First Day of School

Today was the first day of school and 

I

Am

Tired! 

and a bit overwhelmed getting used to the new schedule. It'll take a few weeks. And all will be fine again. But I can't wait for it to be the weekend! 

Oh!

But my fourth graders are the most darling and we had the best day! I'm going to love them!  

This is me about 5 minutes before the start of school bell rang. And this is my team: Amy and Brian. 

Teacher Moments

Today was the "clap out" at my school. Here's what it means: 

All of the students who are graduating high school tomorrow that attended this elementary school where I teach wore their cap and gown and walked through the halls and we clapped them out. 

It so cool to see all of my past fourth graders in their high school cap and gowns! They are S O   TALL !!! It's hard to beleive becauase I 'froze them' as nine and ten year olds. 

But there they were in front of me and I was teary. 

Especially when it was all over and they came back around and into my classroom to give me hugs and take pictures with me. 

I am so grateful for teaching and having the opportunity to reach hearts. So so grateful and proud of MY class, the class of 2026!  

Fourth Grade

I have this picture on a self behind my desk in my classroom. 

It's me - at recess - with one of my best friends from growing up. When I came across this picture from a billion years ago I had to pop it in a frame and have it in my classroom as a reminder that I was a fourth grader once too. It reminds me and makes me think, "what kind of teacher did that little girl want and need?" and then I try my hardest to be that teacher for that little girl and therefore the best I can be for the present fourth graders right in front of me. It's my motivation. 

Mr. Rogers once said, "I think the best thing we can do is think about what it was like for us and know what our children are going through." Here a clip of that interview here. 

 

Just An Email

... just an email I sent families tonight. 

I always send an email every night with a few pictures (if I remember to take them). And since this space is a place where I like to keep a lot of memories, I don't want to forget what I do each and every day. 

Dear Families, 

Something on my heart: Sometimes I have such an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to work with your amazing children. Today was one of those days. Connecticut, line plots, analyzing artifacts in informational text, writing, solving problems, reading, and whole bunch of joy in the middle of all of that! How lucky am I that I get to spend my days with your nine and ten year olds? So lucky! They amaze me every day -- when things are tricky and new - when things are fun - when some things take a loooong time to do. Through all of it they are just the best! They laugh, they dig deep with hard work, they are friends, and together we are a classroom family. 

My days are filled being with them, sometimes in front of them talking and teaching them, but most of the time right next to them, so I often forget to take pictures. I wish I had more to share because there really is so much magic in room 124. 

For now just a few that I have -- I will take more tomorrow! 

 

 

Classroom Tour

I have more to share about our cozy home this autumn still but for now I haven't done a classroom tour in years. 

So last Friday morning before my fourth graders arrived {and it was pouring rain} I took a bunch of quick videos of the classroom. 

If you're interested in seeing my home away from home -- the place where I spend my days -- this is it! 

No fluffing

No prepping

No nothing -- just as it is! 

First Day of School - selfie style

Wow! I'm certainly on a roll tonight! This is my fourth post! I am finally getting caught up! I did the back to school blessing, moving Anna back to college, Abigail's night before photo shoot, and now the first day of school!  

All phone pictures of course but I finally got one from everyone this year! 

Here is Abigail the second we were leaving and jumping out of the car on the first day:

Here's one from Anna (I think she thought I was asking to see her outfit on the first day) 

Scott came through for me this year -- love this of him with his assistant principal

And finally me seconds before we opened out doors to meet our new fourth graders. (best team ever!) (in Brian's room) 

You Know It's Almost Back to School When...

I just picked up my first stack of 'placed on hold' library books for Open the Magic in my classroom. 

Eeeek! I can hardly wait!

 

Family Work Night

Every year I intend on taking pictures of the stages of getting a classroom up and running. You know, from that first walk in since the last day of school... all of the floors are shiny with floor wax and the desk are in one huge pile stacked to the ceiling in the middle of the classroom... to a welcoming 'home' by the first day of school.

And every year I don't. 

Because when I am in my classroom to work, I'm on a mission to get it done, not to take pictures. 

So gosh! Another year without the 'before pics'.  -  but still wanting to document our family and our life. 

Last night after dinner we all hopped in the car and headed to my school for what I called 'family work night'. There is no one there at that time so I can get a LOT done in one hour with the four of us working! 

