Laters, 1st graders

Classroom is packed up and I'm ready for summer!

I don't want to be a grown up.

enough.said.

Day 5 in first grade

My kids are so cute! I am loving getting to know each and every one of them.  They are so happy, eager to learn, eager to please and just want to be loved. We are busy practicing rules and routines and settling into first grade.  With 29 kiddos rules and routines are probably two of the most important things we focus on.  They need to be practiced over and over and over and over to ensure a smooth 180 days. :)

schedule and essential question bulletin board

calendar math, part of morning meeting

kids working on the owl coloring rubric

we practiced coloring expectations- N S G O

so cute working on her "O"...I will take a pic of her hair when its down. the most adore ringlets

what great work! he even added a branch for the "O" owl to stand on

sitting on the rug for our morning news show

standing for the pledge

first day reflections...

1. How much I love teaching
2. How little 1st graders are (they are 6)
3. These first few weeks/months are EXHAUSTING
4. 29 1st graders are A. L.O.T to handle (until trained) :)
5. I don't have time to use the restroom before lunch
6. I don't have time to eat lunch before November
7. Every.one. of my students wants to be my best friend
8. I get LOTS of "You're the best teacher ever" letters and drawings to make me feel amazing (4 today already!)
9. I am told that the read alouds I pick are the best books ever
10. How much I love each one of my "kids"

This is going to be a great year!

o-FISH-ally in 1st Grade

Today was open house at school I got to meet about half of my new baby owls.  I forgot to take a pic of my owl bulletin board- so that is on the agenda tomorrow. CL and I made super cute gold fish goodie bags for our kiddos to take home. They were a huge hit.

My classroom is ALMOST complete. Only a teacher would understand how much hard work goes into putting a classroom together.  I've been at school from pretty much 9am to 9pm every day this week. It's insane and I still have yet to look at my schedule or plan one lesson for the first day.

I did take some exciting pics of my classroom so far. 

Cheryl Lynn working super hard filling gold fish bags

bag ties

we made 90 bags. it took a while.

my classroom. almost all set up.

my desk area

class library and word wall (half complete)

job chart and doorway

room for 29 1st graders. yep. 29.

after open house when my students sorted their extra supplies

so cute

What did I do with my day?

I went into school today and started to set up my classroom.  I have a VERY good friend, Carrie, who came with me.  She was such a help.  We moved ALL The furniture around and set up my classroom library!! I only took one pic because I forgot to take more. I somehow convinced her to come back with me tomorrow so I will take pics of my classroom.

Green Baskets: DRA leveled library

Blue Baskets: Fiction books- each basket is a subcategory

Yellow Baskets: Non Fiction books- each basket is a different topic

When I got home, I spray painted popsicle sticks. I will post a pic of the final outcome when I print the labels for my popsicle stick can. Woot!

My popsicle stick masterpiece. Probably spray painted about 200 sticks.

The Ideas are Flowing!

School has NEVER been on my brain in the summer before. Ever. Not even ONE time in my 7 years teaching. These last 3 days I cannot stop thinking about school!!! I will credit this to Pinterest.  I have been obsessed with this site and have stolen/borrowed SO many amazing ideas.  I also have been reading SUPER cute first grade blogs and have gotten so many ideas from them. Today I spent SO much (an embarassing amount) time making things on the computer... I actually cannot wait to get into my classroom (we don't technically go back until the 29th) on Friday so I can set up my furniture.  I want to use all my free time when we are officially back to set up bulletin boards, label everything, organize and make my lesson plans. 

I have links crediting all these pics on pinterest.. but not on here. fail.

Making these for my team mates!!! There are beads and glitter in the see-through jar.

brilliant. Painting my name sticks!
Mine will say "Whooo's Next? to go along with my owl theme.

Making this wreath for my classroom door...it will say "Welcome to Mrs. Carusi's Class"

using this ribbon!!!!

new behavior chart (mine will be similar)

Best.Idea.Ever. Class reward system. Magnetic.

I want this on my desk!

o-FISH-ally in 1st Grade- Making these for my kiddos when they come and meet me at open house!

Excited.

School's a Comin'..

I bought some new book bins for my class library! 32 to be exact. I haven't bought one book bin in my 6 years of teaching.  I have used hand-me-downs and they are now falling apart.  I think after 6+ years of use it is okay to buy new ones?? I wish they had all one color, but I guess blue and yellow will have to do. Perhaps fiction and non fiction colors?

While perusing the isles of my favorite Walmart, (apparently school was on my brain) I found this super awesome white board book. I immediately bought 5.  It has 4 whiteboard pages so my kiddos can practice their lower and upper case letters, write a story, draw a picture and practice handwriting. This center is going to be a huge hit!

I also couldn't resist a new Sharpie purchase.