Break from Reality

Can it really be that after 4 months of challenging reality...I desire to post something...stop.the.world.

Seriously, I don't know how all of you teacher-mom-wives-bloggers do it!? A typical school day for me Wears Me Slap Out. This is coming from a gal who has no chil-ren of her own and who now lives only *25* minutes away from her job... But, of course, seeing as how I'm on Christmas Break...I'm actually getting the itch to be teacher-y. If only that would happen when I'm actually teaching. I have learned lots during this half year transition to a new school and new grade. I could probably list 100+ things but I think I'll stick to ten. 

1. Fifth grade is FULL of girl drama! 

Not really my cup of tea...The girl drama that is. I could write a rather lengthy book on the girl drama from this year alone. The boys all definitely have my favor this year, whereas, usually they're the goof balls, tattletales, and cheeky ones....it's definitely the girls this year. They're at that cycle starting (oh yes!), friend rivalry, boys are cute stage. A naturally good and very normal stage but its definitely taking some adjusting for me. I liken their trials to Disney's Mulan singing "Reflection". I sure hope they grow out of it. One of the other  5th grade teachers and I are even working on an optional Bible study to help the girls based off of Anne of Green Gables. We shall see and hopefully come the end of the year this will be my specialty age. Ha!  Here's hoping. 

2. Every school is different. No two are the same. Administrators, expectations, co-workers, programs,extra classes, dismissals, book fairs, fundraisers, lunch, etc... No two are the same. I'm very happy with where I'm at though every move has had its share of adjustments. I especially find that I have more time this year to grade and work on special assignments during the school day. For example, the bookmarks I made as Christmas presents for my kiddos... I was able to make those and wrap those during the school day and they took literally almost all day. Here they are:

3. Classroom organization, time management, and class decor all mean nothing if you don't love your students. Sometimes, that means asking God to help you love them like He loves them. 

4. There is a fine definite line between being teacher and being friend. Don't cross it. 

5. First impressions are NOT always what they seem. 

6. Parents think their children are perfect. I re-learn this every year. Good professional parent-teacher relationships are very important to a student's success in your classroom. 

7. Bathroom breaks are necessary...even though they are time consuming...I thought with older kiddos they could just go as they needed but nope...they need potty breaks, first grade style.

8. The best teacher teams are not when all the teachers think and do things similarly but when everyone has something special they bring to the table. 

9. When students want to help....let them help. many hands makes light work. 

10.Big kids are really little kids with bigger bodies and wiser minds.

Done.Blogged.Sweet Satisfaction. 

Ready or not...here it comes!

Ready or not...tomorrow is my first day! There are still several things in my classroom that I feel aren't ready but regardless... it's coming!

We had Meet and Greet/Open House/Orientation...whatever...last Thursday and I got to meet all but 3 of my kiddos...I have another good looking group! I took their pics in the photobooth with a mustache for my Question of the Day board and managed to snap a family photo and pic with student and Mom to use later in the year for Mother's Day.Here's the goody bag they got at Open House...I was excited to be able to use the UP2U gum.

 This is a pic of what their desks looked like: Books, Agenda, goody bag, and C.I.R.C.U.S. binder.

 I was super concerned about those bags toppling over as my car has been loaded down for the past 3 weeks but managed a pose...

They all took pics here...

 I also mailed postcards to all of my students on Friday morning! Hopefully they all got them Saturday!

I'm getting the First Day Jitters ;) and still have a lot to do so adios hippos!

WELCOME!

Yesterday was a super long and dreaded kind of day and today I'm running on lack of sleep, diet mountain dew, and adrenaline. Tomorrow we have our Meet and Greet so I still have lots of papers to print to be ready for that at 8:30 in the am!!!! Have you ever heard of such?! We start with a breakfast for new parents and then returning parents come in later so here's a quick picture recap of the things that have been revamped and have come along in my classroom

This WELCOME sign has to be the best part about today! I LOVE it!

This is my favorite Uncle who every year makes or buys something for my class...usually both! This year I sent him some pics of some marquee like circus letters and expressed my want for them and why they were needed ;) He used black and red foam board, red poster board, and Christmas lights! He also provided me with some super duper comando hooks for hanging it on the brick wall and here's hoping it's still up tomorrow! I love the way this looks when you walk into my class! It's the first thing you see and I was definitely overexcited about it!

