First Week

I did it!
I "survived" my first full week teaching 2nd grade. And I LOVE it!

Here are some of my students practicing lining up.

We practiced a lot of the rules and procedures. We even did a couple of read alouds. I am loving Whole Brain teaching.... the best tip I got out of my summer trainings.... and that was from a fellow teacher.

So far the kids are pretty awesome. Some are as little as my four year old - and they are seven.

I have a few troublemakers, but most of them are just talkative boys who like to "play."

Next week I will be testing the students to find out their independent reading levels. Small groups will start in a few weeks. Then the real fun begins. HA!

Less than 3 weeks....

Less than three weeks.

In less than three weeks I will be standing in front of MY classroom full of 2nd graders.

My classroom. Oh boy.

So far, I've loaded most of my teacher supplies into the room. I haven't really begun to set up yet. For one, the previous teacher left all his stuff in there (boxes, shelves, etc) and he LOCKED all the cabinets.

Regardless, I've gone in a few times to shuffle desks around and try to arrange things.  I have tried to better map out things at home, so that when I go I can maximize my time.

Can I say I LOVE my new room!???? It has a wall of windows!

I have never had a window, let alone a WALL of windows in my room :) Granted, the view is of a murky fish tank, but who cares!?

My school also gave me a box of goodies. Feels like Christmas in August. Wow. So many school supplies. I am SO excited!!!!

My whole group area is gonna rock too, not only because of my handmade rocking chair, but because of this HUGE colorful rug given to me by my school. Ooooh Awwww! Go ahead, be very, very jealous ;)

I am still trying to decide where the class library will go and exactly how it will look. I also want to bring in some plants.  I need to post some jobs.

Here is my teacher toolkit. I love how it turned out. Hope it keeps me semi-organized throughout the year.

I am savoring this before school begins feeling. The feeling of a clean slate. The feeling that NOTHING has gone wrong - yet. The feeling of the world is at my fingertips. The feeling that I CAN DO THIS.

BELIEVE!

Reading Rocks!

I'm almost finished on my reading rocking chair. I've been working on it for weeks! I can't wait to show it off to the students and use it for read-alouds multiple times a day!

I spray painted it blue the painted the rest with a brush in purple. I really didn't have much of a plan before beginning. I used a stick on adhesive with a stencil for the lettering. It left behind a lot of residue, which I need to take off with goo gone.

I'm really trying to get ready for the first day of school. I've been trolling Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers for ideas and printables (mostly free).

I'm excited to try out the Daily 5 and Cafe for my reading block. I haven't really thought about Social Studies!

I start training next week, then week after next will begin setting up my classroom. After that I have two weeks of in-school trainings, etc. I really, really hope I get along with my co-teacher and team; especially my administration.

In the midst of this is Lydia's fourth birthday! It's going to be a Frozen theme in the middle of summer. Can't wait. Can't believe my sweet girl is turning 4! I'm sad I won't be able to take her to her first day of school, but glad Papa can do it. He's a perfect "substitute."

Getting Ready

I've been doing a LOT of professional reading lately.

Teach Like a Champion is at the top of my list. What a great read. There are 49 techniques to help streamline your classroom teaching.... including academics and classroom management.  I really like how it's laid out. Very practical. I plan on implementing at least 10 strategies (including No Opt Out, 100% and Strong Voice) to get started.

My other great find of the summer is Whole Brain Teaching. OMG this is so awesome. It's so kinesthetic and auditory and visual... etc, etc. I can't wait to implement it in my classroom.  I found out about it through another teacher at a summer inservice. It is very strategic and laid out for you.  I also found some teaching cards on Teacher Pay Teachers that really tell you how to establish this in your classroom.

I have also been watching videos on my school district professional development website and The Teaching Channel.  I would recommend the latter site to any teacher. I love it. I love that the internet has so many resources available to me at this time.  I feel like when I began my teaching career I was left on an island.

Now I have Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers and blogs, etc., etc.

I am in the process of painting my Read Aloud Chair...

Since this picture I've painted the bottom and the spindles purple. I also want to add some words (i.e. Reading Rocks). This will be my read aloud chair. So excited!!!

I worry about juggling family and work life, mostly because no one quite understands how difficult is is to be a teacher. You are not only teaching content, you are teaching a LOVE of something, be it reading, writing, arithmetic.

I will keep you posted.

~Emily

Job

So it looks like this blog will turn into a teaching blog after all.  I have just accepted a position as a third grade reading teacher. That excites and terrifies me at the same time.

