Another Week

  I have enjoyed another week at school with my sweet 7 and 8 year olds.  There is nothing like it. They love to please and for the most part want to learn.  In their eyes I am the smartest, prettiest, funniest, and sweetest person alive (next to their Mommy).  You have to love the adoration.
   I know we start school too early, but I am so glad that the first 4 weeks are behind us.  The hardest part about starting a new school year is the establishing routines and building a sense of independence.  I have already finished bench marking the kids for their reading levels and have begun guided reading groups.  We are using Jan Richardson's, The Next Steps in Guided Reading.  Jan worked with several schools in our district while working on her book.  The schools that had more government or grant funding have been using this plan for quite a few years.  This is my second year using it and have found it to be very helpful.  There is a strict time frame which gives me problems, but I am much more comfortable this year.  I find it is helpful to see it in action as well as to read the book.  We are so fortunate to have had our Literacy Coaches taught by Jan.

The Kids Are Back in Town

Fun at Coolidge Park and the Market at the River Walk.  The kids are in the empty pavilion yelling so they can hear the echo.  Even Joshua got in on the noise.  The painted face lasted until Isaac fell asleep in the car.  Ella's was gone after 2 jumps in the pool at Pop's house.
I sure have missed these kids.  I hadn't seen them since the beginning of June.  Joshua was just barely sitting up then.  He is now crawling.
They are TOO far away.  I love them so much.
It was a great weekend.  Both Courtney and her family and Shelly and Will came this time.  Stan even got to spend some time with us.  It is wonderful to have the family together all at once.
Notice the new shoes.  Everyone except Joshua got new shoes.  His cute, chubby, little feet don't need shoes yet!!!

Oh my, how green I am. I just now discovered how to get to the page where I can add on to my page since the change a while back. We are starting our 4th week Tuesday. Midterm progress reports are already due this Friday. I am always happy when we get the first few weeks behind us, with the students finally getting used to the new procedures. We are heading strong into the Daily 5, math rotations, and personal narratives with Lucy Calkins.

Luxury Travel Mom/Office Candy Giveaway!

I feel like a fish out of water trying to keep up with the technology. I really want to have a wonderful blog like everyone else and do the cute and exciting things that I see. I am just not WORTHY! I made a blog button that turned out cute, but almost as big as my page! I am scared to try things like linking up to another blog. Who would want that WARSHIP size button on their blog anyway? We have just finished our midterm of the first quarter. It has been an exhausting one. We have a new principal, a new assistant principal that we all love but we have lost 2 teachers due to low enrollment. Our first week we started procedures and getting the new students adjusted to being 2nd graders. At the end of the day on Friday,actually about 4:00, we got 5 new students added to our classes because we had to lose a 2nd grade position. That meant we had to start all over with the newest new students and review procedures etc. I am ready to start teaching with gusto! I always have trouble the first 6 weeks getting things back into the grove because I forget they are not the mature 3rd graders that left my room at the end of the year. I have to adjust to the sweet 1st graders and turn them into 3rd grade wantabees.

I am excited about the HUGE give away at Creative Lesson Cafe. Check it out. //http://creativelessoncafe.blogspot.com

Working on the new year

I am sitting with Judy Niedbala at Panera wiring on our first week of school.