It's true. I am finally a classroom teacher. It's wonderful, stressful, challenging, tiring, rewarding and everything in between. Yesterday (Friday) I came home from work at about 6:00 and Trent and I headed to Costa Vida for date night. After date night, we went back to the house to play board games. But first, I suggest that we take a quick 30 min. nap. It was about 7 o'clock - so not too late. Later, I heard someone moving around the room and I shot out of bed. It was Trent. He said that it was midnight and he was just going to bed. Apparently, he had tried to wake me up at 8 and I growled at him so he just let me sleep. So basically I went into a small coma. I was only up for about 5 minutes and I fell back asleep until 8:30 the next day. Do the math, folks. That is over 13 hours of sleep. Seriously, I was exhausted. I wake up at 5 every morning, I keep up with 19 kids all day long and then I stay until 7 {maybe later} every night. Then I do more work at home until midnight and I start my routine over again. It is grueling. But I LOVE it. I know that sounds crazy, but I would do anything for those children. But something I am working on is time management and learning to listen when my body says, "STOP!"
Also, decorating my classroom was like a stressful, but also a dream come true. I feel like the pictures below do not do it justice {Trent - let's get a better camera}. Seriously. You should have seen the kid's faces when they saw it the first day of school. "Wow!" "Cool!" "Awesome!" "Yes!" were all common phrases. Success people! But that success would have not been possible without a few people.
Ambrey: You are such an amazing friend. Seriously - what would I do without you!? You spent so much time with me getting my classroom ready the first week before you went to Utah. You ran errands with me and it was nice having a fellow perfectionist in the classroom because you understood my OCD tendencies. Thank you. I owe you TONS. P.S. - I am sorry I am so good at phone tag ;)
Kayla and Chad: Is there anyone better than the Merrells? I suggest not. Kayla, how could I ever thank you enough? You are pregnant! A child is growing inside of you and you are running to Idaho Falls {twice}, helping me hang things from the ceiling, cutting hundreds of letters, organizing, painting, and reassuring me after every decision and project. I could not have done it without you. You have seen me as the tired zombie, fed our little family, and have just portrayed the true love of Christ. And Chad - when we die and go to heaven - I am going to prove to you that SO many people have complimented me on the stadium lights. Because it has happened at least 6 times! Dead serious.
Gail Merrell: Over 300 books... I still can't believe how many books I have collected in the last week. Thank you so much! I can't imagine how long it took you to sort and pack all those books. I just want you to know that I appreciate it! I wish I could have recorded the children's faces when they saw the books. Thank you! Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it!
Mommy and Daddy: You know how much I love you. I hate being so far away from you. Thank you for driving the 16 hours to give me those books. Only a deep love for a child could possess two individuals to drive so far, only to stay for one day and then drive so far back. I hope that I can become as patient, selfless, and long suffering as you two {and you know that last part is true}.
Trent: You are my rock. You are my everything. What husband takes his free time to decorate his wife's classroom, build her a hutch, and basically spend all his free time revolving around her. You are the most selfless individual I have met. I love you.
There are so many other people I should say thank you to! Sam - for bringing me fabulous treats that helped me get through my preparation week, Talia for training me to become an excellent teacher. Seriously - I just want to be like her. Kelli for our first teacher support groups ;). There is SO much that goes into teaching. So much preparation, love, challenges, and fun. Here is to a successful year!
So my classroom theme is about teamwork - that is why it is a sports theme. We talk about how in this class, we are all working together to try and help each other succeed. Let me tell you, the kids have ATE this up! They absolutely love it! The first week, I taught them how to teach. We talked about not giving the answers to our peers but showing them how to come up with the right answer. It is definitely a work in progress but they are doing so well. It's amazing. I love this teamwork theme. We have a big poster that says, "T.E.A.M. Together Everyone Achieves More." Having that as our motto has made a huge difference in our classroom environment. Now for the pictures:
I was SO nervous. Seriously, I thought I was going to pass out. Nothing you do during college can prepare you for that moment.
You see that white board underneath that sign - yeah. I did that. Well Ambrey did that. That was a chalkboard people and we turned it into a white board. Hold the applause.
Those are their book bags on that stylish 70's bright orange backpack rack. I actually just moved our locker room down below the backpacks so that I could put up Mountain Language above the backpacks.
Please, stay awhile. You are always welcomed here.
Kayla hung the footballs and baseballs from the ceiling. Later, I found thin plastic bases. I am gong to put a hole punch through it and then hang it above the groups.
Get it - Lunch is "Served." Thank you Pinterest.
Excuse the mess. I wasn't completely put together when I took this picture. But how cute is this banner?
The kids LOVED this. Also, I am getting pillows and bean bags for them to relax on while they read. Notice the 12 boxes of books! Thank you Gail!
Every kid has a job and it is related to a something in baseball. For example, the assistant coach is the teacher's assistant and the concessions manager is the lunch count. They love it! Also, they had to interview for their jobs. Best. Day. Ever.
Math Rotations, Fast Finishers, and Writing Section. Whenever a child asks a question that I don't know the answer, they write it down and put it on the corkboard. If they finish their work early, they come and grab any index card and research the answer and then report their answers on Friday. They love it!
They really are tough words!
The stadium lights. I should have taken a picture of it far away. It looks SO good with the rest of the classroom.
