Icredible First Day... "For the record, I don't have a dog"... Techy Help

Today was our first day of school. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED MY FIRST DAY

We had so much fun!  In the first 5 minutes kids were smiling, laughing, and giving out free hugs. At the end of the day a student said- "It's over already?!?" I was excited to hear that she really didn't want her first day to end. Some students even made comments about what my previous students had told them about me- "_____ told me you were the best teacher to have!" "I'm so happy I got you this year!" Can you believe it?!? I can't, I was honored. I floated on cloud nine all day.

Now about the dog- Funny story-. You know when you use a student in a life example while you explain things (ie. Johnny might like the color red, Timmy might decide to write about a dragon... those kind of examples). Well today I used a student in an example like that "[insert boy's name] might be missing his dog today... " The conversation continued on for about 5more seconds when that cutie patutie interrupts me and says "For the Record, I don't have a dog"----- FOR THE RECORD...omg, how cute. Mind you I teach students with a lower English language proficiency... I almost rolled out of my chair-ADORABLE

I hope all my teacher friends are enjoying their first weeks just as much! - Best of luck and a Good year to all - I might not be so quick to blog w. the first week always being so hectic so I apologize in advance.

Lastly- I'm requesting some help from my blog friends. I hate to say this (don't hate me for it) but I hate very much dislike computer lab. Last year was my first year teaching and I just didn't make computer lab a priority. This year I'm determined to change.... I want to try my best to involve more technology in my classroom. Our computer lab time is 30 minutes once a week and I bring all my little guys up to the lab where they sit at a computer and__________. That's just it, I don't know what to insert there. Last year I had our kids practice math games on the THINK MATH website for our school math program. But after the first 3 months we had done almost every game more than once and the kids started misbehaving and getting loud and bored. So I need your help friends- What do you do during a computer lab period of 30 minutes? What websites do you use? How do you plan for technology in the classroom?

I would start a Linky party to get more help but what I'm getting at is... I'm . not. good. with. computers .... 

 There I said it! 

While we are the topic about my lack of technology skills here are some things I also don't know how to do yet.

- DON'T JUDGE ME

1.) Don't know how the "linky" thing works

2.) Don't know how to download fonts.

3.) Don't know how to upload and share documents 

( I wish, I want to start sharing my work... I can email it to you but posting it for download. IDK)

4.) Changing my blog design 

(yeah right, it took me a month to figure out the one I have)

I'm sure there is more I can't do, but enjoy mocking these first few for the time being!! 

Don't let me fool you, I'm a computer DUMB, DUMB 

PLEASE ---- send all your help my way

Thanks

THANK YOU BLOG WORLD... to all you wonderful teachers

So over the summer I've been collecting pictures of things I really really liked and wanted to create for my classroom... both from other teacher blogs and from pinterest (which usually leads me back to a teacher blog). So I need to send my sincerest gratitude to all of my friends out in the teacher blog world. 

THANK YOU, 

You have truly been my biggest mentors this summer. You have inspired me in all aspects of teaching.

Some of you are the craftiest & cutest decorators...

First Grader at Last,
First Grade Fresh, 
The Inspired Apple 

Some of you are the most organized and careful planners...

Create .Teach . Share, 
Mrs. Jump's Class

Ladybug' s Teacher Files 

Step Into Second Grade with Mrs. Lemons

Some of you are the most generous and  creative creators...

Creating and Teaching,  
Technology Rocks, Seriously,  
The First Grade Parade

and some of you are just super fun to follow.. 

 Babbling Abby,
The Bubbly Blonde Teacher 

It is time to show you all how much you have truly inspired me to make my classroom what it is and what it will be :)

Yours & Mine

First Grade At Last Inspired

  

First Grader At Last

you inspired me to create these too :)

 Good Writers

Good Scientists

Mrs. Jump Inspired

 Her Good Listeners-

My Good Listeners

Pinterest Inspired

 Found on Pinterest... Daily5

 Mine

Close Up.

 First Grade Fresh Inspired

First Grade Fresh

Mine

Freebies I loved ... 

 Thank you

Technology Rocks, Seriously

 

Thank you

Ladybug's Teacher Files

Thank you

The First Grade Parade

I am sure there are plenty more people I should be thanking...

If you see something on this blog that was your original idea please contact me for credit. Sometimes I'd forget to label the picture w. where it came from so I didn't have a way to remember who was the original creator.  Please remember that your ideas inspired me and if I used them- feel proud to know that you are just so talented that your ideas touched the classroom of a new teacher. 

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU. 

