Nauseous Excitement

Tomorrow is the big day. I know I've said this A LOT lately but...I can't believe this day is really here. I'm so super excited and a little nauseous.

I'm at that point where I have planned for everything but I know that as soon as I get there in the morning I'll be freaking out because there was something I overlooked.

And I have bus duty in the morning so I have to be out on the playground from 8am to 8:30 when school starts. There's half an hour of prep time I don't get on the first day.

And I was looking at the recommended book list for elementary and middle school today. If a book is on the middle school list I cannot read it to my class or have them read it. Almost every book I wanted to read was on the middle school list...so annoyed.

Like I said, I'm really excited for this first day but at the same time I want it to be over. It's like a first date...a first blind date. I know the name and little bits about him but that's it. I don't have a face or any interactions yet. I don't know what to expect. That's exactly like my class. I know their names and I'm being set up by the 5th grade teacher who has told me a little bit about all the students. We just need to have a short lunch date to get to know each other. Then decide if we want to see each other again. Of course, I can't do that with my students but who would want to? I think the first day should be a half day. Just get out all your expectations and meet the kiddos then go home and figure out the next day. I'm a bit nervous about actually teaching on the first day because I don't know my kids. I don't know who needs extra help, who is so far ahead that they have stopped listening...nothing.

That was such a rambling paragraph. Sorry if it makes no sense but I needed to get everything out and I don't feel like editing today.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Book #35: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

This book is based on Alexie's actual life experiences.

Junior was born with water on the brain which gives him many difficulties to overcome--a studder and seizures. He is very bright and artistic though. When he receives his math book, he reads the front and sees his mom's name written in the front cover. This angers him and he decided to go to the high school in Reardon--an all white small-town school. While there he is able to overcome many difficult life situations and find people who have things in common with him.

This book was emotional and uplifting. It shows the resiliency of people in the face of adversity. Alexie writes with the wit and humor of a freshman in high school. With that in mind, this is not a book for elementary students. You may be able to bring it out in 8th grade but beware: sex and violence rear their ugly heads as much as deep and unabiding sorrow and words of encouragement.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who can accept that boys will be boys and they talk about sex and violence. It was a great book. Funny, encouraging, sad, hopeful. Everything you want in a good book.

Shooting the Moon

Book #34: Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell

This book is set during the time of the Vietnam War (Conflict? I don't know what we call it now but it was a war in my mind so I'm sticking with it.). Jamie Dexter's brother TJ joins the army and Jamie is thrilled. She has grown up with a Colonel father and she and her family live and breath army life. Jamie can't wait to get letters from her brother describing battles and the sights and smells of Vietnam. But the first letter isn't a letter. It's a roll of film and Jamie learns to develop the film for her brother. As more rolls of film come to Jamie, the shiny exterior of the army begins to fade for her.

I liked this book but it wasn't one that grabbed me and made me keep reading. I think it's appropriate for grades 3+. The reading level is about a middle of 5th grade level though.

The Phantom Tollbooth

Book #33: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Milo is a boy who just doesn't know what to do with himself. When he's in school he wants to be out and when he's out he wants to be in. One day, a tollbooth appears in his bedroom and because he has nothing better to do, he uses it and is transported to a magical land of letters, numbers and nonsense. He embarks on a quest with a watchdog named Tock to rescue Rhyme and Reason. During his adventure, he finds that life is far from boring.

For me, this was a middle of the road book. Good at some parts, lost my interest at others. I ended up just reading beginnings and endings of paragraphs at some parts and completely skipping chapters because I just wanted to be done. Probably not something I should say when I talk about this book to my class.

"'I can't see the point in learning to solve useless problems, or subtracting turnips from turnips, or knowing where Ethiopia is or how to spell February.' And, since no one bothered to explain otherwise, he regarded the process of seeking knowledge as the greatest waste of time of all." (p. 9).

This quote made me think a lot about how many people are taught in school. It's just a "learn this because you'll need it for next year" approach. If the things we're teaching our students are not more important than that, why do they need to know them? I try my hardest to give my students reasons to learn things other than "you'll need it next year." Which brings me to my first difficulty in teaching math this year. The 6th grade curriculum says 6th graders need to know how to find the prime factorization of numbers. Other than being helpful in other math operations, do you ever prime factor a number in real life? I can't think of anyone who uses this in their daily life except for math teachers. Do you know of a way I could make this part of the curriculum more realistic for my students?

I really like ellipses...

Ok...I finished my room today and planned the first week...wahoo!

Here's some pictures of my almost completed room...I took them early in the morning then forgot to take more when I really finished...Oh well...you get the point.

This is my view of the classroom...standing at the white board looking back at the kiddos. Don't hate me Tim...I know! Groups of 6? More like parties of 6 but it's very temporary...I promise!

