Good News and Bad News

The good news is that I have started summer school this week (can I get a whoo whoo?).  Okay, maybe it doesn't stir quite that much excitement, but it is going well so far.  The classes are nice and small and the atmosphere is more laid back.  I'm teaching literacy to kiddos who are between kindergarten and first grade.  My first 2 hour block has 9 darlin's and the second 2 hour block only has 8 darlin's. - Funny side note...I was working with a couple of students in a small group today and called one of them Darlin' and he says, "You keep calling me Darlin, that's not my name.".  Too funny!  Apparently, not a nick name that he is accustomed to.

The other bit of good news is that I get to teach both of my classes in the room that I will be using in the fall.  I've already put a little over 10 hours or so unpacking boxes and making it look a little friendlier, but I have the opportunity to work a little bit at a time after summer school while I'm already there.  The poor teacher next to me will be new at our school in the fall, but for summer school they gave her two different rooms (for her two different classes) and neither of them is the room that she will be using in the fall. 

 

Here is what my room looks like now.  There is still a lot of work to be done (*see the adorable bulletin boards - not!), but it's so much better than it was.

The bad news is that our beautiful state of Colorado is still on fire.  Last count there were 6 (I think) currently burning.  The good news is that the Black Forest fire is 100% contained, but only after destroying 509 homes and over 14,000 acres.  The new fires are also being increased by the wind, which is blowing a lot of smoke into my town.  It is so smoky that you cannot even see the mountains. 

Here is a picture of what the sun looked like through the smoke last night. This picture was taken by James Soltwedel - nice job.

Please Pray for Our City

The Black Forest fire is burning about 16 miles from my home in Colorado Springs, CO.  It has been burning since Tuesday and so far 360 homes have been destroyed and 2 people have lost their lives.  It is heart breaking to know that so many are evacuated from their homes and then to see houses burning on the news.  I personally know of at least one friend who has been evacuated and 2 who are on pre-evacuation.  Please pray for a quick end to this disaster. 

This is a little too familiar for us in the Colorado Springs area.  It has been almost a year since the Waldo Canyon fire that destroyed 346 homes. 

I have my work cut out for me!

Our school is going to be experiencing a lot of changes this coming school year.  We said good-bye to 11 staff members (which was horrible) and there will be 6 new teachers (that I can think of) starting in August.  We are also shifting some grade level locations which means that not only do I need to change classrooms, but all the kindergarten 'treasures' have been relocated to my new room.

This is my old room that I herby bequeath to Ms. V. (one of the new 1st grade teachers).  I hope you love it as much as I did.  There aren't many things as sad as a classroom that you have completely emptied.

...except maybe this!  I'm going to have to make sense of this before summer school starts on the 17th.  Yikes!!!  I just realized that I only have 11 days.

On a positive note, I got to meet my new teammate, Christine!  She is so nice and seems really excited to join our crazy team :-).

SPA Day

 

No, I didn't get to go to the spa today :-(.

In our school district, SPA stand for Summer Professional Academy.  We are really privileged that not only does our district offer trainings over the summer - some really great trainings - but they also pay us to attend these trainings!!  Today I attended Interdisciplinary Literacy for the Common Core.  I'll begin by saying that it was AWESOME.  I have taken several classes on literacy and Common Core, so I was prepared to hear a lot of repeated information.  Not so!  The presenter was Lin Kuzmich and she is AMAZING!  Also, I will add (with affection) that it was like listening to my Auntie from Buffalo all day :-).  I learned so many things that I could start using tomorrow...okay, in August.  The best part (for me, anyway) was that she was so intentional to point out how to use strategies and techniques in kindergarten.  I cannot tell you how many conferences and trainings that I have attended that didn't apply to kindergarten - at all.  I would definitely recommend anything from Lin - and our school has already booked her to come back in January. 

Here is her web site: www.KuzmichConsulting.com.

Welcome To My Blog

I am moving back to kindergarten after teaching first grade for the last two years.  I am sad to be leaving a team that I love - not 'loved' because you can't get rid of me that easy!  I am exhausted from packing up my entire room - again. But mostly I am so excited to be back in kindergarten.  Though I'm sure a lot of things will come flooding back to me, there are going to be lots of changes.  I will need to learn Common Core for kindergarten, I will need to adjust to a new reading curriculum, and I will get to use a new writing resource.  Best of all, I will get to work with a brand new team.  I'm sure that this year will be filled with possibilities and adventure.  I can't wait!!