Do we HAVE to?

Ok, let's admit it. We all love teaching or we never would go through everything we do. We love the kids. We love reading aloud. We even love recess duty. However, do we HAVE to go back? I know, I love it. I love vacation also! My kiddos and I sleep in. We play outside. We take day trips. We run around crazy. I adore summer vacation. I am as bad as the kiddos when it comes to thinking my carefree summer days are over.

Now, to be honest, I have already spent hours in my classroom getting it ready. Yup, I am one of those teachers. I want to walk in the first day (ok,, I will be back the second day because I am out of state the first teacher work day) and plan not organize and do my room. I am so much more relaxed when that part is already done.

It looks like I am going to have a BIG class this year. I will probably have around 24 first graders. I know some of you will probably think that is small, but I had 17 last year so the extra 7 seem enormous to me. I looked up their pictures from Kindergarten though and they are so cute. I can't wait to meet them. Open House is the day before school starts. Woohoo!

What do you have to do to get your room ready for school?

October Fun

Happy October! A month of ghosts, spiders, witches, .... plain old Halloween fun. I love making my centers, seat work, and interventions around a theme. For example, we still need to practice our math facts but I redo the game sheets with Halloween characters.

Plus One and Minus One Cover Up

Directions: Only one die is needed. Roll the die and follow the directions by the title name of the game mat. For example, “Plus One” would be to roll the die and add one to the total. Cover any answer that corresponds like in Fast Fact Speed Roll. The first student to get five in a row wins! This can be played in groups of 2 - 3.

 

If you want more of these activities, I have an entire Halloween Unit for sale on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Happy Halloween on TPT by Amy Padgett Creations

I have learned that my students get more excited to learn when I have use a theme! Yes, it is a simple change, but it's all about getting students excited about learning, right? Well, here is a simple way. Add simple clipart to a routine worksheet. Write a short story about holiday characters working on the needed skill. Think like a kid - make it fun and simple. Enjoy!

 

What Was in the Corn Dogs Today???

My kiddos were the best listeners this morning, then we went to lunch. After lunch, I blame a secret ingredient in the corn dogs (LOL), they couldn't listen no matter what I did. What happened? Let's be honest, nothing happened. They are kids! The weather during recess was BEAUTIFUL and they wanted to play. They want to scream and run and just have fun. Who can blame them? I want to do that too! Well, getting through the rest of the day came down to tricking them into learning with singing, extra moving activities, cutting, gluing, coloring, and discussing with neighbors.

It is only Wednesday and this means we still have TWO MORE DAYS this week. And, tomorrow is Thursday, the dreaded day of the week. I don't know about you all but Thursday always seems to prove to be my hardest day. It is late enough in the week that the kids are getting tired. However, it isn't Friday yet and close enough to the weekend that you can almost touch it. Nope, it is just Thursday. I try to make it sound better by calling it "Friday Eve". I mean, that sounds better doesn't it?

Well, here we go... almost to Friday Eve and then Friday!

Ok, wait, one good thing about tomorrow is the first football game of the season (no more pre-season)! I am a die hard Bronco fan. I am born and raised in Colorado and we bleed Orange and Blue. Didn't you know God was a Bronco fan? If you aren't sure, go outside next time there is a sunset and check out the orange and blue!

Have a great day.

A New Year... New in SO Many Ways

So, there is a million different places I could start this post. Personal...classroom...where to start? Ok, let's start with the school news:

Students started on Monday. This week is the first week and it is a FIVE DAY week for our little firsties. FIVE FULL DAYS. Ok, those that aren't teachers, I know you do that all the time. But, when you start a school year with six and seven-year-olds that are used to summer freedom and you confine them to a classroom for five days in a row plus you add in rules, waking up early, no non-stop snacks, yadda yadda yadda; it makes for a very long week. The best part, however, is that my class is so stinking cute. They smile! They giggle! They love to color! They even think I am funny! Whew - woohoo for me. I just love these little sweeties.

