Happy New Year & New Beginnings

It's been  a long time since I last posted. I guess the frustration over not being hired as an Instructional Coach-- threw me over the deep end. It's awful when you know your more qualified than the person receiving the position and that you have been dedicated to the district for 13 years. What makes it worse is when the  people that are being hired are all outside the district. I know that my God has a plan for me and I will continue to try to wait patiently as he guides me in the right direction.

Well enough of my rambling. I'm hoping to have a great New Beginning and enjoy my fourth graders. If you don't remember last year I taught 3rd grade.  I moved up to 4th grade with my students. WOW! Fourth grade is a BIG change for me. I feel as though I'm learning new content with my fourth graders. I'm like really------These kids are learning information I learned in middle school..

Also, our new school looks great. I can't wait for the entire building to be built. The structure and design of the campus is AMAZING... I will send pictures when I can! I hope to continue blogging and sharing my ideas.

Deb

New Room

Last Sunday I moved all my things into the new fourth grade portable. I was so tired but luckily for me I had some man power to assist me. I've been going back and forth to the school trying to get things in their right place and decorating as I go. I still have a bit to go. I'd like to share some pictures with you. Remember I'm still decorating some areas and there are areas that haven't been touch. Also, my my pics seem to be a little blurry. : (

   

Fancy Words

Dictionary Skills Board -this board is next to the dictionaries. 

Writing Center/Computer Area

I need to move the transition words poster over to the left. LOL

Expectations Board

I will be back at the school tomorrow to finish this side of the room!

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DECOR

I bought some craft paper from Hobby Lobby.I had extra letters so I created the "SAID" board.

My intent is for the class to begin collecting words that we can use instead of "SAID". The board

has been laminated and we will stick new words on the board.

I got this idea from PINTEREST. I added the P and S for Prefix and Suffix. I didn't have the room to put the words so I used their letters. The purpose of this activity---when we locate new words with prefixes, roots, and suffixes we will break the word a part.

I made this again from white poster board and craft paper. I plan to have the students place sticky notes etc next to the parts of speech during the year.

I love this idea. I got it from PINTEREST. I will be posting this 

next to my writing center.

Another item to place on the wall and begin collecting transitional words for the writing process.

More to come. 

There are big changes occurring for me and I'm totally excited about it. I had applied for an Instructional Coach position but things didn't go the way I had hoped. I was really down on my luck and I couldn't fathom the thought of staying in third grade in the same room for another year. Don't get me wrong "I Love Third Grade"---but I needed a change. My principal approached me with the idea to teach Fourth Grade ELA/SS. I was a little hesitate because writing hasn't been my strength. I thought what the heck--maybe--it's time to broaden my horizons and tackle what I most fear "WRITING"... Wish me luck! Another big change occurring at our campus is the implementation of Daily 5/Cafe. I'm eager to get this started in my classroom. I've heard nothing but great information about the system. So  if you have any information to share about writing or the Daily Five/Cafe-----Please leave me comments. 

The biggest challenge for me right now is mustering enough energy to start moving my things into another portable. My campus is in the process of building a new school so all the upper grades are moving to a portable. Third grade has always been in portables. I dread the move in this Texas heat. I do love the idea of decorating a new room! : )

I have created many homemade boards and materials to use in Fourth Grade. Lets get real---I don't have the funds on a teacher salary to redecorate and purchase all new items. So----I've done a lot of browsing on Pinterest and visiting Hobby Lobby. I will load pictures of my homemade materials in a bit. So please start following me again to see the before and after pictures of my classroom and decor.

Deborah

BE BACK AT THE END OF JULY

I'm really sorry about not posting in a LONG LONG TIME! I will be back on the posting block at the end of July----Until I blog again---Have a GREAT SUMMER! : )

RAY

Plans for Our New School

Sorry! I haven't updated my blog in forever. I have been so busy with end of the year fieldtrips and the many activities that my own children are involved in at the moment. It's been a busy time for me.

Incase you didn't know---a bond election was passed here at my district. We have a wonderful superintendent that really helped to make this possible. She is so knowledgeable. My principal also worked with the superintendent as part of her internship for her doctrine in education. As for me, I'm proud to say that I did have a part in this event. During the time of the bond election, I was doing my internship for my masters degree. The staff and I were responsible for "Community Night" honoring the history of our building. We also had a booth for parents to obtain a voters registration card if they wanted to vote. Another important event that was set up -- Cinco De Mayo Festival---  the family and community could come for entertainment and vote for the bond election. I will never forget this experience.

I went to school as a child on this campus. It saddens me to know that the building will eventually be destroyed. I have so many enjoyable moments on this campus as a child and adult. (Tear..tear) : (
Jefferson will always be apart of me.

I would like to share my events with you as preparations are made for our upcoming building. A portable has arrived today to house our fourth graders for next year. The back wing of our building will be taken out so that they can begin construction, therefore portables will have to be supplied to house the students for the 2012-2013 school year.



OUCH Writing Assignment

OUCH! This is a great writing assignment my students in first period are working on. My second period class is still trying to wrap up the watermelon small moment of being "Afraid". They selected 3 small moments about ouchies. After team discussion- the students narrowed it down to the best ouchie story. I provided you pics of our wonderful work so far...

You can download the coverpage at the following address

http://www.scribd.com/doc/92250459/Band-Aid-3

You can download this printable at the following address

http://www.scribd.com/doc/92250322/Bandaid-Two