First Day 2012

Wow, so far, it seems that I lucked out this year.  I seem to have a really good great class!!  It was probably one of the easiest first days ever for me!  I did arrive (for the first time ever) well before most of the parents.  I usually have a hard time finding a parking space very close to any entrances.  I got a lot done BEFORE I had a crowd of worried parents and kids at my door.  In fact, this year, I really didn't have that many doting parents.  Maybe my class is more mature???  or maybe mom and dad are so glad school started they just dropped them off.  I'm going with the mature factor. (I hope I am right)
I have one little girl that literally read everything I put on the Promethian board, all my charts that I referred to, and most anything else I put in front of her.
I started the year with the usual first day -- procedure, procedure, procedure followed by demonstrated poor choices and resulting clip move down the scale and good examples with movement up the scale.  I was actually with-it enough to remember enough student names to use their names in examples.  We practiced procedures and they even ALL earned a positive move up the discipline scale.
After lunch, I read "The Night Before First Grade" and "First Day Jitters".  I also used a flip chart by Clarissa Miles I found on Promethian Planet.  The kids did a great job listening and answering the questions that I asked.
When we finished both books and discussion, I had them illustrate and write about how they felt last night.  I thought that they did such a great job sounding out words and working so hard.  I even posted them on our bulletin board outside our room.  I am so proud of my peeps!!!
I can't wait to start testing them and seeing where their levels really are.

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!!!!!!