CURRENTLY

I'm linking up with Farley for the September currently.

1st day back

Well today was our first day back.  I have 21 first graders this year (so far).  Our day started off with putting ALL of our supplies away.  That took about 30 minutes at least.  LOL  Then I go to turn on my smart board projector and it doesn't turn on!!!!!!   YIKES!!!  What am I going to do??  I decide panicking is not the answer and we go ahead and put the labels on our workbooks and then I got the kiddos coloring and decorating their name tags while I check all the cables for the computer.  I did find one that one cable was not plugged in but that didn't solve the problem.  So, I panicked a little more and decided that I couldn't do anything with it until recess.  By the time they got done coloring their name tags it was recess time.  They go outside.   Thank God i'm not on recess duty.  I go back to my room and climb on the desks and jiggle all the cords and make sure they are tight.  I unplugged the cord and plugged it back on.  To my delight, it came on.  I guess it was loose.  WHOO!!!!  So we did a little more with the smart board.  We played "How well do you know Mrs. Emery?" game and then I read First Day Jitters.  We had "Jitter Juice" to get rid of all our jitters of the first day.  Then it was already lunch time.  After lunch we read another book and went over the rules of school and class.  It doesn't seem like much but it took the whole day. 

I survived and so did the kids.  It's very hard to get back into the groove of things.  We also got a new math series.  My Math.  Anyone use it?  It seems really cool and all of it is online.  I'm very excited to dive into it and see all of the different activities it can do.

Well I guess I'd better get ready for bed so I can be revived for tomorrow.

Getting Closer

I've been working in my room a few days last week and the past two days.  I think I have everything done in terms of decorating and setting up the class.  I just got all my books entered in the program "Classroom Booksource" website.  I love it but it did take a long time to get every book entered in the computer.  I've found out that i have over 800 books!!  WOW!  It really doesn't seem like I have that many but I guess I do.  (Don't tell my husband. ha ha)   I have to enter the students and they are ready to check out books from our classroom library.  This should be interesting.  I'm excited to introduce it to them and hoping they can catch on and learn how to check out books. 

Have you heard of the website "Xtra Math?"  It's a free math facts website.  The students get a password (4 numbers) and log in.  They take a pre test to see where they are at and then go from there.  It is strictly math facts.  1st grade focuses on addition.  If you haven't already, you need to go check it out.  I am hoping to get this started at the beginning of the year.

We go back to school on Monday but the students don't start until Wednesday.  Yesterday we had registration so I went up to the school to meet my students.   I'm excited to get this year started!! 

Currently....(My first ever!!)

I'm linking up with Farley and doing my first ever "Currently."  I hope I do this right.  =)

I love my laminator!  I have laminated all kinds of things this summer.  I love finding new teacher resource books that I will be able to use throughout the year.

Getting closer....

Oh my goodness!!  Only 2 weeks left until I have to go back to school.  I have so much to do!  I thought of going to the school today and work in my classroom, but after getting up and watching some Olympics, I talked myself out of it.  This is not good! 

I've decided I don't like to go to school during the day because I talk to much.  I talk to the janitors, the secretary, and anyone else who happens to be in there.  My best friend teaches 2nd grade so we have decided to go up during the evenings this week and work.  We have promised NOT to talk to each other while we are there because we will get distracted! How many think that will happen?!?  Ha ha!!  My husband doesn't think this is a good idea.  Perhaps he knows me all to well.  I have been doing a lot of stuff at home.  I have made a new container for my Box Tops, covered a few other containers with cute paper, organized my ideas and papers by the month, and many more different things that I've found on pinterest or on the Monday Make It linky party by 4th Grade Frolics.  I have attempted to get my room organized and set up in the way that I want it (for now at least).  Who knows what will happen when I go in there this week and look at it; may change it up again. 

I do have a few questions about blogging.  I found a teacher blog a while back that had all kinds of questions/answers about blogging and how to do it.  Does anyone know where I can find that? Any ideas and suggestions would be great!!

Well I guess I'd better try to go to sleep.  I need to get back into my routine but I think I'll start that tomorrow!  =)

My first post...Chicago I Teach 1st conference

Hey everyone!  Welcome to my blog.  This is my first post and I'm a little nervous. 

I just got back from the national I Teach 1st conference in Chicago, IL.  It was AMAZING!!!  I loved it!  I had won the admission to the conference at a midwest 1st grade conference I went to in February.  I was really debating on whether to go or not since I had to pay for a way up there and the hotel for 5 days, etc. but I decided to do it.  Boy, am I glad I chose to attend.  I seen many awesome presenters, Laureen Reynolds and Donna Whyte, and got a wealth of knowledge and ideas to use in my classroom.  I saw many new ideas on behavior, writing, technology, and common core.  Now all I have to do is get busy working on the ideas that I learned.   

On a side note, I went and seen Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Eli Young Band, and Eden's Edge last night.  It was awesome!   We did not get home until 2:30 this morning.  Traffic was awful getting out of parking lot and then there was a BAD wreck on I70 on our way home.  God had a reason we were stuck in that parking lot for what seemed like forever!!!  It is our 4th concert out of 6th that we are attending this summer.  We bought a mega ticket and we get to go to all the country concerts and sit in the lawn.  It was a really good deal so we couldn't say no.  Our first concert was Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, and Scotty McCreary.  The 2nd one was Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, and Jarred Neimann.  The 3rd concert was Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, and Thompson Square.  Next up will be Toby Keith and Brantley Gilbert.  Then the one I'm looking most forward too:  JASON ALDEAN!!!! and Luke Bryan. I can't wait!!

Well, I hope you have enjoyed my first blog.  Please leave me comments, tips, etc. that will help me out on this journey!