Monday, July 09, 2007

Calm Before The Storm

Last April I was offered a job as a third grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary. I have been so excited ever since, but I have to admit it hasn't seemed real that I am actually going to be a teacher with my own class. My greatest nightmare is the kids realizing that they out number me, and take over (I actually had this dream a few weeks ago).
Even though I am a little nervous about having the right classroom management, or the fact that I don't really know what I am doing, or that I am working with all women (let's be honest that's a lot of hormones), I still feel at home in the classroom and I know that I will fall in love with my students right away, even the tough ones.
One thing that I have learned is that there needs to be mutual respect. If I don't respect them they won't respect me. I don't believe in talking down to students or raising my voice. I told that to a teacher and she laughed at me, but I know that it can be done with a little patience and a little love. Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment. I am doing a camping theme, maybe you never had a theme in your classroom, but I thought it would be fun and the kids really get into it. A lot of things will have to do with camping. There is still more decorating to come, but this is all I can do before I leave for a while.

This is my school!


This is outside my classroom, I am going to take pictures of all the kids and put them up.


This is mean Mrs. Foster
This is the tent I have in the room
for the kids to read in or play in
when they earn enough "camper cash."


Where's Waldo? (Drew)










I have a campng chair for when I do
read-alouds, I will call it, "sittin around
the campfire."


Here is one of my patriotic students


This is my dest and behind it is a fake tree Drew constructed.