Update & TK Schedule

Wow!  I realized I've been MIA for the last 9 months!  I don't have excuses.  I wrapped up my first year in TK, immediately began teaching summer school in 5th grade for 6 weeks, prepped for my second year in TK and ... now, I'm on day 3 of Fall Break.

Here's an update daily schedule I've revised a million times!

TK Schedule:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:06-8:20	Calendar	Calendar	Calendar	Calendar	Calendar
8:20-8:40	Name writing	Name writing	Name writing	Name writing	Name writing
8:45-9:15	Workshop	Workshop	Workshop	Workshop	Math
9:20-9:30	Recess	Recess	Recess	Recess	Recess
9:30-10:00	OCR	OCR	OCR	OCR	OCR
10:00-10:20	Handwriting w/out Tears	Handwriting w/out Tears	Handwriting w/out Tears	Handwriting w/out Tears	Handwriting w/out Tears
10:20-11:00	LUNCH	LUNCH	LUNCH	LUNCH	LUNCH
11:00-11:30	ELD	ELD	ELD	ELD	ELD
11:30-11:40	OCR (con’t)	OCR (con’t)	OCR (con’t)	OCR (con’t)	OCR (con’t)
11:40-12:00	REST	REST	REST	REST	REST
12:00-12:10	Music	Music	Music	Music	Music
12:10-12:15	News	News	News	Math	News
12:15-12:30	Snack/Recess	Snack/Recess	Snack/Recess	Snack/Recess	Snack/Recess
12:30-1:00	Math	Math	Math	Math/ Social Studies	Science
1:00-1:30	Choice Time	Choice Time	Choice Time	Buddy Time w/ 6rh grade	Computers/ Library
1:30-1:45				1:30 Dismissal
1:45-2:00	CLEAN UP	CLEAN UP	CLEAN UP		CLEAN UP
2:00	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal		Dismissal

*Specials: Art every 3^rd  Monday at 8:10-9:00; Skip workshop and name writing, and do Calendar Time at 9:00-9:20; no Science on Fridays during Art Mondays.

 I'm so excited to actually have a workshop time this year! Last year, my instructional assistant came in once a week on Fridays for 40 minutes DURING choice time at the end of the day.  Imagine how checked out all my 5 year-olds were by then.  This year, She comes in EVERYDAY for 30 minutes and I can actually use her in my workshop rotation!! We've done workshop for 2 weeks already and it's been VERY successful!

Dear New Teacher...

Here's some advice I would give myself.

1. Get a DonorsChoose account & ask for items you need in your room, such as basic supplies.  Make a good list mid October/ early November, because Chevron will fund your projects!  If you don't have your items around this time, sync your DonorsChoose with Facebook and notify your SUPPORTIVE friends and family to help out.

2. Get a adoptaclassroom.org account.  This one isn't as known as DonorsChoose, but is just as effective.  About a month after I made an account, Coach generously donated $500 to my classroom.

3. Check out freebies on teacherspayteachers.com. A lot of the products are about a couple dollars, but it WILL add up if you purchase everything you like.  Most of the products are common core aligned!

4. Make friends with the staff.  I feel so fortunate to be at a school where the staff is so helpful. You may be able to inherit items or suggestions from them! I LOVE the school I'm at!

5. Don't take work home.  Set an alarm (no more than 2 hours after dismissal) to work and leave.  I promise your social life and health would thank you!

6. Keep yourself hydrated.  Drink lots of h2o, tea, h2o infused with Emergen-C, etc.

7. Have a stash in your cabinet.  Advil, dental floss, mints, feminine products, chap stick, mirror, change of clothes (you never know if you need to change mid-day!),

8. Sign up for Scholastic Reading Club & introduce to your students.  I always have a nostalgic feeling when I pass out the book order forms every month!  Also, check if there's a Scholastic Warehouse nearby.  Luckily, mine is 5 minutes from my home.

9. Be prepared to fail.  Not every lesson will be "perfect".  There will always be time to improve.  Did you teach your concept?  Were the kids engaged, learning and/or having fun?  Don't beat yourself up...

10.  Have FUN!  There's a reason why you came into this profession.  You want to teach the children of future America.  There's one or two teachers in your pass that's touched your heart.  Whatever it is, every day is FUN.  If not, you need to change professions....

What's your advice to a "new teacher" or your "younger teacher" self?

Welcome

Welcome to my blog and HAPPY 2014!

This year, I'm so blessed and fortunate to have my first class of sweet little TK-ers!  I've been a substitute the last couple years and I loved collecting ideas and strategies from other classrooms.  I did my student teaching in a 5th grade class and LOVED it.  I was also a long term guest teacher in a 5th grade and 2nd grade class!  And yes, I was shocked when I found out I would have 4 year olds in August.  Would I change it?  NEVER!  I love my lovebugs!

I will share my classroom organization, ideas for teaching TK, and the crazy changes I make in my classroom.  I hope you enjoy and please come back and visit!

Here are some pictures of my room before the kiddos arrived.

Day -11.  The day I received my keys!

Day -6.  Stuff ALL over the place.

Day -5.  Added a splash of color.

Day -1.  I'm ready to meet my little ones!