For all my readers that know me, you know I became a teacher because of my mom. She truly was the most amazing teacher. She retired seven years ago and continued to sub, volunteer in the classroom, and make games and activities for my students. She loved her freedom but always told me that she missed the classroom. She was known in our hometown as one of those AMAZING teachers that every student wanted and every parent prayed for. She loved every student that walked into her room and her pure joy for teaching and her optimistic spirit was inspiring. My goal in life was just to be half of the teacher she was because that would mean I was successful as a teacher. Well, my mom, my best friend, my mentor, passed away on August 13th of this year. Yes, two and a half weeks ago. Some of my final conversations included her mentioning school this year. My heart is truly broken and I am trying to be as good as her in the classroom because I now know she can see me teach all the time. Did you know how hard it is to find books for a classroom that won't make you sad about moms? Here's a hint: Say no to "Llama Llama Red Pajama" because the message of a mom never being far away (even if you can't see her) is so sweet but too hard.

On the second day of school my little first graders were being pulled out of the classroom to do some testing. Every time one of my kiddos left I said, "Don't forget to smile" because it made them feel a little better about leaving.  Later in the day we read "No, David!" Then, we were going over rules for the classroom and school. When I asked my class for rules for our classroom the first rule they came up with was "Don't forget to smile"! That is a rule my mom would have definitely had in her room. I couldn't help but smile. I am so thankful for my class.

Summer!

Ok, it is technically summer, but I haven't had any time off yet. That's ok, I mean I have had family time, vbs, more family stuff, ... HOWEVER, I am super excited about some time off. I had a great year and my students taught me A LOT. And, yes, we all know there are "those" students that teach us more than any other kiddo in the class.

Crazy enough, we have been out less than a month and I am already ready to go into my room and start re-organizing, getting stuff ready, ... you know - the FUN stuff that we all get so excited for when we actually have time to do them? I mean, I want to get my math manipulatives where I actually can use them this year. Wait, what? Organize my library books again so they are in themes? That is just crazy thoughts, right? I will do it!

I hope you all are enjoying your break, night, etc. Happy summer to everyone!

Just keep swimming...

Did you ever notice that most teacher posts always address the best of teaching? Well, let's be real. Sometimes we have a hard day. You plan awesome activities, you have engaging lessons, you are on top of your game and you have a little kiddo that isn't playing into it. It definitely happens. The best news is that it happens to all of us! And, we survive. Here is my take on it...no it is NOT fun. You will scream in your head "WHY?" but we all know, this is a little kiddo and something has happened that he or she is upset about. Take a deep breath and just keep swimming. Remind yourself that this will pass, the kiddo will come around at some point, and you have a classroom full of other kids that want to do the plan.

JUST KEEP SWIMMING! Don't let one kiddo ruin it for the rest. Take a deep breath and don't drown in your frustrations. You can do it! You can and you will!

Can you tell I might have had one of those days today? I wish that as a veteran teacher it got easier, but it doesn't. Sure, I might have a few more experiences to compare it to and to use for ideas but I can't stop them from happening. I took more than one deep breath today. I might have been very thankful when the last bell of the day rang. However, I still love my kiddos! All of them! Even the one that pushed me to the edge today. BUT, I won!! I left the day with a smile and so did my student. I still love teaching. I love my class. Chalk one up for me today. I might have had to wear some "floaties" to keep me swimming today, however, I survived and I am ready tomorrow. Bring on Friday!

Sunday Night Football - and Sunday Night Planning!

Yes! I am wearing my Denver Broncos shirt and watching my team beat the opponent! Woot Woot! Yes, that is a true sign that fall is upon us. The other sign? My lesson plan book is my snuggle buddy on the couch. I honestly feel like I do my best planning when I hear the crowd cheering on the tv. They are cheering ME on right...right? Ok, I know that isn't even close to being true but it makes me fell better.

Tomorrow we start two days of school-wide testing, therefore, my normal reading groups are non-existent. I had to find an activity that my entire class could do without any pull-outs, reading grouping, core curriculum... WOOHOO! This is means TWO DAYS that I can have a little bit of freedom to read aloud, incorporate the standards while creating fun activities, etc. Yes, it was harder than just opening up my teacher's manual. It definitely took more time to plan. However, it also made me excited to go to school in the morning, pull the kids over to my reading area, and tell them we are going to read "Princess Pigtoria and the Pea". You guessed it, we will be talking about the "p" sound at the beginning of words. We will also be discussing the beginning, the middle, and the end of the story. Watch out - we might even do predictions and summaries too! So yes, it took more time but I am so excited. I love reading fun books with my students. We have a great all around core program but the freedom for two days is pretty exciting!

