Spreading the Love

Hello friends!

As I posted recently, I have moved from 3rd grade to kindergarten. And I have to tell you, I am LOVE-ING-IT! They are so precious, kind-hearted, and are absolutely hysterical without even trying to be. Since I'm so incredibly happy with my job change, I wanted to give you all a little extra something to smile about on this super short week! I mean, how could you not smile looking at this little nugget and his frosting mustache?! (Luckily, my school has all it's families sign photo waivers, so I can post all the pictures I want of these little love bugs!) This photo-op happened mid-birthday party on my first day:

In other news, we are FINALLY starting to use our intervention block for actual interventions. This A) is really exciting because it will allow me to give more of my kiddos one on one attention; and B) means that I need to come up with independent work for my little ones who are not receiving interventions. This week, I decided to use this sight word coloring sheet, and my kids were OB-SESSED. 

I can't find the original source, so if this is your work please let me know so I can give your fabulous mind credit!

I love how simple, yet engaging, this activity is. This is the work of one of my students who usually has a hard time staying focused. He did not leave his seat for the entire 20 minute block!

This week, we infused art into our social studies lessons (Can you believe the students don't have art as a special?! Is that a normal thing now?). We talked about how symbols are images that make us think of something specific in our minds, and we specifically discussed some symbols of Thanksgiving (turkey, maize, pumpkins). Then, we made some torn paper art filling in outlines of some symbols. I was so pleasantly surprised at all the different ways students chose to complete their projects. Some didn't leave any blank space while some only filled in the outlines. These pictures were taken with my iPhone so bear with me!

This project also really highlighted the range of development in my class. You can tell by his artwork that the student on the bottom of the first picture/far left of the second picture is still four (yes, still four years old in November!)!

This one is my favorite: an early finisher acting on my suggestion to add grass and the sky. The clouds were all his idea though!

Well, I hope seeing some of my little rays of sunshine has helped make your push through this short week a little easier!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho!

It's off to K I go!

That's right friends: after a llllllllllloooooonnnggggg two and a half months in third grade, I am transitioning to a kindergarten class starting on Monday!

This is how it all went down............

It was a bright and sunny Columbus Day, and all the teachers at my little charter school were nestled in with some interim assessments to analyze, when I got an email (one of the dozens I get each day!) that made my ears perk up. A kindergarten teacher had given her two weeks notice (sad face), and they would be starting the search for her replacement immediately. Well I'll be darned if I didn't immediately text my mom and ask if it was appropriate for me to tell my principal I was interested in the position! That smart and business savvy woman I call Momma Bear said yes, and I emailed my principal back right away! One week, one sample lesson, and one nerve-wracking meeting later, you're looking at the new kindergarten teacher in CAU (Clark Atlanta University- all of our classrooms are named after colleges!)

As you can imagine, my responsibilities will be changing quite a bit with this switch. In third grade, I was the literacy teacher: reading, writing, and guided reading. Now, I will be the math lead in my co-taught classroom, so I will teach my little babies math, science, social studies, and guided reading! Also, I will now be teaching in the grade's inclusion room, so I will be handling IEP's and improving my differentiation skills. I'm so excited to make this switch, and I absolutely ADORE the woman I will be co-teaching with. 

I can't wait to dive in and bring you posts about the exciting ways we will be growing our brains and climbing the mountain to college!

Favorite Pins Friday

Hi everyone!
So, it's taking me quite some time to get used to posting on this blog (not to mention my time being spent waitressing and trying to find a real live teaching job!!), but I'm hoping doing some linkys will help me get in the habit. That being said, I'm linking up with Cara at The First Grade Parade for my first ever Favorite Pins Friday!

First up, my favorite TEACHING PINS!!

How fun is this activity to help students understand prepositions?! Students follow directions given using prepositions to put the bandaid on the right spot.

As teachers, we need to be thrifty chickies! I couldn't find the original source of this pin, but what an inexpensive way to help students practice cutting on a line...... They're paint samples! 

(Source:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUUh1gC9jnh66v0ks1_Ow-bRjIMDlDshfRNGGb2VfNzH0hQtGqrN4N_ooSdQbrwksXnSKtDffgqbS6tyNSGwuI1gfHPDwduoHVnOvpt9v3mjsokSpSdvBPElxvJS0KPLnBOdLDOle/-h/IMG_5957.JPG)

Next up, some HOME DECORATING pins. I'm in the midst of an apartment hunt with the boyfriend, so I'm obviously obsessed with decorating ideas, Home Goods, and Target!

Here is a cute and cheap way to make your home look a little more upscale and romantic. Dollar store jars and candles. So pretty and I see jars like this at Marshall's ALL THE TIME!

How cute is this screened in porch?! **sigh** One day......

And finally, who doesn't love a little FASHION?!

Oh how cute This little purple chevron and bow bikini is..... I just love it!

Too cute.. Dying.. Need it!

Well, my computer is no longer letting me see what I'm typing, so I think the universe is telling me it's time to go to bed. Thanks for joining me in my first linky adventure!

Talk soon!

My Very First Phone Interview!!

Hi there!

Today I got a beautiful, wonderful, glorious email that brightened my snowy (despite-it-being-the-second day-of-spring) day: the D.C. public school system looked at my application and wants to have a phone interview with me! 

Needless to say, I haven't stopped smiling. The same cannot be said for the boyfriend, however. He is dead set against D.C., says it's "too urban" for his taste.....

But I'm still excited and who knows, maybe he'll come around, right? Right? Anyone?

Despite the touch of rain on my parade, I'm so excited to have heard back from a school district! 

Houston Independent School District contacted my references about a month ago, but they have yet to send me any form of communication. I only know they contacted my references because, when they did so, my references contacted ME! Hah.

My interview is in three weeks, so I have plenty of time to prepare. To paraphrase Wedding Crashers: "No excuses, interview like a champion!"

Later this week, I hope to tell you all a little about what I'm doing with my first grade kadiddles who are still a little behind in terms of literacy. This week is going to be BA-nanas though, so no promises!

Talk soon!

And so it begins...

Hello blogging world!!!
I started this blog to document my adventures in teaching (like so many other FABULOUS teachers out there!). I'm still trying to figure out how to put a cute template in, so be patient with me please!!
I'm so excited to get to know all of you, share my experiences, and learn about yours!
Talk to you soon!
-Lauren