August: let the adventure begin!

We have started off a new school year!!  I am excited to share with you some of our pictures of what we have been up to.  

One of the most exciting time for the Kindergartners is meeting their 8th grade buddies at the beginning of the year.  Their buddies come in and talk with them, share stories, hobbies, ask them questions, etc.  Here are some pictures of their first meeting.  

I love children's literature!  I especially love some of the "back to school" books that are out for kids.  One of my favorites is Chrysanthemum.  We read this book and have several activities going along with it.  We  talk about the letters in our name and graph how many letters we have in our name.  We talk about that graph and share what we notice.  

In short, the book is about a girl named Chrysanthemum, that goes to school and gets made fun of b/c of her long name.  We also throughout the story talked about how unfriendly her classmate, Victoria, was being to her.  We took that a step further another day, by making  a heart, then showing that everytime someone hurts us or is mean to us,  we wrinkled that paper heart.  In the end, we showed that even when someone says they are sorry, our heart will never get back to unwrinkled.  We talked about being the kind of friends that do NOT wrinkle hearts.  

In the first few weeks of school, we have also worked hard on how to manage our small groups in our centers.  They love love love center time!  Here are some pictures of things going on in those centers.

On the tablets they are spelling words around the room with a magnetic alphabet app.

Matching capital and lowercase letters.

Bee hives to bears--more capital and lowercase matching

Tracing the alphabet with Playdoh

more magnetic letter fun

Stamping the alphabet

They are so eager to find a book when we are finished with our work--I love that!

We are having lots of fun learning new things and building our brains!  So much fun in fact, that sometimes Kindergarten just tuckers us out.  :)

2015-2016 Classroom

Hi all!  School starts tomorrow already!  I can't believe how fast the summer has gone!!!  I have spent the past couple weeks up in my classroom setting up the room.  This year, we are going with a bird-themed decor in the Kindergarten rooms!  Here are some pictures of how it turned out.

My first step was to shop!!---Usually, not a problem for me.  :)  Look at all the cute stuff I found at the teacher store.  I am keeping all of my classroom colors the same, so I just needed to add some "bird" elements.  It is always a bit overwhelming coming in after summer.  So, I decided to start with the layout of the room, which I kept pretty much the same as last year, just a few minor changes.  Once that was set up, I went to decorate my door.  

Now I'm a little bit of a perfectionist at times, but  this silly door took me about an hour and a half to complete.  #yikes!!  This particular evening my husband watched the kids while I went up to work and when I got home he said, "So..., did you get a lot done?"  ....."I got my door done."  ha ha -I think he expected a lot more to get done!  :)  But I know I'm not alone in this craziness.  --I look around my school and know that the other teachers get it b/c I see it with them too. 

This is where I put my classroom jobs.  I also put shelves in that space for the Writing Center.  

Next, the sight word wall alphabet had to be changed from beach to birds, so I created the above to switch them out.  

My desk area.  I have to keep my desk in this spot b/c of the computer hook ups.  So I use the board behind it as a general display for lost teeth, birthdays, AR quizzes, etc.  The shelves next to it is my teacher survival organization station.  :)  I've got everything I need for the week and teaching materials all organized and labeled.  It keeps me sane!

I wanted to stop using my whiteboard as a space to hang charts we are focusing on in the classroom so I made one of my bulleting boards a space for anchor charts.  The other one has become a focus wall with a combination of things we will be working on in the classroom.  I'm very excited about this change!!  PS please ignore the border paper that fell off, I will have to fix that. :)

Here I converted last year's Tiki torches into trees to fit our bird theme.  The blue table is where our Star Student will get to sit one day out of their special week...the "tweet seat".  They get sunglasses and a few other special things that day.  

Our carpet area where we will gather for stories, etc.  There is also a poster to write who we are praying for.  

Table storage and signs.  The nest--I found those at Hobby Lobby about 3 years ago for $1!!!  I grabbed 4 and knew I would use them someday.  They work perfect for our table signs.  

Here are a few other various pictures of the classroom.  

And there you have it.  That's what the classroom looks like this year.  I am so excited to start a new school year and can't wait to meet my class!  The first day is tomorrow!  I hope all the teachers out there have a fantastic school year!  

