Last year I discovered the Knuffle Bunny books and just fell in love with them. My kiddos adored them too and we had a lot of fun reading all of Mo Willem's stuff for several weeks. This year I decided that the week when we focus on the letter K would be a great week to bring in the Knuffle Bunny stories, so I read the first one today.
I always love to see kids' reactions when you read them a book that they just love. I told them that there are two more and gave them a little preview of what is to come. They are so excited to hear Knuffle Bunny Too and Knuffle Bunny Free. Let's see if I can get through the third one without crying. Is that even possible for a hormonal pregnant teacher?
We had our EBIS meeting after school and our Kindergarten data is so awesome. I am so proud of all of our kiddos because so many of them have made huge improvements this year. At this point all but about 20 kids are meeting the END OF THE YEAR benchmarks in DIBELS. I know it's not all about data, but it is all about making sure that kids are learning and improving and that is definitely happening all over the place.
I have one little guy who finally writes his name "the school way" (starting with an uppercase letter and writing the rest lowercase). For the longest time his name was random letters. Then he learned how to write his name in all capitals. Now he can write it the school way and he is SO proud everytime he does it. On the one hand you can easily say well many other kids could do that on the FIRST day of school, what's so great about him figuring that out in March, but to me, it's always the most rewarding when the late bloomers really start to figure things out. For some it takes a much longer time to master the simple stuff, especially if their support at home or their relationships with their parents don't involve practicing letters and numbers and reading book. So to be part of their success at school just feels so awesome!
I've got 10 more days with these kiddos.
TEN
I've said it before...I know I will be totally preoccupied with my own new little baby, but I am going to miss these kiddos. I've been really blessed with two amazing classes this year...much easier and brighter than last year, and I am so thankful that occurred the year I was teaching while pregnant. I can't imagine having last year's groups and being pregnant.
Ok, time to do some dissertation proposal writing...gotta knock this work out before baby comes!
It's only fitting that Baby Sneaker has herself a lovely collection of very cute little adidas kicks, right?
I got a lot of work done today and I am so happy about that.
I didn't write anything, so technically I didn't make progress on my paper per se, yet I did a lot of thinking and planning and feel really good about possibly switching up my research questions.
I was focusing almost entirely on home visits, but I am trying to find a way to make my study more about the interplay between culturally responsive instruction, students' funds of knowledge, and implementing scripted curricula.
I worked on a new version of my power point presentation for class on Friday and that has helped me organized my thinking in a way that will hopefully make the writing part easier. I am meeting with my adviser on Wednesday and then after that I am meeting with another faculty member who will potentially be on my dissertation committee. Hopefully chatting with both of them will help me solidify my proposal ideas so I am ready for my presentation on Friday. Then with feedback from the others in my cohort as well as both of my advisers following the presentation I should be set to power through the rest of the methodology chapter so I can turn in another draft (before baby comes!!)
I can't believe it's already almost 5 o'clock. Days off go by too fast!
floating
Each year teachers in my district are provided one "floating holiday" which is basically a personal day that we can use whenever we want for whatever reason we want (with the exception of days that are right before or after a holiday).
Even though I originally wanted to just apply my floating holiday to my maternity leave, I decided to use it tomorrow. I had to take an appt. at 8:30 tomorrow in order to see the doctor that I really like for my baby checkup and rather than going in for the PM class and using .5 a sick day, I just decided to cash in on my holiday.
That means
I can sleep a little bit later and wake up around 7:30 instead of 6.
I can work on my power point because I will be presenting my dissertation proposal to my class on Friday.
I can hit the gym mid-day (I have a new goal to "workout" (walk slowly on the treadmill) three times a week until Miss Baby Sneaker comes)
I can take a little nap if I get tired from reading/working on my presentation.
