April 30, 2013

I can't believe we are down to 31 school days and I haven't been on this blog all year.  It has been a year full of tears, laughs, challenges, confusion, frustration, etc. etc. etc.  I am glad to be completing my first year in general ed.  My new venture is working on the Whole Brain Teaching Certification.  Even though I have so few days left, I am going to start implementing some of the techniques I am learning about.  I hope to be on here more often now that school is winding down!

Finally got my word wall up.  It went from this:

to this:

I also finished another board.  Not sure if it is going to be my birthday chart or star student.  It went from this:

to this:

I started on my caldendar bulletin board too, but I ran out of my brown Borderette trim.  Now the trick seems to be finding more!

I actually stayed out of my classroom all weekend.  It was hard, I so wanted to be in my room.  However, even though I wouldn't go in my room I didn't stop thinking about it.  I finally found some material I love for my seat sacks.  What a deal, I got the striped fabric for $1 a yard at Walmart.  How will I ever beat that!

I will be decorating my classroom with the granny smith green, light blue and dark brown.  I did decide to add the pink and green for the girl seat sacks.  However, I am not sure if I will find more of this fabric or not.  Our Walmart is out of the pink.  Might have to find another selection.  I am following a Bird Theme from Schoolgirl Style.  I am in love with the colors.

This weekend I also found peel and stick Cork Board which I need for a bulletin board in my room.  So excited!

 Even though I did not go in my room, I was happy to find material for the seat sacks.  Now I can start sewing them.

Tomorrow is an exciting day, I will get to move my shelving onto the waxed floor and can really see how my room set up is going to look!

Today I spent my third attempt at arranging student seating.  It is difficult because I am using 2 circle tables, 2 rectangle tables, and 2 groups of 4 desks.  I am trying to arrange these around the ELMO so when kids are at their seats they can see the screen.  After input from 3 teachers and my daughter, this is what I have come up with so far.  Next week I will be able to move shelving on the wax floor and will actually get to see if it still looks good!

I need to get the tool to raise and lower the desks.  This final group has different levels, that will drive me crazy!

Another good thing that happened today, the technology department delivered my 4 student computers and my brand new MAC!

We also received our class list today. I have about 4 families that I have worked with before with their older children so I am excited to get to work with them again with their younger children. 

No matter how badly I want to go in this weekend and work, I will not, I will not, I will not!!!!  I have got to start having some fun in my time off.  Not that I'm not having fun in my classroom, but I need to find some balance! 

Have a good weekend.

Today we finally moved all my furniture and stuff in the room.  This morning Brenda and I spent almost an hour trying to set up the student desks.  Grrrr, could not come up with an arrangement that worked.  So tomorrow back to the drawing board.  Came back this afternoon and started unpacking.  That was like Christmas morning!  I want to get the set up of the room arranged so I can start decorating.  The custodian said I couldn't put anything on the newly waxed floor until Monday, that is going to hold me up a bit.  Will post new pictures when I figure out the arrangement, hopefully tomorrow!

Do you remember Speedy Gonzales?  This is how my brain is feeling these days.  It won't stop!!  I am constantly thinking of what I need to do, what I want to do, and what can I ask the district to provide for a new classrom.  Pretty much since I found out I am moving to 1st grade my brain is on super speed.  I am trying to do some relaxation techniques, making lists to keep myself organized, etc.   Starting tomorrow I can start moving in my new room, I am so excited!  I wouldn't mind if my brain takes tonight off though!

Well, I went shopping yesterday at the Scholastic Warehouse book sale.  Didn't do to bad.  Spent about $78 bucks and got these:

I have never been to the warehouse sale before.  Will definitely return again.

I also finished my first mindless summer read:

I do enjoy a good Stephanie Plum story!

Now on to what I need to know for next year: