a room in progress

My room! This arrangement took many hours to figure out. The U-shape is ideal, but I might have to move some things around.










The Mathlete of the Week wall! Students with improvement and excellent work will have their output displayed on the wall along with a personal portrait. Each group has their own colour. I am attempting to resolve the idea of empowering three different classes in one classroom.








Our brand new, pretty computers and an old dupatta I had lying around I used as bulletin board backing.








The girls' very first assignment; a wall to document hopes and dreams on sentence strips.








The lovely view outside of downtown Brooklyn.








More to come!

Sara

sore feet/highs/lows/and everything in between

I am taking a break from color codes, lesson plans, CPM (my curriculum), and what I will do with 160 popsicle sticks.

So, last night I received this email in my inbox

This was the title:

You are not eligible for a full time position with NYC Public Schools, but you may be a day-to-day Substitute Teacher

The email goes on to say all sorts of things, but essentially I am missing documentation, and thus need to be go into the DOE to review said documentation.

I am much calmer now, but after reading it last night, I definitely lost it. crying, raging, and the like ensued. not pleasant. not fun.

However, my co-workers and my co-directors have been amazing in trying to help me navigate this system, so I do have an appt tomorrow to figure out what in the world is going on with my certification.

It is unfortunate that they sent me this email yesterday...two days before school begins, but I suppose this is part of the loveliness of teaching.

I hope it'll work out tomorrow, and everything will be in order soon, but I am not sure.

Of course, getting this email last night crashed any form of productivity I might have had. Joe helped calm me down (what a good husband), and I finally was able to do something enjoyable: draw pictures of women mathematicians to place around my classroom. That helped, and I put them up today. (They look great!)

Today was our first P.D., and was pretty overwhelming. How do you go about processing the flood of information that you're thrown at? I took a lot of notes, but my goodness, there is no way I can remember half of what was asked of me to do, avoid, keep track of, etc.

My classroom is coming along nicely.

Today accomplished the following:

• I figured out a routine for bathrooms, that we decided on as a grade level.
• I color coded bulletin boards for student work, for 'Mathlete of the Week'
• I labeled Group E's math supply boxes
• I created a sign in/out sheet for bathrooms.
  
• I put up bulletin boards/scarf behind the computers.
  
• I bought a thyme plant, primarily so I can make bad puns throughout the year about not having enough thyme.
  

Most importantly, I met one of my students today and a parent! It went well; they had come to see the school (which, as I've said, is AMAZING). L was very excited to see my classroom, and we simply exchanged small talk. She then went off to see other rooms.

There's so much more to write about, but I'll end here. I promise to take and possibly post pictures tomorrow!

Also, does anyone have any suggestions about a word wall? My board is a chalkboard, that I believe is magnetic. I was thinking about having movable words, but what's a good way to think about it? Should I have definitions up too, or just the word? AHH!

Adieu,

Sara

the feeling of being whelmed

So....

I cannot write long elaborate posts per se. However, I am a fan of lists, list-making, and beyond. huzzuh.

Today:

• went to my new school. We have officially moved into a new building and chaos has thus ensued. The school is beautiful, but...still in construction. This means lots of boxes, supply issues, and more. I learned today that the SmartBoard won't be set up for two or three weeks after school starts, and also am not sure when supplies will come in. This is not too much of a worry, but it is going to cause some changes in my planning. How can I set up routines around supplies when there are none? I guess that will just have to wait when they come in.
  
• went to Staples and had fun with Joe purchasing far too many items. The best find...5 cent plastic pencil boxes. I bought enough for each individual student for a grand total of 4.50 (just on those of course). Now, what am I going to do with them? don't know yet...but I bought different colors for each class, red for group D, blue for group E, and green for group F. I have a tentative idea of having classroom sets of math supplies. Our desks are tiny, so the typical central caddy might not be the best thing to have. This way, when we need supplies, students can grab their own colored box, in which lovely mathematical materials will be placed.
  
• I have a somewhat working two week unit plan. It needs to be refined. This makes me apprehensive. I don't like being apprehensive.
  
• My classroom is airy and bright; I like it, and will post pictures soon, and ask for possible advice on decoration, aesthetics, and traffic...all that good stuff.
  
• There is too much to do, and not enough time. I guess I better get used to it.
  

Hope you are all doing well.

Love,

Sara

of classrooms

I am about to go see my classroom for the first time ever. Ah!!!

Dreams of pretty desks, and gleaming smartboards ensue. We shall see what the reality is in about an hour.

wish me luck!

testing