I have survived!

I just finished week four, and I couldn't believe how fast the week went by, even with a head cold. I was constantly blowing my nose or coughing, and it was hard at times.... but getting a sub is so much work and not worth it when you just have a cold. I am now taking vitamin C pills and drinking OJ every morning.

This week there are going to be some new changes.... I am starting to do Words Their Way which is a spelling program that I used during my student teaching. I also learned about it during my college classes and was sure I would use it in my own class. When I was hired I found out that none of the teachers on my team were using it, and I decided to opt out and do the same thing they were doing. But, I soon realized (after my first spelling test) that my kids were on completely different levels. Some were getting 100 without even practicing and some were struggling to get 5 our of 15. Individualized spelling lists, are the way too go. It's a little more work, but so much more rewarding. The 2nd grade and 4th grade use this program, and hopefully the 3rd grade team will adopt it along with me.

Tomorrow we have an assembly, it's from Ken Garff for their reading program. It's like the one where you win a car, except at the elementary level you win a bike. I am excited for the kids to have another incentive to read each night. Oh how I love to read, I hope that I can pass that on to my students.

I got my first book order back. And can I just say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE book orders. They are so amazing. How did I not know how many free books you get when your a teacher. My class ordered over 100 books and being a new teacher I got a lot of bonus points. With those points you can buy books. I got 49 free books with my points, and I only spent half of them. I got the Magic Tree House series, book 1-35! The kids loved them and were reading like crazy on Friday.

On Friday in the afternoon, I was about to read my kids a book and the power went out. I decided that we were going outside. It was a nice day and it was too dark in the class to read. I read the story, and the power was still off. I let the kids get their own books and for 10 minutes we all laid on the grass and read. It was so much fun. Sometimes I forget I have to be the teacher and observe, I wanted to just lay there and read my book along with them.

In library the librarian showed the kids pictures of the faculty from high school. For some of the older teachers, it was fun to see what they looked like 20+ years ago. I turned in my jr. picture instead of my senior, because I looked a lot different. I feel like I look the same as when I was a senior... minus the extra 20 pounds. haha. I had short hair that had blonde and red highlights. The kids were freaking out. It was so fun.

I just have to say, I Love teaching. I seriously can't believe how blessed I am. I have a great class and my school is awesome. I was a little worried that I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I go to school everyday and love being there. I don't mind bringing things home to work on either. I am so glad I made the correct career choice!

cold season, a little too early!

So I have a cold, already! I have a soar throat, stuffy nose and my voice is leaving.... quickly! Today I am feeling better, but my voice is in the gross stage where it's half manly. So I was explaining to my kids this morning that they were going to have to be really quiet so they would be able to hear me, since I was loosing my voice. One kid in my class raises his hand and says, "Well I think you should just leave for a couple days until your voice comes back." I thought it was cute and said do you really want me to leave, and he thought about it for a minute, "well just for a few days." Apparently, my student isn't too fond of me. Haha.

Oh and it is pooring rain outside and it is so loud in the trailer. It does sound cool, but all of the kids are getting distracted and keep hoping for inside recess. Please, don't let it get bad enough for inside recess. If so, I have to spend my lunch in my classroom letting my kids bounce off the walls.

Well my break is over.

And then there were 32

Today I lost a student. One of my smartest kids in the class, Dillan. He was so darling and when he came to Back to School night he was so excited to tell me that he already knew most of his times tables. He was very helpful and always had a comment to share. He was one of those kids where if you were looking for the right answer, you could always go to him. He told me on Monday that he was moving Friday after school. He was so cute, "Teacher, I have something to tell you, and I don't think you are going to be very happy about it." I figured he had forgotten his homework folder or something. I was planning on making a class book with letters saying why we loved him in our class. He is on the early track so we took some class pictures so I could print them off for him. The office buzzed during the late track hour and said he was leaving today. So I didn't get to say goodbye, nor did the class. So sad!!!! But, the one good thing about it is that I only have 32 kids in my class now.

