The First Week is Ova!

Well the past three days went by fast at times and slow at other times, but I did survive the first week. I have another great bunch of kids! Seriously! Second year in a row that God has blessed me with great kids. I am just amazed at how well they listen and follow routines already. That's the difference between third grade and second grade. My third graders were great. I love and miss them! But they're beginning to want to test the waters a bit, think they can do things completely on their own, etc. Second graders are still "babies", lovey dovey babies. And they want to please their teacher so. And they're so excited over the little things! Like moving your clip up! (thanks to the Clip Chart - best.thing.ever!) 

This week was nothing but routines, routines, routines. And let me tell you, these kids are great at routine (thanks to the wonderful 1st grade teachers they had last year!)! They even had to remind ME of my own routine. Ha! On Friday we packed up and they brought me their planners to sign off on and when a few of them came up to me and stood in line (quietly!) I was like "What are you doing?" and one little girl said "Our planners??" and I was like "Oh yeah!!" They laughed at me forgetting. 

Next week we get into the heart of things as we get into reading, math, science, writing, social studies. I pray I can keep with keeping them doing routine stuff while my brain is focused on teaching them the lessons planned (by my wonderful partner in crime!). I'm ready to start the teaching stuff. I'm ready to try Daily 5 and Lucy Calkins writing. And I'm excited about the science series too. 

I want to stay in Second Grade for forever!

Getting Organized!

Tomorrow I start back to work in 4 weeks. *sigh* Where did my first summer as a teacher go? Shoot! Where did my first year as a teacher go? 

As I stated before I not only moved grade levels but I moved rooms too. I basically threw stuff in boxes and moved them to my new room, threw the boxes in the very tiny closet in my room and left it all there for the month of June.

Last week I started waking up thinking of all I have to do in just over a month until I start back to work. I couldn't just allow myself to sit around the house. I'm usually not that type of person anyway. I get "mad" at my father when he can't just sit and relax, but yet I take after him in so many ways - one of them being that I can't just sit for too long of a time. 

So this week I have spent some time in my room. Monday I spent only 2 hours. Today I spent double that time at least!

I unpacked box after box. My desk area is all organized as are my closets. If I never see a staple in a bulletin board again it will be too soon! I must have pulled out 1000 staples from the 3 large and 1 small bulletin boards in my room. OK, so maybe not that many but it sure did seem like it. 

In a few weeks when I can get my key to the school and room and I can work after hours (when I have more man power in the way of my parents) all I will have to do is put up my bulletin boards, move a few book cases (that I just didn't have the strength to move myself and to ask the custodians to do more work than they already are doing this summer is not my style as I hate bothering people with things I have want to do), and organize my library books. 

Hopefully my brain will relax these next 4 weeks. Although I have some books to read such as the Daily 5 and Cafe books and Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop books between now and then. *sigh*

Attached are pictures of my room thus far. 

Counter top and cabinets with one of the large bulletin boards

Counter top and cabinets continued from above picture

Closet in the classroom at the end of the counter space from above picture

Small bulletin board at the front of the room to the right of the closet from above

This is facing my desk area and the other 2 large bulletin boards

2 large bulletin boards continued from picture above

Facing my desk area - however my desk is facing differently than this and that short bookcase is not there

Entrance to room with kidney table for small group

Back Pack racks

Computer station for students

What my desk area looks like minus all my personal stuff in the area. On top of that short bookcase will be my students' mail box

The closet I share with my "partner in crime". I can barely fit through there width-wise!

The bathroom entrance, which also connects to my co-worker's room

The closet and bathroom side by side

 More pics to come, of course!

My theme is coming along!

Well I decided to do a "Hollywood" theme. Why? Because it's the most popular and very simple to create. Plus I've always been 'mesmerized' by Hollywood. I have a clip chart themed Hollywood, which a co-worker found for me at The First Grade Parade. I found many ideas from other sites too, of which I cannot remember, I've looked at so many sites. So to all those who created Hollywood themed classroom "stuff", a big huge THANK YOU! Now all I need are Daily 5 cards to match my theme. I created them myself, but eh, they don't look as cute. 

I have been sitting on Pinterest finding a whole bunch of stuff, neglecting other things, like the Lucy Calkins Writer's Workshop and the Daily 5 and Cafe. I must get to those things and soon. Thank goodness for Vacation Bible School starting next week so I won't sit here half the day googling Hollywood themed stuff. I'll add pictures later when I get them taken of what I've found. Although I'll probably wait until I can get into my classroom and start decorating.