30 and counting!

I totally know I am not the only one counting down the days!  Tomorrow is field day...which I have to admit I am excited about and hoping for no rain!  I feel like I am so pushed to teach these kids everything in such a short period of time that I can't let the kids be kids!  Try as I might!  And when I do I feel like I am judged by fellow teachers for not doing the "teaching" thing...(everything I do is TEACHING).  I just think too much is expected of these little babies and they are not mature enough to learn these things.  So off my soap box I go!  Sorry just needed to say that.

I have to say that I enjoyed my workshop on Monday.  It gave me ideas about how other schools schedule their days to ensure that RtI is being used in their schools.  I really think my school (love it to death) could use a make over when it comes to being more flexible and utilizing everything we have to help these children.  One school talked of 30 minutes daily dedicated to RtI in which the school stopped everything and grouped the kids by what they needed.  Enhancement teachers are used, janitors are used, cafeteria staff etc.  any warm body that could help reach these children.  I thought that was a neat idea.  But who am I to make suggestions...I feel like my puny two year experience people would laugh.  I just think it would be a lot easier if we would work TOGETHER on RtI.  No man is an island!  Use the people around you!  Ask questions!  Make suggestions about how to get through to these children.  Everyone has to have something to bring to the table.

I am really ready for summer this year.  Not because of the "break" I get.  But I am really excited to look at things involving school, learn more about the new curriculum cause Lord knows the professional development doesn't seem to have helped me much.  I want to really rethink the way I "organize" and work on that so I am not scrambling around all the time.  I want to find creative ways to reach the kids!  I want/needddd to make meaningful centers and find ideas to keep kids engaged in centers. 

Still working on how to add work sheets or center ideas etc on here.  I would love to put our report card on here to show you exactly just how many grades our kids gets.  There are about 13 SEPARATE reading grades and about 9 SEPARATE math grades.  Think about it...you have to have at least 5 grades for each topic then multiply that by 23 students...and it is EXTREMELY hard.  The papers never seem to stop coming to grade.  Then by progress report time you are freaking out because you don't have enough grades for retelling, or non standard measurement....

Gotta go....this has reminded me of my overwhelming stack of UNgraded papers.....

Tomorrow, tomorrow...

Well tomorrow I am going to my first ever workshop that my school system did not tell me I had to go to.  I got an email over spring break (yes I did check my email over break) about an RtI workshop in Wilson.  I thought to myself while reading it..."hmm...RtI is becoming pretty darn big in schools now...and I do not know much so why not go?"  So I signed up.  It doesn't hurt either knowing I get to sleep in for a little while longer because the workshop is closer to my house than work..?  Yes really...it is!  It will take me 30 minutes to get there..and it takes an hour to get to work.  Plus the workshop starts at 9:30!  That's what I'm talking about!  So Friday afternoon at school was filled with making sure I had every little detail ready for my class on Monday.  It freaks me out to no end to have a sub!  I worry that my kids will turn into circus animals!  Let's hope not!  So tomorrow I will post about my first workshop experience around people I do not know!  :)

Holy Guacomole!

Let me start by saying that today was a fantastic day.  You know, one of those days where your class seems to be perfect, and engaged in learning and just everything goes smoothly?  Well today was one of those days.  Well then this afternoon happened and ugh it has ruined my day.  I don't even really feel like blogging...goodnight.

36 and counting!

So here I sit...trying to figure out if I have everything ready for my observation tomorrow and I am so ready for it to just be over!  And I often wonder...why do we (or me) always fret and worry about observations?!?!  I just hate feeling as though I have to wear myself out and stress out about them when I know I do what I should everyday!  Anywaysss...

So sitting here with my headache I feel like blogging.  Today we had a mini field trip.  I say mini because we were back around lunch, but I'm sure you knew that anyway.  I enjoyed it for the most part...I count the kids a million times, worry too much about my allergy babies needing me to stab them with an epi pen, or someone needing an inhaler, or braking a leg, or scraping a knee, or falling down stairs, or getting mixed with another class...I can keep going!  But all went well, and none of the above occurred!  Thank you!!! 

Still gotta figure out this whole uploading pics deal.  I am big on global awareness and teaching about different countries and this year I found this cool passport template that really looks like a real passport!  I made one for each child and each country we "visit"  I give them a cut out of the flag of the country to place in their passport.  You even get to put their picture in there.  I'm sure their are stamps out there I can stamp into their passports, but I have been unable to find one at my fingertips!  But I will post the template as soon as I figure it out! :)

~Laura

I hope I can do this!

Well hello!  My name is Laura and this is my very first blog.  I currently teach first grade and I loveeee it!  I love children and how cooky and crazy they are!  They can make any day bright!  Here we only have about 36 days left of school!  It is crazy to think that I am almost finished with my second year of teaching! 

By doing this blog I hope that I can find creative teaching ideas to help my students learn, and hopefully I will be able to give you ideas as well!  I'm not the most creative person but I will certainly try to help!  One question I do have as I have been looking through blogs:  I see all these cute center ideas and worksheets with all these cute themes and clip arts and fonts.  How do you create them?  The only thing I have ever used is Microsoft...I would love to learn! 

~Laura