Here's to a New Year

I had every intention of writing about my classroom set up this year. 

However, this is one of the only photos I took of my classroom so far. 

Last week was busy. Busier than any year so far. 

Including the year I was hired in September and had two days to set up my room. 

Between moving rooms, being team leader, and having a team of all new to K teachers, I was stressed. 

Not to mention those extra 4 kids I got Friday afternoon. 

We have a whole extra class between us right now, and they can't hire a new teacher for at least a month. 

Then the copier at work died, and won't be fixed until Monday.

All that to say, taking pictures of my room was the absolute last thing on my mind. 

Maybe I'll remember this week, or maybe those 22 5 years olds will make me forget. 

Either way, I leave you with my favorite student quotes from last year. 

Hopefully this new bunch will keep me laughing just as much!

Student 1- (points to picture on my desk) "What are you doing there?"

Student 2- "They're taking a picture! Duh!"

Student- "How did you grow up?"

Me- "What do you mean?"

Student- "Well I know you were a baby once, but how did you get to be an adult so fast?"

Working on a sample math problem. 

Me- "How do you know 8 is greater?"

Student- " Because they circled it for you!"

Student- " My mom is 99 years old. On her birthday she'll be 100!"

Student- "If you keep putting sand in your shirt your momma gonna say take a bath!"

Science Prompt: Draw a picture of something that moves slowly.

Answers: A Baby. My Grandpa. 

Student- "I'm allergic to kissing"

Student 1- "Why did we get new markers?"

Me- "Well a lot of them disappeared when I was out."

Student 2- "I think a marker monster must have ate them!"

After talking non-stop for 20 minutes. 

Student- "My aunt says one day I'll learn to keep my mouth shut"

Me- "How will you learn that?"

Student- "Someone will probably punch me in the mouth for talking too much."

It's That Time of Year

It's time. 

Today starts my official first day back,and by official I mean paid and have to show up. 

We all know I've been in there almost every day for the last two weeks!
This year is bringing about a ton of changes for me, but I'm really excited.
First I became the K inclusion classroom teacher,
Then I moved rooms,
Next I became team leader.
If that wasn't enough my entire team from the past two years was broken up,
So it's me, 3 new to K teachers, and a para.
Plus those 8 ESE students and 10 "typically developing" students.
Whew, that's a lot.
Of course, leave it to me to decide to change up lots of stuff this year!
It's going to be a major learning and growing experience, but I'm excited for the challenge. 

To start the year off right I made some cute beginning of year gifts.

Everyone on my team is getting one of these today as first day pick me up.

Everyone got a cute patterned composition book, post-its, sharpie, and highlighter.
Not shown, Dove dark chocolate.
What teacher gift is complete without chocolate?


I love how the gift tag came out. I saw the wording somewhere on pinterest.

I just started working on my student's gifts for Open House.

I printed it on bright paper to match my theme.
I'll punch holes on top and bottom and slip a pencil in.
Click the picture to download this freebie!

 

The End is Near

The end of the school year always sneaks up and then rushes by!

I have been so busy with everything happening recently. 

Not only have I been busy with the usual end of the year stuff, 

but we had a lot of school activities as well.

Not to mention, many changes for me next school year. 

I will not only be Kindergarten team leader, but I will have the inclusion class. 

This means any of the ESE students will come to my room and I will have a full time aid. 

I'm excited for all the changes, but it also means packing and moving classrooms!

With only this week to go I worry it's not going to get done!

1// We had swim for two weeks. 
Hot and sweaty called for a daily top knot.

 2// Class Butterflies! 
We spent the month raising them from caterpillars. 

3// Pony Races! 
One of my favorite things we do at the end of the school year. 

 4// Career Day!
Although the beginning of our crazy end of the year schedule, the kids always love it. 

5// Field Day!
Why oh why do we do these things in May? 
90 degree weather, I am not a fan!

