Our Class Pet

Fluffy

The class pet idea is an idea from my partner teacher.  I have always had take home buddies like Clifford, Tacky, and Mouse.  However when I moved to first grade last year my new partner teacher, Diana, had a class pet.  Each year she goes to the store and buys a different animal.  The children name it and than is goes home with someone each night. 

I purchased a backpack and journal and the rest of the materials I already had. 

I found an adorable dog at Target.  From the moment I found out I was thinking journal entry and starting snapping pictures.  

I made a collar for the dog.

I made a cover the Fluffy's Journal.

Here are my entry for the journal:

Needless to say the kids are super excited about the dog.  

 I even made an entry with my grand daughter Haddie.  I wrote to the children that Fluffy likes Haddie because she can blow bubbles with her spit and drool just like Fluffy.  

That entry was a hit with the first graders.  

2014 Class Schedule

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I worked on this schedule most of the day.  I was not at the in services the first three days due to the death of my father-in-law, and so I think I may have the short end of the schedule this year.  Oh well, I will make the best of it. 

We will have some changes at our school this year, first of all, we will have to teach our own technology classes, two a week.  Also, our lunch hour moved back a few minutes to make room for longer special classes in the morning. 

We also switched to two lunch hours instead of three so we will have an extra recess duty due to the larger number of students outside.  Yeah!

I hope this will work out for me.  I had to double up in some areas to make it work out for the correct minutes.  

This is our tentative year at a glance.  I know we will be revising the English/Language Arts as we learn more about the common core standards this year and what we need to improve.

Back to School 2014--Classroom Tour

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This week I am participating in Blog Hoppin’ Linking Party. 

Today’s topic:   2014 Classroom Tour

As you walk in my room, you walk right into my reading center.  I moved it here last year and I loved it.  It is along the lockers and that way my first graders can spread out and read. 

This year I put my desk in the center of the classroom.  I do not spend a lot of time at it while the children are in the classroom however I wanted to be able to have more room for my reading table. 

We have a little science area, I am trying to find more things to explore.  The material I don’t want them to explore with I keep behind the curtain.

All our math supplies are on this shelf.  I like the students to be able to help themselves and put things away as well.

We have a little prayer basket for intentions.

This is our writing center.  Most paper supplies are on this shelf and the extra markers, pencils are in the color cups.  This works well for when you cannot find your own supplies.  Children can easily find what they need and get back to work. 

We have mailboxes for return work.  I am lucky enough to have a volunteer to file all the papers for me.  She even puts them in the students’ folders.

This is our large group area.  I move the book stand during calendar.  I also have some of the calendar elements on the smartboard. 

This year I moved my reading table to the corner and I put the word wall right in front of it.  My hope is that it will be a great resource when I have small groups of students writing. 

I have a new to me computer desk.  What I love about this old desk in the drawers.  The drawers provide more space for organization.  

This is a view of the classroom from the front of the classroom.

Back to School 2014 -- Who Monday

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This week I am participating in Blog Hoppin’ Linking Party.  Today’s topic:  

Who Are You?

First of all I am a wife to the most wonderful guy around and believe it or not this guy has put up with my crazy ideas for 30 years.

My second most important role is Mom!  I have four wonderful children.  They are all grown up now with their own careers and busy lives but I still love it when they stop home for hugs.

This year I became a grandma to this beautiful little girl.  She is absolutely adorable.  I am sure she is the sweetest grandbaby around.  I am spending all my money making sure she has the best library 

I love to ride my bike, creative things, READ, teach my little first graders, travel and decorate.