There's No Tired Like Teacher Tired

The first full week is over, and as expected, it was long and tiring. I know have 22 darlings in my class, and about half have very strong personalities. I can already tell that it's going to be "one of those years." Oddly, I'm OK with it. I've had angel classes the past 3 years as I've dealt with personal issues, so it feels like I'm about due. I can't really do anything to change it anyway, so it's best to buck up, put a smile on my face, and do my job with the same level of passion and professionalism.

Although extremely tiring, it was a good week. Here are the highlights.

• My Donor's Choose project was fully funded!
• We had our first (unplanned) fire drill, and my kids did an amazing job!
• We had our back to school dance. I loved dancing with my new and former students.
• We had our first Sno-Cone Friday to celebrate making it through the week.

Yay for sno-cones and weekends!

I'm looking forward to fall, when routines are more settled and my energy levels have caught up. Perhaps then I'll be able to work on more purposeful posts beyond updates.

Have a great week!

Ms.S 

And So It Begins

Friday the 12th was my first "official-I-have-to-be-here-now" day back at school. After Convocation, my dear principal let us have a work day, which led to a first for me. It took 9 years, but my classroom was ready before Meet the Teacher night and the 1st day of school!

Practically Pinterest Perfect!

The classroom of my dreams

Yes, the green table doesn't match. And yes, it is annoying.

***Disclaimer*** I have moved buildings or rooms for 4 out of my prior 8 years of teaching. And it takes time to make a room fit your needs. So don't be a Judgey McJudgerson.

The following week was filled with two more workdays, PD, and training on our new reading curriculum. Friday the 19th, I  got to meet the 21 new kinders that make up my class. It was an exciting and exhausting day. I celebrated with a weekend of wine, pasta, napping, Pokemon, and my very first #oklaed chat.

Tomorrow brings the first full week. Here's to incredible and exhausting new beginnings!

Ms.S

I'm Back...Maybe

Well, here we are two years later. I had the greatest intentions of posting more, however life happens. I think I'm still trying to figure out what I want this blog to be. In prepping for this post, I went back and read my entries from my old blog. I am definitely not that teacher anymore, which is neither a good nor bad thing, just different. Here's hoping I can commit to a blogging habit this time.

In honor of my love of bulleted lists, here are Things That I've Learned during my hiatus:

• Moving is the absolute worst, but is often necessary and good. In two years, I've moved houses twice, and schools once. Here's hoping I can stay and grow roots where I've been planted. And if not, I'm selling it all and going on a permanent vacation. 
• Getting a graduate degree can take your career in an unforeseen direction, and it is so awesome. Unexpected adventures are the best.
• Kindergarten still rocks! Watching  5-year-olds conquer concepts and discover the world around them never gets old. There is no other grade I'd rather teach.
• The longer I teach, the more I look forward to quality professional development and collaboration. Tomorrow, I officially return to work to start my 9th year of teaching. I'm hoping the 5 days of PD before the First Day will yield some useful tools and ideas.
• Burnout is real, and it changes you. But, as long as there is a glowing ember left in the ashes, there is hope.

That's all I can think of for now.

See you in two years...or maybe sooner.

Ms.S