Back to Blogging & My 1st Year Teaching Experience

Hey Savvy's! It's been a long time, but I'm back now. Many times in life we get so caught up and overwhelmed with life and the curve balls that comes with it, that we loose sight of our purpose or plan God has gifted us with.

I started blogging to track the growth as a teacher over the years to come, share informative information, and simply just VENT, VENT, VENT along the way. Remember when I'd mentioned life and the many curve balls thrown? Lets just say that's what happened.

Going into the classroom as  first year teacher was so fresh and exciting I would barely sleep at night. Between the anxiety of setting up my classroom just how I wanted to finally going into the career I spent the past 4 years preparing for, sleeping was just at an all time low! The school district I signed my contract with was very dissatisfying. I started in a Kindergarten classroom and enjoyed every bit of it!

My Kinders giving me group hug on my last day!

Well, two months in the classroom I was told I was being moved to a 2nd grade classroom on the other side of town! WHAT!!!! My time spent teaching 2nd grade was full of ups and downs, mistakes that I learned from, and a class that had already gone through multiple teachers. Regardless of how I felt about my current situation, I knew those kids needed me most so I did my best to be there for them at all cost.

Lets just say not what I'd imagined for my first year teaching! Seeing my kiddos grow, given the circumstances, is what kept me going. "So a toast to my 1st year of teaching... and better beginnings as I enter my 2nd year."

My 2nd graders!

Data Notebooks

Hey Savvy's! So I've decided to incorporate Data Notebooks into my classroom and so should you!!

WHY?

Incorporating data notebooks into your classroom allows your students to take ownership in their learning and progress. Not only making your students aware of their academics and behavior, but it also builds an urge in the students to progress. 

Another cool thing about data notebooks is that it provides your students with a visual (great for those visual learners!!) of how well they are doing OR what they need to work on. 

This is a GREAT tool if your school focus on student led conferences because your kiddos would have already documented their data as well as discussed how to further improve in each subject area. 

Integrating data notebooks is as easy as 1-2-3 (if you have the right resources) and I've provided some awesome resources that I too use from our friends over at "The Common Core Class"

Cover Page

I allowed my students to decorate their own cover of their data notebook while we discussed what it meant to be "responsible for me". I chose to glue them on the front of a prong folder I've also seen them put in a 3 ring binder.

Great for if you have spelling tests each week! There is also sheets to report data for math facts, guided reading levels, and much more. Just go head over to their TPT page to get these freebies!!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Data-Notebook-Cover-Page-FREEBIE-488971

And don't forget to check out their blog at http://thecommoncoreclass.blogspot.com/

Vote...Vote...Vote

Hey Savvy's! Its that time of the year again to "make your vote count"! Though you may have the Presidential Elections on your mind with the topic being VOTE, but voting for Oklahoma teachers is what is on my mind at the moment.

As we all know, Oklahoma is accustomed to being at the back of the class in funding for public education: It ranks 48th among the 50 states plus the District of Columbia in teacher pay and 49th in spending per student.

Wow...Ridiculousness!!!

The Oklahoma One Percent Sales Tax, also known as State Question 779, is on the November 8, 2016, ballot in Oklahoma as an initiated constitutional amendment. 

**A "YES" vote is a vote in favor of increasing the state sales tax by one percentage point to generate a predicted $615 million per year for education funding.

**Question 779 would also require an increase in teacher salaries of at least $5,000. The measure would mandate an annual audits of school districts' use of the revenue.

Enough said... NOVEMBER 8, 2016...If you are an Oklahoma resident (especially teachers) be sure to voice your opinions by voting. Our children deserve High Quality teachers and the best education!!

Check out the links below for more detailed information:
https://ballotpedia.org/Oklahoma_One_Percent_Sales_Tax,_State_Question_779_(2016)

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b5968593685043cea4d8996c4151340a/education-cuts-prompt-revolt-despair-oklahoma