Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Things I Have Learned in the Last Week



1. Designing a classroom isn't as fun as I thought it would be.

Just so you know, I love being creative. I love planning parties and rearranging furniture. I like to scrapbook and make crafts and make things over. All of these things would help me create a classroom that is loving, warm, fun, cute, and well, perfect - like my own personal teaching dreamland! But disappointment quickly settled in when my grandiose plans weren't working out quite as well. You know when you have an image in your mind about what you want something to be? And then it doesn't quite work out? That's whatIi was going through times a million. All of my plans and products were not adding up to the perfectionist room I had dreamed of. Total bummer and not what I expected. Luckily it's turning around - check back for pictures of the finished product!

2. Teaching is expensive....like more expensive than I even could have imagined!  

Whether you are starting your own classroom or planning curriculum and activities, it adds up, QUICK. Yes - I do get a little money to start my classroom and buy supplies. No - it's not very much money. Let's just say that it wouldn't buy you a nice pair of shoes, but it might buy you a new skirt and a cheap shirt. So what to do? Spend my own money. I wanted my classroom to be a home for myself as well as for my students - somewhere they can come to feel safe, loved, welcome, and a part of something. I guess when you look at it that way then no amount of money would be wasted if spending it for a cause such as this. Oh by the way...I'm currently accepting donations. (haha)

3. You never feel ready!

No amount of planing and prepping can adequately prepare you for what lies ahead. I constantly am thinking about what I need to do next. Whether it's what bulletin board I need to finish or what lesson plan I need to write. From getting to know who my students will be to creating class lists and assigning desks. I'm even having nightmares er, I mean dreams about my class and everything that could go wrong! I am sure that even on the last day of school in my 30th year of teaching will I feel prepared even then. I will still feel unprepared, and still wish I had more time (and money!). 

4. There is nothing that makes me more happy. 

At the end of every day, I come home. I put on my Costco pajamas that are so comfortable I would wear them on the first day of school if that were acceptable, pull out my computer, and brainstorm ways that I can be the best teacher possible. I mean - the best teacher in the entire world! I have big goals peeps. I scour pinterest for the latest ideas, read news articles about technology in the classroom, and studies about students and how to help them be more successful. And right now I am going to start thinking about making my back to school night not only informative but fun got both teachers and students. Have an awesome ideas of what you have done as a teacher or what you have seen as a parent? Leave me a comment! I need all the help I can get. 

But just like the great hero Nelson Mandela said, "It always seems to be impossible until it's done." So here's to impossible!

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