Answering Some Questions

I can tell that many of you are gearing up for back to school and/or your teacher workdays. It's a little different for me this year because now that I am in Oregon we don't go back for teacher workdays until the end of August and the first official day of school is September 4th! It's a little strange that I'm now one of the lasts ones to be going back to school.

I can also tell many are getting back in the swing of things because I'm getting a few more requests for shared documents as well as some great questions about previous posts.

The most questions are coming from my interactive math notebook. This was something new I did last year (previous post can be found here) I don't know why I thought I explained them in the previous post, I just sort of posted pictures!

Basically what I did and will do this year is give myself a new spiral notebook, along with all the other students. I project the notebook using my document camera and as I go through the mini lesson I write the notes in my notebook, sounds pretty simple when I type it out! I usually lead with the header, most of the time in the form of a question, and see what kind of prior knowledge they have on the subject. I then follow with the "formal definition" of the term and/or subject we are discussing. Most of the time they copy things down as I am writing them. But if I really really need their attention I tell them NOT to copy this down, pay attention, I will give you time to copy it when I am done explaining.

I usually add little drawings that may help them remember something, they can copy those down or make up their own. I try to always give them tips and hints and usually write/draw those in different colored marker/pen. The other thing I found that really helped my students last year was if anything we were doing had steps...to write out each step and show each step! One time I didn't write it out because I thought it was pretty simple and they flipped on me! I literally write step 1: divide the ones column by the outside number...then I would SHOW it.

If a lesson required printables (100's charts and so on) I always had those copied, trimmed and ready for that class so that all they needed to do was glue it in and get to work. You will see a few of these things in my pictures from the Interactively Math post. Finally what you don't see is the student work that I would assign after each lesson. Usually after each lesson they would have to go to the next clean sheet in their notebook (we did use front and back!!!), I would give them five or so problems for them to work out on their own. As I would walk around an monitor checking them as the finished them I could easily identify those that were struggling. Then I would pull those students to small group that day or the next to work with them. If the whole class struggled then I knew I needed to teach it again or find a different approach.

I hope this helps some of you as you are working on those lesson plans and I hope to add to the pictures and such that I have already posted.

Finally another question I have gotten a lot lately is about my buckets/caddies. For the newbies out there I do have a second "job"....I decorate the caddies and buckets. The caddies, this year, are on back order and I really don't know when they will come in, but I have started offering the labels and ribbons as sets. They come to the customer as stickers and ready to be used. If you want to see more of the products and cute stuff we offer just visit our FB page: Quite A Pear.

Keep those comments and questions coming! Thanks for sticking with me through this move!!!

Summer Fun Part 1

We are all moved in! YEA! And I guess you could say mostly unpacked. Nothing hung on the walls and not much decor going on, but the important stuff is done.

I have been doing a few crafts, not for my classroom as of yet, but for my house and opened my "business" back up...the bucket making thing. I did manage to move my stuff into my classroom and was told I should be able to start setting my room up next week! Yea! Now I just need to get my daughter enrolled in her preschool so I can ditch her...I mean drop her off for some educational experiences and friend "making" opportunities. I'll tell you what just trying to get the boxes moved in with her hanging around was a HUGE task!

So here are a few snapshots of what I've been doing!

 My daughter's cast iron bed makeover!

It was a TON of work

Step one: clean with a metal brush
Step two: apply rust remover chemicals and then rinse and let dry

I did find some iron under the paint and rust!

Step three: apply primer to keep the rust from coming back
Step four: apply white paint (three coats!)

I'll post a picture of it when it is all set up with the bedding and such.

Finally some new buckets I've done (again not for my room yet)

T-shirt Design

Okay, so I originally posted this from my iPad, and the pics didn't come through...so I'm trying again!


Hey guys just a quick post to give you a look at my end of the year t-shirt design, I had a few of you ask for a better picture so here you go! For my Gwinnett County people, I am still working on the contact information for the person who printed the t-shirts...she was GREAT and her prices were affordable!

My Semi-Blank Palate

Here are a few pictures of my new classroom. I will probably be able to go and "get my hands dirty" sometime mid-July. I have BIG plans for this room. My Pinterest boards are on major OVERLOAD! Guess that's what you do when you are waiting to move into your house and classroom. I'm going to be pretty busy in July and August!

