I think that is the name of a song from High School Musical...
Anyways...
I got this really great book for Christmas ("The Organized Teacher's Guide to Your First Year of Teaching"), and it is all about how to have a successful first year of teaching. I have really decided that I want to do more than survive in my first year of teaching. I want to create memorable and engaging lessons. I really want to be nominated Teacher of the Year at the school that I work at next year. I know that all of the teachers nominate one teacher at their school for Teacher of the Year. Then all of those teachers go to the district, and one teacher is selected for the district. They also nominate for Beginning Teacher of the Year. I hope to at least be nominated to represent my school. It would be even better if I won! But I am not going to count my chickens before they hatch. (But, hey, a girl can dream, can't she?)
So... I am going to read through this book (and I have several others), and I will take notes on them as I go! Hopefully, this will help me to organize my thoughts.
Let's get started!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
No News is Good News...
There hasn't been too much going on lately! I finished tutoring on Thursday. It really is a lot of fun. I work with a bunch of different kids and I do a lot of different things. I really enjoy working with the 4th graders. They are learning really neat things - especially in science!
I spent Friday in kindergarten. It was very tiring. The kids are so so sweet, but they have no attention span at all! I also feel that there may not be a whole lot of structure in that classroom on a regular basis. The kids were frequently wandering around and talking and doing their own thing while I was teaching. I understand that some of it is developmental, but it almost seemed like they thought learning was a choice. I know that it would be different if it were my very own class.
I came home Friday not feeling really well. I took a three hour nap, and I woke up feeling worse! My head hurt. My chest hurt. My throat hurt. I was miserable. I didn't feel any better on Saturday - in fact, I was supposed to go to breakfast with Robbey and Elaine, but I didn't go because I felt so sick.
I don't feel much better today. I have had a lot of soup this weekend, hoping that it would help.
The only good thing that is currently happening - IT'S SNOWING!!! I always wondered if teachers got as excited as students for snow days. Now I know - YES! It is coming down hard and heavy, and it is sticking! It probably will freeze tonight, creating trouble for the busses tomorrow morning. This will probably mean a delay (or cancellation) of classes for McKinney ISD kiddos (and teachers)!
I spent Friday in kindergarten. It was very tiring. The kids are so so sweet, but they have no attention span at all! I also feel that there may not be a whole lot of structure in that classroom on a regular basis. The kids were frequently wandering around and talking and doing their own thing while I was teaching. I understand that some of it is developmental, but it almost seemed like they thought learning was a choice. I know that it would be different if it were my very own class.
I came home Friday not feeling really well. I took a three hour nap, and I woke up feeling worse! My head hurt. My chest hurt. My throat hurt. I was miserable. I didn't feel any better on Saturday - in fact, I was supposed to go to breakfast with Robbey and Elaine, but I didn't go because I felt so sick.
I don't feel much better today. I have had a lot of soup this weekend, hoping that it would help.
The only good thing that is currently happening - IT'S SNOWING!!! I always wondered if teachers got as excited as students for snow days. Now I know - YES! It is coming down hard and heavy, and it is sticking! It probably will freeze tonight, creating trouble for the busses tomorrow morning. This will probably mean a delay (or cancellation) of classes for McKinney ISD kiddos (and teachers)!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
So Pretty I am Going to Marry It
So I started my official tutoring job today, and it was great! Spending time with third and fourth grades really opens my eyes to a totally new world. The kids are so great and they are independent. It is so great to be able to tell the to start working on something - and they actually do it! The schedule has me all over the building, but it actually works out because I move around so much that it makes the time pass really quickly.
I do get to spend a little over an hour in first grade, mostly in Elaine's classroom. Today Elaine really needed to finish her DIBELS testing with her class (or get started on it since it was due in December). So while she pulled out one kid at a time, I taught the science lesson to the rest of the class. The kids are learning about attributes of rocks and ways to sort and classify them. Today, I placed groups of rocks around the room and allowed the kids 10 minutes to walk around and think of ways they could describe them. When the 10 minutes was over, I had all of the kids gather back on the rug. One of the little boys in the class (whom I absolutely LOVE) sat down perfectly quiet and shot his hand straight up in the air. He obviously had an idea that he wanted me to add to the class list. I called on him (how could I not... he is SO cute). He simply stated (with much affection), "That one rock I looked at was so pretty I am going to marry it!" All of the boys in the class "eewwwww"ed like the rock had cooties! I just did not know how to respond. Who am I to break it to this sweet little boy that he cannot marry a rock? I just simply smiled (and laughed to myself), and wrote 'pretty' on our list of attributes of rocks. (To clear up some confusion - We previously had a loooooooong discussion about what an attribute was. The kids all knew that attributes were describing words. They answer questions, such as "What does it look like?" and "What does it feel like?")
When I told my dad, his simple (and obvious) response was, "Well, he sure is as dumb as a rock..." (I simply cannot get over how clever my dad is!) And when I told the previously mentioned guy in my life about this statement made by my amazing father, he literally laughed out loud and told me that my dad is very clever. (Side note: I think my dad and this guy would totally get along. They watch the same shows (Scrubs, The Office, etc) and have the same sense of humor. Can't wait if they ever meet - I can't imagine my life with a guy that my parents not only approve of, but REALLY like! We will see...)
The men (and boys) in my life really made today great!
