Mrs. B had the day off...or did she?

I spent the day as mom, taking all 3 kids to the dentist to have major work done.  I went from room to room--should have worn skates!

While in the doctor's office, I took 2 calls relating to work, so guess even when you're "away" you're not really away.

This weekend is my birthday.  My students made me a cute card, with little bumblebees all over it. 

School is back in session!

The first day was exhausting.  I wonder if my students are as tired as I am tonight?

My youngest daughter is a 3rd grader, and she came home and went straight to the couch.  Guess it was a long day for everyone.

Mrs. B

I'm BEYOND exhausted this weekend!  I chaperoned a Youth Group trip to Splashtown on Sat.  Let's just say that Mrs. B is just a LITTLE on the toasty side.  Kind of lobster-ish, if you know what I mean.

Tomorrow is the first day of Inservice.  It's going to be a busy week, getting ready for students next Monday.

We got our classroom lists today, which makes it all seem more real: SCHOOL IS ABOUT TO START AGAIN!

My classroom is looking good, I think it will be ready tomorrow.  This will give me the rest of the time left to plan on lessons, get my schedule worked out, etc.

Next week is busy: Splashtown with my Youth Group on Monday, Technology meeting on Wed., Inservice Day on Friday, and Inservice all the next week.  So, basically, my summer is over. 

I'm going to take some pictures of my new classroom tomorrow, and post on here so you can see how everything is set up.  I think it is going to be a warm and inviting room for my first graders.

Mrs. B

School starts back in just a few short weeks, and "IT" has already started...

"IT" being that nervous feeling I get right before the first day of class.  You would think that after almost 20 years of teaching, that it would all be the "same 'ol, same 'ol."  But it's not.  That's what makes teaching so interesting.  Each August brings a totally new working environment.  It's almost as if you change jobs once a year.  You may be in the same classroom/same campus, but the dynamics of each new group make every Back to School week an adventure!

One thing I'm nervous about is my classroom.  Having moved to a new classroom when school was out in May, I'm still trying to find things that were hurriedly packed and moved.  I also got new furniture that arrived the last day of school.  It was put together while I was moving to my new room...which means I've never actually USED this furniture, and have no idea if the way I grouped things is going to actually work once the room is full of wiggly, giggly first graders! 

Speaking of moving furniture, that's the easy part about moving to a new room.  The hard part is all of the little things, finding a new place for them in the room can be time consuming.  I keep asking myself, "Now where did I have this in my old room???!!"  For example, a coworker came in this week, asking to borrow a pair of scissors (she was one of the teachers who got moved to a new room, also.).  I sat there and looked around with a blank stare...I know good and well that I actually HAVE scissors, multiple pairs to be exact, but I couldn't find a single pair! 

Wouldn't it be nice to win an Extreme Makeover, Classroom Edition?  I wonder if I could nominate myself???

Mrs. B

I am reading a great book, called MENTOR TEXTS.  It should be a wonderful tool that I can use during Writing Workshop.

I've been thinking about my class schedule for the Fall.  I'm excited about Team Teaching, but a bit nervous, as well.

I am setting up my Writing Center this week, I think it is going to be really nice.  I put up my Word Wall bulletin board Th.  Katie made a great sign that goes over it, that says "MRS. B'S BUZZ WORDS!"  She is a good artist, the sign turned out cute. 

My new dry erase board was put up this week, it looks wonderful.  It will be great to be able to write on this board, rather than the old white shower board that was put up in three separate pieces.  The new board erases so easily.

Maybe I'll get energized this week and get my room finished, so that I can focus on team teaching lessons, back to school activities, etc.

maybe....

At least, it's SUPPOSED to be lovely!  However, it's a far cry from lovely at the moment.  Maintenance was putting up sheetrock over my windows this week, so now I have a huge, dusty mess across all my shelves.  However, it will be WONDERFUL to have wall space!  An added bonus is that my room is MUCH cooler now without the wall to wall windows/sun.

Our internet/intranet at school is still down, while Technology is "doing their thing."  It's frustrating, I need to print out labels for my centers, but can't because nothing is working.

My new dry erase board arrived this week.  It's still in the workroom, I hope it's put up soon.  It's really nice, and I'd hate for it to get messed up sitting in the workroom.  A REAL magnetic dry erase board, not the showerboard from the lumber yard--HOW EXCITING!    It doesn't take much to make a teacher happy, does it?

My old curtains from my previous room won't fit in my new room--why am I not surprised?  I am going to have to come up with something economical, but functional, before school starts. 

So, basically, my classroom has a LONG way to go before being ready for class.

*sigh*

Where did my summer go?

My kids always look forward to summer, because it means extra time at the library!  If you haven't taken your children to KML, what are you waiting for???  KML has an excellent children's section, as well as a summer reading program.  I encourage you to get a library card for your child, and become a frequent visitor of this awesome East Texas resource!

I just got back from serving as a Camp Counselor at Victory Camp.  What a week!  It was like teaching in many ways, except at the end of the day.  There was no "sending them home" because home was our cabin! 

It was a wonderful opportunity to work with kids that are older than the 1st graders I work with at school.

I can't wait until next year!

Mrs. B