Rotation Day

Ok...so we are all feeling the pressure of tested standards.  I feel like every word I speak has to be connected to one of my state standards.  It is hard to want to do other activities with my students, but have to tell myself...I don't teach that in 4th grade.

Due to these high expectations, we have completely taken the fun, crafty activities out of the upper grades...but we do still teach children, right?

My wonderful team came up with a solution to this...and joined it together with holiday fun...and got around that pesky "no holiday party"rule.

We call it Rotation Day.  Each teacher, we have 5, plans a fun activity that corresponds with that holiday.  We have 30 - 45 minutes for each class to rotate around to each other teacher.  It is such a nice break for the kids.  It is also a nice break for the teachers.  It is so easy to plan one activity and do it 5 times in that day.  It is a great opportunity to catch up on grading/cleaning/organizing/planning/anythingelsethatyouneverhavetimetodo.

Now, this is a privilege, so you can lose the right to Rotation Day.  We only have recess 2 days per week (gasp, right).  If you go to study hall, you earn a letter toward a word and when you spell the word, you lose rotation day.  The amount of study halls determines the word.  Our words so far this year have been, Halloween, Turkey, and Noel.

Angels...they are really angels.

As I've bragged before, I have the best class in the world. Not only are they well behaved and motivated to learn, but they are so SWEET!

Example...one of my little girls, Heaven, works really hard and is in all advanced classes, but made a B on her report card. This kept her off 1st honors.

A different little girl, Angel, is a new student to our school, is in RTI, and works really hard to stay afloat in her on grade level classes...but she ALWAYS ASKS QUESTIONS. Got straight A's...and was the only one in the whole class...actually in the whole grade level.

heaven says to angel "oh, my gosh angel, that's so awesome! You must've worked really hard to do that! And you a the only one! That'S so great!"

Angel replies: "thanks, but I couldn't have done it without you. You always help me when I need some help."

So sweet!

I'm a good teacher...on PAPER TOO!!

So...I know I am a good teacher. I even find some level of enjoyment out of teaching the crap text books that my county shoves down my throat...but I recently found out that I'm a good teacher on paper too!

My state test scores were really good and my first evaluation was better than expected too...this was a little bright spot in my stressed life right now!

Shoo...Who else is stressed!

I can't quite put my finger on this, but IM FEELING STRESSED!!!! Who's with me? Our school implemented online lesson plans this year...no big deal. I know I'm lucky to have gone this long without turning my lesson plans in. The our state implemented a new evaluation system (read: ridiculous set of standards no one can meet)...s'ok. I can say the right things when people are in my room to see how fabulous I am.

What I cannot handle are people messing with my TECHNOLOGY!!!! I'm sorry mr. Computer technician, but you being able to remote access my computer does not trump UPDATING MY SOFTWARE!

These people (who must have been sent from the devil) have taken away my ability to do anything to my computer...as if technology does not pose its own unique problems in a classroom, I don't need anyone making it worse!

Ahhhhhhhh...I feel a little better now.
Love, the ringmaster

I have a great class...

So, have you ever had a class that causes people to give you sympathetic looks as you walk by?

A class where word gets out to the subs that they DO NOT want to keep your class?

Apparently, I had that class for the last 2 years.  Yes, I had a few students who thought throwing a desk was a reasonable solution to another students "looking at them", but come on they weren't THAT BAD.

Or at least I thought...until I had this class.  Almost everyday, I think when it gets really quiet, I can hear the angels singing.  My class gets a 10 out of 10 everyday in our special area classes...I didn't even know that was POSSIBLE.

I even think we won a class field trip to the zoo for selling the most in our school's fundraiser.  AND the best part, they are kinda SMART!  I'm really gonna be able to do some good learnin' this year!  (I'm from the south...don't judge)

Ok...I'll stop bragging

Classroom Layout Folder

As part of a new (sucky) evaluation system in my state...I'm having to rethink and reevaluate everything I do and say in my classroom...headache, yes!  good in the end, maybe?!?!

ANYWAY, I sat down last week and pulled out these two file folders that are printed inside with graph paper.  I measured out my classroom by counting the carpet squares (the ONLY good thing about carpet squares in a classroom) and voila...I have a classroom layout folder.

I drew all my furnature on one and only the outline on the other.  After it was laminated, I cut out all the furnature and classroom fixtures (small group carpet, library area, etc...)  Then I flipped it over and double side taped it down.

