I Just Got a Teaching Job- Now What?!- Classroom Management

School started this week, and I am worn. out. Everyone is asking me how I like 3rd grade, and so far I'm having a hard time telling what is different because of a new grade level, and what is different because of the personalities I happen to have in this class. Either way... I'm excited to get in the groove of learning, and not just the first week of school. I am even more excited that it's the weekend :)

Classroom Management and Discipline Tips for New Teachers

part of my series, I Just Got a Teaching Job... Now What?!

 One of the toughest things for a new teacher is usually discipline. There are a lot of tightropes to walk.

• Your kids need to know you care about them, but they also still need to see you as an authority, not a friend.
• The kids need to feel they can be forgiven, but they need to feel like it matters when they mess up.
• The overall atmosphere should seem positive, but there needs to be consequences when misbehaviors happen.

Everyone always says that it's easier to start out tough and back off, and I agree- but that doesn't mean you don't smile, at least in elementary. Kids need to feel they can trust you, and a smile is a great way to start building that relationship with the kids.

But they need to know that you will follow through, too. Being nice and smiling doesn't mean cutting them a break when they break a rule. That first week and after, I make it a point to give one verbal reminder, and then crack down.

When I think of discipline, I like to have:

• Class rewards
• Individual rewards
• Individual consequences
• And as needed:
• Team rewards
• Team consequences
• Class consequences (as a last resort- I don't like to do these very often because you end up punishing some kids who don't deserve it.)

When you choose a discipline system for your classroom, make sure it's something that includes positive reinforcement for good behavior, and is easy to follow consistently for negative behavior.

The "marble jar" works well in my class for a whole class reward, but I also love the idea of team rewards through a "barrel of monkeys" competition or a whole class trying to build Mr. Potato Head together. These pictures are linked to their sources at Pinterest!



That last one is SO much cuter than my marble jar!! (If you pin these, please pin the original sources, not me! It's only fair :)

I was hoping to give you a collection of individual classroom management systems, but it turns out that The Clutter-Free Classroom just did. Check out her post here.

I really enjoyed the clip chart last year. For me, it was a way to give every kid something to work for the whole day, each day, no matter where they were on the chart. Even once a kid made it to red, they knew I'd be proud of them (and tell their parents) if they were able to move back up the chart. It was never to the point of "Oh, you lost your recess, so now there's no need to try anymore" which I found happening with a "stoplight" system in the past.

I can also reward different kids for different things. If one student always forgets to put their name on their paper and they remember this time, I can reward them because it's extraordinary for them. 

 

Whatever you choose, be careful with too many extrinsic rewards. There are many free rewards that will work really well to motivate students, and they're so much better than spending your money on items for the store. Plus, it's teaching kids to be proud of their accomplishment, not just excited for a toy.

I have also found that, even when kids got a choice of the prizes or something like lunch with the teacher or a positive phone call home, they tend to pass on the prizes.

How cute are these free coupons, too? (Again, if you pin, please click over to Mel's to pin it from her site!)

Intrinsic rewards are the best. When my kids reach "Sparkling," the other kids cheer (I didn't teach them to do this, but they started it on their own and I love it). They also take home a bookmark, a sticker on their newsletter, and a little certificate to show their parents (thank youuu, Target Dollar Spot).
 
At the end of the day, they get to sign the Sparkling Hall of Fame (a laminated piece of black construction paper) with a silver Sharpie, which they love. They add tally marks after their first time signing.

After reaching Sparkling 10 times (which only 2 of my kids did last year!), they get to go over their name in gold Sharpie and get special recognition from the principal.

I keep certificates ready to go, even signed already, so that all I have to do is add the name and date while they pick a sticker, and then I hand them the bookmark and the marker to go sign the HoF. DONE.

Plus- let kids make your job easier when it comes to tracking the discipline. My 2nd graders were carefully chosen for the job of Clip Chart Recorder, where they took a mini clipboard and filled out a 0 for red, 1 for orange, and so on up the chart for each student each morning, and then they moved the clips back to green to start the day. They loved helping, and I didn't have to do it. Win, win. Occasionally, kids will make a mistake- but overall, it worked so well when I chose conscientious kids (or had two kids work together so they'd catch each other's mistakes).

