First Day of School

I didn't eat all day and got home after 5:30, but I survived the first day of school & had an exciting day with my new darlings!  

I'm keeping positive thoughts for an awesome school year & am excited to see what this year has in store for all of us.

Loved snapping pictures of the kiddos holding this cute frame!  I'll print them out and send them home on Friday for their parents' fridges.  

Still one of my favorite activities to do on the first day of school...I tell the kiddos to close their eyes & imagine the best kind of Math teacher they could ask for.  They open their eyes, raise their hands and share some of the descriptions.  The kiddos love sharing their ideas!  When we are finished, I make a promise to them to do my very best to be all of the things they want their Math teacher to be.  I then ask them if they can promise to also be those things!  It's a great ice breaker.

I hope every teacher out there had a wonderful day & hopefully, if you're a parent, your kiddos had an awesome first day!

Aloha,

Juliana

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Back To School 2013: Classroom Tour

Whew!

This chick is T-I-R-E-D. & just to think...students haven't even started back to school!  

What's the saying?  

That being said...this post will be heavy on pictures & light on text.

I know there has been the ongoing debate of Cuteness Vs. Not which has been a hot topic again in the teacher world lately.  My view is I remember being in school as a child and really appreciating the visually appealing & print rich rooms.  I want to make my classroom a fun and inviting place for my students (some of them need an escape from their home life).  We also spend more time in our classrooms than our own homes, so I like to make it a place I "enjoy" being in.  If I can have a "cute" room and still have the time to provide my students with wonderful, rigorous lessons, why not?!

Here is my First Grade Math, Science & Writing classroom for the 2013-2014 school year.  

(I also included pictures from orientation including my station set up...loved it!)

This year I did stations for the parents to visit around the room during orientation.  It gave me the opportunity to speak with all of them, make sure all paperwork was filled out & for the parents to explore the room.  I didn't feel overwhelmed with questions & was able to spend ample time with everyone.  I had coloring sheets spread out for the kiddos to color & draw while their parents did the boring stuff...  I will definitely do this again next year!

Transportation Station

Find your child's cubby & seat.  Take home the folder at their seat with info inside.

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Students dropped off supplies by labeled areas (if they brought them) 

&

If parents could donate a regularly used supply, they took home an owl with the item written on it.

Here's to a wonderful year to my fellow teacher friends!  May you experience success, keep a smile on your face & find the perfect balance!

Aloha,

Juliana

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