Now, I can see were all my desks need to be!  I even could very carefully plan for where my students were going to sit.  I {heart} this!

What's in my school bag...Linky Party

Ok...I'm a little late to the party, but better late than never.  I loved seeing all the great stuff in the teacher bags.

Babbling Abby at the Inspired Apple is hosting and I'm excited to join in.

My current teacher bag was a gift from hubbie...aww.  I like the size because it can fit a huge stack of papers to grade.  I also like that it is not big enough to allow me to carry home unreasonable amounts of stuff...we all try.  

.

Now to the contents... My classroom layout folder (blog post later), said papers to grade, math teacher's edition (love how skinny it is), easy grade pro, post-its, and my to-do list spiral.

The most important thing, however, is my jump drive.  I keep all my files (backed up...I think) on it and carry it back and forth.

I did, however, just order a 31 Gifts bag to replace this one...  It's the bag with all the pockets around the outside.  I just couldn't resist.

iPads in the Classroom?

Ok...so I've got a question.  Does anyone have an ipad that they use in their classroom??  If so, how?  My school has some extra tech money and has given us the option of a laptop or an ipad.  I would really like an ipad, but for personal reasons...I know that there are a ton of websites out there that tell you all the great things you can do with them, but I want real world info.

I've got DIBS...

I've finally reached heaven.

By that I mean I finally have enough working computers in my classroom to actually integrate them into my teaching!

There's even talk of us getting a laptop or IPAD, but I'm not going to get my hopes up yet.

SO ANYWAY, I'm so excited to be able to implement this strategy this year.  I have 16 students and 4 computers...that is 4 students per day with one day left over.  I made this nifty poster...

When it is a student's "DIBS" day, they get to get on the computer and play any of the educational games on my website...when they are finished with my work.  Here's what it looks like attached to my computer table...

On Fridays, only students who have earned coupons for extra computer time will be allowed to be on the computer.  This leaves me some wiggle room if new students come to our school.

Drama Llama

In the lower grades, it was tattling.  In the upper grades, it is drama.  I don't know about you, but I find myself inundated with DRAMA!  It is a life skill that is so important to learn...get over the drama!

Sometimes it is so bad that I really start compose a speech about how no one will ever truly be your friend if you don't drop the drama.

You know that child, too.  You are picturing her (or him) in your head right now.  So I invited a friend to my classroom,

Her name is Drama.  She sat on top of my cubbies with a cute little notebook, and the kids would write her a letter about what was bothering them.  Every week or so, I would read through and make sure nothing CRAZY was going on, but it really cut down on the drama in our classroom.

ReallyGoodStuff has a tattling turtle that has a CUTE poem, I am thinking of adapting to fit my needs.  My Kindergarten friend used him and loved it as well!

This is what my weekend looks like

enough said.

Classroom Library Makeover

I am a HUGE reader.  It really bums me out when students don't like reading...I loved it as a kid and continue to love it today.  I was never anywhere without a book in my bag.

Last year, I feel like I really reached my kids and awakened a love of reading.  My data to back that statement up? I had 7 of the top 20 A.R. point earners in the whole school in my class last year.  Even though A.R is not the end all be all of reading, it does show my students were some reading fools!  I was particularly proud of 2 of my students who were not exactly the brightest crayons in the box.  They really focused on books that were on their level and with the help of some audio books, they were VERY successful!

So...all that to say that I had a hard time helping my students find books they would enjoy.  After stalking some other fabulous blogs, I decided to organize my books by genre...here is the result

 I added a bookshelf...Target $12 on sale and the baskets...Dollar Tree and Big Lots

That cute green thing is also from Big Lots...you can take off the top and store things inside also! It was a splurge at $20.  I passed it up at first, but thought about it everyday until payday.  When I went back, it was still there...meant to be.

As you can see, everything has a nice neat place.  The empty basket on top is for books I read aloud.  I use A LOT of picture books to teach reading, language, math, science, social studies...you name it.  The kids really love it when they can look at the book later on their own.

For my 4th graders, they have to be working their way through a chapter book during Silent Reading Time.  They can look at picture books when they are done with their work and only have a few minutes before we change classes.  

Below, you can see how I attached the pictures to the baskets.  I simply printed my labels out, attached them to index cards, laminated, punched holes, and attached with 1 1/2 inch rings.

