Positive Things!

Even if I am the only person that reads this blog, I know it will be helpful for remembering all the lessons student teaching has taught me...both big and little.

Today's theme (I have just decided) was "positive"...

Positive Environment

• The student's morning work was to write a letter to us (the teachers) about themselves. I'm so excited to read these not only to get a glimpse into their lives but also into their writing skills. From walking around the room during this time I can already tell there are vast differences in ability
• My CT read the book "One" aloud today. Oh my goodness. I think I'll read it on the first day of school for the rest of my life. What an awesome message about being "the one" to stand up, and how not taking a stand against a bully can be just as sad as bullying itself. 
• Affirmations...I think I'll need to expand more on this later (with pictures!) but the gist is that students write affirmations, affirming each other's character. These are placed in pockets (really an over-the-door shoe holder) on the wall. When each student has received two, they are allowed to bring them home on Friday afternoons. The motivation the students had for this was so amazing. Within hours, I saw each student's pocket quickly fill up to hold two each (or more!). I heard some kind students saying "let's write one to someone who doesn't have one". Lots of warm fuzzy hearts from this lesson, especially mine. I can't wait to see how this progresses!

Positive Framing

• I've noticed that my CT will frame directions positively such as "quiet voices please" vs. "no loud talking", or "please raise your hand" vs. "no blurting". I want to focus on this so it becomes ingrained in me as well!

I'm Positive I need to...

• Remember that even Fifth graders need directions broken up for them in steps. I started giving directions to make a paper frame that included me showing how to trace, fold, and cut all at once. Well, I quickly found that it left 29 students rather confused. For my next explanation, I did it step by step, pausing in between to make sure we were on the same page, having them hold up their frames before they made the next cut. Much better. Lesson learned.
  
  (But, to keep it positive...their self-portraits turned out SO cute! The idea is from Create Teach Share. While the frames were a little extra work, I think it was worth it!)

The First Day

What a whirlwind!

Things that surprised me:

• How long it takes 29 5th graders to accomplish things :)
• That my "comfy" flats were no longer enjoyable after 8 hours on my feet.
• Despite being "rulers of the school" (as one student put it), they are still adorable.
• That I made it until lunch time before needing to use the bathroom (yay for developing a teacher bladder!)
• The quiet, wonderful calm that happened during Read Aloud. I loved it.
• I never knew that a 40 minute lunch break could feel like 5.

Things I want to remember: 

• Make sure bags of supplies are labeled at parent night! Believe it or not, most 5th grade boys don't remember which school supplies are theirs and at some point it became a free-for-all. In my own classroom, I might sort through these before the first day of school because my OCD tendencies prefer things to be labeled perfectly. 
• I love my CT's idea to have the students create the monthly calendar numbers. It's just a little thing that allows them to personalize the classroom more. She hands out half a blank index card to each student...students with birthdays that month get to decorate their day, and any holidays are specially decorated as well. I need to take a picture of this!
• Students LOVE to choose their own names for the table groups. My CT switches groups monthly. Each month, every table picks their own name under the same theme. It helps for team building and management (calling groups to line up). 

September Currently

How fun to do one of these for the first time :)
Can't wait to explore some of the other link-ups at Farley's!

The Night Before

Part of me feels as excited as on Christmas Eve, another as if I have a huge test tomorrow. And that is because...it's the night before school starts!

My Cooperating Teacher (CT) says that she barely sleeps the night before. I imagine that tonight will be the same for me. Back to School time has always been exciting for me (backpacks! school supplies! schedules!) but now being on the side of a teacher is an entirely new feeling of anticipation.

I've tossed the idea around in my head of starting my own blog, and since tomorrow marks the first day in my teaching journey I feel like there's no better time to start. For the past year, I have spent countless hours on teacher blogs...I like to think of it as doing my homework ;) ...so I am SO excited to start being part of the online teaching community I've been lurking in at a distance.

I hope that with time (and experience), this blog will grow to be something that I can inspire others with as well as keep a record of my teaching and learning :)