Complete and Utter

EXHAUSTION!
That pretty much sums up in one word how I am feeling right now. But I am loving every single moment of it.
My class is wonderful. I love my kiddos and we are learning so much together.
We had Back to School Night tonight and I had a 78% success rate. I was absolutely terrified going into it (did I have enough to say, what if the parents were bored, etc, etc) but it went wonderfully and if anything I talked to much. Next year I am definitely cutting down my powerpoint.
How are your 1st couple weeks of school going?

Top Ten Reasons You Know It's Back to School

Ha ha ha, I am still laughing from this adorable video from Tunstall's Teaching Tidibts , just had to share: I also joined her Top Ten Reasons You Know It's Back to School, check it out and link up (BTW her blog is amazing):
1. I set my alarm for 5:30 instead of 8:00 so I make sure I can make it to school by 7:30am, NO more sleeping in =(
2. My wallet is stuffed to the gills with recipets totaling absorbant amounts of money spent at Target, Walmart and Dollar Tree.
3. I can no longer mindlessly watch tv at night I now have something to cut out, something to hole punch, something to sort, something to put together, etc.
4. I have pinned more ideas than I could possibly get to in a school year on pinterest and I keep finding new ones everyday.
5. I have post it note lists covering my entire planner, desk and everything else, which frequently get lost and rewritten.
6. My shorts and flip flops have slowly found their way to the bottom of my dresser drawers.
7. I always plan to leave school by 4:30 but I always end up staring up at the clock pushing the time back in 5 minute increments until it's at least 5:30 and I have to force myself out the door.
8. My weekly trips to Target no longer perusing the clothing section but searching the dollar bins for anything and everything school related.
9. My cute bracelets and bangles have been replaced by my trusty watch.
10. My voice sounds scratchy and I know I won't have one by the end of next week.
11. Also my hands are incredibly dry from the amount of sanitizer I put on everyday.
What are your top 10?

Mrs. Barrett's 1st Grade

WOW! I do not even know where to begin. I had originally planned on doing a final room reveal before class started on Monday but unfortunately my camera with the pictures on it, got major water damage (even though it was SUPPOSEDLY waterproof). So school started and the final room reveal never happened. But I must say I am loving my room, here are a few pictures from my phone, I apologize for the quality but you know how it goes with cell phone photos.

I just love my 1st class. They are adorable and so far (the 1st two days of school) we have had a wonderful time. It is such an amazing feeling to know you have a job you love and can't wait to go back to the following day (if you ever go home =)). The 1st day was definitely a little nerve wracking but I had a ball and I think my kiddos did too (they all came back the next day).
This is what was on their desks the 1st day of school:

I adapted it from a Valentine's idea on pinterest.
With tired feet and a hoarse voice, I sign off. Still getting used to the amount of energy you expend in one day =)
How is everyone else enjoying their first week back?

Classroom Set Up Day 3 & 4

My oh my! I truly had no idea how much work went into getting your classroom ready for the 1st day of school. But if I do say so myself it is turning out perfectly! I still have some work to do but I think it will easily be ready for next Monday, the 1st day of school.
Last time I blogged I asked what to do with all of this empty cabinet space and was given a wonderful suggestion by a fabulous blogger. So I started a bragging spot with a place for each student to hang work they are proud of. I think it turned out beautifully!
My dear mother and grandmother came and helped for quite a few hours this weekend and they were so kind to organize our bookshelf, doesn't it look gorgeous?!?
Now I just have to buy a new rug, make (well actually have my mother's upholstery shop make) a few pillows and our reading corner will be all set. I tried to buy a pre-made rug at Walmart but nothing fit my sizing, so I am thinking I will go to a carpet place tomorrow and pick out a remnant. What do you do for your classroom rugs?
My mom and grandma also helped me start organizing the desks and the students books. It is really all coming together.

Today I also had the help of a very dear friend, who put on nametags and set up pencil boxes. I feel so lucky to have so many people willing to help me.
I may be a little ambitious, but I think I may be able to finish, aside from lesson planning with one more full day in my classroom.
Can't believe in one week. I will be teaching 1st grade with a wonderful group of students and very talented staff!

Classroom Set Up Day 2

I did not accomplish nearly as much as I had hoped to today, but my classroom is coming along. I had no idea how much prep really went in to setting up a classroom. My sister and I were discussing today we didn't even know if our elementary teachers had bulletins, if any of my teachers are out there I am very sorry for not appreciating all of your hard work, I always remember the rooms were organized and clean.

I almost finished two whole bulletins. I have decided that I will go with a spot or polka dot theme, so this is our morning meeting spot board. It has a calendar, a hundreds chart and a few other items necessary for our morning.

I found the most adorable polka dot labels through pintrest, which linked me a great blog, PreKinders, if you're interested the labels are on her TPT for FREE, that's right FREE. Anyways being that I LOVE polka dots I was so excited to put them in my classroom:
On a side note, I have decided that I will "borrow" the pencil policy of one of the teachers, I did a long term sub job for, each student is responsible for getting 1 sharpened pencil at the beginning of the day. If/when that pencil needs to be sharpened they may hold 3 fingers in the air and wait for me to dismiss them to trade their pencil. What's your policy on pencils?

I also found this great idea on pintrest, students must highlight their name before turning in their paper, to ensure less no name papers. What do you do to avoid no name papers?


I added polka dot fabric to my overhead table in hopes of sprucing it up a bit. What do you think?
This is by far my favorite thing I did today. I just love how it brightens up the whole room and just makes me happy =)
The cabinets behind my desk however need something. Any ideas? I found this stick on calendar and message board at Target, but it needs more...
I won't be in the classroom tomorrow because I need to run some errands before school starts up again. But I'll be back on Thursday so I'll update then =)

2 weeks left

Until school starts and I will officially be a 1st grade teacher. I have dreamed about this day since the day I decided I wanted to become a teacher and now as it gets closer, I am thrilled and excited but also scared and nervous. I have so many things I want to do in my classroom and so much I want to accomplish. I am loving all the new teaching blogs I have found because so many of them are giving me inspiration to make things and do things for my classroom. Also I have become addicted to pinterest, are you pinning?

I have decided on a polka dot theme for my classroom, so I am thinking something like these adorable goodies:

Source: perciousperks.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: web.me.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

I also used one of our last wedding gift cards to purchase this:

Source: pbteen.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Can you tell I am a little excited to get into my classroom and get started!!!

Graduation

It’s hard to even believe but after 7 years of school I will be graduating with my Masters in Education/Elementary Teaching Credential. WOW! However, although my LAST day of class is this coming Tuesday I still have quite the hefty to do list before I can apply for my credential. I am posting it here as a reminder to myself of what I need to get done within the next week, my personal goal is to be finished by this coming Friday.

My To Do List:

1. Write a 700 – 1050 word paper on an Ethical Issue within my work setting

2. Attend class Tuesday and present our Mock Action Research Paper

3. Finish & Submit TPA 3

4. Finish & Submit TPA 4

5. Finish & Submit my log of observation hours, along with signatures, descriptions and demographics.

6. Obtain & Submit my CPR certification

SO much to do SO little time! But I can do it! Right?!? =/