Wow this summer went by fast. I can’t believe it is already
August. There is so much that I did this summer that I need to take a moment to
recap before starting the New Year. Do you try to hold on to summer as long as
you can? Well I am eager to get things all set up so I am spending the
remainder of my summer WORKING to set up my classroom, but things are happening
ALL to fast, so I’m going to relay all of the fun things I did this summer
before going back to work.
So, the majority of my summer was taken up by the Daycare summer
camp position that I also did last year. This year’s field trips were MUCH
better than last year, so it kept me busy, but I also had A LOT of fun! Some of
the fieldtrips included Edventure Children’s Museum (BEST TRIP EVER!!), bowling
(twice), Sesame Street LIVE, going to a baseball game, going to the public
library, a canal boat ride, farm trip for horseback riding and a hayride, and
we even went to the neighborhood YMCA to swim every single Wednesday for a
whole hour. Then, on my birthday, we went to a state park and our nature leader
was SO MUCH fun, so it was actually one of my favorite fieldtrips-regardless of
the fact that it was the best holiday ever (Flag Day, of course!). On my
birthday, I also went to Chikfila for breakfast and got a FREE chicken biscuit,
because I wore red, white, and blue in spirit of Flag Day! Yes, it was awesome.
We met another couple of friends at a Hibatchi restaurant that evening to
celebrate my birthday, and OF COURSE the staff came over to sing… sooo embarrassing!
But I got a free cupcake and all the food was so delicious that I completely
stuffed myself and couldn’t even eat the cupcake.
I also completed FOUR classes towards my master’s degree within
the two months of summer, and I am officially THREE classes away from
GRADUATION!! :D Due to working half-days
for two whole weeks while I was in class, and the week-long vacation that I
took to Cancun, I missed many of the other fun fieldtrips that my class got to
go to. They went to Publix for a FREE tour and free samples of fresh fruit, vegetables,
baked goods, and sushi! They went to Bruester’s for a FREE trip to make a batch
of icecream and eat some! They went to a pottery place, and some other cool
places that the kids really enjoyed. I was sad to miss some of those places L.
But then again we had plenty of fun when I was there.
I conveniently told them that last Friday would be my last day so I could relax this week
and try to get materials and ideas ready for this coming school year. Although
I am thankful to be teaching in the same classroom as I did last year, I feel
like there is more than ever to do. As a new teacher beginning in December of
last year, I hit the ground running and never felt like I was actually settled.
This year, I have a much better idea of what my class will be like, but it is
still difficult to prepare a classroom when you have more than two grade levels
in the same classroom the same time. I student taught second and third grade
resource, in the same room by alternating with the parapro every other day.
Then last year I juggled a Kindergartner and a fifth grader all day, along with
another Kindergartner for a half hour, two first graders for an hour, and a
third grader for two hours. After that, I think I can figure anything out ;)…
It just takes me some time to figure everything out. So I will keep you updated
with how I figure it out. I have a rough draft of my schedule, but I may have
to change it if they add a new class last minute (they are apparently adding
another PRE-K class).
With this week off, I thought I would have time to RELAX (Relax?
What’s that?) and get errands done, and get ready for school. Turns out, it was
really good that I decided not to work this week, because my agenda is full all
week. On Monday, I had attended an interview for my new parapro, and then Milly
to the vet to get her heartworm refill. On Tuesday, I had to go to the dentist *(I
hadn’t been in over a year- since before I moved here), but I got ran awesome
goody bag! Even the bag had COUPONS on it (Bonus!), which I was really excited
about! Then, I went over to Kroger, which was having a givewaway for teachers. And
who doesn’t love freebies? So, CHECK OUT ALL THIS COOL STUFF I got!!
I got one
free tote bag, one roll of paper towels, two boxes of tissues, two boxes of Ziplog baggies, one pack of copy
paper, one pack of construction paper, two containers of wet wipes, THREE
containers of antibacterial wipes, one container of each soap AND sanitizer ;),
and finally, a box of bandaids (not pictured because I put it away and forgot
about it before I took the picture)!! It was the BEST feeling…… I felt so cool
with my free goodies (all from the SAME day), so I HAD to take a picture!
Then,
I went to dinner with the other teachers from my school to say goodbye to those
who are leaving L.
It was sad, because they moved our principal to a high school that’s about to
hit rock bottom (I know they stole her from us because we’ve met AYP for the 3
years that she’s been with us … and she’s amazing anyways), and they are moving
our bookkeeper to the same school. Our media specialist is moving elsewhere,
and they had to relocate one of our first grade teachers, because they had to
cut one class due to budget cuts. Ugh, so it was a sad night, but it was good
to see everybody and catch up before having the stress of back to school
preplanning.
Today, I had to attend New Teacher Orientation (ugh), since
I missed it when I first started in December. I also have to go tomorrow, but
we got free breakfast and lunch, AND a stipend for going J.
Then, to make it better, I got a BILO Gift Card from a raffle!! Woot! I’m
rolling in all the luck now! Then, on Friday morning I have to go to the
doctor, but then I should have the rest of the day to go back to my classroom
and set everything up. J Talk about a BUSY week! What a typical way to wrap
up a busy summer!
So in my first or second post, I posted pictures of the
classroom when I left at the end of the school year. I went back yesterday to
rearrange furniture, clean, and unpack a few things. I only got an hour of work
done, but I will get to go back on Friday.
So here's my work in progress from my first day back:
This is my new teacher area, which I am actually very excited about. Our room is wired in a very strange way so that there is only one internet connection at the front of the room - specifically for the ActivBoard Connection. But most teachers put their teacher desks in the back of the room, right next to the student computer. There are two internet hookups in the back of the room. So last year, I ended up with two teacher computers that students COULDN'T use, and ONLY ONE student computer. It made no sense. So this year, I am HOPING to get two student computers for the back of the room, and make my ActivBoard Computer the same as my teacher computer. *As you can see, I still have my bulletin boards covered, to prevent dust, but I am taking them down next time I go back. :) But that's why they look so sloppy.
My Soon-to-be reading corner! I can't wait to set it all up! I have stuffed animal leap frogs for the top shelf of the cubbie shelf. I'm getting rid of the tall bookcase, because that is obviously not safe. Then, in the plastic drawers, I have my headphones for leap pad books and cartridges, which will serve as my listening station. (You can see the student computer in the back corner of the classroom. Obviously not set up yet.)
Here's my clip chart that I used last year.
I thought about changing it this year, but I think I may keep it the same, and use it again for one more year. I think I may put it next to the classroom door this year right next to the rules chart.
Thanks for checkin it out! I would gladly appreciate any comments with advice for setting up the rest of my classroom!
~Sarah
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