Quick Update!

Sorry about not having an update in the past two weeks or so. I had a wedding last weekend in Albany, New York and then pre-service this past week. I will give you more of an update tomorrow with classroom pictures and a "slight" rant about the ridiculousness that was pre-service week at Wilson!

Teacher Week: Organization for Instruction

I didn't post yesterday's post because I don't go back to the classroom until the 19th! Next week I will add a "Classroom Digs" post.

Today's blog post is about organization for instruction. Last year I had to float to FOUR different classrooms. It was hell on Earth, not going to lie. I had to be super organized with all my papers because if I wasn't I was going to leave someone in one of those classrooms, never to see them again.

One of the best places to shop for all of your organizational needs is The Container Store. I am a wee bit obsessed with them. It doesn't help that the nearest CS to my high school is right next door.

This expanding file is awesome for carrying papers to and fro work. I can make tabs for "To Grade", "To Enter" (into our Edline) and "To Hand Back". 

 

These open top holders are perfect as my classroom tubs. This is where students hand back things and where they can find their graded work. I keep this in the back of the classroom. I number the students during the first week of school so that they know which folder they are. 

This handy totes goes with me everywhere when I am in the school. I keep a smaller file holder on my cart that has all of the days important documents.

What do you all think? I am always looking for great organizational tips so please share some of yours below in the comments! :)

 

Teacher Week 2013: Let's Talk About Me Monday!

I am linking up with Blog Hoppin' this week for Teacher Week 2013! I am super excited for school to start (Pre-service week at least) next Monday. I feel super prepared and ready for this upcoming school year. Plus I get to finally teach 12th grade, along with 9th grade. Anyways, on to the linky:

So today the topic is "Let's Talk About Me". I usually am not a fan of talking about myself other than school related things, but I will give this a shot. We need to list 10 things about ourselves, preferably something that you don't know already?

1. I am a die-hard Chicago Bears fan. Good or bad, I stick by my boys!

2. I never kept a journal until this year. It helps me unload my thoughts before I go to bed so that I don't keep going over and over the thoughts. Stress/Anxiety reliever ftw!

3. Another stress and anxiety reliever, and totally not healthy, is my hookah. I feel like the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland whenever I smoke it. Doesn't help my asthma but at least it keeps me from throwing myself off the balcony every now and then.

4. My favorite book in the entirely world is Wuthering Heights. It hurts my soul when people say that they hate that book :(.

5. I am obsessed with autumn and pumpkins. I want to get married in October so I can have pumpkins everywhere.

6. I am also obsessed with corgis. I love their short little bodies and big personalities. I cannot wait until I get one! And those floppy earsssssssssss <3.

7. This year I am not only teaching English but also History after school. I am literally going to be teaching for 12 hours. Thank the lord for extra pay!

8. I bought a grill just so that I could have bratwurst during football season this year.

9. I missed highly effective rating by 10 points this past year. It was my 2nd year of teaching.

10. I am getting back into baking finally! I made my first batch of marble mint chocolate chip cupcakes this weekend!

So what are you waiting for?! Go link up! :)

Currently August :(

It's that time again. A Currently for August :( It feels like yesterday that I was closing up my classroom! Where has the summer gone?! This year is going to be awesome. I have my first 12th grade English class and I am so ready to rock it. I am not a fan of 9th grade curriculum and kids, immaturity is a major pet peeve of mine. I can't wait to show everyone that 12th grade is where I belong!

Make sure to check out Farley's amazing blog for all of the currently's!

Listening: Maury...I can't get enough of this show during the summer. Before my grandfather passed away, we used to watch this show together. We are kinda weird :-p

Loving: That my grade level teams are FINALLY getting together to plan the first two units! I have been worried about not having enough time to plan.

Thinking: That I have been so focused on my 9th graders that I haven't paid any attention to 12th grade. I am meeting with 12th grade team tomorrow so that is helpful for this goal!

Wanting: This summer break was way too short :(.

Needing: I am so upset that I can't get into my classroom because of summer school and the other teacher I share with has the keys!