Sounds like a nice day to me :0)
I am excited that I get the chance to present to my class on Friday because they are all super smart and I know they will give me great feedback as I try to figure out exactly what my study will be like. I haven't been doing a ton of writing recently because my adviser advised me to change my original plan and basically told me not to plan to have it done before the baby comes, so I my new plan gave me about 4 extra weeks to complete the proposal. I know my research questions and I know I want to do a case study, but I am still mulling over the details and the plan for the design etc. So many things to think about....
I have three weeks left of work and only one is a full week...how crazy is that? Next week, we have a training day on Thursday, I have a CARE training on Tuesday, and we have spring conferences on Friday, so I am only in the classroom teaching two days. This week is a four-day week because I took tomorrow off and then my last week (if I make it that long) is a full week. I can't believe that is all the time I have left with my little kiddos. I love these classes so much and it's weird to think that these are my last few weeks with them and my last few weeks working full time. I am almost definitely requesting to go part time next year in which case I will only teach AM Kinder instead of both AM and PM.
I am interested in pursuing other opportunities to bring in a bit more income like maybe teaching a university course or teaching online, but I am going to settle into motherhood before I really look into that.
It is so sunny in Portland right now, it feels like spring. Maybe if it's this nice tomorrow I can enjoy some working/reading time on the roof top patio we have in our building!!
Even though I originally wanted to just apply my floating holiday to my maternity leave, I decided to use it tomorrow. I had to take an appt. at 8:30 tomorrow in order to see the doctor that I really like for my baby checkup and rather than going in for the PM class and using .5 a sick day, I just decided to cash in on my holiday.
That means
I can sleep a little bit later and wake up around 7:30 instead of 6.
I can work on my power point because I will be presenting my dissertation proposal to my class on Friday.
I can hit the gym mid-day (I have a new goal to "workout" (walk slowly on the treadmill) three times a week until Miss Baby Sneaker comes)
I can take a little nap if I get tired from reading/working on my presentation.
Sounds like a nice day to me :0)
I am excited that I get the chance to present to my class on Friday because they are all super smart and I know they will give me great feedback as I try to figure out exactly what my study will be like. I haven't been doing a ton of writing recently because my adviser advised me to change my original plan and basically told me not to plan to have it done before the baby comes, so I my new plan gave me about 4 extra weeks to complete the proposal. I know my research questions and I know I want to do a case study, but I am still mulling over the details and the plan for the design etc. So many things to think about....
I have three weeks left of work and only one is a full week...how crazy is that? Next week, we have a training day on Thursday, I have a CARE training on Tuesday, and we have spring conferences on Friday, so I am only in the classroom teaching two days. This week is a four-day week because I took tomorrow off and then my last week (if I make it that long) is a full week. I can't believe that is all the time I have left with my little kiddos. I love these classes so much and it's weird to think that these are my last few weeks with them and my last few weeks working full time. I am almost definitely requesting to go part time next year in which case I will only teach AM Kinder instead of both AM and PM.
I am interested in pursuing other opportunities to bring in a bit more income like maybe teaching a university course or teaching online, but I am going to settle into motherhood before I really look into that.
It is so sunny in Portland right now, it feels like spring. Maybe if it's this nice tomorrow I can enjoy some working/reading time on the roof top patio we have in our building!!
TGIF
Even though it was a short week that went by speedy fast, I am SO glad it's Friday! I had a meeting after school with a faculty member who I was asking to be on my doctoral committee and ever since I got home I have just been maxin' and relaxin'.
Mr. Sneaker is out of town until Thursday, so I have the entire weekend ahead of me to be productive. I had to make a to do list because if it's not written down, it won't happen. I feel like I have a lot to do between reworking my methodology section of my dissertation proposal (feedback from my advisers was that I needed to change the design I first created), writing thank you notes for the baby gifts from my staff, reading an article for an upcoming training that I have, and doing my reading for book club, I feel like I will be reading and/or typing for many hours this weekend.
