I am here. I promise.

My good friend {might as well call her a sister.. as that is what we will be eventually.. by marriage, of course} texted my today and said, "Girl, you are really slacking on your blog!" She is right! A first year teacher and moving to another place in the second week of school is a bit much!

This post is a little bit random, as I started missing my blog and my blog friends, so I just wanted to write to let you know how I am doing! 

As of next week teachers at my school will be in the full swing of things. I am excited to announce that I will be helping with the Scholar Bowl team with two other teachers on my team. 

So far my kids are really awesome; there are a hiccups every now and then, but I assume that is what comes with the emotional roller coaster of being a first year teacher. Do you have any advice for a teacher that has frequent headaches at the same time every day [hope you get my drift]. I know it is not me getting enough caffeine--I am getting plenty, I know it has nothing to do with my surgery I had at the beginning of the summer--it is a different kind of headache. It can only be one thing... what do you find yourself doing to make deter those? 

As many of you know, I am doing Interactive Student Notebooks (ISN) in my class. They have taken a little longer than expected to understand the concept, but I have modeled it for them and it seems a little better. Do you have any advice for keeping it going hoping they will catch on with the concept and the idea (even though I feel like I have thoroughly taught and retaught what it is)? I will be back tomorrow with some pictures of some of my student's ISNs. 

Hope the beginning of your school year is going smooth! <3 Thank you in advance for any advice you're willing to give!

Holy First Year Teacher Exhaustion!

Wow! Wow! Wow!
First, let me applaud those veteran teachers for making it all look so easy! I am sorry for being MIA. I have been getting used to the whole first week craziness! Does it get easier? Will I ever be able to come home and not feel the need to take a nap for thirty minutes?
Just to fill you in on how my day goes:

We have a daily debriefing at 7:35, then morning hall duty at 7:45.

8:00- Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Planning

Lunch

Period 5

Period 6

Period 7

After School Club/or Planning 3-4

Oh! So, today was the third day of school. WE HAD PICTURE DAY! Huh?! It went better than I expected, but the social studies teachers were responsible for taking students each period. Glass Half Full perspective: I got an easy hump day and allowed me some extra time to learn all the names of my students. 

How did the first week of school go during your first year of teaching? Please let me know if I am doing this wrong?! Please! Ha.

Classroom Digs in Room 103!

Okay.. My room is not quite up to par, but it is slowly getting there. I didn't realize that first year teachers spend a little more time in meetings than others. I am learning a lot, but tomorrow I am going to be a busy bee preparing for orientation on Thursday. I am linking up with Blog Hoppin' to show off what I have so far!

This is what you see when you come into my classroom. I am really happy with how it came out!

Please excuse the messiness on my bookshelf. This is a filing crate that will have any things that students need if they are absent. They just go to the file with the corresponding date they were missing. The "Currently" banner is for me to place anything that is going on around school. I plan on getting a small bulletin board to put under it.

Continuing on, Is my promethean board and two white boards. 

Please excuse this chair.. It is going tomorrow! 

This is my Word Wall.

To the right of my word wall is this:

I have not gotten the labels up yet, but board will have my objectives, etc. 

Also on this board, will be my Interactive notebook Table of Contents.

This wall (below) is the same wall as my word wall...

This is a look at my desk from the front door. I hate where my computer is but thanks to cords, I cant move it to where the fan is. Our school is a little on the hot side right now (thanks Florida), so the ugly fan is needed. 

Finally, here is a picture of my desk. A cord cover is needed. That is going to be purchased soon!

The bookshelf on the right is mine and is from Ikea. I LOVE it. Since it won't fit in our new apartment, I figured I would bring it to my classroom. 

Tomorrow I am putting up my rules, and some subway art inspirational quotes.

I will post some pictures at a later date!

That is all for my classroom pictures. Sorry for the mess--it is still a work in progress. 

I am off to check out other classrooms!