Classroom Update :)... school starts Tuesday

I'm as ready as I'll ever be... here was my to do list when I left on Friday...

 Just a few things left before the big day. 

My second year teaching will start on Tuesday. I'm feeling both excited and very VERY nervous.

I'm excited for the following reasons: 

1. I only have 15 students... I got rid of one whole table which opened up a lot of space in my room

2. I created a lot of new decorations, posters, and charts to display in my room thanks to Pinterest. (pictures of those to follow)

3. I'm implementing the Daily5 and CAFE for reading

4. My brand new kidney table for Guided Reading :)

5. I have one year under my belt so I feel like a part of the TEAM. 

Now here is why I'm nervous:

1. I haven't been doing a lot of planning (I still don't have the hang of that)

2. I'm worried the Daily 5 and CAFE will be a huge FAIL. 

3. I have wedding planning and the idea of moving closer to school all while trying to teach floating in my mind.

4. I've been told some of my students are pretty low (language and academic) this year and I hope I can get them up to where they belong.

Anywho... My classroom is just about ready for Tuesday. Just a few more things to tidy up and copy and I will be pretty ready for Tuesday... :). I can't believe summer is over AND where going out with a blow... HURRICANE STYLE

Here are some pictures of my classroom for you to enjoy... 

 WELCOME to room 123

Jungle Star- 

This week it features me. Just have to post the last few pictures.

By the door- Reward Board, Dismissal Board and Trash Can

I was going to get rid of the book shelf but they don't have any storage space in our building so for now I have to keep it... Its growing on me. Just have to figure out what I will put there. Maybe my big books. 

Student Mailboxes-

Student Work Display Board- also my teacher storage Cabinets. 

Guided Reading Area- This is my BRAND NEW KIDNEY TABLE... 

My favorite thing this year.

 These plastic pull-out drawers house my guided reading things.

-Dressed them up with some zebra print for fun

Across from the Guided Reading Table- You can see the Word Study Cart from here.

It still needs to be filled with word study activities- Please share some things you do for word study :)

My Daily 5/ CAFE board, under that is my listening station

 Student Tables- Only 4 tables x 4Kids at each =16 seats ... 15kiddos this year :)

Writers Workshop Center and Board-the Board was the same from last year but I didn't hate it.. so I'm keeping it. we'll see what happens. 

 Our Word Wall-still up from last year. Still good

Our Word Study Cart from the back. 

 Math Board- Obviously on my to do list- 

Behavior Chart- & Rug Area. I love my chair :)

 Our Library- New Labels on the baskets. 

Our Book Boxes from Ikea-I'm thinking of having the students personalize them the first week of school. 

 My Desk and Computer

THIS IS SUPER EMBARRASSING

don't judge

This is the behind the scenes look at my closet.

I am determined this year to organize it. 

There just isn't enough time before the school year starts. 

So that's all for now. I think I will be posting again later tonight b/c I have so much more to share. I know its the illegal blogging thing to do but I just can't help it... besides... 

I can't go anywhere with this HURRICANE!!

Where it all Goes Down- Classroom pics

So like I mentioned before... I've joined the Blog Hoppin madness and I'm giving you a small preview of "Where it all goes down" under construction.

I was just recently allowed into my classroom on Monday and Luckily things are moving along.
There are still a million things I've found on Pinterest that I still have yet to get around to making buuuuut as far as classroom set up goes... things are going well.

Here are a few pictures of my classroom for this school year :)Enjoy

This is what my classroom looked like the first day I walked in... AHHHHH!!!

Notice the green bulletin board??? That was my CAFE PLAN A. but I changed my mind and Below is plan B for the CAFE/ DAILY 5- I'm implementing that this year!!

Daily 5/ CAFE Board... Tadaaaa!!

My Desk- Still haven't touched it and school starts on Tuesday!!!

The Library- I still want to buy new baskets and reorganize the books... not sure if I will have time... I did make new labels so if I can't reorganize them at least they can get fresh basket labels.

Star Student Board

Word Work Station from the back... where I will post spelling words and phonics lessons we are working on.

Word work Station from the front- where I will store word work materials. I think I am going to nix the bag Idea I posted about earlier this summer... and just store items in this excellent cart

Word Wall- Last years word wall will have to do.. No time to jazz it up this year.

Where all the Nice work hangs out

YAY... My new Kidney Table... never had one... now I do..fabulous reading will go on here.

More Guided Reading- I got the idea to cover the side of the file cabinet last night... I have to find out who's idea this is so I can credit them!

Cubbie area- Where the kids hang their things...

