Sunday, November 3, 2013

I'm a Teacher...


What a mix of emotions I have felt the past 2 months! There is no way to be fully prepared for your first year of teaching. The first few weeks I felt like a cartoon character, whose body was bending abnormally away for a bullet or arrow. I was just barely one step ahead in everything: lesson planning, lining everyone up, etc. 

Reflecting on the past 2 months, I see growth. Not only in me as a teacher, but in my students. We know each others names, I know what I can expect, and they know my expectations, our routine is set {although I am changing it up a bit this week}, I know my daily duties as their teacher, the list goes on and on. Our biggest victory is walking QUIETLY in a LINE down the hall!!!! We did it!!! Every time I turn around to look at them, I am in awe that these 13-14 three and four year olds are MY responsibility. What an honor!

Now that the waters have calmed down a bit, I can invest time in documenting this fun, new adventure! Keep up on the latest happenings by following this blog. Over the course of the next few days, I will write a blogpost for each of the units we have done thus far!

I am excited to share my first year teacher journey with you!


Thursday, October 10, 2013

I is for Ice Cream

Forgot to post our favorite week we had last year. I will be posting this year's update soon!
Here's a look at my first year Ice Cream Week!

What a FUN week we have had! 
This has been my favorite unit, yet!!! 
The week began with shaving cream ice cream cones. We talked about mixing colors and what happens. They enjoyed the texture of shaving cream and making a "puffy ice cream cone."

Shaving Cream Ice Cream Cone
1. Triangle Cone glued onto a piece of card stock.
2. Mix shaving cream, paint and glue. 
3. They had the choice of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or mint. 

Ice Cream Shop - Dramatic Play
What a hit!! They fight over who gets to be in the center. I made 4 different types of play dough ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, mint and strawberry). I added coca to the chocolate play dough, mint extract to the mint and vanilla extract to the vanilla play dough. They loved that it smelt just like ice cream.

Morning Meeting Greeting
Hippity Hop to the Ice Cream Shop

"Hippity hop to the ice cream shop to buy an ice cream soda.
Which ice cream do like (insert students name)?"

This is a hit as well. They love choosing a new favorite flavor of the day.