Wednesday, September 5, 2012
'twas the night before back to school
Well I think my room is visually ready still working on logistics and paperwork. Here is my new room... I love it so homey. Thank you Emily for your help and for those that saved cereal boxes for me.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
A fun day of prep for the new year
The abcd different colored mugs will be adhered on the desks to identify small groups and give responsibilities within the group.
Today was a lot of fun because my sister came down to help me make curtains for my classroom. They look awesome and we had a fun time too. Tune in soon as I will reveal the finished product of my classroom and show all the fun projects that I worked on when they are finished.
Ps. The to go cup is a clue to my theme for the year.... With my work background it is no wonder that this theme comes so easily and naturally .
Love the fresh start to the year !!
Today was a lot of fun because my sister came down to help me make curtains for my classroom. They look awesome and we had a fun time too. Tune in soon as I will reveal the finished product of my classroom and show all the fun projects that I worked on when they are finished.
Ps. The to go cup is a clue to my theme for the year.... With my work background it is no wonder that this theme comes so easily and naturally .
Love the fresh start to the year !!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Little projects I've been working on
Place value charts
Abcd/1234 decision cards each color doesn't represent a specific number because then students would know how others voted that is also why they are single sided as I wanted 1 to always be with a. I am planning on using these for fist to five type assessments as well as multiple choice questions that I may ask.
Multiplication rings have random questions from 1 thru 12 facts. I'm going to use these as a station.
This year my classroom is a coffee shop theme so all of my choice menu s and labels around the room I wanted to reflect words thy would find in a coffee shop. The name of my classroom this yr is Affogato al Arithmetic which means on top of math. Keep watching as I'll post different ideas I'm using in my cafe inspired classroom this year !!!
Abcd/1234 decision cards each color doesn't represent a specific number because then students would know how others voted that is also why they are single sided as I wanted 1 to always be with a. I am planning on using these for fist to five type assessments as well as multiple choice questions that I may ask.
Multiplication rings have random questions from 1 thru 12 facts. I'm going to use these as a station.
This year my classroom is a coffee shop theme so all of my choice menu s and labels around the room I wanted to reflect words thy would find in a coffee shop. The name of my classroom this yr is Affogato al Arithmetic which means on top of math. Keep watching as I'll post different ideas I'm using in my cafe inspired classroom this year !!!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
FFA in Review
September came fast and crazy. 100 students means 100 papers to grade daily and lots of lesson plans to create. Daily grading, planning, driving, and contacting parents started wearing on me. I was staying later at night trying to finish my work before leaving and before my commute home. I would get home, make dinner, and try to do a few more things for school before wanting to fall asleep.
By the time October was beginning, I was now riding the train everyday, was late to school every day, and was still getting home at the same time because of missing the train or waiting for the train to come. Students were failing as they didn't hand in homework or did so poorly on the homework that I should not have even collected it or graded it because it was a waste of time and energy. I was still on the same topic of place value for over a month now and cannot think of any others ways to teach it. I was frustrating myself trying to figure new ways to teach them to help them understand concepts instead of rushing through their homework and work. Parent teacher conferences brought about many frustrated parents to talk about their children and that they have never failed a subject before in their life, as this has any bearing on this year. It is a culmination of all of these stresses that lead me for the first time in my life I resigned from something and didn't have something to go to next. It was odd being at such peace and filled with relief toward the end.
By the time October was beginning, I was now riding the train everyday, was late to school every day, and was still getting home at the same time because of missing the train or waiting for the train to come. Students were failing as they didn't hand in homework or did so poorly on the homework that I should not have even collected it or graded it because it was a waste of time and energy. I was still on the same topic of place value for over a month now and cannot think of any others ways to teach it. I was frustrating myself trying to figure new ways to teach them to help them understand concepts instead of rushing through their homework and work. Parent teacher conferences brought about many frustrated parents to talk about their children and that they have never failed a subject before in their life, as this has any bearing on this year. It is a culmination of all of these stresses that lead me for the first time in my life I resigned from something and didn't have something to go to next. It was odd being at such peace and filled with relief toward the end.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
My CrAzY First Week at FFA
Monday:
School was closed because of Irene and the janitor found water in
my room and attempted to clean up my flooded room before the students and I
came in the next day.
Tuesday: My First day of school with the students.
I woke up in the morning super excited and nervous and
at 4:30am. WAY TO EARLY! I started my journey and was listening to my book on
tape as I went. I was in a great mood and excited for the day until I walk into
my classroom and notice that all of my desks are not where I had left them. I
didn't think anything about it until I turned on the light and scanned the
room. MY HEART SANK INSTANTLY. There had been water in my room and had ruined a
pack of water color pencils, 2 sets of water colors, 10 packs of colored
pencils, all of my poster board, some colored and special teacher bordered
paper, my grade book, several of my teaching books, markers, pencils, notepads,
and lots of other tiny stuff. I started to cry thinking about how I didn't want
the students to walk into this mess and that I did not have time to clean all
of this mess up before they came. Thankfully, two teachers were there to get me
back on track and tried to cheer me up.
The day started to get better as I was working with the students
and they seemed really fun.
The day ended better than it started and even though I was
overwhelmed, I knew it would all be ok.
