The Queen of First Grade

Let the chaos before the crisis begin!!

2012-07-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

so....I WANTED to go back to my building and start working on Monday (two days ago) BUUUUUUT NOOOOOO! Can't get in the building until AUGUST 2ND!! The students show up for Open House on Aug 8th!
Our classroom were tiled and painted over the break, so I have to unpack, arrange, rearrange, organize, AND do all the cutesy stuff AND all the "other" stuff (meetings) that go hand in hand with pre-planning. I have to do ALL of that stuff IN FOUR DAYS!!!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?

Oh and did I mention that I'm trying to figure out the new Common Core Standards, I don't have a theme chosen for my room yet, AND that I've spent my entire summer pouring over all things Daily 5 so that I could implement that this year too?!?

So, I suppose I should just relax, catch up on my sleep, and hang out at the pool for a few more days, because come August 2nd, I'll leave for school and WILL NOT come home until I'm ready!!

Newmark Learning NL-1304 Common Core Mathematics Gr 1

Thank Goodness! I'm NOT the only crazy teacher in Georgia!

2012-07-01T13:34:00.003-07:00

OH! MY! GOODNESS! I am sooooo excited!

I JUST found SEVERAL other teachers who are ALL reading Daily 5 this summer with plans to implement in the Fall ALONG with CCGPS!!

So, it turns out I'm NOT the only crazy teacher in the world!AND, now that my summer is officially over (because it's July and there are only 36 days left til school starts) I HAVE to figure out how to implement D5 & teach CCSS all without losing MY MIND!!

Keep your fingers crossed people!

Only a few more days of MY summertime!!

2012-06-17T14:44:00.001-07:00

I have given myself just a few more days of "summer" before jumping back into "School Mode". Yes, I am fully aware that as of this post there is 1 month 19 days 14 hours and 6 minutes until school starts again, but I NEED TO GET READY!
Between trying to launch the new CCGPS (that's Common Core Georgia Performance Standards for all you lay people), trying the implement The Daily 5, cleaning my house that goes neglected from August to May, running all over the State watching my kid play baseball, being married, & desperately trying to lose weight by exercising and eating right...I AM OVERWHELMED. Oh did I mention that during ALL of these things, I'm trying to manage my severe ADHD!!

SO, I finished reading The Daily 5. I'm still rereading my notes, and making NEW notes and "To Do" Lists, but I'm pretty sure THAT area is under control.

NOW, I would like to focus on getting into some sort of routine to get rid of this weight!!!

I am TRYING to follow Weight Watchers, but with two 16 year old boys and my behemoth husband NOT watching what THEY eat, it's been difficult! OH, plus I hate, hate, double hate to cook!

I recently got the Brazilian Butt workout dvds. I may be getting a "rounder, firmer Bum Bum" but I ain't losing no weight!!

Pray that I get something under control soon, or I'm gonna have to start the school year dressed in the bed sheets!

Peace, Love & Tutus Y'all!!

How do you do it all?!

2012-04-15T11:02:00.002-07:00

Well, I've mostly been reading/surfing other blogs lately! I don't know that I'll truly be able to commit to full time blogging until the summer!
I don't know HOW you full-time teachers and moms work in blogging on a daily basis!
Bless you and thank you for your continued inspiration.

Peace, Love & Tu-tus!!

Common Core Conundrum!

2012-02-19T13:46:00.000-08:00

So...my school is switching to Common Core next school year, and as many of you can imagine, we are STRESSED OUT!
I have been looking for some ways to begin "the switch" THIS year. I feel a ~~little~~ LOT overwhelmed!

In looking at other 1st grade blogs, I feel a "day late and a dollar short"! How does one person stay on top of everything!?

Hopefully, a three day weekend will give me some time to create something to post! Right now, I'm just borrowing ideas from some super 1st grade teachers!!

xoxo,
Kate

Nanny, nanny, boo,boo

2012-02-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

So, Hank made another student cry today. The little girl came to me crying. She said, "Hank said he's your FAVORITE!" I replied, "I love you ALL equally, but...what EXACTLY did Hank say?" She sniffled, wiped her nose, and said, "He said he's your favorite because he gets to STAY with you AGAIN next year, and WE have to go to 2nd grade!"

At that point I covered my face, hugged the little girl and assured her that I loved her enough to let her stay next year too!

There's just something special about a kid named "Hank"

2011-11-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

School year 2010-2011, I taught a student named "Hank". He was a lot of work! When you spend an unusual amount of time with ONE student, you learn a lot about that child AND yourself.
Hank pushed the boundaries on the amount of "wiggling" that I could endure, BUT I also learned some new ideas to keep him learning WHILE wiggling!

It was a wild, exhausting year, but one I'll never forget!

Welcome

2011-10-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

I'm starting this blog as a way to keep up with and remember all the hilarious things my students say and/or do.

Eventually, I hope to create a place to REFLECT as well as a place to gather and produce good teaching ideas.