When you think about consequences, be careful taking away recess. Often the ones who would get it taken away are the ones who need it the most. That said, sometimes there isn't another consequence that motivates the student, so sometimes it's very hard to avoid.


In my class, kids who reach red take home a Think Sheet. I copy plenty at the beginning of the year, fill out the name and date, and add a note in my binder so I remember that it went home. The kid does the rest, unless I want to write a note to Mom and Dad on there.

Make sure parents aren't only hearing you contact them with bad news. That first week, I make it a point to send positive notes home with the students who I can already tell will be a challenge, because I want their parents to see that I do see the good things about their child. Usually, those parents haven't heard good news from their child's teacher in awhile.

When I send kids to pack up, every kid is supposed to color in their newsletter- and those on red or sparkling come to my desk to get what they need. It's a quick process that I can get done while the other kids are packing up.

Make the rewards or punishments something that will be easy and quick enough for you to do at that point in the day. The end of the day is hectic enough without 10 kids getting stamps or going to the store. If you want to do those things, fine- but do the store once a week, or give a student the job of being a Stamper.

A discipline system needs to work for you, so choose carefully, and just like in organization, don't be afraid to try or add something new. I love my clip chart, but I know that depending on my students this year, it may not work. Or, it may not work for one or two students who need something more individualized and tailored to what motivates them personally. Keep it simple and consistent, and you should be able to find what works for your class.

And if you're not? Please ask for help. Other teachers will be happy to offer what has worked for them, and the blogging world (myself included) will be happy to offer some advice, too!

I Just Got a Teaching Job- Now What?!- Organizing Your Teacher Desk

My room is sloooowly coming together. I say slowly because my plan of using all black backgrounds was foiled when I realized that I have a lot of navy stuff. Like, chairs and desks and rug are all navy.

Back to the drawing board! And my tips for new teachers.

Now let's look at setting up your teacher space. The nice thing about this post is that it can be helpful whether you're a new teacher or not, and whether you've started the new year or not. Organizing your teacher desk (or teacher area) is hugely important to your sanity.

As someone who has probably failed in every possible way at keeping my teacher desk organized, I am an expert at the pitfalls of desk organization, so hopefully I can help you avoid them.

Glass half full kind of girl, that's what I am! :)

Step 1- Desk or no desk?

If you're considering forgoing the desk, check with your principal. (Our school has no storage space right now, so losing the desk is not an option.)

No teacher desk will work for you if you never sit there during the day and you would have kept a pretty clear desk most days anyway. If that would work, you can probably use a small group table or computer station as your "teacher space" and go without the desk. This will give you more space for teaching and learning!

For me, I'm pretty sure at this point that not having a desk would just mean that my mess would take over the small group table, and I can't chance that. I do try to take up only a little corner, though, and share the front of my desk as a word work station.

Step 2- Teacher supply storage.

It's simple- The more things you have on your desk, the more cluttered it will look.

If there are some things you can keep in drawers, do it. My stapler and tape dispenser are still super easy to access in my top drawer, but they're not taking up space on my desk all day.

I do suggest you have a space on your desk for students to turn in money, notes, permission slips, and other important things for the teacher. Having a special spot for these (like my basket) helps kids remember to take them out of their folders, and helps me make sure I read them. (I have to sit at my computer while I put in attendance and lunch count, so it's nice to have those right here, too.)

Normally, there is nothing inside- this is while I was still unpacking!

The top of my desk also includes a cute little frog bucket with pencils, pens, markers, highlighters, and scissors. It's my quick go-to supplies. My paper clips and binder clips have taken up a home in the drawer, but may come back out if I find it too annoying to reach in my desk for them.

Here are office supplies your desk should probably have:

• pencils
• pens (that you love)
• markers (Sharpies and others)
• highlighter
• gluestick
• masking tape
• painter's tape
• magnetic tape
• Scotch tape
• poster tape
• sticky tack or Stikki Clips (LOVE these)
• erasers
• a manual pencil sharpener
• paper clips
• binder clips
• stapler and extra staples
• pushpins
• rubber bands
• safety pins
• calculator
• a little spare change
• Post-It notes
• discipline notes/ reward notes
• index cards
• hole punch
• 3 hole punch
• file folders (keep them here so it's easy to make new files as you go!)
• blank labels
• stamps or stickers
• extra envelopes
• small Ziploc bags (I like to keep a box here in addition to my Ziploc stash)

Little tackle boxes work great to keep your desk organized!