This year I've put a circle table in here as well as the art supplies for a small get away area for the kids... I've only got 15 kids this year so I'm going to use the extra cubbies as an area to store toys and indoor recess things...

Not sure why I didn't start with this picture but here is the door to my classroom... All ready to welcome the kiddies!!!

Hope you enjoyed the progress... More pictures to come :)

Teacher Talk Tuesday

So like I said... I'M SORRY I AM BLOGGING TWICE TODAY :)

More on the Blog Hoppin madness

It's only my second year but here is a bit of advice from one newish teacher to her blogging friends...

1.) ASK FOR HELP This is something I really wish I did more of... I'm working on it but it's my number one advice to a newbie. There is absolutely no way you can do it alone your first year. My 2nd grade teamies have all been teaching a long time (one of them has been a teacher for 35years) I would always feel dumb asking and bothering my grade level with questions but when I finally did, the advice... lesson ideas... and even materials just started rolling in. I realized how eager they were to help me out and I even wished I had asked for help sooner!

2.) GO HOME Last year I was staying after until almost 7 or 8pm after school... I just couldn't pull myself away from my classroom. It didn't help that I live an hour away from my job... It was almost as if I had a phobia of leaving it over night. It wasn't until winter when the days grew shorter and it was pitch dark out by the time that I got home when I realized how unfair I was being to myself. -- It's okay to want to stay after to get things situated the first month or two of school, but don't overdo it. Give yourself a time limit and stick to it. Prioritize and be realistic.. Good teacher's don't need to wear their underpants over their pants (like superman) to be great!

3.) MAKE TEACHER FRIENDS- I am going to take my own advice on this one. I stayed in my batcave all last year and didn't venture out. I was always stressing and working in my room. Like I mentioned lots of my neighboring teachers are a lot older than I am and have families to ten to (Lets face it... They have real Lives). This year I plan on making more staff friends and getting involved. Hopefully this year I can create some friendships- you know the ones that aren't just all about school. Dinners, movies, weekend get togethers... do I sound desperate for friends??? Fingers Crossed- but take my advice... it'll be a good thing. 

4.) HAVE FUN Smile as much as possible, love the new experiences... and don't sweat the small stuff. Life goes on and things get better :)

Blog Hoppin

This week I have started working on my classroom... School Starts Tuesday the 30th and they only let us into the building on Monday. Hence the reason I haven't blogged in FOREVER... I'm totally overwhelmed and freaking out... ANYWHO... here's what I'm up to ...

I've joined the Teacher Week Fun at
PLEASE DON'T HATE ME... I'M GOING TO BLOG MORE THAN ONCE TODAY..... BUT I NEED TO CATCH UP.
Check out the website and join the fun 

Blog Hoppin Fun 

So lets start w. Meet The Teacher Monday

Something about me..
I am a Second Grade Sheltered English Teacher. This means I teach 2nd graders who's native language is Portuguese and are still in transition to standard English Learning. My first language is English, however I grew up speaking Portuguese at home as my parents are from Portuguese-speaking countries. I still live at home with my parents even though I will be a quarter of a century old in December. Hopefully I will be moving out within the year. I am one of 4 children... being 3rd in line has always been my favorite spot... no role-model pressures but not quite babied either. My hobbies include blogging (though I've neglected as I mentioned before), singing, dancing, spending time with family and friends, as well as occasionally getting crafty.

 Here I am w.  my niece Djaeda (the d is silent)

How Long have I been teaching?
This will be my second year teaching the same grade in the very same classroom :)

You Might Not Know...
I am .... GETTING MARRIED!!! I just got engaged in March of this year and my Wonderful Fiance and I are planning on getting married AUGUST 4, 2011 :)
I am soooo excited... I already bought the dress and we've picked out our venue. Just a few more things to do... let me know if you have any advice... I'd love to hear invitation ideas.

What I look forward to this school year...
Staying in the same grade and the same classroom as well as having only 15 kids this year. Last year I reached 23 by January... glad to have less.
I also look forward to meeting these new cutie pies... I feel in love with my first group of students... I hope my heart is big enough for this new group.

What I wish To Improve...
Organization- I am totally organized when it comes to "a place for everything" but I still feel so unorganized when it comes to planning... still planing day by day :(

Hopefully my binders will help me stay organized

Daily 5/ CAFE- Fingers crossed it all goes well

At least the board looks great!! 

What I can't teach w.out
1.) Coffee
2.) Writing utensils- Sharpies, Mr. Sketch Markers, Flare Pens
3.) To Do Lists / Post it Notes
4.) LOVE & Patients

Hope You've enjoyed ... Check out my next post for "Teacher Talk Tuesday"