It has definitely been a while since I posted anything on this blog! HA!! Much has changed since my last post. For one, I became an assistant principal at a different elementary school in my same district in January 2014. I love my new job and school!! One of the best things about this new position is that I still get to work with Kindergarten and First Grade teachers and students!! I work with an amazing admin team who show such wonderful support to teachers and students. There is no place I would rather be. I would like to continue to post (maybe a little more often - HA!) from the perspective of teacher with ideas, etc. but also from the perspective of the administrator. I believe I have good insight from both of these perspectives. Trust me - both jobs are pretty tough!

I can't believe we have been back in school for almost a month now and this is the first chance I've had to post! Beginning of the year in Kindergarten is exhausting and time consuming BUT I wouldn't want to be teaching anywhere else! Not only do the children have to learn school and classroom rules but just understanding how school "works" takes time. "I'm tired of working. When are we going to play?" were words I heard quite often!! I think they now realize that we work first and play second.

We have spent a lot of time getting to know each other and playing many name games along the way. We have worked on cutting (wish they did more of this in pre-K), gluing, and coloring. Lessons on listening and following directions have been plentiful in my classroom also. As I tell my kinders, those are the two most important lessons they will learn - we have to do those two all of our lives!

 Some of my favorite activities for the beginning of the year revolve around these books:
                 

 

 

 

What are some books and activities that you use to begin the school year?

Just finished a 3 day Math Staff Development put on by my county district. It was great! Lots of ideas for lessons as well as ideas for management of supplies for lessons. I LOVE when I can attend a staff development and immediately implement activities in my classroom. This probably happens more often when the presenters are teachers themselves! One idea I am super excited about is this great number line from Educator's Outlet. We learned so many ways to teach so many skills using this one tool! As a kindergarten teacher, teaching number sense is our biggest goal - everything else builds on that. This number line is super for working on number sense. What's also great about it, there are cards to go with it for every grade level. I know it's pricey but I think my students are worth it!
                                                                          

   One of the management ideas I got was using this great storage cart for games, centers, etc. Check it out! Again a little pricey but Michael's offers a 25% off coupon. I also found these available at Walmart, Target, and Staples - all about the same price. They are also offered on Ebay - again about the same price.
                                                                                                 

 

 

What have you done this summer in staff development that has excited you?

My new design came in today! Now hopefully I can get the hang of blogging. The last few weeks have been spent with some very precious children (not all at once though:). Our twin grandsons Hoke and Will are with us now and we spent last week with our granddaughter Harper. All I can say is that we have the cutest, smartest, most adorable 3 year olds around. We have enjoyed every minute with each of them! Newborn Molly is too little to stay with us just yet (we wouldn't be able to feed her. . . ) but we look forward to the time when she can come visit by herself or with her sister too! Check out these adorable kiddos!

Beginning . . . .

It's my first!! I have wanted to start a blog for awhile but really didn't know where or how to begin. After many hours (I know I am in need of Blogging for Dummies), I have at least gotten this up. And I must say I am proud of myself!

I want my blog to be about my classroom and my teaching style and philosophy. I also want to share my family and exciting events too. As a teacher, I have said many times - "I should write that down." or "I need to write a book." Well, this is my chance in a small way to do that!

I am going to work with a blog design group because I really like things to look cute and colorful and I think it will be easier if I let someone else get me to that point. Here's to the beginning!