Here's the wonderful creator with a "why do you want to take my picture kind of grin"! Seriously, the most unselfish man I know and I love him much more than he knows!

 Though I'm missing four shelves this doesn't look too bad for now! I'm thankful every thing is OFF DA FLO! The other four shelves that I'm supposed to get will create a box look around the carpet and that is where I'll put my class library bins because they're way too high right now and then I will use these two shelves for games and manipulative stuff. I am in LOVE with the way this center tent and sofa area look right now!

 These are my bags for storing tickets. Again, not the place that I wanted them to go but it works for now! They earn tickets for so...many different things but also loose them each time they have to pull a card. I found these bags last year at Michaels, they are nice and thick and they are also what brought on my inspiration for decorating with a vintage circus theme last year! It works really well in my classroom. Each quarter those who have 30 or more tickets get to go to CARNIVAL (class party!)

 My finished door: "COME ONE COME ALL! Step Right Up and Meet Mrs. Stewart's Circus

Lastly, this would have been my post yesterday...my sweet friend Beck...completely made a new backing for my directors chair and I LOVED it and she came at the best time to pep me up and encourage me...seriously I was *100 kinds of happy* when I saw her and this amazing creation!

Now to get ready for Open House...

Big Top Love

  Today was my first official day of preplanning. We had a whole lotta meetings and were given a whole buncha information. 

I still do not have shelves :( or a roster :( or a computer :( or the promised ipad :( 

I am told it's all coming though. 

I did have a moment of beautiful bliss when I hung the Ikea circus canopy! The sign I made last year even worked out...and my sweet friend Beck was the highlight of my day! When I sent her the pic this was her response "I LOVE IT!!(yes I am yelling) it could not have been more perfect...the exact right size"

and I agree with her, I LOVE IT much more than the other attempt and it was definitely worth the 15 dollars!

I sure needed the encouragement today! 

Here's my canopy....:)

LOVE <3

 I also worked on my door today...I think I want to add "Step Right Up and Meet the AMAZING 5th grade Circus" with their names on tickets but I kinda think that's too many words for the door...

 I found these today at Party City...I'm going to try to get my Uncle to make me some and then I'll chalkboard paint them and use them in the photobooth!

 That's it for tonight folks...I'm trying to work on this new schedule thingy and that requires me to go to bed at a normal hour and get up early :)

Bring on the Preplanning!

Preplanning officially starts tomorrow! Ah...bittersweet! I have soooooooooooo much to accomplish by noon on Thursday and I have to start getting up early and going to bed at some reasonable hour! Which prob. won't happen until week 2 or 3...I get the jitters like nobody's business! We visited Ikea yesterday...here's my new tent...it's pretty big and I think it will work out nicely so here's to "Out with the old and in with the new" tomorrow!

I also got a super cute new school bag with wheels that was 12 bucks clearance...I'm hoping it will be easier to pack and move... Guess I've been inducted into the "I have a rolling bag" dork club!

 This next pic was just too good not to post! I really do have an amazing hubby who understands me more than anyone this time of year! It was his idea to go to Ikea yesterday so we wouldn't be rushed today!

Love my Mr. <3

Happy Preplanning it is!

By George...there is a classroom in there after all!

I had an almost 3 hour new teacher meeting today and I LOVE my principal! She seemed so down to earth...my kind of person and she noticed my new hair cut! And I've only seen her a couple of times! ;)

I left after the meeting to get something for lunch and was on the phone while going through Truett's drive thru....I get to the window to pay with my card and realize...Oh.My.Soul. I drove past the order window without giving my order! Talk about hilarious! My hubby says this proves his point on female drivers :0

 Though I didn't accomplish as much as I wanted, I did manage to get my class looking somewhat like a classroom. I straightened things up and got an extra filing cabinet to store supplies in...no real cabinet or even one of those metal cabinets with doors on the outside and shelving on the inside but this seemed to work out okay and got some of my junk off the floor. Here's just a bunch of random picks and though it's still semi unorganized, it's a whole lot better than what it was!

All of the things to the right of the red "photo booth" (which desperately needs curtains, signs and some organization are extras to be done away with) but the filing cab. fit perfectly and though it's not what I wanted,  I think it worked out a little better size wise. I'd of spray painted the filing cabinet if I had known I was going to have it...but it is what it is at this point.

