A ready room...

Well, it was a whirlwind of a week...

Monday at 9:45 pm I received the phone call offering me the First Grade position I had interviewed for just a few days prior!

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were long days....starting at 6:30 am finishing my room at the Autism Academy until 10 am, then driving a half hour, and beginning to work on my first grade room!!  It was an exhausting week, but a week I would not have traded for the world!!  This is my dream and I am so tickled to be a first grade teacher :-D

I have had my students for two days and have already changed my seating into rows...we just aren't ready for cute little groups yet!  However, I wanted to share some of my classroom pictures! I'm happy with how it looked for the first day...

Welcome to our First Grade room!

Behavior Board

Cubbies and Storage

Small Group / Reading Instruction table

Morning Meeting and Math focus board

Teacher Zone :)  It isn't nearly this neat anymore :(

Closed cubbies with sticker reward charts!

Word Wall (yay for having a Cricut -- thanks Mom & Dad!)

My favorite project so far....our classroom rules/promise :)

...my unexpected dream...

Two weeks ago I had my autism classroom almost completely ready.  Then I got a phone call.  Two days later, I had an interview.

One week ago, tomorrow, I got a phone at 9:45pm.  The phone call that I have dreamed of getting since I started college.  Yes, that phone call.  They had approved me and were offering me a classroom. Permanently.


And I accepted.  Last week my days were long, full, exhausting; they were split between finishing my autism room and starting over from scratch in my new room.

But in three days, I will be standing at the door of my permanent classroom welcoming my first group of First Graders!


Yes, I get to be a First Grade teacher 😊 and I couldn't be more blessed or excited!!

I'll get some photos up soon, and I'll change my blog!

middle of summer update...

More accurately, I should title it "middle of the year update", but we will go with it!

My regular school year ended on June 7th.  I had one week off, took a second week to go to Michigan with my family, and began teaching extended school year.  I taught a new group of students for two weeks. Tomorrow I will leave for training...more later.  When I come home, I will teach two more weeks, then have August to get ready for the fall school year to begin.

*training*
There is a structured method of teaching students with ASD that has been developed by the University of North Carolina.  It is called TEACCH! My company is sending me to this five day intensive TEACCH training....in North Carolina! Now, no beach for me this coming week, but I am so excited!  I feel like a real teacher.  I am going to have a specialized training to teach my kids!  I spent many days last year being told "you'll understand once you go to TEACCH"... Now I am going!

I have been told that I will be required to sign a 3 year contract upon my return.  While a few months ago I would have absolutely said no way....my heart has changed and I have settled.  I am planning to stay here for three more years.  I'll be offered many trainings, a lot of experience, and will be able to sharpen my skills.  I am tired of moving.  A friend was telling me the other day that I need to start making some decisions for just me.  This is one of them. I am going to sign the contract and not look at public schools for a few years. I want to focus on being a great teacher for these kids....not a half hearted one who is constantly looking for a way out.

It is crazy how much a few months can change your perspective ❤
Happy summer teaching!
-m

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june currently...[finally]

How embarrassing!!  It's June 13th and I'm finally getting around to doing my June currently.  Better late than never I suppose!

Listening - When I started this post husband man was listening to the Pens 24/7 Radio station on the iPad.  He's stopped...the only sound I hear now keys typing....ah! lovely <3

Loving - I crave sleep.  I need sleep.  I am a HORRID person when I do not have enough sleep.  ESY begins next week, but this week I have been home.  Baby Pup (who really isn't much baby anymore!) and I have enjoyed daily afternoon naps.  Probably my favorite time of day :)

Thinking- Well, at least I did it this month!! I missed the last...uhmm...three or four?? :(

Wanting- I recently stopped taking a medication which was prescribed to me from my doctor.  I did it for various reasons; maybe I'll write that post after nap time tomorrow!  However, the nasty side effect has been what the online community calls "brain zaps".  Never knew such things existed, but boy are they annoying, slightly scary, and frankly I'm ready to be done with them :)

Needing- Who doesn't need a little more patience??  Sometimes I'm just at the end of my rope with answering questions. Secondly, who doesn't want a little more sunshine??  I love myself tan :)  I will not go to a tanning bed any more....so when the sun comes out, this lady loves to soak it up!!

Vacation Essentials-  Which I get to leave for in 2 days :)  Family-in-law trip to Michigan!!  I bought one of those big southern straw hats....with a big black flower! I cannot wait to wear it.  I'll post a pic soon!  My camera.....it's a Canon D-SLR and I have one of those fantastic zoom lens.  Ah....best purchase I ever made on my own.  So glad to have it!!  A book...which means I need to go to the library tomorrow and check one out!!

Head on over to Oh'Boy 4th Grade with Farley to link up YOUR June currently....and to make me feel better about not being the last one!! :)

Happy {summer} Teaching!!

-M

someday...

Somedays, I have every intention to update my blog.  Somedays I just don't have the energy to do so. Somedays, I just don't want to share the stories.  To be honest, I don't feel like I've had many successful stories to share.  Most days my students have left and I hang my head wondering if I am doing any good. I second guess most of my decisions because I feel like my aide doesn't agree with how I'm doing things.

Somedays I get spit on. Somedays I see lots of smiles. Somedays I do everything right for my kids. Somedays I do everything wrong. Somedays I can laugh at the end. Somedays I just cry.  Somedays I plan ahead. Somedays I just go home.

