Teacher Talk Thursday

Today I am linking up with Abby over at Snyder Stories for Teacher Talk Thursday.

The theme for the week is organization tips. Even though I do not have my own classroom just quite yet, there are some things that I cannot wait to do in my first classroom. 

1. I have been collecting books for my classroom for quite some time now. I have over 250 already that I have picked up at garage sales, Half-Price Books, Scholastic book orders, and that I have been given from teachers. One thing that I have doing as I have gotten them is to label them all with my name on the inside with a sticker and then I have also labeled them for AR on the front so students will know which books they can take a test on. I cannot wait to get my own classroom so I can organize my classroom library.

2. I am a huge fan of using community supplies instead of having each student keep their own box of stuff in their desk. I plan on having some plastic drawers that I can have one drawer for each different supply such as glue, markers, crayons, index cards, etc. Students would keep their own scissors though of course. 

3. A good planner or desk calendar. I am already on the lookout for both for the fall. I cannot function or feel organized without a good planner. I promise to take a picture of my planner view for a week one of these days. I refer to it as word vomit a lot of the time because I have so much written in it. 

4. Color coordination for each subject for the students and teacher. A tub for each subject that matches student folders will really help everyone keep everything in order. 

I cannot wait to read everyone's organization tips and hope that I can use some of them in my first classroom!

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Tonight was the mentor and student teacher orientation meeting at my university. I rode over there with Mrs. I and we were a little late since she had late duty. Boy am I glad that we were because we had to sit in the back. The presenter who came from Region 20 was horrible. I felt really bad that all of the mentors had to sit through it. I wish I would have kept tallys of how many times the speaker said I, my, or me. It was all she talked about. Even though the actual meeting was not so great, we did have a great conversation about my expectations for student teaching on the way over there. I cannot wait to get started now next Wednesday...I think it is going to be just amazing! 

I am hoping to blog at least twice a week about the experience and also share some of the things that I create for it with you all. Can't say it will always happen, but I will try my best. 

Did I mention that my 4th grade friends have their writing TAKS test already in 22 days?!?!?! I'm a little nervous about that!

Countdown

The countdown has officially started...12 days until my Student Teaching officially begins!

I am taking my PPR test this coming Tuesday and am excited to get that out of the way. I am feeling pretty good about it right now, I passed the practice test that we took in class on the first day this semester and that was before I had done any prep for it. 

For student teaching, we were also given the task of creating a lesson plan template for us to use. I finished mine this evening and am pretty pleased with it. What do you think? Is there anything you think that I should add? Click the link to see it.

I also thought that since I am going to start a new chapter in my life, I felt that the blog needed a new look too! Be on the lookout for a new look very soon!

Almost Time

It is almost time for me to begin my 12 weeks of Student Teaching and I could not be more excited about it. I am not excited about the whole dressing up thing every day though. February 2nd is so close now! I have 3 weeks of class that begins this coming Wednesday that I must attend on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is basically two classes...one is a review for my PPR test that I take on the 25th and then the other one is called The Learner and it is about working with and planning for diverse students. I have a feeling that is going to be really helpful for me since I am going to be in an inclusion classroom. 

This past week school started back here in my town, but they already got out early today and have no school tomorrow because of the county stock show. Only in Texas! I did sub though Monday-Wednesday which I think was a really great experience for me. On Monday I was in 4th grade and the kids were so jacked up. I am just glad that I got to experience that before having my own classroom. At least I will know what to expect next year when they come back from Christmas break! Tuesday I subbed at the middle school for one of the coaches and boy was that interesting. She had 2 athletics classes, 2 6th grade pre-athletics classes, and then a double blocked English class that she co-teaches. Sometimes I think I can do middle school but then I think I am crazy if I ever do that full time. Guess we will see when the job search begins. Then yesterday I did a half day in kindergarten and they were horrible. I really think that I will never teach kindergarten. I do not know how some of you do that every day! 

I promise I will try to update at least once a week when I start student teaching but who knows. I am so excited about it and excited to share about it too. Any tips for my first week?