Life Happens

This school year is a whirlwind! Every hour a new group of students come in wanting something different (Language Arts, Yearbook, Newspaper, Enrichment, Leadership). I've spent several nights at the school until 9pm, but I still don't feel caught up! I'm praying for the year to begin coming together, so I can't back into a routine.

Until then - teaching school, being in graduate school, and being a mother, daughter, sister, family member, and friends is a 24/7(+) job and blogging will be taking a seat in the back.

I am using the blog on my teacher page on our school website to help keep parents up to date on what we're doing, so please feel free to come check me out over there!

ELA, Enrichment, Leadership Blog

Yearbook Blog

Newspaper Blog

Monday Made It

I "made" my classroom ready for students. That counts as a Monday made it … right?

I used Donor's Choose to get these stability balls for my classroom last year. They have been ah-mazing. The students love to sit on them, and they have to keep their behavior in check and complete their work to keep the privilege to sit on them. It's a win-win all the way around. They increase focus, build better posture, and help keep the "wiggles" under control. 

The only downside is they do need to be blown up again occasionally which can take some time. It took 4+ hours to re-inflate them after the summer break. Thankfully - the students who love to sit on them also love to inflate them!

Do you use any "outside of the chair" seating in your classroom? Please share!

Wednesday Wisdom

This "Wednesday Wisdom" is pretty straight-forward. If you don't enjoy your career or classroom, how can you convince the people in your room to enjoy it? No one wants to get up early, sit all day, and be told stuff.

If you aren't having fun in your classroom, no one else is either.

Try something new. Break up the monotony. Get inspiration from Pinterest. Ask another teacher to collaborate. 

If you still love teaching, try another career! There are millions of careers out there. Don't make our students suffer in your misery. Shake it up or shake it off. You'll be glad you did!

Day One

It's here! It's here! This is our first week back with students. This is always an exciting week! I hate that many teachers feel like this cartoon:

Give me a few months, and I may join you - but right now - I'm up early and ready to go! Let's get this year started!

On the first day of school I like to keep it simple. We review the syllabus, complete a classroom scavenger hunt, and get to know each other. Many teachers spend the day lecturing with rules and procedures. This results in students sitting a good portion of the day, so I like to break it up and let students move in my classroom! 

I cover procedures and drills on day two, and by day three, we are on coursework!

How do you structure your first week?

Encouraging Scripture

Tomorrow is our first day back with students. I love the excitement and energy this time of year brings! With all of the busyness and craziness that back to school brings, it is very important that we take to pray for our students. 

The year will get bumpy. Things will go wrong. Thankfully - at the end of the day, it will be okay. We are good teachers. We are passionate. We love our students. We are here to do what is best by them. In a few weeks, when we hit a dip that feels like drowning in data, paperwork, grading, sports, clubs, and parent emails - remember - you are human, students are human, and it will be fine. Tomorrow is a new day.

Put your best foot forward. Admit when you are wrong. Admit when you need help. Show students that failure is okay. Let your students see you mess up and correct yourself! If we only show perfection 24/7, how can we expect our students to learn how to fix a fumble? They need "modeling" for these simple life skills just as much (if not more) as they do modeling for content. 

Proverbs 22:6 carries a great deal of importance in our classroom. You are not teaching english, science, math, history, or art. You are teaching children, preteens, and teenagers. You are teaching people. They watch you and learn from your habits, mannerisms, and words. Love them. Teach them. Show them how to concur life - one mistake at a time!

& We're Back!

This has been the first week back for teachers! We have an entire week before students return, but most of this week has been full of PD and team building - not much prep time. Thankfully, I worked on my classroom last week! 

How do you spend your teacher workdays before students return?

Encouraging Scripture

I have been blessed with a gift of teaching. I bask in God's grace daily with the joy this gift and career brings me. From students who challenge me and warm my heart to colleagues who inspire and encourage me, I am surrounded by glory daily.

There are also many other gifts God has blessed upon me that I feel help in creating a strong, focused, and engaged classroom for both my students and myself: organization, communication, and the ability to adapt. I do my best to pull from any and all gifts and build upon those gifts to reach my full potential and teach in proportion to my faith.

On the flip side of having gifts, there are many gifts I do not posses: patience, counseling, and memory. I do my best to find ways to counteract these short comings, but I recognize these weaknesses. Recognizing areas that need growth and reflecting how you work within those areas is the best way to grow! I lean on others to help me with patience and counseling as needed in my classroom, and I am always using technology and planners to help me remember things!

While we can see our own gifts and short comings, it is vital that we help our students see their gifts and short comings as well. Students need to be told that they matter and have purpose! They also need guidance on building on their weaknesses to improve.

How can you help your students find their gifts this school year? What can you use from your gifts to improve your classroom?