The girls worked and put name labels on all of the spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, folders, and they filed them in their boxes. 

I ran around the room and did odd jobs while Scott did some heavy lifting for me. 

It's coming -- not even close to being ready for Monday afternoon 'meet and greet' when I get to meet my newest fourth graders -- but it will be ready by then. 

I'm a 'short burst' worker. I still love and hang on to our routine in the summer up until the very last day so I only go in after dinner if it fits -- it sure is great to be year seven in fourth grade!  

And so grateful for my family for all of their support in getting a classroom up and running! 

Our Classroom Family

I've finally figured out a way to get my phone pictures on this blog of mine. (even if they aren't perfect - you all know how I love the crisp, professional pictures from my big camera) 

But those pictures on my phone are memories and since this is why I blog, I've just got to get these here too. 

I want to remember this evening back in the busy of December when Abigail was at an orchestra rehearsal, Scott came to my classroom and hung these big wooden letters. Oh I love them so much with all of their hand drawn portraits up there. Swoon! 

 

I was taking these pictures to show my best teaching friend (who has years ago stopped blogging) who I still talk to. It's so cool how we started off as friends because our daughters wrote to each other and we were stay at home Moms and now we are Moms back in the classroom and we're still close friends. I love that. 

The First Day of School

Today was day 11 but I found a few pictures on my phone of the first day of school this year so here we go... 

Click HERE to see the Back to School Blessing. 

Click HERE to see the Night Before Sophomore Year. 

Click HERE to see You're In the Right Place Part 2 (bringing Anna to college for her sophomore year) 

Click HERE to see Day Three in the Classroom. 

So much 'back to school', right?! But it wouldn't be complete without a quick picture of Abigail moments before I dropped her off at her high school on the first day (and then zipped over to my school) 

And here I am in my classroom so excited, nervous, all of the emotions even after all these years! 

This is my awesome team that I get to work with every day: Amy and Brian - we have so much fun! They make me laugh. They let me be me. They share ideas, inspire, and are good good friends! 

Here is a picture of Anna on her first day - she always sends us her outfit! 

And Scott -- I asked him to take a picture of him at his school but didn't get one, one of these years I will :) 

 

Our Class Is a Family

We spend a lot of time in the beginning of the school year working on creating a classroom environment that "feels like home" and where the people in our classroom "feels like a family". I actually just took this bulletin board down (wow -- I'm on a roll this year -- already on our second bulletin board in the hallway) and I hung these permanently in our classroom because we are a classroom family. I love these drawn portraits so much -- they make me smile every day. 

Beginning Classroom

Here is a peek at our classroom on day 3! 

 

Building a Family at School

We've been doing a bunch of social/emotional lessons this year. And this just came down (because a new one was about to go up) and I love it so much I had to take a picture of it. 

It is based off of the book, Our Class Is A Family (found here) and it's lovely. 

All of the children used watercolors and created these portraits (some very creative with masks on).

And then they finished these sentences... 

We are a family when... 

They wrote the most wonderful things... made my heart leap for joy! 

We truly are a family and I adore my class this year. 

The Natural Classroom

I thought I'd post some photos of my classroom.

A few things to know:

1. The class was outside at recess which is why you see backpacks and water bottles.

2. It was the second day of school which is why nothing is hanging on the walls, yet. I believe that their work should cover the walls, not my pinterest or instagram - ness.

3. I believe in a 'natural classroom'. No rainbows. No bright colors. No shiny bright plastic bins. I believe in as much 'natural' as I can. Earthy colors, tans, simple. No posters. No signs.

I could do a whole post on why a too 'busy' looking classroom, a too decorated by the teacher classroom, a pinterest classroom is not what is best for children learning.

4. I believe that the children should have a 'say' in their classroom which is why it's a 'blank slate' (mostly) when they walk in. It is their 'home' too - not my showy showroom.

5. I believe in lots of less overhead florescent lighting, and more lamps with soft colored shades.

6. I believe in "Children First From Day 1" and I hope my classroom throughout the year reflects that.

7. Oh and my school was built in 1955 - so I do the best I can with my vintage room.



Looking from my desk area out toward the classroom.

6 feet apart desks for social distancing...



Work Work/Spelling will be an interactive area and those are white boards.



