School Year Resolutions

I am linking up with Teaching Maddness today to share my new school year resolutions. I figure if I write it down, then I'm more likely to do it! (If my mom is reading this she is going to laugh...and laugh really, really loud)

So, we begin.....

1.  Get Organized.ha. I laugh as I type it. My best friend is my assistant principal. She calls me a "piler." Piles of papers everywhere. But I know what's in every pile and can pull it out in a nanosecond. Before she was an AP, she was a special education teacher, and spent and entire year in my class with her inclusion children. She hated my piles. But she is still my bestie, so I guess she got over it. I promised myself last year this same thing, no piles, but oh well. It happened. My name is Nikki and I like to pile. I don't want to be that girl anymore. I am working really hard on that right now in my room. Even with my fabulous room moms, they still find piles. They laugh, then file them for me!

2. Say Not Now. I am bad about this. I wear many hats. I like to help. But sometimes, I forget that first and foremost I am a teacher. I will answer tech questions during my reading time. Help the jammed copier. I've got to learn to tell them I can do it later. After school maybe. I don't want to just say no, because I'm a team player, but lord, I gotta get my work done!

3. Take a ton more pictures. I want to capture our day, our fun graphic organizers, and our amazing technology. I want to blog more, and keep up with our school website. I can do this!

4. Shed some pounds. Does this even count in teaching? I hope so, cuz I'm adding it to the list! No school lunches for me (healthy-ha!) Going back to my Visalus shakes for breakfast and lunch.

So there is my list. It's down on paper and I will succeed.

I feel like I need a Common Core "I Can" statement to follow these resolutions!

Crafty weekend...

This weekend I was feeling a little crafty. Didn't feel much like cleaning or doing laundry though! Oh well...I had seen this teacher pledge on pintrest done in many different ways, and I just loved it. What a great way to show your class how you feel about them! So I got to work using the color theme for my room. I made the mistake of painting the words with the silver, and they just faded into the background. So I had to trace over them with black. Next time, I won't make that mistake and it might not look so wonky. Wonky as it is, I do love it!

This is not a craft I worked on too much, but I wanted to show my desk. I trimmed the desk in navy fabric to make it a little different. I don't sit here often, but I do sit here during planning to input grades and search blogs! Of course, I've still got a lot to work on here, but so far, it's going well.

I let my girl join me on the painting. She made a beautiful painting that was a cross between Nemo, Tangled, and what her new Twinkle Toe shoes look like. At least, that's what I kept hearing as she painted. "Look, he's got a lucky fin! I drew Tangled's hair! This rainbow looks like my shoes!"

Too funny!

Finally, one of my favorite quotes ever... and my life motto. I thought it would look good in my class too, but not sure where yet.

Can't believe the weekend is over and I've got to get back up to school tomorrow. My favorite part of working in the summer is the fact that I can wear my running shorts and flip flops! We have a very strict teacher dress code so there are no flip flops ever! And lord, can you imagine running shorts with my high heels? Ha!

Sometimes, it would be nice to give my stilettos a break with some yellow box flip flops! :)

Happy Sunday!

The first of many...

I got my current job because my principal liked my shoes. I am sure he also loved my highly qualified, energetic, go-getter attitude and amazing teacher skills, but I will always say he loved my fabulous black and white polka dot high heels. My favorite teacher ever, my 8th grade English teacher, wore stilettos every day to teach, and I remember sitting in class dreaming that if I ever did become a teacher, I would wear high heels every day too. And I do. Pointy-toed high heels to be exact. Everyone knows when I come down the hallway by my click-clack on the floor.

I have been teacher blog stalking for some time now, and I finally decided to join this area of blog world. I already write a blog dedicated to my amazing 3 year old, but I felt it was time to try something new!

So here I am, not really sure what to write about, but ready to take on this challenge!

I guess I should start with an introduction...I have taught for 8 years. I began my teaching career in 3rd grade. I cried every day. It just wasn't the grade for me. Thankfully, my principal heard my cries and moved me to 1st grade. So for the last 6 years I have taught 1st grade. I am now moving on up to 2nd grade and am very excited at this new chapter of my career. (I actually get to loop-up, which makes.my.day!)

I also love to sing and sing as much as I can when I teach. I lead the choir at church and win karaoke contests. It's one of my passions. I love Jesus, my husband, my child, and my family. I grew up in our small town, went to college and came back. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love my little town. I love raising my little girl here. I especially love teaching here. I am also one of those artsy-fartsy people who likes to paint. I love monograms, big hairbows, smocked dresses, and tights on little girls. I say "y'all" and "bless her heart." I am southern to the core and love Auburn football. I like to think I am funny too, but you'll have to ask my friends about that one! My momma is my best friend, and my child calls my sister "sissy." Yes, we are southern!

I hope that you will enjoy my little piece of lower Alabama teaching and I hope that I can inspire others like I am inspired by them!

I am in the process of redecorating my classroom to make it more mature for my children. I want them to feel like second graders even though most of them will be back in their first grade room. We had to clean out our rooms for the floors to be waxed and cleaned, so it is taking me some time to get it all together. Here is what my class looks like this week.

My crazy room...had to move out my little people tables for desks. Notice my little girl in the lower corner? I didn't either till now! ha! 

  A different view. Nothing on the walls, just a mess!

I worked on this board today. I saw a pintrest pin that a teacher had done for more bulletin board space. She used poster board and ribbon. I used foam board (so I could stick push-pins in it) and ribbon for the edges. I really like how it turned out.

Our theme this year is Olympics. Our school was given a National award last year called "Torchbearer" so we are using that to further our Olympic fever. I decided to use navy's, orange's, and green's to decorate this year. I am excited!

I hope to have my finished room posted next week. I start school the first of August, but my children don't start till the 20th. I have 2 weeks to work and have professional development. I promise it will look much better by open house!

Thanks for stopping by my new blog!