Hi Ho, Hi Ho...It's Off to Work We Go!

Well, tomorrow (Tuesday) is the first official day to be back to work! Of course, we get to "ease" into things by having a training workshop on Restitution for our entire school division. It will be great to see colleagues and catch up, but I'm sure that many people would rather have the time in their classrooms. Oh well...one of the nice things about doing this kind of training as a whole school/division is that everyone starts to use the same vocabulary and expressions, so it becomes so much more consistent for the kids! Maybe I will be able to find some time in the near future to talk a little bit more about this training.

On Wednesday, we will begin our day with a staff meeting, and then we can use the rest of the day to do whatever we need in our own classrooms...and Thursday, bring on the kids!

I have spent a lot of this summer planning for this next school year. I know that we are fortunate at our school to be able to go in pretty much any time throughout the summer, to either clean up from the previous year, set up for the next one, or even just to get a head start on the photocopying. Some times, I just like to go in on a Tuesday evening, when I know that no one else will be around, and I can be as anti-social focused as I want!

Today, I thought I would share a few pictures of my finished(?) space...I think I am ready for the challenges and adventure of a new year. There are so many changes in our school this year and hopefully with having everything in my own room ready to go, it will help me have the strength to deal with those other things!

This is the bulletin board just outside our classroom.
My kids will be making their own potato heads to add to it on their first day back!

One of our school division's goals involves Sustainable Development. I keep this bulletin board in the hallway up all year long, adding to it as we do things throughout the year!

I'm not sure how long my kids will keep this area so organized, but it looks good for now!

These cubbies let my kids store those bulky binders and portfolios out of the way.

I love how this space turned out! This summer I re-did my entire library...changing from the traditional, on the shelf, just sitting there system to labelled baskets based on themes. This is just one of my library shelves...there are two more here...Have I mentioned that I have a "slight" addiction to books? lol

This is my reading area. It also contains lots of non-fiction books and a variety of magazines.

This is part of our Writing area. It has some of the extra things that my kids can tackle in writing, while they are waiting for a conference with me, or for someone to help edit their other work.

Here is our Listening centre/charging station. I have lots of books on iPods (we have 6) and iPads (I have 3).

We have four computers in our classroom, as well as 2 laptops. We use them for some of our Listening to Reading, word processing, keyboard practice, researching, Math with Technology, and whatever else we can manage!

This is our schedule/calendar area. The pocket chart shows our daily schedule (which seems to get changed around a lot) with word and picture cues. The calendar keeps us informed with what is happening throughout the month.
(Don't mind the mess below it...lol...that is our Home Reading books, in plastic eavestroughs, hanging on the wall.)

Well, I suppose I should get this post published so that I can get to bed, and then get this year started! For those colleagues that are starting tomorrow too, good luck and I hope that everything goes smoothly for you as well! Have a great year!

Take care,

Tammy

September Currently...and Ready to Go to Work!

Yes, it's that time of year...and as I said with my last Currently, I never really did get out of school mode. I was either at school...or sitting in the family room with piles of school papers surrounding me. But that's okay...I am feeling very positive about walking into my classroom for next week, ready to take on a new class!

So here I am, linking up to Farley's Currently over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

 

I think that most of these are pretty self-explanatory...

 



I am a reality show junkie...lol...but not everything...these were usually the shows I watched with my son (Big Brother, American Ninja Warrior, America's Got Talent...). He moved out this summer, into his own house that he has been building over the past two years (can you tell that I'm a proud mom for my 27 year old "kid"? ), so it's a little harder to watch them all on my own, but they are good for when I'm working on those piles of school papers...lol

Although I have been working hard, and am pretty much ready for the beginning of a school year, it is still nice knowing that I have some time yet.

Haircut is booked! My hairdresser sounded just as excited to hear from me when I called...lol

Who doesn't want baby time? My granddaughter is 17 months, and is just the sweetest, most adorable thing in my life! I love every moment I can get with her. And my nephew is an absolute cutie! He is 5 months old (although he arrived 3 months early, and gave us a few worries at first) and I adore him!

I know, I know...all the sleep studies tell me how important sleep is...but my brain has a really hard time shutting off when I lay down at night...I don't know if I just worry too much about forgetting something, or if I just have too many things on the go...but sometimes I have to get up and add to that huge "To Do List" before I try to go back and sleep.

