,

 enjoying the peace and quiet of my house (everyone else is still asleep),

and WANTING chocolate donuts (dieting:(!!!).

I haven't started on all the things that I "need" to be doing, but I'll get to it eventually.....

Before I do, I am linking up with Farley to share my March CURRENTLY with you.

LOVE: I like MUSIC, almost all kinds of music. I always listen to Christian Contemporary Music, but I can and will listen to most anything. I also love for my music to be LOUD. I think it is hilarious that my (almost) teenage daughter will get in the car with me and ask me to turn the music down LOL!

LOVE: MORNINGS! I know, I know...not the popular vote. But I LOVE getting up early when the house is quiet and enjoying a cup of coffee. 

HATE: MATH! I guess hate is strong word, but I really do not like it because I have a hard time understanding it. Please don't tell the parents of the kids in my class! Math is one of the main reasons I stalk blogs, trying to find some really great way for me to understand and then teach it to my kids:)

Well, there is my CURRENTLY now you go hook up and do yours 

(especially if you have some great math ideas that this pirate can come steal).

One more thing.......

Bulletin Board Ideas

Are you like me? Constantly on the hunt for the next great bulletin board idea? Sometimes ideas just pop out at me when I start a new theme, but other times I spend the entire month trying to think of a bulletin board idea and before you know it, the month is over and the hallway is still blank!! Well, I have a couple to share and also a request.......

This is the board I put up at the beginning of every year.

"Meet Mrs. Powell"

The pictures and the layout vary from year to year but the idea remains the same. I put things about me that I think kids are wondering about.....

"Does she live at the school?

Does she ride the bus home?

Does she really buy groceries at Publix??!!"

For the last several years I have included a picture of me when I was in the grade I am currently teaching. My Mama is the best at buying, taking, and saving pictures and she still had all of my school pictures. The framed picture at the top is me when I was in 2nd grade along with my 2nd grade class picture (so old it's in black and white LOL). They always think this is the COOLEST because I went to school K-2 in the same school where I am teaching now. Very little has changed about the building so they instantly recognize it!

I also include pictures of my husband, kids, parents, former students (many that they also recognize) and the gold sheet pictured is random facts about me (favorite TV show, favorite game, snack, etc). This board is usually their favorite.

Another board I put up every year is our "Secret Stories" board.

Our school uses Saxon Phonics and many of us add in Secret Stories. Since we are Pirates, I added  a Captain Hook and titled the board "Hooked on Phonics." Many of my students have no idea what Hooked on Phonics is, but it makes me smile when I look at it. 

There they are, my 2 ideas for the moment and now for the request. I would love to know about your favorite bulletin boards. I'm starting a thread on my FACEBOOK page for bulletin board ideas.  Please head over and either tell us about your favorite boards or post a picture/link/even a bulletin board product that you are selling. We would LOVE to hear about them. 

Bulletin Board Ideas on Facebook

Pirate Girl 101

It occurred to me while visiting other blogs, that since starting this blog, I just jumped right in and started talking (yep, I do that) without any kind of introduction. So, ahoy this is Pirate Girl 101.

My name is Merinda Nunez Powell. I have been married to Todd for 21 years and we have 4 kids. 

Michael (currently deployed to Afghanistan) married to Michele, 3 kids, 1 grand, and 1 on the way.

Amanda (takes care of Todd's mom)

Jack (sophomore in college in Tallahassee)

Bridget (middle schooler).

We (our moms and almost all of our extended families) live in the beautiful, small town of Fernandina Beach, Florida. It is on Amelia Island, right on the Atlantic Ocean. Our town has a very rich history, it has been under 8 flags, named after Princess Amelia, and inhabited by pirates (that's where the pirates come in).

Our mascot (for our 1 high school and 1 middle school) is a pirate, so everyone here grew up wanting to be a pirate. Me included. When I started teaching in the school where I attended K-2, I knew that we would be Mrs. Powell's Pirates. So that's who we are. 

I have been teaching for 20 years (1st, 2nd, 3rd grade). I am currently back in 2nd grade and I had forgotten (8 years in 1st) how much I LOVE 2nd grade. Since it has been so long since teaching 2nd grade, it feels like starting over. So I am here sharing some things that I have been making for our classroom.

I also feel called by God to write Biblical units that can be used in classrooms around the world. Even though I cannot use them in my own classroom, I know that there is nothing more important than spreading His love and His word.  If you are still reading this, I applaud you and I really hope that you will consider becoming a blog follower, visit often and find many things that are useful to you and your kids. Godspeed!