Cheers to the graduate!

This has been a great school year so far! I was signed off for my license in November, finished up student teaching and school in December. The last day of kindergarten was precious! The kids presented me with a book they made, each student writing a page, and a bag full of books to start off my library. I cannot wait until I get to go in and visit them (: 
After graduation and the party I took a trip down to Cali for a week where we went to theme parks and waited in no lines to hop on rides. I was one happy girl! Although, the miles of walking was killing me, I was sore all week. 

I have one more week of winter break, and then it is back to school I go. I am now starting graduate school and getting on the sub list for my district! I am so excited for what is in store for me. I hope that after getting some subbing experience this year I will have my own classroom in the fall. I cannot wait to have my own classroom and to be more regular in the blogging world!

Sarah

Kindergarten!

The school year has started and I have been placed in a Kindergarten classroom! We just finished week 2 and I am planning my work sample. My theme is: Pumpkins!! I am in the process of creating different books and worksheets and will share them as soon as they are complete. After a week long unit on pumpkins, I will be taking over the classroom during the month of November and we will be learning all about the Mayflower, pilgrims, native americans, etc.

What activities do you do during your pumpkin unit? I would love to hear your ideas!

Sarah

Summer Vacation

It has been a few (stressful) months since I have posted. I finished the year off with the 4th graders, did 2 full time weeks of student teaching, finished a work sample (and passed), finished college classes, took my very last final of my bachelor's degree, and started summer vacation! 

My summer has been nothing but busy so far! As soon as I was done with finals I was off to Florida to visit with a nice, warm beach! Kansas was next, to visit family. A few days after arriving home more family was here to visit. Now my summer vacation/visiting plans are all finished. 


I am desperately waiting to hear what grade I am placed in for my full time teaching in the fall. I am ready to do lesson plans, and be a real teacher! In about 6 months I will be a substitute teacher.


Well, I'm off to pinterest to find more awesome teacher stuff! 



Sarah

Spring Break is Over!

Well, its that time of year. Spring term is about to start, and I feel that I haven't gotten a break yet! I had plans of making the house clean and organized while on break this week, but my back disagreed. I've worked on completing parts of the work sample for next term, but that is about it. I will be doing a unit on biographies. We'll do some research, note-taking, make a time line, write a poem, draw a portrait, and write and give speeches! I am excited for this term, and having more responsibility.

I keep dreaming of the classroom I'll have one day, I cannot wait until that dream comes true for me. Graduation is nearing, I've been thinking up announcements/invitations, they shall be great! My plan is to go for a more elegant announcement; black card stock with red and gray accents/writing, and a very fun, teacher-like party invitation with a sparkly green apple! Those are on the agenda for this summer!

-Sarah

Mini Work Sample

I have just completed my mini work sample, this included teaching at least 3 lessons. I taught language arts all week, it was fun!! It was the first time I had taught in my classroom. I was also given more responsibilities this week; teaching for other short lessons, running library, when the teacher needs to step out, and even half a day when the teacher was out and had a sub. It was an awesome experience and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here. My biggest concern at this point in time is classroom management. I feel like the kids cannot wait to interrupt me, and I waste so much time waiting for compliance. I am confident that with more practice and instruction I will be able to overcome this, it will just take time. 



My next BIG thing is taking over for an entire week -can't wait!

Going Green

Today I decided to read Today's OEA, a publication for members of The Oregon Education Association. There are some GREAT articles in this! What I would like to share is TerraCycle. From their website: "TerraCycle's purpose is to eliminate the idea of waste. We do this by creating national recycling systems for previously non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle waste. Anyone can sign up for these programs, called the Brigades, and start sending us waste."


The idea is to sign up for a brigade, send in your used waste (print a free shipping label), and get 2 points for each item you send it. These points can be redeemed for money to be donated to your charity or school of choice. There are different types of brigades; elmer's glue, writing utensils, lunchable packages, yogurt cans, etc, etc. 


Looking at this site lead me to Elmer's Glue Crew. This site had lessons, templates, projects, and prizes that you can win with your classroom! I found a lesson about creating a classroom recycling center -awesome idea! 


Picture this: Going Green bulletin board; reasons to recycle, what can be recycled, where we recycle, etc. Students decorating used boxes to create recycle bins for different items we use in the class, or even at home they can bring in. (Things we could send in to TerraCycle) Students could make smaller boxes to put throughout the school, write letters to parents, and other classrooms to spread awareness. (Oh and this adds a couple classroom job opportunities!)
This sounds fun! Definitely something I will do when I have my own classroom, until then I have a TerraCycle box in the house! :)


Have you used TerraCycle? Do you recycle in  your classroom?

Winter Vacation

I have just finished my first term (of four) of student teaching. It feels great now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! One more year until I graduate, and am officially a teacher. :) This last term of student teaching was just for getting my toes wet. I observed the teacher each week and observed some different locations throughout the school. My school is great, as is my classroom and teacher!

During the next term I will be going in more during the week, and I have a mini-lesson to do. I am getting super excited for the next term, and I almost wish Christmas would hurry up already!

Through my search online for all things classroom related, I have found a TON of education blogs. And have you searched Pinterest? Oh my word, I can spend all day on there! I have lots of boards you can check out. They are all organized (or should be) nicely. To find my boards, just click the pinterest link in the right sidebar. 

So, why a blog? I love blogging! It is a way to have an online journal, get support as a student-teacher and teacher, share awesome findings with other people who think they are just as awesome, and find other people who inspire me! For now my blog probably won't be updated too much. Rants and raves about student teaching. Since I don't have my own classroom I can't really post about anything I actually try on students. But I may post my ideas.