I really wanted to make them round to match with my polka dot theme, but that did not work out this year.

I've never posted any files to share, but leave me a comment if you'd like my label file for the basket labels.  YAY!

OMG, is it that time already???

One draw back to getting out of school before Memorial day is that you have to go back to school in early August.
I also had the bright idea to run a week of summer camp and leave the next day for a 8 day trip to South America...all butting right up to the first teacher day of school...WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!

Anyway, the last two days I sat in meetings all day *blah, blah, blah* but I did take pictures!!

I am very blessed to have a HUGE classroom and access to a lot of furniture.  This is an upgrade from the very small single wide trailer I used to call home.  I do miss my trailer-mate though...can't have it all

 Taken from my door, that is not usually where my table is, but I've not moved it yet.  I guess you could call this my "focus wall".  Even in 4th grade, I still pull my kids up to the carpet to do Activ-Board activities.

 Again, taken from my door.  I love my windows.  They are big enough to let a TON of light in and I do not use my overhead lights with the students.

 This is my back wall, as you can see this is where all my stuff is stacked up for now... : (

Cubbie Area.  I use the majority for student cubbies, but I do utilize caddies to organize supplies in the top row.  I also am use the six cubbies on the side for math/reading center tubs.

Can't wait to show you pics when I get my things settled.

I've been busy...

WOW!  It has been way too long since my last post.  Although I am not expecting yet, my summer plan was to finish off a basement room into an office.  This was to allow our home office to move and free up our spare bedroom for a nursery in the (hopefully) not so distant future.

So here is the before...

This was actually the room where all our extra boxes from moving went.  After 1 1/2 years, I'm finally unpacked...mostly.

First, I laid the vapor barrier.

Then after a whole day of not figuring out how to snap the pieces together, watching videos online, and one very helpful phone call to the supplier that informed me that MY floor is installed OPPOSITE OF EVERY OTHER PRODUCT IN THE WORLD, my floor looked like the above picture.

Next, I installed the grid for my drop ceiling...not a huge fan but it matches what was existing in the rest of the basement.

Then I paid a very nice man to install lights... He asked me if I had a nice boyfriend or husband to help me with this remodel.  When I told him being handy was not one of my husband's particular skills, I think he took pity on me and actually cut the holes in the tiles and installed the trim kits...which was NOT easy and I fully expected to have to do.  Then my lovely husband came home and promptly electrocuted himself checking out my new lights...hehe

Last, I dropped in the rest of the ceiling tiles, and installed trim (thank you Habitat for Humanity Education).

I could not have completed this room without the help of my father-in-law who spent several weekends building a soffit around duct work and my mother who helped get me out of my Tasmanian devil twill when I couldn't figure out what was going wrong.

I am honored...

I am so honored to have been nominated for the Really Good Stuff Best Blog Contest.  Here's the link to vote for me or to view the other blogs up for nomination... Voting starts July 1st

http://blog.reallygoodstuff.com/?p=7173

Trash to Treasure Linky Par-Tay!

I'm really lovin' these linky parties.  I did not plan on posting a second time today, but I wanted to share my trash to treasure final product!  Oh Boy! 4th Grade is on my list now!

Here is my trash ( it was however, my husband's tresure).  It hung in our apartment for a long time, didn't quite get "lost in the move", but has yet to find a home in our new home...until I stumbled upon a home-maker's blog (see previous post here).

So, I thought and thought and thought and decided to turn this into a classroom calendar/dry erase board.

TA-DAH!

I will go back and add in our classroom's schedule when it is determined in the fall.  I've also decided to put a lunch section above the calendar.  I will have a calendar manager that will change our special area and lunch choice daily.  SO SUPER EXCITED!!

The designs and text are written in sharpie on the wrong side of the glass.  I printed what I wanted on the computer and held it up to the light.  The little designs around the calendar are a leaf, a snowflake, and a flower...all found online and traced.  The blog I got the idea from used vinyl stickers, but I don't have one of those awesome machines.  

File Organization Linky Party

Angelia at Extra Special Teaching is having a linky party about how you store your files on the computer.

Here is how I do it...1st of all, I have a MAC computer at my school hooked up to an activ board.  That means that my computer desktop is essentially a large part of my class decor.  I keep my desktop clean of all files except for what I need for instruction that week.

