Wow! I have not done a very good job at keeping up with this blog. (I do keep up with a blog- but it's the one my dogs have me type for them ;) and I fail miserably at keeping up with this one.)
Since I last posted I received a contract to stay in my current district (YES!) and at my current school (double YES!) and in my current grade (YES!!!). I am THRILLED! I did have to move classrooms due to some other changes at our school but I was totally ok with that.
I have been working this summer to get some ideas for next year. I have found a TON of stuff on Pinterest. I think a lot of it has come from other teacher bloggers. I don't know how y'all do it! Really, I don't.
I will say that I have a lot on my plate and that I have cut myself some slack on not being the best teacher blogger ever. I work on school stuff (obviously), take care of my 2 dogs, clean (sometimes. LOL!), work on home remodeling (this DIY stuff is really my passion), volunteer for an animal rescue group, and am now heading up Relay for Life at my school. I have a lot to do (not that other people don't). I understand that you make time for what is important. Blogging just isn't that important to me, but I am so thankful that it is important for others because I really enjoy reading other blogs and using the information provided by other teachers.
This year I am planning to try to share more of what I do in my room as I go. I'm not making any promises because I never promise something I know I darn well may not be able to keep... but I will try my best!
I hope everyone has a fabulous summer!
Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Happy Dance!
Well, I don't know about the programs and processes in other states, but here in SC we have a process that all teachers go through called SAFE-T using the ADEPT Standards for teaching. It is an evaluation process and SAFE-T is what you go through your first two years of teaching. Being a second year teacher, I have gone through SAFE-T this year and completed it. I passed with flying colors and am very proud of myself.
It really hit home yesterday when my principal walked into my classroom with my contract in her hand. That's right. I said contract. Now, the awesome thing about this contract is that at the top it says "continuing". Very exciting!!
Also, let me remind you that last year instead of being handed a contract to come back for another year I was handed a letter laying me off. My job (and all other induction teachers in the district's jobs) was cut due to budget cuts. I cried. I managed to make it out of the office and meeting, but I cried and cried. My heart was broken and I felt very helpless and hopeless. I had looked for a job for over a year before finding that one and I was being let go after only one year due to no fault of my own... silly budget.
Yesterday, though... yesterday was awesome. My principal walked in and handed me that contract. She said that it was my contract for next year and thanked me for all I do. I didn't cry. But, I wanted to. I wanted to cry tears of joy. I have worked so hard this year and I am so excited for next year.
I have found a school I love. I get to go to work everyday with awesome teachers and an awesome team. I get to spend my day with children I love and adore. Life cannot get any better!
I saw a quote that prompted this post. It said, "Lord, teach me to laugh again, but please don't let me forget I cried." (Unfortunately, I do not know the author of this awesome quote.) I am laughing again. I am smiling. I am breathing and not feeling like the ground might fall out from under me at any second. I assure you that being jobless is a horrible thing. It is hard. It makes you question your self worth. It makes you angry. It makes you sad. It makes you frustrated. However, at the end of it all, I have come out on top. Just as my Grandmama always says, "It'll all come out in the wash." And, you know what? It did.
It really hit home yesterday when my principal walked into my classroom with my contract in her hand. That's right. I said contract. Now, the awesome thing about this contract is that at the top it says "continuing". Very exciting!!
Also, let me remind you that last year instead of being handed a contract to come back for another year I was handed a letter laying me off. My job (and all other induction teachers in the district's jobs) was cut due to budget cuts. I cried. I managed to make it out of the office and meeting, but I cried and cried. My heart was broken and I felt very helpless and hopeless. I had looked for a job for over a year before finding that one and I was being let go after only one year due to no fault of my own... silly budget.
Yesterday, though... yesterday was awesome. My principal walked in and handed me that contract. She said that it was my contract for next year and thanked me for all I do. I didn't cry. But, I wanted to. I wanted to cry tears of joy. I have worked so hard this year and I am so excited for next year.
I have found a school I love. I get to go to work everyday with awesome teachers and an awesome team. I get to spend my day with children I love and adore. Life cannot get any better!
I saw a quote that prompted this post. It said, "Lord, teach me to laugh again, but please don't let me forget I cried." (Unfortunately, I do not know the author of this awesome quote.) I am laughing again. I am smiling. I am breathing and not feeling like the ground might fall out from under me at any second. I assure you that being jobless is a horrible thing. It is hard. It makes you question your self worth. It makes you angry. It makes you sad. It makes you frustrated. However, at the end of it all, I have come out on top. Just as my Grandmama always says, "It'll all come out in the wash." And, you know what? It did.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Scoot! Game (Free)
If you haven't had your students play "Scoot!" you are missing out! I found it online somewhere and my kids LOVE it! We play it for review all the time. It is great because it involves movement and we all know how great it is for kids to be up and moving!
What you do it you give each kid a blank Scoot! sheet. Each box has a number that corresponds to a question somewhere in the room. The kids go to the question with that number and answer the question. You should make it a timed event. Once the time is up say, "3.2.1. Scoot!" and the kids scoot to the next question.
The one I have attached is multiplication Scoot! but I do have others and will post those later.
