My New Class and August Currently.

The 2013 - 2014 school year began on Monday. I have 22 cuties that are keeping me on my toes. I think they are a great class...but right now, it is hard to remember what second graders are like at the beginning of the year. My throat has hurt every day. My room is super cold (66 degrees), and I have not stopped talking, praising, redirecting, bribing, and begging for some silence while I do assessments. I have gone to bed at 7:00 pm twice this week. I guess I am turning into an old lady. My family could not believe it! The night owl, going to bed first?  That never happens.
The window for reading assessments opened on Wednesday and this teacher likes to get them done a.s.a.p. I have left the hard ones for last. TRC anyone? (running records on ipads are not easy :(
I have some siblings from prior years (which I love) and I, once again, scored an amazing room mom. The future is bright!

This August, I am currently...

Listening: To my new CD. My favorite song: Don't Stop the Party (Pitbull). My daughter's: We Are Never Getting Back Together (Taylor Swift).  You should hear us sing!  We really get into it, especially with our princess microphones.

Loving: My Classroom. I did a ton of cleaning, moved furniture a few more times than I wanted, but it is done. I am sure I will be changing things up, but not any time soon. 

August is my birthday month, and even though we never do anything special (sad face here). I like knowing there is a special day where those who love me...think about me :) 

Thinking: about joining the NC Meetup Jen has arranged If you are an NC blogger/ teacher who'd like to join us, please contact her. We'd love to see you there. 

Wanting: I need to make better food choices. I have been making very poor food choices for a while and my body is showing it. I get too tired and just pick something on the way that is terrible for my children and I. I need to plan better, just like I do for teaching. Priorities, ha?

Needing: Needless to say, mommy guilt is hitting me hard. I have been spending tons of time making new things for my class, I have barely spent any time with my kids and husband. I think they are getting a bit resentful. The beginning of the year is so hard! I need balance. Please. Help me find it. It has been ten years. I should be able to let go of many things.

B2S Must Haves: Color pens (the thicker the point, the batter). A new calendar to write the thousands of meetings already scheduled and at least two-three new outfits. One for the first day of school, one for Open House, and one for picture day.

I hope all is well if you returned to work. If you have not, enjoy the time you have left.

Wishing everyone a calm, successful year,

Year Ten...Here I Come!

Tomorrow marks the beginning of my 10th year of teaching (all in second grade). I honestly, cannot believe it! Last I remember, I moved from Northern Kentucky to North Carolina after getting a job offer to teach my dream grade.

Today, my kids and I, went to work for about six hours. Thanks to the extra few hours in there, I was able to finish all the big items I had in mind.

My home away from home is ready for day one.

 

I will take better and close pictures tomorrow. My fancy camera stayed home today :)

And why is it that I still feel butterflies in my stomach after all these years? I may need some sleeping pills tonight. My brain is going a million miles per hour!

I am so ready for tomorrow I could explode!  :) 

I like to label, label

I went back to work this past Thursday. I spent two days emptying my mailbox, reading deleting e-mails. moving furniture, scrubbing tables...
I will be there tomorrow to finish off some last minute details :) I am mentally ready for Monday. So excited, I cannot sleep anymore.

Here's what I accomplished.

Do you enjoy labeling as much as I do?

Here's to hoping tomorrow is extra productive :)

Christmas in July Numero 6 - Last Day

Before I post the sales for today, I wanted to say thank you for all your support. Pretty please take a minute to leave me some feedback. I really (please roll your r when you say really) appreciate you taking the time to do so. I always get nervous when I get the feedback e-mail, but you have been so nice to me all the time! I take your feedback seriously and I am very grateful for it.

20% off for 24 hours.

Check it out here. 

Since I know you are really (roll your /r/ one more time) going to need this. I am putting it on sale one more time.

Find it here.

Christmas in July Numero 4 (6 Day Sale) & 10 Things I've Learned

Today is day 4 of our Christmas in July Sale. I realized that I have two products with polar bears, so they are the ones on sale for the day.

Product one teaches text features. Your final product is a beautiful folder your students can use year round to review 13 text features.

Find it here. 

Product number two contains a variety of Polar Bear facts your students can use. It can also be used as a guided research project. My higher students loved the A-Z book included.

Find it here. 

Now...time for a linky party with Miss Kindergarten.

This year marks my 10th year teaching (all in second grade).  Before I contemplated joining this linky, I realized that I learned something new everyday, and that many times, I still feel like a first year teacher. 

I change things every year, I feel more comfortable every year, but I have yet to 'manage' it all. So here it goes...

BEGIN YOUR YEAR WITH PRAISE: From the moment they enter the room on the first day, notice something nice a bout them. Praise every amazing thing they do. The results are kids who show off  all day long :)

BE CONSISTENT: Need to say more? I (personally) hate not knowing what to expect from others. So, I try to be nice and clear with my students.

SHOCK THEM!  Not with electricity or anything like that though. Ask them to stop working and switch to something fun! A craft, a surprise dance party...anything to wake them up!!!

MODEL, LET THEM PRACTICE, MODEL AGAIN, REPEAT: Model everything, and I mean every.thing.over.and.over. Once they are trained. You can teach. A class well trained, will allow you to teach and do much more than just manage behavior. TONS of extra learning!

VENT: Find someone you can trust and vent away. You will need someone on your side. Your hubby may be the one, but trust me, you need a teacher to vent with :)

COUNT THE KIDDOS: Count them before you go inside from recess.... or their mamas will send you a not so nice e-mail for 'forgetting' their baby. (I did this once. Trust me. Never again after that e-mail).

BE ORGANIZED: or at least try to appear organized :)  Knowing where everything is, organizing what you need to teach (ahead of time) and having a clean and orderly classroom is appreciated by parents, administration and colleagues. The kids will love knowing where everything thing is too. 

COLLABORATE: I am honestly still working on this one. I share a lot, but I am not really good at collaborating with the whole team. Year round schedules make it tricky to collaborate with your entire grade level. Share your passion in a way that works for you! (I like that!).

AVOID THE STAFF LOUNGE: I hate to say this, but I hide in my classroom during lunch time. I see my team during recess and enjoy their company. I have found that the staff lounge is not the place to be. I rather not know all that is said in there. I may seem antisocial :( 

FIND A MENTOR: Find someone you can look up to. Administration, grade level peer, anyone in the building that inspires you to be the best that you can be. 

And lastly... visit the bloggers who are holding a sale today :)