2015-2016 Classroom

I came home from school around 3 o'clock today, planning on staying home and not going back in until Monday. The longer I stuck around at home playing the Ruger, though, the more things kept popping into my head about various things that I should and could get done. So, around 5:30 I headed back into school and ended up bringing my camera, which worked out great because you have to wait awhile for the laminater to heat up so I was able to snap some pictures.
I'm about ready for the meet and greet on Wednesday, I think, except for some minor things that I can get done on Monday during our three hour work time after in-service. I already feel much more at ease from last year and it is so nice to know, now, what worked in my classroom and what didn't, what I can change, what I can keep the same, etc.
One big thing I'm excited about this year is the calendar binders I put together for the kids. Last year, by the end of the year, it was so hard to get my kids to stay focused and engaged during calendar time...so by using these binders I'm hoping they will stay a little more engaged and get more out of calendar time! We'll see!
Anyways, here is my classroom for the year of 2015-2016! (And yay for getting tables this year!! I already am loving them much more than my desks last year!)
p.s. - I started up stitch fix again! Next fix is scheduled to arrive next Thursday!

Classroom Ramblings

I'm already thinking about my classroom for next year. I wonder if that's odd!? This year I decorated a little bit, but decorations and classroom set up was definitely not high on my priority list. There was so much to think about this first year of teaching curriculum wise, school wise, teacher wise...
I didn't bring anything home to work on today after school, which was nice, so I browsed pinterest for classroom inspiration aka ways to decorate my classroom this summer!
This kindergarten blog was so fun to look at - which is where all these pictures are from below. One thing I really like is her desk area. Right now my desk is facing the kids but it honestly doesn't need to be. I am rarely at my desk when the kids are in the room so if I could do something like below, it would be perfect. 

homework + winter decor

The flu has been raging through my classroom this week. Actually, the whole school has been hit. Tonight I ran into one of the moms of my student who has been sick this whole week and she mentioned how extremely happy her daughter had been that I sent home homework. She sees her older sister doing homework and she really, really wants to have homework as well. As soon as she mentioned that, my thoughts traveled to the Lisbon house when I would sit upstairs in the little bedroom, on the chest from grandma and grandpa, with an old purple/green trapper and pretend to be doing homework. The chest would be a "bus seat". I love when little remembrances of the past sneak up and you remember something you haven't thought of for a long, long time. Anyways, here is a glimpse of room K3, mid January. Winter projects are fun to do!

week one down!

I made it. One week of teaching down!

I've heard people say that they have had super first days. I am very happy that had such great days, but me on the other hand, my first days were hectic. Teaching kindergarten is a little different from the other grades because for the most part, many of them still need to learn how to be students. 

My first day included one of my little boys getting a terrible bloody nose en route to music - thankfully we were by a bathroom so we were able to stop and he could get some paper towels for his nose. 

My second day included another little boy throwing up. Thankfully just a little got on the floor - I was able to hurdle a few desks to snatch up the garbage. 

My third day included a girl having a royal melt down because she didn't get the center she wanted. (We do centers at the end of the day. This includes a reading center, writing center, dramatic play center, etc.)

And then there's the end of the day. I have 17 kids all going different directions. Some on the bus (all different buses it seems like) and then a few going on the city bus. And then there's the seven that need to walk to their siblings classrooms but they don't know how to get there...and then finally there are the four that get picked up by a parent after school. (But the parents are waiting at different doors of the building.)  Very, very thankful for supportive and helpful staff that helped with the end of the day arrangements!

But you know what? In between all the chaos and the busy-ness are the special moments.The moments when you get a tight hug from a student because you helped them write their name, the "you are the best teacher ever!" because you let them do the hokey pokey in school, the beams on the faces when they are praised for doing a job well done, the giggles when I ran around the room giving them all high-fives because they all had their red marker out (and everything else put away), the excitement of getting a story read to them, and when I'm out and about around the town - hearing my name being called from a student and when I look over, two little hands are ferociously waving in my direction with a huge grin on their face...

Yes, my first week was hectic and a bit crazy - but as I sit here and reflect on the week, it's the little moments above that make me so happy I'm a teacher...and make me just a little bit excited to get back to school next Tuesday and see my seventeen kids that I'm already, oh dear, so attached to.

(But for now, I am going to fully enjoy the three days off!)

Classroom 2014/2015

I finally got around to taking pictures of my room. I will be taking pictures as it changes and evolves throughout the year but here is a quick preview of where I spend my days with 17 kinders!