Summer Reflections

Before the school year begins in full swing on Monday, I'd like to take a moment and reflect on this past Summer.  I feel like a broken record sometimes when I say it has been a long time since I blogged...:)  I set goals for myself personally, for my family and I, and for myself as a teacher to meet this summer.  **Most** got accomplished, so that's about all you can ask for.  :)

I think everyone can understand how a person--teacher or not--values extra time with the family.  This summer, we were blessed enough to go on 2 trips: Florida and South Carolina.  My brother lives in SC, so he is always kind enough to offer up his house as a place to stay during a trip out there, which makes it pretty much impossible to pass up.  My Dad used to always be a big advocate on taking family trips.  His theory was, "we work so hard during the year, that we deserve to treat ourselves to a family vacation every year--Life's too short."  That has always stuck with me whether or not we are traveling 2 hours away or 18 hours away.  So, anyway, this year we went to 2 different beaches, and had a great, relaxing time.  I have always been a beach bum, and it's becoming pretty clear to me that my kids are as well!!!!  Here are some pictures:

I completely see what my Dad was saying:  It is so good to decompress, to unwind, to make these memories.  I'd like to take a minute to pay tribute to my Dad.  Sadly, this summer, my Dad grew very ill, and passed on to a better place.  --Sad for us, happy for him.  I know this is a classroom blog and 99% of what I post is classroom related, but I wanted to share this with you because I am the person that I am--which then makes me the teacher that I am, because of the people in my life, because of personal circumstances that shape me.  My Dad leaves many, many memories behind, and in his lifetime has taught me so much that I hold close to me, he will be greatly missed.  He battled Parkinson's Disease for 25 yrs.  I'm so proud to call him my Dad.  There is a Carrie Underwood song --See You Again--that has spoken to my heart since his passing.  I cling to, and firmly believe, the chorus of that song, which says:

"I will see you again

This is not where it ends,

I will carry you with me,

Til I see you again"

Before I move on to my goals met this summer as a teacher, I just want to thank everyone in the SPPCS community who offered such kindness during a difficult time this summer.  Living in the small town that I do, and teaching at a Catholic school in that small town, I really do feel like I have a second family in my community of faith--thank you! 

Switching gears and moving on to what I worked on this summer as a teacher:

Every year in May I make a list of things that I want to improve on, things that can make my life a little easier in August, organization ideas, etc. Pinterest gets alot of attention from me in the summer months!!!  This year, I wanted to find some new resources for our reading groups--check, make new behavior calendars--check, and compile some bird themed items--check, organize, organize, organize--check.  :)  Here are some of the cute things I found at the teacher store to decorate my classroom.  I'll have a blog post on my classroom later this week, but here is a sneak peek.

I am ready and excited for the new school year to begin.  I cannot wait to meet all of my students and have a great year together!!  I found the following picture on a blog that a teacher posted in her classroom.  I think it is very fitting for the beginning of the school year:

May all teachers strive for the above!  <3

All About This Kinder Teacher

I am so excited to be participating in the very first link up from a group of teachers called "Kinder Tribe."  They have made a blog collaboratively specifically for Kinder teachers, where we can all share ideas and such.  The first post is "Meet the Kinder Teacher" where we all share info about ourselves:

And that's a good start to me as a teacher.  If you'd like to link up to this linky, go to Kinder Tribe!  

Summer Bucket List

Hi all!  So, I found the neatest little linky:  Summer Bucket List by Natalie from What the Teacher Wants.  How fun is that?  I'm a little late to the party, but summer is not over yet, right?  There are so many things on my list, and it seems that the list always keeps growing and growing.  But here are my main goals for the summer:

School:
I wish, just for a moment, that those people who claim that teachers are "off for 3 months" could just take a peek into our lives...just for a moment.  I'd be willing to bet that a GREAT majority of teachers A.  do not have 3 months off , but B. do a LOT of work for the classroom:  organizing, collecting, revamping, creating, etc. over the summer months to make life a little less chaotic during the school year.  Ok, I'm off my soap box but that really, really gets me!  So, for school, I want to gather, collect, organize areas that I feel need it most in my classroom.  For me, it is guided reading.  There are so many targeted skills you can incorporate with those groups and I would like to find a good way to organize it all.  
Also, it is bird theme this year!  I am keeping the same color scheme this year, but adding birds to the decor! I love this part.  I love to decorate the classroom and make decor items.  It's the HGTV in me I guess! :) ...and Pinterest helps me out quite a bit, too.  Look at this cute picture I found from SchoolgirlStyle--her stuff is soooooo stinkin' adorable!!  

Next, my class did really well with our new classroom management system we tried this year.  I am carrying it on to next year as well, but need to make new behavior calendars with the current years dates on them.  It is not done yet, but here is a sample:

Personal:  

There are so many times throughout the year when I come across a project I'd like to do at my house but think, "that's a summer project."  Well, now's the time.  On my list is organizing closets, and kitchen cabinets, and you name it, it's getting organized this summer!  :)  I also painted my son's room, and I'm doing little revamping projects throughout the house.  

