Sunday, July 29

Deja Vu

So I have exactly 29 days until teachers report back to school, 6 more sessions until I'm through with this night class, and 3 days of professional development. Usually I get excited this time of year, I'm usually well rested and overflowing with ideas and creativity.

But this summer is a little different, I think it has something to do with the fact that they are currently building a new third grade wing in my school. At the end of the year, I had to pack up my entire classroom with the expectation that when teachers reported back to school, I'd be unpacking all my belongings and decorating a brand new classroom.

Well we haven't heard officially but I think I could bet money that the construction will not be complete and I will remain in my previous classroom (I'm blessed to have this option as one teacher was in a trailer and they took her trailer away, so I have no idea where she is suppose to teach).

So you're probably thinking, big deal, just teach in your old classroom. Well I guess you can say I didn't pack the way I should have. Which means, all my beginning of the year resources are in various boxes (math, reading, social studies) and all my teaching books are in boxes with no rhyme or reason, as well as my classroom library, all in boxes. I don't even know how to wrap my brain around  unpacking. I wouldn't even know where to begin. So this is causing my anxiety level to rise.I'm stressed and the school year hasn't even started yet. I just have this feeling that I'm going to have to unpack my entire room and then pack it back up when our new classrooms are finished.

Flash back 5 years ago when I was surplused to a new school that was currently being built, it wasn't ready and we were housed at a temporary location. K-2 at one place, 3-5 down the street at another place. We didn't get electricity in our trailers until Wednesday of teacher work week. Then they promised we would move in the first weekend in November. So we began packing up the trailers...but about 2 weeks out, they told us the school wasn't ready and that we'd be staying put. So finally, the last weekend in January we move into our new school. Visualize with me... we worked M-F, then we moved all our belongings and set up new classrooms Saturday and Sunday, then worked another M-F. That was 12 days of working in a row!

So I guess I'm a little scared that this will turn into the same situation, them missing deadline after deadline then having to work around the clock when it finally is finished. So I'm going to make a to do list of things I should be working on, lesson plans, classroom posters, finish filing papers from last year and try to enjoy my 29 days left of summer.

On another note, there are 125 days until I become Mrs. Saunders!

Thursday, July 26

Pinterest Inspired: Currently Me Journal

I’ve seen these types of notes on various blogs where teachers are sharing their “currently” statuses. Someone pinned this idea onto their Writing Ideas board and my creativity kicked in! This would be a wonderful journal for students to keep with their writing ideas all year. Just create a journal for each child and allot time each month to devote to this writing exercise. Students could use this journal to help spark ideas for writing. Do you see yourself using this in your classroom?                 
 





Currently Me Journal

Wednesday, July 25

Pinterest


So I gave in and had a teammate send me an invite to Pinterest. Come and follow me... http://pinterest.com/jywinston/

Do you have a pinterest account? Leave your information in a comment and I'll come follow you!

Tuesday, July 17

Organization: Teacher Supply Box Part 2


So I finally got my brother in law to spray paint the navy blue tool box black. I used pink and green scrapbook paper and used the font Tan Patty to create my labels.

Here's a link to my previous post http://jessicaywinston.blogspot.com/2012/06/organization-teacher-supply-toolbox.html?showComment=1340571205166#c7791477303761561868

Friday, July 6

My Blog Turns One!


Wednesday my blog turned one years old! So much has happened this past year... I transferred to a new school and taught a new grade level (one with standardized testing), I was diagnosed with an Ovarian Teratoma and had to have that removed and I got engaged. It's been one roller coaster of emotions!

I wish I had more time to blog more and I will try to make that a priority but I'm so busy. I'm taking a night class, working on third grade materials, trying to plan a wedding and hopefully getting my health back on track. After the teratoma I was diagnosed with Uterine Fibroids which is apparently very common, so now they are trying to treat those symptoms.

But enough about that... to celebrate my blog birthday I created these Reading Response Flipbooks. I think they would work for grades 2-4. Let me know what you think!

Reading Response Flipbooks