But someday.....one day...I will be a great teacher. I will learn how to always do the best thing for my students. I will do what I know is best for them, without care of what anyone else thinks. Someday...

And someday I'll get better at writing on my blog!  I'm hoping I can create some great materials over the summer and post more of my plans for next year ☺

Happy Teaching!

-M

Educents

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I'll be back soon with a classroom update!!

Happy Saturday!

Meghan

march currently...

I am listening to a mix I called "Over the Rainbow".  Mellow songs given to me by a friend :)

I am loving the fact that I had an eye doctor's appointment.  We're discussing LASIK.

Plus I got to order new glasses....who doesn't love a new look?!

I am thinking about how I can make tomorrow better.  My students stretch me daily.

Most of the time I don't know how to handle their very autistic banter.
Nor do I quite know what to do with my student who is refusing to write anything....ugh?!

I am wanting to relax.  You know, massage, long bath, someone make dinner for me,

have an already clean house, quite time alone....that kind of relax.

I am needing to hold a baby.  My sister-in-law is pregnant with her first and a few

other people I know have had/are having babies recently.  While husband man and I
aren't there yet, I go through these periods when I just want to sit and rock a baby.
There is something that happens, I think it's "world stopping" and it gives me perspective.
Reminds me of the important things, you know?

My first name is Meghan.  So my like, love, and hate had to start with "M".  I like making food,

baking or cooking.  I love mellow music.  I am a bit of a music snob in that I am pretty picky
about the style of music I listen to when, but it makes me feel alive.  I hate Mondays.  Not because
I have to start another week at work, but usually with my students it is their worst day.  Every
Monday, I have to undo the weekend routine and reinstate the school routine.
They just end up feeling like terribly long days :)

Head on over to Oh'Boy Fourth Grade to link up for March's Currently!

Stretches, meltdowns, fevers, and drinks....

What do all of those have in common??

My day. My Monday!

I spent the weekend sick with the flu on the couch. Boy was t a doozy. I'm a terribly big baby when it comes to being sick. I whine and cry and mope around. And for two full days I laid on the couch and did just that. I had a low grade fever that would come and go but never broke. Until today.

When I woke up this morning, I still had my beautiful chest cough, but hardly any body aches. I was thankful! I knew I needed to be ready for school today. Who knows what Monday will bring. (And had I known, I would have called in sick and stayed curled up under my warm down comforter.) I was feeling pretty good and went to school a bit early even. 

I had everything ready for our day. K was going to work in his special zone with is aid today. I was ready to tackle T who has refused to do work unless he gets to type it. Ugh. But I was ready.

Then the day started. By 9:15, K was in the quiet room refusing to work. And by 9:30 T was in the other quiet room refusing to do work. And that's when I stopped being "ready" for today. I only have 5 kids and two of them were refusing to work. 

And so it went...k and t refusing to do work. My aide and I back and worth bouncing two refusing children with the three that were working. 

Lunch came and went and the afternoon was on the downhill. I don't know much about Autism, but something I have come to learn in my few months in this world, sometimes kids need to have a HUGE meltdown in order to focus and move on with their day. So my aide and I decided it was time to make K work until he finished or else had his meltdown.  Meltdown it was.  

The meltdown lead to a therapeutic hold.  Ready for this, K stretched my shirt! I couldn't believe it. He so such a strong kid, and I lost my hold on his arm and BAM he had my shirt and stretched the neck. After recovering the hold, I looked at my aide and said "I'm going to need a new shirt". I have never been more thankful that I am a daily wearer of tank tops under every shirt than I was today. Meltdown finished and K recovered, I found a tshirt to finish the day in.  In the middle of the hold, because K is such a fighter and a very strong 14 year old boy, my fever broke in the middle of my sweat, and I honestly started to feel better!

K came around and finished his work. T eventually came around and did most of it. I am planning something new for him tomorrow. My aide had the brilliant idea of rewarding our 3 that had been such good workers for the day...they got ice cream sundaes :) 

Now about the drinks? Most (well, I'm pretty sure all) of my colleagues drink.  They joke about how I need to start in order to survive. And honestly, I thought about it today. Around 10 am when I was watching my classroom fall apart.  I sat in my office at my desk and cried. My aide walked in, put a hand on my shoulder and simply said "Don't cry.".  It took me back to fifth grade when my partner teacher told me how important it is for me to hold it together and be strong for my kids, they can't see me break down.  So I followed both their advice, and stopped crying and was strong for my kids the rest of the day.  Then I came home, laid down for a bit, and made dinner.  All while drinking my boring unflavored water. I think I might get some cranberry juice tomorrow, but for now, I'm not giving in to the very strong urge ( and encouraging colleagues ) and starting to drink. My kids need me strong and they need the same me every single day.  

Tomorrow is Tuesday.  There's going to be something good in that day too...

Happy teaching!

-M

classroom photo update...

I've been slowly settling in and adjusting the environment of my classroom over the last few months.  I thought it was about time to update the pictures :)  Enjoy!

Behavior & Information Board
This has since changed....a more updated photo soon!

My updated writing center!  Complete with editing marks and PA
grading rubric! The white board is where I write their daily
journal topic.

This [finally] started last week! I added velcro to the open
yellow squares and use their photo to change their jobs each
week.  They were pretty excited to [finally] have classroom jobs!

I had a half-class afternoon a day last week and we created our own story.
This was completed by my three lowest students who are reading on  Dolch Word List
and Second Grade levels.  I was pretty proud of the story they created!!