It's official...I am off for 3 1/2 weeks! I can't believe I made it this far! I have to say that this break came at a time that I needed it. I need to change a few things that I am doing in my classroom to see if it will go smoother. I have been wanting to for a while, but haven't had time, so I am glad I have the time now (although it is hard to motivate myself to do so!). I could tell the last 2 1/2 days before we were off track, the kids were getting excited to go off too, so lets just say, we didn't get much done! :) We had a little "Ticket Day" Activity on Tuesday, where they got to "spend" their tickets on games, prizes, and treats. They LOVED it! I have awesome parents that came up with some fun games to play and then the kids wanted to do some show-n-teach where they chose something to "teach" to everyone else in the class. One girl did "how to make flubber" (don't ask...). It was something made out of water, glue and borax. Another kid did "how to make paper frogs". They both did a very good job and we all had a blast!
On Wednesday, it was short day since it was UEA weekend this weekend. It was also track change day, so I had to move out of my classroom and another 4th grade teacher moved into mine. All of my things went into storage in a 2nd grade classroom. Yes, everything but my desk is on wheels! It is crazy, I know, but I wouldn't trade it for the world because we get paid to move around and we get breaks in the middle of the year! It is really nice too, when a lot of people, including the principal, come and move all of your things for you! I bet I only moved 2 pieces of furniture from my room (and they weren't even heavy either). Anyway, I am happy to be on break, even if I am going to be working on things instead of relaxing! It is sick, I know, but what else have I got to do! :) Oh, and I am going to New York too, so I really won't be working then... Hopefully next time I will have some fun pictures to show of New York!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Mountain Men, Pioneers, and New York, Oh My!
I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while! It seems like I barely have room to breathe lately! Sometimes I wonder what in the world I am doing being a teacher.... It seems like a 24/7 job! I guess for a first year teacher, it is because of all of the planning. Maybe next year will be better! I still love being with the kids though. I think they keep me entertained and learning new things every day. I love the challenge that it is too, trying to get them to understand a concept. Then when they get it, it is so neat to see that light in their eyes! I just have to keep reminding myself of that everyday...
These last couple of weeks have been okay. We finished up talking about indians with our tribe habitats. We also did a short unit on mountain men. I had a mini mountain man rendezvous for them on Monday. I purchased some tan-colored felt, beads, and feathers at the local JoAnns and made them all "possibles sacks" (mountain man bags). I sewed them together and then they decorated them on Monday. They had a blast! Some of the girls still bring theirs to school! They brought little things from home to trade and we did some arm and leg wrestling. We also happened to have a real Mountain Man come talk to us the same day too! They REALLY liked that! I am starting a pioneer unit now. They are going to do a simulation of a wagon train traveling across the plains to Utah. We started this week by splitting into "wagon trains" and packing our "wagons". It is fun to listen to them argue about what to pack and not!
I also had my first experience with doing sub plans and having a sub yesterday. I had to get a sub so I could go to a funeral for my friend Candyce's mom. She died of cancer on Sunday. It came as kind of a shock, even though we knew it was going to happen. It was a beautiful funeral though, so it was worth getting the sub for. I worried a lot about how they would be with a sub, but they did just fine. Today, they said she was kind of mean! That just made me laugh because I am probably too nice to them!
Anyway, I am just anxiously awaiting next Wednesday when I get to go off track until November 10! YAHOOO! I need the break so bad! Also, I am going to New York with my friends Sally, Candyce, and Candyce's sister, Melissa on the 24th of October. I am so excited to do that. I think it will be good for Candyce and her sister to get away, especially after all that has happened in their lives lately. My heart aches for them, but it is comforting to know that they will get to see her again someday. It is just hard going on without a mom.
Well, that is all until next time I guess!
These last couple of weeks have been okay. We finished up talking about indians with our tribe habitats. We also did a short unit on mountain men. I had a mini mountain man rendezvous for them on Monday. I purchased some tan-colored felt, beads, and feathers at the local JoAnns and made them all "possibles sacks" (mountain man bags). I sewed them together and then they decorated them on Monday. They had a blast! Some of the girls still bring theirs to school! They brought little things from home to trade and we did some arm and leg wrestling. We also happened to have a real Mountain Man come talk to us the same day too! They REALLY liked that! I am starting a pioneer unit now. They are going to do a simulation of a wagon train traveling across the plains to Utah. We started this week by splitting into "wagon trains" and packing our "wagons". It is fun to listen to them argue about what to pack and not!
I also had my first experience with doing sub plans and having a sub yesterday. I had to get a sub so I could go to a funeral for my friend Candyce's mom. She died of cancer on Sunday. It came as kind of a shock, even though we knew it was going to happen. It was a beautiful funeral though, so it was worth getting the sub for. I worried a lot about how they would be with a sub, but they did just fine. Today, they said she was kind of mean! That just made me laugh because I am probably too nice to them!
Anyway, I am just anxiously awaiting next Wednesday when I get to go off track until November 10! YAHOOO! I need the break so bad! Also, I am going to New York with my friends Sally, Candyce, and Candyce's sister, Melissa on the 24th of October. I am so excited to do that. I think it will be good for Candyce and her sister to get away, especially after all that has happened in their lives lately. My heart aches for them, but it is comforting to know that they will get to see her again someday. It is just hard going on without a mom.
Well, that is all until next time I guess!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
I Am Still Alive!
In the midst of another week of my teaching adventure, I am having a great time! It is stressful and a lot of work, but the kids are so much fun! This week I had them create tribe habitats for the 5 tribes of Utah. They were divided into groups and each had a tribe to research. They brought everything they needed to make habitats showing the food, clothing, shelter, and way of life of their tribe. This is them in the process of creating: 
The finished products!
It was fun, just listening to them work together! They were so cute! The made pretty cool little habitats. It is fun also to see what their creative little minds could do.
I also had some of the students that were looking for a "job" to do, rearrange my collection of books that were given to me by a retiring teacher. Here are the pictures of them! I couldn't resist how they sorted them out.... and then look at how they spelled the categories out on the boxes.... :)
The finished products!
It was fun, just listening to them work together! They were so cute! The made pretty cool little habitats. It is fun also to see what their creative little minds could do.
I also had some of the students that were looking for a "job" to do, rearrange my collection of books that were given to me by a retiring teacher. Here are the pictures of them! I couldn't resist how they sorted them out.... and then look at how they spelled the categories out on the boxes.... :)
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