Will we have a full week of school next week?

Well another mixed up week goes by and as the late starts, early dismissals, and cancelled school days add up the frustration builds for both teachers and students. Well, we can't control the weather so what are we to do? I have to admit I had to take a deep breath a couple of times this week.

 It just seems like the kids are constantly on vacation (in their minds).

I am hoping for a full week next week. Yesterday I cleaned up my classroom and finally left about an hour after check out time.    I decided not to do any work this weekend and to just enjoy my two days off.

As you can see that didn't work out for me.

First thing Saturday morning I had to take a peek at the reading test that the kids took yesterday to see how they did. Our district is using Journeys by Houghton/Mifflin.  I love it and the kids take their test online so the results are very easy to use. I can make up my own test by whatever I decide to test them on. I am really hoping that our district goes with something like this for new Math curriculum in the next couple of years.


Anyway, I will try to finish up the weekend by NOT working.


Have a good one, and hope for a FULL week.

No referral Dance party/photo booth!

On Friday, Valentines day, our school held a no referral dance party. All students that didn't have an office referral or teacher referral in the month of January was able to attend the party in the gym. Those students that did have a referral had to work during the 45 minute party.
It was a great success. I wish I could have had a picture of the students dancing to just dance you tube videos because it was a riot!
During the dance party students were able to get dressed up and have their picture taken at a "photo booth". This is our principal having a little fun with that.

How I view standards and assessments.

As I am wrapping up the 2nd trimester assessments, I am reflecting about what these assessments mean to me. It is not about the assessment but rather the results and what you do with the results. When writing my comments on the report cards, it made me realize that I need to step it up for some of these kiddos and teach and reteach until they get the standard mastered. I need to make some "I can...." statements for myself.

So here they are:
1. I can teach every student every standard until they get it.
2. I can ask for help from other teachers to change how to teach it and reach every student.
3. I can use the assessment results to make sure every student is at 2nd grade level before the end of the 3rd trimester.

Another late start!

Wow at this rate next year when our district goes to hours we would have a lot of make up!
I can't believe how many we have had this year. I used to enjoy the late starts but because of the pressure of getting things done, I just hate them (yes, I said it!)
WINTER GO AWAY!!

Welcome!

I have finally decided that I needed to share with others my love for teaching! I have found so many blogs that are useful and interesting that I need to share what is going on in my classroom with the world. I am a 2nd grade teacher and this is my 5th year of teaching. I didn't go to college right out of high school like so many others. I got married three months out of high shcool. I had my children, 3 boys, worked at places like Mcdonald's and housekeeping at the local hospital. I worked at a factory sewing pillows for 10 years and in 2004 they closed my department. It was then that I decided to go back to school and get my degree to be a teacher. I have never regretted it, although the student loans are very scary! That is my story and this is my first blog post. I hope I can share information and ideas with others!