Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party

 

I am linking up with Flying Into First for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party! I love this as a new blogger because it really helps bloggers get to know each other better. Such a great idea! For my tic-tac-toe I am choosing the middle horizontal row.

1. Share about your first year teaching: I could not have been more excited to get my offer for a Kindergarten position at a wonderful school. However, along with the excitement came nerves, anxiety, and self-doubt. I was terrified that I wasn't going to do a good job, that the parents weren't going to like me, that the other teachers wouldn't think I was a good teacher, and the list goes on...But of course, all my worries and anxieties proved useless because my first year of teaching, though challenging of course, was amazing! I immediately fell in love with my students and I worked so hard to make sure I was doing my best to give each child what he or she needed. I received nothing but positive feedback from my fellow teachers and administrators. This I believe was key to having a great first year. I felt completely supported which was so motivating to me. I knew that I was not alone and that everyone at my school was on my side and willing to help me with whatever I needed. I feel so blessed to be at such a wonderful school!

2. My favorite school memory as a kid: My favorite memory was when I was in 5th grade. I had an amazing teacher who made it very clear that she believed in me. She was so encouraging and always pushed me to do my best. She pointed out some of my strengths that I didn't even know I had! This teacher had such a huge impact on me. I can only hope to impact my students in such a meaningful way.

3. Books I'm reading: Okay so this summer, I have several books that I have been meaning to read for YEARS! Yes, that is sad. I have been so busy with school stuff, taking care of my  husband and dogs, just life, that I haven't been reading like I used to. Right now, I am reading The Hunger Games trilogy. Next, I am going to finish reading the Harry Potter series. I still have 5, 6, and 7 to read. Somehow, I have managed to stay in the dark over the years about how this ends, thank goodness! Last, I really want to read The Host by Stephanie Meyer.

I am Bloglovin!

It is confusing enough  being a new blogger and on top of that figuring out all the Bloglovin stuff! Thank you so much to all of you who posted tips on how to do this! It wasn't so bad after all thanks to you!

I am linking up with Tori at Tori's Teacher Tips for her Bloglovin Blog Hop Linky Party!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/8774845/?claim=t8he8wq9db3">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Picture Book Linky: Picture Books for the First Week of School

 I was so excited to find this Linky Party hosted by Deanne at First Grade and Fabulous! As I mentioned in my previous post, picture books are one of my favorite things ever! I am constantly on the look-out for more great read alouds. I especially love books to read at the beginning of the year. They are a great way to explain rules and get them comfortable and excited about school. Here are my favorite read alouds for the beginning of the year:

This is a wonderful book about how children "bloom" at different times. I read this at Back to School Night to all my parents. I think it's a wonderful way to start the year!

 

 



This is always the first book I read to my new little Kinders. It is wonderful because they can really relate to it! They love telling me what they did the night before Kindergarten!

This is another classic that I have to read at the beginning of every year! My kids get really into the whole series of Miss Bindergarten!

 

 

This is one of my all time favorite books to read at the beginning of the year. I have several activities

to go along with this book as well.

In my class, I do Star of the Week. The first week of school, I am the Star. I  read both of these books to help them get to know me as well as to show them how the Star Student week works. I read Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon because I LOVE the message of this book. I am a very small person, but that never stopped me from doing what I want to do and being proud of it :) I also read It's Duffy Time because I have a pug (my baby!)

 

 What are your favorite back to school picture books?

My Woman Cave

My husband has the whole basement to himself, his "man cave". So I was thinking...I really need a "woman cave"! So I have spent my week this week creating a space in my home where I can go to do what I like to do. So far, I have been doing all of my lesson plans, crafts, and art downstairs in the kitchen...not ideal... My kitchen table is always covered in books, lesson plans, my laptop, paint, and the list goes on! Now I have a very small, yet cute and organized space to go to get my creative juices going!

 This side of the room houses all my craft supplies, including my fabulous Cricut!

 

 I made containers to hold my pencils, pens, etc...out of tin cans. I simply wrapped them in scrapbook paper and decorated! I even filed all of my pictures and other items to be scrapbooked in this cool file bin I've had forever.

 

 

 I got these cute baskets at IKEA and I made name tags for them and tied them on with ribbon.

 

 

I also got this bulletin board for cheap at IKEA and I use it to put all my ideas that I want to create there.

 

I used this super old container that I had to organize all my scrapbooking materials.

 

This is the other half of my very small room. I used this half to house all of my fine art supplies (and printers because there was no where else to put them!)

 

I used some containers I found at Target in the dollar section to hold all my paintbrushes, pencils, etc... I organized my acrylics by color. Then I used another one of my super old containers to hold other art supplies.

 

I then decorated the walls with some of my own art work! This is all old stuff that I did in college...since I've been married and teaching I haven't had any time to paint or draw...But I left some space open to add future work that I will hopefully get to do soon!

 

So there you have it, my "woman cave"! I can't wait to just sit up there and complete the MANY projects I have planned for my classroom this summer! Much better than the kitchen table :)

  

Books I Love

I absolutely love children's books! It is impossible for me to go to a bookstore and leave empty handed! I am always on the lookout for a great new read aloud. One of my favorite things about teaching is doing read alouds. It is one of the best ways to ignite a passion for reading in young students. My philosophy is if they can see how much I love reading, it will rub off on them!

Amos and Boris by William Steig- This is my all-time FAVORITE children's book. It is a heart-warming story about an unlikely, yet true friendship between a whale and a mouse. It starts off with Amos, the mouse, building a boat and setting sail only to fall off the boat in the middle of the night. That's when he meets Boris, the whale. Boris rescued him and offered to take him back to land. During their voyage, their friendship blooms and grows. But a mouse and a whale cannot be best friends forever, at some point they must say goodbye...

 

 

See this and more of my favorite books on my "Books I Love" page!

So Inspired!

I have been teaching Kindergarten for several years now and I can't think of anything else I would rather dedicate my life to. It is so much more than a career for me, it is a passion! I love sharing my days with adorable, hilarious, enthusiastic, and loving Kindergarteners.

I stumbled upon the blogging world simply by searching in google when I was having a mental block on activities to do with my little ones...I was so excited to see the wealth of information and ideas that are out there! I have been so inspired by other's amazing teaching blogs and I knew I had to get involved! I hope that some of my ideas may be helpful to others as well!