Tomorrow I am 35 weeks, which means I officially have just about 5 weeks left of this pregnancy. How crazy is that!? I am hoping that baby Sneaker comes on time (or maybe a little bit early) but not earlier than the start of our spring break. I really want to be able to work until that natural transition point and not have to leave sooner than planned. It just makes it easier all around if Baby Sneaker cooperates with that time line. I am totally fine with going into labor once school is over on March 23rd, but that is even a whole weeks early, so I will probably be spending most of spring break just begging her to come out already.
I have been getting really tired lately so I am really looking forward to sleeping in this weekend and relaxing a lot. Even though I've got work to do, I can bring my laptop/ipad to bed and be productive from a comfortable position.
Only FOUR more weeks of work until spring break (if I make it that long) so the countdown is officially on. I feel like I have been moving at a slower pace in the classroom lately and trying to just enjoy the kiddos since my time with them is so short and there are not a lot of days left. They are getting better and better with reading and writing and sometimes I just want to sit back and enjoy seeing what they can do rather than rushing through everything. I think next week I finally have to bring up the fact that once I have a baby I won't be returning to school since I am not sure whether or not they truly understand that yet. Any tips for breaking the news to Kinders would be appreciated!!
Mr. Sneaker is out of town until Thursday, so I have the entire weekend ahead of me to be productive. I had to make a to do list because if it's not written down, it won't happen. I feel like I have a lot to do between reworking my methodology section of my dissertation proposal (feedback from my advisers was that I needed to change the design I first created), writing thank you notes for the baby gifts from my staff, reading an article for an upcoming training that I have, and doing my reading for book club, I feel like I will be reading and/or typing for many hours this weekend.
Tomorrow I am 35 weeks, which means I officially have just about 5 weeks left of this pregnancy. How crazy is that!? I am hoping that baby Sneaker comes on time (or maybe a little bit early) but not earlier than the start of our spring break. I really want to be able to work until that natural transition point and not have to leave sooner than planned. It just makes it easier all around if Baby Sneaker cooperates with that time line. I am totally fine with going into labor once school is over on March 23rd, but that is even a whole weeks early, so I will probably be spending most of spring break just begging her to come out already.
I have been getting really tired lately so I am really looking forward to sleeping in this weekend and relaxing a lot. Even though I've got work to do, I can bring my laptop/ipad to bed and be productive from a comfortable position.
Only FOUR more weeks of work until spring break (if I make it that long) so the countdown is officially on. I feel like I have been moving at a slower pace in the classroom lately and trying to just enjoy the kiddos since my time with them is so short and there are not a lot of days left. They are getting better and better with reading and writing and sometimes I just want to sit back and enjoy seeing what they can do rather than rushing through everything. I think next week I finally have to bring up the fact that once I have a baby I won't be returning to school since I am not sure whether or not they truly understand that yet. Any tips for breaking the news to Kinders would be appreciated!!
Crank
Can I just say that I am SO happy all of the parties are over and done with for this school year. Parties are never a huge deal, but they just add this extra layer of excitement, noise, and energy that is very tiring--especially for a preggo teacher. I am exhausted. The kiddos were really excited to open their Valentine's and our party literally consisted of opening Valentine's and having a small snack.
No games.
No themed activities.
Just cards and cookies.
We are limited to 45-minute parties and because of the timing of ELD, we really only have 30 minutes that we can use if we want all the kids there the whole time. 30 minutes goes by quickly, so we can't really pack all that much in. I kind of feel like my parties are lame, but the kids like them and have fun, so I'm good with it. But, they do tire me out.
I got tons of chocolates and goodies and I am ready to put my feet up and relax tonight.
I stopped by the mall on the way home and got myself a diaper bag at Coach. Mr. Sneaker cashed in some Amex points to get me a giftcard and since he is out of town for Valentine's Day, I thought I would have a little fun shopping for myself to celebrate.
The traffic getting there and getting home was so bad, which made me just a tad bit cranky.
