Teacher Talk Tuesday

{Pretend like I didn't just post 2x within 30 minutes of each other...}

I'm joining in again with Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Talk Tuesday! It's all about advice for new teachers... I'm definitely NO expert, but here's what I've got:

- LAUGH! Laugh at yourself and laugh with the kids. Let them see you're a real person with a sense of humor. It'll make them feel more comfortable.

- GO HOME! Pick one evening to stick around a work, but the other days, leave the classroom! Even if you're not married or whatnot, get out and about and keep strong friendships. You'll need outlets as you go.

- MAKE MEMORIES! Keep a folder, file, post-it pad.. whatever floats your boat. But write down the hilarious things that happen. Keep the handmade cards you get for the holidays. These items will help you remember what it was that got you into teaching in the first place. And on those tough days (which we all have!), pull out that file and remember the good things. Smile, it makes you feel better!!

And, that's all I've got. I'm pooped, and have to get ready for my LOOOONG day tomorrow (last day of meeting for grad classes - WOOT!). Can't wait to read all of your ideas and advice! Join in the party!

(The button is still not working for me.. I've done this a MILLION times, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong...)

So, I'm a little behind....

But I hope you'll "meet" me anyways! :-) Here is my post to link up with Blog Hoppin'! I'm a teeny bit stressed out between the beginning of school, a new reading series, and other stuff, so this is a WELCOME distraction!!

Tell us a little something about you.....

I am 28 years old, and I just began my 7th year of teaching. I have always taught 1st grade, and, while I'd be open to a change some day, I'd be perfectly happy staying right here! I have been married to my hubby for 3+ years now, and we have a black lab "puppy" (she's over 1 year now...) named Lucy. She's my spoiled little baby!!

 

How long have you been teaching?

As I said above (I'm not good at reading all the way thru before I start something, oops!), I started my 7th year of teaching last week. I am 6 weeks away from finishing my Master's degree in Elem. Ed. and I can't WAIT for the boost in my paycheck!! I'd love to go back some day to study curriculum.

You might not know.....

That blind dates really do work!! My hubby and I met on a BLIND DATE! Good thing his best friend knew we'd be a great fit! So great, in fact, we met August 28, got engaged January 20, and married June 14!! Less than 10 months, start to finish :) As noted by my lack of ability to read something all the way before starting, I tend to jump right into things I know are good!!

What are you looking most forward to this school year?

I can NOT wait to see how math tubs work in my classroom! Even tho I was a slacker on my blog in posting about the Debbie Diller Linky Party, I sure read everyone else's posts! My whole team (even the 2 new ones!) is on board, and we're ready to get going!

What do you need to improve?

Oh dear.  Hmm... where to begin!! I really want to stretch myself in the area of StoryTown - I tend to teach the basal and read thru the lessons as they are written and I don't think outside the box to much! I've already noticed in the 2 days I've taught it this year that my kiddos are going to need some serious brain breaks during our 1 1/2 hour ST literacy block! Eek!

What teaching supplies can you not live without?

My HUGE water bottle (I always forget how SORE my throat gets every August!), my Mr. Sketch smell-good markers, my Sharpie flip-chart markers, and tubs. Bins. Organizing items. I LOVE them! I have so many of them, and I can't stop from buying more!

I hope you'll link up for the PARTY! ( I don't know why the blog button isn't working for me... click the link at the top to join!)

A Few of My Favorite Things! *Linky Party*

What a week... Meet the Teacher night and 3 1/2 days with my new little bunch of kiddos! I am plum tuckered out, friends. But, this is a great little brain break for us all this weekend... join in Fabulous in First's Linky Party!

Here are some of my contributions:

My favorite websites

(No, I'm not a Mom yet, but this site leads me to great budget-saving ideas!)

 
The Pioneer Woman! Yumm-o!

Click here to check out and follow my boards!

My favorite graphic and font sites

Due to some recent changes in some of these websites' policies, pleae read their TOUs carefully before selling/creating products with your purchases!!

  My favorite home stuff

I just bought this Scensty warmer for home...

and this one for school! Shh... hubby doesn't know yet... :)

I have this stuff in every room of my house... LOVE it!

My favorite normals...TV shows, colors, movie... :)

I cannot get enough of this show! I just love Abby :)

Big Bang Theory... great for good belly laughs after a long day at school!

I love all shades of blues and purples... so soothing!

Ahhh... Ghost.

Gotta love Dopey!

Thanks for allowing me to take a little break from reality and revel in my favorite things for a while. I hope you'll take the time to share! Click Michelle's button to join in the F-U-N!!

 

I -HEART- Fonts!!

Jenn over at Finally in First is hosting a font linky party... ooooh boy! My hubby will be so excited when I tell him how many new faves I found and downloaded on the computer! :-)

As for my personal favorite go-to fonts, here is my list.. some come from Kevin & Amanda, some from dafont, and some from Lettering Delights:

Be sure to head on over to add your fonts to the growing list!!

