Meet The Teacher '13

Holy guacamole friends!!  Can you believe the first day of school is almost here?!!?  Although for some of you that day has come and gone :)   I am incredibly excited to be linking up for Teacher Week '13!

Here is the low down on this first year teacher. . .


1) I am an rural Idaho girl to my roots!  Nothing beats a BBQ in the backyard with the neighbors and a beautiful (unobstructed) sunset :)

This year has been a year of firsts for me, so we'll just start there.

2) I graduated from the a-ma-zing Carroll College in good 'ol Helena Montana

{Here I am with three of my ed friends!  We all have grown up teaching jobs now, woohoo!}

3)   Right after graduation I started the Camino de Santiago with my dad!  We only made it 100 miles before our injuries got the better of us :(  But maybe someday we will go back and finish the trip?

{My dad and I at our pre-walk stop in Paris!}

Now I am spending the rest of my summer gearing up for the school year that starts on August 26th!! Gaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!    I am excited/nervous/gitty/terrified and so many other adjectives! 

4)  Speaking of school. . . lets talk about that!  I am starting my first year at a new-ish charter school with about 200 students.  Moving home to work was actually my backup plan, but turned out to be the best place for me.  If you wanna read about that whirlwind experience, click HERE!  

Now for some more fun facts about yours truly

5) I am {capital L} Love Dr. Pepper...and its pretty serious 

6) I am a hopeless romantic, the sappy stuff gets me every time!

7) If I weren't teaching, I'd be a photographer, or a journalist, or a baker

8) Making new friends is one of my favorite pastimes

9) I was born to teach!!

10)  I'm thinking this post should have been longer, but as I write this I am getting pretty tired from all of the pages and do-dads for my classroom :)

Have a wonderful Monday friends 

Now would be a great time to check out all of the other fabulous teachers that are joining Teacher Week '13

***updated 8/12/13***

Worth It All

I don't think love is a strong enough word to describe how I feel about teaching.   True, I have only student taught this far, but I know in the deepest part of my soul that I was meant to teach.  It's a conviction so strong that I can never fully explain how teaching makes me feel.  Do you feel that way too?


I am taking a week long class (professional development at its finest) and I have been thinking about key moments during my student teaching experience that really solidified this calling for me.  A few weeks after I had taken over teaching every subject, my wonderful master teacher Jane had to go to a conference for two days.  Legally she had to get a guest teacher, but I was the one teaching all the material for those two days.

The first day was a-maz-ing.  The entire day went so smoothly and we just had a rockin' day!  I called Jane completely ecstatic to let her know just how fantastic the day really was.

Then the second day arrived. 

It was terrible.  The kids were unruly and the day just became a downward spiral ending in tears.  Ever been there before?  My second phone conversation with Jane was a complete 180 from the previous day.  But at the end of our conversation I told her "you know, even though today was completely awful, I can't wait to come back tomorrow and start again."  And you know what?  I meant it with my whole heart.  I had already started thinking of new ways to handle situations that came up and I was already revamping my lessons to better suite the needs of the classroom.  I think that's when you know you found where you're supposed to be.  At the end of a terrible, awful day, you still want to come back and do it again tomorrow!

We never had another day quite as bad as that one, but when I had had a particularly long day, I would think of that moment, put on my big girl pant(ies) and keep movin' forward.


Another memory that I often find in the front of my mind is from my very last day of student teaching.  Now, let's back track for a second.  I had one boy in my class who craved attention with every fiber of his being.  I knew from my master teacher that he didn't get his fill of attention at home and he was constantly looking for it from me.  Sometimes it would be sweet little notes or comments about how much he loved me as his teacher.  Other days it would be refusing to do his work or starting quarrels with other students.  Do you know the kiddo I'm talking about?  The one that makes you want to pull your hair out and take him home all at the same time.  Fast forward back to my last day of school

The students were coming up to give me cards and little presents, and B came up with tears in his big sad eyes and handed me this note. . .

