Getting Organized

Apparently I cannot even go one month without doing something for school. Today I created my teacher toolbox (idea from Pintrest and Teachers Pay Teachers) and a "copy grade file" box. I am hoping to stay more organized next year and hopefully these will help me do so. My husband thinks I'm crazy for doing this type of stuff when I don't go back to work for another 6 weeks. Both were simple to make thanks to Amazon (Stack On 22 Drawer Container and Sterlite 3 Drawer) and Teachers Pay Teachers (free labels). Please share any organization tips that you have- I am always looking for new ideas!

First Post Introduction

Time for an introduction!

   I just finished my first year teaching at a great Title I school. This past year I taught IRR (team taught and resource) reading and social studies classes and although I didn't get into teaching to become a special education teacher, I fell in love with my job and signed up to teach IRR again this upcoming school year. I actually didn't even get into teaching to teach middle school- I added on the certification in order to have a better chance at being hired. My original plan was to become a high school AP history teacher. Ha! It couldn't be farther from my position now and I'm so grateful. Why am I grateful that I don't have the position I dreamed about for years? As crazy as it might sound (and to many of you teachers I will seem crazy) I love teaching IRR. My kids are amazing and teach me so much. Of course there are moments when I want to tear my hair out and can't wait for that final bell to ring at the end of the day. There are days when I go home, collapse on my couch, and cry. However, the good times definitely outweigh those bad times.

   My goal with this blog is to be able to share the stories I encounter in my classroom as a team teacher and a solo teacher. My first year I felt as though I was running around at breakneck speed and hardly had time for anything else, especially because I was planning my wedding and moving out to be on my own for the first time. I'm hoping to share my experience with other teachers and have them share their experiences with me in order to have kind of a group therapy session. Please join me on this crazy ride of teaching!

Disclaimer: All names will be changed to protect the identity of my wonderful students. My name, school, county, and state will also not be named to protect the identity of my students. MNM was chosen for this blog because I love MNMs and use them as rewards in my room frequently.

*MNM*

 

5 Ways to Know it is Summer!

1. You aren't getting up at 5am.

This is probably my favorite thing about summer. Granted, I signed up to teach summer school for the extra money, but I am getting up at 6:30am instead of 5am and I love it. I feel like a normal person getting up for a job. Also, it helps that our summer school is only Monday through Thursday, so Fridays I sleep until whenever I want! This also means I'm not going to be at 9:30/10pm.

2. You can go to the bathroom whenever you want.

This is my second favorite thing about summer. My biggest challenge (okay, one of them) this past year was finding time to go to the bathroom without leaving my kids unattended. No wonder teachers are the number one profession when it comes to bladder infections…

3. There may be kids running around, but you don't have to be responsible for them.

Say you are at a family function, like the wedding I was at this past weekend, or the pool. You are not responsible for the 25+ kids there! I had to restrain myself from getting on to the kids for running, being loud, etc. While I love my students to death it is nice to get a break.

4. You have this magical thing called "spare time"

I'm not saying that we as teachers automatically get the summers off. However, sometimes we have more spare time than we do during the school year and it is great! Maybe read a book for fun, do nothing all day, or binge watch on Netflix (though I do that during the school year at lot…more than I should). Because my husband has a later work schedule half of the week it is nice because during this spare time I actually get to see him before he goes to work.​

5. Only a few weeks into summer and you are already thinking about the next school year!

I’m already excited to get things set up for next year. I’m moving rooms and already have some great ideas about how to organize and set up. Am I the only one?