This is my first Linky Party...Kind of excited to be a part of it!
So here it is...How I became a teacher...
I guess I have to start at the beginning. Some would say that they have known I would be a teacher since I was in elementary school. My first "job" was a babysitting job of a boy that was blind. My main volunteer job in junior high and high school was for an infant and toddler center that worked with children with disabilities. I will never forget walking into that classroom, and feeling at home. In college, I was a camp counselor at Camp Friendship--a camp for children and adults with disabilities...I spent three summers working at Camp! Definitely a home away from home.
When I originally went to college, I wanted to be a physical therapist...but picked a college that had an OK PT department...but the only problem was that I did NOT like science or math. So instead, I got my degree in English...I wanted to be an English teacher...not really, but that is what I said. I didn't complete my student teaching, and graduated college 1/2 year early. I started working as an instructional assistant for a local school district and was an in-home provider for a few kids in my neighbor. (The vision is becoming clearer)! When my partner got a job in California, it was very easy to pack up and move with her.
Insert a break in the education field. I became a photographer for about 2 years, then worked in a group home for youth that were in trouble for about 6 months. Then I got pregnant and had to leave. My doctor said that my job was not a good fit, as the youth could get violent. And where did I turn...I became a substitute in the school district. I long-termed subbed in an special day classroom for almost 6 months, then floated around the district for the rest of the year...and most of the next year....Then a position opened in the school district as a special day class teacher. I applied, had my interview, and was accepted for the position. Then I had to complete the interview process for my internship program (that is crazy--you have to be accepted to college, then have a job, then be accepted into the internship program)! All of the pieces fell into place.
So like I said...some would say that I have come full circle. I would say I knew where I was going, I just took the scenic route to get there! And now that I am here...I would not have changed a thing...each stop along the journey is as it was supposed to be...providing me with the tools and the focus to be where I am today!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Trees and Monsters...
Sorry I have been MIA...I started school, went on vacation, came back to open house and a busy week...whew! I am glad that I am starting another week tomorrow though. My kids are slowly coming together, and I think that overall, they are a pretty good group of kids! They will definitely keep me on my toes this year!
Here are two of the activities that we have done so far...
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom...Who is in our Room?
On our second day of school, we read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and I had the kids make these really cute trees! They used construction paper for the tree trunks, and I made some easy leaves that I had them color (either green or yellow) and then I had packaged the letters of their name into baggies. They had to identify their name and then spell it out. I got the foam letters from Michael's for pretty cheap...and we will use them again and again I am sure. Here are some of the end projects...I didn't have time to take pictures throughout...oh well!
Overall, I think they did pretty good! They were very proud of their work though!
Monster Rolls
On my first day back, which I also learned was Open House (only one parent showed up...) I had my students make some monsters to go with the classroom decor! I had saved my empty toilet paper roles for a while, and finally had enough. I used foam rectangle pieces from the Dollar Tree (Love THAT PLACE!), googlie eyes, markers, and construction paper. We wrapped the toilet paper roll in the foam piece, after it was decorated, added on 1, 2, 3 or 4 eyes (it is a monster after all), put on some hair, and VOILA...we have our own monster! Here are some of the finished project...and BTW: my kids LOVED these! It took some convincing, but they were able to stay at school for Open House, but went home the next day!
My favorite part about the monsters is that they are all unique.
Up next, I am starting a new idea...I discovered (or uncovered) a full set of pocket chart poems from an OLD curriculum that my district used to use...I get to take them out, cut them apart, and use away. They are perfect for my kids...as we work on a variety of pre-reading skills with them...The first one is about fish...I am planning an art project and even some cooking (I am thinking blue Jell-O...we will have to see!
Here are two of the activities that we have done so far...
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom...Who is in our Room?
On our second day of school, we read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and I had the kids make these really cute trees! They used construction paper for the tree trunks, and I made some easy leaves that I had them color (either green or yellow) and then I had packaged the letters of their name into baggies. They had to identify their name and then spell it out. I got the foam letters from Michael's for pretty cheap...and we will use them again and again I am sure. Here are some of the end projects...I didn't have time to take pictures throughout...oh well!
Overall, I think they did pretty good! They were very proud of their work though!
Monster Rolls
On my first day back, which I also learned was Open House (only one parent showed up...) I had my students make some monsters to go with the classroom decor! I had saved my empty toilet paper roles for a while, and finally had enough. I used foam rectangle pieces from the Dollar Tree (Love THAT PLACE!), googlie eyes, markers, and construction paper. We wrapped the toilet paper roll in the foam piece, after it was decorated, added on 1, 2, 3 or 4 eyes (it is a monster after all), put on some hair, and VOILA...we have our own monster! Here are some of the finished project...and BTW: my kids LOVED these! It took some convincing, but they were able to stay at school for Open House, but went home the next day!
My favorite part about the monsters is that they are all unique.
Up next, I am starting a new idea...I discovered (or uncovered) a full set of pocket chart poems from an OLD curriculum that my district used to use...I get to take them out, cut them apart, and use away. They are perfect for my kids...as we work on a variety of pre-reading skills with them...The first one is about fish...I am planning an art project and even some cooking (I am thinking blue Jell-O...we will have to see!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
My First Day of School!
