Let's Get Acquainted

Hello, friends!

It's my birthday week!  I'll be turning 27 on Wednesday.  I'm officially in my late 20's.  I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'll be having a sale on Wednesday to celebrate. Details will be coming soon!

Today, I am linking up with Latoya from Flying into First Grade for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky.  

The theme this week is on advice for new teachers.  

Teachers, new and old, need to buy themselves a personal laminator.  I HATE having to wait in line to laminate at my school.  Sometimes the laminate wouldn't stick and I'd have to do it again. I decided to take the plunge and buy my own laminator.  Friends, it was only 25 dollars.  It has been worth every penny.  Head to your local Wal-Mart or Target NOW to buy one.  It's worth it. The one I bought and recommend is made by Scotch.  

Always ask questions.  Don't be afraid to ask anyone a question.  College didn't prepare you for that first day in your classroom.  I honestly don't feel that college prepared me to teach.  I learned all sorts of methods and strategies, but I honestly believe that you do not learn to be a teacher until you step foot into your classroom for the first time.  If you have a question, ask.  If you need something, ask. No one will know if you don't ask.  So, ask away!

Never isolate yourself.  Sometimes, you may feel like you are all alone.  Trust me, your not.  

Find a friend.  You need someone that you can talk to, someone that you can vent to, and someone that will just listen.  

Make yourself leave at a decent time.  I MAKE myself leave at least by 5 every day.  If not, I could be there for hours and hours later.  You have to have a life outside of teaching.  Choose a decent time and stick to it when you can. 

Finally, be a friend.  Everyone has their good and bad days.  Listen to everyone, but never gossip.  

I hope that everyone has a terrific Monday!

Lots of love,

Let's Get Acquainted

Hello, friends!

I'm linking up with Flying into First Grade for her Let's Get Acquainted linky.  I absolutely love this linky because it gives you a chance to learn a little about me. 

This week's theme is Tic Tac Toe.  I can answer any of the 3 questions below, as long as it makes "Tic Tac Toe."

I am going to go vertical to win at Tic Tac Toe. ;-)

First, most of you know that I went to Clemson University.  Go Tigers!  One of my favorite memories was going to my first Clemson football game.  I got to sit on the "hill". My calves were killing me the next day.  I had a blast.  I finally talked my then boyfriend (who became my husband) to going with me.  We had a blast and have been to several since then.  The downside was that we lost.  That was not fun at all.  Being with "80,000 of your closest friends" in the stadium when we lose is such a sad feeling.  My favorite part of that experience was getting to watch the players rub Howard's Rock and run down the hill.  Unless you've been, it's an experience that you can't describe.  Love me some football!

Second, I have never shared with y'all my first year of teaching.  Well, I haven't because it was a rough year.  All I can do now is sit back and laugh.  

Background: 
First I graduated in 2008.  I was one of the lucky people who did not get a job right out of college.  The district that I wanted to be in at the time wound up placing people in the open positions.  The positions that I interviewed for, I didn't get.  I was heartbroken.  I taught at summer academy that next summer and learned of an opening at the school that I teach at now.  It was for 5th grade, not the grade that I wanted.  I just knew that I had to find a job.  I wanted to be a teacher and it didn't matter the grade.  At the time, it really didn't.

Let me start by saying that the 5th graders in my school were COMPLETELY different than the 5th graders at the school that I did my student teaching with.

I loved my students individually, but as a class they were a rough group.  I stand at 5'0.  Almost every single one of them were taller than me.  I learned that I am more of a primary teacher.  I didn't know how to control these kids.  I really didn't.  I'll never forget one of my girls getting in my face and yelling at me.  I had one boy throw his desk across the room.  Like I said, it was a rough year.  I was doing fine up until Christmas break.  It seemed like after Christmas, they changed.  I officially had middle schoolers.  EEEK!  I didn't know what to do with the drama and the attitudes that were forming.  5th grade wasn't for me. I asked to go to another grade level at the end of that year.  I was placed in 2nd grade, where I feel at home. I learned A LOT my first year of teaching. Those kids will hold a special place in my heart.  

Last, I love 2nd grade.  I know I have only taught two grades (3 if you count student teaching which I did in 3rd grade), but I think I can honestly say that 2nd grade is the best.  2nd graders are "independent".  Independent meaning that I can tell them what to do and most of them can do it without any problems.  They also still love school.  Remember those 5th graders above, most of them hated school.  It's hard to work with a group of students who have already formed a disliking for school.  They also still love their teacher.  These kids give me hugs all day long.  I need that.  That's where I fit in.  They are just precious. 

The growth that they make in 2nd grade is unbelievable!  2nd graders grow so much mentally and physically.  2nd grade is the transition into the intermediate grades. They start out as little 1st graders when they enter my room.  My goal is to turn them into excellent readers, writers,and mathematicians. My goal is for them to be able to be independent for longer periods of time. 

I hope everyone has a fantastic day!

Lots of love,

Let's Get Acquainted

Happy Monday, Friends!

