A New Year is Upon Us

Happy New Year...or should I say Happy 4th day of the New Year? As the new year begins, I can't help but reflect on the one that has just passed. I look at how my life has changed professionally and personally. Last year, I joined my district's report card committee which required countless after-school meetings and led to the standards-based report cards we started using this past fall.

I also became a member of my campus-based Texas Literacy Initiative Grant committee which necessitated a two-night stay in Houston and a two-day conference in Dallas. Being a part of this group still requires weekly data meetings.

And, I'll admit, when August rolled around, it was a difficult start to the school year in the classroom. I became overwhelmed and discouraged as I seemed to be putting all my time and energy into school with little reward. I started working late and skipping my evening workouts (from exhaustion and simply doing more school-related work at night). I started working on Saturdays (yes, my friend, I was in my classroom six days a week). I thought if I just gave more time then everything would fall into place. How was that workin' for me, you ask? Well, it wasn't.

I cried...I used my outside voice inside my classroom on too many occasions...I tried just about every kind of flavored water from the nearest Walmart...then it hit me. Just as you would raise your children and try to keep a balance in your life, the amount of time you have to give is not as valuable as the quality of time. My students did not want a tired teacher, and they were not intentionally not learning. They just needed more quality time. A more patient teacher. And, I needed more quality time. Away from school.

So, I began working out again. I wasn't new to working out...I've had gym memberships and have used exercise DVDs for years. And, I was, after all, housing an elliptical machine for a family member...why not actually use it? I did enjoy the Yogalosphy video workout from Mandy Ingber that I purchased not so long ago, so why not do that again? And a new pair of shoes was just enough to reignite me once again...

Nike Free Run shoes

So, I started working out on the elliptical machine for 20 minutes...anybody can get through 20 minutes, right? That's only about 7-8 songs on my iPod. I began using the yoga DVD again...maybe not all the reps and maybe taking more breaks in child's pose than Mandy...but, who was watching? I've learned that after about 2-3 days in a row of working out, your body actually looks forward to working out the next time...yoga helped clear my mind, because it's impossible to think of your 20 kiddos while doing a plank and your legs are shaking and you've told yourself that you're going to go longer than you did last time...only you can't remember how long you did last time, so you're trying to keep up with Mandy. Believe, me, my school was the furthest thing from my mind.

And you know what happened? Not overnight, but slowly, my patience returned. I began laughing again when my students would ask me for the 37th time what they were supposed to do...I stopped taking work home in the evenings...and I stopped working on Saturdays...that became my yoga day. So, now, I am working out for an hour...yep, I said an hour on the elliptical three days a week and doing yoga once a week. It is amazing how well you sleep after working all day with firsties and working out in the evenings for an hour.

This leads me to the New Year...I don't think it's all about making great changes or starting something that you've never thought about doing before. I think it's about making little changes and pushing yourself further...just past the point that you're already comfortable with (Mandy gives not only a great workout, but great advice on her DVD, as well). For me, that's working towards running my very first 5K on January 12th. And, not just any 5K, but the one that is just for women and girls...and has a cute name...

Jiggle Butt Run 2013

Yes, there will be some jiggle...but, I expect their to be laughter, smiles, and cheers as well. So, if you're in the area, join me...or think about how you can push yourself just a little further...I know we'll accomplish great things this year.

For those of you that have read to the end, I appreciate you sticking with me...and I'd like to share some entertainment that my daughter and I got to witness on our New Year's Eve night...courtesy of our waiter at the Magic Time Machine.

The Devil breathing fire

Enjoy what's left of your winter break, and here's to a amazing start to 2013!

Prayers

Magical Product Swap

Hey friends...let's hear it for three-day weekends!! But, alas, this post is not about me...it's all about the Magical Product Swap hosted by the wonderful Jessica, from Mrs. Stanford's Class!

I want to tell you about Kristen, a fellow first grade teacher in Texas, and her fabulous blog:

I got the chance to review her amazing Spooktacular Math and Literacy Activities packet:

Not only is this huge packet (over 100 pages, people!!) simply adorable, it is full of content-rich math and literacy activities that will easily take you through the month of October (and beyond). The games and activities are student-friendly and elicited many oohs and aahs from my kiddos! Here is just a sample of the activities that my firsties enjoyed this past week:

If your firsties are like mine, they use "good" waaaay too much. Well, Kristen has a great literacy idea using a bubble map for using "good" describing words for Halloween-themed cookies.

working hard at their tables

share time between friends

almost done!

The above translation: "The cookie is delicious, the pumpkin has ice cream on the bottom, the cookie has frosting, sometimes it tastes like chocolate, it tastes like vanilla, (which explains the previous description), and on top it tastes like chocolate." My students then used their bubble map plan to write a story:

My kiddo wrote: "The pumpkin cookie burned my tongue. It was so hot. I had to wait. Finally, it started to get warm. And then it was good with the chocolate and the vanilla with the blueberries. They have triangle (eyes)." Not too shabby for six weeks into the school year using a great writing activity!

Next, we worked on patterns. What I liked was that Kristen included multiple pages for this activity which allowed for differentiation for my students. Some of my kiddos that still needed support with patterns used this page:

My kiddos that were able to create their own patterns on their own (from the cute graphics included on the bottom of the page), used this page:

We also did a cute noun sort...my kiddos loved that Kristen included the names Justin and Miley as pictured below...(I didn't realize my camera didn't get the shot from my chart stand)...

You can get this on sale this weekend! Check out Kristen's other amazing products at her store.

Kristen blogged about my first paid product Differentiated Number Building Using Number Scrolls which is also on sale this weekend! Here's a preview:

I hope you find some great products and new blogs in the swap! Thanks for stopping by! 

Currently and 10 Days of Heaven...

