Post Numero Uno!

Five years ago I wrote a blog that documented my big move from Oregon to Connecticut as a newlywed. It was a blast! We drove cross country in my jam-packed Mazda and stopped at nearly everything interesting between Yellowstone and Chicago. After that, we were just too tired and wanted to get to our new home. :) Although I did write about our confusion in the Appalachian Mountains, where were they? Those couldn't possibly be mountains! They are large hills compared to where we were the week before. Eventually, we figured it out. They were nice green hills, which I would kill to see now! Texas is so flat and brown! But I digress.

So what does this have to do with Rumors from Room 209? Not a lot! Except that I learned I could fulfill my first grade dream of becoming a writer. I didn't care who (if anyone) read my blog, but I loved to write. After a few years of excuses, "I don't have time for that!", I am finally taking the leap. Not only do I desire to write, but I finally feel that I have great ideas to offer other teachers. I do love my job, I love to read about it, talk about it, and of course do it! Yet I'm not sure I'll do it forever. Perhaps I'll move on to another grade or another position in education. But right now I'm in a happy place, feeling confident and still on a mission to better my craft. As they say, there's no time like the present, so I'm starting my blog! Fifth graders are truly the most exciting students, they are on the edge of being kids and teenagers. Rumors and giggles run rampant through my room, and you guessed it, I'm in room 209! So welcome to my room and check back to see what adventures we're up to next!

Charlie says "Mom, get off the computer already!"

Ready to roll!

Tomorrow is the big day, back to school! I don't know if I have ever been this ready! As a brand new teacher I might have been more excited, but certainly not prepared for what walked through my door! Now, eight "first days" under my belt, I have changed a lot since those early days, but my nerves are still there. Will they like me? Will I have control? Will they learn? All those worries come rushing back to me, and I suppose they always will. My name is Jessica and I am a perfectionist and a worry wart. I strive to improve and worry about the smallest detail- did I plug in the right air freshener? Will the room smell inviting Monday morning? Don't worry, I'm not a complete ball of anxiety. I've learned to push some worries from my mind and let things like the air freshener or the great idea for what I should have posted go. I know the classroom is always a work in progress and my craft is constantly improving. That being said, I am pretty proud of my classroom right now! Last year I took a leap and took out my teacher's desk. It was more of a dumping ground where I collapsed amid a sea of papers at the end of the day. This year with our district's huge literacy revamp and a HUGE classroom library investment, I spruced up my classroom library. I am so pleased with the results! There is seating, books by genre, books by level, "mood lighting", my pug collection, and lastly a peace sign (to represent my hippy Oregon roots). Well as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

 

There are anchor charts posted on the end of the small bookcases as reminders to help kids select Just Right books. I posted them now only because my principal asked for the library to be a model for other teachers setting up their libraries. I will create new ones with the students when I teach them how to select books. We are beginning to implement the Daily 5 this year and my goal is to train my students to select their own books at their level, whether the book has the level labeled or not. I know fifth graders can handle that- and they love the responsibility! I've had people ask me how I chose to group the books and I did by genres. If I hadn't been an example, I'd have had the books in random boxes and given the students the opportunity to sort and label the book bins. It's a great way to give a  mini-lesson on genres and to give students an opportunity to browse the selections. They take ownership of the library and keep it way more organized when they know how much work it was to put it together! Fingers are crossed for the maintenance this year! Although perhaps having a paid job to take care of the library will help...more about that another day. Lastly, you can see the side of my Writing Center on the edge of the library, but again, more about that later. Here's a quick video tour of my room, the calm before the storm!

As my last evening without grading papers or writing lesson plans winds down, I need to go cuddle with my puggie. He keeps sitting on my laptop to get my attention! But best of luck to all teachers as we head off into a new school year! May your year be filled with many laughs and ah-ha moments!