Well...it's official...kinda sorta. The summer vacation is ending. I went up to the school today to "look at" my classroom. In "teacher-speak" that means I went to see how much work I have to do in order to get my room student-ready. The custodial staff cleaned the classrooms over the summer and everything is in the middle of the floor.
EVERYTHING!!! Did I say everything? Yep- everything! So, today I took pictures and labeled different areas of the classroom. At least now I have an idea of how I want to set up the classroom and I am expecting some help on Wednesday.
This is an exciting time of year- the anticipation of a new group of students; change of seasons; crisp earth tones; sweaters; and the stark realization of what we as educators are entrusted to do. It's all good.
I met with one of my mentors today. When this gentleman joined our school family I mentored him for a couple of years as he was new to 2nd grade. Now we are operating in the reverse. He has tons of experience in preschool/kindergarten...soooo. What I love about my colleagues is that we are about the business of life-long learning and it truly is an each one teach one experience- no big I's little you's! Since my room is still mushed together, we sat in another kindergarten classroom that is almost completely set up and shared ideas. Then he sent me off to photograph and label areas in my own room.
It's almost time to meet and greet those brand new eager little learners! Happy 2011-2012 School Year!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
12 More Days!
Oh dear! In 12 more days I will be setting up a classroom for a new school year! Time to start thinking about classroom theme and routines. (As quiet as it's kept the majority of my summer has been spent actively thinking about the new school year and KINDERGARTEN!!!!) ;-)
I received great news yesterday...3 proposals were funded by DonorsChoose.org. If you are an educator and not familiar with this Godsend of an organization...puh-leeze visit the site. As a result of the funding, my students and I will be receiving over $900.00 worth of materials and supplies. AND...these are all items I selected based on the needs of my kids. Please visit the site, it is very user friendly.
Soooooooooo, back to themes and routines. The themes I am considering are: Helping Hands; .....Oh dear, I cannot remember the others! Wow that was easy...the theme of our classroom will be Helping Hands! (If the entire school year runs this smoothly...umph, umph, umph!)
Routines----the first three weeks of school are crucial. This time is spent establishing and practicing routines- walking in line; quiet signals; transitions; basic classroom routines... any and everything that will support stellar classroom management.
Am I nervous? Uh, yeah! Never taught KINDERGARTEN before. This is a brand new beginning. Yeah, I have the curriculum, the teacher's guides, a myriad of other teacher resources directly related to teaching KINDERGARTEN...but heck I'm human!
Yes, teachers are human...so I am experiencing all the feelings that go along with doing something for the first time. Right now, these feelings are so very magnified. Do you realize that I have been given the responsibility of laying the academic foundation for these kids? Biggest nightmare---what if they don't learn how to read, count or learn their colors? Oh dear God!
It's going to be ok. Prayer, meditation, the support of my awesome colleagues, skills that I possess, loving what I do...it's going to be ok.
Soooooooooooo, back to themes and routines...and.....lesson plans!!!! May the Force be with me!
I received great news yesterday...3 proposals were funded by DonorsChoose.org. If you are an educator and not familiar with this Godsend of an organization...puh-leeze visit the site. As a result of the funding, my students and I will be receiving over $900.00 worth of materials and supplies. AND...these are all items I selected based on the needs of my kids. Please visit the site, it is very user friendly.
Soooooooooo, back to themes and routines. The themes I am considering are: Helping Hands; .....Oh dear, I cannot remember the others! Wow that was easy...the theme of our classroom will be Helping Hands! (If the entire school year runs this smoothly...umph, umph, umph!)
Routines----the first three weeks of school are crucial. This time is spent establishing and practicing routines- walking in line; quiet signals; transitions; basic classroom routines... any and everything that will support stellar classroom management.
Am I nervous? Uh, yeah! Never taught KINDERGARTEN before. This is a brand new beginning. Yeah, I have the curriculum, the teacher's guides, a myriad of other teacher resources directly related to teaching KINDERGARTEN...but heck I'm human!
Yes, teachers are human...so I am experiencing all the feelings that go along with doing something for the first time. Right now, these feelings are so very magnified. Do you realize that I have been given the responsibility of laying the academic foundation for these kids? Biggest nightmare---what if they don't learn how to read, count or learn their colors? Oh dear God!
It's going to be ok. Prayer, meditation, the support of my awesome colleagues, skills that I possess, loving what I do...it's going to be ok.
Soooooooooooo, back to themes and routines...and.....lesson plans!!!! May the Force be with me!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
HartlynKids Shout Out!
