Happy Anniversary!

There has been a little bit more progress in my classroom. I am continuing to "pitch" things in the garbage. I really want to start fresh in this new classroom and to get rid of the clutter. Right now it looks like a complete disaster zone! Check out the new pictures!

 

I finally got one shelf organized! This will be in my classroom library!

Also, I want to wish my parents a happy 31st anniversary! I definitely wouldn't have made to where I am today without the both of them! They truly radiate pure love and how to succeed together as a couple! I LOVE YOU BOTH!

 
 

Little By Little

My friend, Taylir, and I have been working hard in my classroom to get everything cleaned and moved. God bless her! It is unbelievable on how dirty things can get and it doesn't help that I'm a germ-a-phob and OCD freak. So we have been washing every manipulative with bleach and Dawn soap to get all those germs and the grimy feeling off every little piece. I have also purchased all brand new storage containers to hold all the manipulatives and extra school supplies. (This is my OCD kicking in so that EVERYTHING matches!) I'm striving for a clean slate this year! Here is a little sneak peak of what we have been up to...

  
More photos to come once all of the furniture is moved and everything is clean!

Summer School

Summer school is in full swing and we just finished our first week! I was blessed to start getting the practice of working with the little ones and have students who just finished kindergarten through second grade. I was so excited to get the little ones so that I can get my brain to start thinking as a little one would. During summer school, we focus on reading and math for a solid two hours, with of course a little recess in the middle. 

I wanted to share something that I have been using this week and that is the system that I use to practice and assess my students' knowledge of sight words. Many people use the Dolch system, but I prefer the Fry Words system. I found a premade package on TPT that I absolutely love!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fry-Words-Mega-Pack-All-1000-Words-282162

This mega pack is the best thing I have ever bought off of TPT. It is totally worth the $12.00, because who really wants to spend their time on creating all of this! My summer school students have been loving the chance to master a level and go home with one of the certificates that are included in this pack. 

Here is a picture of my finished product after hours of cutting on the cards. 

Note to readers: Use a paper cutter instead of hand cutting all of the words!

 

I Got the Key!

Last Friday, I finally was able to get into my classroom. A friend of mine who also works at the school was willing to meet me Friday morning to show me what classroom was mine. She also shared with me that my classroom may get changed when the new principal arrives, due to the fact that right now the fourth grade classrooms are separated one on each side of the building, so don't get too comfortable yet. Great! So, I have sent an email to the principal in order to get the ball rolling on this discussion.

Here are some pictures of the classroom she showed me:

This is the view from the hallway door.

To the right of the door. I have a parking lot entry, which will be great for moving everything in.

The divider wall, which I'm not too enthused about but will have to deal. Look at all of those manipulatives!

From the front of the room.

 Overall, I am pretty pleased with my first classroom.I'm just working on some cosmetic things for the classroom.

First Teaching Job!

Now that I am actually getting my head wrapped around the idea that I am no longer a college student and finally a teacher, I have started on preparing for this next school year. At the end of April 2013, I accepted my first teaching job! Even though it was a long process with interviewing and finishing my student teaching, I found a job that I fell in LOVE with! I will be teaching a special education classroom for kindergarten through fourth grade. Even though this seems like it can be a wide age range, I will be teaching in such a small community that I feel that I will be able to focus on my students individually. 

This Friday, I will be going to scout out my first classroom! I am so excited to start getting things ready for the new school year and want to be prepared as much as possible. So if there are any senior teachers out there who have any suggestions for a first year teacher, please share!

I will post pictures on my next posting to show the looks of my classroom!