Back-to-School Night pamphlet

You've seen the parent information pamphlet on pinterest, haven't you? I past years I've printed a parent handbook that's a few pages long. I decided to try the pamphlet this time and I love the look! My printer is giving me trouble, but if I can just get that to work then "it's all good!" Back to School Night is tomorrow. I always wonder how many parents will come. It varies greatly from year to year. Today one of my little ones said his dad wasn't coming because "he has a toothache." Another one's parents have to work. The kids are so funny.... once one child says something, they all have a similar story, don't they? Yesterday one little boy said he was born in Japan. He's a good kid, but I seriously doubt that's true. But sure enough, one of my spanish-speaking ESL kids said he was born in Japan too. Again, I doubt it. But they try so hard to fit in. They're really very sweet.

Here's how my pamphlet turned out:

Have a great day tomorrow! I'm off to bed so I have enough energy for the kids tomorrow. Take care.

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Classroom Photos and Common Core Math Freebie Too

Whew! It was a busy, fun, confusing first week. I forgot how tired I'd be! The good part is that I ended the week with 22 little first graders. They're very sweet. There are some real smarties in the group. They can already the first stories in their reading book, and of course some who don't know all their letters and sounds and can't identify numbers after 10. I'm very excited to get Daily 5 started tomorrow so I can start getting my low kiddos in a reading group to help them out. We'll also start Math Work Stations this week. Need to get that intervention started for my little ones who don't know their numbers. I was also told I'd get a student who was a HUGE handful in kindergarten. So far he's been great! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Now for the confusing part: Monday morning I got my class list with 23 students on it. On the morning of the first day I got another little girl. Total students on Day 1was 24. Keeping count is important in this story. Riley didn't show up. Total=23. Thursday morning I found out that 2 of the boys were going back to the schools they attended last year. Incredibly, they were 2 that had been a bit high maintenence on the first day so I wasn't heartbroken. Thursday's total students= 21. On Friday I got student number 22. Oh my goodness! Other teachers were asking how many students I had and a few times, I must admit, I wasn't sure anymore. Hopefully I'll have the same 22 all this next week. 

I really wanted to post earlier this week but time just got away from me so I thought today I'd join up with a few linky parties and share some classroom pictures.

Here's what it looked like just a few days before school started:

Here's a view of my classroom now:

a view from the front of the room. The door is by the yellow table.

A view from the door. My desk is in the top right corner. The rug area is on the left side.

From the door again. A view of the calendar wall and library.

So, here's a tour of my space and where I live (at least where I spend a lot of time). I'm linking up with Courtney at Swimming Into Second

and Mrs. McHaffie at Beg Borrow Steal and her first ever linky party

Please join the parties once you're up and running too. My next will be about some of the projects we've done so far and hopefully have some freebies for y'all. But tomorrow's my birthday, so I don't know if I'll post tomorrow or wait until Tuesday. And Back-to-School Night is Wednesday. I still want to put together a trifold pamphlet like I've seen on Pinterest. Hopefully I'll get that done in time.
Have a great start to your week- whether you're working or still staying in your jammies 'till noon. See you later!
Till then, here's a little Common Core freebie for you. It's a quick poster I made of the Mathematical Practices so I could keep that nearby when I'm doing my planning.

Also, my Holiday Picture Books/ Back-to-School books linky party is still open if you'd like to take a look or link up.

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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Letter Exchange- A.P.B

The exchange is just about ready to go! I'm sending out an A.P.B. looking for the remaining 3 teachers I'm waiting to hear from. I thought I'd post here on my blog too in case you're a follower and just aren't getting the email. Most teachers are getting started planning or have started school, so I need to get all the final group lists sent out. If you are Rachel Yakesh, "Momofboys", or "lwmacdougall", please send me an email at chrissyheath@verizon.net. Please email me by Tuesday. I'm sorry to have to do it, but I may need to have someone else fill your spot if I don't hear from you, as I really need to get these lists out. Yeah! I've heard from everyone. The project is good to go with 104 teachers from the U.S. and Canada.

Thanks to everyone who is participating! Please send your letters out in September. Remember, the rest of your group is counting on getting your letter to complete their alphabet. It's heartbreaking to be missing some in the end. Thanks again! Have a great start to your year!

If you need the template for your letter, please go to this post
http://www.firstgradefoundme.blogspot.com/2012/08/alphabet-letter-exchange-awards-and.html

Letter Templates- font "Laid Back" from Lettering Delights

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Back to School Jitters

I feel like I've been away from my blog forever! I've been on vacation but still thought I might post at least once at the end of the day. There are so many fun linky parties going around! But by the end of the day I was tired of sitting in the car so I went for walks instead. I'm posting today from my iPad, hopefully, as my brother drives along I-15 between Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Idaho. We left home in California last Monday to go to the Braun Family Reunion music festival in Challis, Idaho. We went through Bend, Oregon (very pretty!). Then on to Boise, Idaho. Loved it there! We walked downtown by the capitol and went to a record store and book store. I'm coming home with my first 2 Pete the Cat books! We spent the next night in a tiny town called Arco, then on to Challis. The festival was great fun! We saw a few of our favorite bands. I'm an even bigger fan of Sons of Bill than I was before. If you like country music, Jason Eady is terrific! But that's country the way it used to be, not what's on radio today.

