My First Classroom

This post has been a long time coming. I am not sure why I never posted the before pictures. Enjoy a picture overload!

Before:

Small Group Area and Independent work table

Computers and a look at my old desks! 

Old desks.

Front of the room where the teacher's desk used to be. It took four people to move it to the back! 

I love how much whiteboard space there is along the front, but unfortunately it isn't magnetic. The last teacher glued a few clips to the board to attach papers. 

Kicking it old school with a chalkboard. 

 About 12 billion hours later: 

My objectives and required school engagement plan information

Math, religion, centers, and LA posters. Also, we sat on cushions the first day! We didn't have desks until day two. 

My desk and teacher area. I love having it in the back of the room! 

My Math and anchor charts board.

My take on crate seats (thanks mom for the cushions!) 

My door. It melds my sock monkey theme and the required school ocean theme. 

View from my desk. You can see our carpet, library, and front of room.

Now With Desks:

Each desk has a pencil gripper on it. I hardly ever hear pencils drop! 

My WBT rules and scoreboard. 

Back of my door (Sign is free here!) On the first day of school we made self portraits. 

We don't have bulletin boards in the hallways, so I covered clothespins with polka-dot washi tape and hot glued them on the wall outside. It is so easy to change work out! 

View from the door.

I know it is a lot of pictures, but I am so proud of my room! It is so wonderful to finally have one of my own.

September Currently

I can't believe that it is September already! A classroom reveal post is coming as soon as I remember to take my camera out and snap some pictures. There never seems to be enough hours in the day, especially at school! Does anyone else's day seem to end late? We don't get out until 3:30 and I am usually working with dismissal until almost 4, and by that point I am almost ready to fall asleep! Last year the school district I was in ended their days at 2:45, so I am still adjusting to the switch. 

Speaking of late days, it is time to get ready for tomorrow! Our lone four day week of September. And since it is the first of the month, it is Currently time! 

Listening

I grew up around cicadas and am used tho their noisy existence, but the ones in Memphis are much more intense!  They are SO LOUD that I could hear it over the TV last night! Currently there is one making noise while viciously attaching my kitchen window. Hopefully when the weather cools down they will too! 

Loving 

I adore three day weekends. This weekend I spent one day with friends, one day doing things for myself, and one day for prepping for school. I am so relaxed and prepared for this week and I am loving it! 

Thinking

I love centers, I want to do centers, my curriculum tells me to do centers...but I am terrified to start them. I know what I want them to end up looking like, but I'm not sure how to get there. Tomorrow I am going to officially make the plunge into it since I really need to start digging into my curriculum. Wish me luck! 

Wanting 

If only every weekend was three days. My problem is that on a two day weekend I spend one day prepping for school and the other with friends, which doesn't leave any time for me! Which then bottles up until I spend a Friday night in my room alone just to recharge.

Needing 

My college coffee maker died and I have yet to buy a new one. I realize that they start at like $10, but I really want a Kuireg and just have yet to convince myself that I can afford one. For the past two weeks I have been cold brewing on weekends and drinking iced coffee all week (which I love), only this weekend in all of my excitment of having extra time I forgot! Thank goodness for kind neighbors that offer me coffee! 

Loving Myself

1. Sleep. Getting up early is very unnatural for me. I am a natural night owl who will stay up until 2am just because I am most awake then. It was great in college, not so much now. So I have been trying very hard to go to bed early, but no matter how hard I try, 5:30 comes all too soon. I need to use my time better so I am not up late getting ready and can instead get so much needed (and deserved) sleep! 

2. I loved getting and sending mail, but I have neglected it greatly over the past several months. Writing letters is relaxing and brightens another's day, so win win. 

3. I had a rough end to my week and have been doubting myself since then. In order to love myself I need to believe in myself and who I have know myself to be regardless of what others say. I am smart, kind, caring, and will be (and already are) a good teacher! Now to take that from just words to truly believing it. 

That's all folks! Hopefully I will remember to snap some pictures this week and finally show you my room! 

Don't forget to link up with Farley for more currently!