Blabbering about teaching stuff

Last night I decided to work on some projects for school. I bought my kids folders at Target and have been working on setting them up. I have 25 blue folders for reading, 25 red folders for homework, 25 yellow folders for social studies, etc. I spent a long time creating a cute label for each folder and have printed them and taped them to the front of each folder. When I get my class list, all I will have to do is add the student's name to their new folder!

This will be my third year teaching... BUT it is the first time where I am going back to a grade level I've taught before. My first year teaching I taught first grade. I had all my files organized and ready to go for the following year. Then I moved to Fredericksburg and was assigned to second grade. Thankfully, I am not moving again! I loved second grade and am able to stay in the same place next school year. This is really good because I know what projects I can work on now so I am not completely overwhelmed when I go back. What am I talking about?!? I am going to be completely overwhelmed no matter what! At least I will have a start....

Teacher stores are awesome. I love going to teacher stores. It is like heaven for me. The only problem is I want to buy too many things.... and teachers just don't get paid enough. Jared always jokes with me about how I spend more money on my kids than I make. Trust me, I am a LOT better now about it than I was my first year teaching. It is just so easy to rack up a bill for classroom materials. The nametags for the desks alone were about $10. They are cute ones that have a number line, hundreds chart, alphabet, etc.

So back to my projects I started tonight.... I started the folders, journals, and making labels. I make labels for everything. If I get all the labels made now, I can just "slap" the labels on everything I need to at school. I have to label the desks, cubbies, mailboxes, books, materials, and the list goes on and on. I'm feeling pretty good to have these made now!

Every year at "Open House" where the kids and parents come meet you before school starts, I like to have something special for them on their desk. My first year I had really cute popcorn bags full of popcorn... It went along with the theme "Look who popped into first grade" where I had that sign, pocorn machine, and pieces of popcorn outside my door. (see picture below!)

It's kinda hard to see in this picture, but it was cute!

The "G" got messed up in the laminating machine! Hey- it was my first time using one of those things!!!

The kids and families really enjoyed the popcorn bags when they came to see their new classroom. :)

Last year, I did not do the popcorn thing... I like to try new things! Actually, it ended up being too much work and I just did not have time! ha! So I had a bag of "Lucky Charms" cereal on each desk with this special message:

This special treat is packed, because I’m glad you’re in my class! Don’t eat them yet – First, hunt for the special marshmallow symbols hidden inside!

An orange star – to remind you to always shine!
A pot of gold – to show you you’re worth a million!
A blue moon – every once in a while we make mistakes!
A colorful rainbow – a promise to me to always do your best!
A green clover – to give you good luck!
A purple horseshoe – Remember…U matter!
A red balloon – try new things and soar above the clouds!
A pink heart – As your teacher, remember I care about you!

Welcome to 2nd grade!!!

(Get it? Each thing was part of the cereal!) I did not make that up-- another teacher shared with me! It was cute, but really did not go with a theme. On my door I just had the "Welcome to Our Pack" thing with the kids' names on the crayons.

This year, I'm not quite sure what I will do. I have some ideas... "Look who landed in Second Grade" with parachutes hanging (falling) from the ceiling with the kids names on them. Cute, huh? But a lot of work. Who wants to help me make parachutes?!?!?

I also began writing postcards to my kids. The front of the postcards read, "Welcome to Second Grade." They are very cute! On the back of each postcard I am hand-writing a message to each child. Generic message, yes, but it still takes forever to write 20+ messages. :)

I have blabbed on about teaching stuff looooooooooooong enough. I am going to go now because it is storming really bad. #1. Fred does not like storms and he is FREAKING out! and #2. I think I should probably turn off the computer and TRY to go to bed at a decent hour. I have a big day tomorrow. I have a dentist appointment. Just a cleaning! :)

One more thing-- Before I go, I want to mention that today my cousin Zander is 7 years old! Happy Birthday, Zander! Zander is my adorable cousin, and Godson. He's a cutie! Here is a picture of Jared and I with the birthday boy.

This was taken at the beach a few weeks ago... at Jockey's Ridge.

We love you, Zander. Have a super FUN birthday! <3

Goodnight everyone.

xoxo

P.S. Sorry about the spacing between paragraphs... I give up trying to fix it! Every time I fix it the way I want, it automatically goes back to messing up my spacing!!!! Grrrrrrrr!!!!