I hope everyone has had a great day.  Monday is OVER!  It's been a fun day with my little monsters.  You can tell that summer is just around the corner.  Some of my kids have been acting just crazy lately.  

I'm linking up with Flying into First Grade for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky. 

Let the questions begin! 

1.  What made you decide to become a teacher?
Honestly, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Teacher was on my list, but it wasn't high up on my list.  In high school, I knew that I wanted to work with kids.  I spent a lot of my time volunteering at a local children's home.  Those kids made me want to be in a profession with children.  I decided that I wanted to become a pediatrician. Then, during my senior year of high school I took Honors Spanish (it may have been an honors class, and I did well in it, but I cannot carry on a conversation). I had to tutor a Spanish speaking child for the year.  I fell in LOVE with teaching.  So, I applied to Clemson for both nursing and Elementary Education.  I decided that I would put it in God's hands.  I received my acceptance letter to Clemson University.  I was accepted into the Education department.  It was the right decision.  I haven't looked back.  I'm glad I'm a teacher.

2.  What has been your most rewarding experience as a teacher?
I have a student who was held back last year.  This has been my 2nd year with him.  It's been rewarding to watch him grow.  What is the most rewarding is the amount of love and compassion we have for one another.  He truly believes that I am the only person who loves and cares about him.  That makes my heart sad and happy at the same time.  It is such a reward that as teachers we are looked up to and make a difference every day.

3.  If you were not a teacher, what would you be?
I'd be a stay at home mommy!  I couldn't imagine doing any other job besides teaching. If I did, I would just be a mom.  It's my most favorite job of all! :-)

Lots of love,

Let's Get Acquainted: Skittles Game

Hello, friends!

Brayden is FINALLY feeling better, and I've FINALLY been able to sit down at my computer and  say hello!  What better way than a Let's Get Acquainted Linky?!?!

I'm linking up with Flying into First Grade for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky.  The linky this week is called the Skittles game.  Super cute!

TOPIC - Skittles Game

 

Here is the code:

Red- Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Orange- Favorite Memory from College

Yellow- Favorite Sports Team

Green- Favorite Fast Food Place

Purple- Wild Card(Tell anything about yourself

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Strawberry

I love ice cream!  I love the ice cream that has all the crazy stuff in it...Oreos, Reese's, Nuts, Carmel...I could go on and on.  But, my favorite is plain ol' strawberry.  Sometimes you just need something simple.

Favorite Memory from College:

Wow!  That's a hard one.  I spent four years at one of the best universities on Earth (more on that in a minute) and met some of the best friends I'll ever have.  My favorite memory was how I met one of my best friends.  I had to drive her back and forth from Clemson to our school for student teaching.  She dropped a pot of boiling water on her foot while cooking supper for her then boyfriend. If it weren't for that pot of water we wouldn't be as close.  Awful situation, but we would up becoming really good friends!

Favorite Sports Team: Clemson Tigers

I am a huge football fan!  Summer is my favorite season, but when fall rolls around I get all wired up for some football.  I went to Clemson University (to me, the best university on Earth). From the time I was little, I always knew I was going to go there and be a real "Tiger".  Yep!  

C-L-E-M-S-O-N T-I-G-E-R-S...FIGHT TIGERS, FIGHT TIGERS, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

Favorite Fast Food Place: Zaxby's

Yum...yum...yum!  I love me some Zaxby's.  Sweet and spicy boneless wing meal is my go to from Zaxby's.  I hate that they stopped selling their fried pickles (yes, I'm from the South) and their cake batter milkshake. Those were my guilty pleasures. DELICIOUS!

Purple-Wild Card

I'm scared to sleep by myself.  My sister and I are five years apart.  For as long as I can remember, we always shared a room together.  So, I've never really had to sleep alone.  When my husband has to go away for a few days for school, I just don't know what to do.  I hear every sound in the house and become paranoid.  I hate to sleep by myself!  It takes me forever to go to sleep!

Link up with Latoya and play the Skittles game!

Lots of love,

Let's Get Acquainted: 2 Truths and 1 Lie

Hello, dear friends!

There's a super cute linky going on from Flying Into First Grade that I hate I didn't get to participate in last week.  I just knew that I had to do it this week.

Has anyone ever played the 2 truths and 1 lie game.  I played it with my students when I taught 5th grade and they loved it.  Then, when I moved down to 2nd grade I tried it again.  My little munchkins didn't quite understand the concept.

So...here are 2 truths and 1 lie about me.  Leave me a comment on which one you think is a lie.

1.  My top teeth are crooked.  More like vampire's teeth, actually.  I have been to the orthodontist throughout my life and they were waiting for my last baby tooth to fall out.  Well, to this day I still have a baby tooth.

2.  I've never left the Southern part of the United States.  I've went as far as West Virginia and Florida, but have never ventured out of the South.

3.  I love cheese.  Isn't everything better with cheese?  My favorite side dish is macaroni and cheese.  Yummy! 

So, which one is a lie?  Hmmmm......

Leave me a comment.  I'll blog about it tomorrow.  

Go link up so I can get acquainted with y'all! :-)

Lots of love,