Made it through the first week...

Well, I love my thirdsters!  They are a fantastic bunch of young people, and I look forward to seeing them every day. 

Week one reflections:

- The first week will always feel disorganized.  There is a lot of baseline testing to be done.  The students did a lot of "busy work" so that I could start text leveling.  I did not feel like I was teaching, and I did not feel like the students really enjoyed the week.

- Try to get organized, but know that a late night on Friday will make the weekend feel better!  I stayed until 8 pm to get my files in order, clean up my room, and prep for next week.  I slept last night because I feel like I can walk in on Monday ready to go.

- Rule and Procedures, Procedures and Rules!!!!!!  Do not relent, do not "let it go."  Make them follow the procedures.  Practice! 

- Silliness is a good thing!  On Thursday the kiddos were EXHAUSTED!  We did some Cowboy calls, chair dancing, clapping and snapping patterns... they loved it.  Looking forward to using GoNoodle net week for brain breaks too!

The best activity was a classroom scavenger hunt.  By the end of the week, students were able to get erasers, pencils, turn in items, find the dictionaries, and pretty much feel at home in the room. 

My first newsletter is posted on the website, my contacts and address books are put together, I know the food allergies in my room, I think I am ready to get into the curriculum next week!!!

The little things that make the classroom run...

After a wonderful turn out at open house, yesterday we (the staff) got down to business preparing for the first week of school:
Procedures
Routines
Safety (weather, fire, codes etc)

Then back to my room to plan... it took us about 2.5 hours to plan this first week.  (YIKES!  I need to speed this up a bit!)

Then housekeeping -
OH - I need a grade book! (sort of important)
Restroom Sign out
Assignment turn in checklist
SUB PLANS!

I guess I will be in to read my pass on folders today (Saturday), but I am limiting myself to 2 hours!  The family has plans!

Here it is ... My home away from home...

Woo Hoo!!!!!

My room!

My donation board!  Apple sticky notes.

Love this furniture!  I holds my Daily 5 stations and my MATH stations. I made the labels to go with my polka dot theme.

My back work table and the computer area!

My completed library!

The front of my room - still under construction!

How we get home! (Pinterest - love it)

All of the third graders!  My group is pink!  A nice group of 19!

A few personal touches... Including a book I wrote with my girls about art! (It was for a class!)

My mini posters!

My Library where I will teach my reading lessons!  I love my posters

Question of the week, Vocabulary Strategy, Genre, and Comprehension Posters!

My VIP and helper board!

This is some of what we are working on this year...

 

Now I am off to bed!  It was a huge day and I am so tired!  Thanks for checking out the room!

Where did the time go?

Knee deep in the new hire orientation and I have more questions now, than I did before!  Actually, my questions are now focused and I know who to ask, but when to find them and the time!  LOL!

Lots to do today:
- genre poster
- reading strategy posters
- math bins
-open house printed and assembled
-essential questions printed
- vocab concentration printed
- birthdays
...  my list continues!!

Add to that my mom duties and getting my girls ready for school too!  It is a never ending list that will continue to grow! 

I will get the important stuff done... what did not get done, was not important!  Hee Hee!