This year, I feel like I took back the reins of my life a little bit and said "Ok, time to work on YOU a little bit".  It is so easy to give all you have to your kids, and then your job, but I realized I was neglecting working on me.  So in January, my friends, and my husband and I, made a pact that we would try and lose weight together, and just try and be healthier in general.  I am happy to report we were all successful.  Every single one of us are now at our desired weight, and more importantly, have changed our lives to a more active lifestyle.  My friend and I ran our first 5K together in May, (with our daughters), and are since both working on signing up for our first 1/2 marathon.  I am up to 8 miles.  This summer, I'd like to at least get to 10 before I sign myself up for a half.  I never thought I'd say "sign myself up for a half", it's crazy.  It's definitely been baby steps to get to this point, b/c I started out not being able to run 5 minutes straight.  I assure anyone out there thinking about running:  If I can do it, you can do it!!!!! :)

I like this blogging thing! :)  I would like to create a family blog that my friends and family can stop by to see what the Lowe's are up to.  My husband's family are from out of state, so it is nice to use modern day technology to keep in touch.  

FUN!

We have a couple trips planned this year and I am going to force myself (ha ha) to enjoy them both!

First, we have found a nice, little hideaway in Florida, called Navarre Beach.  It is very quiet, but in the middle of Destin, or Pensacola Beach on the other sides. We are going back in 11 days!! 

This little boy had no fear!

My little Gabe was our shell collector!

Grace is my fish!

We will also be going to visit my brother and his family in Myrtle Beach this summer!  We are bringing my mom with us so she can see them too.   We have been working hard at checking off as many things as we can on our family summer list.  So far, we have been to Six Flags, the waterpark, Grant's Farm, camped outside, etc.  

Whatever you do this summer, just make those lasting memories and ENJOY your break!!  

If you want to join this fin link up, go to What the Teacher Wants and add your link.  

Thankful for it Thursday: a weekly link up

Hi all! I am so excited to be hosting this link up! I have to tell you--last summer I started recording a daily account of what I was thankful for, basically a gratitude journal, and it is amazing the joy that opening your eyes to the blessings around you can bring! I firmly believe that you are the creator of your own joy. Go find it, own it, live it! So I created this linky as a fun little way to share the week's blessings bestowed upon you. It can be simple, profound, school related, or not school related. Snap a picture and share it with us! What made you smile?-- Family, friends, an event, a student, productivity, nature? I'd love to hear from all of you!!

First, it is so nice to have more family time!  I love these little goobers.  For those of you that don't know, I am a mom of 3 kids. Grace-8, Gabe-5, & Myles-almost 3.  It fills my mommy-heart to get to spend more time with them in the summer months.  The top picture is me and Myles demonstrating the "Myles airplane". :)  The bottom picture is one of our favorite places to go:  Six Flags.  We went a weeknight and this is me taking one for the team here.  I rode the Scrambler with them.  Yikes!  3 words:  too old and Dramamine!!  

Next, I am thankful I have caught some sort of running bug.  Here's my story in a nice fast-forward addition:  In January, I started a goal to live a more healthy lifestyle.  At first this just included losing some weight, but in March, I started training for my first 5K, and ran that in May.  My 8 yr old daughter ran it with me with  her best friend and mine!  How proud I am of her that she has a 5K under her belt already!  The second picture is my mileage I ran the other week.  I have since increased it to 8 miles!  This is huge for me.  In January, I could not run 5 minutes straight, and I'm so glad that my body is becoming conditioned to healthier ways.  When I hit the 9 mile mark, I am signing up for my first half marathon...I think...still super nervous about taking that leap!  Anyway, additionally I am thankful for all the support I have gotten from family and friends to keep me going on this journey.  

That's all I got for this week  (well, at least in pictures).  I have to up my game and be better about taking more pictures this upcoming week!  Thanks for stopping by! :)

Just click the link below but don't forget to copy the above image and paste it into your post. Have a great one and thanks for stopping by! An InLinkz Link-up

An InLinkz Link-up

aaaand....That's a Wrap

Well, school has been out for about 2 weeks. It has been a great year with a great class!!! I will definitely miss them! I am looking forward to getting a lot of things crossed off my 'to do' list and also will be going on some great vacations with my family!! I did want to let everyone know that this blog is multipurposed. I blog and have linky's with other teachers who also blog, and I also blog to inform parents what we do here in the classroom, and share pics, etc. So, keep this in mind especially during the summer months when I spend more time collaborating with other teacher-bloggers. Have a great week, and thanks for visiting.