Busy as a Bee

Well, I've survived!!! At least the first week of school and a day! Friday and today (Monday) went really well, considering how HARD the first few were. I have 20 babies. 10 boys and 10 girls..I love even numbers :) Anyway, I am actually going to be attending a science workshop out of town for the next two days, so I have a pretty nice break from my kids already. I think I will actually miss most of them. I thought I'd explain my daily school schedule.

6:15am Drive to School
6:25am Sign in then listen to Christian music and pray for my kids and work in my classroom. I usually turn on all the lamps, set everything out that I'm going to teach with, write a morning message, and read my Ribbit Report from Jeanna! I love my mornings.
7:30 My kids come in the room and eat breakfast, I always greet them at the door and remind them to put bring their folders in, to put up their bus buttons, and to grab their clipboard. I always give hugs and big smiles in the morning, as this is the most important part of my day..to make each student in my class feel like they are my favorite student in the world, and that they can trust me, and feel safe, in a warm caring environment...then they sign in, and start their jobs: counting jar, making a pattern, counting money, writing the date, estimation station, write a sentence, rhyming words, and have-a-go word.
8:00 Plege and Patriotic Song
8:10 Calendar: We sing songs and dance, practice our months of year, days of week,colors, shapes, numbers, money, place value, greater than and less than, even and odd, we graph our weather, the amount of teeth that we've lost, etc.
8:30 I choose a lucky leader of the day and we Write their name, we work on letters, letter sounds, vowels, syllables, using punctuation and quotation marks, and lots and lots of other things. It's pretty cool :)
9:00 We do math. We sort, graph, make patterns, add, subtract, and do word problems. I have lots of manipulatives and a cool big book that provides lots of student interaction.
9:20-10:20 Centers They have to come to my table and Ms. Derikia's table. The rest of the time is free choice unless they haven't finished their jobs.
10:20-10:45 Learning Focused Unit. We do scinece and social studies. Really cool activities, fun snacks on Fun Friday, and lots of themes. I always d0o a few read alouds during this time.
10:45-11:15 P.E.
11:15-11:35 Writer's Workshop
11:35-12:05 Recess
12:10-12:40 Lunch (It's not duty free)
12:45-1:00 I read a chapter book aloud to them. One of my favorite times of the day.
1:00-1:45 Rest time (Praise the Lord) It is very relaxing in my room. I have lots of lamps and soothing music on. I plan during this time or have Better Seeking Team Meetings or Wing Meetings.
1:45-2:30 Snack and Daily Recap. We celebrate good behavior and good work!! We revieew our work and then they file their sheets.
2:30-3:30 Dismissal
3:30-5:00 I clean up my desk, which always gets covered in all sorts of notes and papers, set up for the next day, plan , write newsletters, catch up on emails, write notes to parents, call parents, make copies, chat with fellow co-workers and laminate. Then I go home and as I walk out I watch football practice right on the field right outside my classroom. I love that fall is coming. I love hearing the whistles blowing and all the parents watching their kids. I always feel blessed and proud to be a Yellow Jacket!! I love my school system and my two schools :)

I usually have a long to-do list when I get home too. I make things on my computer, run to Publix to grab supplies, and study my lessons. It is especially crazy when I add Grad school out of town two nights a week! Bible study, GA's, and most important time with Matty and Blakely. I love my busy life, and I definitely sleep well at night! I really don't know how people with kids work full time and go to grad school! AMAZING!

I'm excited about this week! I am going to meet up with some old Garrison friends tomorrow after my workshop at Grandaddy's!!!! Can't wait. Then on Wed. Lynn Burton and mabye Becky Jense and I are going for our weekly coffee (we haven't done this since April, b/c we don't have Wed. night activites in the summer) Then on Thursday I'm meeting Betsy, Carrie Beth, and maybe Michelle at Coyacan in Quitman for some really good mexican and margaritas!! :)Betsy and I live in Thomasville and CBD and Michelle live in Valdosta, so it's a halfway point!

Well it's time for Jon and Kate plus 8..YEAH! Carrie, it's your turn to blog now. I think I'm caught up!