Goal!!!!!

So this week is the first week of school. I really thought I would be nervous and lost, but thus far everything is going according to plan. We are getting procedures and routines down faster that I had imagined. I love just saying "Turf Time" and they know to go to the carpet and get what ever pillow they are assigned that day. I am working on getting them to do it quietly, but that is a work in progress.

I am still getting used to our daily schedule. It seems the kids know it better than I do. We were late to specials today, because of me. I totally lost track of time. The PE teacher was not happy, and that was evident in her body language. Her old, frail, 50+ year old body.lol She is someone you don't want to cross. She could use a lesson in "nice words" and "respecting other people's feelings 101". I think I will invite her to my class when I teach those lessons.

I have a cute little container in the front of the room for kids to write note to Mr. Sosa. I told them they can write anything they want for me to know or any suggestions they might have. I told them that on Friday we would vote on a new desk arrangement. Needless to say the notes to Mr. Sosa container was over stuffed with extravagant plans for desk arrangement that not only defied the laws of physics but the laws of spacial geometry as well. I think one layout had 1 teeny tiny desk for the boys and 50 desks for the girls. Which would work if I had 1 teeny tiny boy and 50 girls instead of the 11 boys and 11 girls I do have. I did get a few other notes. 1 said "You are the best teacher ever!" It is now framed and hanging up above my desk. Then there were 2 other notes that said we needed a clock. Actually one of those notes said, "What time is it? Oh wait I don't know because we don't have a clock." A. We do have a clock, it just doesn't work, and B. You are 8 years old small child, loose the attitude. You don't learn that until middle school. It's true, we do need a clock though. Maybe then the kids will be able to line themselves up without me even having to say a word. That is a goal I have.

Speaking of goals... All this week we have been doing getting to know you activities. Me posters, drawings of self, thinks that I like, and a goals paper. The goals paper has a soccer ball on it and in the white hexagons are 5 different goals they set for themselves. The goals are: Math Goals, Reading Goals, Writing Goals, Behavior Goals, and Another Goal. I told them that another goal can be any type of goal. It can be a goal for this year or a goal for the future. I want to share some of the goals my students have for themselves. I will spell them exactly the way they wrote them. You can interpret them anyway you like, I suggest phonemically.
Goals:
"work harder"
"I will try my best kicking hard at kick ball"
"I want to make video games when I grow up."
"do your BEST!"
"Good job"(It's either to do a good job or find one. I don't know.)
"to be in the olimpiks"
"Be in the olympics."
"I want to be a swimmer on the olypics."(Not in, but on. There is a difference.)
"Become an authour and illustrator."
"I want to get better at soccor"
"I want to be presadent."
"I want to be a better student."
"I will try to be a scinecetis/ashrownot."
"I will try to do all of these goals!"(pertaining to all the other goals on the soccer ball)
"To become a movie star."
"I like spelling"(Really? Is that even a goal? Nope, it's a statement)
"Go in the olympcys"(Go number 1 or number 2 in the olympics?)
"To be better at cub scouts"
"To be in the olmicis"
"To win all my soccer games"

My goal: To help these kids either reach their goals or give them the confidence and knowledge they need to reach them. That and teach them spelling and punctuation.lol

First Day Jitters!

Thats how I would describe my first day and is also the name of a book I read to my students today. It is such a great book to read to kids about being nervous on the first day of school. I don't want to ruin the book but the ending is what my kids love most.

Today was a really good day. I think the kids listened and responded really well. I felt like it was information overload for them. We went through all my procedures and expectations for them. I didn't realize how much there is to do and say to get the kids to where you want them to be.

It was funny because as the day started only 3 kids walked in and I greeted them with a smile and a good morning. I turned around to take a sip of my coffee and when I turned back around all 22 of them were putting their things away and settling. I was kind of taken back for a second. I didn't expect for them to multiply so fast.

We did a lot of shared thinking today. They are so smart and had a lot to add to the conversation. It is amazing what they have to say, and all you have to do is listen.

Meet the Teacher Night

Scratch that. It was actually meet the teacher morning.lol We had meet the teacher this morning at 8:30am. I got to meet a majority of my third graders today. 19 of 22 to be exact. All of the parents are extremely nice too. I had a dad that kept me laughing most of the time. I was so nervous to meet them. I had no idea what to expect. After about 3 kid and parent sets I was in my groove.
"Good morning, I am Mr. Sosa. It is so good to meet you. Are you ready for a brand new year? I know I am. There is one form on your desk that I need you to fill out for me. After that you may unpack your school supplies. If you look around the room there are post it notes placed on bins on the supplies that I will take from you. It is like a scavenger hunt so you can get to know your new classroom. Everything else you will place in your desk and we will talk about them next week. Parents, there are some forms on the back table for if your child will ride the bus and chances for you to sign up for volunteer opportunities. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I will let you get to it."
It was a great morning. I am fortunate to have a great bunch of kids and parents. I do have one child and one parent who might give me some issues, but that will make my blog more interesting. I am not going to judge them yet. The next few weeks will help me to see how my year will go. I am still so anxious/nervous.

TAG! I'm it!

So I just got my scores in for the Talented and Gifted exam I took. I was so nervous that I didn't want to look. I was most certain that I didn't pass. Nope. I was wrong. I did pass! I am now certified to teach talented and gifted students. Yay me!

Mind Pictures

Last week I attended the Elementary Learning Institute for Round Rock ISD. I had the opportunity to observe some great teachers in action and to attend some break-out sessions that will make me a great teacher. I attended one session called "Keeping A Writer's Notebook". At one point in the session the instructor talked to us about having your students write and keep a notebook for whatever inspires them. Whenever they are inspired to just jot down their thoughts and feelings. She then had us do an exercise called "Mind Pictures" where at that very moment you were to right down what you were thinking. She gave us a few minutes and here is what I wrote:

"There it sits. It served its purpose. Now what? It will be discarded like so many of its kind. Taken to a place where so many objects go to sit and wait. Waiting to cease to exist anymore. Waiting to release its harmful toxins. Toxins that destroy our world."

So what was it that inspired me at that very moment? It was my Styrofoam cup. It really made me think. If a cup could inspire me so much, then imagine what the possibilities could be for the inspirations of our students. Needless to say we will be keeping writing notebooks in my class. I can't wait to read what inspires my class. Hopefully one of them will be me.