Step 3- Paper organization for teachers.

Angela Watson's book The Cornerstone has an entire chapter about the Paper Trap- and I remember, the first time I read it, being overwhelmed with how many different spaces I needed to plan. But, really, you're going to have most of this 'stuff' regardless- so you'd better have somewhere to put it.

Things to copy
Copies ready for teaching with
Things to laminate
Laminated things to cut
Things to turn in to the office
Originals to file
Papers to grade
Graded papers ready to go home
Homework turned in
Center work turned in
Other work turned in
Extra copies of forms
Make-up work

And you'll discover many more. Oh, we have a subscription to Scholastic News? That's great, but they send me a month's worth at a time, so where am I going to store these? Oh, Envision Math in 2nd grade comes with little packets instead of a textbook? I need those every day, so how am I going to keep them organized?

And then there are field trip forms, discipline forms (new and used), Scholastic book order forms, data and documentation of all kinds to keep... the list could go on forever, and it will be different in every school.

The important thing about organizing papers is that you need to try something and then be willing to change it. Let's face it- we don't just have all the time in the world to organize throughout our day. If you find yourself stacking papers on top of the little Sterilite drawers to "put away later," maybe you need to try open trays instead of drawers. If your copies are neatly organized on your desk, but you have to keep crossing to the back of the room all day to get them, maybe it's time to move that organization to where you teach.

It's a good idea to have a folder for each individual student. I label these by number so I'm not relabeling every year. This is where I keep any notes from that parent, any special documentation to keep on that student, any IEPs, ILPs, or RTI plans, and anything else specific to that student.

Beyond that, your folders should reflect what you need. Think about all the things that will be coming in and going out, and have a definite "inbox" for things you haven't had time to sort yet. (Because when you stop by your mailbox before picking kids up from music, you probably won't have time to sort the mail just then.) But here's the hard part- you have keep yourself accountable for that "inbox" and cleaning it out at a certain time (like right after dismissal). The good news is that routines get easier with time! :)

When you are thinking about your organizational system, efficiency is the key. The perfect place will be:
- Easy to remember
- Easy and quick to access
- Quick to organize (maybe not initially, but day to day or week to week)
- In a convenient area of the room
- Enclosed by some kind of boundary (random piles on your desk get cluttered fast!)
- Probably labeled

When you are looking for containers, check out the dollar store, but don't be afraid to look at places like IKEA or the Container Store or the actual not-Dollar-Spot part of Target. If you pick out something you just *love*- you're a lot more likely to actually use it. Plus, if it's on your desk, you will spend a lot of time there. (After school, if you're anything like me, but a lot of time nonetheless.) It's worth it to find something (or spray paint it) in a color you just love!

I also love a file folder sorter like this. At one point last year, I got flowers and stuck this under my desk for the time being- and guess what? Still worked to keep it near my feet. If you're struggling for desk space, don't be afraid to stick one of these guys on the floor.

If you do use something like this, you might consider one like this Lakeshore one that a binder can fit under (love!), and definitely stick some blank file folders in the back for the beginning of the year. (Having file folders *right here* will help you get something new organized quickly, instead of saying "Oh, I'll make a folder for that later.")

Sure you will.

In all that free time we have at the beginning of the year :)

If you ever find yourself saying "I'll do it later" a few times,  it probably means your system is not efficient enough. Unless you're the type of person who actually does do it later, in which case... why are you reading this? Teach me your secrets!

Step 4- Think about what can go in your teacher binder.

 

 I've talked before about how much I love my teacher binder. I'm a little obsessed because it makes me feel organized (and that never happens!)

Bonus of the teacher binder? A less cluttered desk.

I stopped using a desk calendar because it would get covered with papers (and become worthless) or I would go to a meeting and forget to come back and write down dates (which made it even more worthless). I love having my calendar portable enough to come home with me when I plan, to go to meetings with me, and also be at my fingertips in the classroom.

If you have papers that you need to reference constantly at your desk but also want access to in other places, consider putting them in your binder! Keeping a copy of my kids' weekly newsletter in the back is one of those things that took me way too long to figure out, but it is always easy to find and doesn't take up desk space!

Hopefully, that gives you at least a start so that your desk doesn't look like this!

