MIA--but now I'm back {with some freebies!}

So, the first day of school came and went---well faster than ever this year.  I never made it!  I was carrying in my adorable "first day of school" frame, when a letter blew off.... I bent down to get it, in my heels and dress... stood up and completely lost balance!  I tried to beat it, but down I went, spraining my ankle and bruising my other knee.... (and possibly spraining the other ankle too---but we won't talk about that...) 

I was back for day 2 and 3--and then it was the weekend.  Woke up Monday AM ready to go, feeling like I got hit by a bus....  doctor's after school---sinus infection.  Neither were beating me down-and I was still having the BEST beginning of the year ever.  Friday came....  You know, the first FULL week of school with first graders who aren't used to a full day.  2:00 rolls by and guess what I get.  My first "walk through" observation!!??!?!?  AHHH!  Last 20 minutes of school of the first full week of school---well, I know I am LESS than perfect.  I'm just hoping to get all my babies home on the right bus, not to mention packed up and ready...  So we write in our journals.  The did fine.  However, my plans were less than desirable for the Friday of the first full week.  :(  I'm not going to lie.  (I wasn't even going to put this out there, but I wanted y'all to know, things aren't always perfect.)  Tears were shed Monday morning when I got my feedback.  I don't know about you, but that first week to us is getting into routines, tweaking lesson plan set ups, etc...  I also spent a LOT of time preparing things.  You've seen pics of my plans...  of course, those are when we are actually diving into curriculum.

Fast forward through a few more doctor's appointments and my 3 year old getting an ear infection---oh and not to mention his LONG adjustment to going to a new daycare and being away from me..........  Back to School Night was this week!  I was super excited about it.  I think it's all the experience and ideas I have gotten here and by my adventures on TPT.  Here's some pics of what I did.

I was in LOVE with my PP this year!  I was just so pretty (thanks to Nikki's wonderful graphics!)....

 I ended my presentation with a fun little slideshow of the kids learning.  I felt that it was a nice way to end the night, with the parents seeing their pride and joy smiling, having fun and being able to see their day!  (I totally took the idea from my son's own teacher this year.  As a parent, I loved it!)

 

Since I wasn't there on the first day, my lovely substitute did take my kiddos pictures.  I couldn't use the poem that is out there, so I just whipped up on that could be used in my situation.  It could be used anytime.  And could be wonderful parent gifts too!  Click on the picture to grab a copy for yourself.  I made a boy and a girl version.  Glue their pics on the clothespin.  Add magnets to the other side.  I added a fun button on the front to give it a little more "cuteness" but it wasn't necessary!

I have to look into if I am allowed to share/sell/what-have-you for my parent wish list table.  It was a last minute thing, and it's graphics I did not buy.  I have to read the terms of use to see and will post it if I can!

I'll be back soon with some more freebies of the beginning of year stuff I've done.  Of course my lesson planning writing is now taking me a good 2-3 or more hours....  that's really eating away at my time.  I didn't need to sleep, right?!?!  ;)  (I know that some are spending that or more---so I am thankful I can still make them "my own" but finding that more efficient way, so I can spend more time on creating resources, etc......  I wish that would come a little bit faster.  :)

PS-I've been sharing a lot more pics from the classroom on instagram!  It's just much more easier to click and share.  Make sure to check it out!  http://instagram.com/rulintheroost

I'm back! (Freebie and random post..)

I feel like I'm in a whirlwind or in the middle of the ocean, without a boat....  I have felt more stressed this week, coming back from vacation, than I did during the school year!   I'm not sure what is going on.  Well, I have ideas-such as, during the school year, my kids have early bedtimes and I have more time at night to unwind and do some work.... during the summer, I don't get that.  My oldest doesn't nap and my youngest will not sleep unless it's in my bed, with me....  thankfully he falls asleep and does still nap, but it would be nice if it were in HIS room---so that I can have a little time too!  Other part is that I'm taking some grad classes (at home/computer ones) that I need to finish by a certain time-for personal reasons.  AND of course, I had some great ideas for back to school so I started (and finished) a Back to School unit!  (I'll talk more about that later) ;)

Anyway-enough about all that.  First, I'll be going through my FB posts and picking a few winners from last week's game.  I'll update the blog with those names, since there are rules on FB now about contests and if I don't follow them, then they could just up and delete my page!  (Not that I have a lot of followers---they probably wouldn't even notice, but JUST in case---the winners will be announced on my blog)

Another thing I wanted to put out there is how thankful I am of blogging and for my lil' Teachers Pay Teachers store.  Why?  Up until this year, my mind never shut off---it still doesn't, but now I have an outlet to let it go.  My brain keeps me up ALL the time.  I'm constantly thinking about how to do things and what kind of games to play.  I run through my days in my head and think about how I could do it differently.  Some people write it down.  I've tried that----but I STILL stay up thinking and remembering things just as clearly.  Now that I have this outlet, I feel like my thoughts are more focused.  I feel like I am helping others, while not sleeping or relaxing.  THAT makes me feel good.  I still can't believe how much my thinking and life has changed and how many people come here to read things each day/week.  The sweet emails and comments bring smiles to my face.  Especially knowing how difficult it is becoming in education recently.  (And, of course personal/family things go on too---for example, we've been home from Disney for 5 days now, and I'm already trying to figure out a way to get back there again NEXT summer!  I totally want to stay at the new Art of Animation Resort... we walked through it on our last day----we were staying next door at Pop Century---and it was SO incredibly awesome!!!  This year, we totally went fairly cheap with signing up for deals and all kinds of bargain things.. Maybe I'll post about those another time.....  But, I'm not sure that I can do it all again for next year..............  and figuring out how to persuade the hubby to go again too---that's a task in itself) ;)

Freebie alert!  If you read this to this point-thank you.  If you skimmed---that's okay too! :)  Click on the picture below to grab a copy of a cute little recording sheet for students to fill out during the first few days/week of school.  You could also have this completed at home for homework, or sent home before the first day of school to have them bring in on the first day to share! 

If you happen to reread this----download this again.  I fixed the typo (that you see in the picture...)  I took the period that was supposed to be a comma out.  (One thing I've found with my new adventure is that not all fonts that look nice and cute, have capital letters, punctuation, etc.  This one has been fixed by the person who made it, but I can't get it to work on my computer now....) :(

If you are interested in more-click on the picture below to read about my Back to School packet.  It is 115 pages of reading, writing, math and get-to-know-you activities.  Ideas have been swirling in my head for weeks and I have finally finished it.  I am planning on using the ideas/worksheets with my kiddos during our first 3 days of school (my kids come on a Wednesday).  I'm sure I'll be carrying over a few to the next week.

(Here's the table of contents)

Answer this question (and make sure you are a follower to be fair!) and I'll choose someone at random to get a copy of my Back to School Unit! 
(I'll close the contest on Saturday morning (EST)---whenever I can break away from my little ones to choose!!!!!) 
Question-----What is/was your biggest challenge for the first day/days of school?  Have you found a way to conquer it?