Tick tock…tock tock…tick tock…..Can you hear it! It’s the back to school clock ticking away! I’m not sure if I’d had much of a “break” with teaching the graduate course, presenting at two conferences, attending two professional development sessions, and planning our 6th Grade Transition Academy. Plus, we have two days of registration next week so before I know it – it will be August 19th and my brand new kiddos will be walking through that door.
Seeing how school is coming I thought it would be a great time for me to link up with I {heart} Recess for her Back to School Linky!
Personal: Sometimes I feel that as a teacher, my daughter gets less of me than my students do. By the time we get home we barely have enough time to review homework, bath, and bed. I’m making it a goal for us to read together every night! And my poor hubby barely gets home cooked meals on the weekend! A few years ago I was a crock-pot pro! What happened? Well, I’ve spent this summer pinning, planning, and trying out different crock-pot recipes and I plan to put them to good use during the week.
Organization: How many of you recognize this scenario? Crates with students names on each folder. Folders slightly full, but a stack of papers laid on top! Yep, that’s my student portfolio system. Well, it was. This year, I plan to use Evernote as my electronic portfolio system. Once assignments are graded, I plan to take a picture of the item into the student’s notebook. I’ve already created my notebooks so I’m ready to go!
Planning: I have two faults that don’t go well together – spontaneity and procrastination! I can have a lesson planned, but change my mind in the shower that morning….or five minutes before the kids walk in…:-/ Quite a few times last year I found myself out at school on Saturday and/or Sunday making copies to get ready for the next week. And I guess that’s much better than speed walking down the hallway and the students are coming – but I want to be BETTER! My goal is that I have my two week lesson (handouts, electronic files, etc.) ready ahead of time. That way I can spend my planning period handling much other needed responsibilities.
Professional: Last year I did a pretty good job of implementing reading workshop with my elective class. I want to improve upon that this year as well as implement a writing workshop with them as well. The workshop method was very beneficial for those students who needed an extra push.
Students: To techy phrase Paul Revere…”The iPads are coming…..the iPads are coming!” It is my goal that these iPads become tools to make them more inquisitive, more excited, more knowledgeable! I want to start these kiddos on a digital journey that prepares them for the real world.
Motto: I think this one speaks for itself. You cannot complain about your situation if you’re not willing to pitch in and make it better. I could go on and on (rant on and on….) about this, but I’m just gonna let it sink in……:-)
Until the next time,
My team and I were discussing how to keep records of student “evidence” for our pilot of standards-based report cards. The Evernote folders are a great idea- thanks!!
You’re welcome! I got that great idea from Alison over at Eberopolis. She did an entire paperless series. You should go by and check it out.
Carla
I am hoping to stay two weeks ahead also with planning. I already have the first two weeks planned.
Erica
Shepherd’s Shining Stars
How awesome! I have two week before the kiddos come, so if I want to be two weeks aheady, I better get started now.
Carla
I should probably make some goals for the new year, but I only found out today that I don’t have to watch a study hall! As for dinners, I try to freeze a ton of things so that I can just pull things out the night before and microwave them. It’s a huge help, but planning crockpot dinners helps, too. (And you can do baked potatoes in the crock pot– I put a bowl on top of the meat and rest the potatoes on the bowl so they stay dry!) Good luck with all of your goals!