Do people even blog anymore?

 So I've been thinking about this blog all summer.  And questioning if people even blog anymore.  Or if I cared enough to base my decision on other people.  Or if I could even keep it up.  Since I obviously have a problem with that - look at how often I posted before.

But then I decided that since I am switching schools and positions, I wanted to try this again.  Maybe I'll post regularly and be able to have this record of this year - this year of COVID and a new school.  Maybe I won't.  But I'm at least going to give it a shot.

So, back story for the past few years...

I've spent the past 8 years at the same school.  I taught 3rd and 5th as the inclusion class general education teacher.  And then I have literally taught K-5 as the ESE teacher.  The last 2 years I was the K-2, and then the K-1 ESE teacher.

This past year was the hardest year of my professional life.  I had a VERY non-supportive, and honestly, bullying, Assistant Principal.  I'm not getting into specifics cause I'm tired of giving her space in my brain. 
But this bully of a person made me doubt my teaching.
Doubt my passion.
Made me cry on my way to work multiple times.
Made me hate one of my favorite places. 
I decided in AUGUST that I was done.  I could not, and would not, come back to that environment.  It was so bad that my wife even told me not to sign a contract for the following year.  Tell them no and we'd figure it out. 
I truly believe COVID and the lockdown saved me.  I was able to get out of the physical location and not interact with this person.

I am very happy to say I will be teaching at a different school next year.  I am also very excited because I am going back in the classroom and will be teaching 2nd grade.  I am a little stressed because I am also grade level chair at a new school (I have the most experience on the grade level), am the inclusion class, and also will be teaching a hybrid class.  It's a lot.  But it will be fine.

I'm hoping if I give myself some topics to specifically talk about, then maybe I will be forced to come back and write more.  So I'll explain about the hybrid class another time. *Fingers crossed.*

Science and stuff

*Disclaimer*

Apparently I wrote this post and never actually hit post.  So this is an old post, but I didn't want to lose it.  So I'm hitting post now.  

So now that I'm back in the classroom, one of my favorite things is teaching science again!  I LOVED being an ESE teacher, but teaching reading and math and reading and math and reading all day long...

sometimes I think about how I would love to departmentalize but then I remember.

I love my school for many reasons, but one of the greatest resources we have is a science lab.  It currently also houses our Math coach, which means we can't use it 2 days out of the week.  But, I know plenty of schools that don't have a science lab at all.  So I know I'm blessed for having one.

What that also means is that (as long as no one else is signed up for that day) I can set the experiment up the afternoon before and everything is ready to go!!  One of my best friends teaches 5th grade next door to me.  We plan together and hit our experiments on the same day.  Which means we can set it up either the afternoon before or right before my science (my science is first thing in the morning) and then leave it up for her science.  It's great!

Also, do yourself a favor and buy a lab coat.  I got mine from Party City.  I wear it every time we go to the Science Lab.  But I put it on as soon as I get to school.  Which means I'm wearing it as my kids are coming in from breakfast.  The first time I wore it they were very confused.  A few of them knew that I liked to use the lab, so they had guesses.  Now, whenever I wear the lab coat they know that means we're going to the science lab.  And they get very excited about what we could be doing that day.

Our first science lab was that drops on a penny lab that everyone does.  

Essentially I was just introducing them 

to the lab

to my expectations

to the scientific process

to how to handle spills or questions or "I'm done, not what"

We were also able to talk about why we got such vastly different results.  

And why scientists complete an experiment multiple times before publishing their findings.

I know how lucky I am to have the science lab as a resource.  And (if I can stay on top of this and post regularly), you'll see that I take full advantage of it...

So...I'm back?

I guess I should start with "hey, remember me?"  Haha.  Or maybe not.  Who knows.

Either way, I'm back.  I didn't realize how long it had been until I went to write this post.  And even then I had to re-read my last post to realize how long it had truly been.  Literally over a year.  I guess I got too busy, or this wasn't a priority, or something.  I do know that part of it is because I'm crazy and like to write these out when I'm alone.  Like, right now, I am sitting on the floor of my wife's old bedroom at her parents' house.  Everyone is asleep but me.  Got too much sleep last night I guess.  I'll pay for it in the morning...

I guess I should do a quick "year in the life" recap maybe?  

So here we go...

2016-2017 school year at a glance

new principal

new ESE counterpart (only 2 grade levels 3rd/5th)

same office

new kids

new curriculum

new testing...lots of testing

new coworkers

And then the end of the year...when 2 of my favorite people in the world and 2 of the best teachers I know felt called to teach at other schools.  What do you do when your TBFFs (who are your real-life BFFs) decide to go to another school?

This year I have some new changes as well.  I have a new Assistant Principal.

And I'm back in the classroom.

5th Grade

I ended last year thinking I would stay in ESE.  I asked to move out, but we were making some changes to ESE, and one-third of our trio was leaving.  My principal asked me to stay ESE for one more year.

