A Week I Will Never Forget

This past week has been life-changing.  My mind has been on full throttle, my nerves shot, and my heart filled with joy.

Let me rewind a bit.  As you know, I was selected as Teacher of the Year for my school.  I was so ecstatic!  So, I spent my summer preparing my teaching portfolio.  Let me just tell you that it is a ton of work, but it also let me reflect on my beliefs about teaching.  I gained more knowledge by writing my ideas than you can imagine.

Fast forward to last week..  I interviewed with past educators for a spot as a finalist for my district as Teacher of the Year.  My nerves were on crazy mode.  I just didn't know which kind of questions would be asked.  Would it be Common Core Standards?  Maybe it would be about how I differentiate in my classroom?  Hmm...I just didn't know.

Well, to my surprise I received an email that I was selected as Elementary Teacher of the Year and would need to come back for more interviews to determine the Teacher of the Year at the county level.  Talk about lots of excitement and tears.  My mind was in a million places as I thought about what all of this meant.

On Tuesday night we had our Teacher of the Year banquet.  My nerves were there to visit me once again.  You would think I would have nerves of steel by this point.  Each TOY from each school was announced.  Then came the three finalists.  After we all sat back down the Superintendent stood and gave his speech.  As soon as I heard him quote what was in my portfolio I knew it was me.  My husband kicked me under the table because he knew all of the words from my portfolio.  I had spent so much time writing, reading, revising, etc. that I read it over and over and over again.  I am sure he was annoyed at times, but he just let me speak.

I stood up and gave only a few comments because the excitement had truly gotten the best of me.  I was in a room full of wonderful educators that certainly deserved this recognition just as much as I did.  I am truly honored and very blessed!

 Wayne County Schools Teacher of the Year 2013-2014

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This is me with our Superintendent Dr. Taylor.

My wonderful,supportive husband and I.  All dressed up before the banquet.

The beautiful flowers are from my family back in Texas.  The award was presented to me from my sweet colleagues who truly helped my to get to this point.

Thursday we had Open House.  With all of the excitement going on I had to throw everything together last minute to make sure my classroom was the way I like it.  

We always take a grade level team photo after each open house.  These are the lovely ladies I work with and that keep me on my feet.  :)

I must get to bed and hopefully get plenty of rest.  I have 23 new 2nd graders to greet tomorrow.  I think this is the first year in 7 years that I am not nervous one bit!

Welcome Back Sale and Gift Idea

This week has been one of those weeks where you it seems you just blinked your eyes and it was GONE.  The good news is that my classroom is almost complete so i can share pictures with you later this week.  The bad news is that I still don't have the names of my students.  We are switching over to a wonderful new grade-book system "PowerSchool" and the names are still being input into the system.  I am truly lost without the names.  hopefully, we will get them tomorrow and I can get busy putting their sweet names on everything!

Don't forget that today and tomorrow, TPT is having the annual back to School sale.  You can get up to 28%  off items from all the amazing teachers that love to share their knowledge and expertise.  I have a wishlist going and can't wait to add everything I find to my cart. (Don't forget to enter code BTS13 at checkout!)

In other news, I love shopping for others more than myself.  I found these cute bubble earrings that are all the rage on Groop Dealz a few weeks ago.

 I mention Groop Dealz on here quite a bit because well, I just love it!  They have the cutest handmade items at discounted prices.  If you haven't checked them out you must click {HERE} now to go see what it is all about!

Anyway, I bought royal blue bubble earrings for all of my awesome teammates.  Royal Blue and Gold are the school colors and I thought these would make a nice addition to wear with our school shirts.  I bought the cutest little "Gift Card" boxes at the Dollar Tree.  You can't beat 5 for $1.  I placed the earrings inside and made this little gift tag.

Unfortunately, the template I used was template on my silhouette and I can't seem to figure out how to transfer that over.  So for you faithful followers I made a similar one for you to use.  Click on the pic below to get the template!

Off to Walmart I go to get some last minute school supplies that I forgot.  I hope you have a fabulous week either working in your classroom, sitting in meetings, or starting with a new classroom full of nervous students.

Classroom Pencil Organization

Let's face it...pencils can be a nightmare.  I sharpen about 20 or so at the beginning of every day and by mid morning they seem to have all disappeared.  Who REALLY has time for that?

I have a green container that the kids put pencils in and take pencils from as needed.  It truly is a catastrophe waiting to happen.  Some kids take brand new sharpened pencils even though they have a pretty sharpened pencil (just a little dull) to begin with.  Since I only used one container all the sharp and dull pencils would get mixed together which was complete chaos to say the least.  I finally decided to buy some really cute pencil containers at Target in the dollar section and make two separate places for pencils.  Since I haven't tried this before we shall see how this works. Fingers are crossed that this is the solution!

Click {HERE} to get your free template as shown in the pic.

Let the organization begin...