Next Monday we start getting aides in our classroom because our numbers are so high. I will have an aide in the morning during my math which will be amazing to have some extra help. Then I have an aide in the afternoon but it is during my rotation time, so not too much help, but I can have her file papers and make copies if I need. Or help me with whatever I am teaching. I can't wait, except I hope that I can get things together for her by Monday. Woo Woo! What else can I tell the blogging world???? I have loved this week because it has gone by so fast. My class is doing great and I am loving teaching my writer's workshop!!!!! My friend Mary got some freebie stuff from UVSC's library and I am so grateful for the books and cd's! Thanks Mary!

Until the weekend! Hopefully I will have my pictures ready to update. I want everyone to see my new baby..... aka my car, the camster. (I guess thats the new nickname for the Camry.)

Week 2

There is just so much I want to blog about, but somehow there is never enough time. This week has been an eventful week. To start the week out, on Sunday I moved in with my Aunt and Uncle who live in American Fork. It was so nice to be able to use 1/4 of a tank of gas getting to and from school instead of a whole tank. Not only was the gas a plus, but I had homemade meals and a sack lunch everyday as I left for work. LOVED IT! Thanks so much for letting me stay with you.

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.

I'm a teacher! 4 days, 1 hour....

I survived my first week of school, well….. almost! Let me give you a quick recap of my first week of being a 3rd grade teacher. It all started on Sunday night when I had a small panic attack of a few things I hadn’t finished. So I left my parents house in my car and drove to my school in Lehi. (My check engine light when on Friday, but I had to get to school.) I drove to my school and looked around my classroom trying to find a place to start. Upon my decision of where to start my Mom called because I had left a puddle of something on the driveway and my Dad wanted me to come back. I was so frustrated. Oh how I hate my car. So I turned around and drove back to SF. I got my sister’s car and returned to my classroom. I sharpened some pencils and made sure everything was in place. I then drove to Eagle Mountain to stay with my friend Mary for my first week of teaching. ( I was kicked out of my apt. on the 15th and can’t move into my next one until the 29th.) I was so nervous and had a hard time going to sleep.

Here I am on my way out the door. Wish me luck!

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 second day: I had the students bring a brown lunch bag with 5 things in it, to help introduce themselves to the class. The kids LOVED this activity. One girl brought something that her aunt had given her before she died. After they share their 5 I let them answer 3 questions from the class. One kid asked how her aunt died. The girl went into detail of how her aunt was a drunk and had killed herself by hanging herself. I had a small panic attack and quickly asked a question to change the subject. And the assistant principal came in and observed me for like 15 minutes during writing. I was a little nervous at first, but things went smoothly!!!!

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.

School Starts in 2 Days

I have two days or a day and a half left, since I have already wasted most of today away. I am starting school on Monday. I am going to have a panic attack any second. haha. I am so excited and can't wait. I had back to school night on Thursday and met 29 of my 33 students. I am sure this is going to be a great year. This past week has been so busy. I have been going to meetings and preparing my room for back to school night. And now, I am just trying to figure out what I am going to teach this first week. This summer has gone by way too fast. Wish me luck! Here are a few pics from my classroom this last week.

My Reading corner. Hopefully they don't make me take down the net. I think it might be against the fire code. Ooops!

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!!!!

Almost there!

So the countdown begins, I have two full weeks until school starts. I am in panic mode. Ha ha! Ok only sometimes I am in panic mode. This week has been crazy. I quit my job working for my Dad and went to two full days of conferences for New Teacher Induction. I learned a lot of new things that I will put to use the first few weeks of school. I loved being able to sit with my two team members during the meetings and discuss what we would do at our school. My classroom is almost finished. There are only a couple of things I still need to get. (Or atleast that's what I think right now, and then I'll start teaching and need a million more things!) Last weekend I came across the best thing ever at Sam's Club. drum roll please..... A mini laminator!!!! Let's just say, I've been busy this week. ---Side note, we don't have access to our school laminator until like 2 days before school starts because the aids are the only ones allowed to use it. And me being me, I have been freaking out about getting things done early, so I can start planning.

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.

Sorry for the long post, but I have one more picture non related to school. On Monday I was driving to the dentist and I was on SF main street when this guy who wasn't paying attention rear ended me. This was my first wreck, so needless to say, I was pretty emotional. (Wait, isn't she always emotional?) So I called my Dad bawling. Luckily he was only a few minutes behind me on his way to the dentist so he handled everything. And my car just has some paint scratched off of it. I am just really glad I don't have my new car yet!