I think my goals speak for themselves...and I'm sure I could easily add way more...lol...but that's okay...at least they give me a start for the new school year!

Well, that's it for me tonight. Hopefully I will be back here soon, to share some pictures of my classroom. Good luck to everyone as you start the new year as well!

Take care,

Tammy

Back to School...Where Do I Start?

Wow...I know that I am not officially back to school until September 8th, but I headed over to my classroom today. I walked in...saw what it looked like...and considered turning around and going back home! The one good thing is that the floor was shiny and clean, and ready for me to "work my magic" and start arranging!

I suppose it really isn't so bad...it's just that I like to move everything up off the floor at the end of June so that our caretaker doesn't have to move all of my stuff while trying to clean the floors.

Of course, setting up my room was not my intention today...instead, I decided to start some intense cleaning. It is time to start de-cluttering. You know what I mean...maybe actually throwing out some of those games that have been missing pieces for a few years and still haven't shown up...or that stuffed cupboard of art supplies that were such a good buy (time to figure out a use for them this year or pass them on to someone else)...perhaps weeding out my classroom library (then I might have some room for the new books I will more than likely buy this year)...and then there's the filing cabinet...and the cupboards of teacher resource books that no longer match who or what I am teaching.

 

 

Wow...although it doesn't look like I made much progress, I really did do a lot of sorting and cleaning! A few more days of reorganizing and I will feel much better about my space...and I will be ready to start setting up for the new school year! That will actually be the easy part, as I have spent lots of my summer break getting things ready...fresh labels, new signs, sorted papers...planning for a few new curriculums.

 

Stay tuned for the next set of pictures...once things are all in place!  I hope that you are getting everything ready for your own space, but are still able to enjoy whatever time you still have left of your summer break!

 

Take care,

Tammy

August Currently...and Time to Think About Back to School!

Sorry...I'm laughing at this post's title...as hubby often says, it probably takes me until mid August to get out of school mode...just in time to get back into it and ready for September!

For anyone who read my July Currently and post, the end result is that I was not successful in getting the new principal position at my school. I didn't realize how much I wanted it until I didn't get it...but, after a good cry, a few days of feeling sorry for myself, and some time spent with my 16-month old granddaughter, I turned my head around and started looking at what I will be doing for the fall. I have spent the past month working on new curriculums (to me), getting lots of "Back to School" things made and organized, like new labels, schedules, etc., and just trying to figure out what the new school year is going to look like...

Anyway, once again I am linking up to Farley's Currently over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

 

 

Well, I don't think that there is much to explain here...the best part of my summer so far is any time I get to spend with my family...hubby, our son, our daughter and her family...so, hopefully I will get to do lots more of that before it is time to get back to work formally!

 

I hope that those of you still on summer break get the chance to enjoy your time to rejuvenate before the new school year begins...and for those of you already back to work, I hope that it has gone as smoothly as it can, and that you are enjoying a new year with your new class!

 

I look forward to sharing some pictures and thoughts for Back to School over the next month!

 

Take care,

Tammy

September Currently

Hi everyone! It is hard to believe that it is "Back to School" time already!

I am joining up with Farley's Currently linky at Oh' Boy 4th Grade. I am looking forward to checking out everyone else's blogs to see their pictures of their newly set-up classrooms. Maybe I will try to get some pictures of my own up as well!

 

Well, I don't think there is much to explain with today's thoughts, so I will just wish those who are just starting back to school this week, like me, a great start to the school year! As for those who have been back at it already, I hope that your year is doing well! (P.S. - My 'Pete the Cat' bulletin board stuff arrived a few weeks ago...I am so excited for my kiddies to see it!)

 

Take care,

 

Tammy

September Currently! Let the Fun Begin!

Well, September flew in before I was even ready...but I'm sure I'll be fine...

On my good days, I spent time in my classroom, trying to organize it for the new school year. And, on those not-so-good days, I rested on the couch and did a bit of planning. Hopefully during the next few days or weeks, I can get some pictures up of my classroom!

Thank goodness for Farley and  her Currently linky over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade or I would never get to updating this blog these days! All I can hope is that once all the cancer treatments are done I will be able to make more time for all my little projects.

