First Few Days of School!

The kiddos first half day was last Wednesday! It was an exciting and exhausting half of a week. I absolutely love the school that I'm a part of and really enjoyed meeting the kids. It's so fun to finally share all of my hardwork with them.
We did a lot of get to know you activities and practiced procedures. It was awesome to have the Smartboard in my room. I created a slideshow to go through with the students as learned about one another. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the Smartboard :). I look at it that if the technology interests me then it's going to engage the students also.
I bought a ton of writing prompts from TeacherPayTeacher that are common core aligned. The students answered the prompt of what they wanted to be when they grew up. They did awesome! It was so fun to read and to watch the students try their best on their handwriting. We always filled out and colored "Guess Who" sheets which we'll continue to share and go through this week before we put them in the hallway. They are very colorful and fun for the kids to answer.
I'm trying to reflect and think of things that worked and didn't work to reference to in the years to come but am drawing a blank. We are going to begin our curriculum tomorrow and at first I thought it was too soon but now I'm looking forward to getting into a routine with the kids along with practicing and modeling the expectations and procedures of the classroom and school. Hand in hand.
Most of all, I love the collaborating and family support I have found at my school. I'm able to collaborate with the other second grade teacher daily and she has really taken me under her wing and shared her ideas with me. My mentor is awesome and is going to really help me with my reading this week since she was the second grade teacher in my room last year. I'm just feeling very happy with how things have worked out in life! Phill Robertson says it best...

"Following Jesus has been a blast. The Lord has blessed me mightily. It is what makes me happy, happy, happy." - Phil Robertson

Beaver Lake and My Classroom!

Last Tuesday I started my New Teacher Inductions. We had a week of training and today was my first day in the building in service and working in our rooms. To say the least, I'm overwhelmed!! So much information and so many things to do that most people never know we do! Although I came home really stressed out and got ahold of my top five people to complain to; I am so happy to be in the school and district that I'm in. I have already learned so much and I have found an amazing support team in my school. :) I couldn't be happier!
I was lucky that my principal let me in before my family vacation this summer to Beaver Lake, Arkansas!

It was a week filled with nothing but anchoring in a cove and relaxing with the family! A few of my favorite pictures and highlights of the trip...

My Mom planned the whole vacation and I can't say it enough; this woman is my rock. I have no idea what I'd do without her. I can only hope to be the woman she is today :)

My family. So grateful that my parents can still go on vacation together.

We shared another awesome vacation together.

KC Grahams are always tons of fun plus give me the two cutest nephews.

We had a ghost tour of the a haunted hotel, The Crescent.

Last but not least; Rambo. My very favorite pup. 

Now for my classroom, some before and after pictures! I've added a lot more since then but haven't taken pictures yet. 

I never thought I would walk into a classroom with SO much stuff!

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CAFE board, schedule pocket chart, and behavior punch cards.

The one thing I worried about in college was having books in my classroom. I have SO many books now between Mrs. P, the classroom, and my own.

Classroom library; now I have a rug in that space.

The kids' book tubs.

Before

My desk area :)

Word Wall and what I'm thinking will be the word work station.

Don't let the old school closet door fool you; it holds A LOT of stuff!

 

After I organized and all of this stuff comes with the room.

How many sticky notes I had! I never thought. I'm grateful; do not get me wrong but it was overwhelming to organize!

My small group instruction.

I'm hoping I remember the outlet of blogging during this hectic year! It will give me a source to reflect whether it's private or public posts. In a week from today I meet my first group of kiddos! :)