These pictures are taken from the back of the room...to the left are the hooks for backpacks and coats and such and there is really nothing there right now so no pictures.

This is my guided reading table and I don't know what else right now. I'm thinking I'll have the kids move their desks and we'll have mini-lessons there also with the kiddos on the floor.

Here is my "library." It looks so big when it's at my house on my super tiny bookshelf...not so much on the monster bookshelf at school.

And last but not least...my desk...the best part is that mug...you obviously can't read it but it says "WHINING." Freaking awesome for $1 at Target.

Really this is not exciting at all except for the fact that it's done. I'm sure with every track change, the room will look better. I can't believe the day I've been working toward for the past 3 years is really here. I'm officially a teacher and I have students. Holy cow! I'm so stinking excited!

Wait! I forgot to mention this yesterday. I sent letters home to my students on Monday with a little introduction to me and a questionnaire for my students. I asked them to bring it to back to school night (12 of my kids showed, 9 brought their questionnaires). I had forgotten about the questionnaire so I was really surprised and excited when I got the first ones back. Anyway, that's not what this is about. One dad, ONE dad, said, "I'm really impressed with you. I thought that letter was a really good idea. And the form for the kids to fill out was a great idea too." Thanks, you're my new favorite dad...A++ for your kiddo. Big thanks to Tim for pounding into my head how important letters home are! At least I made a good impression on one dad.

Ity Bity Students and a Carnival

My classroom is mostly put together. Decorated and everything. But if my classroom management teacher saw it, he would probably crap his pants...sorry Tim but I had no choice but to have parties (aka groups of 5 or more) instead of groups. My room is ity bity and there's just no room for 30 desks without it. At least I know it's not smart and have admitted it.

We also had Back to School Night tonight. We had a little opening meeting thing then the parents and students were supposed to go to visit their teacher and classroom along with tables for the literacy specialist, math specialist, BYU interns, nurse...when they visited these stations they got a ticket which was good to get a snocone, popcorn or go on one of the inflatable bounce house things. Apparently it was a really good turn out even though I just barely had half my kids show up.

But now that I've met half of my kids and have faces for the names, I AM SO EXCITED!! They are still really tiny. For some reason I pictured them all as giants who would tower over me from day one. They didn't. They all still had to look up at me, though I was wearing 4 inch heels so I was 5'8" not 5'4" like normal. So we'll see if they still have to look up on Monday.

I'll take pictures tomorrow so ya'll can see my decorating genius. I like to refer to it as the slap and staple decorating plan. Actually, there's no plan. I just slap things up where there is space and presto...room decorated.

Sweat and Dust

It's official.

I'm a teacher...I have the ID badge to prove it.

I spent yesterday in meetings and today sweatily decorating and dusting my room.

The room is not nearly ready for Back to School Night (tomorrow night!) so I'm recruiting my sister for some free labor.

At this point, I feel like I'm just slapping things on walls. Maybe I should be a bit more selective about where I put things.

Insomnia: The Best Thing Since a Kick in the Face

Ok. It's 3:32 AM and I'm still awake. What the heck! I've been lying here since 10:30...that's 5 hours people. I've tried everything...I even resorted to counting sheep...does that work for anyone?

I'm supposed to be to school at 7am today. Maybe it's nerves, anxiety, excitement? I don't know. All I know is I'm super annoyed with whatever is causing the awakeness right now and I know this professional development is going to be agonizing no matter how fantastic (I hope) it is.

So to pass the time, I'm checking out blogs...

I'm not a mean person but I like to laugh at things like this and think about saying them to really mean people.

PostSecret...so awesome.

This is one of my favorite websites for a good laugh.

By the way...my alarm just went off...here's to an absolutely lovely day.

Why didn't anyone tell me how hard this would be?

I spent today trying to figure out my writers' workshop. Originally, I wanted to combine all the great things I learned from all the great people I learned from in my Writing class this summer. That was WAY too much work. I decided to full on copy Nancie Atwell and her fantastic book Lessons that Change Writers.

In the book, Atwell gives her year long writing curriculum and a chronology of her mini-lessons. So I think she wants us to copy her, right? It's not illegal if I give credit where credit is due, right? So here it is...Nancie Atwell = genius writing teacher. I only hope I can teach these lessons as well as she has.

So week one in writers' workshop is done. Now all I need to do is finish social studies, math, science, put my room together, and stop freaking out.

Why were we never taught how to plan and get ready for the first days and weeks of school? That should be a class you take during student teaching. Instead of the large group sessions, I'd have a class called The First Weeks of School: What the Heck Should I Do? and Complaining 302: The Art of Grumbling About Teaching.