Woot! Woot! We are now up 31-10 in the fourth quarter. My lesson plans are done! I think this has been a very successful Sunday Night!

The Human Number Line

Today, we started talking about the number line. I asked, "What is a number line?" We talked about it and I was so excited by the responses. Then, I asked, "Why is the number line important?" The best response was "So our numbers go in order and when we get to 100 we know we didn't miss any numbers and that we got them all right." Pretty good, huh?

My favorite part of the lesson came at the end. I handed out numbers to my students and we created a "HUMAN NUMBER LINE". Here is a picture of the end of the number line.

It was so revealing on which students truly understood the idea of number line, who knew their teens (because all my fellow primary teachers know how hard it is for kids between thirteen and thirty, fourteen and forty, etc.), and how well they work together. We did it a few times today and tomorrow we are going to time ourselves to see if we can beat our time. Something as simple as getting out of our seats and making a human number line was so fun. The kids were asking if they could do it again at the end of the day. It is right up there with a snowball fight. Ok, I lied, the snowball fight is loved much more but this was a close second. *I will post about a snowball fight soon - it is must-do activity!

I hope everyone is having a great week. One more day or how I like to call it "Happy Friday Eve"!

Whew - a litte patience is always a bonus...

Last year we used the book, "Teach Like a Champion" as a school-wide book study for the teachers. We implemented so many parts of it. We use STARS (Sit up tall, Track your speaker, be ready to Ask and Answer questions, Respect speakers, Smile) school-wide to get attention and explain it to the kids right away. Last year, my class had it down the first week. This year, what am I doing wrong? My kiddos just don't seem to be grasping it. Ok, let me clarify, some... a few... the talkative ones... ok a few boys seem to act like they don't even hear it. We have worked on it as a class. We have worked on it as a small group. I have praised them when they do it correctly. I point out when they could do better. It seems like no matter how I present it, this small handful does not seem to get it. AUGH! I feel so helpless. I love my kids but I want to be able to present them to the school as following rules. The specials teachers (Ok, for those that do not get specials, please do not be mad but we get specials for one hour every day!) even use STARS. What am I going to do?

I have the answer... scream into a pillow...give up...let someone else deal with it... PATIENCE! I joke with my own kiddos that my favorite word is patience. Deep breaths and consistency is going to be the hardest part but it has to help right? Please shake your head that this is going to work. It has to work. STARS! Did you do it? Try it? Think about it? Ok, tomorrow is a new day and I know they can do it. I think I am going to set up an individual plan for these boys. Something tangible they can hold. Yes, that is it! Maybe I will create something that is for individual behavior and/or working.  They are going to get it. I know it. Patience is the key. They CAN do it! I would love some teaching positive vibes sent my way. Any help any way I can get it.

Have a great night. Happy Wednesday!

Yes, we are going to make it!

We now have a solid two weeks under our belts and we have started week three. The kids are figuring out the rules, the schedule and I am getting to know the personalities. I absolutely adore my class. The kids are all different and bring so much to a discussion. We are getting tested this week for DIBELS and then will finally start reading groups next week. YAY! Actual reading groups. It has been fun having my kids all day, but going to reading is such an experience. I love it. I love the focus, the switch, the groups, etc. Yay for groups. How long does it take to get your students ready for reading groups? Do you ability group or stay in homeroom?

So, I made a new product this week. I always get inspired by what I am teaching. I figure out what I would like to have when I am teaching a product and that becomes what I create! I actually do use what I create. Here is my latest:

It is called "It's Tally Time" and includes different activities to learn, practice, and master tally marks. I always enjoy having poems and motions to help with songs and this one is no exception. I think the quick poems are my favorite. Oh yes, I love it!

Open House on Monday

I can't believe that our Open House is Monday!


Let me wear my mommy hat first... Both of my kiddos will be at my school this year. That's right! No more getting to school way early to put my little man on the bus to go to the pre-k/kinder school! Do you hear me cheering from way over here??? WOOHOO! That also means that I miss both of my kiddos Open House tours this year because I will be giving mine at the same time. Yup, my hubby will get to go to both kiddos all on his own. Luckily, my son is directly across the hall (he's in first grade in my dear co-teachers class!) and my daughter is in the far wing (I don't like how far away she is) of the building with MY favorite teacher (besides my mom) of all time. So, I am blessed this year with the teachers my kids have. BLESSED!