I do get to spend a little over an hour in first grade, mostly in Elaine's classroom. Today Elaine really needed to finish her DIBELS testing with her class (or get started on it since it was due in December). So while she pulled out one kid at a time, I taught the science lesson to the rest of the class. The kids are learning about attributes of rocks and ways to sort and classify them. Today, I placed groups of rocks around the room and allowed the kids 10 minutes to walk around and think of ways they could describe them. When the 10 minutes was over, I had all of the kids gather back on the rug. One of the little boys in the class (whom I absolutely LOVE) sat down perfectly quiet and shot his hand straight up in the air. He obviously had an idea that he wanted me to add to the class list. I called on him (how could I not... he is SO cute). He simply stated (with much affection), "That one rock I looked at was so pretty I am going to marry it!" All of the boys in the class "eewwwww"ed like the rock had cooties! I just did not know how to respond. Who am I to break it to this sweet little boy that he cannot marry a rock? I just simply smiled (and laughed to myself), and wrote 'pretty' on our list of attributes of rocks. (To clear up some confusion - We previously had a loooooooong discussion about what an attribute was. The kids all knew that attributes were describing words. They answer questions, such as "What does it look like?" and "What does it feel like?")
When I told my dad, his simple (and obvious) response was, "Well, he sure is as dumb as a rock..." (I simply cannot get over how clever my dad is!) And when I told the previously mentioned guy in my life about this statement made by my amazing father, he literally laughed out loud and told me that my dad is very clever. (Side note: I think my dad and this guy would totally get along. They watch the same shows (Scrubs, The Office, etc) and have the same sense of humor. Can't wait if they ever meet - I can't imagine my life with a guy that my parents not only approve of, but REALLY like! We will see...)
The men (and boys) in my life really made today great!
Monday, January 3, 2011
First Day on the Job (and a Change of Plans)
I don't think today could have gone any better...
I got up for work (although I did not sleep too well), got ready and left for my first day as a grown up! I ended up subbing for Melisa - the same class I did my student teaching in! It was so great to see the kids - I missed them so so much! It was so great for them to run up and hug me and tell me all about their winter break!
It just re-confirms that I am meant to be in this profession...
As for tomorrow - I think I am subbing for Melisa again!
I got up for work (although I did not sleep too well), got ready and left for my first day as a grown up! I ended up subbing for Melisa - the same class I did my student teaching in! It was so great to see the kids - I missed them so so much! It was so great for them to run up and hug me and tell me all about their winter break!
It just re-confirms that I am meant to be in this profession...
As for tomorrow - I think I am subbing for Melisa again!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Big Day...
Well... Tomorrow is the big day! I finally get to start my big girl job. I have to wake up super early and get ready for work, so I will be hitting the pillow shortly! But I do have to say (before I start my job) that I am so super excited to get to see my kids! I have missed them so so much!
So, get ready Burks Elementary! Here I come...
(I just hope I can get a good night's rest tonight!)
So, get ready Burks Elementary! Here I come...
(I just hope I can get a good night's rest tonight!)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Another Change of Plans
Elaine sent me a text saying that her dad doesn't want her to stay in Kansas for his doctor's appointments. So, she will be coming home with the rest of her family, and will not need me as a sub for those first three days back at school.
And, strangely, I am totally okay with that! I miss seeing and talking to Elaine. She is my work buddy. She is so much fun, and she is one of the funniest people that I know. She has already said that she will help me set up my classroom when I get a job, and she is constantly giving me printables that she uses or has used in her classroom.
And, I am so excited to really get to start my job! I can't wait! I am getting a little nervous, but I already feel at home at Burks and I know a lot of the kids. I am sure it will fun!
And, strangely, I am totally okay with that! I miss seeing and talking to Elaine. She is my work buddy. She is so much fun, and she is one of the funniest people that I know. She has already said that she will help me set up my classroom when I get a job, and she is constantly giving me printables that she uses or has used in her classroom.
And, I am so excited to really get to start my job! I can't wait! I am getting a little nervous, but I already feel at home at Burks and I know a lot of the kids. I am sure it will fun!
Oh, College Football...
I have recently (in the last year) discovered my love for college football. My dad thinks I am absolutely insane, but I really do like it! I guess not going to a big school with a football team stunted my passion, but now that I have started watching college football, I just can't help but love it!
Here the deal: I love watching the NFL, but I think that some of those guys get these big contract deals, and then give up. They play only well enough to keep their spot on the team for the following year. In college ball, the guys play because they love the game. Most of them will get to play while they are in college, and then they won't get to play again. The NFL takes the best of the best of the best. And there are so many great players in college football. They aren't (always) playing for money, and if they are it is for scholarship money. I am all for them playing for scholarship money because I support them going to school.
The tough part is figuring out which school to cheer for, since I don't have a team that I feel really connected to because I didn't go to a school with a football team. I guess that I pick my favorite of the teams that are playing.
My picks for today's games:
Rose Bowl - TCU
Fiesta Bowl - OU
Watching the game tonight with friends (and the guy)! :)
Here the deal: I love watching the NFL, but I think that some of those guys get these big contract deals, and then give up. They play only well enough to keep their spot on the team for the following year. In college ball, the guys play because they love the game. Most of them will get to play while they are in college, and then they won't get to play again. The NFL takes the best of the best of the best. And there are so many great players in college football. They aren't (always) playing for money, and if they are it is for scholarship money. I am all for them playing for scholarship money because I support them going to school.
The tough part is figuring out which school to cheer for, since I don't have a team that I feel really connected to because I didn't go to a school with a football team. I guess that I pick my favorite of the teams that are playing.
My picks for today's games:
Rose Bowl - TCU
Fiesta Bowl - OU
Watching the game tonight with friends (and the guy)! :)
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