*Actual photo of my desk at one point last year

*Yes, it's a little embarrassing, but I am trying to keep it real here!

Just remember... if something isn't working for you, change it! Even if it looks cute, or it works for your BFF, or you spent hours putting it together.

I would love to see photos of your teacher desk organization!

P.S. I get to bring my husband back home today!!! :) Yes, he knows that he may not get to see me too much for the next few days- school starts Wednesday!

I Just Got a Teaching Job... Now What?!- Setting Up Your Room

You all are so great for listening on my last post. I think (hope) we all have those moments of feeling totally overwhelmed at the beginning of the school year, especially when moving rooms or switching grade levels or just starting out- and your comments made me feel better, like I wasn't just being a crazy person! Things are getting better, though, and I'm starting to feel excited about 3rd grade again!

I kind of got out of my new teacher series, but I'm hoping there are still a few new teachers that haven't started yet and this might be helpful to. If not, well... there's always next year!

Okay, okay, you finally get to think about setting up your classroom. Even before you go in, you can start thinking about what spaces are on your 'need' list, and what spaces you 'want' to have if it works out.

Step 1- Make a List of Spaces You Want and Need

As you think about spaces in your room, you need to think about the spaces for LEARNING, the spaces for TEACHING, and the spaces for STUFF! You might not need all of these, but here are some suggestions to get you started.

When I say teaching, I'm talking about teacher-directed activities. Of course, students should learn there, too, but the "learning" spaces are for student-directed activities.

TEACHING spaces-
Whole group (carpet)
Small group (usually a horseshoe, semicircular table)
Individual (could be shared with one of the other spaces)
Calendar (could be shared)

LEARNING spaces-
Center spaces?
- Buddy Reading
- Listening
- Writing
Library
Cool Down/ Safe Spot/ Time Out spot
Student Computers
SmartBoard (could be shared)

STUFF spaces-
Coats & backpacks
Shared student supplies
Individual student supplies
Passed back work
Turned in work
Math manipulatives
Science supplies
Snack supplies
Files/ Binders/ Teaching materials
Teacher desk (if you are having one)
Small group materials
Book boxes
Necessary wall displays
Storage of notebooks, writing binders, etc.

WALL spaces-
Calendar
Star Student/ Student of the Week
CAFE or Reading focus wall
Posting of objectives or homework
Word Wall
Hundreds chart
Places to post student work or anchor charts
Boggle board

The important thing is to start big, and then think detailed.

Step 2- Check the Limits of Your Room

Once you have a list of the spaces you want and need, it's time to talk to your technology person, if you haven't already. What are the connections that you can't move? For me, my teacher computer had to be in a certain spot so it could connect to the SmartBoard (which had to stay in its certain spot). Not where I wanted my desk, but I like having my computer at my desk, so... I guess that's settled.

Then, look at what else can't be moved in the room. If you have bookshelves built in, or a sink area, or coat cabinets, those are going to help determine some spaces right off the bat.

When you're thinking about wall spaces, consider which spots are magnetic.

This is also a great time to ask your custodian if there is any extra furniture you might be able to snag, so you can take that into account for your planning.

Step 3- Sketch Your Room's Teaching and Learning Spaces 

Go ahead and sketch out the basic shape of your room with those Can't Move items included.

Then, get out some sticky notes and write out the Teaching and Learning Spaces you brainstormed up above. You can cut Post-Its or put two together if you need to drastically adjust their size. From there? Start playing around with the Post-Its.

It's much better on your body to move Post-Its 50 times than to move furniture 50 times.

I know that I still have to "see" it- but Post-Its help me find a good possibility so I don't have to move it all too many times.

I forgot to take a picture of mine, but here's one from Ms. M. Click her photo to go to her classroom design post:

There are computerized ways to make a mock classroom layout, but I like Post-Its. More fun, and no need to worry about wanting something at an angle that a computer won't allow.

It's important to think over student teaching as you sketch.

• What worked for ME in that classroom?
• What didn't work that I need to do differently?
• What were struggles I had that I need to plan to avoid?
• What are some areas where I still need help and can ask someone for a suggestion?

Keep in mind that what worked for your mentor teacher may not have been what worked for you- and that's okay! I'm a piler by nature- so I knew that I would need to work to make a system for where every little thing went. (I'm still working on this.)