Wednesday:
Started off again very
early in the morning. Today started off much better than the other. We were
finishing about me name tags and taking pictures of the students so that I
could start to learn their names when I had two students start to push each
other. I rushed over and pulled both of them in the hall, while telling the
rest of the students that they would be starting their tests early and I better
not hear a peep from them while I am talking at the door of the classroom.
Three periods later as we are going to lunch I have two students start pushing
each other and arguing over something. Here to find out, they were fighting
over who was the toughest.
Thursday:
A fairly normal day…
Friday:
I was exhausted, barely
able to get up and function in the morning. However, it is amazing how when the
kids get there you get a sudden energy. Praise the Lord for that. His strength
that He gives to get through those days is a amazing.
I survived the first
week of many to come.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
First Day #2
4:40am
It is really dark out and my head feels like it is in a cloud. After a Shower and some breakfast, I was coming around and ready for the day.. or so I thought. It shoulda been an orange juice morning like in the commercial where everyone tells you want is going to go wrong... but that doesn't happen. By that, I was already on my way to work with the early morning rush that is set on just getting there and is too sleepy to change lanes and cause traffic to get slow, while listening to "The Time Travelers Wife" over the speakers. It took less than an hour to get to work because there was absolutely no traffic. A great start to the day, I thought.
6:35am
I walked into my classroom and nothing was where I had put it the week before. My heart sank and I could feel tears rushing to my eyes and that thick feeling that you get in the back of your throat just before you cry. I wanted to shout IRENE what have you done??, but was able to keep that to my head. I knelt over my containers of colored pencils and watercolors and could feel those tears coming slowly down my cheek. My co-workers were great and two of them just came over and gave me a hug and reassured me of the day and that it would all pan out in the end, which I knew, but was just having a moment. They also reminded me that as teachers we all have our MOMENTS. After this short breakdown, I ran upstairs to attempt to make my copies for the day, which of course took longer than expected and by the time the copies were done students were starting to funnel into my room and I had no idea who belonged and who didn't because we had no rosters. CAOS!! But the teachers and I were just rolling with the punches and trying to make jokes to keep the others laughing and somehow we managed to make it through the entire day. Many of the students were really sweet and seemed exited about math for this year. Others didn't seem so sure, so hopefully I will be able to win them over soon.
3:15pm
Buses were supposed to take students home after school, but there were too many children supposed to be riding the buses that another 2 buses had to be called. aye aye aye.
So the words of the day were Craziness and Flexibility. I wonder if I shall ever have a NORMAL first day of school where something crazy or disorganized doesn't happen. And this was all in One Day's Work.
May God bless through me as I am there. Not sure what this new ministry will be, but I am sure it will be QUITE the adventure. I never get the easy roads.
It is really dark out and my head feels like it is in a cloud. After a Shower and some breakfast, I was coming around and ready for the day.. or so I thought. It shoulda been an orange juice morning like in the commercial where everyone tells you want is going to go wrong... but that doesn't happen. By that, I was already on my way to work with the early morning rush that is set on just getting there and is too sleepy to change lanes and cause traffic to get slow, while listening to "The Time Travelers Wife" over the speakers. It took less than an hour to get to work because there was absolutely no traffic. A great start to the day, I thought.
6:35am
I walked into my classroom and nothing was where I had put it the week before. My heart sank and I could feel tears rushing to my eyes and that thick feeling that you get in the back of your throat just before you cry. I wanted to shout IRENE what have you done??, but was able to keep that to my head. I knelt over my containers of colored pencils and watercolors and could feel those tears coming slowly down my cheek. My co-workers were great and two of them just came over and gave me a hug and reassured me of the day and that it would all pan out in the end, which I knew, but was just having a moment. They also reminded me that as teachers we all have our MOMENTS. After this short breakdown, I ran upstairs to attempt to make my copies for the day, which of course took longer than expected and by the time the copies were done students were starting to funnel into my room and I had no idea who belonged and who didn't because we had no rosters. CAOS!! But the teachers and I were just rolling with the punches and trying to make jokes to keep the others laughing and somehow we managed to make it through the entire day. Many of the students were really sweet and seemed exited about math for this year. Others didn't seem so sure, so hopefully I will be able to win them over soon.
3:15pm
Buses were supposed to take students home after school, but there were too many children supposed to be riding the buses that another 2 buses had to be called. aye aye aye.
So the words of the day were Craziness and Flexibility. I wonder if I shall ever have a NORMAL first day of school where something crazy or disorganized doesn't happen. And this was all in One Day's Work.
May God bless through me as I am there. Not sure what this new ministry will be, but I am sure it will be QUITE the adventure. I never get the easy roads.
Monday, August 22, 2011
In His Time...
As my day of waiting seemed like it was coming to an end. I tried to go exercise, but my class had gotten cancelled. Then Aaron and I went for a walk around the Mall and then we went over to Target. As we were pulling into the Target parking lot, I heard my phone start to ring. It was the unknown caller ringtone and I started to get excited.
I was then asked if I would like to take the position. The board meeting had just finished and they would like to extend an invitation to teach. SO EXCITED!!! and Aaron was sitting right next to me listening and holding my hand.
What an opportunity. We shall see how God uses me in Delaware.
I was then asked if I would like to take the position. The board meeting had just finished and they would like to extend an invitation to teach. SO EXCITED!!! and Aaron was sitting right next to me listening and holding my hand.
What an opportunity. We shall see how God uses me in Delaware.
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