Monday, August 18, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading?


Today, August 18, I am in the middle of so many books that it is scaring me! I'm reading two professional books by Leslie Blauman. I'm listening to two adult books, one by myself and one with my husband. I'm also starting Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.  I plan to read See you at Harry's by Jo Knowles this week and Smile by Raina Telgemeier, too. I need to get some books off of my TBR list because on August 26th, I have Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, Sisters by Raina Telgemeier, 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts by RJ Palacio, Legend of Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, and Amulet 6 by Kazu Kibuishi that will be added. The very next week I have Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood and Island of Legends by Lisa McMann to add to my pile. Plus, I go back to work officially on Wednesday and students arrive next Wednesday.  Hmmm.  Should be interesting!

So, what are you reading?  Share with me please.  I can always add to by TBR pile!  :)

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Still working on it

I know that most teachers spend a ton of time getting classrooms ready for students.  I'm one of them. I spend hours and hours of arranging and rearranging furniture and wall "stuff."  I write letters to students. I make name tags, mailbox labels, hall displays, and door displays. I update my class library app so all of the new books I buy are in and ready for students to check out on the first day of school.  I meet with my teaching partners and bounce ideas off of them. I hang the calendar and make the class calendar. I go through bins and reorganize them, hopefully throwing out some things but in reality, not much goes away. I LOVE spending this time preparing for my class. I think about (and pray for) each of my students and the interactions we will have in the upcoming year. I know that isn't PC, but I do it because I know it helps me prepare even more for the time with them. It is a wonderful and yet stressful time because we don't have much time to do it.

This year, we weren't allowed in our building until last Thursday.  Today we got keys to our rooms and building. (We've had lots happening at our building so we weren't allowed in.)  I've been there for 3 days at about 4 hours a pop and was there today for 5 hours. My room is STILL trashed but it's coming along.  Below are some pictures of some of my room.  They aren't the best, but at least it's something. I'll add more as I get more done and I will add descriptions tomorrow.  I have 5 days left, including the weekend, to work before I start getting paid for being there.  I will get done; it always does.
Calendar Math Wall-not done. There is room for students to sit on the floor, on crates, etc while calendar math is taught. My homework board is here too. I also have a small table for small groups.
My Clay Matthews Wall-Reading lessons and class meetings will take place here
My door display (Chaulk's All-Stars), white board, and I can picture frames for daily objectives.
Messy bookcase. Indian Paintbrush nominees on top. Pink drawers will hold paper of different kinds. I LOVE my clock!
Reading area--the little nook will be for the class president to use for that week. There are pillows coming to making it more comfy.  My library is organized by genre, except picture books which are just there for now.
Another section of my library
More of my library, Bronco lights, social studies wall, and inspiring quotes.  I am going to use quotes as writing prompts and have my students find great quotes.  I will be using the new RJ Palacio book of precepts to help with this.
My new curtains and my teddy bear I've had since I was a baby. The jersey was a gift from a student.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Why so negative?

The other day I was visiting with another teacher. She asked if I was ready for school to start.  Ecstatically, I replied, "Yes! I was in my room Friday for four hours and will be back on Monday to keep going!"

Her response made me take a step back. "Well, I'm in a different school and have to move all my stuff. But I'm not on contract until August 20th so they won't see me until then. I only have two years to go until retirement."

Really? Only 2 years? Not on contract? I just don't get it. I love my job! I love getting things ready and trying to see our classroom through my students' eyes. I love arranging and rearranging desks and books. I love making name tags, door displays, bulletin boards, display areas, and book boxes. I love getting plans ready for the first week, deciding on community building activities, looking through books, deciding on our first read aloud, and making changes in how I do things. I know there are teachers who don't like those things and who would rather spend every last minute of summer doing summer things. I understand that. I really do. This was the first summer that I haven't spend a little time every week in my classroom because they took our keys from us so we wouldn't come in while work was done in our school. It was a strange and yet exciting time. I was forced to do non-school things (or at least do school-things at home) and not focus on school. I feel rejuvenated and ready to get back to work. I am counting the days until I see my kids again--I looped to 6th grade with them. Spending another year with them will be amazing!

I know that I don't want to be around negative people, and I know students don't want to be in a class with a negative teacher. I've worked with people who are counting the days until they retire. They are so excited to be done with teaching that they have little to no energy left for their students. I never want to be that teacher. I want to focus my energy on my class and enjoy all the time I have with them. They feed off of my energy and I need them to be energized about learning.  How do teachers who are negative get their students excited to learn? I want to be the teacher that students around the building see and say, "Wow! That teacher sure is happy!" I want my smile to inspire others to smile. I want my positivity to be infectious. I want people to say, "Why so positive?"  I will tell them it's because I love my job.

Hope you have a positive day!