Half a week down!

We've officially been in school for a half a week. Which is nuts. It feels like the longest week there's ever been. Today should have at least been Thursday! Ha. I'm going to make a list of stuff tonight of everything I wanted to share because its easiest and I'm dog tired.

-Speaking of dogs, this one went to the vet today! She weighs 7.5 pounds (although at least a pound of that is fur!) and she's healthy as a horse. But, man alive, why are vet visits so expensive?? 

-School's been going good! I was honestly terrified after the first day. I though these kids were going to be a rough group based on the three hours we spent together. And then I went in the hallway and saw all my kids from last year and wanted to weep. Literally. But, these kiddos are growing on me every day and their behavior is fine. They're still adjusting to everything, but they're no worse than any other group I've ever had. And, they're pretty stinking cute, so that always helps :) 

-We had a little roster drama and I've ended up with four new kids. Three of which I had in first grade. And I love them all! I hate that they're having to move rooms, but I'm happy to have them join the crew. I loved the chance last year to teach some of my sweet kiddos from first grade and this year was my last chance to get to do that, so I'm a-ok with getting some new kiddos!

-We've been a little random and scattered in what we've been working on this week. We've done a lot of visualizing... 

and project making...

and talking about what makes good classrooms...

Apparently, they're worried I'm going to hit people? 

-One new thing I've tried this year is using song cues. I have been playing a song when it's time for Morning Meeting, a clean up song and a pack-up song at the end of the day. So far, I'm loving it! But, I've been having to use my phone to play them and I don't love that! 

-I just love this picture :)

-I have no self control when I'm tired so I ate this tonight: 

I don't even feel bad about it! Not. At. All. 

Okay, I'm off to bed! Adios!

Weekend Update

First of all, thanks so much for the sweet comments on my last post. I just feel like so many bloggers have inspired me as a teacher. Blogs have changed my teaching for the better and I just want to be a part of that awesome community! That's why I shared the pictures. If they give one person a good idea, I'm happy :)

This weekend, I needed a little getaway. I know you can relate, but the first few days of school are super stressful. And I sat down to make lesson plans Friday ad I was so out of practice! I couldn't even concentrate. So, I came to my parent's house. They live about thirty minutes away from me and they provide a perfect little vacation at the end of a long week. Plus, they cook me food and watch my puppy. So, yeah. Awesomeness. 

Also, my sweet grandpa, who is 89, had a health scare yesterday and ended up in the hospital for a night. We thought he might need a pacemaker, but the docs gave him a great report and sent him home this afternoon, thank goodness! That's part of the reason I couldn't concentrate on lesson plans, to be honest. We headed out to see him last night at the hospital and he was in great spirits! I'm just so thankful he's okay! 

My mom and I ran a few errands this morning. We went in Target and I bought some makeup and some other necessities. Why is shopping for makeup so fun?!? We also went by PetSmart because a certain little stinker had eaten almost all of her toys? If someone could invent an indestructible dog toy, they'd make millions. 

These toys won't last a week, but they cost a dollar! We also got her some Nylabones and yummy apple treats! I've never been so tempted to eat a dog treat  in my life, but y'all? They smell like green apple blow pops! Ha!

I also helped my mom with a little DIY project! She wanted something to hang on her door for the fall. So we went to Michael's and made a fun little hydrangea basket. Now I want one!!

We went to Hobby lobby tonight after dinner and left Finley with my dad. When we got home, this is what I saw:

I mean, really? Look at her paws! She is living the life, guys. I feel bad because she's been in her cage a ton this week since I've been staying late at school every day. So, I'm glad she got a little spoiled this weekend :) Plus, she has to go to the vet this week and get some shots. But, shhhhhh. Don't tell her that.

Well, that's been my day. Just trying to relax a little before the craziness of next week. I'm headed off to take a bubble bath! 

Toodles, poodles!

Classroom Tour 2013

If you've been here before or have seen my classroom in person, you'll notice it looks a lot like last year. But, I did add a few new things and I wanted to share em' on the blog since I took pictures tonight before Open House.