Back To School Must-Haves: 1) Teacher Planner: I have to stay organized since I have 3 preps. I need to make sure that I know everything that my students are doing for each unit.
2) Post-it notes: The first few days of class we do a lot of anchor charts and class rules with post-it notes. I also like to create parking lots so that students can ask questions.
3) Positive Attitude!: I know I am sad that the vacation is over, but I love to start off with a happy-go-lucky attitude to get the kids excited about English.

What are you waiting for?! Go link up with Farley so I can check out your August Currently's! 

Linky Party - Advice for New Teachers!

Long time, no see! It has been a crazy few weeks in the household. AP Literature training, moving apartments, then onto to two vacations just days after moving. We still haven't even broken down all of the boxes in the apartment! So sorry for not updating in a while. My sincerest apologies :(. I am linking up with Latoya Reed today for her "Let's Get Acquainted" linky party. Today I am giving advice to first year teachers. It seems like yesterday that I was a first year teacher at Spingarn in DC. I learned a lot from that year and I use that advice everyday at my new school.

BUY...extra school supplies. Especially if you work in a low-SES school/district. Many times, my students come to school with only the shirt on their backs. I always make sure that I have extra pencils and notebooks for the students.

ALWAYS...have a back up plan. Sometimes I think a lesson is going to be frickin amazing and it blows up in my face. The problem is that I have 2 other classes to teach the lesson to that day! Always make sure that you go back and reflect on what worked and what didn't. Also, don't have a meltdown if a lesson sucked. This is a learning process, don't let it get you down. We tell our students not give up, try, try again so practice what you preach!

NEVER...let the kids see you sweat. You are the expert in the room. Kids can sense weakness and can and will exploit it. Own your classroom.

FIND...a teacher mentor/friend. This is probably the most important thing to do in your first year of teaching. You need to find someone to talk/rant/cry/practice teaching with. They can help you!

MAKE...memories. Look for the positive in everything. Enjoy your first year because you will probably not experience anything like that again.

BE...flexible. Crap happens. I know someone people (ME) HATE when things don't go according to plan. I tend to get irate when things go south on me. But I just pop another prozac and go about my business. Don't sweat the small stuff. You are working with kids. They are so unpredictable and you never know what they are going to do. It is ok! Just roll with it.

I hope this was informative! Let me know down below in the comments :)

June Currently!

I love when the new currently's come out! They are a great way for my readers to learn a bit more about me outside of school stuff. Link up with Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade to join in the fun.

Go link up so I can see your answers! :)

Summer Bucket List Linky Party!!

Well school hasn't ended for me *just yet* but I am already looking forward to my two short months off. Thankfully, the way our schedule is set the last few days of school will be sans students so I can pack up and get all my grading done before our cruise luncheon on the 21st.

1. SLEEP!
 I feel as though this will be on a lot of teachers bucket list. My lack of sleep is starting to catch up with me and I find myself getting sleepy earlier and earlier.

2. GET SOME SUN!
 I am incredibly pale. I also am incredibly deficient in Vitamin D! I got a super cute black one piece from Forever 21 online that I just can't wait to rock by the pool this summer. I actually do look nice with a healthy tan. Now I just need to hit up Target for SPF 100 sunblock :-p

3. STICK TO A WORKOUT ROUTINE!
Ugh, I am embarrassed to say that I have not worked out in over a month. Terrible! So this summer, I am working on my schedule so that working out is the first thing I do in the morning. Hopefully then I will stick on this routine throughout the school year as well.

4. CREATE AN ENGLISH BINDER FOR MY KIDS!
One thing I noticed this year is that my students are NOT ORGANIZED. I want to not only teach them English but also teach them the importance of organization. One thing I did when I taught World History was have my students keep an interactive student notebook. I want to take that idea and create one for English. If anyone has any idea or tips, please comment below. I could use some help!

5. READ A NON-CURRICULUM BOOK!
I have only been reading the books that my students have been reading. I have three books that I have been trying to read this year, like Starboard Sea, and I have barely finished the first chapter. I plan on completing this book while tanning by the pool!

So there you go! Go link up with Miss Kindergarten and share your bucket list! :D