Teacher Week Day #3: Where it all Happens

I didn't do Tuesday's post because this is only my second year of teaching and I don't feel like I'm the best one to give advice. However, I'm excited about today's post because I haven't posted any classroom pics this year! So be prepared, there are quite a few.




My listening center and that pocket chart will be used for my center chart.

A dark view of my library center (the battery in my camera was dieing)

A better view of my library center.

Self explanatory: I found those flowers on a blog, but I can't seem to find it now.

We use responsive classroom for behavior at our school. This is my timeout area/card system/feelings poster.

View from the front of my room

View from the side of the room

Word Wall/Cabinets....those are penguins with letters that I bought on tpt.

Penguin curtains and cubbies

View of the front and middle of the room. I'm blessed with a large room.

Tomorrow is our first day with the kiddos. I now have 20 kiddos on my roster and I've met 18 of them. Wish me luck!

#Tired

I have a facebook friend that puts a hash tag on all her facebook posts....it's contagious haha..hence the title!

Today was our second workday. I've gotten a ton done, but I am exhausted. I guess my body is still on summer time. I only took a couple pictures today because I forgot my camera. I'll try to remember it tomorrow.

This is the bulletin board in the hallway outside of my room. I ordered a penguin bulletin board set from Bender-Burkot at the end of last year, but it hasn't come in yet, and I'm not confident it will be here by open house on Tuesday. I have some backup penguins I can use that I bought at my favorite teacher supply store! I plan to put each of my 19 kiddos names on them.

These are my math tubs. Inspired by The First Grade Parade . I plan on doing more math centers during my math time this year. I found penguins with each letter of the alphabet on teachers pay teachers. They came with some blank penguins, so I used those for my math tubs.

I brought home a huge pile of things I laminated that I need to cut out. I'm not looking forward to it, but here I go.........

I found it!

It's always in the last place you look. The beginning of the year assessment I was looking for is on Roschell's blog: Building Blocks. Check it out, it's really cute!

Tomorrow is our first work day :( We were suppose to go to OBX with my parents from Sunday until today, but there was a slight change of plans. So today I'm printing all the awesome blog ideas I've been saving in google documents. I can't wait to share them with my first grade team.

My plan for this year is to keep as positive an attitude as I can. I find that a lot of teachers at my school (sometimes me included) can be very pessimistic. I want to stay away from that. Last year was really hard because it was my first full year teaching, and my first year teaching first grade. This year I feel like I kind of know what I'm doing. We got a new principal this year and she is so sweet. I loved our old principal too though :) I'm very excited and apprehensive (I have 3 retainees this year). Classroom management is not my strong suit, but I'm hoping I can do a good job!

T minus 14 days

In exactly two weeks I will be officially returning for workdays. We have six workdays before the kiddos start on the 25th. Today I went in again with intentions of hanging my penguin curtains. I soon realized that although I asked for enough fabric to make two curtains, she only cut enough for one. I went to trim it down some and...........cut off too much. I'm on my way to JoAnn's tomorrow for more penguin fabric....good thing I get a 15% discount. :)

I did manage to get 4 boxes emptied. That may not seem like a lot, but since I moved rooms and EVERYTHING is in boxes, that is awesome. I have 4 closets in my room and I have 1 completely done! I also had an insightful conversation with our amazing custodian today. He wants to go to barber school and I'm really hoping that dream pans out for him. Did I mention he is amazing?? He came in my room out of his own free will and ASKED if I needed help...that's dangerous! Haha!

Since it's back to school time...what better time for a giveaway!!!

I've been stocking up at the Target dollar spot (and $2.50) spot. It's my fave! So for my first giveaway (since I'm a small fry blogger) I'm giving away a.........


$10 Target Giftcard.

I will draw a winner for this giveaway on Wednesday, August 10th at 8pm! Then I'll mail the winner their awesome giftcard!


Ways to enter:

1. Become a follower and leave a comment that you are.

2. Leave a comment with something awesome I should put on my walls (because they always feel so boring)...p.s. I am having a penguin theme.

3. Blog about my giveaway and leave a link to your post in the comments!

That's 3 possible entries!!! I love giving gifts so this is very excting for me!

Day 1 in the classroom

Yesterday I went in for a couple hours to get started. I underestimated how overwhelming it would be. Seeing all the boxes I had packed (plus some that randomly ended up in there that weren't mine), and the furniture all over the place was a little traumatic haha. I did clear out one of the closets and put all my math, reading, and social studies texts and manuals where I want them. I put down the carpet for my library center, fixed my chair in there, and moved 3 of the bookshelves where I want them. I have a pretty good idea of where I want all the furniture, I just need someone to help me move it in place. They waxed the floors and you absolutely aren't allowed to drag anything on them...for that reason I need a buddy haha. I did bring a couple of projects home.

Tomorrow my bff Blake and I are going to do some classroom shopping. I'm going to get some fabric to cover the bulletin boards and to make a couple cute little curtains for some shelves I have. I'm hoping to find some penguin fabric for the curtains :::::fingers crossed:::::: I'm going to go back next week and continue working. I think that once a week until our workdays start will be enough. I also need some help from my hubby. He is great at putting hooks for backpacks in the closet, scraping tape of desks, and moving furniture. I'm hoping when it gets closer to school starting that the building will be open on a Saturday so that we can get in and do that stuff.

Hello Again!

I really wasn't joking when I said I stink at blogging. I got super busy (and unmotivated) at the end of the year and pretty much gave up. This will be my second year teaching 1st grade. Technically my 2nd official year of teaching too because, my first half year didn't count for squat. We got a new principal. I met her yesterday and she seems wonderful. That was great to see, but I still worry about new rules and expectations. I had to move rooms (I'm the lone 1st grade teacher upstairs now). Tomorrow I intend to spend a couple hours in my room. I'm still paranoid that they'll make me move again. Our school is renovating and we have teachers EVERYWHERE. I don't want to get started just to have to start over.

I spent a week training with the North Carolina Teacher Academy and a week at NCCAT (NC center for the advancement of teaching) at Ocracoke Island. I got so many great ideas. Between that and blogland I'm so pumped to start the year next month. I hope I can keep my enthusiasm up when I'm spending 12 hours a day at school.

In other news.....my husband and I officially start training to become foster parents in September. We have struggled with infertility and are excited to move to this next step.

I felt like my classroom as not even half as cute as the ones I see in blogland. My theme this year is penguins. Any clever ideas for me?