Yes, you read that correct. We had our first day of school today and Open House tonight. And, well, um, I miss my kids from last year. Like, really miss them. I always forget how squirrely the kids are the first day and how you have to teach them everything in the entire world there is to know. At least that's what it feels like. But, that's the idea. It's what teachers do, right? So, it'll all be good and I'll love those babies and consider them my own in no time, I'm sure. And most of them seems really sweet and cute. That's always good. I'm extrasuperthankful that tomorrow's another inservice day so that I can at least make some darn lesson plans. That'd be good. Right?

Anyways, here's my third grade classroom. The lights are really weird in all these pictures and they uploaded all out of order. But, I'm too tired to fix it. Did I mention we just had our first day of school? Ha.

As I've said before, I don't do themes. Just not my thing. (Although, if I did, it would TOTALLY be a pirate theme. No question. Ha.) I just cut buttons out on the die-cut to make this little garland and added a welcome sign.

I love my classroom sign. I bought it on Etsy for twenty bucks and added a bunch of ribbon scraps to the wire.

Here's the view from the door.

Left side of the room...

My reading corner.

Small group area w/ new stools from Old Time Pottery!

I had to take a picture of their totes because I'm sure they'll be a big old mess within the next two weeks, ha!

My new academic vocabulary word wall.

More reading corner...

Whole group area...

My new piece of furniture will be used as Daily 5 book boxes and other centers.

Okay, I'm off to bed.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Just all kinds of stuff...

Oh, goodness.

Craziness.

Guys, school starts in 3 days! Thursday. I mean, is that not crazy?

 

Yes, it is. It's crazy. I'll answer for you.

 

I'll say I'm ready. I guess I am. The room is done and ready for the kids. I'm definitely more prepared this year than last year because I actually know what third grade is like, now. That's a step in the right direction, right?

 

I'll be honest, though. I'm still nervous. I guess I'll always be nervous before a new school year starts, no matter how many new school years I've prepared for. I'm a worrier, what can I say?

 

In the meantime, I have about a million and one pictures on my phone that I want to share. Mostly of Finley. Because she's darn precious, ya'll.

 

 See?

 

 I had to go to the dermatologist last Friday in Franklin. And, I went to meet my mom for lunch at Merridee's. It's the BEST place to eat lunch in downtown Franklin. We always get the chicken salad sandwich, pasta salad and fruit tea - yum, yum!

 

 I was looking through the brochures that I had my kids last year make for my kids this year. They're basically just full of information about our class. And, I had forgotten about this little gem, ha! I promise I don't laugh at kids who say words wrong. Every time.

 

 This turkey spent about 15 minutes standing on her hind legs and growling at the kitchen. Because the ice dropped into the container in the freezer. Yeah. Fun times.

 

 And, her new favorite place to lay is on my keyboard. Maybe because it's warm? It's fine and dandy until she inevitably hits a button and messes up everything I'm doing on my computer. Not so cute then, I have to say.

 

No story with this one. I just like it :)

 In puppy jail...

 

 Have you been to Target lately? They have the BEST shoes right now! And, I couldn't decide which ones I liked best, so I just got them both. Yeah, I did.

 

This is our other new hangout. We LOVE to growl and bark at cars, bike riders, squirrels, children, leaves, air, grass, imaginary things...

 This weekend, we had a girl weekend at my grandma's. My great uncle was turning 80 years old. So, we had a little fun and made him a snack card!

 

  The next day, we went to the We Care. It's like a Goodwill. Only better! I got all these books for 13 dollars! I really like to buy books from my childhood to put in my library. I figure these kiddos get exposed to SpongeBob enough, they need some classics! Like, Full House books? Classics.

 

 Just swinging away in the country.

 

Ha! This pictures cracks me up.

I've been awful about posting house pictures. I have had a new hutch in my house for 4 months that I haven't even mentioned. I don't know what's gotten into me. But, I found this deer head/antler thingy at TJ Maxx and I fell in love! A little white spray paint did the trick and I'm excited to move it around from room to room. But, since school starts Thursday, I'll betcha' it'll stay put for a while :)

 

Welp, since I have inservice at 8 in the morning, I should go to bed. And, by bed, I mean scower the internet for more information about the Guidice's going to jail. Did you hear about that? CrAzY!

 

Toodles!