Doesn't that just melt your heart?  Well it sure melted mine!  I started crying and gave that sweet boy a great big hug!!   While I know he would have learned if I hadn't been his teacher, to know I made an impact on this little person struck me to my core.  As teachers we are blessed with such a special gift to be a part of these little one's lives, even if it's only for a year (or in my case one semester).  But the impact we can have on these kiddos is truly astounding. Mushy mushy gushy I know, but in all seriousness?  Teachers make a difference, so keep up the phenomenal work.

Monday Made It - 20 days!

Holy cow folks!  I have 20, yes, 20 days till my very first day as a teacher!!  This is ca-ra-zy!!!   I feel so prepared and unprepared all at the same time but I am confident that with the help of all the amazing teachers at my school I'll do just fine :)  In celebration of my first day coming ever so soon I am linking up with Jessica over at Literacy Spark for . . .

Now for the biggest reason for this post - my Monday Made It!  This linky party is hosted by Tara at 4th Grade Frolics, so after you're done here go check out all of the other Made Its and show them some love :)

Made It #1

I am all for giving my kiddos numbers to keep everyone organized!  I also think it is incredibly helpful when they leave the classroom, to know who is where and keeping all that info on something relatively small.  (did that make ANY sense?)  Anywho. . . I have seen variations of this all over and my master teacher used something like this last year, except hers was only for the bathroom. I wanted my to cover a wider range of locations and this is my final creation!  I am thrilled with how it turned out!!  

I found this magnetic whiteboard on sale at Fred Meyers-$6 what what?!?! 

 I found these colorful magnets at Walmart and just wrote the numbers on them.  The painters tape, washi tape and sharpie I already had on hand.

 

Made It #2

I couldn't help but smile as a made these cute little Quiet Critters!  I'm still working on their container but the important part is done right?!  I originally found this idea from Teaching Chick (thank you Pinterest for putting all of these fabulous ideas in one convenient place!!) Now, her critters had feet, but I thought mine were adorable as is. . . and I forgot to buy feet while out and about :)  

All I used were the pompoms, wiggly eyes and good 'ol Elmers glue! 

Silly me!  I didn't take any pictures of those critters all by themselves, but here are both my projects all done and ready to be put into my classroom!!

Get Your SLANT Box Before It's Too Late!

Have you heard of a magical program called SLANT?  Neither had I till a few hours ago!  Click on the picture to learn the details from Lessons With Coffee and sign up for your every own SLANT box! 

 

SLANT stands for Sending Love Across the Nation to Teachers, how sweet is that?!

*****Now this is important!*****

 You must sign up by the 11:59 pm on the 3rd of the month (Central Standard Time.). That's really soon!  So get crackin' to be a part of this marvelous program!  

And if someone would be so kind as to tell me what I am doing wrong with the SLANT button I would be ever so grateful!  I can't figure out how to get rid of that darn box around it :(

Currently {August}

Can you believe its AUGUST already?!?!    in exactly 26 days (yes, 26 days!) I will start my very first day as a teacher ever!  Woohoo!  To celebrate such a fantastic month, I am linking up with Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade for the Currently August linky par tay!

                                                 

So. . . here is my {first}Currently!

Listening
I just love love this show!  To be honest, the characters remind me of my group of friend (although we're not that smart) but they are a rather witty bunch :)

Loving 
Watching lightning and rain outside my window is just one of the many things I love about summer. And rain doesn't come all that often in my neck of the woods, so whenever it does show itself I can't help but drop everything and watch

Thinking
I only started teacher blogging mid summer and I am so thankful for all of the fantastic resources I have found and I can't wait for all of the connections I hope to make in the years to come!

Wanting
Dr. Pepper is my go to drink when I go anywhere. . . its just 29 flavors combining to make one fantastical drink

Needing
I'm thinking that the Dr. Pepper could really help me with this!  I'm about half way done setting up my classroom but I haven't even started on my curriculum yikes!  On second thought, I might need 2 sodas...

