I'm Still Out Here..Somewhere

Who had the brilliant idea of beginning 3 blogs during the summer with full intentions of up-keeping them ALL faithfully even once school started?
Yeah....it was me...I'm brilliant like that.

Ugh.  I have been decently good at updating our classroom blog every few days but I suppose it's because I know I have parents following - plus we're doing some crazy awesome things too!  Wanna check us out and leave some comments?  We would LOVE it!  Check us out here!

Anyways, back to this blog. I'm putting it out there right now that I'm going to commit to at least a weekly post here.  Whether it be an update on what we're doing in the classroom, professional development I've stumbled upon, a complaint that I can't give up or who knows what else....I will have a post up.  Someone track me down and keep me accountable!

But today I'm writing about the "b" word....balance.  Holy moly I wish there was a formula for finding it quickly!  And I wish there was a way to explain to others how to manage it best.   But there's not so every year I'm left to my own resources and muddle my way around to find that  perfect balance.  Here it is, the beginning of 2nd quarter and I feel comfortable that I've found that balance. Although there are definitely days where I am certain that I'm just trying to keep my head above water and am sooooo far behind.  Please tell me I'm not alone on that one.  For the most part, I am able to get my planning done at school...there is minimal grading...I feel more focused both at home and at school. Don't get me wrong, I still have those days but they are fewer than usual.  I must be doing something right.  Not sure what it is.

Some days I think it's that I've been teaching this grade level for 4 years now and kinda have the hang of it.  Other days I think my class is just great and makes my job easier.  I think though that it's a good mix of both.  That and that I know God placed me here (that's a whole other post in itself).  I wouldn't choose any other job - I love where I'm at. I think that plays a huge part in it.  I also attempt to make use of every single plan time I have as much as possible.  Well, and the fact that with 2 little ones at home it doesn't leave much room for doing school work at home. There's just so much going on that I don't know what exactly to contribute it to but I definitely feel that every year I am able to find that balance a bit quicker and maintain it a tad longer than the year before.  Thankfully!

So what is your tip for finding that balance quickly? Or have you found that balance? If not...I promise it'll come to you if only for a day or two but you'll get it ;)

These kiddos AMAZE me.

Well Hello, Almost October!
Wow...yeah, it's really ALMOST OCTOBER!  I'm realizing it is so easy to get caught up in the beginning of the year chaos and leave the 'ol blog behind.  I had all these great intentions of updating the blogs, both this one, our classroom one and my personal family blog.  Well...clearly that hasn't happened here!  My other blogs DO have a post written in mid-August commenting on how absent I would be for the next few months thanks to back to school mayhem.  Boy was i right! This post will be long...and possibly broken into several posts.  We'll see where it goes though!

Let's speed up to where we are today... Sept 28.  (I just want to say WOW again...almost October?!?! That alone probably deserves a big post about how it goes from Aug 1 to Sept 30 in a matter of minutes).   First off, I want to start off by mentioning how blessed I am to be where I am, doing what I love.  I really never knew how amazing teaching could be until this past year and so this year is almost like icing.  I love my building and the staff most of the time (gotta be honest).   God has placed me at my building for reasons I couldn't understand but am so thankful for right now.

This year I'm teaching a 1st & 2nd grade classroom. That's right...both grades...same time.  Everyone outside of the teaching world always asks "Wow, is that hard?" or "How do you teach both grades?"  My answer to both: Yes and it's tricky but I wouldn't change it at all.  I was talking to another teacher today about what a blessing it is to 1)loop with some of my 1st graders from last year but 2) to get to know 2nd grade curriculum which makes my teaching of 1st grade so much more powerful I feel.  I love the split.  Is it hard at times? ABSOLUTELY.  Have I been in tears a time or two? Yep.  Have I changed my schedule again, and again, and again? Ha - definitely.   Do I ever wish that I hadn't volunteered for the split? No way.  I am truly am enjoying the classroom dynamics as well as the challenges.  Now that the first 6 weeks(ish) are finished we are breezing through and making progress.

So back to the original purpose of this post. It never ceases to amaze me what these kiddos can do. You'd think that after 4 years (just 4 years? wow) that i'd have a good grasp of 1st graders. But nope...every year I push a little harder, go deeper and they keep right up with me. Sometimes even pushing me to places I didn't think they knew where they were going.   We created our Class Mission Statement within the first few weeks of the school year.  I was impressed with the thought they put into it...and they GET IT! That's the best part. THEY GET IT!  We started off by figuring out "who are we?" which lead to "what are we doing here?" followed up with "why are we doing that?"  And this is the final result.

Go ahead....say ahhhhh, because it is That Amazing.   We read it a couple times during the week and discuss how what we're doing at that very moment relates to their mission.
Like I said, these kiddos amaze me.

Monday Made It and Room Pics

Today's Monday Made It just may be the last one of the school year. :-/
I'm back in the classroom now. Not on contract time yet but I will be by Friday. My room is almost done....almost! I have a few things to hang and then I'm done.  I think.  Mr. C mentioned that I've done a lot of updating this year, and I have!!  Our building is getting an overhaul in the next few years so I didn't want to buy all new decor just yet so I updated....by means of crafting...all...summer.  At least it feels like it.  Instagram has been a source of lots of inspiration and kept my wish list busy!

But for today's link up I have a few projects.   

First, I made a pennant banner and got it hung. Yay! That took a long time but it'll do.

Second, I redid my student check in board. Someone on IG posted theirs and I HAD to redo mine to be more colorful. I love the change!!

Three, super easy but I painted and ribboned cans to hold my pens/markers/pencils etc for the reading table.

And lastly, magnets. Check em out!  Super easy and cute! Can't not make these!!

See?? I told ya there was several MIM projects!  And I'm probably missing something. 

Onto classroom pics. I know I posted some in the last post but these are better ;-)

Happy Monday everyone!! My last one of summer, eek!

Behind my teaching table..my little place. Needs new pictures and the C is crooked.

This will house my lesson plans and homework to grade and notes and other piles

Word Wall

This will eventually have our data wall, weekly cycles posted