Peace in the chaos

Hello, friends! My day started out as one of 'those' days today. We had many activities going on all over the place and I got behind on my schedule. Add to it the fact that my ten year old and I didn't 'jive' this morning, and I was feeling pretty anxious. There were also some things going on that I was, admittedly, a bit resentful about because I was trying to make them about me when they weren't.

Then I had a meeting that I thought was going to be pretty routine this afternoon. I thought I'd basically be along 'for the ride', and say that I am going to start working with the child on some reading-related skills, and basically let the teachers take the lead.

A funny thing happened, though....

I realized that I KNEW the parent from many years ago when I taught her older daughter at another school! I immediately asked about her, and the mother's eyes welled up with tears. Things are not the greatest with my former student, and that is definitely affecting my current student and his home life. It is most likely also affecting his school performance, too.

Since I had a history with the family, I took a much more active role in the meeting than I had planned. We made some suggestions and bounced ideas off each other, and came up with a plan of action. It was a positive meeting even though the subject matter wasn't necessarily positive, if that makes sense!

After the meeting was over, however, I felt a peace that I definitely did NOT feel going into the meeting. I know the Author of that Peace. I knew what He was trying to tell me.

"This is one reason you are here," He was telling my soul. My internal 'eyes' were opened, and my perspective was changed. I was reminded that HE is in control, and that I don't have (or need to have) nearly as many answers as I think I do. It is all good! God's in control!

The stress, frustration, and anxiety I had felt earlier just melted away. I am not in control, nor do I have to be! What a great beginning to a wonderful weekend!!

Photo courtesy http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweetmojo/

I'm SO Excited!

I've been checking out all kinds of neat games, etc. online with TeachersPayTeachers.com and TeachersNotebook.com and have decided to take the plunge! I had some 'mad money' come available this week, and I'm going to try my hand at creating some materials and selling them, too! So I've opened up my very own TeachersNotebook shop! There aren't any materials listed yet....gotta work on that still...but I'm excited that I've taken this first step!




Edited a couple of days later to say......
OK, ya'll, apparently I'm a digital idiot. Anyone have a tutorial on how to do these for me?? I know what I want to do but not sure how to put the words in front of the cute lil clip art I have ready to go! Help, please??!

It's a Pinterest Party!

If you pinterest, go check it out...if you don't, ask me for an invite!!

First Grade Pandamonium is having a giveaway!

Mrs. Walker at First Grade Pandamonium is giving away a fantastic packet that I'd love to get my hands on! Those of you who know me 'in real life' know that I was a first grade teacher for 12 years, and this was my inspiration for getting my Master's degree as a Reading Specialist. So when I find things that could be used to help out the firsties I work with and/or the first grade teachers at my schools, I jump on it!

Could you use this too? Jump over there and enter!!

Facebook Mixer!

Michelle over at KinderFun came up with a great idea...link up with other bloggers who have a presence on Facebook! I've found some GREAT ideas lately from people updating on Facebook about their blogs, and I'm sure you will, too!

C'mon and join in the fun!! Go to KinderFun to link up! Can't wait to see you there, and learn more about YOUR blog and Facebook page!

Useful ideas!

I was just finding some materials that I would like to use next year for school and was thinking about how I didn't really want to print them all out here at the house, when I remembered that I don't have to! I remembered that I have a dropbox account! If you haven't used dropbox, it is a useful way to be able to access documents from several places. Since I work at two schools, I can access documents at both schools and at home if I download them to dropbox. So instead of having to carry things around on a jump drive, I can just access them and the changes I make wherever I go from this convenient online storage spot!

I also have been downloading quite a few free materials off of TeachersPayTeachers, too! I love paying teachers, the REAL experts, for their knowledge! But if you are like me, money is tight. It has been 3 years since we have gotten any kind of pay raise...cost of living, step, or whatever. And in that time, I've had another child! So our money stays pretty tight. When I can, I purchase needed materials, but I'm all about finding things for free as well!

I also was notified today about a fantastic sale on ebooks at the Scholastic Teacher Express store! The prices are good through July 31, so be sure to check it out!

What are some items that come to mind when you think of things that make your life easier or good deals you have found lately?

It's a Post It Party!!

Rebecca over at Create Teach Share is having a celebration!! She just reached 300 followers and is celebrating by sharing ideas and by having a giveaway! Be sure to head over there and share ways YOU use post it notes in your classroom and enter the giveaway!

One way I use post it notes in my classroom is to do marginalia when a student is reading a story. He or she can use the note to write down a word they don't know, an impression they wish to remember, or a question they would like to remember to ask later. Then the post it notes can be labeled with the page number and placed chronologically on plain white paper to 'jog' the memory of the reader, and can also be used to review the text as needed.

I look forward to reading more about ways others use post-it notes in their classrooms, and would love to see YOUR post as well!

Hidee ho!

I've broken over! I've been blogging on my personal blog for years, have a giveaway blog and a blog for my own spiritual thoughts, but now I'm getting started in a new realm: a blog about my work! I've found numerous fantastic blogs out there about reading and specifically about different grades, and I thought I could do this, too! :)

So jump on in, enjoy!! I know I'm going to, as well!

A little about me: I have been teaching for 15 years, and will start my 16th year in the fall. I taught visually impaired children for two years, and then started teaching first grade, which I taught for the next 12! The past two years I have taught as a Reading Specialist after completing my Master's Degree in Reading. I cannot imagine doing anything else than teaching!I truly feel as though it is my calling and my mission field! It is likely that I will have to go back the classroom in the next few years because of budget difficulties, but I'm enjoying my resource-type work while I can. If/when I have to go back to the classroom, I think I would enjoy teaching in the 2nd-4th grade range, but we'll see!

OK, NOW enjoy your foray into my teaching and learning!