 6// We Like To Move It Move It!
I started using GoNoodle in my classroom and the kids love it!
If you're a teacher check it out!
It a website full of 1-5 minute brain break activities. 
I use it for indoor recess, getting out wiggles, calming down, and class rewards.

High Five for Friday Halloween Edition

I have to tell you, I absolutely love Halloween. 

I mean, as a kid, what's not to love? 

You get to dress up and get free candy, plus all those "Harvest Festivals" at church!

The older I got, the better it seemed to get. 

My super creative mom decided to start decorating a Halloween tree. 

It is one of my favorite traditions to this day and I love that she still does it even though all us kids are out of the house. 

In college, Halloween meant the Florida/Georgia Game. 

Not to mention that little engagement that happened Halloween weekend not too far back. 

 

1. Kyle and I were Superhero ready for Trunk of Treat this weekend!
It was a lot of fun, especially because we never get any trick-or-treaters at our place!

 

   

2. I learned how to arm knit this week and made this scarf. 

This will probably end up as a gift for lots of people this Christmas, sorry I'm not sorry.   

3. One of my wonderful parents designed this for our Halloween Party today!
It was probably the best cupcake cake I've seen!

As I passing out the cupcakes, one of my students asked, "Who made the cupcakes?"
Me: "Our room mom brought them."
Her response: "I know she brought them, but who actually made them?"

Oh five year olds!

 

   
4. Halloween Costumes!
The top group is the K team. Of course we would be the group that all dressed up!

 
5. Mission Planning
At the end of the day, one of the other teachers sent me this picture.
She had captioned it, "Superwoman and Batwoman planning their next mission."

High Five For Friday!

I have been completely out of the blogging loop with the busyness of school!

Not promising anything, but I'm hoping to post at least once a week. 

So here's a quick update!

1. It's Halloween time!

 I decorated a little bit as soon as October hit!

I just love Halloween!

2. Team planning meeting have really helped us to get our stuff organized.

I'm hoping that this will make the next quarter go much smoother. 

I've been feeling completely unprepared.

3. Stephanie and I have been meeting weekly to plan our newest Bible Study. 

It's been wonderful getting closer to her.

Plus, who can say no to Pumpkin Spice Frapps and The Lineage of Grace?

4. I tried making Taco Chili in the Crockpot for the first time and loved it!

Coming home to hot soup always feels like fall.

5. We got these super cute school shirts for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Probably the only time you'll ever catch me in pink!

Hello Summer!

Between switching over computers, trips, and the end of the school year there just hasn't seemed to be any time!

However, it officially is summer now and I actually have time to post. 

Lots has happened since I took my unplanned break. 

1. My niece lost her first tooth!

It fell right out of her mouth after dinner one night and we had to search the sidewalk in the rain for it. Lucky for her, we found it and the tooth fairy was able to make her first appearance.

2. Right after that, she celebrated her 5th birthday!

We went to Legoland and Sea World to mark the occasion. 

Sea World has gotten way better over the years, Legoland, not so great.

       

3. It's been the beginning of wedding season around here. 

The following weekends were filled with bridal showers, including my beautiful best friend's!

4. That brought me right up to the end of the school year.
I'm so thankful my first year is finally over and can't wait to dive into next year!

Some lovely parting gifts!

5. Right after school ended, we left for a family vacation to the beach.
Despite Kyle and I getting slightly burned the first day, we had a lot of nice relaxing time hanging out on the beach.
           
6. We left vacation early in order to get back for my best friend's bachelorette party.
We stayed on the beach, and luckily it was gorgeous weather!
    \    

The Other Side

While there are many times that I am utterly shocked in a negative way about what comes out of my student's mouths there are also many times where their complete innocence has me laughing out loud. 

Sorry I'm not sorry for laughing at my students. 

They don't know I'm laughing at them, it's all good. 

This has nothing to do with this post. Pictures of my class is probably a no no!

Here are some of my favorite student quotes from this year.