I also keep all my files on a jump drive.  Being a new teacher, I've unfortunately shifted around a lot in the last 3 years.  Having everything set up on my jump drive makes changing schools and computers very easy.

So here's how its set up.

The dated folders contain anything that has my student's names on it, and also sub plans for that year.  Basically anything that is made for a specific class or day during that year.  

There are a lot of folders from my intern year (i.e. portfolio items, behavoir management, and articles).

The 2 most important are the lesson plans folder and the newsletter folder.

As you can see, I've made my lesson plan files similar to a filing cabinet.  There are folders within the "drawer" that tell me the subject.  I've got some filing to do to the reading folder, but this really helps me plan.  I look at the standards for that week, go to that folder and have several activities or flip-charts (fancy powerpoints) to choose from.

I Need Some HELP!!

So I've been blog stalking and I came across a great home making blog.  brown paper packages has some great home projects complete with before and after pictures...so I loved an idea she posted about how to make a home calendar using a frame and glass as a dry erase marker board.

Click here to visit this post.  She goes through step by step of how she made the calendar...

Now you can see hers is focused on a home, but I want something similar in my classroom.  

My frame is more rectangular than this one.  I'm going to put a calendar in the corner like hers.  I think the whole right hand side will be a daily schedule area.

BUT WHAT SHOULD I PUT ABOVE THE CALENDAR ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE???

I'm thinking I want it to be a student interactive calendar so...what should I put there???

1,2,3...GO!

Wish List Linky Party

Really Roper is hosting a linky party about classroom wish lists...what would I like to have in my classroom??

1.  Itunes Money - I love using audio books in my classroom...here's the problem - our library only has picture book sets of books and cds.  Over the years, I've collected some from Wendy's KidsMeals so I've got about 15 novels on cd.  I wrote a grant last year and got a class set of personal cd players and my students had a blast reading longer novels.  I used up the last of my classroom money to buy 2 more on Itunes, but I would love to have more!

2. Personal White Boards...I know, I know...Lowes will cut down the shower board for you and it is so cheap.  THe problem is that I go every year to buy the shower board and have it cut...AND THEY WONT DO IT!!!!!  It is so frustrating because it appears everyone else accomplishes this task with ease, but not me!  I've been to all the home stores in my area, and they all refuse!!!!! Never fear, I just found these at the dollar tree and when my paycheck gets deposited, they will be mine.  

3.  Ideas for this organizer.  I was fortunate enough to be the first one to claim this prize...although in the 10 minutes it took me to put down my lunch and round up students to carry it, someone tried to sneak off with it...

mine is actually bigger than this one...16 total boxes

Joys of Pandora...Part 2

So I recently attended an inservice that fell closer to the waste of time on the spectrum of "boring" to "down right ridiculous".  However, always trying to find the silver lining I did come away with some new ways to use my FAVORITE online radio.

#1 - Game-Quiz/Quiz Switch...this game is where you have some type of flashcards (vocab, math facts, etc...)  Each student has a card and they mill around the room while the music is playing.  When the music stops (musical chairs, anyone?), the students ask their question to the person closest.  The other student asks their question and then they switch.  Music starts and the game continues.

#2 - We were asked to participate in an activity and the "teacher" asked that we complete it during one song.  Good way to control time...

ahh...all the reasons I love pandora radio...

Organized Bulletin Board Letters

I was fortunate to have a mentor teacher during my internship that taught me a lot of practical lessons.  This one was a favorite and something you wouldn't think about until it was a huge messy junk drawer.

She used a large index card file box and set of alphabetized cards like this.

Then like any other file system, she would place the letters behind the appropriate card.  This keeps the cards all contained and in order.  I took the W, and MC and relabeled it to be numbers and symbols.

Love this!!

Linky Party - My Favorite Things

Little Miss Kindergarten is hosting a linky party and even though I did not plan on blogging today, I couldn't help but link up.

Ohh...I feel kinda like Oprah.  Here are a few of my favorite things...

1.  My Nookcolor and I fell in love even more when my public library got ebooks to check out for FREE!

2.  The DollarTree - refer to previous blogpost...I'm addicted

3.  My Husband...I guess I should have prefaced this with "this list is in no particular order"  He keeps me grounded, and I know that is a tall order.

4.  Mind numbing television.  I'm talking about Vampire Diaries, Teen Mom, anything on Bravo!  I'm especially excited about the new season of Flipping Out!

