A Few Favorites...

I am up to my elbows in a classroom remodel...

and this is something that is making me SO excited!

It is a magnetic calendar from Lakeshore Learning! 

I love that all the pieces are right here on the chart, that it is heavy duty and study enough to last for years without starting to look ragged, is bright and crisp looking, and is not big at all! 

 I am so glad Lorna found them and talked me into getting one!!

Ok...and this one is just plain fun!

(Not to mention so much better looking than the standard gray tub that was in my room!)

It is made out of old magazine pages!

I found it at Michael's, originally for $20, I snagged it for the 40% off baskets deal they had going on, in addition to the 15% teacher discount they always give!  (Where was I when they announced that discount?!?!?  I ALWAYS spend a fortune at Michael's for my classroom and NEVER knew they gave teacher discounts!!)

And so it begins...

My unfinished classroom, waiting for a little TLC and magic before another school year begins...

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year.  I love the changing colors of the leaves, the smell on the crisp fall breeze, the tastes of apple, cinnamon, and pumpkin, and the feel of cozy sweaters. 

But most of all, I love the anticipation of a new school year!

Last year, during the start of the school year, I was out on maternity leave with my very first baby!  While I LOVED being home with him during my favorite season to do all of the "fall-ish" things Michiganders love to do, I really did miss teaching the "launch" of my classroom community.

So when that magical date of August 1st (the day I always start prepping for the upcoming year) rolled around on my calender, I was pretty eager to begin the fall planning!

Maybe it was the time off last year, (due to some complications healing after child birth, my maternity leave was extended until after the December break) maybe it is the need to be extremely well organized so that I can maximize my time with my son, or maybe it is just the fall...

but for whatever the reason, I feel this new resurgence of passion in teaching and it has prompted me to start this blog.

I hope to use this blog as a reflective diary to help me gather my thoughts at the end of those crazy, busy days in first grade. 

To help me grow in my teaching practice, as I strive to meet the needs of all of my students as we enter an era of higher standards, higher class sizes, with lower funds and lower support. 

To catalogue ideas and strategies that have worked...and those that haven't so that I may continue to learn from my mistakes and hopefully inspire my students to see the magic in learning!