Classroom Progress

Remember when my classroom looked like this? See here.

Well, I've made some progress. It now looks like this...

I know, I know, I still have a long ways to go, but at least I'm getting there, right? My goal is to have my classroom completely finished by the 29th, because I will be done with the Art Studio class, and I won't be at the school every day. I'm really trying to take advantage of the time I am already at school and working on it. I work on it a little before and after Art Studio.

Wish me luck!!

I'm Just a Little Bit Overwhelmed

I know I must be breaking some blog rule for creating two posts in one day, but I'm on vacation now and I finally have some time (well, at least a little bit!) I'm changing grade levels, so that means changing classrooms. Well, the classroom I am moving into has been vacant this year. The whole school has used it for small group instruction, reteaching, storage, etc. Anyways, our district has also adopted a new reading program (Journeys) so all the new book materials were piled into that room as well. Then, the first grade teacher who is leaving decided to put all her junk materials that she didn't want or thought I would need. And then to top it off, the Kindergarten teacher who is moving to first grade as well, had to put her stuff somewhere, and guess who's classroom it ended up in. I can hardly get through the door there is so much stuff in that room. I'm just a little overwhelmed at the task of cleaning and organizing it all. I took a few pics the other day before I left just so later on I can hopefully have a dramatic before and after moment.

What do you think? Would you be overwhelmed as well? Wish me luck!!

Hot Seat

Each Friday, my class and I have a class meeting, so see how we are doing and to solve any problems that might be happening that need straightening out. After our meeting, we do an activity I like to call "Hot Seat." I call one student into the center of the circle, and each classmate tells that student one thing that they like about the student in the middle. As I introduce this activity to the students, we make sure we know the difference between appropriate and inappropriate comments. My students always look forward to class meeting, and especially enjoy being in the Hot Seat!

We Are a Gold Medal School!

A few weeks ago, I had a substitute in my class. She had a can of Diet Coke on the desk. One of my students told said to her, "You can't drink that because we are a Gold Medal school, and we don't allow any soft drinks with caffeine in the school!" The substitute responded to the student, "You don't want to see me teaching without this!"