top 10: fall 2011

As of 1:30pm today, I have officially completed my first full semester of teaching in my own classroom! Boy, does that feel good! I thought in honor of my first semester of teaching when I got paid, I would share my 10 favorite moments or things that happened to me. 

{ten} This kid. There is always that one kid that just drives you crazy, but you cannot get enough of them. Well, this is him. No matter what kind of day I have had, he can always manage to put a smile on my face.

{nine} Even though it is only my first year, I was nominated for an HEB Excellence in Education Award. I wish they told you who nominated you because I would love to thank them. Even though I am not going to go on with the process (there is a ton of paperwork with it) I am very honored that someone nominated me for this. 

{eight} I have successfully created a classroom website that my parents and students are able to access for information about what is going on as well as links to games and other learning activities.

{seven} I had the guts to give the Pep Talk at a Pep Rally and even wrote a song for the occasion. 

{six} I have developed an amazing classroom library that my students love to get books from!

{five} I experienced a bus door falling off on our first field trip of the year.

{four} I opened my Teacher's Notebook shop and have been amazed that other teacher's are willing to buy some of the products I have created. I never thought that others might be interested in that.

{three} I have made some amazing new friends. Some of these are my co-workers and others are because of blogging. No matter if they are IRL friends or virtual friends, they have played such an important role in my first semester of teaching. You all are always there for me and are willing to listen to whatever might be on my mind. 

{two} I have been able to integrate lots of technology into my classroom and the experiences that my students have had thus far. We have used blogs, websites, wikis, online databases, powerpoint, animoto, and Prezi. We are becoming computer whizzes!

{one} I get to do something that I love each and every day! I love seeing my student's faces light up when they finally get it or realize that they understand something. I look at teaching as an opportunity to help build a foundation of learning for the future leaders of our country. I am grateful that I can go to my job each day and come home and still say that I love what I do!

The first semester was a great one, and I can only imagine that the second semester will be just as great!