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...