Balancing the To-Do List and the Fun of Summer Time

I am just over halfway through my summer break. 4+ weeks down and 4 weeks to go...it's hard to believe. Especially since so many of you are blogging about going back to school, meeting students and setting up your classrooms. I remember back in June how jealous I was of everyone who was already on their break and I was in school until the 29th and now here we are with the roles reversed and I still kinda want to be where you are!


I have learned so much over the past month or so with the Guiding Readers book study and the Guided Math book study that I am just kind of itching to get back into the school and set up my room. I find myself planning things in my head, mentally moving furniture around and creating bulletin boards. Do you do that too?


I started a list...a long list...of things I want to do and need to do before I go back to school and it's making me feel more organized and overwhelmed all at the same time. I also started to think about my Math Stretches and Calendar. These are going to be the first things I implement from Guided Math as I slowly dip my foot into the water. I also need to think about how my Daily 5 program will work this year as I wasn't totally in love with it last year and plan to integrate it with The Power of Retelling...which reminds me, I need to read The Power of Retelling! LOL 


I want to call my Daily 5 program something else too...I couldn't fit it in everyday and therefore didn't like having "daily" in the name. I have been racking my brain and the best I can come up with in....Literacy Workshop. Creative, aren't I?


I just saw a blog post that there is a new resource to go along with Guided Math called Strategies for Implementing Guided Math. It's also by Laney Sammons but comes with a pretty hefty price tag. Has anyone bought this resource? What did you think? I would love to hear any information or thoughts on this resource. 


At the same time as all this school planning and thinking is going on I don't want to work away my last 4 weeks of summer vacation...such a catch 22. I am wondering how people balance getting their to-do list done and having dun while on their summer break. Thoughts?