Check back tomorrow for Now Teach: Organizing for Instruction

Teacher Week {Monday}

Hey y'all! Today was my first day at school! It was a good day! Meetings in the morning, then lesson planning in the afternoon. I made two presentations using Prezi! I love that website for presentations. Power Point gets a little boring after a while. This week, Im Blog Hoppin' is hosting a linky for Teacher Week. I am so excited to be able to participate this year! All these linkys are going to help me document my first year really well. I am excited!

Now- For Today's Link up:

1. I am a big Georgia Bulldog fan! It def helps that my boyfriend does too! I thought a little competition was good, but having that common ground especially in a town where FL v. UGA is hosted. If you follow college football... That is the biggest cocktail party in college football. You HAVE to experience it at some point in your life.

2. I have a love affair with Frozen Yogurt. It is so delish!

3. I don't splurge on much, but when I do-- It is on Jack Roger sandals. They are a bit expensive, but worth it when I wear them almost everyday for 3 years straight. No joke.

4. You all probably know this.. I love country music (CMA Show is on right now. Ha!)

5. I still eat cereal without milk out of the box Don't judge!

6. I live 10 mins from the beach, but I still prefer the pool.

7. I prefer comedy movies over scary movies. My imagination gets the best of me. 

8. I'd rather go to a place where I can learn about history (i.e. Washington D.C.) than a paradise island. Nerd Status.

9. I like watching it storm. Wow. This post is really making me feel like a nerd.

10. I love the feeling I get when I meet someone that I have something in common with. 

I can't wait to post some pictures of my classroom tomorrow! I am enjoying seeing all of yours!

Five For Friday! It's good!

Why haven't I participated in Doodle Bug Teaching's 5 for Friday before today?! Well since I am a newbie on Fridays, please bare with me! This week has been amazing! I have been getting ready for my FIRST preplanning week. It starts on Monday and I am a little nervous, but also a little excited (All the veteran teachers are probably like, "Pssshhh! Girrrrllll! That feeling won't last long!") HEY! HEY! A little positive attitude will not hurt anyone!

I LOVE Randomness! I am the QUEEN of random! So here goes nothing:

{one. }

This is my new teacher planner from Plum Paper Designs.

It is AMAZING! I am a first year teacher and I don't quite have the moolah to be dishing

out on an EC planner, so I decided to go with the less expensive option. So far, I really like it! I like that I was able to get 40 extra checklist pages. Having 6 classes a day, I kinda need them!

 {two. }

  

Here are my first couple lessons in the Interactive Student Notebook. I am loving how planning is

coming along for these! I am hoping to keep students engaged in Geography, Civics and Economics using the Notebooks. How do you like these, so far?

{three. }

  

As you all know I LOVE Country Music and everything associated with it! Me and the mister went to see Greg Bates in concert. We got lucky enough to meet him and get some pictures! You may have heard his music, he sings 

"Did it for the Girl" and "Fill in the Blank"

My mister plays country music around town--and I LOVE it!

Proud girlfriend, right here!

{four. }

This is my bluetick coonhound, Dexter. He is just over a year old, and the cutest thing EVER!

Who knew that these dogs do anything for your attention and ALWAYS seek your approval?!

If he isn't on top of me wanting to lay on my lap eye roll , he is looking at me with those eyes!

I can't ever refuse. 

{five. }

Horrible picture.

This... doesn't look good, Oh! But it is! 

I am trying to get better about what I am eating. When we move to our new place that has 

better appliances, we are hopping on the clean eating bandwagon. This my friends, is the BEST THING SINCE... SLICED BREAD (Sliced white bread isn't healthy, but.. it's just an expression. ha)

FAT FREE CHOCOLATE FROZEN YOGURT WITH A TON OF FRESH STRAWBERRIES

a.k.a Heaven in a cup.

I can't wait to see who else is linking up! Like I said, I love random. So, I am off to look at what your

randomness consists of! 

A Tale of Student Teaching & What I'm Loving Wednesday

So-- here I am at school updating my blog. Do any of you have those sensors in your classroom that turn the lights off when there is no movement for a while? WELL I have been sitting in this little corner in my classroom and the lights have gone off 4 times now. I have to get up for them to turn back on. That's not annoying or anything?!