Now to the teacher hat...AUGH! I am not ready. Are we ever ready in time? I feel like my room is in a state of chaos, I don't have my handouts ready, and my students/parents are going to have way too many questions that I don't know all the answers to. OK, in all honesty, I know I will be ready (with extra time in the classroom this weekend) and the rest will be FINE, but those feelings never disappear until Open House is done. Then, I come home so excited for the next day aka the First Day of School.

So, I was looking at my Firstie's pictures today on Infinite Campus and I just smiled the entire time. They are so darn cute. I can't wait to meet them all on Monday and start teaching on Tuesday.

First Day Back for Teachers

Summer is officially over for me. I had to report to school today for the new year. We have so many first graders this year that we added another teacher. We now have five teachers for first grade in our building. Holy moly! Can you believe it? Last year we were hoping to get to keep our fourth teacher and this year we add another teacher. I am so grateful because this means I now have 17 kids in my class instead of 22... Yes! As a parent (my son is a first grader), I am even more excited that he will have a smaller class size.

As for the first day back, I think I made more of a mess than getting ready. Does anyone else have this problem To get ready, I have to pull tons out and then my room looks out of control. I am still in the process of getting everything up and put away. My theme is ladybugs and the door is done, the signs are up, and the centers are ready. That is good.

I still have to get my essential learning targets (elt's) printed off, my lesson plan book ready, my standards put into a notebook and my attendance roster ready to go. In one week, we have our open house. I will be ready!

Outdoor Divas 2013

Ok, this is a post that has more to do with the end of summer instead of my classroom. Yesterday, I was able to complete my end-of-summer goal - the Outdoor Divas Triathlon! It is a sprint tri where you swim 1/2 mile, ride your bike for 12.4 miles, and run a 5k. It was  fabulous day! Ok, I won't lie, I was so nervous even though this was my second triathlon (I did my first last year) but knew I could do it one part at a time. By the time I was running across the finish line, I was on cloud nine. Plus, my daughter jumped in with me and ran across the finish line with me. Yay! So, summer is almost over ( I have to go back tomorrow) and I couldn't think of a better way to end my summer vacation. Great friends, phenomenal family support, and proving to myself I can push myself outside my comfort zone and do something I didn't think I could a few years ago. Will I do it again? Yep! I will be nervous again and want to sleep in when the early alarm clock goes off, but it is worth it.

This picture is of my training partners/friends and I after we had all finished. I am #975. I hope all of you had or will have a great end to your summer as well. Have a great day.

What is your big accomplishment for the summer?

Like Mother Like Daughter

This was originally written on 6/27/13 but I forgot to post it! So, here you go...

My mom was a teacher. I remember growing up playing teacher. We would go to her classroom on the weekends and after school and I would create leassons, projects, worksheets... you name it, I did it. I wanted to be  teacher my entire life. Well, my daughter now does the same thing. This past year she would come into my classroom and head straight to the front table. She would get out the individual dry erase boards and markers for her "students" and teach a lesson. Well, tonight she started making her OWN TpT project. It is so fun. Of course we are really doing it together. She titled it "Monsterific Math" and I am letting her do all the creations. She is loving it. I promised her all the proceeds from her products. I can't wait to share it with you all. She has done the title page, the table of contents, the first actual page and the final credit page is in the works. It is pretty fun sitting next to her and helping her create. I see third-generation teacher all the way... unless she chooses to do something else. I just want her to be happy!

Lemonade for Sale

Where did the summer go? I know! It is G... O... N... E - GONE! The book club was so fun this summer. I loved having the kids over every week to talk about the books. Today, we culminated the end of book club with a lemonade stand of our own. It was awesome. We sold lemonade for two hours and had a profit. The kids decided to donate the money to the American Cancer Society which is just amazing to me. I love those kids.

So, to say summer is gone is an understatement. I go back to work on Tuesday. TUESDAY! Not just a "I need to go work in my room" day... a real, honest to goodness, work day. AUGH! It blows my mind how fast this summer went. We went on vacation, went camping, lounged at the pool, played baseball, had dance, rode bikes, ... Yup, it was a full summer. This weekend is my sprint triathlon. I did my first one last year and we signed up again for year two. It is what motivates me to get off the couch and stay healthy. I love it. It is nice to have a something to work for.

