It's OFFICIAL!!!!

It's OFFICIAL...I completed all of my new hire paperwork and signed my contract.!!! I'm officially an employee for EMS-ISD!!! I report to work next week for new hire orientation!!! Wow!!! My summer is suddenly coming to an abrupt ending!!! Ahhhhh....

More work done

I went to do more work in my classroom today. This is what I got done today.

This is the beginnings our Good Work display board. If you notice the wrinkles, that's because I got a wonderful idea from Jodi at clutterfreeclassroom.com...on her blog she suggested to use bedsheets!!! What a wonderful idea! No need to keep replacing butcher paper after it get worn (this is what I used to do). Fabric work just as well. Needless to say, I will be bringing my iron to get rid of those wrinkles.

This is going to be my information area. More kudos for Jodi...the round magnetic board is actually a pizza pan that is hot glued gift wrapping paper and stapled to the wall!!! Love, love, love that idea!!!

I decided to rearrange the desks. (I usually do this many, many times before I get them arranged in a way that I like.) I think I will leave them this way. I like...Notice the whiteboard is now decorated as well. This is going to be our Focus/Agenda board.

It may not look like a lot - but believe me!!! This was time consuming! Any teacher will tell you that putting up bulletin boards is one of the hardest things to do. I've been teaching for going on nine years now and it still hasn't gotten any easier.

So this is how I spent my morning...more to come...

Off to a good start

I finally got to do so work in my classroom today! I feel a little better now that I have been able to get something done. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

My room...Room 216 (Brought my son to help me.)

Desk arranged

My desk area

Sink and supply area

Start of the computer area

This what helping looks like...hhhmmmm...

Destroying the room...so not helping...

Not helping!!!! Good thing he wasn't being paid!

Today's Project - Birthday Bags

So, since I can't start moving anything from my old classroom to my new one until Aug. 13th, I'm trying to get as much done as I can at home. I've been doing a lot of planning as to how I want to organize my classroom, as well as activities for the first few days of school. Today I decided to work on birthday bags. Every year I have an issue with either forgetting a kid's birthday or just not being ready for it. This year I'm hoping to resolve that by being prepared ahead of time. I tried my hand at using puff paint to write Happy Birthday on the bags. I don't have the steadiest hand, so that along with the paint not flowing smoothly, was a bit of a challenge. But overall I think they turned out pretty well. (Third graders can't be that observant!!! I hope!!!)

I'm thinking about adding the kids' names to the bags once I get my class list. But if I don't, I think this will suffice. I also might add some birthday stickers for more detail. Inside each bag will be a birthday card, birthday homework pass, birthday pencil, birthday bookmark, and birthday bracelet. I found the bracelet online...everything else I either found online or made on my computer.

Birthday Bracelet I found at reallygoodteacherstuff.com

I'm hoping my pre-planning will help making it easier to remember my students' birthdays.



Shopping has begun!

Well, I tried my best not to get caught up in it quite yet, but I couldn't do it anymore!!! I was trying to put off school shopping as long as I could. However, today I got out and started shopping for my kids, as well as my classroom. Made it back home with a lot of loot, much of it I already have plans for how it will be used in my class, some of it not quite. I do feel better now that I've gotten some of this done. I was starting to get a bit stressed - knowing that I have so much to do in order to get prepared at my new school. If I wasn't moving, then I could put things off a bit longer.

Here's a look at the start of the madness!

Room 216

Pics of my new classroom!!! Can't wait to start organizing!!!

My new location: Northbrook Elementary

Here's a look at my new school...

Upon entering the building - I love this!!!

Views from the stairwell leading to my classroom: library & some type of reading room

My Journey as a 3rd Grade Teacher

So, I'm starting this blog to journal my journey into the waters as a 3rd grade Math teacher!!! This is going to be a new experience for me since I've taught Reading for the last 6 years. I think it's important to reflect on your teaching and this blog will serve that purpose.

Right now I kind of nervous. I'm realizing that as I get older I don't embrace change as much as I did in my 20s or early 30s for that matter. This school year will definitely be a year of changes for me: new school district, new school, new grade, new subject. After 8 years in FWISD this job practically fell in my lap, so I took that as a sign that God was telling me it's time for me to move. I didn't even apply for this job, hadn't even made any plans to leave Moss. However, for the past 3-4 I have been dreading going back after the summer break. Enter, Mrs. Broughton, Kyndal's teacher from last year. She gave my name to the principal, the principal called, I interviewed, I was offered the job...When God says move, I move. So, that's exactly what did! I took the job.

It was a hard decision for me to make. In a sense, I feel like I am abandoning the kids that need me at Moss. When I started teaching I was committed to working with students that looked like me. I wanted to be a role model for those who didn't feel like there was a way out of the situation that they are in - those who didn't think that it was possible to move out of the hood and make something out of their life. But I also know that I can touch the life of a child and make a positive impact on their life no matter where I teach. As I move forward, this is the thought that I will carry with me.

Today, I took a HUGE step...I went and resigned from FWISD...without having signed my new contract. I trusted God and I stepped out on faith. A couple of hours after returning home, I get a message from Mrs. Kraus asking if I can go fill out new hire paperwork next week! Look at God work!

This is sure to be an adventure. Although I'm not quite ready for my summer to end, I am anxious to start on this new journey in my life.