Today I am linking up with Tales of A Polished Teacher to share my experience of Student Teaching. It was only a year ago that I was starting my internship. It is pretty vivid in my mind, and I am glad I have the chance to share it with you!

 

It may be hard to read my answers, so I copied them starting with the left box, going clockwise

 

(Best Times)

My student teaching was AMAZING! I had the perfect group

Of kids (with the exception of two classes). A year ago

(when I was student teaching) the state came out with a

New Civics curriculum for 7th grade Civics. I had to plan from

Scratch. My directing teacher did not have any lessons for

This subject. It was kind of nice, because we were learning

From each other. I also was lucky enough to be a part of

A very supportive team of teachers. They were SO helpful

And supportive!

 

(Not so good times)

 

Life still goes on when you are student teaching. It is not :

“Hang on life, don’t do anything until I get this internship

Done with!” My car decided to die in the midst of all the

Craziness—SUCH an inopportune time! Also, I had to take

the Social Studies 6-12 Cert. test twice. Believe me when

I tell you—when you prepare to take those tests.. Make sure

Your environment is as stress free as possible!

 

(Advice)

 

If there are other student teachers at the same school as you, Become BFFs with them! It will help (even if they are not teaching the same grade. They will likely have the same assignments/projects due. It helps having a friend to do this with! If you don’t know something, ask! Finally, make a friend of the principal or admin early! These are the people you are going to want to write your Recommendation letters.

 

It is also Wednesday (Woot, WOot) and it is time for Covered in Glitter & Glue's What I am Loving Wednesday Linky!

 

 

From Left to Right:

 

{one. }

I got my nails done today! I'd have to admit, I have been feeling a little bit daring lately with my

nail colors. I have always been the one to have pink and white ALL the time.

I just got sick of the same ol', same ol'!

So I am wearing (OFF GO THE LIGHTS AGAIN) Cajun Shrimp with a splash of gold glitter!

I LOVE the combination!

 

{two. }

This is a picture of my new desk calendar. I am a calendar FREAK! I like that it has

chevron on it. It fits perfectly to my very colorful room! I got it at Target. I couldn't find

the original link on Target's website, but I did find Poketo's blog! There are

cuter ones on there! (I totes just bummed myself out when I saw cuter ones.. hmph)

 

{three. }

I am loving my new exit slip poster. It says "Tweet what you know"

I thought of it on my own, but I am sure there are others floating around.

I used sticky pockets from the school supply store and printed the letters.

I got the poster laminated and used an Xacto knife to open the pockets.

It is AMAZING!

 

I hope all of you who don't go back until September (Lucky!) are enjoying your summer! To those of you who go back in the next two weeks, like me, I hope your classrooms are coming

along smoothly! I can't wait to see pictures!



Bless Your Little Heart! Liebster Award?! You're so Sweet!

I was checking my emails, and lo and behold, 

Sweet In Seventh nominated me for a Liebster Award! Many of you are aware of what the Liebster Award is. It is an award for bloggers with less that 200 followers. It is a great way to recognize the newer bloggers. There are a few rules when you get nominated: Link back to the blog who nominated you, answer the questions presented by your nominated, Share 11 random facts about yourself, Nominate blogs that have less than 200 followers, and present questions for your nominees to answer.

My top 5 favorite books:

(in no particular order)

1. And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie

2. 1776, David McCullough

3. John Adams, David McCullough

4. Oh! The Places You Will Go, Dr. Seuss

5. Something Borrowed, Emily Giffin

What would you do if you weren't teaching?

Probably a Graphic Designer. I love designing things on

the computer. I do some work on the side while teaching, but I would

need to get more education on Graphic Designing before I could make a living

doing it.

What is your favorite professional book?

So far, I really enjoyed reading "Teach Like a Champion"

I loved that book because it constantly made me feel like

I wanted to be a better teacher. The inspiration is always good!

Where is your favorite reading spot?

I really don't have one. I read just about anywhere. It soothes me. 