This is a good time to think about your desk arrangement, too. Do you have desks or tables, and how do you want them seated? I like to change my set-up throughout the year, but generally, I like groups and my students do, too.

Step 4- Try Out the Arrangement

Yup, move the actual furniture around. Invite friends and family for this step. Order pizza if needed for bribery. For super-big stuff, like a teacher desk, the custodian sometimes has tools that will help. Please be careful not to scratch the floors or mess up the waxing, because you want the custodial staff happy.

Once you have the room tentatively set up, walk around it. Sit down in the student spaces, and see what it's like from a shorter perspective. Sit down in your teacher areas. Make sure that you can see the whole room from your small group area, so you'll be able to supervise all of your students. Make sure you have the wall spaces where you need them. Walk into the room from the hallway and see what you notice.

Make adjustments as needed, but hopefully, you've got a basic classroom layout!

Step 5- Add in the Stuff Spaces

As a person who struggles constantly with organization (yet lives with a darn-near OCD husband- not sure how he puts up with me!), I know that you have to have a specific place for every thing, and a specific procedure or schedule for how they get put away again. Right now, think about the spaces for students. (We'll deal with organizing your teacher area next time.)

As you think about the 'stuff' spaces, it's important to think about your procedures. What are the things you want your students to do in the morning, and at the end of the day? Is there a "flow"?

I'm trying out an acronym this year to see if it helps my students remember what they need to do, but I also post this as an anchor chart near the door. Click the picture to snag a free copy of my morning procedures anchor chart.

If you're looking for more classroom setup tips, I cannot recommend the book Spaces and Places highly enough. The Cornerstone also has some great classroom setup information, both on her website and in the book!

Plus, if you haven't already, you have to check out The School Supply Addict's room setup page for inspiration.

And just remember, if you happen to get stressed...

Have fun setting up your new classroom!

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Breathe in. Breathe out.

I am freaking out, just a little kind of a lot.

Remember how I told you that I was switching grade levels from 2nd to 3rd and I was tentatively excited for the change?

Well, moving classrooms was not super fun, but I'm unpacking and making some progress.

I have started to have workbooks appear in my classroom. We have workbooks for math, science, reading, language arts, spelling, and handwriting. Yes, for those of you counting along, that's 6 workbooks. And apparently social studies is still coming.

So on Friday I went down and asked, "I know they're probably just on their way, but do you know when I will get my teacher editions?"

And to my surprise... they didn't order any, AND aren't planning on it. This year's class is particularly large, and next year they won't need 9 sections in 3rd, so they decided it wasn't worth the money. I should just "meet with someone else and make copies."

For every subject in the curriculum.

Most of which are completely new series to me.

In this grade level for the first time.

Maybe this is the time to cut loose and design my own curriculum calendar with the standards, but I am kind of flabbergasted that no one even told me this until now.

She assured me, though, that there should be plenty of student books- so I thought, whew, I can work with that. I can yeah without teacher editions if my kids all have books. I can plan with those and be fine. I don't follow teacher editions religiously anyway!

Until the custodian (who knows everything- I'm sure yours does too) took me down to the book storage room and showed me the 2 language arts books and set of health books he had.

That was it.

So now, just like last year, I'm begging other teachers to give up their one or two extra copies in hopes that we can get enough books for my class.

I *just* went through this last year with reading books.

So, yes, I'm freaking out a little. I knew the New-Grade-Level Freakout would come, and it has arrived with a bang.

I'm sure it will all work out. I know it will. But I already feel like I volunteered for a challenge when I offered to switch grades, and I feel like I've been a little blindsided by this detail that no one told me until a week and a half before school starts.

That said, though, I'm an optimist at heart. I know, deep down, that everything will be okay. I'm just a little caught off guard and trying to get my head back in the game now that it's a little different.

Time to stop worrying and get my booty in gear :)

On a happier note, I'm linking up with Currently at Oh Boy Fourth Grade!

I've gone bargain shopping with my mom lately, including a super-great thrift store run. I'm loving my new cheap back-to-school wardrobe so much that you all might get a fashion post. This is not something I normally do at all, but $7 jeans that have already been shortened to the perfect length... well, I am in love.