Weekends

Oh man!

I should be writing lessons and preparing for my first day and week of school...

instead I went to see Harry Potter. It was fantastic but as with every Harry Potter movie I was disappointed because of things that were left out or not exactly how I saw them in my mind. But it was fantastic. I recommend seeing it.

Other than that, I've spent this weekend going through all the stuff I've accumulated over the years, put them in boxes and loaded them into my car. 7 boxes full. Ugh. I don't know if it's going to be a ton of stuff to move every 9 weeks but I think my students deserve the best, most inviting classroom I can give them...even if it means packing up for days and unpacking for days.

To top off a most productive Saturday, I burned my arm while making delicious food. Ouch! I hardly even touched it but it is killing me. I'm a whining baby.

A Bit Overwhelmed

WHEW! I made it through day two of induction. Today was much more useful and much more fun...no talking about boring adult stuff (boo insurance!) just math, p.e., social studies, science, reading, language arts, and fine arts.

Most things were pretty useful and fun but the fine arts section reminded me a little too much of my HORRIBLE creative arts class in college. I've decided I need to give art teachers one more shot because 2 examples are too small of a sample size but if the next class I take is anything like today's or the 16 agonizing weeks I spent in the fall I am ostracizing all art teachers. I don't care who you are, how long I've known you, or how great you are...obviously you're all from the same mold and you're crazy.

Other than that, I'm only really slightly freaking out about how much I have to do before July 27th. That's only 11 days away. UGH!

On a brighter note, Leisl from Utah gave to my donorschoose.org account. Only $176 left to go...that's only 3 people giving $50 or 7 giving $25 or 18 giving $10 or 36 giving $5. If you want to donate, visit my site. Thanks in advance, my students will be fantastic writers!

I've been inducted

Today was the first day of new teacher induction.

I feel like such an adult now. We talked about insurance and 401Ks. Wow. I'm all grown up.

I also got to spin a wheel and win a water bottle and listen to a man tell me not to grow up so it was a day of mixed messages.

Clutter

I hate to admit this but I don't know if any of you have noticed, but I am not opposed to clutter in my living spaces. If I've ever given you a ride anywhere, you've had to wait a few minutes to get in while I throw all the crap from my front seat to my back seat.

My bedroom looks a lot like my car. My bed is like the the front of my car, enough room for me but if anyone else wants in they have to wait a minute while I rearrange. Well, it ends today. I cleaned everything for the past 2 hours. And by everything, I mean I vacuumed, dusted, washed sheets, it was crazy busy in here today. Now it's all nice and inviting and people can come over at any time and sit on my bed without advanced notice. Woot. Let's hope it stays this way!

Philanthropy

Ok. I've realized there is so much I need for my classroom and though I'd really like to spend all of my savings in less than a month to buy all I need, I can't feasibly do that. With that in mind, I joined donorschoose.org to help me meet the vast needs.

If you haven't heard, there are huge budget cuts this year and us first-year teachers will most likely not get as much money as in the past. That super sucks because I want the best for my students and there are things that I know would make a huge impact on my classroom and the learning they'd be able to do but without the money I'll be unable to provide these little extras.

I want my students to leave 6th grade as confident and proficient writers and the best way to accomplish this goal is to have a writers' workshop. I could do this with cheap spiral bound notebooks (which is what I will do if this project isn't funded) but there are more professional ways that will show my students that I mean business when I ask them to write. I consider them authors, not just kids who write. They have so much to say and have great stories but many times they do not understand this. Along with helping them to become proficient writers, I want them to enjoy writing, to look at themselves as authors, to be able to explain things in writing, to know that they have amazing stories to tell.

I know times are tough but if you can give anything, it would be appreciated. Just click here to go to my page. On the right side, you'll see a green box that says "give $" and you fill in the amount you want to give then click the green arrow. From there you fill in your information and you contribute to me having an amazing bunch a writers. How philanthropic of you!

Here is the form letter donorschoose.org sent to me to send to all my friends:

Dear friends,

I want my students to have as many great learning opportunities as possible, but sometimes I just can't get the funding I need. To address this issue, I turned to DonorsChoose.org.

Here's the scoop. At this nonprofit website, public school teachers (like me!) submit projects for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become a reality when concerned individuals (like you!) choose projects to fund. Donors who complete project funding or give more than $100 receive photos and personal thank-you notes from the students they helped. It's easy - and very rewarding.

The great news is that my project, Writing is like Ice Skating, is now posted at DonorsChoose.org! Check it out at:http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=292533&utm_source=teachers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TeacherMarketing

Take a look. Also, please consider supporting me and my students by forwarding this message to others who may be interested in improving education.

Best regards,

Ashley