New Hire Orientation on Thursday...

So I start my job on Thursday.  I decided to go into my room for a short time, then spend the day with my girls.  We decided that we should make Mrs. R's famous pretzel rods...

Mrs. R was probably one of the most influential people/teachers for my family.  She was a stay at home mom, who entered the work force when she felt her children were independent enough and able to manage with mom working (like me).  She was also a teacher who made every child feel special, loved, capable, important to the classroom community, and always had a hug for everyone, including the parents.  She retired last year.  I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to watch her work. 

Some of the best projects Mrs. R had:
1) Service Learning:  Math and Taxes and raising money to give a family Christmas.  I loved this project!  Students held a bake sale (everyone worked two shifts), and the students raised money.  During this time they reviewed money concepts and learned about taxes and how to calculate taxes.  Then a field trip to Target to buy the gifts, calculate the tax and make sure they had enough money. 
2) Biography Book Report:  The students prepared and gave a book report as if they were the person they read about, complete with costumes and props.
3) States and Capitals Parade/Write and Record your own Travel Video.  A year long activity that had so many moving parts, but all came together at the end of the year.
4) Baking: Mrs. R baked for every student, pies, cookies, fudge and pretzel rods
5) Pictures:  She took pictures of all of the students and decorated the classroom with these pictures.  They even had sound bubbles for classroom rules!
6) Time Capsule.  The first day of school the students made a time capsule of themselves.  They traced their hands, measured their height in string, wrote goals and dreams.  The last day the students opened the time capsule and were able to reflect on the year.

So, pretzel rod in hand I go forward into my new career hoping to be an engaging, interactive, loving and community building teacher that lets every student know how much they are loved and how important and special they are!