Teacher blogs....

Ladies you are saints!!! I have learned, borrowed, gleaned information from so many of the blogs I follow that has helped me so much in my Grade one classroom this year! THANK YOU!!!

Sometimes I swear my kids are smarter than me...

Sometimes I lose patience and can't wait... we have this little thing we made up randomly (one of the kids suggested it actually) That when I flicker the lights they all stand at attention. Seriously works like a charm. But while I was trying to get their attention right after last recess (usually a struggle because they turn into monsters by then who want to wrestle (boys anyways))So one of my guys who is sitting right in the front of me on the carpet calmly looks at me and says why don't you flick the lights Ms. J then everybody will stop and listen. (cause they def weren't at this point) Seriously kids are so smart. They notice the things that we don't. I wish I was more like them sometimes, like how they get so pumped for gym class... I don't really like going to the gym hahaha... or they get so excited to tell me they saw 4 of their classmates randomly in Walmart over the weekend and that was their big news. They are so innocent. And impressionable. Oh I had a talk with them about all kinds of books today and they were so much better I couldn't believe it!
Oh and have you ever see those koolaide jammer comercials? Where the kids put the juice container in his shirt and blows up muscles so he's all buff? Well my 6/7 year olds think that's the greatest thing ever and like to attempt at lunch time. So funny. I'm waiting for one of the juice things to explode one of these days...

Oh the joys of Grade 1

Starting week 3 already. I'm still trying to figure out the smaller details of running a Grade 1 classroom. Like how to make the most out of carpet time. The problem I am having is they can't sit still for very long. I need to talk to them about what is expected of them, and why. Maybe that will help them.

Randomly last week I found in my book stash a copy of 'Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus'. I read it to my students with all the voices and that's all they want to read now. They fight over it at D.E.A.R time. I wish they were like this with all books. I am having trouble with reading them more serious books. They really love the funny ones. I have to have a little chat with them on Monday about all the different types of books. And why they are important to us. Try and connect their future into it some how.

I also learned this week how much they actually pay attention to my actions and the words I say. We had some extra time after an activity we did so while I helper the stragglers I let the rest of them read books with a partner. I watched a few of them out of the corner of my eye on the carpet. One was siting on my chair being the teacher and holding a book (I think it was the Pigeon one) and telling the other kids to get themselves organized and sit cris cross like I always am. Some of them love sitting on their knees but then the kids behind them can't see etc. ANYWAYS just that little scene really opened my eyes to the things they witness and learn from me. I'm slowly clueing in to how much detail I need to give them. Baby steps for everything. Like how to sit on the carpet properly etc.

Does anyone else want to die the last hour of the day on Friday? Maybe it's the whole begining of school thing but they have had enough by last recess. I have to constantly keep them busy and moving and its a lot of work.

My dad sent me this link to this wonderful Teacher's website thinking I could get some great ideas from it. http://staff.prairiesouth.ca/sites/kcassidy/ is the link. Check it out. This person is a master teacher and I hope I can take some things back into my own classroom.

I kept thinking all week I wanted to blog about different things but I can't remember what else I was going to post on so when I remember I will post more. Well I'm off to figure out what I'm going to do for Social Studies/ Science tomorrow...

2 days in and already sick... hahaha

OH my word... well I'm sick... got sick at approximately the time I went into my mom's room as she was cleaning stuff with some weird spray and it just got worse... anyways whatever... colds trying to explain everything to 6 years olds is no prob right? hahaha I'm game:P

* k so funny story... we go into chapel for a school rules assembly and while were are waiting the first thing I hear my little munches talking about? One asking a group if they had Facebook, cause he did. I laughed so hard... but what seriously what are these parents thinking...

I have 19 now. Got a new student added after the first day. (Good thing I thought like a pro and got 2 extras of everything). The Mom is amazing and will prob be a great volunteer! I love her already.

There is progress with my kids from the mad ciaos of the first day... so much to introduce in the first week...(voice is going and coughing like mad begins... oh so much talking... I might be quiet all weekend) and I heard it said to me that it's always hard to move down that move up... oh wow is it ever. I taught Grade 4 last and then down to Grade 1 now. I thought they couldn't do anything the first day... but I'm slowly figuring it out again. it's been 5 years its bound to come back to me, however slowly... Also I might develop a personality disorder this year. The teacher next to me(my mom) has the same last name as I do. So to make things easier I've told the kids they can call me Ms. J.(initial of my first name) So I get Mrs. J, Ms. J, Ms my actual last name, and teacher. More Ms or Mrs. J than anything... Even the secretary and my own mother is calling me Ms. J... hahaha its funny... I feel like a whole other person. One kid came up to me today and told me I said They could call me Ms. J and why wasn't I answering him (over the din of 6 other asking questions I might add)... I've been doing pretty good so far... one thing I've really appreciated this time around is the support and the feel of the school. I feel wanted, loved, helped... kinda bizare. I'm a name not just a teacher fighting for a position somewhere. And I am clinging to my Saviour for all my strength cause it's really hard, but by grace He's helping me... giving me ideas, focusing my thoughts. I love working at a Christian school, because of the freedom I have. I can play worship music in my classroom. I can pray with my students, so many things I took for granted before I started this year... well more to come but I need sleep so ciao for now... Be Blessed...