Mailboxes and soft lighting as they enter the classroom.



That "I Believe In You" will have a big 8x10 photo of them (waiting for them to arrive - I take a photo on the first day) and then I hang their writing on those clips throughout the year.

My classroom looks like a reading specialists room, there are so many books. This is a small bit of the 'classroom library' since there are no cozy carpets this year and not all of the books are out.



This whole wall are my multiple copies for teaching in small groups.





My Dad painted that moon 4 years ago for me...





Open the Magic is something I do every day in the classroom. A picture book a day used for various parts of teaching the curriculum.

Those white papers mounted on burlap will be filled with sticky notes as they answer questions throughout the week about books.



I can't wait to see their smiling faces up on this . -- their own personal bulletin boards!



More Classroom Library books in natural baskets





As they celebrate their birthdays throughout the year they will paint their portrait on these canvases.



And interactive math wall



Looking toward the hall - and no I don't teach cursive but I just can't bear to take it all down - it's so vintage!



A little area on my work table.





I've been wanting to take photos of my classroom  each year and never do - this is the year!

The Not Normal Last Day of School

Today was our last day of school.

It was so different.

I don't have a 'grand' post with lots of pictures like I usually do - yet. But when I get the chance I will post them.

For now I don't want to forget how I'm feeling.

This week I felt sort of 'off'.

I knew exactly why.

It was the last week of school and instead of being in my classroom I was home.

Sure, home is great! If you've read this blog for more than a minute you know I love home. And I cherished my 13 years out of the classroom.

But home when we were 'supposed to' be in school was just plain hard.

On March 13th I left my classroom and started the journey of Distance Learning and Distance Teaching.

Between that date and today I held over ... ready for this???

OVER {five hundred and thirty five} google meets.

535!!!!

As strange as this week felt for me today was still magical.

There was a parade at school and I got to see (like in person) since March my kids!!! We all had masks on and there were no hugs but I still got to see them.

I am too tired right now to get it all down here - and I will take the time to do that soon.

I just want to remember this day - the amazing emails from parents telling me what I did in their child's life - the letters - the cards

and I just want to remember feeling so grateful for the love for children and the heart for education that God placed in me.

There is no career like a teaching career. If you're reading this and you've ever thought about becoming a teacher -- do it!

Not The Way It's Supposed To Be

Today was my day to go to my classroom. First time since March 13th. That's longer than summer.

It was so so sad.

How we wanted to go back and we held out hope that it might happen.

But of course it didn't.

I packed their desks. Took things off the walls. Covered the shelves.

This year there will be no visit from Scott when he meets my class and does a read aloud.

No pictures with me.

No end of year activities.

No hugs and tearful goodbyes.

My closed up classroom is depressing, really.

Just sad.

Usually this time of year is so exciting and so happy! We are days away from summer break. Days! It's so wonderful we can taste it. We are usually so exhausted from lack of sleep and so many end of the year things that we are running on the hope that summer is just around the corner.

This year. So different. I've had time to garden. Time to rearrange. Time to decorate. Time to paint.

Sure, there are more home projects I still dream of doing. It's not that we're 'all done' of course. But usually I just can't wait to dive into a few things because summer is days away. This year it just feels weird.

Usually we have a big trip planned. We are abuzz of conversation all about a trip in late July. This year we will be home.

I love home. I adore T I M E at home. I do.

But it just feels out of place and strange.

And after over 29 Google Meetings every week (for 12 weeks) After helping my daughters through 12 weeks of distance learning we are ready for it to end.

But it's ending so sad.

I know that I'll come up with a plan for the summer to 'feel like' summer - it's just not there yet.

This is what my June 9th classroom looked like when I left today. I felt like I couldn't take a deep breath. I was sad.

I got into the car to drive home and I heard this song. And YES He is still my God. And I will praise Him.

I praise Him for the many silver linings in this. I praise Him for the health of my little family. I praise Him for a career that I adore and that I will do again IN the classroom. I just praise Him.

For that is truly where my strength comes from.

Sweetest

The doorbell rang, Abigail thought it was a friend from school. I peeked. It was one of my students. She (and her Mom) were down on the sidewalk but when I opened the door flowers were there. It took everything in me to not go down and give her a hug. She said, "We're gonna get through this" with the sweetest smile ever.