Best Field Trip Ever!!!

If only that is what I could say about the field trip that I took today with 175 6th graders and about 50 parents/teachers/chaperones to Sea World. 

We got a text last night from our team leader that we would be making a decision this morning at 7 a.m. Needless to say, I was surprised when I got a text saying that we were still going to go. It was raining in town when we left, but when we were about half way to San Antonio, it cleared up. I knew it was too good to be true so I checked the handy dandy iPhone and this is what the radar looked like. 

Yeah, the red flag near San Antonio is where we were today. That rain was moving right for us and it did not disappoint. We got into Sea World just fine and it was still not raining, but the clouds sure did not look promising. We got to the dolphin cove and the sky opened up and started to pour on us. We made it to one of the indoor exhibits for a bit, but it was way too crowded so we decided to go outside and brave the weather to find some different shelter. We did have fun looking at all of the different fish and sharks. 

 It did not last too long. Here are my kiddos all wet and freezing!

Don't we just look like we are having such a great time?

By this point I was ready to go home and so was my group of kids. We decided to head towards the location where we were supposed to be eating lunch. Yet another mess. We finally got to the stadium and we were told that the Sea World truck that had all of the lunches on it was broken in the parking lot. At this point it was already 11:30 and we are used to eating at 11 a.m. each day. To say the kids were crazy would be an understatement. At about noon we finally got our lunches delivered to us. Our team leader was nowhere to be found and we were scheming on how we could get home. I called our principal and she said she did not mind if we came home. She was even willing to get us pizza to feed the kids and we were going to put them in the band hall and make a movie day out of it. The only thing we did get to see was about 15 minutes of a Shamu show before they called a code red and told us all we had to leave. Such a great day. 

All I know is that I will not be going back to Sea World anytime soon. It better be warm and no rain even possible. I am really interested to see how many kids will be missing from school tomorrow after being wet and cold today. Pretty sure it is going to be a movie day in my class. :)

Water, Internet, Staples, Ribbons, Winner

 Yesterday was our 6th grade field day. It was so much fun, but this girl's shoulders got some sun and that hadn't happened in a long time. To say I am hurting would be an understatement, I am in some serious pain! I am currently covered in aloe on my shoulders. It will be worth it when they are tan though! One of my kiddos also really wanted to do the 3 legged race, but you he had to have a partner that was a girl for it. I did not have a kid in my class that wanted to be his partner, so I told him that I would do the race with him. I was so nervous and was anticipating the fall that would happen. I am glad to report that not only did we not fall, and not only did we make it to the finals, but we placed and both got 5th place ribbons! I wish I could have gotten a picture of his face because he was so excited. The best part though might have been when he gave me a big hug and told me that it was the first field day ribbon that he had ever won. I am so glad that I got to be a part of that for him! 

During lunch, I went and ate with the coaches in their office because I was helping them run everything for the day. They were kind enough to provide lunch to all of us who worked. When I walked back to my classroom for our 30 minute inside time for the kids to cool down, my key would not turn in my lock. One of my kiddos quickly let me know that one of the students in our class had stuffed a staple into the door lock and that is why my key would not turn. Luckily my AP was in the hallway to help, but he could not get the door opened either. We eventually had to break in with a screwdriver and then we left a window cracked so someone would climb into the classroom and then open the door for us. It is just fabulous! The best part is that it did not even get fixed Friday afternoon, but that was because our construction crew that is working on my building managed to also cut a water line and the later cut a fiber-optic line that caused us to have no phone or internet on our entire campus. It was a crazy day! When I left school my door was still broken, I couldn't check my email, and there was no water to use the restroom. 

I also have the winner for the giveaway that I hosted! After I did all of the entries, there was a total of 130 total. I used random.org to pick the winner and it chose...

Entry 100 that belonged to Melissa from The Dalton Gang.I will email you tomorrow with details about how you claim your prizes!

Thanks again to everyone who entered and an even bigger thanks goes to the amazing bloggers who made the giveaway possible by donating some of their creations! 

Starting a teaching blog was one of the best things that I have ever done! I love the online community and the people who I have been able to meet in real life! The wonderful ideas that you all share have really encouraged and helped me during my first year. I can only hope that next year others will be able to say the same about the things I share!

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!

What will the kids be like tomorrow?

