So I am into my second week of my class. By my class I am referring to my post-grad class. This semester I am taking Assessment in Literacy. It is part of the required coursework for my Reading Endorsement. I have already been pushed outside of my comfort zone. Or as I would have said in my previous post this summer…I am stretching myself again. 

Last semester the challenge was to start a blog, this semester… MAKE A VIDEO of myself. UGH! I had to video myself introducing my bio, personal and professional, plus give feedback on that weeks reading and what I hoped to learn this semester. 

Roughly 10-20 takes later. Yes! 10-25 takes. Between the testing of the bells, the custodians cleaning, and my bumbling tongue it took close to 25 takes. 

Let me start by saying I should have recorded myself much earlier in the day when I looked as good as my picture on this blog. An after 4pm First Grade teacher looks mighty tired with bags under my eyes. 

Keeping fingers crossed that this was the first and last video for this semester.

So I will keep my Learning Logs up to date for all of you who want to read information on Assessments in Literacy.  You should expect to see a blog once every 2 weeks and I will tag it Learning Log.

Until then, I need to resume the extensive reading homework. 

Today was the official first day of school! 

It is always a joyous day filled with excitment and jitters.

Here is a peek at my classroom that greeted 18 new First Grade students today. I created a slide show with tags on where you can purchase some items. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

I have been cruising a nautical theme now for years. I like to stick with nautical in general and just add some pizzaz to it. Last year I added the flamingos. They bring a nice pink brightness to the room. This year I had to add some beach shack vibe with my "shiplap" fadeless paper. Yes, I may have watched a little too much of Chip and JoAnna Gaines this summer. 

New this year is the decor on the front of my classroom door. I had seen a picture on Facebook and asked my local monogram store, Leisa Lovely, to make a vinyl sticker quote for my door. Last year I had ticky tacked all the individual letters and over the year the kids moved them or wrinkled them. Now, I don't have to worry about it. It looks great and I don't have to worry about it being ruined. A big kudos and thanks to Leisa for letting me be her guinnea pig for this idea. It's been a hit with just 24 hours.

Another new item is the idea to upcycle the pages from my Lilly Pulitzer agenda. I knew I wanted to save some of the pages to create a fun bulletin board, when at the last minute I decided to make the letters and laminate them. I also used a few pages for background accent.

I hope you enjoy the tour of my new room.

Summer is quickly coming to an end for us teaching in Central Florida. I agree it sure does feel like we are starting earlier and earlier and we have less of a summer.

It's been a week or so since I last blogged. I took a few days off to visit my college girl and finish my final project for my grad class. It feels like a huge load was lifted off my shoulder and I could finally enjoy my summer.  All 8 days of what I have left.

All in all...summer has been great and I am not complaining at all. I love my job! I love getting the quality time with my family. And I enjoy the time off, it's needed to rejuvenate and get ready for the next crop of littles.

Last summer I wrote on my FB page a similar reflection of what summer means to a teacher. At the time I had had a debate with some friends who do not teach and were telling me how lucky or awesome it was to be a teacher because of my summers off. Of course there was the debate of pay...how can you talk about the job with out someone bringing up the pay.  So here it is. It bares repeating with a little update for this summer... 

So if your jealous of my summers off...or your teacher's summer...

Don't be.

BUT DO... Be jealous that I get to do a job I LOVE everyday. I get to MAKE a difference in 20 something 6 year old lives. I get to SPEND the majority of your child's day with your child. I see the AHA moments. These littles think I am younger than I am, funnier than I am, a little crazier than I am, prettier than I am and of course that I hung the moon. Shhhh don't let them in on the secret that I am a human and my only super power is that I TEACH!

So if you still think the best part of teaching is 8 weeks of unpaid time "off" then take a glimpse of this teachers summer:

Week 1 Post grad work and finish ELA long range plans for coming year
Week 2 Post grad work (research paper due) and tutoring
Week 3 Post grad work and tutoring and side trip for son's club volleyball tournament
Week 4 Post grad work (huge group project due)  and tutoring and meet with co-worker who just went through intensive training and help her plan, oh and another club volleyball tournament
Week 5 4th of July enjoyed the family, big paper due for Post grad work...family games pictured above
Week 6 Post grad work and tutoring; go in and organize classroom for a few hours
Week 7 Post grad work, huge professional development project due and tutoring; design some anchor charts and after so much HGTV...add shiplap to the classroom decor 
Week 8 Side trip to deliver furniture to college kiddo...panic sets in I may not have done everything I wanted to with the time off around the house. AND Freaking out that the classroom may not be done in time so bribe your own kid to help you (nothing they wouldn't do for a little Chick-fil-a and Jeremiahs). OH and squeeze in a trip to the 305 to see grandma.

Happy end of summer....can't wait for my new crop of littles. Brushing off the super cape!