Wow Wednesday & Thankful Thursday

I have an exciting giveaway for you today, so be sure to read all the way to the bottom to enter! It’s unlike any giveaway I’ve seen on a teaching blog before :)

I only had two days of school this week, but I still want to share a “wow” from my week. I’m linking up with Emily & her pals at Curious Firsties!

You might remember that when I moved this year, I found a great new position- but it was only a half-time position. To be honest… it’s been a little tough on me. I really, really miss the classroom and sometimes I don’t feel as great about myself as a teacher because I just don’t feel like I’m able to teach to my potential, if that makes sense.

I do love working with kids who are low in skills. These kids need me- if not for reading help, for basic love and attention- and I absolutely adore working with those kids. And I’m fine-tuning a lot of my RTI skills this year, which is fantastic for if I ever do move back into the classroom.

But my “Wednesday Wow” for this week is that I’ve started a long-term subbing position in the afternoons- so for a few weeks, I’m working full-time! The ESL teacher at my school needed to be out until after winter break, and my principal worked out a way for me to sub for her every afternoon.

This is “my” room for the afternoon- just look at the resources she has! (And that’s not even going into her cabinets, which are full of tons more!)

It feels amazing that my principal went to special trouble to have ME teaching those kids, but it also just feels great to spend all day at school and feel like I really get to use my talents!

I know, I know. I’m a person who is actually ENJOYING more hours of work—but I’m so thankful to have a job I love so much!

I am also incredibly thankful for all of you!

Thank you   for your support.

Thank you   for validating my teaching ideas.

Thank you   for commenting, sharing ideas, and becoming friends.

To say thanks, I want to offer 3 copies of my newest Text Detectives pack for free. I’m working on the last few passages in the next couple of days, and I’m so excited to give some away! It includes passages about Holidays Around the World, winter and snow, and some December fiction.

Plus, I want to offer something one-of-a-kind.

My uncle is an incredible artist who has recently turned his talent into a business called Imitation Station.

He can take a photo and turn it into a personalized sketch. What I really love is that he can do a more realistic sketch or more of a caricature to match exactly what you want!

He can even do a portrait of a celebrity. Because he’s my godfather, I’m lucky to have three of his portraits as gifts—Josh Groban (my celebrity crush) and two of Donald Driver (my absolute favorite football player!). They are incredible- and such a great gift.

Every piece of art is completely unique and hand-drawn.

You can order your own custom caricatures and sketches from Imitation Station’s website and Facebook page. (He even offers Facebook promotions sometimes, so it’s worth following!) He even guarantees your satisfaction with the final product!

As the grand prize of this giveaway, you can win a $40 gift certificate from Imitation Station plus FREE shipping in the continental U.S.!

Enter to win a Text Detectives pack or a custom caricature using the Rafflecopter below! :) Thank you so much for being a fan, and happy Thanksgiving! The giveaway runs until midnight Monday, December 2nd.

a Rafflecopter giveaway