Again, let me know if you cannot access it and I will add your email to my google docs.
What you do it you give each kid a blank Scoot! sheet. Each box has a number that corresponds to a question somewhere in the room. The kids go to the question with that number and answer the question. You should make it a timed event. Once the time is up say, "3.2.1. Scoot!" and the kids scoot to the next question.
The one I have attached is multiplication Scoot! but I do have others and will post those later.
Again, let me know if you cannot access it and I will add your email to my google docs.
Poetry Powerpoint Free
This is a power point I used with my students earlier this year. You are welcome to it!
You can go HERE to get it.
Please let me know if you cannot access it and I will add you to my google docs if you will leave your email address in the comments.
You can go HERE to get it.
Please let me know if you cannot access it and I will add you to my google docs if you will leave your email address in the comments.
Free Reading Log
I created a reading log today to share. It's nothing fancy, but it's free for the taking.
You can go here to get it. If you aren't able to access it, please leave your email in the comments and I will be happy to add you to my google docs.
I also created a reading response log to share. Again, it's nothing fancy but I feel like we need to all work together! I certainly get things from other teacher's blogs and love it when I find stuff for free!
You can go here to get it.
Have a great weekend!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Getting Ideas
I am always on the internet on the weekends and over breaks looking for ideas for my classroom. I have found TONS of great ideas. The problem is that I have to figure out what works for me and my kids and how we do things and what doesn't. You know, every classroom has a style, a fit, a way of living so to speak and some things just don't work for everyone.
I have been thinking a lot about how to organize files. I hate filing. I am not a filer. I am awful at it. I end up stacking and stacking papers and then (to be brutally honest) I end up chunking most of it in the trash. I need to work on that. And I did. So the other week my school was open on a Saturday and I decided to tackle the STACK. I got out 4 binders and my 3-hole punch. I took out the STACK and separated it into 4 stacks. The 4 core subjects I teach are math, science, social studies, and language arts. I divided the stack into those 4 groups and then I decided that I would put the papers into the four notebooks. Then I decided that I will bring them home this summer and really get them organized into units, etc. I really need to work on being more organized with paper. One of my team teachers wants to scan everything and forget the filing cabinet all together. I like that idea. I could put it all on flash drives and back them up (of course) and that way I don't have to keep up with papers. I'm still figuring out how all that would work for me.
I have been thinking a lot about how to organize files. I hate filing. I am not a filer. I am awful at it. I end up stacking and stacking papers and then (to be brutally honest) I end up chunking most of it in the trash. I need to work on that. And I did. So the other week my school was open on a Saturday and I decided to tackle the STACK. I got out 4 binders and my 3-hole punch. I took out the STACK and separated it into 4 stacks. The 4 core subjects I teach are math, science, social studies, and language arts. I divided the stack into those 4 groups and then I decided that I would put the papers into the four notebooks. Then I decided that I will bring them home this summer and really get them organized into units, etc. I really need to work on being more organized with paper. One of my team teachers wants to scan everything and forget the filing cabinet all together. I like that idea. I could put it all on flash drives and back them up (of course) and that way I don't have to keep up with papers. I'm still figuring out how all that would work for me.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Saw This and Had to Share
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE A TEACHER? by Jeff Foxworty
#1 You get a secret thrill out of laminating things.
#2 You walk into a store and hear the words, “It’s Ms./Mr. ____________ and know you have been spotted.
#3 You have 25 people who accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.
#4 You can eat a multi-course meal in under 25 minutes.
... ... #5 You’ve trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day, lunch and planning period.
#6 You start saving other people’s trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.
#7 You want to slap the next person who says, “Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off”.
#8 You believe chocolate is a food group.
#9 You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
#10 You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
#11 You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.
#12 You ask your husband or friends to use their words and explain if the left hand turn he made was a “good choice” or “bad choice.”
#13 You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.
#14 You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.
#15 You understand, instantaneously, why a child behaves in a certain way after meeting his/her parents.
(Amazing how true this is!)
I stole this from another persons status, but I had to repost :)
Some of these are SOOOO true. I laughed when I read them because it's funny how dorky we teachers can be at times... like the thing about the pencils. I love sharpened pencils. lol
#1 You get a secret thrill out of laminating things.
#2 You walk into a store and hear the words, “It’s Ms./Mr. ____________ and know you have been spotted.
#3 You have 25 people who accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.
#4 You can eat a multi-course meal in under 25 minutes.
... ... #5 You’ve trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day, lunch and planning period.
#6 You start saving other people’s trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.
#7 You want to slap the next person who says, “Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off”.
#8 You believe chocolate is a food group.
#9 You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
#10 You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
#11 You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.
#12 You ask your husband or friends to use their words and explain if the left hand turn he made was a “good choice” or “bad choice.”
#13 You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.
#14 You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.
#15 You understand, instantaneously, why a child behaves in a certain way after meeting his/her parents.
(Amazing how true this is!)
I stole this from another persons status, but I had to repost :)
Some of these are SOOOO true. I laughed when I read them because it's funny how dorky we teachers can be at times... like the thing about the pencils. I love sharpened pencils. lol
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