To help with the changes

To make sure everything went ok

I said yes.  Anything to help my school.  And she promised me that the next year, a classroom was mine.

But then she texted me over the summer and asked if I would consider going into the classroom now.  But that would mean I would have to help the new ESE team as well as continue teaching.  Of course I said yes.  

Well, first I yelled at my wife from across the store (we were on vacation in St. Augustine, visiting her brother and niece).  Then I texted my squad to get their opinions.  Then I said yes.

So, I'm going to leave this post on that note.  Well, and also with this...I am not changing my blog name, I feel like I am a very Disney-fied teacher.  But my classroom is not Disney themed this year.  I'll give you a hint...

Another year over...

It seems like the school years are passing by quicker than they used to.  There's a saying I heard when I was younger..."when you're young everything takes forever.  When you're old everything passes in the blink of an eye."  This is so true.  I blinked, and it was Christmas.  I blinked again and it was state testing.  I half-blinked and it was the last week of school.  

It's been a busy year though.  

A good year.

I moved down the hall to an "office".  I still switch back and forth from calling it my classroom and my office.  It's big enough to pull kids into, so I am still pulling my groups there.  It's also sandwiched between the guidance counselor's office and our academic coaches' office/science lab (complete with doors from my room into each of those rooms).  Which is great, but also means my room is sometimes used as a cut-through.

We lost some teachers in the middle of the year, which always throws everything off.  But we made it.  Our kiddos made it.
It really has been a great year.

But the end of every year makes you introspective.  And if it doesn't, maybe you shouldn't be a teacher.  I know that sounds harsh, but if you're not constantly evaluating and reworking, why are you teaching?  It is our job to always reflect and revise and revisit all of our lessons.

On that note, I am taking the summer to rework my entire math pacing.  I don't have a curriculum for math.  So I work off of the standards.  But trying to memorize standards for 3 grade levels is hard..doable, but hard.  And I haven't tried hard enough to memorize them.  So that's my goal for this year...memorize and rework.

What about you?  Any summer goals?

Currently August 2015

New month...new post.  Hahaha.

Time to link up again with Farley at 

for her Currently link-up.

Listening: Marriage Boot Camp is my guilty pleasure.  That's all I'm gonna say about that.

Loving: I LOVE teaching summer camp.  I really do.  But I am SO glad tomorrow starts my last camp.  I mean, it means my summer is over, cause we go back for pre-planning the following week.  But that's ok.

Thinking: I need to figure out what I'm doing for lunch tomorrow.  :-/

Wanting: My wanting never changes.  I want a million dollars...however I can earn it.

Needing: I brought boxes of stuff home to organize.  And I've only organized one.  Oh geez.  I need to get working on it.

B2S RAK: My school did the Capturing Kids' Hearts training over the summer.  And one of the things they talked about was writing notes of appreciation to those around you.  I am making it my goal to write a note for every member of my school family by the end of the year.

So, what about you?  Have you linked up?

Tell All Tuesday...on a Wednesday

So, I'm linking up with Diana from My Day in K and Jayme from Teach. Talk. Inspire for their Tell All Tuesday linky party.

 

And this week it's all about your dream classroom....

So...dream classroom...go!

Oh, and if I've done it right *crossing fingers* - if you click on the picture, it should go to the original page where I found the picture.  :-)

First, I want LOTS of space!  So I would take my previous classroom (I haven't written it yet, but I had to move classrooms. *sad face*) and double it.

I would only have a few desks, and they would be as tall as they could go.  I would have a few tables of various shapes around the room.  I would have a variety of different seats (chairs, yoga balls, wobbly stools, etc.).  

Something like this maybe:

or this:

There would be a wall of cabinets.  

Maybe something similar to this:

 Or cabinets with doors...or a combination of both.

 

And one corner would be turned into a class library, complete with oodles of books, and different types of cushions and chairs to sit on.

Similar to this:

I would also have a bathroom in my classroom (yay for no classwide restroom breaks!).  

I'd also love to be able to paint the walls.  I'd probably do a chalkboard wall or something.  Who knows.

Anyway, what does your dream classroom look like?

Back to School Linky...already?

So I'm linking up with The Teaching Thief for her Back to School Essentials Linky.  Essentially, what do you buy every summer to replenish what you used every year?

So, I really don't buy that much...but here is what I replenish

1. Pencils...always pencils.

2. Scratch paper...

My mom works in a real estate office.  She collects their used paper for me so I can use it as scratch paper.  So my kiddos are used to doing math work on the back of house listings...haha.

3. Pens...

These pens to be exact...

I will say that the ONLY thing my supervising teacher (from when I student taught) did for me was teach me not to use a red pen when grading things.  But I also don't like black, so I use other colors.

That's it...that's all I buy.  Sad, I know.

Link up...what do you buy every summer?