I. Hate. Traffic.
Being overtired and then sitting in traffic made me feel like a huge grump. Maybe I should hit up some of that chocolate I received today!
No games.
No themed activities.
Just cards and cookies.
We are limited to 45-minute parties and because of the timing of ELD, we really only have 30 minutes that we can use if we want all the kids there the whole time. 30 minutes goes by quickly, so we can't really pack all that much in. I kind of feel like my parties are lame, but the kids like them and have fun, so I'm good with it. But, they do tire me out.
I got tons of chocolates and goodies and I am ready to put my feet up and relax tonight.
I stopped by the mall on the way home and got myself a diaper bag at Coach. Mr. Sneaker cashed in some Amex points to get me a giftcard and since he is out of town for Valentine's Day, I thought I would have a little fun shopping for myself to celebrate.
The traffic getting there and getting home was so bad, which made me just a tad bit cranky.
I. Hate. Traffic.
Being overtired and then sitting in traffic made me feel like a huge grump. Maybe I should hit up some of that chocolate I received today!
fast and groovy
I can't even express how fast time is going by. With the birth of my baby on the horizon (well 7 weeks away) and only 26.5 more work days before my maternity leave (yes I just counted), I feel like time is going by at warp speed. Everyday both of my classes just seem to fly by and before I know it the kids are getting on the bus. I am not complaining...you know you love what you do when the time goes by super fast, but at the same time, I am kind of sad that my time with these two groups will be coming to an end in the very near future.
Leaving before the end of the school year is so different than watching them board the buses on the last day of school. I am leaving before it's over...before they learn everything they are supposed to learn...and I feel like it will be weird when I am at home and they are at school doing their thing without me.
That being said, the kids are so in the groove of our routines and daily activities in the classroom-I know they will do great without me. I get to leave them in the very capable hands of my good friend Jill and they are just taking off in their skills.
We recently started journal writing and I am so impressed with what I am seeing. I felt like I started journals much later this year than I did last year and I was a bit worried because our post-test writing assessment showed very little improvement among my two groups. Mostly that is because the objective changes between the fall pre-test and the winter post-test so it's more difficult for kids to be considered proficient. And also because the writing assessment we are asked to give them prompts them to write a story which is something we have never even worked on...not cool. But, since that post test, we have begun learning about writing in journals and their work is fabby.
Each time we write I model by writing in my own journal and repeat the important things I want to see:
On the one hand I am really excited for these next 7 weeks to just get over and done with so I can have my baby in my arms, but on the other hand I am cherishing the time I have left with these groups. They are really great this year and I will miss them!
Leaving before the end of the school year is so different than watching them board the buses on the last day of school. I am leaving before it's over...before they learn everything they are supposed to learn...and I feel like it will be weird when I am at home and they are at school doing their thing without me.
That being said, the kids are so in the groove of our routines and daily activities in the classroom-I know they will do great without me. I get to leave them in the very capable hands of my good friend Jill and they are just taking off in their skills.
We recently started journal writing and I am so impressed with what I am seeing. I felt like I started journals much later this year than I did last year and I was a bit worried because our post-test writing assessment showed very little improvement among my two groups. Mostly that is because the objective changes between the fall pre-test and the winter post-test so it's more difficult for kids to be considered proficient. And also because the writing assessment we are asked to give them prompts them to write a story which is something we have never even worked on...not cool. But, since that post test, we have begun learning about writing in journals and their work is fabby.
Each time we write I model by writing in my own journal and repeat the important things I want to see:
- date at the top
- sentence starting with an uppercase letter
- spaces in between the words
- sight words spelled correctly (which they can do because of all of the Heidi's songs we sing and having the words posted on the word wall)
- period at the end of the sentence
On the one hand I am really excited for these next 7 weeks to just get over and done with so I can have my baby in my arms, but on the other hand I am cherishing the time I have left with these groups. They are really great this year and I will miss them!
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