Sneak Peak

So, it may seem like I've disappeared and truthfully, I have. I was traveling and milking every last bit out of summer that I possibly could have! I'm proud to say that I completed my summer bucket list. Some events might have been a little last minute, but I got em all in!

Anyways...so I was bummed about in-service last week and starting school on Monday. But I met my class at my class picnic this past Thursday, and I feel like it could be a really great year. New class, new room, new awesome schedule, new desktops in the classroom (well new to me anyways)...I don't know what else I could ask for! Does anyone else do any pre-school events like picnics or home visits? They're standard for 1st grade at my school and since home visits scare me a little, I do a picnic. It's always nice to have the kids and families come into the classroom, meet me, hear a read aloud (The Night Before First Grade), and then enjoy a brown bag picnic and our school playground. While the kids play, I get to meet and speak with parents. This is always a HUGE help! I also collect my forms I send home in the beginning of Aug. with my picnic invitations (student survey, parent survey, student info). I think the picnic helps with those first day jitters and my first day dismissal nightmares ha.

Here's a sneak peek of my new classroom. It's all done, but I forgot my camera. I'll post a more thorough tour soon! PS School theme is construction this year, hence the minions.

Right outside my classroom door! Pardon the lighting, my hallway is dark! It's tradition in our school to put a display outside the door welcoming the students. I made each student a custom minion this year. I think they ROCK! Stay tuned for better pics.

New Word Wall (yup, I used a whollle whiteboard because I don't have a big bulletin board anymore), and part of the library. Again pardon the pic quality, the Blackberry just doesn't speciaize in that. :)

Time for my back to school mani pedi! See ya!

New Years Resolutions

I came across another, wonderful blog this weekend. It's called The Teaching Reef. Shannon is the blogger over there and she's got tons of great ideas and resources. She's also currently hosting a New Years Resolution Linky Party...and this happens to be her FIRST linky party. So, link up, and show her some love! It's brave and bold to throw your own party, I'm not quite there yet, but I admire all of you wonderful bloggers who put yourself out there and in doing so, help and support all of us as teachers. Check out my resolutions below! (You may need to double click on this image to make it bigger).

So here are the drawers I bought with my budget, course this was inspired by Pinterest and this image is taken from pinterest.

They're colorful and cute. I used to organize my papers/handouts by academic subject rather than days of the week. Fire drills, assemblies, and whatnot sometimes change my weekly schedule and I worry that I'll be having to go to the Tuesday drawer for Wednesday papers...but it seems like that method works for many teachers. Maybe I'll try it, or I'll label my drawers: Center, Writing, Math like I've done in the past. Last year, my papers somehow were all over and I couldn't remember where I put them. I felt crazy, hopefully this will resolve the craziness lol. 

So Math centers...I have an hour to teach EnVision Math which, is A LOT! After I get done the modeling, Visual Learning Bridge, Guided Practice problems, and the kiddos do the Independent practice, problem solving, and journaling that hour is close to over! I'm not a fan of teaching 1st graders a new game every day. When I piloted the program, I found that 1 game a week/per topic worked best. But, I like this method above the best I think. I can leave the bins out, place activities in them, and then rotate which groups go to which centers daily. Here's what I'm thinking I can put into each bin:

Teacher's Choice: This will be the meet with teacher group either for enrichment or reteaching. So whatever materials I'm using will be in there.

Independent Work: Could be unfinished work, a review, a super neat Mailbox worksheet, Math craft, number scroll etc. **I think I'll have the hardest time filling this box

Math facts: Worksheets and maybe games to review math facts. Also, I think I'll put my timed math tests in here with a timer. Groups of students might take their timed math tests when at this station. Maybe my Star of the Week or Team Leader can be in charge of the timer??

Essential Review: EnVision Math games! Here's where I'll put various math games. They all review recently taught concepts, so I think they fit best in essential review. 

Anyone out there, if you have or you are doing math stations using a concept to this one, I'd LOVE to hear about it! I'm thinking that after our lesson, students will break into 3 or 4 groups and do 1 station a day. So between M-Th all students should get to do all stations. Seems simple right? If only...lol.