So here is what it looks like when I first walk in the door...the desks and chairs are weird, really really weird. I may be going to tables instead of desks....I'll take a close up of them soon. (The chairs only have 2 legs!)

Side view of my room....SMART board! I'm going to have to train myself on this! I'm a Mimio girl. 

My storage area...Plus: GREAT amount of storage! Negative: not movable and are painted in school colors of green and purple...not really going to match my new decor :) 

To the right is the student desktop center...just want you to see all angles so when I reveal you will know what WAS there!

And once again this is good storage but...once again it's a built in, so it's not moveable! But I have big plans for this area.

And now for my first project for my room...keep in mind that ALL of my craft stuff is still in storage, so my hands have been really tied right now. But I did pick this fella up at a thrift store for three bucks, and gave him a little upgrade. Now what am I going to do with him in my class you ask??? Stay tuned!

                          BEFORE  (his eyes were a little creepy!)

                             AFTER (just a little spray paint!)

Happily Employed!

As I mentioned in my previous post...I now have a job! This past week I actually got to meet my employer in person for the first time, yep you heard correctly the first time.

It started off with some major revamping of my resume. For some of us we probably have not had to update our resumes for years and it becomes a huge task. Fortunately or unfortunately (depends on how you want to look at it) I had to update mine two years ago when I was displaced. However, before that it was over 7 years old. Once that was done I began combing through school websites looking for job listings. A lot of schools in the Oregon area use EdZapp, so I had to make a profile and remember to check it constantly. Other school would have you subscribe to their pages and get email updates as to when things were posted.

One of the hardest things was the school schedule difference. When my district was asking for transfers and such the schools in Oregon were on Spring Break. So I waited patiently....okay maybe not too patiently. Then BAM! You could tell when Oregon was ready to hire because the notifications came pouring in. The hard part was keeping up with all of them and which ones I applied to. The biggest difference was the different districts in the area I was looking. I had to apply to the different districts even though I they were all part of the same county...much different then what I was use to.

I also had to start the process of getting my Oregon certification. One day I hope that the United States has ONE criteria for an education certificate...I mean we are going to Common Core, so maybe one day. I got the privilege of getting my fingerprints done twice (yep twice, didn't fill out the paperwork correctly the first time so they got shredded...not kidding). I got the chance to pay almost $200 as well. Gotta love that. But once all was said and done I now hold an Oregon Teaching Certificate...it is however a provisional. I do have to complete a Civil Rights test and a content area test in 18 months. Which is more money (of course).

So thus began the application submission process. I applied for a Media Specialist job in Eagle Point High School (Eagle Point, Oregon). I figured why not try something different. I would love to be in a media/technology position...so I gave it a shot. BINGO! I got an interview...even better a Skype interview. We figured out the time change and scheduling differences and set it up.

It's an interesting experience for sure! They actually showed me "their view" and there I was on a large screen TV in a conference room. Slightly intimidating. But once it was all said and done I was confident. It felt great to get it under my belt and make some connections with people in Oregon (get my name out there). I was pretty excited! They even used an iPad to check out my blog right there in the interview!!!!

The next day I got a phone call for yet another Skype interview. This was with the same district but an elementary school position. Once again we had to deal with some schedule conflicts due to the time difference. It boiled down to my teacher workday, during my lunch break. I talked to my TST (tech guy) and asked about Skype through the school, and of course it was prohibited. Therefore I had to do the next best thing...find free local WiFi and Skype interview from there....so I did what any Southern girl would do and hoped in my borrowed truck (my car was already in Oregon), and headed over to Chic-fil-a. Yep...I completed the Skype interview in my truck, in the Chic-fil-a parking lot using their internet! NOT KIDDING!!!!

Needless to say when we first began they did notice I was in a vehicle :)  I apologized for not being more professional but I stated I knew this interview was important I did everything I could to make it work....they loved it and though it was great.

