10 Things I've Learned from Teaching

I'm linking up with Miss Kindergarten on the "10 Things I've Learned from Teaching" on this Sunday evening!

1) A funny voice or a stuffed animal makes teaching more enjoyable -- for the kiddos and the teacher.  We had a pretty boring Handwriting curriculum last year, but everyone participated when Maria (Nintendo Mario's sister) came to "teach" the lesson.  

2) There's little that a hug, a wet paper towel, or the beloved bandaid can't cure.  This is one thing I didn't learn as an Undergrad or Grad student -- basic first aid.  On this same note, I've learned that Kindergarteners and I have very different definitions of "bleeding."  

3) Organization is the key to survival.  Kindergarteners do not like to wait -- maybe it's the generation of instant gratification, but I need to be 2 steps ahead of myself every day and always have at least one "back up plan."  My kids really loved "Heads Up, 7 Up" with Sight Words at the end of last year (when one is calling on whom he/she believes picked him/her, he/she must say the Sight Word, rather than the person's name)

4) My life is very exciting.  My kids LOVE to hear stories about myself, my husband, and our dogs.  Especially the silly ones.

5) It's better just to go to school "under the weather" than plan for a sub. 

6) All about lice.  I had heard of lice when I was in elementary school, but never had a personal experience with it.  I am now well-versed in the life cycle of head lice.  (Sorry, I probably made your head itch just reading this).    

7) Miss Kindergarten posted one similar to this -- Kindergartener's remember EVERYTHING.  I could make up a rule and months later be reminded when someone broke said rule  

8) "Hanitizer."  

9) Everyone is someone's child.  I know my kid's parents send me their very best every day and it's my job to ensure that their children are safe, loved, respected, and valued under my care.  It's my goal for each child to grow a little smarter each and every day.  

10) Above all, the kids have taught me more than I could ever teach them! I learn something new EVERY day.  

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Let's Connect and a Freebie

I've enjoyed expanding my networks in over this past year.  Below you'll find ways to connect to me via Facebook, Pinterest, and Teachers Pay Teachers.  How do you best connect to other educators?  

And now for the freebie...  My Master's is in Guidance and Counseling and while I was completing my program several years ago, there was not many resources for early childhood counselors.  With the expansion of TPT, there are so many more!!  I've created several and made this feelings chart freebie on my store.  You can get it here!

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Let's Start at the Very Beginning...

I had really good goals at the end of the year to start blogging more this summer while I had the extra time, but I also had goals of working out more, and I've been to the gym once this summer...  Maybe I need a new plan :)

I have been posting more on Instagram, follow me @mrsnation for more updates as I prepare for the beginning of the school year!

Here's some updates of what I've been up to as I'm getting "back in the swing" of things.  We report back to school in a little less than a month.  I can't believe it!

Here's how my room looked at the beginning of last year before any kiddos came:

 I used a combination of my own Primary Colors Classroom Decor and from Katie King's Classroom Decor Packet.

 My mom and husband made the tree on the back wall as well as one outside my door (not pictured).  Our Kindergarten theme last year was "Soaring into Kindergarten."

 

My favorite corner of the room was our "reading nook."  Some of my former coworkers threw me a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" themed going away party and my mom made this caterpillar as decoration.

My mom also used table cloths from Target to create pillows and a curtain to cover my teacher resources behind my teacher table.

Our carpets get cleaned each summer, so everything is packed up and pushed into one corner of the room.  I got a little overwhelmed when I walked in for the first time last week.  I don't know how you all who only get to go in a few days before do it.

Last week I started getting organized for next year with some of these precious chalkboard labels from Cara Carroll at the First Grade Parade.  My mom bought these bins for me at Wal-Mart and I'm going to put all of my center activities in them.  My files were getting too bulky!

I also have a *bit* of a binder problem and bought these at Sam's to organize some of my daily resources.

I've made a few resources in the past few weeks that I put in my TPT store.

I was needing a revision on some of my Literacy Center response sheets -- the ones that have been used for so many years, the copies are more of a grayish color than black.  I made Literacy Center Basics to replace and revise those pages.

We have a strong Pre-K program in Oklahoma, but about 25% of our kiddos come from other programs/a home-based setting and don't always know their letters.  I made Letter by Letter to use as a review for letter names, formation, and sounds.

My goal by the end of this week is to have all my files organized and everything in the new bins.  Then I'll start with setting my room back up.  Let's hope these goals go better than the ones I set at the end of the school year!