Our Year Ahead!

Hello!

It's about this time in the summer where I realize how much I LOVE my job. We've been on summer vacation for less than a month and in about 2 months school starts again. I think more and more each day about the new students, the first days of school, new ideas for decorating, purchasing school supplies and curriculum. 

This summer each of us 1st grade teachers are designing a new unit to freshen up our themes we teach. Through these themes we incorporate reading, writing, math, science, social studies, art, teamwork and so much more. I mentioned in my first post that I'm taking a technology class this summer. I learned about easel.ly a free website where you can create visuals for anything you want. I created this visual below to show our themes for the year ahead. Take a look at what you/your child will be learning about this year!

As I look at all of these themes I become so excited about the things your child will get to share with you this year. I'm looking forward to future posts that include student photos, student work and student voices about these themes!

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.