I just had to write a quick post about an amazing deal.  I know YOU have seen the really pretty rainbow rolling storage carts online or in a store.  They are usually priced in the $50 plus range.  Well, one of my sweet teacher friends recently purchased one from Sam's Club for half the price.  That's right folks, $25!  Since I had my eye on one for a while I decided to run to Sam's Club and buy one for myself.  I put it together in less than 10 minutes and I am in love!!!!

In other news, I have been slacking soooooo much this summer!  I actually traveled to Florida and Texas to visit family.  It was a much needed break from the chaos that is my life.  I just got back this week and am feeling a little overwhelmed with the start of the school year.  I start back with teacher work days next week.  When do you start back?

Just so you can see all the fun-filled times we had on vacation this summer, I want to give you a peek at some pics my family took.  I know this is more personal than teaching, but i love for all of my readers to really get to know me as something other than just a "teacher".

Me and My Sweet Sydnee

 Granny and Sydnee

Cousin Vivian and Sydnee horseback riding

I hope to be back later this week with some other things I am putting together to prepare for this year.  Until then, be blessed!

My Brain is on Summer Vacay

I have neglected my blog for the past month.  My brain has seriously taken a much needed vacay form all things school related.  Sometimes you just need to stop thinking about school stuff.  During the summer is when I handle all of my personal biz.  I've been bogged down with APPOINTMENTS!  I don't like that word...not.at.all.  It means I have to be patient with my time and I am not a patient person.  I always try to wait until the school year is over to take care of myself because I just do not like leaving my students nor do I like making sub plans.

Now, that my brain has started thinking about school related stuff again, I have been getting busy.  This week my grade level met and we made our curriculum map for ELA.  I borrowed the idea that the fabulous Deana at Primary Punch had and adapted it to our stories.  I can say I feel 100% much better about lesson planning this school year since we have all of this done.

This is what the format looks like. The organization is simple and easy to read!  What do you think?

  

Wrapping Up A Wonderful Year

This week has been a whirlwind of EXCITEMENT!   We had Teacher Workdays all week.  These days usually consist of cleaning up and packing my classroom, completing cumulative folders, and turning in equipment.  Let's just say that there was too much excitement that I didn't get everything done that I needed to so I have to finish on Monday.  Boo!  But, I have so many {excuses} that I don't feel terrible for not finishing up.

Excuse #1

Wow!  I am so honored that my colleagues have graced me with this title.  I am still smiling from ear to ear and feeling very blessed.

My amazing husband and beautiful daughter were at the end of year celebration to celebrate the awesome news!

Teacher of the Year and Beginning Teacher of the Year.  I think we still look fantastic though our makeup was smeared by all of the tears.

Excuse # 2

On Tuesday, some of the staff had to present technology tips at a Stem Expo for our district.  We all worked really hard to show and share all we know.  Go STEM Team!

Excuse # 3

This little cutie came to work with me the rest of the week.  While I was busy preparing my classroom, she kept insisting that she needed to play on the playground.  My team and I had to find many ways to keep her occupied.  Sydnee loves flowers (and butterflies) so we let her pick a big {HUGE} Magnolia from the tree.  She was over the moon.

There you have it...my excuses!  But, I think they are perfect excuses as to why my room is not complete.  I am 100% sure everything will be completed on Monday.  I am READY for my summer vacay to begin!

Classroom Luau

I cannot believe this school year is over.  It will always be remembered for the year that slowly crept by.  Seriously, I love my kiddos, but this year seemed like it would never end.  Whatever happened to the last day of school being in May?  Can we puh-lease (pretty please) have it back?  I really wouldn't mind starting earlier in August if we could just end the school year in May.

Anyway, this week we celebrated with a 2nd Grade Luau.  The kids were actively engaged.  We had 5 rotation stations.  I , of course, had the limbo and hula hoop station.  We jammed out to some Beach Boys and Chubby Checker.  Old school, I know, but the kids didn't seem to mind it.  I was completely exhausted from doing the activities with them.  My class told me about all of the other stations and how much they really enjoyed themselves.  The other stations included face painting, snow cones, corn hole, and beach ball volleyball.  I have always had Luau Day for the past 6 years and every year I have students who come back and visit and always remember our Luau Day.  It just melts my heart!

My sweet assistant and me!  The 2nd Grade Team got these cool shirts from US Toy for $5.  

I wish I could post pics of how cute my kiddos looked.  They went all out with sunglasses, leis, hula skirts, etc.

Next week, me and a few of my colleagues will be presenting at our county Expo for STEM.  We will be pulling everything together that we have been using with our kids to extend their ability to learn with technology.  I know we will ROCK it!  I also have to pack up my room and help another 2nd grade friend pack as she moves on to 3rd grade.  She is such an amazing and inspiring teacher and has been by my side since I came to the school.  I don't know how I am going to survive without her!

Hope your last week was filled with more laughs than tears!  Keep checking in throughout the summer for tips, tricks, and ideas I will be using in my classroom for 2013-2014.