Last Friday

To be honest, I don't remember much from last Friday because my whole day was so busy, and then my weekend just flleeewww by! but I'll try my best...

Highlights/Low-lights:

• The office para called and told me that there was something for me in the office. FLOWERS DELIVERED FOR ME! I was so unbelievably excited. :) Made my day. :)
• Expanded and redesigned my word wall
• "beaded bracelets" for the letter Bb today and also for the day's random act of kindness

Biggest Concerns:

• obviously worried about this entire week and being observed by anyone
• my PD workshop tomorrow morning
• finishing my projects for my last grad class of the semester on Tuesday

Photos:

"Encouragement" flowers from my mentor :)

Thursday

Today was a Thursday that felt like a Friday...I hate it when that happens!  Gosh, I am so tired-- it's crazy!

Highlights/ Low-lights:

• My K lesson with the new phonics song book and my own activities worked really well.  They loved the song AND the puppet "Froggy."  However, it was so distracting to my 1st graders who were taking a test at the time! oops...
• The positive energy and excitement from my kids in the morning is so special. :)
• They enjoyed reading The Mitten again...which was nice because I was worried about hem being "bored."
• The new HF song works really well (to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it").  They loved it!  And it's not difficult to carry the tune. :)
• Cried again when telling my story about yesterday's PD to my mentor-- she felt so badly about my situation, but I think I'm just just oversensitive about everything and anything...

Biggest Concerns:

• Observations next week. 
• Math quarterly follow-up
• organizing my chaos in the classroom!
• my PD for Monday-- is there enough time to plan and photocopy!?!?!

Photos:

Stolen from the blog First Grade Parade...a story map template for The Mitten

Wednesday

Today was a bad day.  Not with my kids, but with everything else.

Highlights/ Low-lights:

• Half day today for professional development= fun snowman activity with the kids.  They loved using the glue and shaving gel mixture to make their "sixth snowman" for our "Five Little Snowmen" poem.
• Cried during my PD meeting today-- embarrassing. :x  Just so stressed, tired, and overwhelmed of everyone's expectations for me.
• I have a little bit better idea of what is expected of my first graders and kindergarteners.
• I think I am going to start locking my door after school so that no one comes in...is that being anti-social? probs...

Biggest Concerns: 

• my entire life.
• re-designing my classroom to best suit my students' needs
• the solutions to my problems = more hours in the day and more space in my classroom
• wishing I could celebrate Christmas with my kiddos :(

Photos from today, etc:

New ones/tens/hundreds chart holders for Calendar

 

Snowmen made from equal parts glue and shaving cream

Crazy Tuesday

Today was another action-packed day, and I am exhausted...I can't even muster up the energy to correct homework and work on my PD workshop for grad school!  At least we have a half-day tomorrow. :) (minus the PD in the afternoon...)

Highlights/Low-lights:

• The Hat is not my most favorite book. :/  It was also difficult for the students to follow...
• Admin stuff made me leave lunch to go to the office and then it turned out to be a pointless drive and appointment! curses...
• Impromptu indoor classroom recess= kids showing up 15 minutes earlier than expected in my classroom.  I was not a happy camper.
• Day 4 of Kindness= Share a Hug! headbands

Biggest Concerns:

• PD workshop scheduling-- argh!
• a snowball of things to do is getting quite large and I'm overwhelmed.

Photos:

Random Acts of Kindness project

Winter Word Splash

Color, cut pieces, & dress your own snowman

Monday

What an action-packed day!  This week is going to be a doozy...

Highlights/ Low-lights:

• Found out that my little kindergartner is leaving next week...so devastated.  I hope her new school takes care of her. :(
• Kindergartner strikes again with poo-oopsies in his pants...so gross...fml.  We took a trip to the nurse together this time...
• Meeting after school from 3:50 until 5:15pm...thank goodness my aide was there or else I probably would have lost my mind!
• Observation with my mentor scheduled for Wednesday...
• Math was quick today, but it went well!  The kindergarteners are beginning to understand addition concepts...
• First grade practice sheets were definitely a good idea...thank you Math director for the bonus and supplementary workbook. :)
• Read The Mitten today-- the kids loved it!
• Day 3 of Kindness= helping me clean the room and wash the tables!  Our first time doing it together; usually I do it by myself, but the kids loved helping out.  I'll have to make it a weekly routine...

Biggest Concerns:

• Changing my literacy instruction to meet the expectations of my director and L
• Report cards due tomorrow and still need to be completed-- they are sitting right in front of me-- ughh!
• Flexible grouping in my classroom
• My PD workshop at the end of this week?
• My work for grad school is beginning to overlap and take over my work-life-- I hope I can survive the next 2 weeks...

Photos:

New crayon holders from my para! How exciting :)

Math Word Wall *under construction"

Friday

Highlights/Low-lights:

• I had a good write-up for my observation in Science today...woohoo!  She said that my students were very attentive, my pacing was good, and my classroom is conducive to visual learning where the expectations and routines are clearly stated-- hoorah. :) 
• Taking pictures with our little one today who might be moving! so sad!!
• Random Acts of Kindness Day 2--> "Draw a picture for a friend."  Then, I labeled the pictures with "For _______, From ______" before gave them to friends and took them home.  It was interesting to see who the recipients were!
• Finished my 3 observations of my para today for my grad class...woohoo! Now just have to complete the post-conferences with her.
• Sent out a message about doing a workshop on multicultural literacy in my school at the end of the week-- I hope I get lots of responses/ I hope it doesn't turn out to be a bust!
• Disappointed that I didn't finish one of the group's unit 3 assessments yesterday-- I'll have to remember for Monday!

Biggest Concerns:

• Finishing Gr. 1 report cards to be sent home on Tuesday
• my 3 projects due on Tuesday for my grad course
• meetings on Monday and Thursday after school
• holiday celebrations in the classroom-- what is/isn't allowed
• my PD workshop!

Photos:

Science Vocabulary

Science easel

Thursday

First FULL day without my aide today -- what is a girl to do?! JK, we were fine, and we had such a nice day!  There was a sub, but she was very pleasant and "obedient."  Get what you get...

Highlights/Low-lights:

• Sub today: "I really enjoyed being in your room today.  I like what you do with the children, and I like how you walk around with them.  I liked being here today."  SO NICE TO HEAR!  I have been feeling really scrutinized and criticized lately by other professionals, and this lady was so nice. :)  Not the sharpest tool, but very nice and genuine.
• One little girl might be moving today or tomorrow-- I'm terrified! :( so sad.
• First random act of kindness= get well cards for my aide...impromptu since I forgot to email myself the documents from home-- oops!
• New hire meeting this morning 7:30-8:15; then ELL departmental team meeting after school 3:30-5:15...wacko.
• I went to 2 CPT team meetings today (one for K and one for 1st grade).  I loved being included in both, but I hated missing my prep time.  However, I like that I feel comfortable with going to both, and I NEED that information and feedback about my quarterly results compared to the mainstream classes!  so importante.
• December is getting packed with events/meetings-- as well as projects.  I kept referring to and adding to my planner today!

Biggest Concerns:

• Grade 1 Report Card due tomorrow for Tuesday--aksdjf;lawjelf;kjsaldfjldsjfljf.
• math data used for instruction
• holiday celebrations and instruction