Getting Ready

The time has come.... to be ready, prepared, and excited to be a first year teacher. I feel that I am all of these things. Some people might add to that list scared, worried, or even horrified... but me I feel pretty well going into our last work day with school starting on Monday.

I have a good amount planned for my middle school reading, I just need to tweak a few assessments and think about my grading as I need to be in line with my PLC group. This is tough as we were taught to be different teachers at different times and I have a new aged learning approach to grades and work. I know that things will be fine but I may have to work on them to think about how they do things.

But I am ready to go. I am going to get my feet wet in new reading interventions and supplement work as I will be doing almost a half day in Title reading for Kindergarten through 2nd grade. I am only worried that I will not have enough time to help all students that need it or to give enough time to those who need more. I know I am a half time position replacing two people that were doing a time and a half. I know I can do the work and help but I just need to have a plan and get to work on it.

Tonight was our open house. I got to meet a bunch of the students but I know there will be many more on Monday. We are the biggest elementary school in our district with 35-40 students in each grade. I know this is nothing compared to either of my student teachings in Lincoln, but now I am a real teacher and need to get to know my kids as well as others I don't directly work with. But I am excited for this challenge and to work my memory.

So I guess I wrap this up by saying I am ready to go. I am taking some time this weekend to take care of my niece and see her before I get to crazy wrapped up in school and golf. I am going to miss her and I know she will miss her Auntie HuHu... But I am ready to start this new chapter, I hope my students are ready to help me in this new adventure.

4MAT

I am in my last Master's class for the summer. It is the last class and it seems to be lasting the longest. I have learned alot already about myself and my classmates. I have learned what type of learner I am and now I am able to explain some of my different habits.

I am a 3 and 1 learner in the 4MAT model. This means as a 3 learner I ask "How does this work?" My strength is action and getting things done. I have goals of productivity and meeting the standards. As a 1 learner I ask the question "Why?". My strengths are people skills and reflecting. My goal is to be involved in important issues and to bring harmony.

I can't wait to learn more about how I can use this information to help my students in the classroom.

http://www.360cities.net/image/bee-swarm-beehive

This is an awesome panoramic picture scene of a bee swarm. Get caught in the swarm!

Reading and Writing Interest Survey

Teaching in Thailand

These are pictures I took on my Interterm Trip to Thailand in January 2010. I edited them in Picasa and Picnik as an assignment for a technology class. I used many different tools to work with these. I hope to use these pictures to show my students just a little of what I did while there. I also now have some knowledge of these programs. I can use this new knowledge to help me make other photos for use in the classroom.

Learning About Technology

Today I created this blog as part of a 21st Century Learning Master's course. I am taking this class to better improve the instruction using technology. I want to be the best teacher that I can be while learning as much as I can.
I plan to keep this blog updated with the trials and tribulations of being a first year teacher. You can follow me and my class through this blog, We're All in This Together. I will try to keep frequent updates to share my experiences. I will always be learning and growing with my students, and I will use this site to share with them and family and friends.
Thank you for viewing my blog and supporting me as a teacher and a friend.