Classroom Changes

10 hours and a headache later, the changes to my room are complete! To keep the kids (and myself) from getting bored, I changed up the scenery :)

new fabric skirt

AR incentive board

behavior management

I love this sign!

another fabric skirt

close-up detail of the fabric

great work board

close-up

WINTER BREAK!!!!

It is officially winter break (since Tuesday at 2:15). I forced myself to relax yesterday, and tried to do the same today, but instead I came home and worked out my lesson plans for the week of January 3rd. I just cannot relax when I know I have things I could be working on.

The kiddos are half way through 4th grade, so I'll be making some changes in January to help with the transition of going to 5th grade. First, I will be enforcing the "Read 20 minutes" homework by making the reading logs mandatory. Before, we were basing it on a parent signature and trust system. Next, spelling is being transformed to allow more opportunities for differentiation and choice. Last, I PROMISE to stay on top of missing work---they have tried some pretty sneaky things to get away with not turning in work. Although it will be exhausting and tiresome, I will stay on top of the missing assignments from now on. I guess all this will count as my professional New Year's Resolutions.

On another note, besides rambling on about my 4th graders which is so easy to do, tomorrow I will be spending some quality time with Annie as Bri goes to the doctor :) Then, some friends may come over to play Kinect. What a perfect Friday! I have to plan things ahead of time to do, that way I won't end up working my whole break away! I know sometimes I work TOO much, so I'm trying to focus on relaxation the next week or so.
:)

A Little Bit of Everything

I am officially an aunt!!

Welcome Annelise Laralyn Gibson <3

Since Thanksgiving, my radio has not left the station that plays non-stop Christmas music! Maybe it's Melanie Treadway getting so Christmasy on me, but I used to think Christmas songs were annoying, haha...now I'm addicted. I sing Feliz Navidad nearly every day in my car. Yes, I'm THAT person that you look over and see them singing at red lights! Anyway, my house is decorated and my presents are wrapped, just awaiting Christmas morning. Today, we had Dad's family over for a full day of family day. It was the best gathering I can remember. I feel like the older I get, the more I realize how special family time is! Tomorrow, we have Christmas dinner with Mom's side.

We finally finished Brian's Dad's flag display box with his picture and medals. It hangs on in our living room. We miss him so much especially during the holidays, but we have so many good memories to look back on.

This school year is almost half way over. Woah, it has flown by! Only two more school days, and we are on Winter Break. I am extremely excited to get my brain out of school mode for a couple of weeks. I feel like I never stop thinking about my students...it's just impossible. Teaching is just as rewarding as I imagined it would be. :)