I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaack

Here is a year you missed-

I know, I know what your all saying:

"Suzy?!? Almost a whole year and no posts?!?"

I'm sorry friends. I know I have been a terrible blogger & I can't make any promises but I am here now and I will TRY my best to post more frequently.

So WHY was I out of the blogging world for so long? Well, here are 10 reasons why...

10 Reasons I coudn't keep up with Blogging!!

1. We Moved

As you may have known I was engaged to be married and so my fiance and I were looking for a place to live closer to both of our jobs... Which we did & we love our comfy, cozy apartment.

We moved in together in September 2011 (shortly after my last blog post).

with all the packing, moving, unpacking... not to mention start of school, DRA's and overwhelming amounts of meetings.... I just couldn't keep up.

(ps. if you'd like to see last year's classroom photos...

 look back {here})

2. Graduate School

I started Graduate School in the winter@ Framingham State University... Yes I did my undergrad there and now I'm back for more.

I am still attending school so like I said, I can't make any blog promises.

3. Family Visit from California

My Sister & her children visited for Christmas.

I hate that they live so far away. Auntie misses you!!

4. Wedding Planning Took Over

5. My Fiance & I had our Wedding Shower.

6. More Wedding Planning

7. End Of the School Year

 Deadlines Took Over

(Not my Students!! )

8. Had my Bachelorette Party

9. WE FINALLY GOT MARRIED 

We tied the knot August 4, 2012 and my favorite part...

We rode on a school bus all around town!!

 No Limo for this teacher!  

I am Now..... Mrs. Dalessio

and finally....

 10. We went on our Honeymoon

 

hubby & i at the airport before heading to Mexico.

So I know this blog is already super long but it was 11months!! I had lots to tell!  

Here are my last remarks... School Starts Next Week!

Hopefully I can blog about ...

This year's classroom (decor & prep)

Projects I've been working on

More life stories :)

It feels so great to be back !

Oh How I've Missed You Friends

Suzy

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 :)

OMG... I can't Believe I'm Thinking About School

I guess it's time I join the rest of the crazies, and start thinking about back to school. Don't get me wrong... I'm super excited to start my second year teaching second grade.... BUUUUUUT.... I don't want summer to be over just yet!!

In thinking about the new school year here are a list of things I'd like to do between now and DUN.. DUN.. DUUUUUUN... August 30th :

1.) Implement the Daily 5 & C.A.F.E for my literacy instruction... I've been reading LOTS this summer
2.) Work on my Word Work Bags for the Daily 5.
3.) Work on a Great Word Study/ Phonics Plan using our school's program Fundations
4.) Spelling --- our school doesn't have a spelling program so I'm lost on where to start (HELP)
5.) Buy SUPER CUTE back to school stuff (I've kinda started already)
6.) Decorating and preparing student materials as well as the classroom:)

I really need to get going on this stuff!!! --- What are your Plans for the rest of the summer?

On another note,
I am also looking for help on my blog!!! I can't stand the top header!!! I have no idea how to spruce it up. I love my background... if only I could find something to place up their and get everything in proportion!! As well as getting my background creators name off of my date and into the corner somewhere?!?
So frustrating!! This is what Iget for being a newbie!!!

New Blogger... So much to say

Oh how and where should I begin? I guess a simple introduction followed by my inspiration to blogging seems to be the most suitable place to begin... 

My name is Suzy and I am a  first year 2nd Grade Sheltered English teacher. I can't believe I am almost done with my first year !!! Just 2 1/2 school days until summer vacation.. but who's counting right? I am a Native English speaker, as I was born and raised here in good old Massachusetts, but was blessed to be born into a Portuguese speaking family. I had the luxury of learning to languages at the same time, English and Portuguese. I have never been more proud to be bilingual than I am today. 

I always wanted to be a teacher... and secretly... I've always wanted to teach second grade, but who knew I would score a job that catered to the person I am and want to be. LUCKY ME!! I teach second grade aaaaaand I teach Portuguese students. My classroom consists of some students who were born in Brazil but mostly students who were born here but come from Portuguese speaking households. All of my students speak English... I am there to help them build better English vocabulary as well as guide them through the curriculum content at a slower pace with much more differentiated instruction to meet their needs. 

As my first year comes to a close... again 2 DAYS, I can't help but be SO thankful for the job I've chosen. I absolutely LOVE what I do. 

Now... Why am I blogging... Well WHY NOT?!? 

I think I'm teacher blogging for all of the same reasons why all other teachers blog. The best way to learn is from personal experience... which I know many of you have! I hope to make zillions of friends and learn KA-zillions of things as I blog and read other blogs. I have lots of questions and hope you all have tons of answers. 

I am so excited to be a blogger! 

Thanks for reading :)