5.  Word.  Yes, that's right.  I'm a genius when it comes to that program.  I can make ANYTHING and it looks awesome.

6.  Blogging, it is one of my new favorite things.  I love getting sucked into all the great ideas and stories that everyone else has.  So, be a follower so I can keep up with you!

A Classroom Pet/Writing Topic

So, I've been thinking I would love to have one of those cubes that has the bamboo and the 2 frogs in it...however, I'm not ready to drop $20 on something I KNOW will not survive the whole year.



I've changed gears and now can even connect this new pet to STATE CURRICULUM STANDARDS!!

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think...I like to talk out new ideas to identify where it could go drastically wrong.

I want to get a Beta fish...easy to care for and cheap to replace.  Each week a lucky student will get to be the Pet Manager.  Responsibilities will be to feed it.

Here's the amazing part, our fish is going to have its own blog!  Along with feeding the fish, that student will be allowed extra computer time to blog about what has gone on in the classroom that week.  Not only will they be motivated to write, but hopefully it will be a neat lesson on point of view and fictional narrative.

Now...what to name him

The Joys Of...Pandora Radio

Again, I can't take credit for this idea, but I <3 it.

If you haven't heard of Pandora Radio, it is an online radio that you can stream to your computer for 40 hrs a month for FREE!!  and apparently after that it is really cheap to continue to listen says my hubbie.

I have an account hooked up to my school email and we listen to it all the time.  I have a Disney channel for morning time.  I personally like to sing along as my 4th graders walk in and give me strange looks.  Secretly I know that this is one of the things that makes my students love me.  Although that is not any sort of goal of mine, it really helps that the students love you.

For working time, I usually have a jazz or classical station playing in the background.  Most of the students want to listen to the music and they keep each other in check...I hear a lot of "shhhh, I can't hear the music!"  Sometimes peer pressure is a GREAT thing.

Dollar Tree Addict

I think I could create an entire blog dedicated to just this amazing store.  Now, don't be fooled by any other "dollar" store.  At Dollar Tree, everything is only $1 (+tax).  This is really great for someone who wants cute things for her classroom, but is realistic about the fact that it will go directly into a child's mouth or nose.

This is the part of the school day where I have a small demonstration about where not to put my belongs which always results in 18 kids who say "eww" and the one or two that realize I'm talking about them...

Here's my haul!!

Puzzles for a mission trip to south america...

These are wall stickers that I'm gonna place all around the room to make it "pretty"  I saw this on someone else's blog and LOVED it.  I just home they stick to cinderblock walls ok...

These are boxes with latched lids a little larger than a pencil box.  I'm planning on using them to sort and store math manipulatives.  Our county's math program came with a pouch for each student with all sorts of manipulatives inside.  I've of course never gotten them out because what teacher in their right mind would just hand over a pouch full of toys...I'm gonna separate them out into like items.

The best thing about this next basket is that I already have 6 more in different colors...they are the perfect size to fit in the window sill that takes up almost an entire wall of my classroom.  Makes that space usable.

This little box will be filled with sugar free candy to use as bribes, I mean positive reinforcement for participating in classroom discussion.

Letters and borders...what new teacher doesn't need that.  Can't wait to tell you how I organize them!!

Here's the stack to take to the classroom sometime this week so my poor hubbie doesn't trip over it every morning. 

And $30 later, I'm still addicted to the Dollar Tree.  I'm trying to decide which one to hit up next.  I know where at least 8 locations are near my house, and have even sunk so low as to make my husband stop when we were out of town on vacation.  

Debbie Diller? Yes, Please!

So, in my county we are required to participate in 18 hours of "un-scheduled inservice".  Here this translates to finding something that fits into your schedule, but not necessarily anything you really care about.

These trainings usually range from boring to down right ridiculous.

Today, however, I experienced a first.  An inservive workshop that was engaging.  And better yet, I am already working on a plan to implement it into my classroom!!!  What a joy.  My teammate even won the book in the door-prize drawing SO I DONT HAVE TO BUY IT!!

Post me some comments and let me know if you use the Debbie Diller model of work stations (not centers...I'm getting the lingo down!) in your classroom.  I'd be interested to hear how they really work in an upper grade classroom.

