Adventure - Day one

        While I am so sad to see summer gone - it is official as of 6:00 yesterday morning, I was so excited to see all my friends at school.  I work with an absolutely awesome group.  We are a staff that really feels like family most of the time.  Yes family doesn't always see eye to eye, but they are family.  Our administration provided breakfast for everyone then we took a short "being there" field trip.  Our entire faculty loaded onto a school bus ( a really nice air conditioned one) and went for a ride around the school zone.  I was very surprised at what area our zone covered.  Amazing.  It was also fun to see where our kiddos live.  It would have been fun to see them outside playing, but hey, I would be sleeping late if I could.
       I then had time to tackle my room.  Remember I moved rooms this year.  I had been in the old room for about 12 years, so I had a "few" things to locate.  Thought you might like to see my room as I walked into it yesterday morning.

     The absolute best thing about this room and what I love the most is all those cupboards.  Oh my!  It is almost as good as being in the art room with my own closet - almost.  I refer to my room as Siberia because it is so far away from the office and my old room, but I really am very fond of it already.  I spent the day shoving and moving all this stuff that you see.  I have decided that next summer, I am going to move my furniture in my home around once or twice a week just to get ready for the task at hand the first day of school, maybe then I won't be so sore!  I could hardly move last night.
     My room looks pretty good right now.  No boards are up, but they are all planned.  I hope to do that tomorrow - as today looks pretty meeting intensive.  I am sitting here in the early morning quiet, almost no one in the building and thinking about the days to come.  I hope for such a wonderful year.  I am so excited and really don't want anything to crowd out that feeling.  I know there will be hurdles.  I am prayerfully prepared for them.  I am looking forward to seeing the faces of my kids from last year.  I think that is the hardest thing right now, not having a group of my own to walk in and bond with.  Serving so many children, I hope for that connection.
      Have a great day and thanks for dropping by.  I will show you pictures of the room when it is finished. 

Summer is fading . . .

    Oh the title is all too true.  I feel my blissful summer fading away all too fast.  It has been a very relaxing and enjoyable summer.  I have filled my days with crafting, drawing (tangling) and home projects.  In between all of that I have read all I can get my hands on about teaching reading.  Okay, I know I have taught reading forever, but this year I am going to go deeper than ever before.
     This is my last full week of vacation with next week beginning our in-service time.  We have four wonderful days this year.  Seriously.  I am very excited about having four days to get ready for my kiddos.  Last year I think we had one or two.  Not fun.
     I plan on posting some pictures of my room as it develops and keep you informed on some of my classroom projects.  Right now this picture comes from my tablet and is not all school related.  Ah well.  I have discovered a fantastic painting program for my android tablet - Artflow.  I love being able to "paint" without pulling out all my messy supplies. 

      I've still got a lot to get ready for school.  I need to get some things cut for bulletin boards and such.  I can't really plan - at least not detailed - because I don't know who or what grades I will be working with.  That feels a bit strange because I am the sort who would have been planning all summer.  I enjoy lesson planning.  It is one of those things about teaching that I think is fun.  Strange, huh?
    I hope your summer is going great and I would love for you to join me on this reading adventure.  It is going to be new and exciting for me, but I am so looking forward to it!!