The Value of Blogging

Hello Friends,

Journalling has always been something I've never stuck with. I have never been one to spend a lot of time getting everything out on paper. For me, it's just, do it and get it done. But lately, I've been challenged to do it again. Maybe it's being stuck at home, remote learning, staring at screens, papers, piles of stuff around the house. I don't know.

I consider myself a professional student. I love to learn new things and share that knowledge. Since early March I've signed up for 2 courses, one is almost finished and the other I started last weekend. Both recommend blogging and/or journalling.

So here I am, blogging.  This blog is about education, helping teachers. I love teaching and I want to pass on that love to other teachers, though many already possess it.  Back in the fall, I started a Youtube channel, "It's All Primary" to give teachers ideas and tips on classroom management and other teacher related issues to help them.  This Youtube channel has actually helped me! I've grown since starting it.  It has helped me think through what I'm going to say.  And maybe, that's the value of blogging.  By helping others, you end up helping yourself in the process.  I didn't create the Youtube channel to be about me but in a small way, it has become about me really thinking about why I do things the way I do them.

This is my goal with this blog. By helping you, maybe I will learn too. I know I will learn from you as you share your ideas and stories. You help me be a better teacher. It's reciprocal! A symbiotic relationship!

My goal is to blog 2x/week while we are in quarantine/self isolation. When school gets back, who knows?  Where I live we have been at home since March 14th. It is now May 12th. Two months. As our school year ends June 26th, we have been notified that there is a good chance we are going back for the last month (June), part time.  But that is another conversation.

So, here I am, dear friend, blogging my teacher life. I pray that I can bring some value to you. I will close with a link to my latest video, organizing classroom books. This is one of my "at home" projects because my stuff is mainly at home (another blog post, I suppose).  I'm going to close the way I close on my Youtube videos these days.  Stay safe, stay home, take care.

Hugs,

Trying Something New!

Hi all!

Well, I've wanted to, for some time, make my own labels.  I've spent hours looking at them either on Pinterest or TpT and finally bit the bullet and made some.  I watched a couple tutorials and then went looking for specific things to use.  I wanted to make pencil labels as I'm going back to having one spot for pencils. Last year was a bit of a pain with students having their pencils in their desks, and regularly without a sharp one.  I hadn't allowed this for many years and it was proof that it isn't the best practice in the primary classroom. SO, I'm going back to community pencils.  I purchased a couple pencil containers at the Dollar Tree and now I've made my first set of labels.

When I get back into the class next week I will try them out.  I will print them twice.  Once on labels and then on regular photocopy paper. I will laminate the regular paper copy and then see which I prefer.  A colleague suggested hot gluing the laminated copy to the pencil jar, instead of tape. I like this idea so I'll probably do it.  I will update this post when it's completed.

End of Year - Classroom

It's been a week since our last day of school. I've been watching Wimbledon and cleaning files, updating FreshGrade and planning for next year.  Here are a few pics of the classroom "before and after".

Merry Christmas from my class to yours!

I saw this idea on a teacher's blog (Tonya's Treat for Teachers). I took a picture of each student with 

tinsel and Christmas decorations.  We cut them out, I took a group picture for our class card and then the students glued them on ornaments.

Christmas tree craft

I saw this craft on Pinterest and tried making it.  I will do it a bit different next time but overall, the students enjoyed making them.

Original photo from Pinterest

Getting Reading for a New Year!

New Year! New Classroom! New School!

Spent several hours cleaning, unpacking and getting the class ready.

Here are a few photos of what I've done so far.

The front of the class. I covered one of the whiteboards so that I can use it as a magnetic Word Wall. 

I used "Popcorn Word Wall" from Kindertrips TpT.

My welcome sign is off-centered because there was an ugly line that I didn't want to look at. Once we start cursive (near Nov/Dec), I will take down the welcome sign and put up the cursive alphabet.

These bulletin boards over the students' coat hooks with have the anchor charts of Daily 5.

This area is a constant work in progress.  The students' calendar and the focus wall are in this area. 

I use items from two sources:  "Reading Street Focus Wall" by Khrys Bosland TpT and "Let's Focus - Focus Wall" by Michelle Oakes TpT.

I usually do a owl-related bulletin board to start the year.  

The little owls can be found at SchoolGirl Style's TpT page.

I purchased the large owl from Michael's.

June 9: Graduation!

After 3 years of reading research and writing papers, it's done!  My parents and I drove to Edmonton so that I could cross the stage with my cohort.  It's official - I am now a Master!

(haha - I don't feel like a Master of anything)