I tried to pick some different things for my back to school must-haves. Despite being far from a fashionista, a new back-to-school outfit or two are huge for me. Especially as a young teacher, I feel like I need to look super-professional when I first meet parents- and on top of that, it's nice to already know what I'm going to wear on the first day or at open house so that I don't have to even think about it. I have something that I already know I feel good and confident wearing, without having to try on twenty outfits. (Not even an exaggeration.)

But everyone was saying that, so I went with chart paper (SO vital for going over rules and everything at the beginning of the year!), comfy shoes (because my feet just do nooot do cute, especially after a lazy summer where I'm not on my feet all day!), and poster tape. I love this stuff- it's wonderful. (Magnet tape and painter's tape are runner-ups.)

I'll let you know how the whole Great Curriculum Hunt of 2012 goes :) In the meantime, I'm going to cheer up by looking at faces divers make. (Click the photo to go to the article.)

Don't hate me!

I have wanted to read The Daily 5 for a long time. Yes, I have read tons about it on blogs, but everyone still said you HAVE to read the book. I even went to a workshop this summer that lauded the Daily 5 framework for the 90 Minute Block, and I told myself that, yes,I was finally going to order it.

I did. And it got here just before my trip to Texas! 

I was so excited. As the flight started, I pulled out the book and cracked it open. (Loooove that new book smell!)

By the time I had made it from Midway to Kansas City, I was done.

And, frankly, unimpressed.

Seriously?! Everyone else In the known universe seems to think this is the best book ever written. This was supposed to be groundbreaking. I was supposed to feel like a new teacher. I expected to feel invigorated for the new year.

And instead, I felt disappointed. 

Maybe I had just heard too much about it already, but I didn't feel like I'd gotten much out of it than what other bloggers and my workshop had already covered. I mean, yes, we need to model. Yes, kids need to spend more time reading. But beyond that... Um, what am I missing here?

Am I crazy?!

I think I am going to do Daily 5, or a variation, but I have to say that after all the hype, I expected the book to give me more. I was honestly a little sad I spent the money on the book (because it was noooot cheap).

I am sitting down with CAFE now. Tentatively. Hopefully. 

After the number of people that have recommended The Sisters to me so highly, just writing this feels a bit like blasphemy. And I'm sorry if you are a faithful fan.

Maybe I will feel differently after reading CAFE?

Has ANYONE else not just fallen in love on first read?

P.S. - My husband and I had a blast this weekend. So, so excited that he will be home with me in two weeks!

P.P.S.- I will get back to new teacher stuff soon!

Tell Me More, Tell Me More!

I finished my last day of summer work (completely!), this is my 100th post here, I have juuust about hit 100,000 pageviews, and tomorrow morning I will be in Texas with my husband to celebrate our very first anniversary (a few days late).

It's a happy, happy day!

I'm linking up with Tell Me More, Tell Me More- because I have loved these, and my 100th post seems like the perfect time for you to get to know me better!

1. I grew up in a town called Kokomo. Yes, like the Beach Boys song. Except it's in the midwest, and nowhere near a beach.

2. I'm kind of obsessed with football. In fact, my husband was just starting to get into football when we met, and read up on the Packers so he'd have something to talk to me about. This was our wedding cake. (So. Awesome.) The numbers on the yardlines were our wedding date!

3. I was born on the same night that Indiana University won their last mens' championship, to a family of huge IU fans. After being raised staunchly IU... I went to Purdue for college. I still can't quite hate the cream and crimson like most Boilermakers!

4. I have to have COLOR in my life! Right now, we are in a tan apartment with tan carpet and tan couch. This does not bother my husband a bit. It very much bothers me. Even my wedding ring has two sapphire stones!

5. My favorite candy? Peanut butter M&Ms. No, not peanut ones- peanut butter. So. Good.

6. In high school, I did well academically, was a total band nerd (french horn/ mellophone), big drama club geek, and even in a robotics club for a year. I wasn't "cool" at all- and I had a great high school experience.