Listening - With the last few weeks of heat, I am extremely grateful for our air conditioning!

Loving - Since my diagnosis with breast cancer, I have been so fortunate that my family has taken over all the little (and many big) things that I have had to let go of...from cleaning to laundry to cooking...and so much more. Then there is the driving to appointments, chemo treatments and wherever else I have to go. I LOVE them to pieces!

Thinking - I have a lot of things to organize...not only am I teaching with a partner this year, but I also just found out that I will be starting my radiation treatment this month, which involves being away from my classroom every afternoon for a month. Throw this on top of all the follow-up appointments, my Herceptin treatments (every 3 weeks through my chemo port), and maybe even a few teacher-related inservices...and I will be so tired of making sub plans by the time this year is over!

Wanting - Well, I finished my last chemo treatment less than 2 weeks ago...and now I just have to wait for the hair to grow back! I've gotten used to being bald over the past few minutes...wearing scarves for much of May and June, and hats through the summer to avoid the sun. My kiddies at school have already known all about my battle with cancer, as I have worked throughout it, so I will probably stick to the bald look when school begins this week. However, one of the wonderful things that happened this summer is that my daughter got engaged!!! and I would really love to have hair when I go to her wedding next summer!

Needing - nothing more to add to this...  :)

Love Yourself Spot - I am trying to take better care of myself, especially after these past several months...I just need to rebuild my energy levels so that I can do it!

Well, that's it for my September Currently! I hope that your new school year is off to a great start, whether you have been back to work for weeks, or just heading back tomorrow, like me!

Take care,

Tammy

Back to School...and I Survived!

Well, one week done, and I don't want to count how many more to go...I'm going to let that be a surprise as the year goes on...lol

Actually, it was a pretty good 3 days.  I don't have a huge class - 22 students - but it's 2 grades (a Grade 3/4 split class) so it will still keep me busy trying to cover everything that needs to be covered.  Being a small school, plus I'm also the music teacher for K to Gr. 4 and the Tech. mentor for the whole school, means that I already knew all the kids by name (and a bit of their behaviours), so everything doesn't seem quite so brand new for me during those first few days.  However, for the kids, there are lots of new things...learning my expectations, having a few different teachers (while I am doing some of my other roles), using binders and looseleaf (Yikes! Who would know that this was a major deal!), moving from tables to desks...and throw in new programs (for both me and them) with starting Daily 5 and Daily Math...I know that all of us are going to have an amazing adventure this year!

Well, I will give you a quick tour of our classroom (while it's still neat...)...it's not a huge space, and it's certainly full, but hopefully it will do what I need it to do this year.

This first picture pretty much shows most of my space, including our new desks and chairs (I picked them because they are called "blueberry"...and I just wanted to be able to say our chairs were blueberry...lol).  You can even see my summer sewing projects...the skirt/cover for my projector cart, and matching curtains.

This is my front wall, with my white board/mimio space, as well as the kids' storage (cubbies for binders, and mailboxes for notes and stuff). If you look carefully, you can also see my behaviour clip chart that we will be starting on Monday.

Keeping with our new Daily 5 program, we needed to include some space for book/work bins.  For this year, I just bought some cheap magazine holders that will hopefully work for us (and our limited space).

Our back to school bulletin board welcomed my little "aliens" into our space, for an "out of this world" year!  :) After taking their pictures with our 1st day of school frame (as I'm sure many people found on Pinterest), I had them printed out and added onto our bulletin board for the second day.

This was my version of the picture frame..



(Thanks to www.CFClassroom.com for the free pics to design it!)

 

On another note, I had a sweet delivery made to my classroom on the first day of school with kids...nope, they weren't from hubby...they were from "my big sis".  "B" was a family friend, who ended up going into education, and actually did her last year of student teaching in my classroom two years ago! She then went on to get a teaching position in our school division. She knew of my tradition of sending flowers to my favourite teachers on the first day of school (my mom, my little sister, and my daughter...and now, her)...so she sent me this lovely arrangement, complete with an apple for the teacher!

I know that this is going to be a busy year, but I'm sure it will be lots of fun, with great kids and awesome colleagues! I hope everyone else had a great start to the New Year!

 



Tammy