Take Attendance, Creatively!

Last year I took attendance in a very unmeaningful, monotonous, and time consuming way. What a bore! This year, I would like to incorporate attendance into morning meeting and have students input their opinion right away. Clutter Free Classroom has posted a daily morning question packet on TpT as an inventive way to take attendance! Yay! :)

Before....

My classroom looks like a hot mess! Before pics now, after pics to come later :)

Don't mind the ceiling-high mound of crap. :(

It's August?! Holy cow!

I still cannot believe that it is already mid August! Where did my summer go?? Oh yea, graduate school classes. Yippee... As my first summer vaca nears the end, I am getting very anxious excited for my second year of first grade to begin. The summer was fabulous, but I am ready to get back to the kiddos. 

I did not realize how incredibly stressed and worried I am about getting ready for school with my classroom, planning, training, and creating all the glorious things I have dreamt up over the summer, until my back to school nightmares began last night! As incredibly ridiculous as they were, I dreamt of a field trip while losing half of my class and a first day of school that I was not ready for. EEKK!

With two weeks before my little friends walk into my classroom, I have so much to do! Off to my mess of a classroom!

Shopping!

I promise I haven't forgotten about my blog, just extremely busy! Of course, shopping... stocking up on my LOVES and obsessions to get me through the school upcoming year :)

80's Glam Sharpies. LOVE.

Sharpie Pens. Adore.

POST-ITS!!!!!!!! I love, love, loooove ones with lines. :)

What to do, what to do...?

Often, I worry that I occasionally further confuse my little sponge-like brained friends.

Preparing for a scheduled tornado drill, I had all of my pumpkins nicely seated on the rug for a "serious-face" talk. We were discussing the urgency and importance of such drill and brainstorming appropriate behaviors. A little hand goes up in the air. [This child is one of my top five Super Special Friends.]

Super Special Friend: "What happens if when we are at a tornado drill... and there's a real tornado, not like the fake tornado drill... and then the fire alarm goes off?"

Me: Somewhat taken off guard. "Well, that's a great question and I will have to check into that."

SSP: Extremely concerned. "Yes, I do believe you should because I think we will be in some big trouble trying to make the right choice."

All other students: "Ooooooh" "Ahhhhh" "That is a GREAT question!" "That's a real tricky one."

SSP: "I'm very worried because if there is a real tornado, we should be inside. But, if there's a fire, we should be outside. But if we are outside because of the fire, we will get sucked up in the tornado."

Me: Struggling to regain control as their little imaginative minds wander with the possibilities. "Just stick close to me, and I will make sure you are safe."



Needless to say, the fire drill immediately following the tornado drill probably further confused my kids. Wonderful.

Little Friends

A student may not remember what you taught them, but they will always remember how you made them feel. 

I am reminded of this often by the bountiful hugs, toothless wide smiles, "I love you, Ms. Dyke", and random love notes left on my desk (incorrect spelling, backward letters, and all). 

Everyday, I am welcomed at work my home-away-from-home by 20 bouncing, wide-eyed, chipper 6 year olds. They inspire me, teach me, enlighten me, and motivate me to return every day... to do everything all over again. 

I love my little friends.