Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Senator Visits 1st Grade
Catch Up!
Welcome to 1st grade class!
We have been in school for 15 days as of tomorrow so I have quite a bit of catching up to do to tell you all about my first two weeks of school.
Let's get started...........
I owe a huge thanks to my family and friends who helped me get my classroom in order. From decorations to helping me supply my classroom with manipulatives, so many people poured out their blessings over me.
THANK YOU!
First Day of School!
For starters, not everyone in my class showed up the first day of school. This means they were here in Kindergarten but didn't re-enroll for this year. I had 15 students the very first day of school. I would say that was a blessing in disguise because first days of school are CRAZY! Even with only 15 kiddos I was running like crazy around the room and getting us all where we needed to go. Everyone was right when they said they don't teach you everything you needed to know in college. There are just some things you have to learn on your own by experiencing it first hand.
As the week went on we finally started to learn how to work together and were also getting comfortable in the classroom. Then came Wednesday and 5 new students in two days! So now I have 20 loving, talkative and hilarious first graders. (8 boys and 12 girls!) Just as things started to go right we were back at square one. The next two days were like the first days of school all over again.
To sum it up, each day brings new challenges and many different kinds of challenges.
Challenges I am facing and working through each day:
1. How to get my class to quit talking and listen.
(I have tried everything I know of to get my students' attention! My goal is to not lose my patience and keep trying!)
2. To reach the needs of ALL my students.
(I have many students who have emotional needs and are going through some rough stuff at home or have had a hard life in the past.)
3. Finding ways to modify my lesson plans for my students in need. ( I have one student who spent the majority of last year with the special education teacher. He is doing an awesome job so far in class but it is a challenge knowing what he is capable of doing. Also, did I mention he gets up every two minutes and wants a hug? I feel bad telling him no but he needs to learn how to sit and do his work.)
These are a few challenges that I face daily and I'm sure every teacher can relate.
Funny Stories:
Second Day of School:
Boy: "I forgot my underwear!"
Me: "Ok...What do you think we should do? Can you go all day without it? "
Boy: "Well, I'm not sure. I've never done it before and it feels weird!"
Me: "Let me write a note and go to the office to call your mom."
I about busted out in laughter because it caught me off guard!
Today:
Girl: "Can I pass out my invitations to my 'S' party?"
(it is a sheet of paper with an S on it and nothing else!)
Me: "Tell me more about this party."
Girl: "It is on the 32. Everyone is invited and you can come too."
Me: "Is this a real party?"
Girl: "Yes! It's after school at my grandma's house."
We continue on with the conversation and I really didn't know what to say! I ended up telling her we couldn't pass them out because I did not want every kid to start bringing 'invitations' to their parties that really didn't exist!
There is so much more to share but I have a feeling if I was to tell you everything that has happened these past 15 days we could be here for a while. In other words, we will pick up on day 15 tomorrow and the start of a new month!
One thing remains constant even when I want to question or have doubts: GOD IS IN CONTROL! He has shown His presence to me over and over and over and over again these past few weeks. He chose ME to be in the classroom I am in and I KNOW that he has a plan and reason for having me there.
A verse that has been on my heart:
Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
We have been in school for 15 days as of tomorrow so I have quite a bit of catching up to do to tell you all about my first two weeks of school.
Let's get started...........
I owe a huge thanks to my family and friends who helped me get my classroom in order. From decorations to helping me supply my classroom with manipulatives, so many people poured out their blessings over me.
THANK YOU!
First Day of School!
For starters, not everyone in my class showed up the first day of school. This means they were here in Kindergarten but didn't re-enroll for this year. I had 15 students the very first day of school. I would say that was a blessing in disguise because first days of school are CRAZY! Even with only 15 kiddos I was running like crazy around the room and getting us all where we needed to go. Everyone was right when they said they don't teach you everything you needed to know in college. There are just some things you have to learn on your own by experiencing it first hand.
As the week went on we finally started to learn how to work together and were also getting comfortable in the classroom. Then came Wednesday and 5 new students in two days! So now I have 20 loving, talkative and hilarious first graders. (8 boys and 12 girls!) Just as things started to go right we were back at square one. The next two days were like the first days of school all over again.
To sum it up, each day brings new challenges and many different kinds of challenges.
Challenges I am facing and working through each day:
1. How to get my class to quit talking and listen.
(I have tried everything I know of to get my students' attention! My goal is to not lose my patience and keep trying!)
2. To reach the needs of ALL my students.
(I have many students who have emotional needs and are going through some rough stuff at home or have had a hard life in the past.)
3. Finding ways to modify my lesson plans for my students in need. ( I have one student who spent the majority of last year with the special education teacher. He is doing an awesome job so far in class but it is a challenge knowing what he is capable of doing. Also, did I mention he gets up every two minutes and wants a hug? I feel bad telling him no but he needs to learn how to sit and do his work.)
These are a few challenges that I face daily and I'm sure every teacher can relate.
Funny Stories:
Second Day of School:
Boy: "I forgot my underwear!"
Me: "Ok...What do you think we should do? Can you go all day without it? "
Boy: "Well, I'm not sure. I've never done it before and it feels weird!"
Me: "Let me write a note and go to the office to call your mom."
I about busted out in laughter because it caught me off guard!
Today:
Girl: "Can I pass out my invitations to my 'S' party?"
(it is a sheet of paper with an S on it and nothing else!)
Me: "Tell me more about this party."
Girl: "It is on the 32. Everyone is invited and you can come too."
Me: "Is this a real party?"
Girl: "Yes! It's after school at my grandma's house."
We continue on with the conversation and I really didn't know what to say! I ended up telling her we couldn't pass them out because I did not want every kid to start bringing 'invitations' to their parties that really didn't exist!
There is so much more to share but I have a feeling if I was to tell you everything that has happened these past 15 days we could be here for a while. In other words, we will pick up on day 15 tomorrow and the start of a new month!
One thing remains constant even when I want to question or have doubts: GOD IS IN CONTROL! He has shown His presence to me over and over and over and over again these past few weeks. He chose ME to be in the classroom I am in and I KNOW that he has a plan and reason for having me there.
A verse that has been on my heart:
Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
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