Right away they let me know that I was getting this interview because of my interview with the high school, they felt I was a great interview and candidate but I was definitely elementary school oriented. My first thought, I guess I didn't get the Media Specialist job. So I continued with the interview and it went really well. I was so happy to hear those same terms and acronyms that we used in my county. Now I'm not saying I have nothing to learn but it was great and comforting hearing some of the familiar  terms and such.

Within 12 hours I got a phone call!!!!! I had a job offer! Due to school not being out in Oregon yet they didn't know which school or position, but I HAD A JOB! I was also offered to be an assistant basketball coach for the high school (during that previous interview they had asked about my experience and wanted to be sure I was interested)....when they gave my name to the elementary HR group they mentioned they were still interested in me being an assistant coach! I'm THRILLED! My two loves and passions...teaching and basketball!

Upon my arrival last week I went up and visited the district office (way way different then what I was use to), but the people were so receptive and helpful.

this is the HR office in Oregon

the one in GA...and it's not even half of the building!

I got my assignment....5th grade at a school call Eagle Rock Elementary. The next day I went and visited the school, SO CUTE! Yep I called a school cute! It's also small and felt so relaxed. I will be one of two...yep two 5th grade teachers. I came from a school that had 6 fifth grade classes. The actual set up of the school is inviting and "comfortable". I fell in love with it right away. Now I just can't wait to get into my classroom and start "diving in". I'll post pictures of it all as soon as I am able.

these pics don't do it much justice...I'll post more later :) 

Oh did I mention that this is the view from my classroom window????

Here is a link for some information about the school...it totally screams Oregon school and after reading about what they were trying to do when constructing it I can now see why: http://www.batzerconstruction.com/2004/12/eagle-rock-elementary/

Good-byes

The last two and a half weeks have been incredibly draining emotionally. I feel as though I'm ready, this has been a very long, drawn out process and the good-byes are getting harder and harder. My roots here in GA go deep, as do my friendships!

It started two weeks ago when my best friend of almost 20 years (wow, it's really been that long) suddenly lost her unborn baby girl. She was about 6 months pregnant so this came as a complete shock. All I could do was just be there for her, cry with her, hug her....just be there. My friend joked as I laid in the hospital bed with her that she wanted to spend more time with me before I left, but she didn't expect it to be that way. I was just glad that I could be there and I wasn't on the other side of the U.S. when it happened. But that also made saying good-bye even more difficult!

The next week it was time to say good-bye to my 5th graders. If you have ever taught 5th grade (at least in my neck of the woods) that last day is a cry fest. This was my first year experiencing it all, and man it was rough. With the final moments of that last day drawing near my class (which has been a tough one) sat in a large circle. Before I could even talk the girls were crying (some so much that I had to talk even louder). I gave them a little speech about looking around the room and remembering each and every one of their classmates, to never forget the times they had together in my class and possibly even previous classes. To never forget each other and how at one time they were all friends and classmates; not to let middle school or even high school change that, even though they may find/make new friends, be in different sports or clubs, but never to forget this moment; because they never know when they may need each other or that person sitting next to them; as I had found out the previous week.

As we prepared to take the "last walk" down the halls and to their buses...on my right I had my most challenging student of the school year. The student that actually was the first to ever "boo" me in class, a student that when I pushed her she pushed back! But in the end she proudly stated: "This is the first year I won't have to attend summer school in my entire elementary school career!" She cried the hardest! On my left was a student that challenged me every day. She asked a million questions, all of which I was happy to answer (even if I had to research a little). I had never had a student who's desire to learn was so strong. She will one day inspire me with her creativity and passion. We held hands and walked together, crying.

Waving good-bye to the buses!

The week came to an end I had to say yet another difficult good-bye; to two of my closest co-teachers. I wouldn't have believed it if you told me a year ago that the three of us would have grown so close to each other. We really worked well with each other and complimented each other. And yet we only got the chance to work together one school year. And now we were all three going in different directions; one to a new position, another to a different school district, and then I was leaving the state all together! At one point we were just standing there staring at each other in disbelief. I know we will all stay in touch, and we have a bond that is hard to describe, but that didn't make it any easier! I'm just lucky I got the privilege to work with these two ladies and call them my friends!

I totally rocked this photo bomb! 

Us at the fifth grade dance...I designed our class shirts! 