Check out the HartlynKids blog. It's a wonderful source of information for parents, educators...hmmm.. all people! Pay particular attention to their new and upcoming book line dedicated to teaching kids all about cultural diversity. I WILL be ordering and using these books with my students. Much love to HartlynKids!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Clarification
Pet Peeve number 1 in previous post refers to able-bodied 7 year olds. Those that are quite capable of tying shoes but are too mommy-dependent to even bother trying.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Welcome to A,B,C...1,2,3
Yes, I am a public school teacher...in NYC. (I can already see you slowly shaking your head back and forth....hmmmm...so am I!) For over a year now I have been sharing "teacher/student," "teacher/teacher," "student/student" or just plain school madness stories with one of my daughters; and, she always followed up with, "You need to create a blog...because this stuff is just too unreal."
Well that was last school year when I taught first grade. I have taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, and as of September 2011 I will be teaching kindergarten. Hmph! Say it with me..kin...der..garten. Even though it is only July, I already feel the need for a blog. So we have a little time yet, but I thought I'd stop by and say hello.
While I'm here let me share a few (and I'll try to be brief), just a few of my teacher pet peeves:
Let me clarify though, I love what I do. I especially love the children and having the opportunity to play such a key role in their lives. But then there are those days when ____________. (I am sure you can fill in the blank.)
OMG...how could I forget
7. "You get off at 3, you get all those holidays, and the summer off, you have it so easy."
That should have been at the head of my list. Students are dismissed at 3. I get off when the last paper is graded/marked/corrected and/or the next bulletin board is posted and/or lesson plans, supplies and materials are laid out for tomorrow and/or the gazillionith piece of paperwork is filled out for administration.
Every now and then I actually take a holiday break...yes they are given to me, but too many times those breaks are laden with lesson planning and such.
The summer off you say? Well the last day of school was in June, and this is July 20, and yes the school building is closed. But if you look carefully to my right, on the table next to the computer desk, you will see curriculum maps, teacher editions, lesson plans, flash drives, a list of kindergarten friendly web sites. Need I go on? Yes, I can sleep late, take two naps a day, but the preparation for next school year is alive and well...so I'm technically not 100% off.
Oh boy am I looking forward to this blog!!! We are going to touch on so many things...some of them may be touchy for me...some of them may be touchy for you. But I do invite honest and open sharing.
Ok, ok. ok...you said I have the summer off...so...until the next tme.
Well that was last school year when I taught first grade. I have taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, and as of September 2011 I will be teaching kindergarten. Hmph! Say it with me..kin...der..garten. Even though it is only July, I already feel the need for a blog. So we have a little time yet, but I thought I'd stop by and say hello.
While I'm here let me share a few (and I'll try to be brief), just a few of my teacher pet peeves:
- 2nd graders who can't tie their shoes (age 7)
- parents who refuse to buy their child a new notebook and tells child, "I'm not wasting my money on no notebook."
- 1st graders in high heels...as in pumps...with a matching bag
- parents who do their children's homework and do not even bother to disguise their handwriting
- parents who do their children's homework and send me a note that says, "Dear Ms.___, I did ___'s homework because he fell asleep and I wanted to make sure he turned it in."
- parents, well, no, ONE parent who accompanies us on a school trip....and gets lost....TWICE
Let me clarify though, I love what I do. I especially love the children and having the opportunity to play such a key role in their lives. But then there are those days when ____________. (I am sure you can fill in the blank.)
OMG...how could I forget
7. "You get off at 3, you get all those holidays, and the summer off, you have it so easy."
That should have been at the head of my list. Students are dismissed at 3. I get off when the last paper is graded/marked/corrected and/or the next bulletin board is posted and/or lesson plans, supplies and materials are laid out for tomorrow and/or the gazillionith piece of paperwork is filled out for administration.
Every now and then I actually take a holiday break...yes they are given to me, but too many times those breaks are laden with lesson planning and such.
The summer off you say? Well the last day of school was in June, and this is July 20, and yes the school building is closed. But if you look carefully to my right, on the table next to the computer desk, you will see curriculum maps, teacher editions, lesson plans, flash drives, a list of kindergarten friendly web sites. Need I go on? Yes, I can sleep late, take two naps a day, but the preparation for next school year is alive and well...so I'm technically not 100% off.
Oh boy am I looking forward to this blog!!! We are going to touch on so many things...some of them may be touchy for me...some of them may be touchy for you. But I do invite honest and open sharing.
Ok, ok. ok...you said I have the summer off...so...until the next tme.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)