Singing Stars and Reading Warriors

So in my infinite knowledge as a first year teacher, I decided my students were asking too many extraneous questions.  So to limit these questions, I told my kiddos that if they wanted to ask a question they had to sing it to me.  Big mistake.  I didn't take into account the fact that I have some goobers in my class who would love to do a little sanctioned song and dance during class.  When one of my boys started to go all Broadway on me, I couldn't hold my laughter in anymore.  I ended up having to take a breather because I was laughing so hard.  The rest of the class gave a standing ovation and were ready to move on....I was still laughing.


As an avid reader, one of my goals this year was to inspire students to read.  We are currently reading Suzanne Collins' Gregor the Overlander.  I went out and bought enough copies of the book so that each child could pair up with someone to follow along as I read.  Because it is one of my favorite books, I can read the story aloud complete with character voices (that the kids often request during lessons).  I think this book has officially gotten them hooked on reading.  We (and by that I me "I") read aloud for about 2 hours today as part of their reward for the amazing feedback I got from our substitute.  I planned it out perfectly so we would stop at the big climax of the story right before the bell rang.  When I told them to close their books, my students begged to keep reading so we could finish the story.  I told them the bell was about to ring, and they asked if they could just stay for 30 more minutes to finish the book!  Imagine that....the end of the day on the Friday before a 3-day weekend, and they would rather stay in school for 30 more minutes!  I love my kiddos!

First Year Teacher

I guess I should start out all of this by saying I am a first year teacher.  I am fresh out of college and was lucky to get my dream job shortly after graduation.  I have an amazing class at an Exemplary school, and I love every minute of my job. 

I should also confess I am a pinterest addict, and many things I see on pinterest I get the urge to recreate and incorporate into my own classroom.  I come from a creative family, so I tend to have a flair for the dramatics at times, but my kiddos find it hysterical so that works fine for me.  My students yearn for days when the air conditioning turns on high so that I'll get out my Harry Potter Snuggie for reading time.

I started out college knowing I wanted to teach reading, but after graduation I was accepted to NASA's Pre-Service Teacher Institute at Johnson Space Center in Houston and I am officially a math and science nut.  I bribe my kids with NASA experiments and they do my bidding in hopes of an awesome science lesson.

All of this is new to me, but I knew I wanted to blog the happenings of my first year of teaching as something to look back on later, and if I happen to entertain you with my random ramblings of classroom anecdotes or provide a great arts and crafts idea, so be it.

Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours.

-Miss P