“Just keep swimming…”

Whew, I am feeling quite overwhelmed today!  We had a quick meet-and-greet this afternoon and I got to meet many of my lovely littles, but they left quite a mess to clean up before school starts tomorrow!  I feel a bit frazzled and completely unprepared for tomorrow – especially since my school failed to order pencils (or add them to a supply list) and had the most random supply list ever.  Ah well, I need to focus on the positive – so grateful to have a job in a nice school, a lovely neighborhood, and a great district.  I can do this!  Good luck to everyone on their first day of school tomorrow – kids and teachers alike.
Just keep swimming!

First Day Jitters!

I’ve seen these all around the blog world and just had to do it for my little kiddos.  I definitely have my own jitters this year as I start this new adventure.  As usual, I’m nervous about leaving my little peanut yet again…I just *loved* being home with her all summer!
I just wanted to share my fancied up first day jitters poem with you all!  Let me know if you want a copy with your name and room number and I’ll send you the pdf.
First Day Jitters

A Tour of Room 115

 

Welcome to our classroom!  To skip the description and see the slideshow, scroll all the way down. 

 

When you enter the classroom and turn right, you will see our computers, writing center, and word (letter/sound) wall.  I am not loving how this turned out and may switch things up a bit.

When you go past the writing center you will find our math manipulatives and the big easel.  Big thanks to my sister for letting me “borrow” her chair to use as my teacher chair!

This is the front of the classroom including the blocks shelf and what will soon be our calendar area!  I finally made it to the teacher store this afternoon so I can put up my new calendar next time I make it to my building.  (We have inservice for the next two days.)

Here you can see my desk, the smartboard, and another easel/big book stand.

These are some of the many books and some of my teaching supplies.

Here are a few of my favorite furry friends!

The housekeeping center:

Our reading area…could use a small rug in this area!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The back of the room – bulletin boards, easel, sand table, and our sink.  I love, love, love the Eric Carle fabric.  Found it at www.fabric.com!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for checking out my classroom!

 

 

 

		Room 115 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

Grade-Level Linky Party

I just linked up to the grade-level linky party at The Teacher's Lane.  Go check it out here:

Weekend Projects

Just wanted to show off a couple of classroom projects I finished during naptime today.  Pardon the poor lighting due to the gray skies we have here in Wisconsin today!

Bunting for across my (many) windows:

For the bunting, I used these triangle patterns.  I made my bunting one-sided and stitched it to single fold bias tape to make things simple.  Ribbon would be another good option, of course!  I also used pinking shears instead of finishing the edges.

 

Not sure where this will go, but I just had to make this felt garland:

Tutorial here: Purl Bee - New Year's Garland  (I did not use the invisible thread as suggested in the tutorial since this will not be hanging at eye level and I was trying to be as thrifty as possible.)

Happy weekend, everyone!

Classroom Management

Classroom management I feel I can always improve on.  As I start the new school year in a new grade level, I will certainly be looking for ways to improve my routines and management.  I have been a PBIS facilitator for 2 years and will continue to be a part of the PBIS team at my new school, but I’m always looking for addition techniques to use in my own room since PBIS is more of a school-wide expectation than in-the-classroom technique.  Plus, it never hurts to have more tricks to pull out of your hat! 

…Which is why I’m excited to see this new series over at Clutter-Free Classroom!  Go check it out!

 

 

Welcome to Room 115

Boy, oh boy, do I have my work cut out for me next week!  I got a glimpse at my new room (in my new school, in my new district) today.  My wonderful husband so kindly helped me haul most of my *stuff* in today before we spent the day at the State Fair.  I am excited to get in my room and make it my own. 

View from the door:

Dramatic Play Area:

 

From the dramatic play area (look closely and you can see my little one helping me set up my room…okay, so she’s not much help just yet.)

 

To do:

• Bring in plants.
• Create bunting to make room friendlier.
• Organize the books and resources from the previous teacher.
• Collaborate with the other K-4 teacher to determine what resources we will share, where supplies will be kept, and first week’s plans.
• Unpack my own items and find a home for them.
• Purchase name tags, labels, supplies, buckets……..
• Purchase fabric for bulletin boards (and put it up!)

I’m sure there’s plenty more that I’m forgetting, but it’s a start.  I hope I can find time to go in these next couple of days since next week will be lots of orientation inservices and won’t allow me as much time on my own as I will need. 

I’m wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with having a morning session and afternoon session.  I’m looking for ways to have children’s seats/buckets labeled.  I will have about 18 in each session.  The district I’m coming from had full-day K-4 programs so this is new to me!

Thank you!