Last Day Before Students Arrive

It seems that, no matter how much I prepare, I always have more to do than time to do it.  I still need to make copies for these first three days and get our new teacher more comfortable with things.   I really don't feel that I have helped her enough.  I seem to be having a hard time focusing.  I don't know if it's the heat (forecast high of 109 today) or starting school so soon this year.
I know that I am ready and will be successful this week but I worry about what I haven't told the new teacher.  I keep having that feeling that I have forgotten something really major.
We had professional development Friday and yesterday.  Friday was the usual blood borne pathogens, confidentiality etc.  In the afternoon, some of us had training on Inspire Learning.  Does anyone out there use it?  it looks very promising.  It is targeted toward at risk students due to ELL, learning disabilities or just low reading level.  We were told that it could raise our students reading grade level by as much as 2 grades if used correctly (30 minutes a day 4 days a week).  I am excited to see how the students react.
Yesterday, we had site based training led by our principal.  She did a great job of having us use some of the Kagan strategies that we use in the classroom.  It was so good because we have so many new teachers that have not had any training in Kagan.  The structures are terrific for getting the students moving and learning!  It is a little hard to wrap your head around how to do them if you just read the manual so actually doing some makes a big difference.
Most of the day was spent training on our new teacher evaluation system.  We are using TLE this year. I think that it will be a good system but I am nervous about how good my scores will be.  I think that the great thing about it is that it will be easier to see how to improve my teaching.  I know that I have a lot of room for improvement but need real direction.
Today I am meeting with my team and doing any finishing touches to my room.  I will try to post some pictures of things in my room.  I know, as teachers, we are always looking for great ideas.  My team swears that I spend all my time on the internet looking for things for school.  I don't really spend that much time but once I get started...........  Anyway, I know that there is probably a better, easier, more organized way to do so many things that I figure I might as well look for them.
Anyway, I am very excited to start the new school year.  I know that there are plenty of young minds out there just waiting to learn to read!  The few that I have met are terrific.  I can't wait to meet all  of my new students and start LEARNING!!!!!!

last thoughts for today

Well, I just sent out an email with tenative lesson plans, lesson plan schedule, duty schedule and our playground proceedures. I am so glad to have that much done. I was beginning to feel the pressure. I will need to tweak things once we get our final schedules but to have most of it done helps. Now ---- copies, make word books for the kids to put their word wall words in, name tags, bulliten board to finish, grade book setup ......

First Post!!

This is my first post and my first try at blogging.  I am a first grade teacher in an inner city school.  We started new teacher orientation yesterday.  All staff is beginning professional development tomorrow.  I have been busy trying to get my room ready for a new year.  We had to hire 9 new teachers this year.  It took us all summer to get them all hired.  I also heard today that the teacher we hired back in May took a different position, this week.  She already had her room ready and some lesson plans done the way I understand it.  I have one new member on my First Grade team this year.  I am looking forward to working with her.  It sounds like she had a raw deal last year.  No help, no information.  She said that just this morning she has already gotten more information than she had all last year!!  She told one of our other teachers that more people have talked to her here than all last year.  I feel so bad that she had such a bad experience last year and will do all I can to make sure she has a much better year this year.
Anyway,  we have five first grade teachers on my team.  Four of us are planning to flex for reading instruction this year.  My fellow teacher across the hall and I flexed the last nine weeks of last year and really saw the benefits and the potential benefits to doing it all year this year.  I will keep you updated on the progress as the year goes on.