I love reading - with a passion. I was an early reader/writer. I was obsessed with the written word. I read at above grade level as a child. I devoured books for lunch during summer vacation. I wrote my own books. I taught myself cursive. Now I have the chance to pass that passion on to some youngsters; youngsters who have it a whole lot harder than I did as a kid. Youngsters who barely know English... who can't read in their native language, let alone English.

Whoah.

That's a heavy load, but an important one.

I interviewed on a Friday. I had barely got home to put down my keys and they called to offer me the job. Either they are very desperate, or were very blown away by my mad reading "skills." I'd like to believe the latter.

So, in just about three months I will take on a new adventure. I hope I can balance life as a full time teacher and mother to two fantastic children.

It's hard to not feel guilty for following my ambition. My goal is to become a reading specialist. I want to pursue some sort of post-bacc coursework.

I'm terrified because of all the pressure of state testing. Will my students do well? How will I be judged? I hope to have a better experience this time around. I go into it with a different perspective and more experience.

Only time will tell.......

Future ramblings

So my time as a teacher is winding down.... at least in my current assignment.
That brings with it mixed emotions. I've enjoyed getting out of the house... feeling needed by other adults (other than my husband) and helping the kids.

The kids have, shall we say, been a bit challenging. They have their share of issues.  One boy is on psychotropic medication (sp?), another should be in therapy, or at least special ed, but his mother refuses to sign the paperwork, another boy is in the process of being adopted and has been institutionalized several times. Despite their blemishes, the kids are really great and, I believe, smart. Of course they don't apply themselves when needed. That can be very frustrating.

It's also strange because the two teachers (4th grade) that I work with are both being "let go." This brings back (bad) memories, as the same thing happened to me. It's hard for me to think of myself as incompetent. I'd like to think that I was, and am, a better teacher than THEY are. I don't like feeling that way. For one, I feel guilty for looking down on them. Also, I hate to compare. I did apply for a 3rd grade teacher at the school. I'm not expecting to hear anything.

I have learned a lot from my three month gig. I met another really cool teacher, who I hope to keep in touch with. She is going to be teaching 4th grade there next year.  Hopefully I can help her set up her classroom.

As for me, I look forward to taking some time off and spending quality time with the kids. School will be out for Lydia soon. I'm going to put her in some summer camps to keep her busy at least 1-2 days a week. The other days I hope to plan out a little so that we have some structure.  I wouldn't go so far to say I plan to homeschool, but let's say Lydia will have "Mama" school this summer.  I'm not going to go overboard though. I think we need some unplanned, free play time mixed in as well.

Will I go back to work full time? That's yet to be determined. It would have to be a really amazing gig. Also, if I go back, I would strongly consider getting a bigger house. It would make the hard work a little more worth it.  The practical side of me says put the extra money into paying down debt and the kids' college funds.

Birth envy

This blog is about what's on my mind and what's been on my mind a lot lately, especially since one of my best friends just gave birth, is my own birth stories.

I had two c-sections.  Two operations.

I had postpartum depression.... twice.

No one should have to go through that, but I did.  No one should feel absolute disdain for their baby, a feeling of wanting to run away, tremendous and overwhelming guilt. No one should have to recover from a major abdominal surgery while taking care of a newborn - nursing, rocking, holding, swaddling, doctor's appointments, stroller walks, playdates, etc, etc.

Yeah, I sound like a whiney bitch, but I'm just telling you how it is.

My heart breaks every time I hear a friend's birth story. Yeah, they're tired. Yeah, they are recovering from childbirth, but either they didn't have a c-section and/or didn't have postpartum depression. I really feel jipped, like I didn't get a real chance to enjoy my newborns. I know it goes by in a quick blur for everyone, but I feel like my newborns experienced a completely incompetent mother, one riddled with fear and anxiety. Sigh.

I just have to get over this somehow. I mean, I do accept my birth stories. I accept that I had c-sections and that I had and overcame PPD. Still, my heart pangs with jealousy every single time I talk to a new mom, who had a "normal" mom experience.... a vaginal birth... normal baby blues and not overwhelming PPD that requires medication. I have to remind myself that I am not a failure. That I AM a "normal" mother who experienced abnormal circumstances and dealt with them. I should tell myself that I am strong for seeking help and recovering and mothering the best I could.

I think I can. I think I can.

I know I can.

First Time

I have so many random thoughts running through my head lately, I figure I'd better write them down.

I have another blog on here, but it's been so long since I've written (i.e. years), I figured I'd better start anew.

My life isn't that interesting. I know that. But I have a lot to talk about and I need to force myself to "jot" those thoughts down.

Some will be funny.

Some will be serious. Some will be seriously funny. Ok, probably not, but I hope so!

Hop to it girl.... get to postin'.