A Few Of My Favorite Days

Today: For the past week and a half I've been anxious and excited about today. The day I would finally be able to get back into our classroom! I look so forward to this day all summer long. I get to return to our classroom where the floors are freshly waxed and shiny! I bring in armfuls of school supplies, garage sale finds and new ideas for the year ahead. I pull out all the things I stuffed into cabinets at the end of the last school year. This is what the room looks like right now:

We will call that picture the 'before' picture. Obviously I have a lot of work to do! I love coming in on my own time, a little bit each day to reassemble our classroom. My creative juices are flowing and I can dream of all that can become during this next school year.

Family Visitation: In just under 3 weeks I will get to meet all of my new students and their families at our family visitation night! It is one of my favorite nights. I hope all of you can make it!

Right around then I will post our 'after' pictures. Those pictures however may be more appropriately named our 'starting' pictures because this room will quickly change more and more into our place as we add student pictures, work and so much more!

First Day of School: Yes, we have less than a month until the first day of school! As a child I looked forward to this day all summer long and I still do! I remember the anticipation of meeting my new teacher, seeing my classroom, seeing old friends, shiny new school supplies and wearing my new first day of school outfit. Now as the teacher I think about how each of my students are looking forward to this day, too. Yet, some are nervous, anxious, scared or unsure. I look forward to the first day because it's when I get to start making connections with my students.

Each of these special times are coming and I sit here smiling as I think about our year ahead! I hope you and your child are enjoying these last wonderful weeks of summer. Start your countdown for family visitation night!

Always learning, always growing and always changing for the better.

Hello!

As I write this first post I am filled with excitement for what lies ahead. My stomach also turns as I think about the work to be done, the challenges I will inevitably face and the possibility of not meeting my initial goals. But most of all, I am excited to share!

This blog is being created because right now I am the student in a university technology class. The thing is, once you're a teacher, it becomes much harder to be a student in class. However, I firmly believe that you never stop learning and that if you do, then you aren't doing your job. So here I am, embracing technology like I never have before. Starting out on a new adventure: Creating a class blog. Hopefully learning, growing and changing for the better.

If you have walked into my classroom over the past 3 years you would see student pictures on the word wall and picture after picture from student events throughout the year hung on the cabinet doors. On another door pictures of student-created shadows. Throughout the room and hallway you would see student work and artwork, carefully crafted by each student to show their best work.

I've realized that it's a challenge for families to attend school events, conferences, drop off or pick up their child each day to see the learning that is taking place. This blog will allow me to share what hangs in our classroom and our learning experiences with each student's family by making it easily accessible online. It will also create a space for the students to look back and reflect on their own learning experiences.

Families, I hope you enjoy this space where you can see your child's learning through words and pictures they might forget to tell you when they get home each day. Your child will be learning, growing and changing for the better this year.