 It's going to drive me crazy how blank the walls are up at the top :/

Just a random shot but it really shows how far I've come. I'm hoping to get a desk to replace the stubby little short one....and I heard today that I should only have 16 students :)

 My desk area still has a long way to go but hey, it looks like a desk area...and I left a lot of space in the corner for "hiding stuff" that I need to take home or set up.

 I do still have one pile of junk hopefully I'll get shelves Monday or Tuesday and this will be done away with!

This book case is for whatever theme/holiday/unit we are doing. Right now I have books out about the circus, fifth grade, and elephants. I don't really have a lot of back to school books fit for 5th grade, but I have a TON for first in my garage!


 The thing I am most excited about from today is this board below or rather wall space....last night I was up until the wee hours of the morning (which is norm for me right now until reality slaps me in the face next week!) and I found EXACTLY what I've been needing for morning work...more like routine. I've always had a morning work assignment but this year I've known that it was going to be tough because after the first 10 minutes of class my students will either go to band or chorus...kinda crazy if you ask me because their little voices are going through that awkward-want-to-go-through-puberty-but-not-there-yet-change...but anyway I get a nice 40 min. break first thing! I've been trying to figure something short and sweet out for Morning Work other than just copying homework. Well last night...I found this and it seriously caught my eyegate:

 It's a Question of the Day board that I'm going to use as part of my morning procedures and I already had the duck tape! Bam What!!!?!! (quick disney channel reference has been inserted)
I love this...def. my new fav thing in my class. I plan to take their pic in the photo booth at Open House with a stache and print their pics then use sticky magnets on the back of each of them. I'm not sure if I'll try to look for something magnetic or just hot glue small magnets for each one under yes and no. I even typed my first QOD...Are you excited about 5th grade?! On the one morning of the week that we don't have fine arts they will write about their answer and why it's a YES or NO and on the other mornings after we do pledges and prayer I'll just randomly call on a student to tell me why they chose yes or no. :)
Here is my mine: 

I'm gonna laminate a piece of blue paper to put the QOD on using STIKKI CLIPS. And it will be ever so cute once their pics are up! 

Click on the first pic of this board to go on over Ashley Reed's classroom! She has 180 questions already ready but included an editable template for typing your own on TPT for only four dollars and...she's a southern gal from the same part of Georgia as I am...and we know some of the same people...and she teaches in a Christian school also! How cool is that?! Yessss...us lower salaried peeps have game too!

Just another pic of this :) 

After I left school today I went to SchoolBox to get some new Stikki clips...they are now $4.99!!! Any of you ever seen these any where else?! Anywhoo...I bought some schtuff well kind of a lot...I'm thinking about ripping down that whole tent and making it a blue sky full of hot air balloons...anyway I saw these two adorable new lines and LOVE them.

Sock Monkey! My fave!!!!

Boho birds...adorable!

 Here's a final pic of what I bought:

Some hot air balloons, border, and the clips :) I'm thinking about putting the big balloon in the center of the wall above the sofa and then each time we read a book as a class write the name of it on the small ones and add it to the wall?! IDK...we shall see. 

 I do know that I've seriously got to start WORK so I'll stop shopping ;) but my how much therapy there is in spending that cash!

Coming Soon to a Classroom near you!

I know it's probably not cool to have more than one post in a day...but the more I think of this Big Top Circus Tent in my classroom...the more I don't Love it. I don't even like it. Actually I think it looks terrible! After collaborating with my hubby, neighbors, and friendo I've decided to destroy my hours of labor and thought and invest in one of these:

It's only 15 bucks from Ikea and I've kinda almost spent that in red and white table cloths!! Cray right?!

I plan to get it this weekend...Ikea is pretty close to our church and I really hope it gives me the factor I'm looking for.  I also wanted to whine about how much I miss my kiddos from last year. I connected with the mom of one of my students from last year and it hit me so fast how much I miss them! I've been sobbing for the last hour while looking through old pics while my hubby thinks I've really lost it and need some sleep. They really were precious. Seriously BEST.CLASS.EVER. and I love them dearly each and every one. I will be praying for them tonight!

This was Spirit Week and we had more spirit than the whole school!
Aren't they a good looking group?!