Today was the first day of school! And it was fantastic! I had 8 students (of my 13 show up...) and it was GREAT! Here are some final pictures of my classroom all set up...as well as some of the fun things we did!
Here is my calendar area. My students seemed to do a good job at calendar today!
Here is my choice board! The students get to pick a choice...and they put their name card into their choice. If students want to pick something else, they can...but only what is already out.
Here is one of our big activities for the day! After reading the story "A Monster Comes to School" I found a variety of pictures to represent different rules. Using a green paper for good choices and a red paper for bad choices, students got to glue each picture where they went. Later, I will laminate them and post them in the room for students to use! On another note...they referred to them throughout the day--especially the picture of them sitting at carpet!
Here is the second part of our rules discussion! Students help me put where each monster rule goes on the chart.Most students did pretty good staying on green today, some went back and forth, and one went to yellow today (hitting, kicking and spitting). At the end of the day, they got to go to treasure box (I will take a picture of my treasure box to show you!)
Here is another idea that I am trying this year! When a student does something excellent, they get to put a puff ball into the jar...I put on some cute monster stickers. Right now, the jar is small (a pickle jar) but hopefully it will get bigger when they can fill it quickly. Today they earned two! They also get to pick the size of the puff ball they put in the jar. If you have any idea of what to call my class jar, please comment. =)
And finally, our calendar. We started school today!
Here is my calendar area. My students seemed to do a good job at calendar today!
Here is my choice board! The students get to pick a choice...and they put their name card into their choice. If students want to pick something else, they can...but only what is already out.
Here is one of our big activities for the day! After reading the story "A Monster Comes to School" I found a variety of pictures to represent different rules. Using a green paper for good choices and a red paper for bad choices, students got to glue each picture where they went. Later, I will laminate them and post them in the room for students to use! On another note...they referred to them throughout the day--especially the picture of them sitting at carpet!
Here is the second part of our rules discussion! Students help me put where each monster rule goes on the chart.Most students did pretty good staying on green today, some went back and forth, and one went to yellow today (hitting, kicking and spitting). At the end of the day, they got to go to treasure box (I will take a picture of my treasure box to show you!)
And finally, our calendar. We started school today!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Back to School!
Today was my first day back at school! I have realized some things today...
1. I have 14 students in my classroom this year! Even though they are not the original 14 that I thought, I am still excited to get my students, meet them on Thursday and "figure them out!" As long as I am excited to meet them, I know that I am where I am supposed to be...every day!
2. It is nice to be in a school where you can ask for something that you need, and it is provided by many teachers...with a greeting and a smile. I haven't had the feeling of a team in a very long time! I am excited to start something new!
3. I still have a long way to go to get ready! But here is some of the stuff that I have done!
This is one of my 5 domain boards-Rec and Leisure! I will focus on some future posts about the 5 domains, different activities that we do in our classroom to meet each domain, and why they are important for my students to be successful!
This is one of my favorite smaller boards...my I Can board. The 5 areas that I focused on for this year are: Write my name, Say the alphabet, cut with scissors, Skip and Get dressed. I will put a small class list next to each list and highlight student names as they meet each task. For the write my name area, students will get to put up a sample of their name. It is fun to see the students meet the different activities throughout the year!
This is one of my favorite boards in my classroom. First is the calendar area (it is all put up now). Then is my behavior chart for this year...I am adapting the above the line, below the line and bottom line chart! The third area is another domain board, and finally, an area for my "teacher stuff."
This board is also very exciting for me! It will turn into a choice board for my students...complete with monsters, pictures and library card holders, and student cards! I am very excited to finish this board tomorrow!
1. I have 14 students in my classroom this year! Even though they are not the original 14 that I thought, I am still excited to get my students, meet them on Thursday and "figure them out!" As long as I am excited to meet them, I know that I am where I am supposed to be...every day!
2. It is nice to be in a school where you can ask for something that you need, and it is provided by many teachers...with a greeting and a smile. I haven't had the feeling of a team in a very long time! I am excited to start something new!
3. I still have a long way to go to get ready! But here is some of the stuff that I have done!
This is one of my 5 domain boards-Rec and Leisure! I will focus on some future posts about the 5 domains, different activities that we do in our classroom to meet each domain, and why they are important for my students to be successful!
This is one of my favorite smaller boards...my I Can board. The 5 areas that I focused on for this year are: Write my name, Say the alphabet, cut with scissors, Skip and Get dressed. I will put a small class list next to each list and highlight student names as they meet each task. For the write my name area, students will get to put up a sample of their name. It is fun to see the students meet the different activities throughout the year!
This is one of my favorite boards in my classroom. First is the calendar area (it is all put up now). Then is my behavior chart for this year...I am adapting the above the line, below the line and bottom line chart! The third area is another domain board, and finally, an area for my "teacher stuff."
This board is also very exciting for me! It will turn into a choice board for my students...complete with monsters, pictures and library card holders, and student cards! I am very excited to finish this board tomorrow!
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