Once those good-byes were said and done I began having to say bye to my family. My sister and brother flew in so that the four siblings could have last weekend together. My brother just got a job in Texas and is now there, my one sister has lived in Ohio since graduating from OSU, my younger sister will be staying in GA, and I will be moving to Oregon. We had a great long weekend together and got to do some fun things, but this time saying good-bye was a lot harder than it has ever been, maybe because we are older now or that we have kids...but it sure wasn't easy!

This last week I spend running errands, packing boxes and shipping them, and having a few last play dates with my daughter's friends and of course their parents. I also had to say good-bye to my friends from my previous school...again. Even though I had left there over two years ago we stayed in contact and met each other for lunch or dinner from time to time. My daughter had her final Chic-fil-a play date today and thank goodness for sunglasses...because once again the tears rolled as we walked out the door.

 We have had playdates with this group since before they were born! Seriously I think we went on a triple date when two of us were preggers! Oh how they have grown! 

So now "It's real!" we fly out tomorrow, the bags are ready to go...and yep you bet I am rockin' the chevron luggage! I'm sure there will be more tears at the airport, but I know this is what we are to be doing. This is a new and exciting chapter for us...and as I keep telling my friends and myself "we have facebook!!!!" 

Great news...I DO HAVE A JOB!!!! That in itself is a whole 'nother post!

My BIG news!

So no...I'm not pregnant (I didn't really think the "hint" I left on my last post all the way through...a little duckling). But no one really guess as to what my news was, I guess that's what I get for being away from blog world for so long.

Anyway....the news is that my family is moving to the west coast...more specifically, Oregon! Now do you get the DUCK hint?!?!...need a little more help?

Why Oregon you ask? Well my husband's parents live in Northern California (where we visited last summer, and yes at that time we were making a decision to move there). We wanted to move to the area to be closer to his family. The area his parents live in didn't offer much in the job market, so we went about 30 minutes north and really liked the Medford (more Ashland) area of Oregon. Almost a year later, to the month my husband secured a job in that area.

He is already living there, along with ALL our stuff. My daughter and I are still in GA until the end of the school year and then will make the trip to join him.

Maybe now this will also shed some light on to my lack of blogging. It's been a long, rough, and difficult process. I would say that my husband has made approximately five trips (if not more) to Oregon in the past 8 months to interview, test, interview again, move some of our stuff, then move the remainder of our stuff out there. We fortunately sold our house and moved in with family, again very thankful, but very different. I had to pack up all my "side business" items (buckets) and store those.

Finally, on this final move that my husband made I had to pack up my classroom! Yep...if I wanted ANY of my teaching items out on the west coast they had to be packed up and go with the hubby (my daughter and I are flying). I also was pretty limited to what I could take, due to room. It was pretty difficult but I narrowed it down to about 6 tubs, and 10 boxes. I was going to take a picture of it, but (not kidding) I had already packed the good camera. My classroom doesn't look much different right now because NONE of the furniture that I bought nor most of the decor made the move. :(  But I made peace with that and really look forward to setting up a new classroom. On the bright side my teacher friends have already started tagging the items they want in my end of the year classroom garage sale!

Yes I do plan on teaching out in Oregon, just not so sure how that is going to go. I have been very busy sending out applications, filling out online applications, and applying for my Oregon certification (that has been a massive headache right there!). I am pretty lucky that Oregon should take all of my GA credentials, but I am going to have to take a Civil Rights exam (eek, must start studying for that one). The hard part was the money YIKES, and the fingerprinting. The other hard part is being in GA while most schools in Oregon are interviewing. I've already gotten two emails explaining that they interviewed local people first and have filled their positions. I did get a tentative Skype interview, but she also said that they would interview locals first then schedule the Skype interview.

Therefore if anyone knows anyone or openings in the Medford area, help a teacher out! :) I'm not against finding a job outside of teaching, but after 10yrs...it's pretty much my passion. I am open to possibly doing something related to education, maybe even technology in education.

As a follower of my blog...you get yet ANOTHER classroom reveal (job pending of course)!!!!

Thank you for sticking with me and being so understanding as my family has been and will be going through this adjustment and huge step!