I wonder because today my kids were so great on the field trip! We went to a University of Texas Women's Basketball game and we had so much fun. It was really just a fun thing for us to do because it was not nearly as educational as we thought it was going to be. Oh well! We even had several of our kiddos make the big jumbotron. 

This boy makes me laugh on a daily basis! 

Have you ever had this happen to you? We were only about 30 minutes down the road this morning on our way to Austin when our bus doors flew open while we were going 60 mph. We freaked out and immediately pulled over. Of course, we happened to be the last bus in our caravan and no one noticed we were missing. Once we pulled over, the other teacher, myself, and the coach who was driving us got off to check it out. We quickly realized that the door was not going to go back on. I guess there is a first for everything!

Field Trips

This past Friday I went on a field trip with our GT group from 6th grade. We went to the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio. I was a little worried that the kids would not appreciate it when we went, but they proved me wrong. The best moment was when we were walking into one of the rooms that had a Monet painting. Yes, I got to see a real Monet painting! One of the girls turned and looked at me in astonishment asking if that was a real Monet! Her face was priceless. She could not believe it. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day. 

A Busy Week!

I have got a crazy week ahead of me!

Tomorrow morning, at 6:15am, I am meeting my principal and 3 other teachers at our bus barn so we can head to Austin for a STAAR Summit. I was a little shocked that she asked me because everyone else who is going is the department chair for their subject. I am hoping that it is going to be a very informational conference because I still do not feel like I know enough about the STAAR test. 

On Friday I am headed to the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio with the 6th grade GT students. I think it is going to be a lot of fun and I am really excited about it. It has been a few years since they have been on this trip and I know the kids are excited about it. 

During the 3 days that I will actually be at school this week I somehow need to find the time to have book club meetings, read an autobiography out of our basal, begin a writing project about Thanksgiving, and get sub plans ready for Friday. Did I mention that I have a big project due for grad school next week too? If I can make it through this week, next week is only 2 days!

Sea World in Pictures

Sea World was great. Just wanted to share some pictures with you all.

Friday, Field Trip, and Field Day

I have a super busy week ahead of me and it all started with an interview for a 3rd grade position today. I thought that it went great and I wouldn't have changed anything about it. I was so excited too when Mr. Principal asked me the questions that he told me I had to get right. He asked me "What is the most important characteristic of a good teacher?" I had a big smile on my face when I sad passion because I knew that is what he wanted to hear. Hopefully I was the only person who gave that answer all day! :) I am going to know by Friday at the latest either way because they want to take the name to the board meeting next Monday. 

Tomorrow is our big 6th grade field trip to Sea World. I am both excited and a little scared about taking 250 kids there for the day. The good news though is that none of the rides are open and we only go to the exhibits and 2 shows. We split the kids into groups of 7 or so and I of course took a group of some of the kids who tend to get in trouble. Hopefully they will be on their best behavior. 

Friday is 6th grade field day which is bound to be crazy. We basically run it like a real track meet and the kids compete in different track events. I think my class might have a shot at winning it all, but we will see. It is supposed to be back in the 90's by then so the afternoon might be miserable. 

So many exciting things happening this week in the life of a 6th grade teacher!

Well I had That Sub...

Yes, you all know which one I am talking about. The horrible one. 

First she was late, about an hour late. Then she did not even follow my lesson plans. This sub did not leave me a note either about the day! The kids had nothing but bad things to say about her too. Hopefully I will not have her in my room ever again. 

I also got an email today from the elementary principal where I student taught for 4th grade, and I have an interview in May! I am so excited, but nervous all at the same time. It is for a 3rd grade position which I think would be great. I have fingers crossed, and I am also still hoping to hear something about the possibility of just staying in 6th grade. I am just excited to even be getting an interview though. 

Speaking of 6th grade, I am still loving it! I am not enjoying the 45 research papers that I have to have graded by Friday though. Oh wait, did I mention the 45 book report projects I have to look at too? Or the 12 parts for a Biography Project for 20 kids in my regular class? I am not a fan of the end of the 6 weeks. I just hope I can make it out alive. 

I also found out today that we are going to be going on a field trip the first week in May. We are taking the entire grade level to Sea World. I am not too sure what to think about this quite yet. The kids are already complaining because all of the rides will be closed and just the exhibits and shows will be going on. I think it will be fun, but it sounds like it is going to be a logistical nightmare. I am trying to stay positive, but we will see.