So, it's ten days into the school year...without any criers I might add...which means I have been busy informally assessing, rule making, and routine shaping...

You all know how it goes...and my class size will grow by 5...yep, I said f-i-v-e on Wednesday. You see, I have been reveling in my small class of 14 (please don't throw virtual things at me), but knowing deep down it would come to a bittersweet end when we lost a section...

We got the official word last Friday...say goodbye to your sweet, on-a-routine class, and welcome back to the first day of school...ok, not that bad, but I have enlisted the help of my current crew to assist my new crop of firsties with our class schedule and our way of doing things in our class. I would love to hear your words of advice for acclimating my newbies with my oldies without losing precious instruction time...

That being said, it's Farley's currently time...where have the days gone?

Here's to your next 10 days of school...hope they're happy, fulfilling, and make you smile all day long!

Back to School Blog Hunt...and my First Week of School

Hi, friends...I just completed my first week with an amazing group of first grade kiddos. To add icing to my happy cake, our new Principal surprised us with root beer floats at lunch time! Not only that, but I got a wonderfully complimentary card from my Assistant Principal and homemade tamales from one of my student's mom...how could my week have ended any better?

If you have been anywhere near blogland in the last month, you have probably run across the daily Back to School Blog Hunt that Mary from Sharing Kindergarten organized. This amazing group of teachers shared their ideas for starting back to school and some great freebies along the way.

Since I am fresh off my first week, I am going to share what I did to be prepared for my students for this first week...I will not be sharing my still-unorganized filing cabinet or the tote full of chaos that lingers in my closet...

Classroom Arrangement

If you are like me, then you absolutely HAD to have your classroom furniture organized first before you could even think about putting up border or digging out your math calendar pieces. And if you're also like me, then your classroom is full of tables, chairs, and bookshelves that you did not want to move around and around and around...insert an idea I got from a workshop I attended...

You make a map of your classroom and draw your stationary items (that cannot be moved) first, then you can use stickies for your tables or other small group areas that you can move around on paper until you get it like you want it...so it might save you a little time and some back pain...

Birthday Treats

I'm sure you have seen the birthday balloons/ pixie sticks all over Pinterest. I knew I wanted to make these for my kiddos this year so that I wasn't scrambling to put something together the day of one of my student's birthday...it would all.be.done before school started! But, mine also had to have a Pirate flair to match my new classroom theme...

You may notice that I put two smaller pixies sticks together because I was unable to find the larger ones, and I opted to use a combination of pixie sticks and crazy straws...I'll let my kiddos choose which one they want. I just love the birthday bag I found in the Target dollar spot! This is going to be a time-saver and come in handy for the three, yes I said three, birthdays that are next week!

Taking Attendance / Lunch Choice

I use a system in which my students make their lunch choice, and it also is a quick way of taking attendance. I have their clips (which helps develop their fine motor skills) labeled with their names and sorted by gender. I got some Pirate-themed plates and bowls (other dollar spot finds) to make it fun. This is not in its completed stage...as I plan on taking pictures of the food, labeling the pictures, and adding velcro to the plates and the pictures...but the stickies work for now. It's just the first week, people...lol...

I wanted something that would be easy for my students to do, and easy for my subs to understand. My kiddo that brings her lunch everyday just puts her clip on the What's for Lunch? sign. My student helpers remove the clips at the end of the day and put them in their designated bowls.

I'd like to share with you a couple of freebies that I have in my TpT store:

get yours here

get your packet here

I hope you got a few ideas to help you out in your classroom as you begin the new school year!

Be sure to check out my blog post partner at Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives for a cute Compliment Chart idea using Mr. Potato Head.

Happy Teaching!

'Twas the Night Before 1st Grade...

Sometimes, after a deep long breath, all you can say is "Wow!" I have neglected my 'lil ol' blog these last few weeks...but, it was all in the name of my soon-to-be-firsties. 

I'm not gonna lie, more than once I thought I was crazy (make that kuh-razy) for deciding to change my classroom theme from beachy (for the last eight years) to Pirates...and more than once, amid all the laminated stacks of papers, haze of E-6000 glue, and the small moments of progress I made daily, I was SO glad I decided to go for it! Here are some teaser pics below...I'll do a honest-to-goodness, top-to-bottom, side-to-side classroom tour later...

So, as I sit here, between batches of Kissing Hand cookies, I sit and reflect on the years past, and the new year that is upon us all. Although I am starting my ninth year (yikes!), I have been a bundle of nerves this past week...excited for what this school year will bring, filled with slight trepidation as our school has a new principal (I have only had one other principal), and trying to bury the dreaded question, "What am I gonna do the first day of school?" No worries, I have that all figured out...(now)...

So, here's a snapshot (ha, ha) of what I have been up to these last few hours, days, and weeks...

Landry's on the pier

why do I look plastic?

I l-o-v-e the beach...

Imagine visiting the Selena memorial, as she overlooks the bay, while her song "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" plays on a fan's smart phone...although it was my third time to visit the memorial, it was still inspiring...

my goodies from Teacher Appreciation Days

my blank canvases... 

I painted these for my daughter's dorm room...JAM is for her and her roomie's initials (J and M)...so when you put it together, it is the JAM ROOM...so, if you see or hear about any craziness on FB in the "Jam Room," please let me know...(to my daughter, I have eyes everywhere...)

I am such a recycler, but what an eyesore...

duct tape is my new best friend...

making breakfast ahead of time...the flavored water is for my team...

so they look more like feet than Kissing Hands...lol...

collection of first week books

first day welcome book :)

Here's to a wonderful year (if you have already started)...and good luck if you start tomorrow like me!! I'd love to hear how your first day went or what you planned for your students as they walked in the door for the first time.