TOMORROW!!!

Well I meet my new class TOMORROW!!! We start at 10 am and it's kinda of a crazy day but I think it will be good. I'm nervous... like that 'First Day Jitters' book... I miss my old class. I wonder if it will be like this every year. It's different with PE cause you teach them for 4 or 5 years in a row not just the one. I promised I would update this with pictures of my room I think. Its not finished to how I want it to be but I had to tell myself that it has to be a work in progress or I will go mental. I'm really happy in general with the set up. Just my carpet area is seriously giving me grey hairs. I don't like the weird corner by the door. But I'm sure I'll figure it out once the kids come and we get going on their learning.



I had 2 extra cubbys left over because I only have 18 students so I'm going to make these into reading nooks. I read in one of my teacher books that sometimes if a child is having a bad day or in a mood they just need to go and curl up in a dark small space for a little while. I'll see how this works. I was thinking of giving them flash lights to read their books in there while its D.E.A.R. time.
This is the view from my desk. I have 4 tables. I only have one white board not at the carpet area so I am either going to try and purchase a big one or beg for one... We'll see what happens. I can't complain though its a nice room:)


I got this idea from a fellow blogger Sarah Cooley I believe. She has so many great ideas. I bet she has no idea what an inspiration she is to me and I'm sure other teachers out there. These will be our classroom rules for the year. I've always struggled with doing this with students so now that I have them set we can just talk about the details. My mom made this adorable little bee craft for me the other day so I think I will attempt to get them to do it tomorrow if all the supplies are handy.




This is my carpet area so far. Yesterday I went in and was so excited I actually have a carpet. It is too busy I know but I hate the black board so it will do for now. I will probably change it up soon.



This is the back of the room. I'm excited that it all came together. However this spot will be changed because I'm going to be bringing a fish tank in and putting it here I believe. The outlets are put in very odd places in this room. But I have so much room on my blue book shelf thingy so I can still have these bins with easy access to my students.

Well I am really going to try and blog a lot about my teaching and learning this year. It will have been a long time since I taught one grade through the whole year. I want to remember and organize and do this to the best of my ability, for God's glory.

My Classroom as it stands now...

This is looking in from the door. There is a tiny space behind the door I don't really know what to do with...

I do not like the placement of the teachers desk or even the size of it. Its to big...

I may ask them to remove this or if they have a smaller one I could use.

As far as I know there are 15 students on my list so far. There will be a lot of empty cubby holes and I'm really not sure what to put in them. Maybe my centre objects.

Storage/ shelves

This was there but I'm not sure if the teacher who was in this room before me is taking it or not. I have something simliar but wire and I've seen pictures on teacher blogs of having it on the floor where the students would have easy access. Haven't decided on this yet...

I am going to break up this huge chalk board into little sections. I don't know if I want my meeting/ campfire area to be up hear or in a different section of the room.

I hate this colour and its coming down ASAP. The teacher who was in the room before my still has all of her stuff in the room and the floors aren't finished so I can't bring my stuff in til the week before school starts.

Other wall. I kind of like the idea of having the meeting/ campfire spot over here but again I haven't decided yet.

I'm very excited to put my stuff in the room and make it my own. Especially the centre areas, the meeting/ campfire area, the reading areas, library, etc...

Anyone have any ideas of how I can use this space? It's a square shape.

starting to get excited:)

I've been in Conferences the last few days and while I'm half listening I've been getting all these ideas for the fall, and the 20% off teacher day at Scholars Choice the other day got me pumped as well. I don't think anybody but teachers can get as excited about the school year. Although it will be hard leaving my old school I'm very excited about the new relationship I will make at my new one. I'm excited to see the faces and learn about my little sprouts as a blogger friend calls them. I'm excited for all the learning that will take place. I'm excited to try out the idea I have and see if they work or not. See if I can be proud of them. I'm excited to organize my room and make it a wonderful place for learning. Can't tell I'm excited can you? There is so much promise and hope or the unknown... hahaha I'm hoping to go see my room and see what idea I can come up with about organization and where I want to put things. I will do a before and after I believe with pics:)