B2s Must Haves

• I am a planning machine!  And having one place to put all my appointments and to-dos is a must!
• Correcting piles of papers is just so much more fun with colorful pens!
• I have been going through all of my clothes to find the perfect first day ever as a brand new teacher outfit but so far I have been unsuccessful.  But I still have 26 days right?!

There it is, my currently August ...happy blogging everyone!



Oh!  One more thing!  I just added an adorable Bloglovin' button from Courtney, you should go check out all of the fabulous things on her blog!
 

Favorite Pins Friday!

I don't know about you (but I have my suspicions) that like me you capital L Love Pinterest!   I find so many great ideas on everything from classroom magagement to a killer dessert for a friend's BBQ!  So I am linking up with Cara over at First Grade Parade for Favorite Pins Friday!  Yay!

 

**click on the photo to follow the link to the pins below!**

Here are my favorite TEACHING pins starting with this adorable poster for carpet expectations.  I would love to remind my kiddos of what I expect at carpet time by telling them to SHINE! 

Next on my list is this genius idea for keeping a students desk organized!  I have been scouring the surrounding dollar stores for 26 of these beauties!  

Last but certainly not least of my favorite teaching pins is this classroom management technique using the word NOISE.  Every time the students get too loud you take away a letter and if they make it all the way to NO-there is no talking for the rest of the activity. Love it!! 

I pinned this book cover, which my lovely friend Sarah ended up buying because of that, and I was able to read it while I was visiting Helena for a few days.  She writes over 400 witty and sometimes harsh steps to becoming an adult.  She covers everything from finding a job to making a sandwich. I was relieved to find I was already well on my way to become a full fledged adult!  Woohoo!

This quote.  I just love this quote.  A daily reminder that we have to help each other on this (sometimes overwhelming) journey of life.  

This pin makes me cringe every time I see it.  Who could be so heartless? 

This pin reminds me of my roommates from my senior year at Carroll :)  I'm pretty sure we could have taken on any gang, even if only for a week at a time!  hahaha

Speaking of Carroll, here is a beautiful picture of campus during one of many snowy afternoons, sigh 

I'm gonna let you know, I'm a sucker for anything even semi-romantic.  And this pin really melts my heart!  This {brilliant} young man proposes to his girl with a magical Pixar UP! inspired theme...could it be ANY cuter?!

Have a lovely Friday everyone!!

Confratute, Show Off Your Piles Linky Party, and a Freebie!

Woah!  It's been a while since I last blogged :(  I have been working in my classroom and doing a bucketload of yard work around our property!  I have also been preparing for Confratute; a one week conference held at the University of Connecticut dedicated to the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) and professional development.  Its day three and I am loving it!!  I have been going to many different sessions - and they have been on everything from motivating underachievers to bringing music into the classroom.  This had also been a great opportunity for me to bond with my new coworkers!  I am so fortunate to work with a phenomenal group of women who I have so much to learn from!

When we finally make it back to Idaho I will need to kick it in gear to get my classroom ready for August. Yikes!  With that said, I'm linking up with Christina for a Show Off Your Piles Linky Party!!

I have been collecting books and resources all summer, but I can never seem to remember to take them to school!

 My piles have spread not only all around my room but into my living room and dining room as well!!  I only had these two pictures with me but trust me. . .there are plenty more!!!

I also have a confession. . . another reason I've been away from the blog-o-sphere is that I'm in the middle of a Numb3rs marathon {thank you Netflix}!!  But I have found time in my very busy schedule ;) to make my first TpT freebie!  Well, my first anything on TpT haha!

I don't know about you, but I love, Love, LOVE to organize!  And I made the decision a long time ago (okay, not that long ago) that my kiddos would be numbered.  So these little ditties will be taped on their desks, above their bag hooks, and sooooo many other palces!  Woohoo!


I hope you enjoyed this long blog post, and if you did, please leave comments, questions, or words of wisdom for this first year teacher in the comments below!  I would LOVE to hear from ya :)