What do you order from Starbucks?

Iced White Chocolate Mocha is my FAVORITE! 

I also like their black tea/lemonade. DELISH!

Where do you buy your teacher clothes?

 Old Navy. Most of my clothes are from Old Navy because their clothes are

so comfy. I am looking to branch out and hopefully find other stores soon!

What is your favorite moment in teaching?

 I am a first year teacher, but thinking back to my student teaching--

When I taught the Election 2012 using Pepsi & Coke... It was 

BRILLIANT! My favorite lesson, by FAR!

Do you consider yourself a good student?

Yes! I love to learn! I love to listen. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to ask

questions. Sometimes it may come off as annoying, but honestly #sorryimnotsorry

What advice do you have for first year teachers?

I am a first year teacher. If you have advice for me, can you give me some?

I am starting to get the jitters!

Least favorite teaching year..

(I am a first year teacher..)

When I was in Middle School.. 6th grade/7th grade was the worst grade for me.

I want to make sure that I am a teacher that cares about her students to make sure

that they don't experience the same bullying, etc that I went through. 

11 Random Facts about myself:

1. I do not have a specific favorite color. 2. I have a bluetick coon hound year old puppy, Dexter (he IS still a puppy, right?) 3. My DVR and I are best friends 4. I design invitations in my free time 5. I love natural colors

5. I collect glass cowboy boots 6. The mister and I enjoy Country Music (It helps that he sings, too!)

7. I LOVE College Football--Go Georgia Bulldogs! 8. I am not a good bowler 9. My hand/eye coordination STINKS! (Should have seen my dad trying to teach me to drive a manual--I still don't know how!)

10. I LOVE the show Scandal 11. I am a Jacksonville Jaguar fan!

My Nominees:

Maneuvering the Middle

Life with Middle Schoolers

Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

Questions for my Nominees:

1. What is your favorite sports team?

2. What is your perfect weekend?

3. What is a must have at your desk?

4. What is your favorite professional book?

5. What would a utopian society be like to you?

6. Name three things you would bring to a deserted island?

7. If you could mentor a first year teacher, what would be the first thing you

would tell him/her?

8. What is your hobby?

9. What would you be if you weren't a teacher?

10. If you could move anywhere in the U.S. where would you move?

11. Who is your favorite president?

I loved sharing my answers with you all! Happy Blogging!

August Currently!

Wait... What?! Its August?! Huh? Okay... It is! That means that it really is the second half of 2013. Usually once August comes, the year tends to fly by. It is time for Farley's Currently! She followed me on instragram this month and I think I did a MAJOR happy dance. She is my celebrity teacher blogger inspiration! I think I would go speechless if I ever met her in person.

Without further ado:

{Listening} I am listening to the show Big Brother. It is me and the mister's guilty pleasure! I don't know what about that show that we love so much, but we love it!

{Loving} My Dad and Stepmom came to Florida to visit my hometown (South Florida) to see my nieces, brother and other family. Today he came up to North Florida to see me and the mister. We shopped for my first classroom and showed them our new apartment. I am such a Daddy's girl. I was so glad to see him. We took him to this UH-MAZING BBQ restaurant 4 Rivers. I know there is one in Orlando, but if you have one near you.. GO! It is delish!

{Thinking} There is no A/C in my classroom. At least until Pre-Planning starts. There is also construction going on at my school. So it is a little hectic. I wish I would have kept my things at home, now. :( It is too Hott for no AC right now! Whew!

{Wanting} This is my favorite fro-yo. I love the original flavor with those fruits together. SO GOOD! Healthy too!

{Needing} This is pretty self explanatory. I need a Pedi... Bad!

{B2s must haves} I got a teacher planner from Plum Paper Designs on Etsy I can't wait until it comes in to share with you all!
I love Extra Fine Pens. the .5mm sized ones. They are amazing!
I like when my white boards have LOTS of color! So, thanks to my large assorted Dry-Erase markers from Office Max, I will have no issues in that department!

I am off to check out what you all are up to on this first of August! Ta-Ta