Well, the next time I post I will actually be talking about school stuff! Class size, organizations, common core, trainings, and more! Here we go - let 2013 - 2014 begin!

Kids Book Club

Eleven kids in my little house reading, making bookmarks, coloring, writing, whew! I have eight kids  in the chapter book, The Lemonade Wars, and three younger kiddos in Stuck. The time went so fast! I had so much fun. This week we are going to decide if our books are fiction or non- fiction and I am pretty sure this will bring a good discussion for the bigger group. The Lemonade group will also summarize each chapter after we discuss it! The little group is going to do some illustrations. All will do vocabulary as well! I love the freedom this book club gives me! Have a great day!

More Ladybugs

I have always loved ladybugs and I never sat down to make a true classroom theme....UNTIL NOW! I am so excited that my theme for the first week of school is ready. Woohoo! Yes! Check that one off the list. Go check it out at my TpT store if you would like.

Class Theme Ladybugs - Look Who's Spotted in ___ Grade!

VBS - Always Teaching!

So it is Vacation Bible School at church. I am in charge of the preschool and kindergarten part at our church and I adore these kiddos. In fact, it was VBS that made me realize about three years ago that I was ready to teach younger children.

I started teaching in 2000 - 2001. I taught math at the local middle school. I loved math but the age was not the right fit for me. I LOVED THE KIDS but I am just made to work with younger kiddos. Well, a position opened up where I student taught with my favorite teacher and I jumped on it. I became a fifth and sixth grade looping teacher (I taught the kiddos for fifth grade and kept them through sixth grade) for the next ten years. I had a great time teaching that age, but just felt the tug to teach the young kiddos. Three years ago I was blessed to get to transfer to an elementary school just a few blocks away from my house to teach first grade. I am loving first grade. My teaching career so far has been a blessing and I am grateful for everything I have been given.

Now back to VBS...

Our theme is "Everywhere fun fair" and the kids learn about the bible with a circus theme! They also have different locations everyday. Yesterday they learned about Japan. Today was Zimbabwe. I love the music, the crafts, the games, the crafts, the stories, the crafts, and THE CRAFTS! My own two kiddos woke up so excited for VBS today and I love it. It is the reason why I work throughout the year to get VBS organized...my own kids love it and I love seeing the excitement through their eyes.

I hope everyone else is having a great day. I will post an activity soon!

Friday Fun

We have almost made it through another week. Has anyone else noticed that summer months are just as busy (if not busier) than the school year months? Like I posted earlier this week, this has been "dance" week. Yesterday was the first day of recitals and today is the second day. My kiddos did amazing! It was so fun.

Now, on to school stuff. I am going to post one of my freebie activities. I absolutely LOVE math (and when I say LOVE picture me singing it as a Broadway singer) and my goal is to always make my students enjoy it as well. I have taught math from first grade up to the college level. My activity today is just a simple subtraction game. Please check out Racing Back from 100 and enjoy the freebie!

So, now that summer is upon us, what is your biggest goal?

Book Club for Summer and Gardening at School

Once a teacher, always a teacher. I decided that I wanted my kiddos to have fun reading this summer but also have a purpose. So, I made a book club with their friends that I know also enjoy to read! I feel kind of selfish because then my kiddos get a play date, I get to share my love of reading, and I get to try new ideas for kids that just love to read and have fun! Win-win situation. So, I decided on the books today. I will post soon when I get them and see if anyone has any reviews, ideas, etc! Wish me luck... 6-7 second and third graders for one book and 4 first graders doing another book. It will be fun, right? I am not crazy, right? Oh please send me good vibes! I am just so optimistic that it will be successful. Look for my weekly reviews of the kid book club starting on June 20th and every Thursday after that. I am sure there will be giggles and struggles!

Right after this, my kiddos and I are heading over to our school to work on the school garden. We are going to help paint a sign today for the garden. I am hoping to post some pictures after. I love that the teacher keeps this project going all summer for the kids. YAY! I am so appreciative of how other teachers go above and beyond to make school fun and successful for my own children. SO THANKFUL! Here my two amazing kiddos: