Oh, what a week its been at Kindergarten! The first week has been exhausting, but by Friday, it all seemed like it was worth it. I can honestly say that everyday I felt like things were a little better than the day before. The most problematic part of my day all week was dismissal--who's going where, when, and with who? Friday was the first day out of seven where there was no issues-WhooHoo!!
Things that made me smile this week:
On the first day of school, we read the story "The Gingerbread Man" and then we go on a hunt for the Gingerbread Man around the school--this gingerbread hunt is designed to be a tour of the school for the kids. When we made it to the office, one of my little guys tells the guidance counselor, Mrs. Barber, that we are there on a "Ninja Bed" Hunt. Mrs. Barber just smiled and told him that she had not seen the Ninja Bed :)
This year I have a student who has not been to preschool before coming to Kindergarten, and this experience is completely new to me--it requires a different kind of patience than I am used to (and there are times I am amazed by my own patience with kids--I tend to be pretty impatient with things in real life--I'm sure Mike would tell you all about it if you asked). So on with the story, the student came to me a week ago completely unable to write his name, by Tuesday I had taught him to trace his name, and by Friday he had taught himself how to write his name on his own--I am lucky enough to have a job that completely amazes me all the time, and I was definitely amazed when I watched this child write his name neatly on his own on Friday.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Iowa State Fair
Last Sunday, Mike and I went down to the State Fair with Lance, Becky, and Kara--who got us in for free--YAY! I did the usual Fair stuff--walked around in the extremely hot weather, saw the Butter Cow, ate a corn dog, people watched, escaped to the air conditioning of the Varied Industries Building, and then left slightly crabby from all the heat and crowds.
Kara finding some eggs at the "Hands on the Farm" exhibit.
This year's new butter thing was "Green Eggs and Ham"
The Butter Cow
The Cookie Mountain, perfect dessert to follow the corn dog.
It's super hot!!
Kara finding some eggs at the "Hands on the Farm" exhibit.
This year's new butter thing was "Green Eggs and Ham"
The Butter Cow
The Cookie Mountain, perfect dessert to follow the corn dog.
Wasps
This really isn't something we did, it's just something that I think is kinda interesting... We have an enormous wasp nest above our side garage door--enormous, like 15 to 20 wasps on it at a time.
My Wordle
I saw wordle.com on another blog, and thought I would try it with my "Back to School" entry, here is what it produced. Click on it for a bigger picture.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Back to School
Yesterday was our first day of school! For Kindergarten, we do something called staggered start--which is when half the class comes on Thursday and half the class comes of Friday. Yesterday I only had 6 that we able to come, and today I had 9. And I am exhausted. Monday--and everyday after that too, I guess--I will have the full class of 17.
I know this may sound strange, but I forgot how much they learn in Kindergarten. Two months ago, I ended the year with kids who were, for the most part, independent and ready for 1st grade. Now that I am back in the classroom with fresh Kindergarteners, I realized how much they really learn and how much they really grow in a year.
I am looking forward to this year for a lot of reasons. This is the first time that I get to teach the same grade two years in a row, and I feel like that gives me an opportunity to learn from and improve upon the things I did last year. I am also hoping to focus more on management. In my first year, I learned a lot, but I wish I had time to learn more about behavior and prevention of problems. I spent a lot of time last year just learning what to teach, keeping myself organized, and trying to get everything accomplished. There were a few times that I felt like I just survived the day, and I don't want it to be that way (at least if I can help it). I want to be able to manage my class effectively, so that things run more smoothly in general. Sometimes it felt like the only solution I had was to take time from recess because I didn't know what else to do--and it wasn't effective for the kids that I needed it to be effective for. So my goal for now is just to learn as much as I can--because I know I will never have a perfect class with perfectly behaved children, and I need to know what to do to prevent the behavior and what to do when I encounter problems.
I know this may sound strange, but I forgot how much they learn in Kindergarten. Two months ago, I ended the year with kids who were, for the most part, independent and ready for 1st grade. Now that I am back in the classroom with fresh Kindergarteners, I realized how much they really learn and how much they really grow in a year.
I am looking forward to this year for a lot of reasons. This is the first time that I get to teach the same grade two years in a row, and I feel like that gives me an opportunity to learn from and improve upon the things I did last year. I am also hoping to focus more on management. In my first year, I learned a lot, but I wish I had time to learn more about behavior and prevention of problems. I spent a lot of time last year just learning what to teach, keeping myself organized, and trying to get everything accomplished. There were a few times that I felt like I just survived the day, and I don't want it to be that way (at least if I can help it). I want to be able to manage my class effectively, so that things run more smoothly in general. Sometimes it felt like the only solution I had was to take time from recess because I didn't know what else to do--and it wasn't effective for the kids that I needed it to be effective for. So my goal for now is just to learn as much as I can--because I know I will never have a perfect class with perfectly behaved children, and I need to know what to do to prevent the behavior and what to do when I encounter problems.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
My Classroom
I have spent a week and a half working on my room and getting ready for the upcoming school year, and I am happy to say, I think I'm ready! Over the summer I read a book about arranging and organizing classrooms, and I spent most of last week just reorganizing all the stuff--and believe me, teachers have a lot of stuff--in my classroom.
My art center is ready to go!
The next photos are pictures of my classroom--I have them posted going in a circle around the room.
Computer and desk area
Book baskets are to the left and the reading loft
Art center and puzzle/game center near the table in the corner
The small group table, my desk, and word wall
This corner has my desk and the large group area where we do calendar and read alouds
The building center, math shelf, and doorway
Summer Weddings
This summer, we've had two weddings--Kelly and Jon were married July 24th in Omaha, and Heath and Rachel were married this past weekend, August 14th outside of Iowa City.
Mike and I at Kelly and Jon's wedding.
Dollar Dance
Mike with Kelly and her brother, Kurt.
Heath and Rachel's wedding--the site was absolutely beautiful! J.B. from Country Landscapes built the stone arch.
Baby Faaborg is getting bigger--I got to feel her kick!
Mike and I before the wedding. You can't tell from the picture, but it was super hot that day!
Mike with some good friends, Ian, Soren, Huston, and Halverson.
AND, they didn't have cake, they had an entire spread of desserts--with homemade whipped cream, which I ate about half a plate of.
Mike and I at Kelly and Jon's wedding.
Dollar Dance
Mike with Kelly and her brother, Kurt.
Heath and Rachel's wedding--the site was absolutely beautiful! J.B. from Country Landscapes built the stone arch.
Baby Faaborg is getting bigger--I got to feel her kick!
Mike and I before the wedding. You can't tell from the picture, but it was super hot that day!
Mike with some good friends, Ian, Soren, Huston, and Halverson.
AND, they didn't have cake, they had an entire spread of desserts--with homemade whipped cream, which I ate about half a plate of.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Flooding
It has been pretty rainy around here lately...
This is the road Mike and I take to and from work everyday. We had to go 10 miles north of Ames (the Roland exit) to get to a road that would get us home. My 25 minute drive took me an hour and 15 minutes.
One of my favorite bike paths is through those trees. This is a block and a half from our house.
This is a block from our house. Through those trees to the left is a trail that I like to go walking on.
This is the road Mike and I take to and from work everyday. We had to go 10 miles north of Ames (the Roland exit) to get to a road that would get us home. My 25 minute drive took me an hour and 15 minutes.
One of my favorite bike paths is through those trees. This is a block and a half from our house.
This is a block from our house. Through those trees to the left is a trail that I like to go walking on.
Staining Windows
A few years back, my parents had the windows replaced in their house. Now, my mom is getting ready to get new carpet and new window treatments, so they have decided that it is time to finally get around to staining the window frames to match the woodwork in the rest of the house. So Mike and I went to Harlan last weekend to stain the wood. Crystal, Nate, and Ashton were there for a wedding, so I also got to spend time with the best nephew in the world!
Mike getting started
Dad even helped... (when he wasn't on a break ;) )
Mike sanding down the bay window
The finished patio window... it used to be light wood, we made it dark.
And Ashton may have distracted me once or twice... ;)
Channeling Harry Potter
Making faces at Grandma
He's such a big boy, look at him run!
Mike getting started
Dad even helped... (when he wasn't on a break ;) )
Mike sanding down the bay window
The finished patio window... it used to be light wood, we made it dark.
And Ashton may have distracted me once or twice... ;)
Channeling Harry Potter
Making faces at Grandma
He's such a big boy, look at him run!
Wisconsin
It's been a while since I blogged because, well, we've been busy. The first weekend in August, we took a trip to Madison to celebrate Mike Huston's birthday. On Friday night, we stopped in Waterloo to eat dinner with Crystal, Nate, and Ashton on the way to Huston's, so we didn't get there until about 10--so we pretty much went to bed after we go there, but not before Mike was "iced" by Huston. Apparently, "Icing" is when a someone comes upon a Smirnoff Ice that has been hidden by a friend--or bro--and when they discover this Smirnoff Ice, they have to get on one knee and chug it... I guess it's some sort of internet thing, I don't really get it.
On Saturday we went to Hubbard Ave. for breakfast, and later in the afternoon we went downtown to walk around and get some gelato--YUM YUM! For dinner we went to El Dorado, and then we went to Essen House for some German beer and dancing.
Dinner at El Dorado
Huston got "Iced" at Essen House
The second half of our trip to Wisconsin was a trip to the Wilderness Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. We met Tim, Sue, and Chris there on Sunday. We spent 3 nights in at the resort, where we swam, floated on several lazy rivers, played in a wave pool, and played putt-putt golf. On Monday, Mike, Tim, Sue, and Chris went golfing, and I stayed behind and went to the pottery place, which I really enjoyed doing. I painted myself a ceramic pencil holder for my desk.
And, I had some of the best crab ever on our last night there. We went to a crab buffet, and it was AMAZING!
And where are the cats while all this is going on?? They got a vacation to Bruce and Maurene's in Ankeny. Meatloaf was a little shy, but Charles warmed right up and became best friends with Yoshi.
On Saturday we went to Hubbard Ave. for breakfast, and later in the afternoon we went downtown to walk around and get some gelato--YUM YUM! For dinner we went to El Dorado, and then we went to Essen House for some German beer and dancing.
Dinner at El Dorado
Huston got "Iced" at Essen House
The second half of our trip to Wisconsin was a trip to the Wilderness Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. We met Tim, Sue, and Chris there on Sunday. We spent 3 nights in at the resort, where we swam, floated on several lazy rivers, played in a wave pool, and played putt-putt golf. On Monday, Mike, Tim, Sue, and Chris went golfing, and I stayed behind and went to the pottery place, which I really enjoyed doing. I painted myself a ceramic pencil holder for my desk.
And, I had some of the best crab ever on our last night there. We went to a crab buffet, and it was AMAZING!
And where are the cats while all this is going on?? They got a vacation to Bruce and Maurene's in Ankeny. Meatloaf was a little shy, but Charles warmed right up and became best friends with Yoshi.
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