Reading Academy

Have you all ever heard of the Reading Academy? This is the second time that we are required to do one for one of my reading classes, but I wanted to share them with my teacher friends as well. There are several choices and it is a great way to earn CE credits while not having to go somewhere to earn it. The best thing about it all is that you can do this at your own pace too. I have already completed the kindergarten one and will be doing the 3rd grade one this time. I have a feeling that I will end up doing them all because it will look great on my resume and I know that I will learn some wonderful things about reading that I can use in my future classroom. 

You can find the Reading Academies here. Has anyone else ever completed one of the academies?

4th Grade It Is!

Today was my last first day of undergrad school ever! It is so hard to believe. Before my afternoon class, I went to talk with Mrs. Backor, who is my advisor at school, and she is also in charge of Field Experiences and is the one responsible for setting up our mentor teachers and observations for the year. While I was in her office, she informed me that she had just gotten an e-mail from the head of the HR department where I am planning on Student Teaching. The e-mail was about my mentor teacher and they wanted me to be in a 4th grade classroom. Well, that was the only grade that I did not have a mentor teacher requested in. When Mrs. Backor first told me that, I think that my jaw might have hit the floor because I was so shocked. She informed me that she had e-mailed him back with the list of mentors that I had given her the other day. I was a little worried about what the HR guy would think about that. Fast forward now about 4 hours to this afternoon. I am walking into the gym for the volleyball tournament and low and behold, guess I who I saw in the concession stand...the guy from HR. His daughter plays on the JV volleyball team here so I was not that surprised. I stopped and chatted with him for a while and told him that I would be just fine being in 4th grade and he even told me who my mentor teacher was going to be and she is the best one in 4th grade. I am okay with this and I cannot wait to get into the classroom! The best part is that I even will get to teach Texas History which is my favorite!!!

Any 4th grade teachers out there, what are some great websites that I can start looking around at?

I Survived the First Day!

I got to experience my first day of school in teacher shoes today and I know that it is an experience that will be invaluable to me next year when I am hopefully welcoming my own students into my room. I spent the morning in a 5th grade class and that was not nearly as hectic as I thought that it would be, but I have a feeling that the older the kids are the easier it is. I never realized how much paperwork takes place on the first day. The morning did go really quickly though and I spent the afternoon in a 2nd grade room which was a totally different experience. The 2nd graders needed so much more help and they were asking so many questions. I am glad that I had the opportunity to observe in two different grade levels because I have no idea what grade I will be teaching next fall. I was able to learn so much today and here are just a few of the things I learned.

1. Don't expect to get to the school at 7:45am and find a parking spot. I thought I was going to be early today but boy was I wrong. 

2. Have extra sets of supplies available for the students. I was amazed at how many did not have a complete set of the supplies that the school asked for. 

3. Have multiple copies of a class roster that you can check off. 

4. Wear comfortable shoes because you will be on your feet all day. Luckily the district here does not mind flip flops but I saw some teachers sporting some 3 inch heels, can't say I will ever do that. I will always be wearing flats or nice flip flops.

5. Breathe and remember that the kids have no idea if you get everything accomplished that you are supposed too. 

I for sure know that my first day of school as a classroom teacher is going to be so much better because of this August Experience that I got to participate in.

A Teacher Gift

Tomorrow I begin my "August Experience" and I am so thrilled about it. I have to be there at 8am and then will be spending all day with a wonderful 5th grade teacher helping her to get ready for the first day of school. I thought that I would take her a small gift as a thanks for letting me have this awesome opportunity that not many student teachers get to have. Basically what I did was take a craft case and I made a cute cover for the top and then filled it with lots of things that I thought she might need throughout the year. Let me know what you think.

I put things like binder clips, paper clips, magnets, small Post-its, white out, Flair pens because they are my favorite, some Dove Dark Chocolates, and mints. I will be sure to share all about this experience and I cannot wait to meet her 5th graders!

I have also spent the past 2 days in Mrs. Roemer's 2nd grade classroom helping her get things ready for the upcoming school year and Meet the Teacher night which they had tonight. This was my 3rd year to help her get ready and it is such a great experience because there are so many things that I have learned that will help make my first year a lot easier. She already told me that she has so many things that she will be emailing me when I know what grade I will be teaching! I am so thankful for wonderful mentors in the education field that I have had the opportunity to work with.

Favorite Math Websites

I have been spending today looking for websites and ideas that I can use while I am Student Teaching as well as for when I am subbing. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite math websites that I have come across. I would love for you to share some of your favorites too and I will be sure and add them to my list. 

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

Math Playground

Stop the Clock

Animated Math Dictionary

Math for grade 3-6

Multiplication Practice

4th and 5th Grade Math Resources

Number Baseball

"August Experience"

Next year at this time I will be enjoying my last weekend before going back to school full time and attending teacher inservice. I was efficient and purchased my textbooks for my classes this semester yesterday, but I did not like the number that the cash register said...$450 and I am only taking 14 hours this semester. I also received an e-mail yesterday from one of the two professors that will be my student teaching advisers explaining an opportunity that is available to us called "August Experience".

We have not yet been assigned mentor teachers yet for Student Teaching, but basically what we do is spend one day with a teacher the week before school starts and also the first day of school with them. I have been lucky enough to spend time helping a teacher before the first day of school, but I think it will be an amazing opportunity to get to spend the first day of school in the classroom with the teacher as well. I will be going to visit the elementary to talk to the principal to see if this is something that he will allow me to do. The best part is that this will also count for 2 days towards our observations in the spring. 

Right now I know that I would like to either student teach in 3rd or 5th grade, but am leaning more towards 5th grade. The only issue though is that in 5th grade where I will student teach, the teachers only teach either Science and Math or LA and Social Studies, not all 4 subjects like a traditional classroom. Do you think that it will be harmful for me to only teach 2 subjects?

Teacher Week- Creative Ideas

Today for Teacher Week over at Babbling Abby we are sharing creative ideas. Since I do not have my own classroom I figured I would share some things that I have seen that I love and also some things I do while subbing.

1. Have students keep a spelling spiral. Those weekly spelling tests are somewhat pointless because we all know that there are children in our class who get no help with homework at home. Instead of having students do spelling homework each night, have them spend 15 minutes in their Spelling Journal when they first get to school. Each morning have students complete a different task such as ABC order, use 5 words in a sentence, rainbow writing (trace the word in several different colors), etc. This also guarantees that students are at least practicing the words a couple of times before the spelling test on Friday. 

2. Vista Print! This is a teacher's best friend...at least I think so! I am getting ready to place my first order with them and they just have so many wonderful things to choose from. I always remember being confused as to what I needed to complete when I was absent, so I just created a notepad that I can use to write down students missed assignments from an absence. If you put those things aside for missing students each day and have a place to put them it will make your life so much easier. 

3. Have a sub binder that is easy for a sub to follow. I cannot even begin to tell you the number of classrooms that I have been in while subbing and I have such a hard time finding their plans. My favorite was when the teacher taped the plans to the computer screen which is nowhere near her desk, that took me quite some time to find them that time. I came across the Littlest Learners blog and she has been going through how to put a great sub binder together. Be sure and check it out! I know I am putting one together that I will be able to just add to when I have my first classroom.

4. Microwave TV dinner trays are great for the classroom. the ones with the 2 compartments are even better. They are great to use for the ART center as well as with math manipulatives. Think twice before you throw it away next time.

I am really looking forward to reading everyone's ideas because I know that there will be some that I will want to use in my first classroom!