Anyway, my iPad is bouncing in my hand, so on to the linky party for today. I'm linking up with A Turn to Learn for

Oh my gosh, that worked! I don't have her cute form, so I'll just type it out.

I'm excited for... my new animal print/jungle themed classroom decorations. My mom and I will be busy bees Thursday and Friday when I get back into my classroom!

I'm nervous that... my students show up Wednesday! I've never gotten ready in this short a time before. I printed a lot before we left, and I've been planning in the car, though.

I'm loving... that I have Internet while driving down I-15 south of Salt Lake City (we've made some progress!) and saw the Mormon Temple and Tabernacle. I'm not Mormon, but it was beautiful to see. How incredible is this technology???

I need to remember... that my little ones will be as nervous to meet me as I am to meet them. At least I hope so. I had one year where the kids came in yelling out to their friends and not being at all shy. That was the most difficult year I ever had. I have one coming who was a HUGE problem for his kinder teacher. Maybe he matured over the summer... Fingers crossed.

To al, of you back at school, I hope you had a wonderful day.

To those still on vacation, enjoy the rest of summer!

Classroom pictures to come! Probably over the weekend.

http://aturntolearn.blogspot.com/2012/08/back-to-school-jitters-linky-party.html

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Currently!

Thanks, Farley! I love your currently-ies. Here's mine:

I hope you'll link up with Farley too. Just head on over!

Also, have you thought about doing pen-pals next year? Kelley at the Teacher Idea Factory has a sign-up going. She'll match you with another teacher and class so you can have pen-pal next year. Hope you'll join in!

A reminder to participants in the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Alphabet Letter Exchange: I posted the letter templates and a letter describing the project. I also sent an email with your group names and addresses. Click on the picture to get to the post.

Have a great day!

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Alphabet Letter Exchange, Awards, and Link-ups

I'm having so much fun watching the Olympics! Are you watching? I'm watching/listening now to a swimming heat with Michael Phelps. These athletes just amaze me! Tonight there's more swimming, gymnastics, and maybe more of the women's volleyball. It's nice to be out of school and have a time to watch. What are your favorite events to watch?

Today I wanted to post about several things. First is an update on the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Alphabet Letter Exchange. It will have a shorter name next year. That's not the update, though. There are 104 teachers participating from the US and Canada. Last night I sent out an email with the groups, addresses, and the letter templates attached. I'm going to post the letter templates HERE too just so everyone has access to them. The exchange goes from September 1-30. You can make and send your letters any time before the end of September. At least one of our participants is back in the classroom with students already, and some people don't go back until mid-September. You have the email addresses of the members of your group in case you need to contact them. Thanks again for making this such a success!

While blogstalking today I ran across this opportunity and signed up right away!

Kelley at the Teacher Idea Factory is going to pair teachers to be pen pals next year. I can't wait! I've never done that before but I know my students will love it and I think their parents will think it's a pretty cool opportunity too!

Also, my linky party is still open if you'd like to join in. So far I'm finding some fun books I want to buy and read to my class. That Amazon wish list just keeps getting longer! I've got to get over there and purchase some of them today. Just click on the picture and you can check out the books these great bloggers are sharing.

And finally (thanks for hanging in there), a HUGE thanks goes out to Carrie at The First Grade Derby,  Tamberly at A Window Into Mrs. Wheeler's Class, Elissa from Adventures of a Super Mom (love that blog name! She gave me the One Lovely Blog award too), and Ms. Carney at Reflections at Recess (One Lovely Blog Award only) for these awards:

I'm touched that they stopped by my blog and thought enough to pass these awards on. Make sure you pop over and check out these new blogs:

The rules for these awards say to post 7 random facts about yourself and nominate 15 other bloggers. Hopefully you won't mind if I post 7 things I love about First Grade (instead of about me. That's hards.).
What I love about first grade:
1. the sweetness and innocence of the little ones who walk into my room each year
2. that first graders are so easy to please. So much of what we do is new them and they're so excited to do different activities
3. the incredible progress students make from Aug/Sept to June! It is staggering!
4. that first graders care about each other. For the most part they want to get along and be nice to each other.
5. the books I can read to first graders. I love picture books!
6. the cute projects that are so appropriate for primary grades
7. that moment when the "light bulb" comes on and the smiles that come with their successes!

Hopefully you'll be okay with more rule-breaking. Instead of passing these awards on to selected bloggers, I'd like to say that I thoroughly enjoy ALL the "Lovely Blogs" I follow and admire the "Versatility" of all you teacher bloggers out there. What great company to be in!

Have a wonderful afternoon/evening wherever you are! And keep cheering on your favorite Olympic athletes!

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