Sunday, August 31, 2008
Week 2
My class is having problems with going to the bathroom. They are going crazy. I have a bathroom pass which allows them to go to the bathroom 3 times throughout the week, during class time. If they don't use it, they are put in a drawing for a prize from the treasure chest. For some reason this week, kids just forgot to go at recess and lunch. So on Friday I gave every kid who didn't use their bathroom pass a mini water bottle and a candy bar. I am hoping that this little incentive will help with my problem this week. Out of my 33 kids, I think I gave out like 18 water bottles.
While teaching cursive this week, I was walking and checking my students write. I heard one little girl tell her neighbor that I was pregnant. I looked at her and she was like, look at her belly. She is pregnant. I sternly said, No I am not. And walked away, I seriously almost started crying. But she is in 3rd grade, and a little slow..... So it was harmless. I look back and laugh. But I will be at the gym everyday this week.
On Friday I picked up my keys to my new apartment on my way home from school. It was so nice to know that I would have a home. Before I could move in, I had to take my sister Ayrika and her friends to Pizza Factory for her birthday party. It was fun, they were loud and crazy, but it brought back the memories of being 14. (Don't worry that my cute little sister got a dozen roses and a box of chocolates from a boy in her math class. I'll post a picture of her with them when I add them to my comp.) I moved the rest of my stuff in on Saturday and I am loving my apartment. I will post pictures soon. I have my own room and bathroom. And share a shower/jetted bath tub. I am living with my friends, Danielle, Whitney and Lacey. Come visit me anytime!
Saturday morning, I woke up at 8... That was sleeping in for me. I seriously could not lay there any more. I'm just in that habit of waking up at 6. So I got ready for the day and then went with my Dad to pick out a car. I was debating between the Toyota Corolla and the Camry. I test drove a few and debated with my Dad. The price difference wasn't that much, and the difference between the two cars was. I just felt so much more comfortable in the Camry and love the size. So I ended up signing my life away and bought the car. I love it!!!! It is so beautiful and so nice to drive. I was driving home freaking out that I had a new car. I don't have a picture of it yet. I am sure I will have tons soon.
Friday, August 22, 2008
I'm a teacher! 4 days, 1 hour....
The first day was long and full of a ton of procedures and talking. No one had warned me of how hard the first day would actually be. I left the school thinking, did I pick the right career? I wasn’t so sure anymore. I went to the Jack Johnson concert with my friend Rachel and it was a lot of fun. I might have looked a little nerdy with my teacher bag- for some reason I felt like I needed to do some school things during the pre-show. I also forgot to bring clothes to change into and was wearing a dress shirt and slacks. Haha. I ended up getting home at 1:00 and I was so tired. Dreading the next day. (Pictures will be posted as soon as Rachel gets situated at her new home... I miss you tons!!!!) This picture I stole from Rachel's brother Wally and sister in law Lindsey's blog. Gotta love the teacher get up.
The rest of the week was a ton of fun. As soon as we got into our routine I realized that I did love teaching and that I enjoy being with my cute 33 students everyday.
While I was staying at Mary’s house her darling baby Korbin got sick on Wednesday night and was throwing up. I didn’t think anything of it. Until the next day when I got home and Mary told me she had gotten sick too. I was hardly at their house, except for to sleep, so I didn’t think I would be affected.
Friday morning, 4:00 am surprise surprise!!!! Alyse is sick and doesn’t know what to do. I decided to attempt going to school and got ready. I stopped at smiths and got some seven up and saltine crackers. The cure all for upset stomachs, or at least that’s what my mom always gave me. I went to school and ran into my co teacher Jen and she could tell I wasn’t feeling good. I started crying because I didn’t want to get a sub my first week of school. So I attempted to teach, but the first hour didn’t go over so well. I went into the office at 9 and my awesome secretary called in a sub. Luckily I was able to get my sub plans put together quickly. I spent the whole day sleeping on my couch, trying to fight the stomach virus. Luckily Mary said it only lasts one day.
Exciting moments from week 1:
The first day: I was having the students write, as I was walking around asking questions, I finally reached one boy and his face was kind of green, he was like, Can I go to the bathroom, I’m going to barf. I told him to run. The next day we talked about the fact if your going to barf, you don’t need to ask. RUN. Especially when we are in the trailer and not that close to the bathroom.
The third day: we were doing a snowball activity for spelling. I set the expectations that they couldn’t talk. After the first round there were kids talking so I gave them a warning and told them if they continued that they would have to throw away their papers and write all of their spelling words 3 times each. I guess they kept talking because the next thing I am walking around the class with a trash. My kids knew I was serious then!!!!
The fourth day: I survived the day…. My Aunt came to my classroom a few minutes before lunch and brought me a treasure chest full of little rewards for my students. They were thrilled. She also surprised me with a salad from Café Rio. It was such a nice suprise!!!! Thank you so much Aunt Yvonne!!!! I am staying with her for my second week of homelessness!!!!
Friday- The fifth day—My success is that I didn’t throw up while I was at school. Haha.
Stay tuned for some excitement next week. I Pray that I will make it all 5 days.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
School Starts in 2 Days
On Friday my roommate of the last two years, Alisha Clayson married Patrick Frost. I was able to get away from school in time to see them exit the temple. She looked beautiful and they both had the biggest grins on their faces. I love you two!!!!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Almost there!
This is it!!!! Laminating some math cards for my class, or maybe they are spelling. I seriously covered over 100 sheets of paper this week. I am so thankful for my friends and roommates who helped me cut all of the individual cards out!
This is only the beginning! I am seriously obsessed with this little machine that only cost me 20 bucks. The laminating paper is 6 dollars for 50 sheets, Not too bad!!!!
This is my writing bulletin board. I am so excited to have a writers workshop and have the students compile their own stories!!!!! All of the little posters I stole from another teacher off the internet. I would die without the internet.I also found this online. I am going to use this to monitor what steps my students are on for writing workshop. So like Brainstorm, Rough Draft, Edit and Final Copy. I'll use clothes pins with their names on them and they can move them up and down.
This easel with extra storage was bought by an intern one year with her leg money, and when she left the school she had to leave it. I am the lucky new teacher to inherit it. It takes up a ton of space in my trailer, so I will make sure and put it to use. The other side is a white board so that will be nice for small instruction groups!
I found these Genre posters online and they have 2 or 3 book examples on each one. I loved them!!!! We teach a unit about the different genres and kids are constantly reading, so it is a good reminder for both them and me. If you can see, I put some stickers in the window of some fish my Mom found at the dollar store. As you can tell, my windows are still curtainless. My Mom and I went to the fabric store and got the cutest pirate material. I can't wait to make the curtains and post pictures!
I also laminated a bunch of letters! Those are a pain to cut out! Underneath "Out Best Work" I am going to put clips so the students who publish their stories can clip them up on the bulletin board and other students will be able to read them. I'll just rotate the stories as more students finish. I hope this will let the students have some ownership over the room.
Here is my book shelf. I love seeing how many books I have collected this summer. My baby library!!!! I attatched the little genre cards, which I hope will be helpful for my students! I am going to have to find another place for my pictures books.
I passed out the notebooks and crayons and placed their name tag on each desk. I still don't have my class list, but I feel like my classroom is more complete with the stuff out.