Here we go...again!!

Ok...here we go again!! I'm going to try and give this blog thing another whirl.

The past couple of weeks I have spent getting my classroom ready for my new batch of firstie babies. I moved classrooms this year and oh mercy, did I gather a lot of mess over the last year. I have purged cabinets, drawers, boxes, bins, filing cabinets, and even the dreaded bottom drawer (where everything you do don't know were to put ends up in there) can I an amen?



This is what I walked into a couple of weeks ago. A blank slate, new challenges (two outside walls that are all cement blocks), and everything thrown in boxes. At the end of last year, when I was packing to move, I envisioned color coded bins that were neatly organized so that setting up this year would be a breeze. Ha! I was kidding myself! I should have known, that with all the end of year crazy that just wasn't going to happen. Instead my motto was "throw and go!".

But honestly, I learned that I NEED an organized classroom. My students NEED me to keep it organized. So my goal this year is to have everything have its own place! I'm also going to give my students more responsibility of helping me keep it organized. We all share the space, so we can all share in the care and keeping of it.
Keep living that teacher life!
-Allison

Whats Really Important

Yes! I am still alive, my hands are cramped, my feet are sore, and vitamin C has become one of my main food groups. But, the biggest accomplishment is getting though week one and day one of week two with my wonderful first graders! Since the first day of school, I feel that I have thought more about my college classes, and everything my mentor teachers have taught me through the years. Evey day I come home and all I can think about is what I can do differently tomorrow, what I need to get done, and how much of my to-do list I have not accomplished. However, today as I was walking though wal-mart trying to remember my shopping list and what I needed to do when I got home that night, it hit me, my kids come first. Maybe I won't have the master binder of all my papers done, they will survive. Maybe my centers are not the cutest, they will be fine, they will sill learn. Maybe my desk isn't ready for a organizational "after" photo They will be fine. All that matters is that my kids learn and know they are loved and wanted. That is what matters. If my feet hurt, that's fine. If my throat is sore, it's worth it. Thankfully, vitamin C vitamins are not too bad, actually my gummy ones are delicious and I have to tell myself that they are not candy.

DIY Whiteboards

This summer I am focusing on making materials for my classroom and saving money from my summer job. I have spent a lot of time on Pintrest and found several different DIY’s on how to make individual whiteboards. I used whiteboards all the time during my student teaching and internships, so I knew I wanted a classroom set in my classroom. I have looked online and in my local teacher store and most of the time I found packs of 3 for $10. That just seemed way to high to me. So my thrifty teacher side came out and I went to Lowes and Home Depot in search of Showerboard or Melamine board. I found it at both stores, but my local Home Depot would not cut it for me. I went across the street to Lowes and found a the same type of board, but it was thicker and would hold up better. They cut it for me for FREE! My board was 32sq ft so I had them cut it into 1 ft squares. I also bought two roles of colored duct tape to cover the edges to protect my sweeties hands. In total I spent $20.94 for 32 whiteboards!!! Score!
-Allison

Meet the Teacher

Hello! My name is Allison and I am a first year first grade teacher! I am so excited to get started! I have created this blog to share  my experiences as a first year teacher. I have recently graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University. Axe ‘Em Jacks!!!
My Favorites:
Color: Yellow, Purple, Blue (Its always changing!)
Drink: Dr. Pepper (I’m trying to quit it, but sometimes you just need a ice cold DP!)
Food: Smores!
Tv Shows: Once Upon a Time, Switched at Birth, and Gilmore GIrls