2011-2012 Schedule

Kathleen from Growing Kinders and Becca from Simply 2nd Resources are each hosting a linky party to share our schedules! Here's what mine currently looks like for first grade next year!

8:15 - Morning Work
8:25 - Tardy Bell rings/attendance/announcements
8:35 - Whole Group Math
9:05 - Math Work Stations
9:40 - StoryTown whole group
11:00 - Guided Reading
11:30 - Lunch
12:00 - Recess
12:30 - Writing
1:00 - Literacy Intervention Groups
1:30 - Author Study (read aloud)/Tier 3/Title 1 pull-out time
2:00 - Specials
3:00 - Science/SS
3:20 - Pack Up
3:25 - Dismissal

Link up to share how your day works - I'd love to see how you all "fit it all in"!! :-)

 

Now... off to FINALLY catch up on this week's Math Work Stations party!! I've been SO BUSY and haven't had a chance to read everyone's submissions!! Thank goodness my Master's class let out an hour early tonight! :)

Help Me with Homework! (A Linky Party)



Alright, I knew I'd have to start one of these for myself one of these days.... why not today? No one peed on the playground. No one threw a hissy fit tantrum. No one brought pickles for snack! There was a boy, however, who informed me while taking his DIBELS nonsense word fluency probe that he "knows about all sorts of nonsense, Mrs. Scoma." Ha! :) 

So, the idea: since we got a new reading series this year mid-year (Storytown), we are wanting to create homework that is meaningful and helps the kiddos transfer their new knowledge. So... what do YOU do for homework? Is it weekly? Is it daily? Many subjects? Just literacy? Do you tie it into your reading series? I want to get a good head start on this project of mine so that when August rolls around I'm all set and ready to go. Any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated!

Please join in on the party below... and tell your friends that they're invited, too!! :-)
(to the lovely person/people who left me 2 ideas already... I realized I set up the wrong kind of Linky!! oops!)

You Know You Teach First Grade When...

I love lists like these! Reading other peoples' lists just make me smile and think, "I'm so glad I'm not the only one that happens to!" After reading my list, head on over to The Inspired Apple to join in the linky fun!

You Know You Teach First Grade When...

- Everything you own suddenly seems to be color-coded... even at home.

- Your holiday "wish lists" consist of organizational containers and resource books. Plus some new markers.

- You find yourself telling your HUSBAND, "I'll be happy to cook you dinner when you ask me politely."

- The sound of children you don't know sounding out words and reading a book while waiting for a table at a restaurant makes you smile really big.

- You have a kiddo tell you "I've been waiting three whole years for science like this... preschool, kindergarten, and now first grade! I'm so excited it's finally here!"

- You check your lovely bloggy friends' blogs NIGHTLY for any new and fun idea that you know will make your kiddos squeal with delight! :-)

- You wake up every morning ready to go, and you can't wait to see those smiling faces greet you at the door!

More Linky Fun... Daily Organization

Mrs. Patton has invited us all to share our Daily Organization Tips as part of her Organization Week! I've posted a little about this before, but I've tweaked a couple things.

I sort my daily materials into these tubs - activity sheets, manipulatives, read alouds... it all fits!

However, I have made new labels for the bins (those were handwritten very quickly a few years back).

Daily Materials Labels

Also, I put the "Next Week" label on the purple bin for all those things I'm ahead of the game on! :) I want to add file folders to the Next Week bin with Mon-Fri labels so I can easily sort the pages into the correct day. Each Friday before I leave, I make sure that everything's in its proper place for the following week! So far, it's worked out like a charm!

Your turn! Head over to Patton's Patch to join in the fun!

Linky Party!

Jennifer over at Rowdy in First Grade is hosting a "10 Things I've Learned from Teaching" linky party. I can't wait to read everyone's thoughts... but I had to get mine down on 'paper' first, so I wasn't tempted to use other ideas. :-)  Here they are, in no particular order!

1. Do NOT try to break in a new pair of shoes while teaching! Save it for the weekend!

2. You can never have too many bags – canvas totes, ziplocks, plastic grocery sacks… they’re all good!

3. Even though I’m nearly 28, bodily function noises can still make me giggle. That’s embarrassing to admit!

4. It’s okay to cry with a parent over news, good or bad, academic or personal.

5. Kids get excited over the simplest things!

6. No matter how much a student aggravates me, his hug and his “I wuv you, Mrs. Stoma” will still make me melt. EVERY TIME.

7. When my students get hurt, I feel their pain! I can’t imagine what it’ll be like when it’s one of my own kids!

8. I LOVE new pens! And markers. And highlighters. And school supplies in general. I can always find room for something new!

9. Not all staplers are created equal! PaperPro staplers just do such an awesome job of attaching my papers to our really hard bulletin boards.

10. Every August, I find myself with excited butterflies – even more so than the kiddos, I’m sure!! I am always so eager to get a new year and a new adventure underway!

Head over to the Party and add your two cents! And happy Friday bloggie friends!! Enjoy the weekend :-)