7. I'm not really into shoes. I know, I know, most women and a lot of teachers are- but I don't really care about shoes other than to make sure they're comfortable. The one exception? I loved my wedding shoes- until the grass was wet and the dye started to bleed everywhere. But I had backups :)

8. I love Special K. During each school year, I try for awhile to bring in a box of Special K and a half gallon of milk for my lunches. It's cheaper than frozen meals, delicious, and good for me, too! Plus, I don't have to worry about forgetting my lunch :)

9. My extended family is talented, hilarious, and crazy in the best possible way. My mom is one of 5 kids, and when all the aunts, uncles, and cousins get together, it is always a good time. Case in point: at our wedding, we had a "photo booth"- and my extended family went and started putting on random things like fireman hats, goofy wigs, and fake mustaches before we even got to the first dance. Instead of waiting to get pictures taken, they just wore them during dinner. LOVE my family.

10. I love photography. Last year I got a DSLR, and it makes me so happy. This is one of my favorite photos I've taken- actually, from before I got my SLR!

12. I have always loved reading. Always. You can see me in the front & center of this one with a giant pink bow!

13. When I like a TV show, I tend to get really into it. The favorites I can watch over and over are Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, Firefly, and 30 Rock.

14. I love nature and animals! I would love to do more traveling and spend more time outside.

11. I am apparently one of the few people out there who doesn't have a smartphone yet. But my "dumbphone" works just fine- especially for our budget! (And the one I have is a pretty blue!)

15. My husband sent me a video of him singing to me for our first anniversary, since we had to be apart. How adorable is that?

Alright- I'm off to finish packing! Woohoooo!

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Gimme a Break!

It's Sunday, so I'm taking a quick break from my guide for new teachers!

2 more days, and my summer work will be done. By then, my Amazon order should be here, too! YAY for new books!

Okay, I still consider myself somewhat of a new blogger... and I like the simplicity of this linky party for new bloggers! :) I hope they don't mind if I crash the party :)




1.)  What state are you in?
Indiana! I have never lived anywhere else.

2.)  What is your current teaching position?
3rd grade, moving up from 2nd!

3.)  What is your teaching experience?
7 summers of teaching grades 8-12 at a high school biology camp
Grade 2 for student teaching
Grade 2 interventionist (co-teaching) for 2 years
Grade 2 in my own classroom for 1 year

4.)  When did you start blogging?
I've blogged in various forms for over 10 years- but I changed the name of this blog and started actually *blogging*- making a real effort to actually post on a regular basis- in March, during my spring break.

5.)  Share some blogging tips or a resource.
- Take pictures and make logos for posts that you think might be pinnable! (LOTS of free frames available out there!) I love seeing photos of ideas because I'm so visual, but also- makes it easy for people to pin your ideas!

- Don't be discouraged if something doesn't take off when you thought it was a really great post. When I first posted about my lesson plans, I got one or two comments, and kind of disappointed... but,  somehow, MONTHS later, someone pinned it and it went CRAZY. (You can see how your blog fares on pinterest by going to www.pinterest.com/source/blogname.blogspot.com/ - but put your blog name instead of mine!)


I wanted to check in and see how I'm doing on my "Summer Bucket List"- and, oh boy, it's not good.

1. Read CAFE, the Daily 5, and re-read The Book Whisperer and Spaces and Places!
2. Read at least 10 books for fun. (2.5 done!)
3.Give my blog a makeover.
4. Map out my science and social studies for the year to go along with my new reading series.
5. Create homework, morning work, newsletter templates, and my updated lesson plan template for 3rd grade.
6. Revise my beginning of the year forms and packet.
7. Make at least 3 DIY things from Pinterest, either for my classroom or home. (1 done!)
8. Write a blog series- "You Just Got a Teaching Job. Now What?!" (Still working on it!)
9. Reach 250 300 blog followers by the start of school! (Feeling ambitious!)
10. Go to Zumba more, and eat a little better. (Emphasis on little.)
11. Move into my new classroom without moving stacks of unfiled papers! (Close enough!)
12. Try at least 2 new recipes. Any easy suggestions for a household of one at the moment? (1 done!)
13. Organize the work I do teaching high school biology camps during the summer, so that if we move next year when my husband graduates, it will be easy for someone else to take over.
14. Have at least one get-together for my class at the library.
15. Visit Texas to see my sweetie and celebrate our FIRST wedding anniversary!

I'm not sure why I thought I'd have so much time "off" this summer, but I was sorely mistaken. The good news is that my summer work will be ending on Tuesday- and either Wednesday or Thursday, I'm headed to Texas with some new books to read in the airport!

It blows my mind, though, how close I am to starting the new school year. Oh well- I am excited to get reading and get in my classroom soon!