Our last unit was on neighborhoods. We were reading a book about maps.

Me: Then you turn east

Student: East, you mean like the Easter Bunny?

Yes, exactly like the Easter Bunny. At least he understands word parts?

One plus about Kindergarten is that you get complimented a lot on your clothing choices. 

It's nice to know my jeans, Toms, and sweater are so appreciated. 

One morning I was wearing a statement necklace. 

Student: I like your necklace, it looks like bouncy balls!

If you want to impress a Kindergartener identify with their interests.

I can't tell you how cool I was for seeing Wreck-It Ralph.

We're learning about different types of energy in Science right now. 

The other day we were doing a sorting activity on objects that give off light, heat, or both. 

Me: Can someone tell me something that gives off light and heat?

Student 1: A bombfire!

Student 2: Like a bomb?

Student 1: No, don't worry, they just call it that because it gets really big!

At least he can justify his answers!

 

Back to Reality

After two blissful weeks of lounge clothes, family, and laziness it's time to face reality. 

Today I get to jump back into the hustle and bustle of teaching 18 little ones. 

To be honest, I'm a little nervous to go back.

The end of winter break used to mean starting fresh. 

New classes, new professors, new schedule. 

Now I feel like I'm going to go back and immediately be behind!

There's nothing I hate more than feeling like I'm not prepared. 

After two weeks that's exactly how I feel, unprepared. 

On the other hand, I'm ready to be back in the swing of things. 

I like my schedule and being busy.

This break has been wonderful and I'm thankful that Kyle was able to finish work when I did.

We were able to spend the whole break together. 

Today Kyle goes back to school.

We experienced a semester of me being full time in school since we've been married, but never Kyle.

It will definitely be an experience and I hope we adjust to it well.

While it may not be new to him, it will be for me. 

Our approach to education has been quite different.

I was that crazy organized person that had my classes color coordinated.

Not to mention my monthly planner, weekly planner, and iCal.

And yes, they were color coordinated to match.

Kyle on the other hand hopefully remembers to check the syllabus.

Big things warrant a phone reminder.

Hopefully my organization and his lack can blend together into a semi-organized semester.

We're also starting back on our diet.

No more crappy holiday snacking gross feeling.

Make sure you check out this giveaway!

I've giving away some ad space along with over $1200 in prizes!

High Five for Christmas Break!

I love Friday! It's a chance to relax and get caught up on all the things I ignored during the week. 

This Friday I'm especially excited!

It's the last Friday of the school year. Hello, Christmas Vacation!

I definitely appreciate Christmas break as a teacher more than I did as a student. 

I can't wait to sleep in, celebrate Christmas, celebrate our 1st anniversary, and spend time with family.

1. One of the things to do on Kyle's countdown was to go see The Hobbit. 

He has been talking about this movie for over a year. 

Friday night, Kyle came home with matching shirts for us to wear to the movies. 

Yes, we were that dorky couple all dressed up for the movie. 

You know it's bad when the people you go with think it's dorky!

It really was a good movie though!

 

2. On Saturday, my beautiful best friend asked me to be her Matron of Honor. 

She was my Maid of Honor and I couldn't be happier to celebrate this wonderful occasion with her!

 3. Later that same day I got to go dress shopping with her. 

I never went dress shopping for my own wedding so I had a lot of fun experiencing it with her. 

She tried on dresses in practically every style. 

Don't worry, this wasn't one of her top ones!

 4. There is a light show right down the street from us that I had been wanting to do to. 

The park has done it for as long as I can remember, but I couldn't tell you the last time I went. 

Kyle works at the same park so we were able to go for free. 

I enjoyed being able to experience it, but I wouldn't pay as much as they ask to do it!

5. Rocking my Gator PJs to work today. 

Be Jealous!

The whole school is wearing pajamas and doing a Polar Express Day!

It should be a ton of fun and a great send off for break!

"I Believe"