Busy, Busy, Busy

This is exactly how I feel right now! I am trying to get my stuff moved from my apartment to the new house by the 30th, but the cleaning people haven't finished the new house so I can't really put anything in the new house. So I am just waiting, with half of my stuff packed and no room to pack anything else. They were supposed to have it ready yesterday, nope. Now they are supposed to be done Friday, so lets pray for that. Also, pre-planning starts in 10 days and if all my stuff isn't moved and unpacked I will probably have a panic attack. I hate disorganization during stressful times. I am also trying to figure out just how to organize my school things in the most efficient way, but I guess I will have to wait until I start to figure that out. I am also working about 35 hours a week now, "part-time" (I also work weird hours, like 4am to 1pm or 2pm to 10:30pm, my whole day has to revolve around work sometimes). And my three year anniversary with a wonderful, wonderful guy is in two weeks and I do not know what I want to do with him. I am overwhelmed and nervous and excited. Please offer tips on how you plan to handle your student teaching, working, and life. And also what to wear! :)

It is getting closer!

I got my final schedule for student teaching, finally! They waited awful long to let us know and the suspense was killing me! It turns out that I will have full in the classroom days on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with half a day in the classroom on Tuesday and Thursdays. The other half of the days on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be made up of classes that I take in my elementary school or one of the other elementary schools in our district. It looks very organized and it makes me feel better. I will end up spending about 35 hours a week student teaching and taking classes, and have to find time to work amongst all of that. Any fellow student teachers out there? How are you planning on working and student teaching? Or do you plan to work at all? Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear some advice!

Good Grief

I am so very tired today. I did the damage assessment walk-through for the new place that I am renting today, I realized, it doesn't have a dishwasher! Why I did not notice that before I paid the deposit, I have no idea. It is usually a deal breaker for me, because I can't make myself stay still and wash dishes. A dishwasher is a necessity for me. However, it does have a washer and dryer, which my current place lacks. So I guess I am trading clean dishes for clean clothes, and I am okay with that. Maybe I will just use paper plates and order takeout? Sounds like a plan to me. In the area I live, everything is old. To have a place with a dishwasher is a luxury, and was probably added recently. It is hard to find something with modern conveniences, a good size, and a good location.
Also, for the first time in the 17 years I have had glasses, I am trying contacts. My eyes are having a hard time adjusting and I constantly feel like my eyes are dry and sandy, it is not pleasant, and I hope it stops soon. It makes me feel like I am constantly tired with sleep in my eyes.
23 days until pre-planning and my nerves are starting, I am not even sure what my class assignment is yet! I wish they would hurry and send us our information packets because I am getting nervous and anxious and excited. 

New Teacher Survival Guide

A New Teacher Survival Guide is something that I think we all would love to get our hands on. It is similar to what I am trying to create. Good news! Scholastic has some to the rescue, yet again. Scholastic has created a New Teacher Survival Guide that has so many resources that I do not know where to start! There are teaching tips, resources, and a survival guide that goes out each month of school to help new teachers. The one that they currently have is for August, a little early I know, for creating an efficient physical classroom. They give you tips on decorating, desk layout, organization, anything you can think of. I am hooked on Scholastic. I subscribed to their newsletter (all free!) that send out lesson plans, tips, resources, and much much more each week. While this may sound like a Scholastic promotion, it is not. They have no idea I exist, they are just fantastic and worth bragging on. I am sure all of you are familiar with Scholastic, so hop on over there and subscribe!

In other news, I cannot stop looking at classroom themes on Pinterest! Tell me that I am not the only one? I have two years before I even have a chance of having a classroom of my own and I already have all of these ideas! My very favorite place for inspiration is Schoolgirl Style! Her ideas are absolutely darling, and well above my level of creativity! This garden party theme is so cute! So much color!

http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com

I love the bright colors and the flowers and the butterflies. However, I do not know how I would ever pull this off. She puts so much work into her classrooms. They are beautiful! I am so very, very jealous and cannot wait until I have my own room!

My First Lesson

The first lesson that I was ever able to teach was during my freshman year. I was doing classroom observations as part of my pre-education classes. I ended up with a wonderful cooperating teacher who allowed me to participate in the class, rather than simply observe. One day, she split the class into small groups, one for me, one for her, and one for her aid. We did a lesson on our place in the world and I was hooked. They were all so eager to answer, eager to learn, and so very smart. The lesson that I did was very basic, we read a story and then answered some questions about the story. We then went through and asked each student to describe their place in the world. However, while pinteresting today, I found this cute little craft.

http://kidworldcitizen.org/2011/11/26/my-place-in-the-world-project/

This was from Kid World Citizen, a wonderful site about creating globally minded children. Basically, this is a much more creative and interactive way of teaching students their place in the world. They learn everything from their planet to their home address. It is wonderful and beautiful and I cannot wait to try it out someday!

Just Five Rules

http:/studentteachingsurvival.blogspot.com

     Whole Brain Teaching (Power Teaching) is quickly becoming an obsession of mine. The classroom management is based on five simple rules that help keep the classroom running smoothly. It seems so strange that only these rules could keep a classroom under control. I feel like they give students a lot of perceived freedoms, while setting rules that make them think about everything that they do. Student practice the rules several times a day, with hand motions to help reinforce them. By the student practicing the rules and having motions that go with them, they have them in their head all day. This creates a calmer, more organized classroom. There are other procedures and rule that build off of these rules. Any other things that you expect in your classroom would be procedures, and by doing these things you keep your teacher happy (rule number 5!). I cannot believe how much sense this type of teaching makes to me. If you haven't yet, check out Whole Brain Teaching and see what it has to offer. Let me know what you think. Any current teachers out there implement anything like this? How do you think it would work out in your classroom? 
     On another note, you may have noticed my countdown timer on the top of the page, only 30 days until I start by student teaching! I am so very nervous and am still looking for tips from those of you who are doing it/have done it! I am looking forward to hearing about your experiences!

Baby You're a Firework

http://www.northgeorgia.edu

Happy Fourth of July! I saw the fireworks put off by my city at my college. They were beautiful and fantastic! I love the fireworks! God Bless and have a great night! Stay safe and enjoy this wonderful weather and this time off to relax. Student teaching starts in 1 month and 2 days and I am so very nervous.