I'm pretty proud of my center routine, but it is very time consuming.  I made TONS of card games and file folder games (because of course they don't make those for upper grade kids).  I had a pretty good routine going, but of course I had to rock the boat and decide that I wanted to make it better.  I even made these cute center signs with pictures...

I still think I can and will use them though.  I wish I had a picture of my center container, though...I got a closet organizer from Jo-Ann's that looks very similar to this...

and used these velcro closing plastic envelopes from my favorite office supply store

and created my own "take it to your seat" center.  It really worked well for me...

So MANY GIVEAWAYS

I'm not sure if this is normal, but there seems to be so many giveaways on so many GREAT blogs.  I'm gonna knock a few out in one post...

I love Barnes and Noble (even have the NOOK) so this one at Third Grade Meanderings is for me!!

Target is one of my happy places so I'm excited about this one at 1st Grade w/ Miss Snowden

Amazon gift card?  Yes, Plz!!  I enjoyed getting sucked into this blog at The Creative Apple  It was hard at first to find upper elementary grade blogs, but I've stumbled upon some GREAT ones.

Shooo...I think this is it, but I'm sure there are a lot more blogs out there I have yet to discover.

Change is always a good thing

I'm excited to participate in a 2nd linky party.  This one is about how I organize my desks and students.

I'm only in my 3rd year of teaching, so I haven't quite gotten the hang of taking pictures of everything I do, but I do have one GREAT TIP in changing desks.

I use plastic sleeves to contain the name tags, and EVERY Friday my students completely clean out their desks and turn their name tag into me.  If you have been behaving on a certain level throughout the week then on Monday you get the privilege of  drawing a playing card out of a deck and finding the matching card on your new desk.  I use old maid cards from Walgreens because they were cheap and cute.

I have a friend (she used to be my trailer mate when I had a classroom in a single-wide) who uses normal playing cards and does a team reward system based on the cards.  For example, one group is the hearts, another is the diamonds.  The Ace card is the group leader and gathers the supplies for the group when needed.  Points are earned for expected behavior.

The best thing about the entire system is that it WAY cuts down on the desk that is vomiting out supplies every-time anyone breathes on it and if a student is not making good choices, he or she does not get the privilege of "choosing" their own desk.

P.S.  Rarely I have to act on the island threat...if you can't sit with the group, then you have to become an island.  But that only happens until the end of the week...unless you were "Marcus" who got to the point where he was not allowed to leave the 6 foot square area of tile right inside the door, but that is a whole 'nother blog post!

Posters on the wall...

With end of the year testing, more and more teachers HATE putting up and taking down their educational posters and reference material.  However, administrators expect to come in your room and see it up on your walls.
Now, I can't take credit for this fab idea...one of my fab team-mates does this in her room.  I got out all my educational posters and hung them up with clothes pins.  I grouped the posters by subject and in an area where they could be used for reference.  For example, my science posters are around the science bulletin board and I will change them with the unit.

THIS IS THE FAB PART - when I need to change the poster or it is time for state testing...I just yank down my poster.  When I need to put something back up, the clothes pin is ready to hold another poster.

Linky Party Fun

So...one of my favorite additions is the Littlest Learners Blog and she is hosting a Linky Party.  I've throughly enjoyed looking through the other linked blogs...here is my summer to do list

1. Revamp my science curriculum.  I am blessed to be on a team of 5 WONDERFUL teachers and we each plan one subject area and my happens to be my favorite.  Science, however, does not count towards our school's state testing data so it OFTEN (read ALWAYS) gets cut from the important list.  My goal is to make it completely literacy based so that I can justify it needed classroom time.

2.  Figure out what place a "word wall" has in a 4th grade classroom.  Apparently this will be on some sort of check list next year and I am required to have it...

3.  Take a large tote of books to my favorite used book store and replace it with an equally large tote of books that are on my school's AR list.

4.  Read a little bit of literary "trash" and not think about school at ALL

5.  Visit all the doctors and have all the repairs made to my house that were not important enough to go through the trouble of getting a sub.

So...I'm New At This

I'm excited to be in the world of blogging.  I recently became addicted to blogs that made me feel like I was not the only teacher with a unique and challenging classroom.  So, here I am!  I can't wait to share my circus acts with you and hopefully share some great teaching ideas as well.  Obviously, my summer posts will be more about getting ready for next year.  Once school starts, I will love to share my classroom experiences with you.